Marshall's number system?

Coma

Well-known member
Can anyone explain how the numeric system Marshall uses works? For instance, the JCM 800 is usually referred to as just that, but on the Marhsall web page its called 2203 or something similar. Why are they using two different systems?
 
Re: Marshall's number system?

It gets really confusing really quickly, but the idea is that there are lines (JCM800, JCM900, etc) and models within that line. JCM800 2203 and 2204 are the 50W and 100W versions of the JCM800.
 
Re: Marshall's number system?

JCM800 was Jim Marshall's car licence plate at the time that amp came out...900 is a modified 800. JTM stood for Jim and Terry Marshall, and JMP stood for Jim Marshall Products...the numerical system is what Marshall goes by...2203, 2204, 1987, 1959, and so on.

Back in the day, they were just simple references, but new Marshall's go by their updated system which has a number for the line, another for the wattage, and yet another for any attached speakers and how many, unless it's a head.
 
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Re: Marshall's number system?

JCM800 was Jim Marshall's car licence plate at the time that amp came out...900 is a modified 800. JTM stood for Jim and Terry Marshall, and JMP stood for Jim Marshall Products...the numerical system is what Marshall goes by...2203, 2204, 1987, 1959, and so on.

Back in the day, they were just simple references, but new Marshall's go by their updated system which has a number for the line, another for the wattage, and yet another for any attached speakers and how many, unless it's a head.

Interesting. You wouldn't happen to have any links covering it in more detail?
 
Re: Marshall's number system?

its really kinda confusing

1959 = 100w nmv
1987 = 50w nmw
2203 = 100w mv
2204 = 50w mv
2205 = 50w channel switcher
2210 = 50w channel switcher
1958, 1973, 1974 = 18w
1917 = 20w

then just to make things more confusing some models had different configurations. the 1958 model could be an 18w or a 20w for example.
 
Re: Marshall's number system?

MV = master volume (i.e. it has a pre-amp gain knob as well as output volume).

NMV = non master volume (gotta crank it loud for distortion).
 
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