Re: Marshall JMP-1
I had one, it was ok. It sure as hell wasn't anything like the ads showed... remember how it had a closeup of a circuit board, with plexis, JCM800s, JCM900s, JTM45s, etc on it? Said this preamp gets the exact tones, etc.
It doesn't.
But, it does do a decent 'generic marshall' tone. If that's where your tone quest begins and ends, then hey, go for it. I got the best sounds from mine with a BBE between it and a peavey classic 60 EL84 power amp, but I'm sure a VHT would really help a lot.
However, if I was in the market for a tube preamp, I'd rather buy the following:
Peavey Rockmaster (sounds better to me, only 3 channels, but a hell of a lot cheaper)
Mesa Quad or Studio preamp (studio for same price or a little cheaper, quad for a few bucks more. Each own the JMP1)
Soldano SP-77 Only two channels, but it sounds so much better, and changing tubes in it WILL change the sound. Changing tubes in the marshall has very little effect on the tone, or at least it did on mine.
ADA MP1 - starting to climb in price, I remember when $100 would buy a used one. I prefer these too.
I would also like to say that the companion fx processor - the JFX-1 - sounds REALLY good. I prefer the intellifex, but that JFX sounds so good that it makes you wonder if all their R&D went on it and then they just slapped the JMP1 together over a long weekend.
As always, just my opinion, if you like yours, that's all that matters.
Pete
I had one, it was ok. It sure as hell wasn't anything like the ads showed... remember how it had a closeup of a circuit board, with plexis, JCM800s, JCM900s, JTM45s, etc on it? Said this preamp gets the exact tones, etc.
It doesn't.
But, it does do a decent 'generic marshall' tone. If that's where your tone quest begins and ends, then hey, go for it. I got the best sounds from mine with a BBE between it and a peavey classic 60 EL84 power amp, but I'm sure a VHT would really help a lot.
However, if I was in the market for a tube preamp, I'd rather buy the following:
Peavey Rockmaster (sounds better to me, only 3 channels, but a hell of a lot cheaper)
Mesa Quad or Studio preamp (studio for same price or a little cheaper, quad for a few bucks more. Each own the JMP1)
Soldano SP-77 Only two channels, but it sounds so much better, and changing tubes in it WILL change the sound. Changing tubes in the marshall has very little effect on the tone, or at least it did on mine.
ADA MP1 - starting to climb in price, I remember when $100 would buy a used one. I prefer these too.
I would also like to say that the companion fx processor - the JFX-1 - sounds REALLY good. I prefer the intellifex, but that JFX sounds so good that it makes you wonder if all their R&D went on it and then they just slapped the JMP1 together over a long weekend.
As always, just my opinion, if you like yours, that's all that matters.
Pete
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