2203 = Jcm800 2203?

[Axl H]

Hey.

I am out to check out a 1979 Marshall 2203 MKII head, but what is the difference between that and a JCM800 2203?

I mean in sound and internals, i know the exterior is different.

And how would a either AVT 4x12" cab or a Engl 1X12" do perhaps?

Or maybe a used 1912/1922/1936?

Thanks,

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

Nothing
Just the name basicly!

 

[Axl H]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

Cool and thanks again mate, your help was appreciated.

What about cabs?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

Uh Cabs...hmm
Gotta get back to that one!

 

[Robert S.]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

The late 70s 2203s and the 2203s through about 1986 with the verticle inputs are extremely simular. The JCM line was started after Narshall wanted to get out of a lincesing/sellers agreement.

I have a 1984 vert input 2203 that I had converted over to EL-34s from the 6550s that it origanally required. The 79 2203s were already PCP board amps but they are still considered to be more solid than the moden stuff.

Get that bad boy and have it re-tubed with EL-34s and front end it with a TS-9, a Rat or a SD-1. It's a killer amp.

As for cabs and speakers, thats somewhat of a personal call. I like my 800 1960A cab with the g12h75s but lots of folks like a combination of greenbacks and vintage 30s or vintage 30s with the 75s. My 2203 actually sounds killer through my Mesa 3/4 back cabs with Celestion 90s so there are a lot of different ways to go.

Get the head first, those 70s 2203s are getting harder to come by.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

For cabs DO NOT get marshall mg or avt, get the 1960's.

 

[AdmiralB]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

Up until about '82 there are no differences. Sometime around then they changed the presence control from a 5K pot with DC on it (Fender tweed style) to a 25K pot without (brown/white Fender style). Tonally the difference is inaudible, the earlier design is 'scratchy' when you move the presence control.

In '84 they changed the PCB to the version with the pots and jacks mounted on it. They dropped a filter can then, and added some snubber caps since the PCB was screwed up and was borderline unstable. They also added the line out. In '86 they dropped two more can caps and some of the components got a little cheaper (1/4W resistors in some places instead of 1/2W, etc.).

 

[HolyDirt]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

As said, there's no difference. I own one of these and I must say it is a wonderful sounding amp. However, it is subjective. What kind of tones are you looking for? I have mine coupled with a Avatar 4 X 12 cabinet loaded with v30's and g12h30's. With the right pedals, it can give out a HUUUUUGE variety of sounds.

 

[wixedmords]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

It is likely a JMP series 2203, which looks a little different than 80's 2203's.

Great amp, you should snag it.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

My 84 is the verticle input non-pcb board mounted head. I was under the impression that the change to pcb mounted pots and jacks happened closer to 86.

 

[AdmiralB]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

My 84 is the verticle input non-pcb board mounted head. I was under the impression that the change to pcb mounted pots and jacks happened closer to 86.

It was a running change in '84, I've had '84s with both setups.

There was a big across-the-board revision in '86 driven by Marshall's contract with Rose-Morris expiring; this is when they reverted to EL34s worldwide. At this time they decided that the voltages were low enough that they didn't need the totem-poled filter caps, so the 100W models went down to four cans.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

There was a big across-the-board revision in '86 driven by Marshall's contract with Rose-Morris expiring;

AFAIK, the Rose-Morris contract expired in 81, which is when the JMP series and Park were discontinued in favor of the JCM series.

 

[AdmiralB]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

You're right about that, the 800 series was a response to old stock in the R-M distribution system.

Regardless, the '86 redesign brought EL34s back to the US and Japan and 'cheapened' things somewhat, but the move away from flying leads happened in '84.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

Sounds right to me.

Just an opinion but I think the pre-86 800s sound more "Marshally" when changed over to EL-34s but they do sound good either way. I know my 2203 has more squish and stronger mids with the EL-34s installed. The 6550s are a little tighter and edgier and seems to do the Randy Rhoads/Zack thing better but for a more traditional Marshall chunk and grunt the EL-34s are hard to beat.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: 2203 = Jcm800 2203?

I've got an 81 JMP, so they were around then, I read somewhere the cosmetic change came in 82. Mine came with 6550s, it sounded good, but they were mismatched, and I heard the KT88s have a bigger sound so I switched them out.

Back in Feb. Jeff Seal rewired mine adding elements from the Jub circuit and the 87 circuit. The master is more useful, and there is more gain on tap. He also plate loaded the tone stack so it is more dynamic. I'm going to try some EL34s soon just to hear the difference.

Luke