Silly Redundant JCM800 question for guys who know!

[markD]

oh yeah, another thing i would do (and still do, as a matter of fact) is i would use my wah pedal as a frequency booster ala michael schenker - not really rock it back and forth, just step on it and move it between its mid-point and the full treble position...

i still do that with the rivera sometimes - when i go on an anti-effects mood...

[Shawn Lutz]

try an SD-1 in front for added solo boost try a GE7 with the level cranked up a little hot. I'm not big on delays but I used a DM3 infront too. For Chorus and delays I used an old Ibanez harmonizer/ddl unit in front of the 2203.

[Rupe]

Bottom line is that it's not the right amp for that situation. There are solutions but none of them are ideal beyond modding the amp.
That said, the best way to keep the amp stock and accomplish your goal of solos standing out is to get the other guitarist to back it down a notch during solos.

[jgcable]

My point of this thread is this.
There are alot of players out there who constantly hear about the 2203 and 2204's but don't realize their limitations... especially when they play play metal in a 2 guitar band which is very common.

[Hellbat]

There are also a lot of metal players out there that just chunk out pure rhythm riffage that don't need boosts, delays, choruses and won't be affected by those deficiencies. Unlike the 80s though, there's lots of options that will cover those JCM 800 tones and provide easy access to those features. A Splawn Quickrod for example. If someone buys an amp because they hear it nails some tone and don't research it's limitations before throwing down their cash, then they deserve to be stuck with it.

Information is so easy to find these days, and while a lot of the information on the internet is subjective you can kind of see a concensus and hopefully base your purchase on covering the specification side of things and then actually plugging in to an amp to make sure it produces a sound that you like.

[Newc]

Using an 80's JCM800 to play 80s Metal today is the same as not using a Floyded model of an un-Floyded guitar from the same time period and then complaining about not being able to do the Floyd dives.

They didn't use that because it was the best, they used it because it's what they had.

Today, as you well know, there are better amps than an '83 JCM800, and those better amps can get just as good of an 80s Hair Metal tone, if not better.

And yes, there are rack units that do it well enough to satisfy the average Hair Metal fan in whatever venue you're playing.
Only the other guitarists in the crowd will point out that you're not using "the right amp", but who gives a fuck what other guitarists think? And why?

[jgcable]

All true points. Amps have so much gain now its a real shocker when a first time 2203/2204 owner plugs in and hears how little gain one of these amps actually has. Of course, if you turn them way up they roar but that is a volume level that almost nobody can ever enjoy.

[Shawn Lutz]

I disagree...the 2203 and 2204's are popular because of the tone they produce, simplicity of design and reliability not because that is all everyone had. I have boutique amps myself but still love the JCM800 2203's tone to this day an no, other amps cannot replicate it accurately.

Another trick you can try for the boost is to use a volume pedal slightly suppressed down a bit, then open it up for the solos. I'm willing to bet if the 2204 weere the only amp you owned you would be forced to make it work. Although primarily a one trick pony you'd be surprised on how versatile it can be if you HAVE to be and have no other options. I have filled in for top 40 and wedding band when I only owned a 2203,

[markD]

from what i remember about my 2204 is that it was really good at noticing the differences in guitars....tele, strat, humbucker...all reacted differently with the 800 - much more so than any other amp i have ever owned. i kinda miss that.

ironically, my band is changing our direction a little and i am working on tweaking my rivera to do more of the jcm800 type of thing. i will still have all the great options with the channel switching and effects loop, i am just totally changing the tone/gain structure on the lead channel. we're going after more of a blue oyster cult/lynyrd skynyrd type guitar sound....

[bratfink]

I haven't read everyones responses (at work) but here's what I do:

I play death metal and thus am always on the Lead channel of my TSL100, So since I don't use the crunch channel I effectively have a one channel amp. I have an MXR GTOD which I run up front, during a solo I step on it. I run the gain up, the tone up (mostly mid on that pedal) and the level up slightly. That basically makes me cut through the mix more. One problem, get a noise gate to go with it!

[Newc]

But there again, if you're going for aesthetics - the audience looks at the entire stage and it's like looking through a time-window back to the 80s, where the amps and drums and mics and guitars are all period-correct - that's one thing. But, if your primary concern is the song itself, gear aesthetics are irrelevant. Granted, you can't do Round and Round through a TripleRec without someone going "hmmm, kinda, but not quite", even if they aren't a player, but for the most part, a Bassman 4x10 and a Rat will get you close enough for the audience to not care.

Obviously if you're in a specific tribute band, you want everything to look like that band as well as sound like it. You want a lefty playing SGs through old Laneys in your Sabbath tribute band. You want the 5-foot tall 8x12 HiWatt cabinet for your Who tribute band.

But if that's not the case, meh.

[roodyrocker]

You don't need to ditch the JCM 800. Yes there are other amps that can do things like solo boosts, effects loops, etc... But the JCM 800 works perfectly fine for 80's hard rock/metal even today. Just use it as the single channel amp that it is and realize that it doesn't have as much gain as those who have never played one think. You need a pedal pushing the front end. It worked back then and works now. BTW, the JCM 800 reissues (2203X) have effects loops in them. The JCM 800 is fairly close to the 1959 from the late 70's/early 80's. Thats basically the Randy Rhoads amp (1959RR) and I use it quite a bit live with pedals through the front end and thats it. I like that sound!

[jacksonkellyfreak]

i played through a 1959rr at a friends house. turned it up, and 5 min later the cops were at the door. that thing is scary loud.

[jgcable]

I think I may run my amp dry and use outboard fx at the board for delay and reverb. I like the way most of my amps sound better when nothing is plugged into the loop.

[roodyrocker]

i played through a 1959rr at a friends house. turned it up, and 5 min later the cops were at the door. that thing is scary loud.

I can understand that. When I gig with mine I usually have to turn it down AND I always use either my Faustine Phantom attenuator or Alex's Attenuator. About 3 years ago I saw Paul Gilbert using the 1959RR and even he had a THD Hot Plate sitting right up on top of it or it would literally be unuseable! That thing has to be the loudest amp I've ever hear in my life!
I love using it live, with a distorion/overdrive pedal in front of it rips

Rudy