I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

80's_Metal

80's_Metal

Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Deciding to open things up a bit.
I'm thinking that the over compressed sounds from pedals may not be what I'm about these day.
Not for certain, but deciding it's worth a few hundred bucks to decide.

I play metal 100% of the time.
I want an amp that does metal!

Looking at jcm800 or jcm 900 but there are so many variants I'm a bit confused.
I've done searches and looked thru them, but they talk about 2210 and dsl and slx like I'm supposed to know what those are all about. I may learn soon, but I'm not there yet.

Looking through eBay and reverb, I can find some jcms for 6 or 7 bills, but I don't want to pull the trigger yet until I get the right one. Or at least closer.

So can someone break these down for this dumb ol guy?

I want an effects loop.
I want gain for days.
I (think) I want a master volume, but not sure about that yet.

In truth, I'd be ok with an XXX or maybe a Mesa dual rec.... But right now I am thinking I'd like a Marshall. (Blue Kool aid)
 
Last edited:
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

Wait, you play metal 100% of the time, but you want an amp that doesn't metal? Is "doesn't" a typo?

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk
 
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

Demanic said:
Wait, you play metal 100% of the time, but you want an amp that doesn't metal? Is "doesn't" a typo?

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Twas.... Twas... Fat fingers on my phone ya know.
 
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

Used jcm2000dsl should be in that $400-$600 range, but like you said just take your time and find one that's not beat-up.
The newer DSL (made-in-china) goes new for less than a grand, so I personally wouldn't give more than $500 used even though they're only a few years old at most.

The 800/900 series are substantially more cash if it's a reissue, and originals are getting quite old in age and have likely been around the block, so unless you have a trusted amp-tech around close-by it could potentially become expensive to ship/service. Things could go wrong with any amp though to be fair, even a near new amp can need serviced now and then.
 
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

80's_Metal said:
Twas.... Twas... Fat fingers on my phone ya know.
Click to expand...
That's what I was hoping.
Get yourself a Spidervalve HDII. It'll do Marshall, or Mesa.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk
 
I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

A JCM 8/900 by itself isn’t going to hit metal territory. The 900 will get closer but you will need a boost of some sort to get all the way there with either amp.
The 900’s had a few different models. Iirc, the SLX is the only pure tube circuit. The other models had diode clipping as part of the gain circuit.
The 800’s:
2203-100 w single channel
2204-50w single channel
2205-50w two channel
2210-100w two channel
Be careful with the 2205/10, the are notorious for channel bleed. When on the clean channel, you can still hear the distorted channel faintly in the background. It can be fixed by a decent tech though. I wouldn’t NOT buy one because of that provided it was a good price.
That said, you didn’t specify exactly what type of metal you’re looking to achieve. The Marshall will get you the 80’s style metal easy peasy.
But if you’re looking for a more modern metal sound you might need to look elsewhere...maybe Engl or the like.
just my opinion.
 
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

80's_Metal said:
Deciding to open things up a bit.
I'm thinking that the over compressed sounds from pedals may not be what I'm about these day.
Not for certain, but deciding it's worth a few hundred bucks to decide.

I play metal 100% of the time.
I want an amp that does metal!

I want an effects loop.
I want gain for days.
I (think) I want a master volume, but not sure.
Click to expand...

I would suggest looking for a used Mesa Stilletto Deuce or Trident; a used Mesa RA-100 Royal Atlantic; or the new Mesa Triple Crown TC-100. These amps take aim at Brit tones and use EL-34s. The RA and the TC have built in attenuators, handy for smaller venues and late nights. All do the "sustain for days", yet have very rich, punchy cleans. All have great loops.

Mesa claims that the TC-100 has the most gain of any of their amps...it certainly has more that what I would ever use.

The Dual/Triple Rectifier is the King of All Things Metal. It can use EL34s, but I think you'd be happier with one of the other amps I listed. But if you do a lot of drop tunings, the DR with the 412 Recto cab is hard to beat. Try before you buy.

The Mark V can, of course, do metal...and do it well. If you don't need that versatility, or want to spend the time fine-tuning, look somewhere else. But if you start hosting a country/blues/rock jam on Monday nights at the local dive, AND doing Sunday worship service, a Mark V would be GREAT! The older Mark IIIs and Mark IVs did metal too!

Then there is the Petrucci Signature Mark IIC+. I love this amp, though I don't play anything like him at all. Way more gain than I need. Expensive. Versatile like the Mark V, but in a different way. I'd probably set one lead channel for my Legacys and the other for my Les Pauls. The mid-gain settings on this amp are great for rock and blues; higher settings will leave you bleeding on the floor.

One other Mesa amp I like...I almost forgot the Electa-Dyne. Another EL34 amp with tremendous punch. Simpler than many of the other Mesa amps, yet great clean and distorted tones.

Remember that many Mesa amps can use either 6L6 or EL34, and all of them have great loops. They handle pedals really well; I've found some Marshalls can be really finicky about what's in front of them.

Good luck!

Bill
 
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.


Was looking up the jvm and found this. Pretty cool and helpful.
 
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

I'll throw you a curveball and say that the Marshall Mode 4 doesn't go for much in the used market.
Who knows?
 
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

Don’t forget about the Splawn Quickrod.
I own one and it’s magic.
 
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

I'd like to keep it around 7 bills if I can.
Hard to justify much more for my new garage band that isn't yet gigging.
 
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

The Stiletto is a great suggestion by Bill, and they go for really bargain deals.
 
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

I would avoid medium gain amps like the 800 and the Stiletto where you are going to have to boost them with a pedal to get closer to the tone you're after.
Again, look into an amp that doesn't need any help up front.
I think your original thought of a XXX is a great idea. Also look for a 3120 or JSX or maybe a 5153 50w.
 
Last edited:
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

Nothing does Marshall like Marshall. I'd hit a 80's JCM 800..lifetime keeper. Other amps may come and go, but the JCM 800 is a timeless legend. By Metal , I think you mean 80's through 90's 'Metal.' Hit it with a good boost and your golden for anything but modern high gain.
what are these guys playing here? Hmm, Mesa?...YEAH RIGHT!


If you need more gain, get a JVM.

EDIT- I'm sorry, I got carried away with my Marshall fervor..I'm sure any of the amps posted about above would be more than aqueduct.
 
Last edited:
Re: I Want a new amp. Marshall guys help please.

Also to throw this at you guys, I've got an avt 150 here in the garage.
Not sure how it compares to any of the high gain amps listed above??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Power Tubes for Mesa DC-3 Amp....?
Replies
14
Views
1K
Rex_Rocker
Rex_Rocker
FuseG4
Incoming amp
Replies
9
Views
239
Solarflares
S
Snake Aces
Bawls Deep Bass
Replies
19
Views
598
Snake Aces
Snake Aces
xxxplorer
Played a Peavey JSX and XXX cab
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
Fender_Punk
Fender_Punk
M
Low and medium output pickups for metal
2
Replies
23
Views
503
Wolfshead
Wolfshead
Back
Top