NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

I don't like JJs for gain stages because they're too dark for my tastes and can get muddy. And I do have some Tung-Sols on hand. To my ears they just sound like a brighter Mullard, and I didn't want to brighten this amp up that much.

And thanks again, everybody.

 

[Studioplayer]

Re: NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

For Vintage Modern afficandos, are there any current Marshall or any other Marshallite amps that can produce VM-like tones?


Studioplayer

 

[Exojam]

Re: NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

Congrats on the new amp!

There has been a recent thread over at the Marshall forums going on about VM’s. There may be some back and forth between some folks like all forums but maybe you could check it out.

http://www.marshallforum.com/threads/vm-is-the-best-new-production-amp-since-the-2203.104019/

Again congrats on the amp and crank it up!

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

Thanks again.

For Vintage Modern afficandos, are there any current Marshall or any other Marshallite amps that can produce VM-like tones?


Studioplayer

Well, the VM is basically a JTM45 and a SLP in one box. So anything Plexi would get you in that neighborhood, and the Origin series would be worth a look too.

Congrats on the new amp!

There has been a recent thread over at the Marshall forums going on about VM’s. There may be some back and forth between some folks like all forums but maybe you could check it out.

http://www.marshallforum.com/threads/vm-is-the-best-new-production-amp-since-the-2203.104019/

Again congrats on the amp and crank it up!

Thanks, and thanks for the heads up, I'll have to check it out.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

Had some more time with the VM today. Decided to boost it with one of my Wylde Overdrives, sounded great. Then I decided to try it clean with my Bogner XTC Red. F*** yeah! Best tones I've gotten out of that pedal yet.:headbang:

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

For Vintage Modern afficandos, are there any current Marshall or any other Marshallite amps that can produce VM-like tones?


Studioplayer

Reading comments of those who own or have owned VMs and those who own similar Marshalls such as the Origin or a plexi; the take is that VM is fairly unique. It's based on the JTM45/100 used by Jimi and also by Eric in early Cream. The JTM45 is not quite the same as the JTM45/100 because the JTM45 is a 30 watt amp with a tube rectifier. Marshall has a JTM45 reissue in the current line up. That is probably the closest.

It is also a KT66 powered amp instead of EL34 powered that most people associate with Marshalls today. The first time I heard a JTM45 with KT66s I immediately thought of the distortion tones of the Cream albums. That separates it from other plexi reissues and clones, and also the new Origin models.

Another unique aspect of the VM is that in High Dynamic Range mode it operates an extra preamp tube like a modern amp.

It also uses a post phase inverter master volume. In that respect it is both different from a conventional master volume amp and a non master volume amp like a JTM45 and a plexi. PPIMV's tend to work great for taming amps at club levels, but not as good for taking them down to bedroom levels. VMs are designed to be gigging amps.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

Reading comments of those who own or have owned VMs and those who own similar Marshalls such as the Origin or a plexi; the take is that VM is fairly unique. It's based on the JTM45/100 used by Jimi and also by Eric in early Cream. The JTM45 is not quite the same as the JTM45/100 because the JTM45 is a 30 watt amp with a tube rectifier. Marshall has a JTM45 reissue in the current line up. That is probably the closest.

It is also a KT66 powered amp instead of EL34 powered that most people associate with Marshalls today. The first time I heard a JTM45 with KT66s I immediately thought of the distortion tones of the Cream albums. That separates it from other plexi reissues and clones, and also the new Origin models.

Another unique aspect of the VM is that in High Dynamic Range mode it operates an extra preamp tube like a modern amp.

It also uses a post phase inverter master volume. In that respect it is both different from a conventional master volume amp and a non master volume amp like a JTM45 and a plexi. PPIMV's tend to work great for taming amps at club levels, but not as good for taking them down to bedroom levels. VMs are designed to be gigging amps.

Interesting. I knew that the power tubes were different, which gives it's own flavor, but I didn't realize that the VM was that different. Thanks for chiming in. I suppose those KT66s are why this amp cleans up so beautifully and sounds almost like a big Fender Twin with the right settings. And I had wondered about the MV. It does keep it's tone down on the knob quite a ways. Like I said earlier, 10 o'clock is about as low as a guy can go and still have good tone.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

More about KT66s if your interested. The KT66 dates to the 1930s. It was quite a bit more tube than the 6L6 of the times. It could handle up to 550 volts on both the plates and the screens. The plate dissipation was 25 watts. The first RCA 6L6s had a plate dissipation of 19 watts and handled less than 400 volts on the plates and screens. The 5881 handled 400 volts on the plates and had 23 watt plate dissipation.

The first JTM45s used American 5881s but Marshall switched over to the home grown KT66s after a short time and most JTM45 originally came loaded with KT66s. It is the original Marshall sound. The first 100 watt Marshall plexis, or JTM45/100s, operated at high plate voltages, so KT66s were a must. Marshall switched over to EL34s during 1967 because the supply of KT66s was not great. Probably started costing too much. The EL34 of course established a great sound of its own. And speakers were probably more important to the tone anyway.

5881s and 6L6GCs are not a direct substitute for KT66s. There is really no direct substitute for a KT66. The KT66 has its own sound and other tubes with high voltage ratings such as the EL34, and 6550, and KT88 sound different.

The Vintage Modern 100 watt runs high plate voltages being based on the JTM45/100, so 5881s should not be used as substitute. 6L6GC would be at their limit in a 2466, but they don't sound exactly like KT66s. KT66s sound as huge as they look.

This is an overview of modern KT66 options:

https://www.thetubestore.com/kt66-tube-review

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

More about KT66s if your interested. The KT66 dates to the 1930s. It was quite a bit more tube than the 6L6 of the times. It could handle up to 550 volts on both the plates and the screens. The plate dissipation was 25 watts. The first RCA 6L6s had a plate dissipation of 19 watts and handled less than 400 volts on the plates and screens. The 5881 handled 400 volts on the plates and had 23 watt plate dissipation.

The first JTM45s used American 5881s but Marshall switched over to the home grown KT66s after a short time and most JTM45 originally came loaded with KT66s. It is the original Marshall sound. The first 100 watt Marshall plexis, or JTM45/100s, operated at high plate voltages, so KT66s were a must. Marshall switched over to EL34s during 1967 because the supply of KT66s was not great. Probably started costing too much. The EL34 of course established a great sound of its own. And speakers were probably more important to the tone anyway.

5881s and 6L6GCs are not a direct substitute for KT66s. There is really no direct substitute for a KT66. The KT66 has its own sound and other tubes with high voltage ratings such as the EL34, and 6550, and KT88 sound different.

The Vintage Modern 100 watt runs high plate voltages being based on the JTM45/100, so 5881s should not be used as substitute. 6L6GC would be at their limit in a 2466, but they don't sound exactly like KT66s. KT66s sound as huge as they look.

This is an overview of modern KT66 options:

https://www.thetubestore.com/kt66-tube-review

Thanks.

Yeah, this is my first experience with KT66s. I have/had amps with EL34s, 6L6s, EL84s, 6550s and KT88s. The 66s definitely have a bigger sound. KT88s used to be my favorite for that type of tone, but I like these better. It makes for a great pedal platform along with some kickass classic tones.

And, yes, the Tube Store is my go to for tube info. That was one of the first things I read when I bought this amp. Their reviews are pretty much dead on.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

Wise move!

I say that because now I'm the one regretting not getting one when I've had the chance! They've been on my radar for a while too.

Enjoy!

 

[jeremy]

Re: NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

i had an old set of original genalex kt66 that larry gave me a decade ago. amazing tubes for sure

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: NAD: Marshall Vintage/Modern 2466

i had an old set of genalex kt66 that larry gave me a decade ago. amazing tubes for sure

Yeah, I've been really surprised at how much I like them. Then again, trying out VMs in stores, I've never really been able to hear them at their full potential until I got this one home. I did a little A/Bing with my JVM and tried the JVM's preamp through the VM's poweramp. I think I'll leave the JVM the way it is. I had pondered swapping some KT66s into it after getting the VM, but the way I have the JVM modded is much better suited to EL34s. They have a more aggressive bite that the JVM needs, imho.