JCM 800's: getting up close and nasty.

[GodOfRhythm]

Hey guys,

((oh no, GOR is posting another fucking noob post!! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]))

I will soon finally have some more funds available (being a student and being gear ain't easy...) and my heart is set on a Mark IIC+, but since the money for that isn't going to be here anytime soon, I'm gonna get the next dreamamp in line: a JCM 800 head! Now, another thing, this'll be my first tube amp! I know virtually nothing about tube stuff yet...

I've done some research into these: like the difference between the vertical inputs and the horizontal inputs (cheaper, corner cutting verison). So I'm fairly certain I want a vertical imput one.

but a couple of things still elude me.

Ok here we go...

1) The earlier JCM 800's are said to be very much like the 1959's and their predecessors, and they don't sound like the 'real JCM 800's'. But starting from which year are the JCM 800's the REAL rock/metal monsters we all know? So I don't wind up buying a too early model. Are some years more desirable?

2) I do NOT want a 2205 or a 2210 (problems with the cleanchannel bleeding through to the dist. channel, which is a well known issue), also because of the added SS high-gain circuitry. Call me a POS purist, but I don't want my Marshall to have any SS stuff in it. That being said, I'm stuck with the 2203 and 2204. Since this amp will be used primarily at home (hotplated probably), I was going more towards the 50 watts version, but some people I've spoken to say the 100 watt version is better for rhythm, I know fuck all bout these amps, so I was wondering what your opinions are on this?

3) Another thing i noticed was there are different versions in the 2203 and 2204. Some have 6550 tubes in the pa, others are EL34's. What exact difference does this make? And which set-up is more desirable for rock/metal.

4) With no regard to all that bullshit, which JCM 800 would you recommend for rock and heavy metal (Metallica, Iron Maiden, etc....) I am aware I'll probably have to use pedals, eq's, etc...

Of course any additional info would be most appreciated! I can't wait to suck all the info up and process it! [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

Thank ya bro's, in advance!! [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

Ward

[horns666]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

I had a bunch of JCM 800s...Red ones , black ones , green ones..a fawn one

My very faves were the 100 wt, Lead series with channel switching and reverb...they had the most amount of gain and they sounded killer ouuta the box (no stomps) ..Criss Oliva all the way IMO...

I had a early red 50 wt lead series single channel...that SOB was LOUD...like and old Super Lead....teeth shattering loud...but you NEEDED stomps in the front to get anything Metal out of them...but NOT the channel switching ones..

The ones they made right before the 900s...which were crap to me...they ruined Marshall at that point...

and the DSLs / TSLs...are even worse...Marshall just took a big dump in a black tolex box ...slapped their name on it...and the humans still bought it...they'll buy anything...because they are stupid...

that's what I think!

[jgcable]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

Just keep in mind that if you throw a preamp/distortion or boost pedal in front of a 2203/4 you are basically adding SS to your amp. Most metal players agree that you will need a pedal with either of those models.

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

Aha, that makes sense I guess. I'll just put my anti-2205/2210 feeling on the reputation of its bleeding-through channels then. thanks for the heads up! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Fragle]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

well, and let me assure you that i'll post an in-depth review of the 2210 once i got it [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

You can't go wrong with the either 2203 or 2204. I've owned a few of both and kept only the 2203. The 6550's will retain clarity at louder volume levels than EL34's. They are clean and powerful. I have the 6550 version made in 83. With a 2203 you can pull 2 tubes and run at 50 Watts if you want but in all honesty, there really isn’t that much of a difference in volume levels between the two (50/100). I do run mine with 2 tubes and some times throw in THD yellow jackets and EL-84's to drop it down further to about 20 watts.

You do have to slam the front end with a pedal. I've uses a Boss SD-1 and sometimes a GE7. I have a Soldano Hot Mod in V2 which doubles the amount of gain so no pedals are used right now by me [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] The 2203 and 2204 is not a modern gain master by any stretch of the imagination but it is pure, balls out tone. I love mine. If you are into newer nu-metal or brutal distortions it may not work for you.

[Dolan]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

Ditto what Shawn said but I use a Fulldrive in front of my Marshalls. Cant go wrong with a JCM 800 or an earlier JMP.

[MBreinin]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

[ QUOTE ]
The ones they made right before the 900s...which were crap to me...they ruined Marshall at that point...

and the DSLs / TSLs...are even worse...Marshall just took a big dump in a black tolex box ...slapped their name on it...and the humans still bought it...they'll buy anything...because they are stupid...

that's what I think!

[/ QUOTE ]

Bill, I bought a 900 1x12 combo when they first came out (and the 800s were sitting on the discount rack at Veneman's!!) and I loved it. Don't trash my 900 man!!!! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Hell, I wish I still had it.

Really, it had liquid distortion at zero volume, was loud as hell if you wanted it to be, had a loop, reverb and gain that went to 20.....and I really thought it sounded killer.

I also had some "baby" head and 4x10 cabinet a while after that...I am not sure what it was, but it was all tube and came from the 800 series days. It was pretty killer too....the fiance' at the time made me sell it since it was too big for the apartment we were in. I think it was a 30 or 40w head...but I am reaching. It was not one of those "micro stacks" it had a 4x10 cab.

Mike

[pagemalicious]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

yeah man i have a JCM 900 2100. i personally think it's an amazing amp. One of the best i've played through.

[siggy14]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

I purchased this and have never been happier,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1

best marshall sound you can get with massive gain, great tone!! They always say soldano is the best marshall sounding amp you can get, and i now agree, the yamaha T series were made by Mike Soldano and great bang for the buck.

[zeegler]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

[ QUOTE ]
I purchased this and have never been happier,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1

best marshall sound you can get with massive gain, great tone!! They always say soldano is the best marshall sounding amp you can get, and i now agree, the yamaha T series were made by Mike Soldano and great bang for the buck.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dude, ya gotta stop it. I'm gonna end up buying one, and the wife is gonna be pissed at me! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[siggy14]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I purchased this and have never been happier,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1

best marshall sound you can get with massive gain, great tone!! They always say soldano is the best marshall sounding amp you can get, and i now agree, the yamaha T series were made by Mike Soldano and great bang for the buck.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dude, ya gotta stop it. I'm gonna end up buying one, and the wife is gonna be pissed at me! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Serious man, i was blown away by it, has completly taken away my marshall and soldano itch! Great distortion, i guess it helps the previous own retubed it with JJ's. Defintly worth the money if you can afford one now. I have been watching them for two years and the prices keep slowly drifting up.

[chrisolson]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

[ QUOTE ]
I purchased this and have never been happier,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...N%3AIT&rd=1

best marshall sound you can get with massive gain, great tone!! They always say soldano is the best marshall sounding amp you can get, and i now agree, the yamaha T series were made by Mike Soldano and great bang for the buck.

[/ QUOTE ]

KILLER amps. I had a T-100C and the T-50 head. God I miss those.. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] Everything you could want in a Marshall and MORE. No distortion pedal needed, loud, clear, etc., etc., They reminded me a lot of the Soldano SP-77 preamp's sound if you've ever heard those. I sold my SP-77 when I got these amps due to the similarities in the tone.

[horns666]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

John and I bought 900s when they came out...they just didn't have enough gain and absolutely NO bottom end whatsoever...

but I would take a 900 over a crappy DSL / TSL anyday...I bought one of those when they came out...I couldn't get it out of my house fast enough....it was pathetic!

you gotta remeber something...I'm a balls out metal shredder...and NOTHING more...no clean pretty crap for the Bill Z Bub...just shred.

I thought those damn things sounded like a blues or country amp...or classic rock...that's not me....I think that stuff is gay. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[zeegler]

Re: JCM 800\'s: getting up close and nasty.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I purchased this and have never been happier,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1

best marshall sound you can get with massive gain, great tone!! They always say soldano is the best marshall sounding amp you can get, and i now agree, the yamaha T series were made by Mike Soldano and great bang for the buck.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dude, ya gotta stop it. I'm gonna end up buying one, and the wife is gonna be pissed at me! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Serious man, i was blown away by it, has completly taken away my marshall and soldano itch! Great distortion, i guess it helps the previous own retubed it with JJ's. Defintly worth the money if you can afford one now. I have been watching them for two years and the prices keep slowly drifting up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, regardless of the prices going up, I gotta stop buying stuff. I really, really want one, but I'm going to wait until next May when I get my bonus check, and then I am getting a T-50 for sure!!! Hopefully I can get one with the mod already done.