School me on the JVM410 and JVM205 heads

[ChuggNorris]

Just curious, how does the tone/feel change if I set the bias at 37 vs. what I currently have at 26?

If anything it will get less stiff feeling. If youre a dynamic player who hears nuances and is about "feel" youll notice it more than someone who throws OD on everything and likes smeared tones.

But it wont lose definition until you get too hot... going past 45 the tubes break up more. Definition starts to fade. Everything gets softer with fuzzy edges the more you go.

The sweet spot for me always been 36-39 even though I did really love my TAD blackplates at 42 in my SLX 100.


The only amp Ive liked "purposely colder" was a mkiii Herbert with every power tube I tried in it.

 

[angelspade]

Thanks to both Chugg and Jabps for all the great JVM info and history

 

[jchrisf]

I'm going to try 36 and see if it gives it any mojo.

Well fellas.. I finally found the mojo and it wasn't living at the 21mA bias that it came with. I pushed it up to 37.5 mA and now I have found the mojo. I'm honestly surprised boutique builders can make it with this amp around because it does all the Marshall and Modded Marshall tones and some... and I've barely explored the tonal possiblities. It's got the Plexi, Hot Rod Plexi, JCM 800, Hot Rod 800, DSL, JTM and probably more.. Plus IMO OD2 has a bit of Soldano, Mark and Rectifier tones. I got the best Sykes 87' tone I've gotten with it on OD2. OD2 was my least favorite channel until I bumped up the bias and I was shocked by how great it sounded. I still love OD1 too. OD1 didn't interest me from the videos I've seen but it sounds different and better in person. I like it better than OD2. I love the Crunch chanel too and can get that classic JCM 800 and Plexi tone there. The best Plexi tone on the amp is the Plexi trick on OD2 so far. There is a lot to explore still.

What a great sounding and versatile amp! The feel came alive with the bias adjustment too. Before it was just sterile. I wish I would have gotten one 10 years ago.. it would have saved me a lot of money and headache. All the Marshall tones I desire are right here.

Do you all think it is safe to leave it at 37.5mA? I was having trouble hitting 36 so I just kept it where it kept wanting to go.

 

[BABMusic]

Well fellas.. I finally found the mojo and it wasn't living at the 21mA bias that it came with. I pushed it up to 37.5 mA and now I have found the mojo. I'm honestly surprised boutique builders can make it with this amp around because it does all the Marshall and Modded Marshall tones and some... and I've barely explored the tonal possiblities. It's got the Plexi, Hot Rod Plexi, JCM 800, Hot Rod 800, DSL, JTM and probably more.. Plus IMO OD2 has a bit of Soldano, Mark and Rectifier tones. I got the best Sykes 87' tone I've gotten with it on OD2. OD2 was my least favorite channel until I bumped up the bias and I was shocked by how great it sounded. I still love OD1 too. OD1 didn't interest me from the videos I've seen but it sounds different and better in person. I like it better than OD2. I love the Crunch chanel too and can get that classic JCM 800 and Plexi tone there. The best Plexi tone on the amp is the Plexi trick on OD2 so far. There is a lot to explore still.

What a great sounding and versatile amp! The feel came alive with the bias adjustment too. Before it was just sterile. I wish I would have gotten one 10 years ago.. it would have saved me a lot of money and headache. All the Marshall tones I desire are right here.

Do you all think it is safe to leave it at 37.5mA? I was having trouble hitting 36 so I just kept it where it kept wanting to go.

Very pleased to hear this. And wow -- they set it at 21??? That's about as cold as it gets almost. Mine is at 26 and I may bump mine up to 36 this weekend just to see how it changes the feel. I found my BE50 sounds more punchy and a little mores stiff at lower bias, but I much prefer the bias at 36 in that amp.

And yes, Chuggs confirmed that setting the bias at 37 is fine. I was mistaken that the JVM had the same problems as the DSL, which it appars not to be so.

 

[jchrisf]

Very pleased to hear this. And wow -- they set it at 21??? That's about as cold as it gets almost. Mine is at 26 and I may bump mine up to 36 this weekend just to see how it changes the feel. I found my BE50 sounds more punchy and a little mores stiff at lower bias, but I much prefer the bias at 36 in that amp.

And yes, Chuggs confirmed that setting the bias at 37 is fine. I was mistaken that the JVM had the same problems as the DSL, which it appars not to be so.

I'm glad I have the Fryette PS-2A. You can get great tones at bedroom volumes without it but it does sound better with the master volume up. I've got it at about 10 - 11 o'clock and it sounds even better. I'm not sure if the Fryette is adding anything but it has even more mojo and magic now.

OD1 orange reminds me of a boosted 800.. something like an SD-1 or tube screamer with maybe a little more low mids or tight bass. No need for an OD here.

Is Crunch Red exactly like OD1 Green?

 

[angelspade]

Well fellas.. I finally found the mojo and it wasn't living at the 21mA bias that it came with. I pushed it up to 37.5 mA and now I have found the mojo. I'm honestly surprised boutique builders can make it with this amp around because it does all the Marshall and Modded Marshall tones and some... and I've barely explored the tonal possiblities. It's got the Plexi, Hot Rod Plexi, JCM 800, Hot Rod 800, DSL, JTM and probably more.. Plus IMO OD2 has a bit of Soldano, Mark and Rectifier tones. I got the best Sykes 87' tone I've gotten with it on OD2. OD2 was my least favorite channel until I bumped up the bias and I was shocked by how great it sounded. I still love OD1 too. OD1 didn't interest me from the videos I've seen but it sounds different and better in person. I like it better than OD2. I love the Crunch chanel too and can get that classic JCM 800 and Plexi tone there. The best Plexi tone on the amp is the Plexi trick on OD2 so far. There is a lot to explore still.

What a great sounding and versatile amp! The feel came alive with the bias adjustment too. Before it was just sterile. I wish I would have gotten one 10 years ago.. it would have saved me a lot of money and headache. All the Marshall tones I desire are right here.

Do you all think it is safe to leave it at 37.5mA? I was having trouble hitting 36 so I just kept it where it kept wanting to go.

Yup...This amp surprised the hell out of me. As I have said several times here, if you are an absolute Plexi, JCM800 or JTM purist...get those amps. But if you can live with a fairly convincing 80% representation of those AND get a solid clean along with those aggressive high-gain "modded Marshall" tones...This will give that. The only thing that I would say that it doesn't do the uber modern metal "brutal" thing as well as some other choices in my opinion. Congrats, it's always amazing (and fairly rare) to find an amp you're totally stoked on. all of that said, I will leave the bias question to those more technically qualified to respond.

 

[jchrisf]

Yup...This amp surprised the hell out of me. As I have said several times here, if you are an absolute Plexi, JCM800 or JTM purist...get those amps. But if you can live with a fairly convincing 80% representation of those AND get a solid clean along with those aggressive high-gain "modded Marshall" tones...This will give that. The only thing that I would say that it doesn't do the uber modern metal "brutal" thing as well as some other choices in my opinion. Congrats, it's always amazing (and fairly rae) to find an amp you're totally stoked on. all of that said, I will leave the bias question to those more technically qualified to respond.

I thought I was a Plexi and JCM purist but I recently realized I like mine boosted and modded and the JVM does it in spades. It sounds like the perfect modded or boosted Marshall of many flavors. Now to test out the FX loop.

 

[BABMusic]

Well, something unexpected happened this morning. Before I could even attempt to change the bias, I turned on the amp and I heard this "push" noise. This was only 3 seconds after I turned it on. There was a little bit of smoke, so it has to be sent back now. Very disappointing, and not a good impression I admit. I double checked everything with my speakers, etc and everything was connected properly. I haven't had something like this happen since 2017 when my Mark IV blew 2 brand new power tubes due to a failed capacitor.

 

[jchrisf]

Well, something unexpected happened this morning. Before I could even attempt to change the bias, I turned on the amp and I heard this "push" noise. This was only 3 seconds after I turned it on. There was a little bit of smoke, so it has to be sent back now. Very disappointing, and not a good impression I admit. I double checked everything with my speakers, etc and everything was connected properly. I haven't had something like this happen since 2017 when my Mark IV blew 2 brand new power tubes due to a failed capacitor.

That stinks.. Are you going to get a replacement?

 

[wtfMagH8U]

Having owned the 410 and 210. I preferred the 210. Less noise and tonally the same.

 

[VHTStark]

Thanks to both Chugg and Jabps for all the great JVM info and history

Second that; they both gave alot of great history + info and it was a good read! Thanks boys!!

I am fairly new to the JVM party, but glad to see them getting some love.

 

[BABMusic]

That stinks.. Are you going to get a replacement?

I'm not sure at this point, but I'll see what happens when I return it tomorrow. I didn't really have as much time as I wanted to explore the amp, and I didn't get a chance to change the bias. It's definitely a more aggressive amp than my Friedman, as I often keep the gain at 2 or 3 on the red modes of the OD channels. At the same time though, I do find myself wanting to play my BE50 a little more.

 

[angelspade]

I'm not sure at this point, but I'll see what happens when I return it tomorrow. I didn't really have as much time as I wanted to explore the amp, and I didn't get a chance to change the bias. It's definitely a more aggressive amp than my Friedman, as I often keep the gain at 2 or 3 on the red modes of the OD channels. At the same time though, I do find myself wanting to play my BE50 a little more.

Sorry you're having a bad experience with this one

 

[BABMusic]

Sorry you're having a bad experience with this one

Thanks. It's been an unusually frustrating day with my gear. First, the new Marshall has something burst and now my Strat's tone knob no longer works after I swapped a humbucker. Maybe I just need a new tone knob and will pick one up tomorrow if they have it.

 

[ChurchHill]

Thanks. It's been an unusually frustrating day with my gear. First, the new Marshall has something burst and now my Strat's tone knob no longer works after I swapped a humbucker. Maybe I just need a new tone knob and will pick one up tomorrow if they have it.

Yeah, I hate days like that. Once took me a month to chase down a cold solder joint. Tomorrow will be better!

 

[jchrisf]

Having owned the 410 and 210. I preferred the 210. Less noise and tonally the same.

Are the transformers on the 410 noisy? I can hear it at idle, even when the volume is off. It doesn't bother me but I was just curious if it was normal.

I would love to get the 205 but my problem is.. I love every channel and every mode of this amp. Which channels/modes is the 210/205 missing?

 

[jchrisf]

Is Crunch Red and OD1 Green exactly the same?

 

[jchrisf]

I'm not sure at this point, but I'll see what happens when I return it tomorrow. I didn't really have as much time as I wanted to explore the amp, and I didn't get a chance to change the bias. It's definitely a more aggressive amp than my Friedman, as I often keep the gain at 2 or 3 on the red modes of the OD channels. At the same time though, I do find myself wanting to play my BE50 a little more.

The bias made a big difference IMO.

 

[angelspade]

Having owned the 410 and 210. I preferred the 210. Less noise and tonally the same.

I may have a gotten a "good one" when I acquired my JVM410H...But mine is not noisy at all. In terms of tone, your statement is incorrect. With the 210H you are missing the channel that most prefer (OD1 Orange mode). That said, it's still a great amp with a lot of total options.

 

[angelspade]

Is Crunch Red and OD1 Green exactly the same?

They don't feel or sound identical to me