I was at the local guitar store with my guitar and I tried a 1986 jcm 800 2210. I can't find the specs for this amp so if someone could send me a link it would be perfect. The amp head is about 1200 bucks is that a good price? It sounds good and isn't beaten up but it does have a vintage or a worn look to it. I got some good tones from it and it was at "bedroom" level. I played it through a Marshall 1960A cab. The only tone I couldn't get was that "Slash" tone. I know that Slash has used jcm 800's for his live rigs in the past and was wondering what settings should I dial in on it to get close?
1986 jcm 800
- Thread starter Mike24121
- Start date
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: 1986 jcm 800
That amp will get you close enough to make slashs sound possible- no doubt whatsoever. OF course - even of you actually used slashs guitar and amp, and even if he set the eq for you, you still wont sound like him - the old cliche that "its all in the hands" is true. So yeah - its a perfect amp for that stuff...the rest is up to you.
However, it will pay to get an overdrive pedal. I like the mxr gtod with marshalls, but a boss sd1 or a tube screamer type pedal will get you in the ball park.
That amp will get you close enough to make slashs sound possible- no doubt whatsoever. OF course - even of you actually used slashs guitar and amp, and even if he set the eq for you, you still wont sound like him - the old cliche that "its all in the hands" is true. So yeah - its a perfect amp for that stuff...the rest is up to you.
However, it will pay to get an overdrive pedal. I like the mxr gtod with marshalls, but a boss sd1 or a tube screamer type pedal will get you in the ball park.
jmh151
Active member
Re: 1986 jcm 800
I have the combo version, the 4211, which is a 2210 flipped upside down with 2 Celestion GT75 speakers.
If you look at the Gun N Roses at the Ritz videos, Slash was using 2210's there, so that will give you an idea of what Slash sounds like through 2210's.
Even though it has a Master Volume, it helps if you get an attenuator like a THD Hotplate or Weber MASS, turn the master volume to around 7 and use the preamp gain to taste to get an awesome tone out of that amp at bedroom levels.
For that amp, I prefer the Zack Wylde overdrive as it seems to give a flatter boost and just give you more of the amp's natural tone and gain, while a Tubescreamer tends to add its own frequencies
Price wise, for the head, I think it's a bit high, but that's because 5 years ago I got my 4211 combo for $850- though in a year it did need servicing which cost $350. At that time I saw the 2210 heads going for $800, maybe the price has escalated in 5 years.
I have the combo version, the 4211, which is a 2210 flipped upside down with 2 Celestion GT75 speakers.
If you look at the Gun N Roses at the Ritz videos, Slash was using 2210's there, so that will give you an idea of what Slash sounds like through 2210's.
Even though it has a Master Volume, it helps if you get an attenuator like a THD Hotplate or Weber MASS, turn the master volume to around 7 and use the preamp gain to taste to get an awesome tone out of that amp at bedroom levels.
For that amp, I prefer the Zack Wylde overdrive as it seems to give a flatter boost and just give you more of the amp's natural tone and gain, while a Tubescreamer tends to add its own frequencies
Price wise, for the head, I think it's a bit high, but that's because 5 years ago I got my 4211 combo for $850- though in a year it did need servicing which cost $350. At that time I saw the 2210 heads going for $800, maybe the price has escalated in 5 years.
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Brow
Active member
Re: 1986 jcm 800
I've got a later (89' I think) 2210 head and I've had it since I was 15 as I got it cheap.
1 thing I will say is that these amps will not sound good quiet, they need to be moving some air otherwise I find them to be very dull sounding.
I'll also 2nd the point of the attenuator, it's about the only way you can crank these amps enough to get them cooking. Although doing this doesn't factor in speaker volume, having the valves cranked up a bit more than helps.
I don't use mine too much nowadays as I prefer the versatility my Splawn Quick Rod gives me but the 2210 can be a great sounding amp and I'll never get rid of mine.
I've got a later (89' I think) 2210 head and I've had it since I was 15 as I got it cheap.
1 thing I will say is that these amps will not sound good quiet, they need to be moving some air otherwise I find them to be very dull sounding.
I'll also 2nd the point of the attenuator, it's about the only way you can crank these amps enough to get them cooking. Although doing this doesn't factor in speaker volume, having the valves cranked up a bit more than helps.
I don't use mine too much nowadays as I prefer the versatility my Splawn Quick Rod gives me but the 2210 can be a great sounding amp and I'll never get rid of mine.
JOLLY
Super Simonologist
Re: 1986 jcm 800
I don't want slash's exact tone it's just that the way my amp is set up now it's sort of slash's tone but altered.
Is he really using a jcm 800 2210 in the ritz concert. I read his book and he used the amp that he recorded "appetite" with for the appetite tour which was not a jcm 800. As I recall he lost the amp after ritz but it's been awhile since I read it and I could be mistaken. Also I couldn't get the zakk wylde style pinch harmonics to ring out on it.
I don't want slash's exact tone it's just that the way my amp is set up now it's sort of slash's tone but altered.
Is he really using a jcm 800 2210 in the ritz concert. I read his book and he used the amp that he recorded "appetite" with for the appetite tour which was not a jcm 800. As I recall he lost the amp after ritz but it's been awhile since I read it and I could be mistaken. Also I couldn't get the zakk wylde style pinch harmonics to ring out on it.
Brow
Active member
Re: 1986 jcm 800
Looking at videos on YouTube the control and LED layout on his amps looks like it could be a 2205/2210.
The 2205 and 2210 are similar to the Jubilee (I think?) in the fact that they use Diode clipping to up the gain from the normal single channel JCM800s. This, to my ears atleast, means they miss some of the smoothness of the tone that Slash is known for (especially on neck soloing tones). Also, his tone on the Ritz videos I've found is somewhat thinner and sharper than what I've heard of him before. Although to be fair, I've always thought his live tone was alot worse than that on record.
Looking at videos on YouTube the control and LED layout on his amps looks like it could be a 2205/2210.
The 2205 and 2210 are similar to the Jubilee (I think?) in the fact that they use Diode clipping to up the gain from the normal single channel JCM800s. This, to my ears atleast, means they miss some of the smoothness of the tone that Slash is known for (especially on neck soloing tones). Also, his tone on the Ritz videos I've found is somewhat thinner and sharper than what I've heard of him before. Although to be fair, I've always thought his live tone was alot worse than that on record.
Re: 1986 jcm 800
That smoothness was the only tone I couldn't get yesterday trying out the amp. I love to play solos with my neck pickup on my les paul with the tone off like he does, I thought maybe it was an EQ thing the reason why I couldn't get that tone.
That smoothness was the only tone I couldn't get yesterday trying out the amp. I love to play solos with my neck pickup on my les paul with the tone off like he does, I thought maybe it was an EQ thing the reason why I couldn't get that tone.
jmh151
Active member
Re: 1986 jcm 800
I get a smooth tone my using a THD Hotplate then putting the master volume, drive channel volume and drive channel gain at about 7, anything above 7 on the gain and you start to really notice the diode clipping, which is like using a stomp box booster before the amp.
by the way, the heralded Jubilee series and original slash series, based off the Jubilee, had diode clipping as well in order to get higher gain.
I will admit that it's very easy to get 80s metal sounds like slayer and anthrax out of this amp though
I get a smooth tone my using a THD Hotplate then putting the master volume, drive channel volume and drive channel gain at about 7, anything above 7 on the gain and you start to really notice the diode clipping, which is like using a stomp box booster before the amp.
by the way, the heralded Jubilee series and original slash series, based off the Jubilee, had diode clipping as well in order to get higher gain.
I will admit that it's very easy to get 80s metal sounds like slayer and anthrax out of this amp though
Re: 1986 jcm 800
what do you think about the TS vs Zakk pedal with a 2205? any experience?? i have an attenuator that I run with mine.
what do you think about the TS vs Zakk pedal with a 2205? any experience?? i have an attenuator that I run with mine.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: 1986 jcm 800
The more you turn the power tubes up, the fatter and smoother the tone on those big marshalls. You can feel it as well as hear it. Your guitar starts to sustain like a violin. You wont get that feel and sound until about 6 or more on the master volume. However, you can always roll back the treble and presence at lower volumes...and a nice od pedal will help.
Re; Zakk pedal vs ts...the zakk has more bite than a ts (808), but with a marshall, the gt od sounds fatter at lower volumes than the zakk. The zakk is really for screaming leads - and im guessing best with active pickups too - which have a wider frequrncy response than passives. Bear in mind that inside the zakk or the gtod is a toggle switch that will give you the sound of either pedal...you just have to disassemble the pedal to get to it.
Re: jet city....glad you like it.
The more you turn the power tubes up, the fatter and smoother the tone on those big marshalls. You can feel it as well as hear it. Your guitar starts to sustain like a violin. You wont get that feel and sound until about 6 or more on the master volume. However, you can always roll back the treble and presence at lower volumes...and a nice od pedal will help.
Re; Zakk pedal vs ts...the zakk has more bite than a ts (808), but with a marshall, the gt od sounds fatter at lower volumes than the zakk. The zakk is really for screaming leads - and im guessing best with active pickups too - which have a wider frequrncy response than passives. Bear in mind that inside the zakk or the gtod is a toggle switch that will give you the sound of either pedal...you just have to disassemble the pedal to get to it.
Re: jet city....glad you like it.
jmh151
Active member
Re: 1986 jcm 800
It's just personal taste, you have to try both. Marshalls are Mid Heavy, TS-9's tend to have a mid spike, so sometimes it can be overkill, robbing your low end. The TS-9 DX has different settings to overcome this problem
It's just personal taste, you have to try both. Marshalls are Mid Heavy, TS-9's tend to have a mid spike, so sometimes it can be overkill, robbing your low end. The TS-9 DX has different settings to overcome this problem
Brow
Active member
Re: 1986 jcm 800
Yep, that's kinda where I was going earlier when I agreed with you about either needing them cranked or through an attenuater etc.
Awesome sounding amps but need to be cranked to get anything out of them.
Yep, that's kinda where I was going earlier when I agreed with you about either needing them cranked or through an attenuater etc.
Awesome sounding amps but need to be cranked to get anything out of them.
