Effects in a JCM 800

[Leveller]

So, my 2204 doesnt have an effect loop of course. In your opinion, can it still sound ok to use effects like reverb or chorus before the preamp or will I be wasting my time and money? What will happen if I put effect pedals between the amp and the cab? :S I'm guessing it wont work cos I never heard of anyone doing it but it doesn't hurt to ask
Another thing I've been wondering. Is there a way to mod it so I can use an a/b/y box to switch between the "high" and "low" inputs? Stock that doesnt work but maybe there is a way around it.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

Jeff is probably already typing........

Use effects pedals between the guitar and amp.

Never put pedals between the amp and a cabnet, it lets the magic smoke out of your stuff.

I have never used an a/b box between the low and high inputs on my 2204 because the settings that I use for hi/lo inputs are different.

My 2203 is out having a tube loop installed.

 

[LesPaulRules]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

Never put any effect between your amp and cab. You'll not only damage the effect, but you could ruin an output transformer on the amp.

I've never had luck putting effects in front of any amp that had some gain, like your JCM 800.

 

[Leveller]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

Ok guys thanks a lot for your replies. I hope I can borrow some effect pedals somehow so I can try it out first.

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

I've never had luck putting effects in front of any amp that had some gain, like your JCM 800.

holy smokes. The 80's was JCM 800/ JMP mKII with BossOD-1, Pro-Co Rat, or Ibanez TS-808 pushing it!

 

[Leveller]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

holy smokes. The 80's was JCM 800/ JMP mKII with BossOD-1, Pro-Co Rat, or Ibanez TS-808 pushing it!

I don't think he's talking about overdrives I use a bad monkey with mine and it's pretty bad ass I want to try a rat or dist+ for those classic tones though!

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

I run delay and sometimes reverb in front of my JMP MV and it sounds fine. Different to using a loop but fine nevertheless. In the past I've also run chorus and flanger in front of a Marshall. It doesn't sound the same as running them in a loop but what the heck? This is what people did in the days before effects loops!

 

[LesPaulRules]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

holy smokes. The 80's was JCM 800/ JMP mKII with BossOD-1, Pro-Co Rat, or Ibanez TS-808 pushing it!

I don't think he's talking about overdrives I use a bad monkey with mine and it's pretty bad ass I want to try a rat or dist+ for those classic tones though!

I should of been more specific. :banghead:

I love running boosts, distortions or over drive pedals in the front of JMP's, JCM's, etc.
Time based effects such as delay and reverb can be really tough.

To the original poster. You might have some luck running an overdrive or distortion pedal first, then any time based effects. It's what a lot of the old school guys did, though they most often used non-master volume amps which didn't have the preamp gain of a JCM 800.

What I've done with the older JCM 800's is to reamp them. Sounds great but it's a lot more hassle and equipment to deal with.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

I don't believe in effects loops.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

I don't believe in effects loops.

Trust me, I've seen one. Admittedly after a few drinks, but my friend saw it too. It was horrible. :friday:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

Get a Holy Grail pedal. Put it last in the chain of FX going into the front. Set it very low and subtle (there's only one knob). I know what you mean about OD pedals slamming a reverb or delay and resulting in that pingy digital ring, but it doesn't happen with the EH Holy Grail, if it's set very conservatively. Then, if you turn on an OD, it makes the reverb slightly more dramatic, but that's OK for lead tones anyway.

Those Electroharmonix reverbs have nice headroom, unlike some of the smaller digital reverbs. It's a pretty transparent pedal, which is nice. It doesn't screw up your tone.

 

[pinto79]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

I have a whole string of pedals in front of my 2203, and have had in the past in front of my old 2204.

The key is finding ones that work well with the amp. I've had better luck, for example with a L6 Echo Park rather than a Boss DD-6.

My CE-3 works better than the CH-1 I had before...

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

The key is finding ones that work well with the amp. I've had better luck, for example with a L6 Echo Park rather than a Boss DD-6.

I also find the Echo Park works well in front of the amp - better than my DD-3 does.

 

[glassman]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

Another thing I've been wondering. Is there a way to mod it so I can use an a/b/y box to switch between the "high" and "low" inputs? Stock that doesnt work but maybe there is a way around it.

nope...there is one signal chain through the amp...the low input enters just after the first stage, before the gain control. When you pliug into the low input, it uncouples the high input. This uncoupling could be bypassed but your clean sound would be loaded with hiss (and probably hum) from the first stage.

 

[Leveller]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

Thanks for your replies everyone especially reccomendations that is exactly what Im looking for.

 

[Brewtone]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

One thing I've done is run a Marshall 2204 into a THD hot plate and use the line out function to drive my rack effects (replifex, A3, etc) and then fed that into a Marshall 9100 power amp.

quite a complicated set up, but it was cheaper that having a loop installed since I already had that stuff on hand

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Effects in a JCM 800

I don't really like delay and reverb in front of a Marshall. I use them both heavily in the Mesa's loop, but thankfully, the Marshall tone doesn't require delay or reverb for me. Needless to say, I play very different styles of music though each amp.