True amp battle part II : the Marshalls

[Cless357]

Aren't 2203 and JCM800 virtually the same ?

 

[ChurchHill]

I think most equate JCM800 with JCM800 2203 100w Master Volume. But, there were other models, like the 2210 Channel Switcher 100w, and there was a JCM800 1959 4-Hole Super Lead. The 2210 is unique to the JCM800 line. There were JMP 2203s and 1959. For 50w versions, 1959>1987, 2203>2204, and 2210>2205. There were bass models, too.

 

[SoooRad]

If I can play at unlimited volume, Superlead. Volume restricted, SLX. Not interested in any of the others.

 

[ners]

Plexi, but I'd probably take any of them.

New modified is over priced, but if its free it's still just a Plexi when the switches are off.

But a Jose/Cameron mod would be my number 1.

 

[Racerxrated]

Honestly a boost pedal in front of most of these is a honky mid flubby mess without at least some work and revoicing. I’m not saying it can’t be done and yes it will cut in a mix, but it’s a lot of work and requires a lot from you as a player to do it.

The real question is what’s most inspiring to play. Modified Marshall all the way for me - I’ve never played a stock Marshall with a boost pedal that could do more than Van Halen or Ozzy if you’re lucky and have the active pickups. The majority of these outside of the JVM just aren’t enough gain for me.

I get what you are saying; it really depends on what sound you go for. I've found that a nice Superlead(I have a 72, now modded..and a 68, stock) with the right distortion pedal, or double boosted with say an SD1 and OCD or similar can get you any 80s tone you want, and some 90s tones. The Distortion pedal, you can actually use the Level as a master vol in a way...you can set it at unity gain with the clean vol with the pedal off, and now you have a nice 2 channel amp. Of course, you aren't getting much gain from the amp that way but it's still a pretty great sound.

But, modding it will of course give you all you could want and more. I've played some great ones myself over the years.

 

[VonBonfire]

JCM600, hands down.

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

JCM600, hands down.

Only if modified with lots of toggalzz!

 

[VonBonfire]

Only if modified with lots of toggalzz!

My old man had the 2x12 combo and a good tech told him to throw it away after the 3rd trip to fix it. He gave it to my sister and her house flooded during Helene so it floated away, LOL.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I've owned damn near everything and the last amp I bought about 8 months ago was a stock '82 JCM800 2203, stock with one exception, it has a zero loss loop installed. Other than that its bone stock including original caps. Boosted and/or double boosted it bests every amp I've ever owned for my needs & tastes and its now the one and only amp I own. It'll do all the 60s, 70s, 80s shit well enough for me (I'm no purist on the former) but for old school and modern thrash and death metal, its perfection. Tight AF but still with so much juice, give, saturation and wide open tone that just feels and sounds so natural. And its aggressive as I could ever ask for the heavy stuff with the perfect bass/mids/treble/presence and bite.

 

[angelspade]

I own a Marshall JVM410H as well as a newer model Marshall DSL100HR and will likely be acquiring a Marshall 1987X as a mod donner amp soon. The JVM is the least "Marshallesque" sounding Marshall I have ever heard. It has way more gain than any other Marshall on the market, and it also significantly less "open" sounding than other Marshall heads. all of that said, it sounds and plays great (as long as you keep those gain knobs on OD1 / OD2 at noon or lower) and it is impossibly versatile. I'm really happy I own one. The DSL100HR is a bit more traditionally Marshall sounding / feeling, and an absolutely amazing amp at the price (they routinely trade around $600). You can cover a lot of ground with the DSL100HR, it has plenty of gain and really has that Marshall "roar" thing happening when opened up. I actually prefer it over the JCM800 I once had. I'm very much into Marshalls right now and look forward to experimenting with a Silver Jubilee and modding the 1987X head.

 

[Rick Lee]

Aren't 2203 and JCM800 virtually the same ?

JCM800 has lots of iterations - 50w, 100w, MV, NMV, reverb tank, combo and on and on. 2203 is a 100w MV head, called a JMP until I think 1981, thereafter JCM800.

 

[7704A]

The most important question with any non-JVM (or arguably SLX) Marshall is what cheap solid state gain box has the tone you really want to hear in place of the amp

Depends on how you set things. I like using a Timmy to add a slight bit of hair going into the amp. By itself the Timmy adds a slightly woolly character to the clean guitar, but into the driven amp it results in a little more teeth in the final tone. Overall pretty transparent.

 

[stephen sawall]

Aren't 2203 and JCM800 virtually the same ?

The poll does not have any complete names. Some are almost models. Others are series.
It also list only a small fraction of all the amps Marshall has made.

But I think most of us can guess what is being suggested.

Yes you are correct the 2203 is one of the models of the JCM 800 series.

 

[Brain Becker]

2203 with a boost or two for me. I play mostly older metal.

 

[angelspade]

If I can play at unlimited volume, Superlead. Volume restricted, SLX. Not interested in any of the others.

Interesting...I've never owned an SLX, but thay have fans as well as players thT absolutely hate them very mixed reviews it seems.

 

[Anje]

Hard to beat a good old 4 input NMV JMP or early MV 2204/2203 Marshall; having said that, there are a lot of slightly different flavors in there, all good depending on what you're looking for.
Add your device(s) of choice in front + the proper speakers & cab and there is no limit to what you can do really IMHO.

 

[JonPearson1994]

Out of the available selections, I gotta go JVM. It does the SLP and 800 thing well enough at volume, and it does a proper high gain sound.