Opinions : Marshall JCM2000 and JCM900

[horns666]

Yep, a guy here went recently through 3 new DSLs before he got one that didn't combust... We had one a while here to play with and quickly Ebayed it after trying everything we had to make it sound good. The best being a Korg Hyperdistortion into the clean channel. Which we found sorta silly with an amp of that price.

I've owned some 900 series 4100 Dual reverbs and thought they were "ok". Took a lot to get them breathing any fire. Slamming the front with a hot wirless, EMGs and using a lot of parametric EQ, I got it pretty cool and enjoyed it. My 5150s slayed it on the low end tho. Had sweet leads. Lotsa cold solder joint issues with both I had.

I still push for the 800s really. Best reliability and nicest tone IMO from a Marshall short of modded older units.

..and I was there every step of the way for all of this..

That was my totaly gay DSL2000 we Ebayed off..I got a free new Marshall cab out of that deal tho..My Uber is sitting on it!

Yeah that Hyper Distortion is a great pedal..but in the clean channel of the DSL2000..I couldn't even get it loud enoud to play over our drummer on my own..and it literally sounded like a tiny transistor radio compared to your VHT/CAE+3...I sure remember that night!!

[arjacobson]

I have owned both of them- I had the model 4100(?) dual reverb jcm 900 and i had a dsl 100. Couldn't stand the jcm 900- The dsl wasn't too bad but was never quite happy with it. I got hooked up to a jcm 800 reissue modded by splawn and am totally in love with that. I also HAD to buy a splawn quick rod. Both are great amps. My advice is to troll ebay or the splawn forums for a modded marshall or an actual splawn head. Just my 2 cents. Jake

[Racerx2k]

I've loaded mine with Groove Tube EL-34's and the secret weapon is a real Mullard preamp tube. For about 100 bucks you turn any 900 into a boutique amp that blows away amps at twice the price.

Listen to my 900 live- it don't lie when it's a live recording- I'm playing the EVH through a Vox Clyde wah, TS808 straight into the 900 coming out 2 cabinets.
settings:

Bass=7
Mid=7
Treb=2
Gain=7
Solo I hit the TS808 only:
www.thekeystoneband.com 'Sunshine Of Your Love' on the audio page.

That's probably the best JCM900 I'VE personally ever heard. did yours come, stock, with EL34s, or did you have it converted? I've heard you can convert them, but nobody ever said what was entailed, in order to do it.

[Mario8672]

I know, JCM800s (vertical input) are the BEST marshall's IMO, but they're not too plentiful on craigslist in toronto

[Strat God]

Thanks racerx -it's easy to convert- just re-bias for the EL34's and your good. A hotter preamp tube is recommended - get a Mullard and your set.

That's probably the best JCM900 I'VE personally ever heard. did yours come, stock, with EL34s, or did you have it converted? I've heard you can convert them, but nobody ever said what was entailed, in order to do it.

[Robotechnology]

My favorite Marshall of the JCM 900 and JCM 2000 series is the only Marshall I've ever purchased actually... a JCM 900 SL-X 100W Hi Gain Master Volume head.

[darrellm]

Interesting reading this thread

Was gonna buy the TSL when it first came out (upgrading from a JCM800, big mistake), but tried it in the shop and just couldn't get the sound I wanted out of it. Had tried the JCM900 but it didn't sound right to me (other guitarist in the band also sold his JCM900).

Went for the JCM200 DSL in the end (50W) and have been using it live ever since (10 years or so), in fact I'll be playing it at tonight's gig. To make it a bit more versatile I use a Boogie V-Twin in front for rhythm/clean, then switch everything out for lead (just guitar, Marshall and a bit of delay...bliss!). Personally, I love the sound of it - play mainly classic rock...Lizzy, Maiden, UFO, you get the drift.

As other have said, JCM800 is the one to have, most of my mates had them in the 80s, we all sold them and we all regretted it!

Just my opinion, of course