Played a lee Jackson modded jmp today

[ElMuchoDingo]

So an area shop built a new location so I decided to visit. As I was talking to one of the guys there I spy this Marshall head with what looks to be an extra knob. Turns out the shop owner purchased an estate of guitars and equipment and in the collection was a Lee Jackson modified jmp. It has a loop, master volume, and this three way mid shift dial. Very cool amp. One of the tightest and stiffest amps I’ve ever played. I’d describe it as sharp. There is no slop allowed with that amp.

Price wasn’t bad on it either I think they had it for 2200.

 

[Dave L]

I´ve only played a few Marshalls that supposedly had Lee Jackson-style mods, not any actual Lee Jacksons, but they sure had some vicious high mid attack. Not much else, mind you, but lots of clank.

 

[Wayniac3]

I owned a modded one back in the day- great tone but noisy. We used to call it the skillet because it had so much hiss

Also owned 2 consecutive serial numbered m-1000’s I bought off a guy that had burnt out in LA & came back home. Had the owners manuals as well

Cool amps but I moved on from them

 

[PDC]

I recall those Ampeg / Lee Jackson collaboration amps from the early 90s - right after Zakk hit the scene and was rumored to have used Lee Jackson / Metaltronix gear on No Rest for the Wicked. I thought those Ampegs were pretty solid sounding high-gain amps back then. But then again I was pretty young and didn't have much experience with gear at the time.

PS - Isn't it true that at some point before No Rest went to press, Zakk re-recorded most/all of the guitar tracks with a JCM 800??? I am sure I read that somewhere, but that of course doesn't make it true...

 

[Racerxrated]

That was the first modded Marshall I owned back in 2008...and the amp that set me off on my 'quest' to try as many modded Marshalls as I could. I paid maybe 700 for it, on eBay from a guy out of Texas. Cool amp. Probably the one mod that kept the Marshall best in it out of all that I've had since. It was a 1987 2204. I ended up selling to a guy in Germany and doubling my money.

 

[GuitarVacation]

Pretty cool to catch one of these randomly in the wild these days. Even cooler that it’s priced reasonably. I think that $ number seems just right for a cool amp that has a mod from a known name.

 

[Alpha Stryke]

I recall those Ampeg / Lee Jackson collaboration amps from the early 90s - right after Zakk hit the scene and was rumored to have used Lee Jackson / Metaltronix gear on No Rest for the Wicked. I thought those Ampegs were pretty solid sounding high-gain amps back then. But then again I was pretty young and didn't have much experience with gear at the time.

PS - Isn't it true that at some point before No Rest went to press, Zakk re-recorded most/all of the guitar tracks with a JCM 800??? I am sure I read that somewhere, but that of course doesn't make it true...

NRFTW was recorded in studio w/a JCM-800 2x12 combo w/a Boss SD-1 quad-tracked. And of course LPC & EMG's.
LJ stuff is hit & miss. He was the authority mod wise in da 80's. Many of those amps have passed their prime.

 

[Beyond Black]

That was the first modded Marshall I owned back in 2008...and the amp that set me off on my 'quest' to try as many modded Marshalls as I could. I paid maybe 700 for it, on eBay from a guy out of Texas. Cool amp. Probably the one mod that kept the Marshall best in it out of all that I've had since. It was a 1987 2204. I ended up selling to a guy in Germany and doubling my money.

Ad its now got the Hairy Caterpillar mod and is worth 8k.

 

[ElMuchoDingo]

it was an interesting amp to play, not something I’d run out to buy. Made me realize how challenging of an amp it is to play. You really have to want to play and be on cause it will show every wart in your playing.

 

[Beyond Black]

it was an interesting amp to play, not something I’d run out to buy. Made me realize how challenging of an amp it is to play. You really have to want to play and be on cause it will show every wart in your playing.

I thought my guitar did that.

 

[Bossman415]

Had a 1979 JMP 1987 w/ Lee Jackson standard mod (added gain stage, push/pull attenuator knob and rotary mid shift).

It was a cool amp but I found myself hitting the front with an SD-1 to tighten it up. It was a little tubby.

Just scored an M-1000 not too long ago. My experience has been the M-1000 > 1979 modded JMP.

The M-1000 seems more refined, tighter and more responsive. Really digging it. Would love to checkout a M-2000, but not at $9k .

I’m sure it’s a badass amp, but that’s a lot of coin to try one. If Lee ever comes out with a more affordable version with not as much window dressing (wood headshell instead of aluminum) I’d be game to snag one ~$4k.

 

[Dave L]

Is anyone familiar with those Lee Jackson-branded amps from later in the 90s? I suppose it´s after the Ampeg stuff, he had one XLA model that was like his modded Marshalls and one XLS model with a new lead channel.

 

[PDC]

NRFTW was recorded in studio w/a JCM-800 2x12 combo w/a Boss SD-1 quad-tracked. And of course LPC & EMG's.
LJ stuff is hit & miss. He was the authority mod wise in da 80's. Many of those amps have passed their prime.

Thank You! I was sure I had read this someplace - even down to the fact that it was a JCM 800 combo amp! For me, Zakk's best work was on No More Tears and Pride-n-Glory. The guitar tone on both records was so 'organic' for lack of a better term. Sounded like equal parts wood and molten hot glass. His technique was vicious - but lots of tasty bluesy stuff in the mix. I still dig Zakk just cause he's Zakk - but that was my favorite Zakk era for sure.

 

[Alpha Stryke]

RIP -

 

[Cless357]

Does anyone know what was Paul Gilbert mod in his LJ modded Marshall ?

 

[NorCal_Val]

Does anyone know what was Paul Gilbert mod in his LJ modded Marshall ?

At about 1hour 46 minutes, they start talking about PG’s Marshalls.