What am I doing wrong with my 2203?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dirtyfunkg
  • Start date Start date
Research speakers for that amp.
Keep the gain lower than 6 or 7.
Keep the bass at 5 or so.
Boost with a Tubescreamer/SD-1.

If you can't take the boost off and get a passable clean with your guitar's volume knob then something ain't right.
 
cardinal":3cer9rns said:
I'm not sure any of those cabs is well suited to the amp. Before you start trying to perform surgery, try to find a Marshall-style rear loaded cab with G12Ms, G12-65s, or V30s.
More great advice. I would add any JCM 800 cab with 75s will work, they are more mid heavy than the current 75s. More GB to try are a Vintage Modern/Hendrix cab, 425a/b. They have G12C greenbacks, my favorite of all the other variants. If you use V30s make sure you run the mids pretty low on your eq. G12 80s are also a good find in 800 cabs, they will give you a good metal tone without being too scooped. Speakers are very important with a Marshall..my fav being the 65s or vented 75s from 84-85.
 
Find someone with a scope and look at the b+, that will tell you what's going on with the caps.
 
The most simple and easiest thing to do at the moment is to swap some tubes around.

You need extra tubes laying around anyway right?

Different cabs might help too but I certainly would not recommend replacing all of the capacitors just for the hell of it. A rebias may help too. I have tutorials on both if interested.
 
on a 2203 if you run the Gain on full it adds a significant amount of bass, i run mine with the gain on around 7, bass on full, Presence on 0 - then a Tubescreamer in front to push the gain and the mids.

Also cabs make a huge difference, the best I had was a Marshall 1982 with G12-80s in it.
 



He's got an "amp problem" not a speaker problem.

Also nobody sed replace "all the caps for no reason".

39 year old filter capacitors don't do much DC filtering after 39 years.

Loose an electrolitic and say good bye to your output transformer and thats where the MoJo is.

OP has some ideas go shop around for a good amp tech and talk to them.

Ghost notes, bad tone and a lousy bottom end are a result of lack of maintenance.

If you can't get good tone out of a JMP you're doing it wrong ...
 
Chester Nimitz":ah1xtrg8 said:



He's got an "amp problem" not a speaker problem.

Also nobody sed replace "all the caps for no reason".

39 year old filter capacitors don't do much DC filtering after 39 years.

Loose an electrolitic and say good bye to your output transformer and thats where the MoJo is.

OP has some ideas go shop around for a good amp tech and talk to them.

Ghost notes, bad tone and a lousy bottom end are a result of lack of maintenance.

If you can't get good tone out of a JMP you're doing it wrong ...
Sounds to me like you didn't read his post. Marshalls by nature don't have a tight bottom end. Different boosts in front DO make a difference, as do speakers. Instead of changing caps that don't need it, try other options first. I've had many vintage Marshalls and NONE have needed a cap change, including my 82 2204. I've had 2 late 60s Plexis and 3 early 70s metalface JMPs, all killer sounding with original caps and transformers. Many play older Fenders with original caps and they are still going strong. If he tries other options instead of throwing money at a tech he might find a solution. Maybe trying out cabs with different speakers at a store close by? Or as Dave said, try a depth mod. And he didn't say he can't get a good tone out of it, he just wants more tightness for metal.
 
back-to-the-future-giant-speakers.jpg




..... try this.

So you're saying try different $600 cabs instead of a $300 dollar cap job & tewbs ..... uh yeah that makes sense. Great advice.

Have you bought a Greenback cab lately ?
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Marsha ... ctads-adid^78244844802-device^c-plaid^140857981221-sku^110826572@ADL4GC-adType^PLA

Maybe he should change the oil and check the pressure in the tires.

If he's broke or just cheap he can always try an EQ.

Been playing Marshall 40 years i know what works its not Astrophysics its an amplifier.
 
Here's what I'm going to do:

1. Take it to my amp tech who is very knowledgeable about Marshalls. Have him verify that the capacitors are good and that the circuit is stock and just do a once over. I feel like, with an amp this age, it's just a good idea to have it checked out to verify everything is good. Also take gut shots so I can post here for your pleasure. :-). If the caps need to be replaced, have that done and check the sound again through my current cabs.

2. Test out some tubes in the V1 slot. I've got some 12AX7's sitting around so I can check them through.

3. I'll take it and demo it at my favorite Marshall shop in Chicago (Midwest Buy and Sell) with some cabs there to see if I find its mate. I'm kind of kicking myself because two days ago, GC used had a beat up Bogner 412ST with G12T75's and V30's x-pattern listed for $299. I was seriously considering buying it but it had no photos. I emailed about it but they didn't respond. They ended up posting photos after the damn thing sold.

I'm quite certain I don't want to mod this amp at all and keep it stock. I'll certainly play it, but part of why I bought it was because I expect its value to appreciate over the next several years. I took money out of savings to buy the amp because it effectively acts as a bond for me.
 
Good luck with it. Unsolicited advice, but 1) always call GC about used gear, never email and 2) probably better off just investing in a bond than an amp. But have fun with it!
 
Chester Nimitz":2n3cnc0v said:
back-to-the-future-giant-speakers.jpg




..... try this.

So you're saying try different $600 cabs instead of a $300 dollar cap job & tewbs ..... uh yeah that makes sense. Great advice.

Have you bought a Greenback cab lately ?
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Marsha ... ctads-adid^78244844802-device^c-plaid^140857981221-sku^110826572@ADL4GC-adType^PLA

Maybe he should change the oil and check the pressure in the tires.

If he's broke or just cheap he can always try an EQ.

Been playing Marshall 40 years i know what works its not Astrophysics its an amplifier.
You're still the same dipshit you've always been. And apparently you still can't read. I said take the amp to your nearest store and try out other cabs, you moron. And I also said to try different tubes as other have. Dipshit Dan. Same as it ever was.
 
Racerxrated":lwj2bma4 said:
Chester Nimitz":lwj2bma4 said:
back-to-the-future-giant-speakers.jpg




..... try this.

So you're saying try different $600 cabs instead of a $300 dollar cap job & tewbs ..... uh yeah that makes sense. Great advice.

Have you bought a Greenback cab lately ?
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Marsha ... ctads-adid^78244844802-device^c-plaid^140857981221-sku^110826572@ADL4GC-adType^PLA

Maybe he should change the oil and check the pressure in the tires.

If he's broke or just cheap he can always try an EQ.

Been playing Marshall 40 years i know what works its not Astrophysics its an amplifier.
You're still the same dipshit you've always been. And apparently you still can't read. I said take the amp to your nearest store and try out other cabs, you moron. And I also said to try different tubes as other have. Dipshit Dan. Same as it ever was.
Thats funny i wasn't a dipshit until i said something you didn't like and made you look foolish, such as life.
 
dirtyfunkg":x7z2pyp4 said:
Here's what I'm going to do:

1. Take it to my amp tech who is very knowledgeable about Marshalls. Have him verify that the capacitors are good and that the circuit is stock and just do a once over. I feel like, with an amp this age, it's just a good idea to have it checked out to verify everything is good. Also take gut shots so I can post here for your pleasure. :-). If the caps need to be replaced, have that done and check the sound again through my current cabs.

2. Test out some tubes in the V1 slot. I've got some 12AX7's sitting around so I can check them through.

3. I'll take it and demo it at my favorite Marshall shop in Chicago (Midwest Buy and Sell) with some cabs there to see if I find its mate. I'm kind of kicking myself because two days ago, GC used had a beat up Bogner 412ST with G12T75's and V30's x-pattern listed for $299. I was seriously considering buying it but it had no photos. I emailed about it but they didn't respond. They ended up posting photos after the damn thing sold.

I'm quite certain I don't want to mod this amp at all and keep it stock. I'll certainly play it, but part of why I bought it was because I expect its value to appreciate over the next several years. I took money out of savings to buy the amp because it effectively acts as a bond for me.
Sounds like a plan good luck with the amp.

Bare this in mind to most people [not all] put their crappiest tubes in an amp when they sell it.

First thing i do when buying an amp is a retube, bias and take it to my tech who is production Manager for MAGNATONE and get it looked over.
 
holy shit charveldan.... after all these years.... unbelievable... lol
 
cardinal":3cyb0c2g said:
Good luck with it. Unsolicited advice, but 1) always call GC about used gear, never email and 2) probably better off just investing in a bond than an amp. But have fun with it!

:D

An amp is more fun, that's for sure. But still, I'd rather not mod an older Marshall. If I wanted a modded Marshall sound, I'd choose from one of the several options currently available at a similar or lesser price point. I used to have a Peavey VTM that did great on this end. In fact, I wouldn't mind finding another VTM...
 
Chester Nimitz":1rbvtno4 said:
Racerxrated":1rbvtno4 said:
Chester Nimitz":1rbvtno4 said:
back-to-the-future-giant-speakers.jpg




..... try this.

So you're saying try different $600 cabs instead of a $300 dollar cap job & tewbs ..... uh yeah that makes sense. Great advice.

Have you bought a Greenback cab lately ?
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Marsha ... ctads-adid^78244844802-device^c-plaid^140857981221-sku^110826572@ADL4GC-adType^PLA

Maybe he should change the oil and check the pressure in the tires.

If he's broke or just cheap he can always try an EQ.

Been playing Marshall 40 years i know what works its not Astrophysics its an amplifier.
You're still the same dipshit you've always been. And apparently you still can't read. I said take the amp to your nearest store and try out other cabs, you moron. And I also said to try different tubes as other have. Dipshit Dan. Same as it ever was.
Thats funny i wasn't a dipshit until i said something you didn't like and made you look foolish, such as life.
No Dan, you've always been a dipshit. BTW when trying to rip someone, have someone proof your statements. Might help you look less stupid. Then again..Keep posting!
:lol: :LOL:
 
celestion-g12m-greenback-8-ohms-268546.jpg


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g1250gllynchback_zoom1.png





You're going to wanna run G12M 25 watt or GH30 30 watt Greenback, Blackback or Creamback speakers with a 4x12.

Or Lynchbacks in a 2x12.

I know 4x12's are a pain been lugging them around 4 decades but nothing like a 100 watt JMP & a 4x12.
 
Wanted to report back: I found the issue. It's the TS9DX pedal I was using. Swapped in my SD-1 and instantly found myself where I wanted to be. Tight, punchy, dynamic. So happy right now with this!
 
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