I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

First of all, I like all Marshalls, because they all sound great at a certain thing.
Imagine that you've got a plexi 50 halfstack sitting next to a DSL 50 halfstack...
With the plexi, you'll have an incredibly loud woody sounding clean tone that keeps getting louder till it compresses into gain....a very 60's sounding gain.
With the DSL 50, you'll have a similar sound on the clean channel. When you switch over to the gain channel, you'll have that level of clean gain all the way to a Zakk Wylde 'No More Tears' type of sound, depending on how you set the volume and gain, and also the buttons on the front. They're two different amps, but the DSL will cover more ground.

The Bogner is the final evolution of what the Marshall could have been, which is why you hear so many Marshall fans raving about it. I'm a big fan of the British sound, so I like almost any amp with EL-84's or EL-34's. The best British cleans I've heard are Matchless. The best midgain I've heard is Gibson Goldtone, vintage Marshalls, Blockhead, Roccaforte, and Dr. Z. The best highgain I've heard is Bogner, modded Marshalls, Fargen VOS, Soldano Avenger/SLO, and Diezel.
 
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Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

Thanks Gearjoneser!

You have pursuaded me to buy the JCM2000. What you're saying makes sense. I want the extra features. And I also want to be able to practice on it at home with a decent tone. Plus it has reverbs and stuff. I'm getting the 100 watt JCM 2000 with a 1960 cab. I just emailed the guy about it.

Thanks for all your expertise. That blonde plexi reissue sure looks amazing though. Somebody grab it!

I think If i got that plexi It would sound like ass at low volumes. Even though my heart wanted the plexi, my common sense tells me to get the DSL. Plus I don't have to hunt for a cab for the plexi.
 
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Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

hehee.


well tahts 1900 buy it now.. (US). That will be 2200 Canadian + who knows how much shipping and customs.

I got a lead on a JCM2000 halfstack for 1500 CAD. I think thats a pretty good price.
 
Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

I'm not gonna let you go that easily :laugh2:

http://www.blockheadamps.com/vintage_blk_50.html

But seriously, I obviously don't know as much about gear as Jonser, actually, I missed this whole second page when I wrote that link... But still, it's a Blockhead with a MV that was modeled after the brown sound :chairfall: Then again, $700 is a lot of dough.


Good Luck!
 
Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

It's always a debateable issue.....modern Marshall vs. vintage Marshall.
Most tone conoisseurs will steer you toward a handwired Plexi clone, or the real thing. I like them too, but I realize I'm stuck with one main 60's/70's type of Marshall tone. With modern Marshalls, they'll get accused of being buzzy or thinner sounding than old ones. The upside is that the master volume gives the gain tones more flexibility, which is what you want if you play a bunch of styles of music.

One thing you'll notice about a lot of old Marshalls is that they were often modded by players over the years, then restored back to stock by collectors.
It saddens me to see all the holes drilled in old collectible amps, but you've got to realize that they modded those amps to achieve what the DSL's do nowadays. It's two schools of thought. The vintage Marshalls are cleaner and purer sounding, but the modern ones are much more tweakable.
 
Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

Go for a used Splawn. That's not to say that modern Marshalls are bad, but threads like this steer me away from recommending them to anybody: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=138291&highlight=marshall+transformer

Besides, Splawn's Quick Rod gets exactly that "modded" Marshall tone you're looking for for leads while being versatile enough to do other tones well. With most Marshalls, you'll need them cranked wide open and a good overdrive/distortion pedal to get it to nail that saturated Van Halen type tone.
 
Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

Not meaning to come off as condescending, but... play a few amps. I've heard so many people talk about gear, and not had it work for me. Ultimately YOU have to make the decision. None of us know your needs. Are you playing out in a band? Are you playing auditoriums or are you playing bars? Why do you want a "plexi?" The status of owning a "plexi?"

A 50 or 100w plexi or metal face amp will give up the rock sound. At a volume. If you're doing that live, you'll need to use an attenuator. Yeah, it'll sound kickass. But for everything involved, are you doing better than spending a lot less than getting a MV JMP or JCM or one of the newer amps? There was also someone mentioning an amp and pedal. I don't subscribe to that train of thought- but if that's what you're looking for...

A plexi or NMV metal panel amp will sound great pushed, but that's loud. When you run it through an attenuator you're killing a lot of that organic tone. You might as well have a good MV amp at half the price.
 
Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

"The best midgain I've heard is Gibson Goldtone, vintage Marshalls, Blockhead, Roccaforte, and Dr. Z. The best highgain I've heard is Bogner, modded Marshalls, Fargen VOS, Soldano Avenger/SLO, and Diezel."

Gearjoneser, what about Laneys ? Laneys never get any respect .... RESPECT THE LANEYS!!!
 
Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

The Next thing you'll want is an attenuator for that DSL, I always gig with a weber MASS and IMO it's the best piece of gear I bought to compliment the DSL.
 
Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

I just read up about attenuators and something just doesn't jive with me in cranking the amp by providing fake non-speaker resistance. I'd rather have a master volume.

I also read up on those blown transformers and transformer sizes vs vintage models. I'd probably want something with older-style transformers and master volume... Its still very much open though. I'm waiting to hear from the JCM2000 guy right now. I'm going to call the JCM800 2210 guy now.
 
Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

Strange how nobody has mentioned that for $8 you can fit your amp with a PPIMV to make that Plexi sound awesome at bedroom volumes...
 
Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

Frantic_Rock said:
I just read up about attenuators and something just doesn't jive with me in cranking the amp by providing fake non-speaker resistance. I'd rather have a master volume.

I also read up on those blown transformers and transformer sizes vs vintage models. I'd probably want something with older-style transformers and master volume... Its still very much open though. I'm waiting to hear from the JCM2000 guy right now. I'm going to call the JCM800 2210 guy now.
Click to expand...

You my friend have read some bad internet info...attenuators are great tools and often are used in conjunction with a master volume to get the tone you are looking for at the volume level you want it.

I say this in the best possible way...it seams you are getting caught up in a bunch of internet hype as well as people's opinions...do some good solid research and then buy an amp, if you don't like it for any reason sell it and buy a different amp...that is still the best way to decide what you want/need!

You were talking plexi, then DSL and now 2210 JCM 800...those are 3 VERY different amps...you have to decide what you want the amp to do, decide what features you want and need then pick an amp based on those things...don't pick an amp based on what kinds of transformers it has, how old the design is otr anything like that...there are lots of killer amps for a reason!
 
Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

Yeah I'm just researching rigth now about Post Phase Inverter master volume. Thanks for that.

I have a VH instructional video with Curt Mitchell. He had a 70s Plexi Bass head with that I think. The presense knob on the front of the amp became his master volume, and the actual presese got moved to the back of the amp.

I just don't wanna pass up that blonde plexi head... It's talking to me...
 
Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

the guy who invented fire said:
You my friend have read some bad internet info...attenuators are great tools and often are used in conjunction with a master volume to get the tone you are looking for at the volume level you want it.

I say this in the best possible way...it seams you are getting caught up in a bunch of internet hype as well as people's opinions...do some good solid research and then buy an amp, if you don't like it for any reason sell it and buy a different amp...that is still the best way to decide what you want/need!

You were talking plexi, then DSL and now 2210 JCM 800...those are 3 VERY different amps...you have to decide what you want the amp to do, decide what features you want and need then pick an amp based on those things...don't pick an amp based on what kinds of transformers it has, how old the design is otr anything like that...there are lots of killer amps for a reason!
Click to expand...

Well man its not like I don't know what I want.

I want the amp to scream smooth lead tone at me at bedroom levels and at full blast when my monster drummer is pounding on stage. So All 3 amps I have mentioned, IMO can do that.

1. Plexi - add a PPIMV, or an attenuator before the cab.
2. JCM2000 - has a master volume (but I'm concerned about reliability and sound)
3. JCM 800 2210 - has a master volume (and i think will have good reliability based on what I'm reading).

I'm not too concerned about the exact model of the amp - I think all 3 will do the job for me. Unless you guys can give me a STRONG reason to stay away from either one of these 3. Once I got the amp, I will dial in the sound that I want. I also have 6 electric guitars - and a pedalboard to shape my sound.

I'm leaning towards the JCM800 2210, but the owner is saying "good" condition... I'd have to have a long talk with him to find out how "good" it is exactly and what care he took of the amp. The plexi looks like in excellent condition. But I'd have to spend 1600 for just the head + attenuator (150W thats 225 bucks). Then I'd be shopping for a cab. So thats hitting 2500 bucks. While with the JCM2000 it would be 1500 bucks, end of story. The JCM800 would probably be 1800 bucks after the cab... So price is definitely a factor. I'm not opposed to investing in the plexi though... (Can always sell it later)
 
Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

Jeff_H said:
www.splawnguitars.com

If you want the hot rodded Marshall tone, 3 channels including clean, brown sound + all the classic rock sounds you can think of, the Quick Rod is the amp for you. I live about 30 minutes from Scott's shop, and he builds top quality stuff across the board.
Click to expand...

I whole heartedly agree! I just got my Splawn Competition Thursday night and it is amazing. Plexi in 1st Gear, JCM 800 in 2nd Gear, Super JCM 800 in 3rd. You'll never need another distortion pedal. No need for an attenuator either - the volume is designed like a master and it sounds great at all levels. There's one on ebay right now if you don't want to wait..............
 
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Re: I'm looking into buying plexi head. Check out these deals.

i still say you should make youre plexi.. great experience, great amp once its made, comes with all the info you really need.
 
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