What’s your favorite Marshall?

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Racerxrated

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The ‘anti Anomaly thread lol’...My favorite nowadays is a totally stock unmolested 4 holer. Jubilees, 2203/4, 2205/10 are all killer but ever since I scored my 72 Tremolo I have no desire for any other Marshall. Right now I’m experimenting with different bright cap values so I can have some low volume taper lol. With a couple pedals it might be the best amp I’ve ever played. Even over 50+ modded Marshall’s I’ve owned.
What say you?
 
Stock JVM 410. Yes, I've owned modded ones and the Satch model. I've owned and played this stock model the longest I've stayed with one amp in my life and it won't be changing anytime soon either.
 
I’ve actually never played a JVM. Might have to one of these days.
 
Stock- my Kerry King head that Kerry borrowed to play the Dime tribute show at Ozzfest.
Modded- my Gutierrez "Langner" 50 watt 800. Most useable gain of any modded marshall I have ever played.

These two are so important/prized that I had to put them in my will(not kidding).
 
Probably my old 2100 SLX. I happily gigged that with nothing but a single button footswitch and a tuner and always got people asking what my gear was/any secrets.

The always seemed disappointed when they found out it was "just my hands and the amp"
 
I can honestly say, I dont know. Stock would be the JCM800 but many years ago on here I saw a modded marshall. He posted clips and it was literally the best amp I've ever heard in my life.

Ive searched my post history many times since trying to find the thread because I have no idea who and what mods were done. It will probably haunt me for the rest of my life.
 
The best overall Marshall I have ever played was a bone stock 81 vert input 800 2203 with a SD-1 in front of it. It sounded absolutely massive and I have played a lot of other Marshalls, modded or not..and it just had "it" to me.
 
I've only had a few. A JTM45 with a turret board rewire and a PPIMV, JVM205H, DSL50 (British made), a Vintage Modern 50 watt and my current DSL20CR. Of them all the JVM was by far my favorite. I wish I would've kept the Vintage Modern for mods though.
 
My 79 2203 when it was stock and a 68 Ed spec plexi and my modded 72 SL. My 79 2203 has been Splawn modded and rebuilt by Scott Splawn since 2003 and it has been my workhorse amp since rebuilt.

I have a 1983 2204 that was a turd but I am in the middle of rebuilding it but no ETA when I will finish it.

I have played a DSL and JVM, SLX, JCM900 and they weren't my favorites even being a Marshall guy but I have have heard great clips from them so YMMV. I would like to play a Jubilee and 2205/2210 though I never have.

I think the best Plexi/SL years were 67-70 maybe 71. The best JMP 2203/2204 years were 76/77-80-81 maybe 82.
 
My ‘67 Tremolo 50 is by far the best Marshall I’ve heard so far. It has such an organic, rich tone that it demands higher quality boosts. It’ll expose the cheaper/pedal-like sound of even what I thought were great boosts, so the only ones I use with it are my Klon or Coppersound Broadway. Otherwise best to just run it loud without a boost. Sounds also bigger than all my 100 watt amps except for my Gjika, Hiwatt and Blueface despite being just 50

My ‘79 JMP2203 is my next favorite and also killer when boosted with the klon. All the other Marshall’s that came out later were worse and not that worthwhile imo. Unfortunately most of these great amp brands peaked early and then went downhill (same with vox, fender, diezel, etc)

The DSL’s I guess can sound good for the price. The JVM’s have a nice voicing overall, but sound synthetic, basically like you’re hearing a recording of a really good Marshall and too compressed

The Cameron and Monomyth mods have been my favorite modded Marshall’s, but the 2 stock ones I’ve kept (‘67 tremolo 50 and ‘79 jmp2203) with my Klon boosting it imo sound better than any modded Marshall’s I’ve tried so far and I’ve even gotten to try one real Jose modded ‘79 JMP2203
 
My 2204 DIY that i put in an old Laney. Classic Tone transformer. Sounds crunchy and huge. But really, Superlead/1987x/JMP/2204 for me. They are just the sound I hear in my head. Which is why I would like to own one of those Suhr SL67 and call it a day.
 
I think when it comes to 2203/4, vertical input versions are usually very good although I’ve had a few mid 80s 2204s that were very nice. I’ve had a few dogs from the 70s, believe it or not. Lots of variation. But my common denominator with them, for what I like is the higher plate voltage-better tone.
 
I prefer 4-holers too. And I like a Superbass with a low bright cap like 300pF-500pF for different things than a SL with a monster 4700pF. I often jumper a SB but usually just a cranked Bright channel on a SL.
 
I think its one thing to say "best Marshall I ever heard". Many times in this instance there is a lot of other gear involved.
Its another to say "best Marshall I ever played". Again,most times other stuff is combined to get that owners tone.
And its another to say "best Marshall I ever owned"...and have it be a straight in setup with just a gate.

You really get lucky when the best Marshall you ever heard/played is one you own. Its even more lucky when one of your best gets away from you,and you get it back.
 
My 74 bastardchild 1959 SLP. It has original 74 dagnall iron, an early 80s JMP board, and I’ve modified it into a channel switched amp with solo boost capability. I built it for ozzy covers and it does it in spades.

 
NewWorldMan said:
I think I’ve had it all this side of an actual Jose, and my gold standard by which all Marshalls get judged is my stock ‘79 JMP 2203. That particular amp is always my reference for Marshall tone.
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Me too. Surprisingly tough amp to beat and has been over 40 years now since it came out
 
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Racerxrated said:
I’ve actually never played a JVM. Might have to one of these days.
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They work for me and my first three amps were a Marshall 50W2204 Mk2 2x12 combo, 100w 2203Mk2 Head and a 50W2204 Mk2 Head. Even cooler that my Dad bought me the combo to start me off. Still wish I had the combo and the 50 head. Amazing amps. Alternated between a DOD 250 and a Boss OD1 until I got into the whole ADA MP1 rack thing and years of going through amps etc...

I started with Marshalls, alot of different brand amps amps in between and finally came back to Marshall. JVM hits all the marks for me, from a guy who grew up on Marshalls.
 
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