NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

[fretburner]

Got the EL34 version. Sounds great through my mahogany 2x12 with WGS Veteran 30s.

A couple of mods/repairs done to the amp:

1. Tranny was "converted" from 110v to 220v. Seller said it was just a matter of tapping the 2x 110v wires. No rewinding.

2. All pots changed. Seller can't remember the brand but he assured me it's the same values. Channel A volume is scratchy.

Tubes are made in Germany, so probably NOS stuff. But I'm thinking of doing a full retube.

Any recommendations?

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[jeremy]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

nice! always loved those heads. nothing to help ya other than rock that ****!

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

Congrats! I;m a fan of the SL-X myself. Some contact cleaner will most likely take care of the scratchy issue.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

Congrats! I think they should reiussue the SL-X rather than the Dual Reverb. Much better version of the JCM900, IMO.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

Love it!

Bill

 

[fretburner]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

Congrats! I;m a fan of the SL-X myself. Some contact cleaner will most likely take care of the scratchy issue.

I actually liked it better than the dual rectifier that the seller had as well. Although, I only got to test the orange channel of the dual rectifier as the red channel wasn't working. Nothing like that "sizzle" of a Marshall. The dual rectifier sounded a lot darker in comparison.

I still need to experiment on the "sensitivity" vs "preamp volume" thing. Never had anything like it before. But I can pretty much dial in a good sound immediately with the amp.

Nwy... before I spray some contact cleaner, I need to remove the chassis right? Should I replace it with some Marshall genuine replacement or CTS pots?

Any suggestions for tubes?

I'm thinking of JJs like I did with my JCM800. A friend of mine retubed his Carvin Legacy 1 with Tung Sols.

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[Jeff_H]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

The only recommendation I have is to mail that JCM800 to my home address!!

Congrats on the new amp. I ended up using the Groove Tubes EL34-M and I'm pretty happy with them. You can pick your hardness level from 1-10....the lower the number the easier the tubes will break up. That's a neat little way to customize your tone, based on your needs. I wanted to go with a hardness level of 4, but my choices were 3 or 7. I figured for my needs, 3 was as good as 4, since I need earlier breakup at the lower volumes I tend to play at.

 

[fretburner]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

Haha! I'm not letting go of that JCM 800 combo. If ever I'm getting another amp, it's probably another head - an AFD100 or 2550 Silver Jubilee.

I'll read up on those Groove Tubes. Earlier on, I've been tempted on those JJ EL34 II. They say it's quite a different flavor of the EL34.

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[Coma]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

Congrats! I think they should reiussue the SL-X rather than the Dual Reverb. Much better version of the JCM900, IMO.

Yeah, that was a weird choice. Seems most everybody agrees that the SL-X was the superior amp.

 

[fretburner]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

Yeah, that was a weird choice. Seems most everybody agrees that the SL-X was the superior amp.

Perhaps it's the versatility that they want? But then again, there's the DSL100H

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[Jeff_H]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

I'll read up on those Groove Tubes. Earlier on, I've been tempted on those JJ EL34 II. They say it's quite a different flavor of the EL34.

Wow, I nearly went with that new JJ as well. I was just a little worried it might stray a bit to far from the "normal" Marshall sound; if there is such a thing. My GT's are good, but I may just step out on a limb next time and try the new JJ's.

Good luck whatever you decide and enjoy that new amp.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

Nwy... before I spray some contact cleaner, I need to remove the chassis right? Should I replace it with some Marshall genuine replacement or CTS pots?

First try it with just taking the knob off and spray there, sometimes it's enough to get in there. If not then you will have to pull the chasis out to spray in the pot. Shouldn't need to replace it if it's only scratchy.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

That exact amp is among my 3 fav Marshalls ever. I've been (ab)using the very same EL34 model since the late '90s and I love it.

I use JJ electronic tubes with that and I'm really happy with them.

 

[fretburner]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

First try it with just taking the knob off and spray there, sometimes it's enough to get in there. If not then you will have to pull the chasis out to spray in the pot. Shouldn't need to replace it if it's only scratchy.

I was thinking of replacing the pots because I don't know the brand they used when they repaired/restored it.

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[fretburner]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

That exact amp is among my 3 fav Marshalls ever. I've been (ab)using the very same EL34 model since the late '90s and I love it.

I use JJ electronic tubes with that and I'm really happy with them.

Just the regular EL34 from JJ?

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[NecroPolo]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

Yep the plain standard. After experimenting for a long time during the early 2000s I realised that I liked old Teslas the best for their warmth and JJs are the closest. As far as I know it is even the same manufacturing facility re-branded ages ago but I may be wrong about it.

Maybe it would be a good idea to experiment with their L and II versions but I have some "what works ain't fix" mentality to that.

 

[fretburner]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

I might go for the II. I already have the regular pair for my JCM800. If I don't like it, I can just buy another and move the IIs to my JCM900 combo.

I don't know what tubes are on my DSL100H. This is the only one I bought brand new

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[beaubrummels]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

My SL-X came with Tesla EL34-M. So far the nearest tubes I've found that sound like those are the JJ KT-77. A brighter chimy alternative would be EH 6CA7.

To stay strictly with EL-34s I'd look at TAD STRs or maybe PS VANE. Groove Tubes, Ruby or JJ EL-34s are all solid players though. Avoid newer Tung-Sol, Svetlana or Mullard/Russia.

 

[fretburner]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

I definitely don't want brighter tubes. I already got my presence knob all the way down.

TAD doesn't really make tubes right? They're like EHX in that they basically just test, classify, and rebadge the tubes?

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[fretburner]

Re: NAD: JCM 900 2500 SL-X

I actually probably want darker sounding tubes with lots of headroom?

I'm getting most of my gain from the preamp, and the SL-X has a lot more gain than I'll ever need. I can only imagine cranking the volume up in a bigger venue. It will be glorious!

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