Battle of the JCM800s

[YJM_Rocks]

Whats your favorite JCM800 model? I know this thread has been done before.

I found a JCM800 with 1960a cab for sale locally for $900. I'm not sure what series or year it is yet. I sent the guy an email. Is this a good price?

Oh...Yeah...How loud will I have to turn up the JCM800 to get decent sound with an attenuator? As long as it doesn't require earplugs or rattle the house I'm fine. Also, what attenuator? cheaper the better.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

2203 or 2204. A lot of 2204's do well with better output transformers in them. Marshall couldn't find a cheapo 100 watt tranny, so the 2203's have the good stuff, stock.

My personal favs were my 2203 1/4 stack (with 2 EVM12Ls) and the 4010 (2204 head in a 1-12 combo) that I later downsized to.

 

[krall]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

I've always loved the thrash metal sounds from the 2210 (100 watts) model.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

I prefer the 2203 with 4 x 12" Orange Cabinbet and a Distortion pedal and MXR 10 band EQ infront of it.Without mods ,pedals and a really good cab ,JCM 800 is not a pleasure to play for me.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

I had a little 4010 combo--single channel, master volume, 50 watts with 112 and mine was upgraded to the 85-watt Celestion. No reverb. No efx loop. Basic amp.

Smokin' little amp, sounded great--WHEN I could get the gain and volume past 5. Just a little grind, and a lot sweet singing tone. Sounded terrible at low volume. It wasn't always compatible with the distortion pedals I tried with it. Knobs constantly fell off--would drive me crazy. Not the best amp for me and my style, but there were some memorable gigs with that amp.

I think I prefer the 50-watt single channel MV amps. If you just want some straight-ahead rock tone, these are where it's at. The channel-switchers were disappointing--didn't meet my expectations, on several levels.

I finally went with Mesa amps, which fit my needs better.

Bill

 

[Rich_T]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

The 50 watt master volumes are my faves too. Not least becuase I run one. They sound better in red too.

I should add, it is a 1980 JMP version.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

My 4210 combo is nice and crunchy, with a useable clean channel too... not that many folks like them though.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

I really like my 1984 2203. I had it converted to EL34s a couple of years ago and I couldn't be happier with the amp.

I have been running the running the master at 4 and the pre bewteen 2 and 4 and I get very nice clean and slightly pushed tones when I lean on the guitar a bit through a Mesa 112 3/4 back cab. I front end it with a TS9 and either a vintage ProCo Rat or a Twin Tube Classic and it gets more than nasty that way.

The 2203s and 2204s aren't high gain monsters but they do have ample gain out of the box just like all Marshalls were before the 2205, 2210 and 900 series were released. Any of the 800s are a solid platform to start from if you like a more classic type of Marshall tone that front ends well.

$900 for a solid 800 head and 1960 cab is a good deal no matter which model you get. There were also Plexi models in the 800 line but you don't see them often and the 2205/2210 models are getting scarce. If I found another 800 with a cab I'd have to think about it. The only other Marshall I'd really like to have is my buddies 1969 100 watt Plexi but he wont sell it.

At least he leaves it in my basement!

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

Don't overlook the later JMP Master Volume models - the circuit is the same as the early JCM800s. I recently acquired a 1980 2104 (a 2204 in a 2x12 combo format) and it is awesome for classic rock. I must have been insane to sell the one I had in the early 80s!

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

I have been running the running the master at 4 and the pre bewteen 2 and 4 and I get very nice clean and slightly pushed tones when I lean on the guitar a bit through a Mesa 112 3/4 back cab. I front end it with a TS9 and either a vintage ProCo Rat or a Twin Tube Classic and it gets more than nasty that way.

I really need to try that, now I have a Twin Tube Classic in the house

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

Well the guy hasn't emailed me back yet. I might call him today if I don't get an email reply. I am really curious to know which JCM800 this is but I'm a little nervous to spend 900 bucks.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

I have the 4211, which is the 2x12 combo of the 2210. I love it, with a Duncan Distortion it gives a Metallica Kill Em All Tone. It's a channel switching model, clean and overdrive, but the clean channel sucks. The overdrive makes up for it.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

Well the guy hasn't emailed me back yet. I might call him today if I don't get an email reply. I am really curious to know which JCM800 this is but I'm a little nervous to spend 900 bucks.

What are you waiting for?!

Like Robert said, $900 for a JCM 800 half-stack is a solid deal no matter which model head it is & almost regardless of condition unless it's completely thrashed & trashed. Even if you ended up not digging it you'd have no problems getting your money back, maybe even make a little.

The "kool" 800s are the 2203 & 2204 single channels... the 2205/2210 are the channel switchers which have lots of merit as well. They use diode clipping & a lot of people don't like that sound... but Tom Morello has made every Rage record with a stock 2205 & that's a wicked tone so who cares?!

By the mid 80s all the 800's were coming stock with 6550s and and some point they switched the output transformers from Drake to something else... the Drakes are the desirable ones. EL34 vs. 6550 is a taste thing...

I own an '84 2205 with 6550's & a Drake tranny. Massive sounding head... I had a tech rip out the diode clipping & tone stack... made it into a mini Jubilee head with the LED clipping & whatnot. Sounds massive but I'm actually thinking about letting it go...

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

Well, I guess I'll give him a call. Better make room for another half stack. LOL.

You guys better convince me to buy this before I go cheap and get a Peavey Windsor that'll work with my current cab.

 

[Forbes]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

I use a channel switching 2x12 combo, most people seem to prefere the other models, but for what i do this amp is pretty much perfect. I dont think ive ever played any other 800 though, so maybe i just don't know what im missing.

Did a bit of a spray job on mine the other week.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

ive had a bunch of em a 2204, 2205, 2203, 4210. i think they all can be great amps depending on what you are looking for. when i was playing loud ass rock and roll my 4210 on a closed back 2x12 was killer. never loved the stock speaker even though it was a sought after model

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

What ohm cabs do the JCM800s take? I have a 16ohm mono or 2x8 stereo cabinet. I figure I'll have to get a new one right?

The amp thats for sale locally included a 1960a cab, guess I ought to buy that and ditch the old cab?

 

[JeffB]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

I don't think there is a particular model of 800 that is "better" in the general sense (though early models are built with better components), but like wood in a guitar, marshalls can vary dramatically, and of the same model one may be fabulous and the next horrid.

2204s are my fave because they are a little crunchier than 2203s and breakup a bit easier...more...err....brash...in a good way.

Speakers are just as important as the amp!!! GBs, BBs and 65s, are my faves and 75s will do with a particularly "full" sounding 800

Also as mentioned, nothing wrong at all with a JMP 2204/2203!

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

If its a re-issue is it still worth $900 bucks w/ cab?

 

[darnright]

Re: Battle of the JCM800s

The 50 watt master volumes are my faves too. Not least becuase I run one. They sound better in red too.

All amps sound better in red.....