The hell with modded Marshalls-just get a stock JCM 900!

[Heritage Softail]

I have a used 900, got it dirt cheap. Best thing about the amp was it has a pair of Tesla EL34s and some other NOS preamp tubes, and the nice pair of Celestion 75's. With those tubes it sounded average but nothing to write home about. I wanted something that could play some metal and then play some decent blues. Did not have a warm tone in the amp. With a little love and some ornaments, it could be the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree of marshalls.... it's not a bad amp...just needs a little love.... Agreed that Dava Navarro is more popular as a MTV personality and guy bangin Carmen Electra. When he eats that, I wonder if there is still the aftertaste of Rodman's rod....

This one has scratchy pots and what not so it turned into a 2x12 speaker cab until I decide to work it a bit.

 

[sdrootsman]

this is a joke right? i owned a 4100 and i absolutely hated the thing. outrageously bright. had to run the presence on zero and the treble at 1 to get a halfway decent sound. couldnt stand the overdrive channel. sounded like buzzy asshole. used the clean channel with the gain and volume cranked and a boost up front. only then was it just okay.

the day i got rid of that thing for my triamp was one of the best days in my gear life.

 

[zz666]

used the clean channel with the gain and volume cranked and a boost up front. only then was it just okay.

yep, that was the only way to get a usable tone

 

[headlessdeadguy]

 

[blackba]

I'm telling you guys, but no reason to believe me until you have one yourself. Tweak the knob, put an OD in front and it sounds killer to me. Seriously, look at the rest of my gear. How could I be so off on the one amp? I'm sensing amp snobbery in the air. The same outlook I once had until I bought it. You have to own one to really know. Ok, enjoy your debating!

How about posting some settings, setup info (speakers/guitars used) and some clip? Have you opened your JCM900 to verify that it is not modded? What exact modded marshalls have you had or played through?

Just looking for more specifics, I think that is why people are having trouble. When someone says an amp is bad or good without details, its is of little use. I have been able to find good and bad tones out of every amp I have played. Even my favorite amps have their drawbacks.

 

[stephen sawall]

This thread makes me want to check out a new one to see if they are like the old ones.

 

[Metalhead]

This is freaking hilarious! I knew it would get some attention but to this degree??!! I guess I've got a knack for stirring up shit though! I will tell y'all how I've got it set right now:

Reverb: OFF
Volume: LOUD (a little past 1 oclock)
Presence: Pretty high, about 2:30 PM
Bass: Dimed
Middle: 11:45 AM
Treble: 7:00 AM (takes out the overly bright nature of the amp...just right)
Gain: HIGH - 5:00 PM
OD pedal: Volume at 3:00 PM and Gain at 9:00 AM
Cabs: Either my EVH 5153's or Marshalls with G12H30's

Using a Charvel with an Aldrich pup mainly. Will be back soon with clips and pics. Still loving the amp. It just sounds like a modded Marshall to me. I've had a Jose, Aldrich, Friedman with all the fixins and played other peoples amps of the same variety. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, but this SOB sounds great to me. Has an f/x loop with level control, tube failure indicator light and will automatically switch to 50 watts if a tube fails. Marshall's version of a modded JCM800 as far as I've heard. Now everybody have a good time and rag on me some more! At least the ones that have, but try one out and see. Maybe it's for you and maybe not, but I think it's fabulous! Like I said, will have clips as soon as life calms down a little for me work-wise. Thanks for ALL the comments, positive or negative or in the middle. I think it's a blast!

 

[zewango]

Pics or yup... it's a Bugera

 

[Ancient Alien]

The 900 was like a distortion pedal compared to other stuff I was playing at the time...I liked it for awhile and then get bored of it...I'm betting the fact that they run 5881's in the power section is what turned me and others off about it...when expected more of that 34 crunch and kerrang. I will say that the first Silverchair album had some killer tone on it, though...the reason I bought it actually.

That is because the JCM900 is simply a JCM800 with a distortion pedal internally wired in the circuit. Actually from a Metal Pedal.
I know the guy who designed the amp.
Joe Dibella aka Heavy Metal Joe.
As a matter of fact, I think our own Gainiac owns the first prototype Joe made before Marshall stole his design and fired him.

 

[zz666]

kinda but not really....
the 900 was a big step away from traditional marshall building techniques... plus the transformers were terrible.

 

[halford]

very interesting topic!

wanna hear some 900 clips

 

[bubbastain]

I was running a 50 watt dual reverb i bought new back in 90 or 91. Kramer Barreta >900 and 1960 cab. Direct out of the 900 into a Marshall 9005 tube power amp(one side only) feeding another 1960 cab. I loved my tone(at the time). As someone mentioned earlier, It did great in a band context. Cut really well. Sounded nice and meaty by itself too. 2 4x12s didn't hurt either. Before I bought the 900, I tried a Mesa Mark iV at practice and did not like it at all. I was going to get one until I tried one with my band. I used the 900 for the next 5 years straight. No boost needed. Like the OP mentioned ealier, I too like a great sounding amp for low dough. I just picked up a VTM60 and am just having a blast with it. With or without a OD in front it sounds very cool. Honestly, I'd be just as happy with my amp if all I had was the VTM( I have a Splawn Nitro and Competition too). I'm pretty much getting my perfect tone with my Splawns but I can get a really fucking good one with the VTM and it only cost me $250. Would be cool to hear some good 900 clips.

 

[ericsabbath]

But isnt the Diode Clipping what Cameron uses in his amps?
If everyone drools on them........why is that a bad thing in the 900's?

you can't compare an all tube preamp section with the subtle extra bite of a jose master clipping with a full solid state driven preamp like the jcm 900
it's pretty much like a valvestate with tube power amp
there's no tube gain at all, just a tube cathode follower trying to warm it a bit before the eq
that's why people don't even bother modding dual reverbs or finding best preamp tube combos

the single channel 900 (2100 mkIII) is another story
that's a killer real tube hot rodded 2203

 

[fearhk213]

But isnt the Diode Clipping what Cameron uses in his amps?
If everyone drools on them........why is that a bad thing in the 900's?

you can't compare an all tube preamp section with the subtle extra bite of a jose master clipping with a full solid state driven preamp like the jcm 900
it's pretty much like a valvestate with tube power amp
there's no tube gain at all, just a tube cathode follower trying to warm it a bit before the eq
that's why people don't even bother modding dual reverbs or finding best preamp tube combos

the single channel 900 (2100 mkIII) is another story
that's a killer real tube hot rodded 2203

I don't know much about the internal differences between the 2100 & dual reverb (4100, I think), but I completely agree that they sound worlds apart. All the shops had the 4100s when I had my 2100. At the time I thought it was just a 2 channel version of my amp, but I remember playing numerous 4100's and they were all thin & whimpy sounding. I never had the volume up to 1 o'clock or a boost on it though....The 2100 is a lot stronger sounding out the box, but it needs a boost too. I got compliments quite often with my 2100 rig, but I still wouldn't take it over the HG Jose I had or my Cali.

 

[philb]

I had one in 1998, bought it new. My first half-stack.
I love it for what it was worth. I got a Super Bass afterward. Totally different feel. The sound was comparable.
I even remember recording a clip back then and it sounded the same through the same guitar and cab.

Anyway, it's a cool amp. Now, I'm a Mesa guy.

 

[Kaleiwahea]

I HAD to use one at an outdoor gig where the back line was rented. It was the channel switching model.
I'll tell you sta-raight up, it sounded great. Granted, the treble and mids were on 4 and all the other knobs were maxed!

Probably not a bedroom amp lover's amp.

 

[stephen sawall]

1. 1950's Fender "tweeds", 1960's Marshalls
in----G1---------volume----G2----EQ-------------------->

2. 1960's Fender "blackface" normal channel
in----G1---EQ---volume----G2--------------------------->

3. 1+2: 1960's Fender "blackface" reverb channel
in----G1---EQ---volume----G2--RESISTOR--G3----->

4. 1970's and 1980's Mesa-Boogie lead channel
in----G1---EQ---volume----G2--------------G3----G4-----------------------master volume--->
in----G1---EQ---volume----G2--------------G3----G4----G5----------------master volume--->

6. 1970's Marshall Master Volume
in----G1---------volume----G2----------------G3---------------------EQ---master volume--->

7. Early JCM-800's with diode clipping
in----G1---EQ---gain---G2---DIODES---volume--G3--loop--Phase Inverter---master volume--->

8. Later JCM-800's, and JCM-900's with diode clipping (diodes in rectifier circuit)
in----G1---------volume----G2---DIODES----G3-------------------------EQ---master volume--->

9. Bogner "FISH" preamp (Brown Channel)
Marshall 30th Anniversary (Lead Channel)
in----G1---------volume----G2--------------G3----G4----------------EQ---master volume--->

10.Soldano lead channel
in---G1---------volume----G2--------------G3----G4----G5---------EQ---master volume--->
11.Peavey EVH 5150
in---G1---------volume----G2--------------G3----G4-----G5---G6---EQ---master volume--->

 

[petejt]

I gotta say I like this thread- because quite frankly I'm getting a bit bored of all these modded Marshalls, including the ones that are re-housed in a new chassis. Even stuff like the Splawn which is supposed to be something different- it's still basically a modded Marshall with a different badge.


I'm glad that my Marshall is stock- and if it isn't then I'll get it made back to the stock design.

 

[stephen sawall]

Easy the best 900 thread I have seen.

Only modifications on my amps were done by the original maker. I suggested a few voicing changes and they were kind enough to voice the amps to my taste.

If a amp is stock .... I rather leave it stock, same with classic cars and breast. If it has been modified ...... I would go for a full on Frankenstein.

So far I like the sound of a stock JMP (or with a pedal) better than any of the variations offered by everyone. Something from the rat or ts9 family can be pretty cool, but I like straight in better most of the time.

 

[JTyson]

But isnt the Diode Clipping what Cameron uses in his amps?
If everyone drools on them........why is that a bad thing in the 900's?

you can't compare an all tube preamp section with the subtle extra bite of a jose master clipping with a full solid state driven preamp like the jcm 900
it's pretty much like a valvestate with tube power amp
there's no tube gain at all, just a tube cathode follower trying to warm it a bit before the eq
that's why people don't even bother modding dual reverbs or finding best preamp tube combos

the single channel 900 (2100 mkIII) is another story
that's a killer real tube hot rodded 2203

Actually, Todd Langner told me it was a tube preamp with solid state boost sections within the tube circuits