NGD!: Marshall JCM 900 DR4500
- Thread starter allbutromeo
- Start date
allbutromeo
Well-known member
Re: NGD!: Marshall JCM 900 DR4500
OK, finally got a chance to put some real playing time on it at stage volumes. This thing is a beast, I did swap the tubes for some tung-sol ecc803's and tung-sol 5881's biased to roughly 70% dissipation. I don't know where all of the complaints on this amp come from, stock tubes/factory cold bias?, its not over buzzy and the highs aren't piercing, I'm running both gains and volumes at 12:00 and all eq/presence @ 1:00. Cleans sound good and break up nicely when played hard. Lead channel sounds thick and smooth, but still has great clarity and tight yet heavy lows. It does remind me a lot of the 2210 that a friend of mine used to have but smoother. Very happy with this purchase.
OK, finally got a chance to put some real playing time on it at stage volumes. This thing is a beast, I did swap the tubes for some tung-sol ecc803's and tung-sol 5881's biased to roughly 70% dissipation. I don't know where all of the complaints on this amp come from, stock tubes/factory cold bias?, its not over buzzy and the highs aren't piercing, I'm running both gains and volumes at 12:00 and all eq/presence @ 1:00. Cleans sound good and break up nicely when played hard. Lead channel sounds thick and smooth, but still has great clarity and tight yet heavy lows. It does remind me a lot of the 2210 that a friend of mine used to have but smoother. Very happy with this purchase.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: NGD!: Marshall JCM 900 DR4500
i used a 4500 for nearly 10 years. Bought it new in 1991. Did the job, no worries.
i used a 4500 for nearly 10 years. Bought it new in 1991. Did the job, no worries.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: NGD!: Marshall JCM 900 DR4500
That's really great. It looks really nice.
Years ago when they were new, I played a 100-watt DR combo at a jam at a friend's house, not having my vintage Fender with me. It was his new pride and joy, but he played on his old JMP half-stack. I was using my old and now gone 1975 Les Paul '55 Special Reissue with P-90's. The amp simply drove me CRAZY..I could not get the sound I wanted out of the amp.
I was frustrated as hell, until I realized ...everything coming out of the amp was a GREAT tone. Everything. But I was so used to the Fender tone, I was blinded by it, and couldn't understand what the fuss was about Marshalls. Once I started to relax and just PLAY, I realized how terrific the amp was. A real epiphany that day.
Not too long after that, I found a great deal on a 50-watt JCM 4010 112 combo and bought it. It also drove me crazy; sounded terrible at home and rehearsals, but those third and fourth sets with that cranked Marshall were a lot of fun. Eventually I found the big Mark III Coliseum head and 412 Half-back cab, and that was the baby-bear amp that finally made me go, "Aaaaah!" And so I've used Mesas for 20+ years and they still fit the band situation I'm in now, but I still appreciate those great Marshall tones too.
So congrats and enjoy your new amp!
Bill
That's really great. It looks really nice.
Years ago when they were new, I played a 100-watt DR combo at a jam at a friend's house, not having my vintage Fender with me. It was his new pride and joy, but he played on his old JMP half-stack. I was using my old and now gone 1975 Les Paul '55 Special Reissue with P-90's. The amp simply drove me CRAZY..I could not get the sound I wanted out of the amp.
I was frustrated as hell, until I realized ...everything coming out of the amp was a GREAT tone. Everything. But I was so used to the Fender tone, I was blinded by it, and couldn't understand what the fuss was about Marshalls. Once I started to relax and just PLAY, I realized how terrific the amp was. A real epiphany that day.
Not too long after that, I found a great deal on a 50-watt JCM 4010 112 combo and bought it. It also drove me crazy; sounded terrible at home and rehearsals, but those third and fourth sets with that cranked Marshall were a lot of fun. Eventually I found the big Mark III Coliseum head and 412 Half-back cab, and that was the baby-bear amp that finally made me go, "Aaaaah!" And so I've used Mesas for 20+ years and they still fit the band situation I'm in now, but I still appreciate those great Marshall tones too.
So congrats and enjoy your new amp!
Bill
75lespaul
New member
Re: NGD!: Marshall JCM 900 DR4500
Congratulations, bro! Nice amp and if you can, try some different speaker combos with it. I never liked the 900 with the 75s but put one through my G12H30/V30 mix 4x12 and the amp just ripped your face off. Fantastic, searing rock and metal tones imo. Hope you enjoy it to the max!
Congratulations, bro! Nice amp and if you can, try some different speaker combos with it. I never liked the 900 with the 75s but put one through my G12H30/V30 mix 4x12 and the amp just ripped your face off. Fantastic, searing rock and metal tones imo. Hope you enjoy it to the max!
allbutromeo
Well-known member
Re: NGD!: Marshall JCM 900 DR4500
I mostly have been using it with a 2x12 with WGS Veteran 30 and et65 equivalent to vintage 30 & Creamback
I mostly have been using it with a 2x12 with WGS Veteran 30 and et65 equivalent to vintage 30 & Creamback
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: NGD!: Marshall JCM 900 DR4500
I was just going to say, bias the power tubes, make sure the speakers are good ones, and have a good OD to take it over the top. The basic Marshall tone comes from most Marshall tube amps, so if you get those other 3 or 4 things dialed in, you're there.
I was just going to say, bias the power tubes, make sure the speakers are good ones, and have a good OD to take it over the top. The basic Marshall tone comes from most Marshall tube amps, so if you get those other 3 or 4 things dialed in, you're there.
allbutromeo
Well-known member
Re: NGD!: Marshall JCM 900 DR4500
It helps that unlike most negative reviewers, I understand that with tube amps, especially Marshalls, the volume has to be well above bedroom level to get the most tone out of them
It helps that unlike most negative reviewers, I understand that with tube amps, especially Marshalls, the volume has to be well above bedroom level to get the most tone out of them
