jcm 800 - questions about different models " 2204,2205,2203 etc.

[skarhead]

hi

is it only an urban legend that :

2 channel heads sound worse than single channel (2205 vs 2203 ) ?

and also is it a myth or a fact that all those reissue 800 sound worse than the originals ?

[JerryP]

Re: jcm 800 - questions about different models " 2204,2205,2203 etc.

A lot of people prefer the single channel 2204/2203 over the 2205/2210 models. I wouldn't say they're worse, just different. The channel switchers can sound pretty good too. Michael Schenker and Tom Morello never had a problem making them sound good.
Jerry

[Lordofgain]

Re: jcm 800 - questions about different models " 2204,2205,2203 etc.

Most of the "big name" people that I have talked to i.e. Trace at Voodoo and Paul Rivera Sr. will tel you that you lose something in the tone when you have more than one channel. I dont know if this is just the way older guys that have been doing amps for a long time have been conditioned to think or not. We shall see when I get my hands on an Engl Savage in about three weeks. Not one channel or two or three but FOUR channels! [img]graemlins/drool2.gif[/img]

[LRGman]

Re: jcm 800 - questions about different models " 2204,2205,2203 etc.

To my ears the 2 channel JCM 800's have a better lead sound but a thin rythym sound. I had 2 50 watts side by side switching heads through the exact same setups and thats what I thought.

I sold the 2 channel though cause the single was my first marshall bought new in 87.

I was playing through a rackmoumt tube driver(chandler) and a fusion plus.

Actually though some marshalls seem to suck and others rock regardless of model. Back then I think they kindof mixed and matched parts or something. ANyway play what you buy.

Oh yea the 2 channels are great cause of the reverb.Also some heads are shipped with el34's and some have 6550's


2205-50wt 2 channel
2203-100wt master head

[ June 13, 2004, 03:14 AM: Message edited by: LRGman ]

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: jcm 800 - questions about different models " 2204,2205,2203 etc.

If you want an 800, find an old 2203 (100watt) 2204 (50watt) vertical input jack, single channel 1981-1983 master volume one with 6550 tubes etc if you can (getting rare).

After that in the mid 80s, they changed power supply design in the 2204 (the 2203 followed later),increasing noise and changing the tone to a more thin sound and also eventually went to PCB mounted controls and EL34 tubes.

The later dual channel 800s 2210 (100watt) 2205 (50 watt) had a bit more gain somewhat, some diode are induced, but retain the bogus power supply design and the clean (if you can call it that) channel crosstalked a lot with the gain channel and those amps didn't sound as good as the older single channel ones at high volumes.