Sourcing Donor amps

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ClintN667

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Hey guys,
I am hoping to get an amp modded by Gower next year and was curious on how to source an amp in the U.K. should I just use Ebay or are there some better options?
 
ClintN667 said:
Hey guys,
I am hoping to get an amp modded by Gower next year and was curious on how to source an amp in the U.K. should I just use Ebay or are there some better options?
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Shouldn't have too much of problem finding a Marshall over there. Are you thinking a 800 or what?
 
It’s tougher now than ever. I found one myself on the UK version of Craigslist (forget what it’s called) and had it sent directly to Dan
 
ClintN667 said:
Hey guys,
I am hoping to get an amp modded by Gower next year and was curious on how to source an amp in the U.K. should I just use Ebay or are there some better options?
Click to expand...
There's a UK Marshall FS page on FB.
 
plenty of used ones in England at good prices. Reckon it’s worth using a reissue for a donor personally, not only does it save a bit of cash but I think it’s cool to try and preserve the older ones a bit and there’s more than enough 2203x, 1959SLP, 1987x, 1959HW etc around that are great donors for modding (and shouldn’t need recapping or other maintenance for they can be worked on). Pretty sure you could even use a kit from Modulus as your donor which wouldn’t cost too much. Can always spec some fancy transformers if you want and it should work out cheaper than a vintage one
 
Built kits are the way to go.

At the end of the day I regret modding my 74 not because of it being a 74, but half the work was fixing someone else’s issues and shit mods. It already had drilled holes so it was never going to be a preservable model.

Just build your own platform. You’ll end up with a better product at the end of the day. It’s what I wish I’d done.
 
easstudios said:
plenty of used ones in England at good prices. Reckon it’s worth using a reissue for a donor personally, not only does it save a bit of cash but I think it’s cool to try and preserve the older ones a bit and there’s more than enough 2203x, 1959SLP, 1987x, 1959HW etc around that are great donors for modding (and shouldn’t need recapping or other maintenance for they can be worked on). Pretty sure you could even use a kit from Modulus as your donor which wouldn’t cost too much. Can always spec some fancy transformers if you want and it should work out cheaper than a vintage one
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Dan actually said he prefers the 2203 reissues. But yeah I agree about not hacking up an old classic.
 
Idk I had JCM800 reissues modded by Kruse, Friedman and tried one modded by Omega and didn't really like any of them. They all had this brittle quality to it that the older Marshall's don't have nor even the reissue SLP's. Also, kinda like Wizard's the growl on power chords never quite seemed complete to me or had that full roar like you hear on the old jmp's
 
Dan used to source amps locally (to the UK) if you asked. Would take a lot of hassle out of the process because he accepts the responsibility of finding a good one.

If I remember, any bench time spent unf**king prior bad mods/work is charged, so if he finds you one, he'll try and find you the cleanest he can
 
braintheory said:
Idk I had JCM800 reissues modded by Kruse, Friedman and tried one modded by Omega and didn't really like any of them. They all had this brittle quality to it that the older Marshall's don't have nor even the reissue SLP's. Also, kinda like Wizard's the growl on power chords never quite seemed complete to me or had that full roar like you hear on the old jmp's
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Well any Kruse mod imho is going to have a brittle quality. I had a Splawn modded by him and it came out the same.
 
ClintN667 said:
Well any Kruse mod imho is going to have a brittle quality. I had a Splawn modded by him and it came out the same.
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Did not like the 5153 50 6l6 that was modded by him. Preferred the stock.
 
Maybe try to find some sort of Marshall clone as donor amp to save some money?
 
braintheory said:
Idk I had JCM800 reissues modded by Kruse, Friedman and tried one modded by Omega and didn't really like any of them. They all had this brittle quality to it that the older Marshall's don't have nor even the reissue SLP's. Also, kinda like Wizard's the growl on power chords never quite seemed complete to me or had that full roar like you hear on the old jmp's
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Cameron felt that new reissues sounded great stock, but didn't take to gain mods very well. I sent him a reissue (long before any amp delivery issues) and he tried everything to get the amp to sound as he liked it. He ended up giving up. I got the amp and hated it too.
 
ClintN667 said:
Well any Kruse mod imho is going to have a brittle quality. I had a Splawn modded by him and it came out the same.
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Yes, but it sounded brittle even before I sent it in to him for the mod. It just got even more in that direction after he modded it. IME those reissue 800’s just inherently have a brittle quality to their tone. Haven’t heard any examples without it. Even the early ‘80’s 800’s to me can sound brittle, but maybe because of that vintage warmth I don’t get as irritated by it. I’ve always preferred the late ‘70’s JMP2203’s, although for mods sometimes prefer the ‘80’s 800’s (based on what I’ve had)
 
psychodave said:
Cameron felt that new reissues sounded great stock, but didn't take to gain mods very well. I sent him a reissue (long before any amp delivery issues) and he tried everything to get the amp to sound as he liked it. He ended up giving up. I got the amp and hated it too.
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That make sense, not too surprised to hear that. Even a guy like Cameron I’d think can only do so much to some amps. Seems like donor amps can make or break it. Not gonna mention the name, but I had a 1979 JMP2203 & 1982 JCM800 2204 with the same exact mod (and features) and for whatever reason the 800 totally blew the other away and actually somehow even sounded bigger and more powerful than the 100, but I then had my tech put the JMP put back to stock and sounded much better and bigger again stock
 
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