jcm 800 tubes???

[paultelestrat]

what tubes originally came in a 2204? (year:1982) i have 6550's in mine now . are these good enough ? they seem to be .

[Usurper666]

Re: jcm 800 tubes???

what tubes originally came in a 2204? (year:1982) i have 6550's in mine now . are these good enough ? they seem to be .

Marshall used 6550s for USA and Canadian amps from the mid 70s until 1986 due to EL34s being to fragile to make the trip overseas. They were able to get a more rugged EL34 in 1986 and switched back.

EL34s are THE tube for the Marshall sound, but 6550s are good too. Slayer, Zack Wylde and Trey Azagatoth (Morbid Angel) all use 6550s in their Marshalls. I just put a pair of the New Sensor Mullard EL34s in my 1982 2204 and they sound great.

Cheers,

CJ

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: jcm 800 tubes???

The USA bound 800s came with 6550s because these tubes were "supposedly"more reliable in the states,but the true Marshall tone(to me)is all about the EL34 tubes..

[The Golden Boy]

Re: jcm 800 tubes???

Most times I think I'm the only dummy who likes 6550s in my Marshall. I've owned amps with both types of tubes, and to me it's a different variation on the same theme. I still have the 6550s in my Marshall, and I have no plans to take out the EL-34s in my Park.

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: jcm 800 tubes???

Most times I think I'm the only dummy who likes 6550s in my Marshall. I've owned amps with both types of tubes, and to me it's a different variation on the same theme. I still have the 6550s in my Marshall, and I have no plans to take out the EL-34s in my Park.

Actually there are and were quite a few "Pros" that used or are still using the 6550 tubes...Zakk for one and I've read that Jimi did also? Like everything.different strokes...A die hard late 60s and early 70s Classic Rock guy like myself wouldn't use anything other than the EL34s....Well ok,most of us! LOL

[WhoFan]

Re: jcm 800 tubes???

I should check my early 80's Canadian issue 2204 head and see what is in it for tubes... the thing has been thru hell and modded... i have not been using it as i have been holding onto it until i can get it to a tech to do a good make over on it and return it to stock...... It's been sitting here for about a year un-used as it has too much noise....

WHOFAN

[Zerberus]

Re: jcm 800 tubes???

HA HA!! I´m in Europe, Mine had EL-34s

BTW, the camp can be set up /biased to swallow EL-34, 6550, and even 6L6 (like I had mine for a while)

[The Golden Boy]

Re: jcm 800 tubes???

More glass means more power!

[Gearjoneser]

Re: jcm 800 tubes???

I really like JJ E-34L's for 50W Marshalls, since it broadens the sound to be more like 100W tone. I still like EL-34's for 100W amps though, since you don't need that added headroom that E-34L's or 6550's supply. That's just what I've found in the Marshalls I've had.

[Surgeon]

Re: jcm 800 tubes???

I really like JJ E-34L's for 50W Marshalls, since it broadens the sound to be more like 100W tone. I still like EL-34's for 100W amps though, since you don't need that added headroom that E-34L's or 6550's supply. That's just what I've found in the Marshalls I've had.

Yep, that's exactly the tubes I have in mine... I just love 'em...

[Robert S.]

Re: jcm 800 tubes???

I have a 1984 2203 that originally had 6550s in it. It had a nice 80s/modern rock thing going on but it did lack a little something. I had it converted to EL34s and now it sounds like a Marshall should.

The EL34s were a big improvement.

[paultelestrat]

Re: jcm 800 tubes???

thanks everybody for chiming in.i'm pretty content with the sound i'm getting now , but consensus of all of you here would be to give a try.i'll need to get it biased after that ,right? is this something i could handle myself? i own a quality D.V.O.M. and i'm a mechanic.i spoke with WATTAGE and he just did one and said it was easy.