Jcm 2000 tsl 100

Jr_vw2

Jr_vw2

New member
There seems to be alot of love/hate around these amps. But mostly over all seems to be just a meh nothing special kind of vibe. Although I have seen a lot of them have had problems. This isnt an amp that was on my radar or want list but I have a chance to buy one up with a 1960a cab for $300. Seller said it might need tubes. I message seller and ask why they thought it needs tubes, does it have an actual problem. She said she didn't know it was her husband's and he died but she thought she remembered him saying it needed tubes. Anyway I'm fully expecting this amp to have issues and I'm not afraid of that. I know my way safely around a tube amp. My question is even though this is a pretty good deal is it just a big waste of time?

I realize tone is in the eye (ear) of the beholder and what's "good" is very subjective. But what are your thoughts on this?
 
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Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

I owned the 2 x 12 combo version of this amp years ago and, tube wise it was the biggest PITA I have had the misfortune to own.
When it was working properly it sounded pretty good on the crunch channel but the rate of tube consumption even with only home use made me get shot of it after less than 6 months.
 
Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

I used to have a TSL100 with my 1960A. I bought them used. The crunch channel is where all the fun was. Especially on the red channel, it could sound fizzy, harsh, or hard. Playing it through Mesa Vintage 30s was a transformative experience; all that stuff went away and it just sounded the way I’d always wanted it to.

It never ate tubes. I put new power tubes in it twice. Once it developed a bad hum, and I paid a tech to go through it and re-flow a bunch of bad solder joints. I think he charged $160. One time the captive lead on the footswitch went bad. The grommet where the cord entered the body of the switch was too tight, and over time it managed to sever two of the conductors. I was able to fix that myself. Aside from those two things, I never had any trouble with it.
 
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Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

One of my close buddies in my very early uni days had one of those in his little dorm room. Was the first time I ever saw a real 4x12 and head. Used to get drunk and run his Les Paul Classic through that thing. Aaaaah, good times.
 
Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

As much as it's probably not the best amp ever (it's kinda bright and fizzy), it's deifnitely worth the $300 especially if it comes with a cab.
 
Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

I owned the 2x12 (TSL 122) for many years. Bought it new. Sold it when it was no longer getting used. I highly regret doing so.

Only Marshall that ever impressed me, outside of original Bluesbreakers from the '60's.

The foot switch crapped out. Other than that it was problem free. I replaced the pre-amp tubes once, just because I had played through the originals.

Absolutely killer sounding amp, and more versatile than any other Marshall I've played.

I never used the red channel. Just clean and crunch.
 
Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

I picked it up today on my lunch break. Still has all the original papers and receipt from when it was bought new. And also a nice luggage stile case for the head with a slide out handle and wheels. Head and cab look brand new aside from a little dust. I'll report back once I get home and fire it up.


 
Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

Got it home ........no output. Blown ht fuse. Might have more issues but seems to be cooking right now. Had original receipt from 2005. $2,099 and $129 for the rolling head case. Bought from musicians friend.
 
Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

I want to play it through some of my other cabs before I make a final verdict on it. But I can see why a lot of people say they are just ok. Sounds a little thin and razory and somewhat like a solid state. Definitely doesnt have a think full sound like my jcm800. But like I said I'll play it through some other cabs this weekend.

Right now... off to go see Buckethead!!!!!!
 
Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

My experience with the 60 watt version is that it does what it does pretty well, but it isn't the most versatile amp out there.
 
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Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

This head sounds WAY better through both of my other cabs. my jcm800 cab has v30s and greenbacks in it and I also have an ampeg cab with v30s in it. This head sounds like **** through the 1960 cab compared to either of my other cabs. I havent looked but i think this cab had the gt75 speakers. And I'm not a fan of them so far.
 
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Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

Jr_vw2 said:
This head sounds WAY better through both of my other cabs. Enemy jcm800 cab has v30s and greenbacks in it and I also have an ampeg cab with v30s in it. This head sounds like **** through the 1960 cab compared to either of my other cabs. I havent looked but i think this cab had the gt75 speakers. And I'm not a fan of them so far.
Click to expand...

Makes all the difference in the world.
 
Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

The 2x12 combo version is really the ****. Has two different speakers that work very well together, and using the 1/4 stack arrangement keeps the thing a bit more usable in smaller venues. There was a 2x12 extension cab for it too, in case you ever wanted 4x12.
 
Re: Jcm 2000 tsl 100

Cool find! There is no "bad" JCM series EL34 Marshall 100W or 50W -there just isn't -sure some models do excel more at certain things, and some models can be made even better with tweaks -but there are no bad ones.

In the late 80's people hated on JCM800s for JMPS, in the 90s people hated on the JCM900s for JCM800s and people hate on the JCM2000 since for ....wait for it JCM900s. it's just a thing that JCMS have always endured

Also, if you had a bad experience with one from quality -I would contend that every manufacturer has component sourcing and performance issues from time to time -QA at the factory won't catch things failing past infancy that are the fault of no one or the OEM supplier -also many times someone has mistreated an amp that you get -that's not on Marshall either.
 
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