Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

[Axl H]

Well, I will soon be getting my JCM800 2203.

The only problem I have, is that it doesent have quite enough gain for a real 80s metal tone.

I am looking for something kinda like:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HdAXPWvy4E8
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YPWhgcAL4jg
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_AwHwOD83bs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WAaeD4CFzK4
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SnHO3JLVvDY (The distorted sound)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DJ_FgL5l1og
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q6E5Il_VNEs

In short, a pretty high Marshall sound with a heavy bottom, aggressive mids and bright top (NOT Shrill).

I will be using a Gibson Les Paul Standard with Bareknucklepickups Cold Sweats.

I have been looking at:
MXR Distortion+
Boss SD-1
Boss DS-1
Z.Vex Box Of Rock
Boss OD-3

But what does everybody think?

Thanks

 

[ErikH]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Boss SD-1, Boss DS-1, MXR Wylde Overdrive, Ibanez TS-9, Digitech Bad Monkey. What you want to do is just slap that thing silly with some nice drive out front.

 

[Axl H]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Yeah I know, but which one?

 

[ErikH]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

That's up to you to decide. Take the amp to a shop when you get it with your guitar and try them out. Pick the one you like best.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

You might want to just try a GE-7 or other clean boost. I played a 2203 for years with nothing but a GE-7 for overdrive.

 

[Axl H]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Hmm I just put on Live In Budokan, Zakk really has a great sound there. Isnt that the MXR ZW he is using?

I think I might take one of those.

You have one right, Erik? How does it work for the other stuff?

 

[Axl H]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

You might want to just try a GE-7 or other clean boost. I played a 2203 for years with nothing but a GE-7 for overdrive.

That might be a option too, thanks.

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

This is just my PERSONAL opinion, but I'd stay clear of the bosses, or the Ibanez TS. If you use high output humbuckers, like me, I've had a hard time achieving unity volume with those pedals.

The DS1 is good for getting a smooth lead shred tone, like vai or satch, but it never impressed me for rhythm.

The zvex Box of Rock is awesome.

The Zakk Wylde Overdrive will do pretty darn good. It has more definition in the gain than the TS9, and has alot more clean volume on tap, so you can use it with high output pickups.

MXR also makes a custom shop GT-OD. I have one. I was going to sell it, until I tried it out, pushing the front end of an amp, it it absolutely rules.

The idea of using a Boss GE-7 is pretty good too. You can dial in the frequencies you want and cut the bass so it doesnt get flubby. My only gripe with the boss GE7 is that it gets noisy and hissy sometimes.

Bad Monkey would be a great pedal choice too, for a budget.

I've found that alot of times, when you need a pedal to BOOST an amp like this into high gain, its the pedals that sound sh*tty by themselves, that often mesh the best with the amp's gain, and vice versa. Some of the pedals I LOVE into a dead clean amp, they sound too mushy as boosters.

Other good pedals to look into,

 

[ErikH]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Hmm I just put on Live In Budokan, Zakk really has a great sound there. Isnt that the MXR ZW he is using?

I think I might take one of those.

You have one right, Erik? How does it work for the other stuff?

That album came out in 2002 which was before he started using the MXR pedal. He was still using a Boss SD-1 at that time. It was around 2005 that he started using the MXR. Still, the sound is pretty darn aggressive.

The MXR is a clone of the SD-1, just no output buffer, more gain, a little more low end. Great pedal, one of my favorites. I contemplated selling mine a couple times but each time I decide to use it, I change my mind again...LOL.

 

[Axl H]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Hell, I will take the Zakk Wylde OD.. I have 7days return, so if I dont like it, I will refund it.

Its just a good 80s hard rock/heavy metal sound I want It will work wonders I am sure

Thanks

 

[Pierre]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

The Box of Rock is a distortion and a boost. So you'd pretty much only ever use the boost side since I doubt you'd be using your JCM800 with a clean sound and it's a single channel amp.

I'd set the amp for mid gain so you can clean up a bit, and use a big fat boost like a modded SD1 (for fatter, more linear boost) or a Bad Monkey (which will smooth out the sound a bit).

 

[ModestCargo]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Ibanez TS9.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Forgot to answer the part about the Wylde doing other things. I've been using it with the Twin model in my Valvetronix amp and it sounds really really sweet for blues with a Strat. I have a hard time deciding on whether to use it or my SD-1 turned TS-808 sometimes...LOL.

 

[benji657]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Hmm I just put on Live In Budokan, Zakk really has a great sound there. Isnt that the MXR ZW he is using?

I think I might take one of those.

You have one right, Erik? How does it work for the other stuff?

contrary to most, i prefer budokan to live and loud...

i have the dvd and in some scenes you can see the boss chorus and boss sd-1(i'm not sure if it's modded or not though)

keep in mind, zakk has high output emgs for even more gain

your new setup is looking great. keep us updated

 

[Axl H]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Cool Erik.. Good thing to be able to have versatility

Thanks Benji

Pierre.. Thats is what I will do, with the ZW.

Modest Cargo.. I dont like TS-9s

 

[Pierre]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Then you're probably better off with the SD1 bro. WAY cheaper and it's 5 parts away from a TS, ZW or like I did, the Revolution Drive.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Then you're probably better off with the SD1 bro. WAY cheaper and it's 5 parts away from a TS, ZW or like I did, the Revolution Drive.

5 parts away from a TS? You're kidding, right? Between a SD-1 and TS, there's almost 20 parts that are different. Trust me, I know this because I went through the schematics of both.

You could make the SD-1 sound like a ZW easily enough though since they are the same circuit, same parts pretty much. I haven't looked at value differences but I know the output buffer and tone or gain pot is different (reverse log in the ZW).

Edit: The ZW uses SMT components so modding it can be a bit more tricky. Not as easy as typical components. There's no need to mod it anyway, IMO.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Ah you get what I mean 20 parts and 60 bucks :laugh2: Why would anyone want to turn a SD1 into a TS 808/9 anyway is beyond me Muahaha (sorry people, just joking)

 

[ErikH]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Ah you get what I mean 20 parts and 60 bucks :laugh2: Why would anyone want to turn a SD1 into a TS 808/9 anyway is beyond me Muahaha (sorry people, just joking)

60 bucks???? Is the price difference between a SD-1 and TS-9 really that much over there?

I happen to like my modded SD-1, thank you! LOL. I did put the 3rd clipping diode back in so it's asymetrical again. Still sounds great. I nice mix between the two.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Boost for me Marshall JCM800?

Kick it down the stairs....