Oh crap, impulse buy (Marshall content)

[nedcronin]

Re: Oh crap, impulse buy (Marshall content)

These are pretty good sounding amps. I had a JTM 60 head for a while, it was an impulse buy just like yours! I bought it 2nd hand from a guy who had put a muffin fan in it, with a separate ac cable. I never had a problem with it. I think the combos get hot because of the way the tubes are mounted in the chassis.
Anyway the tones were solid but I really could not bond with it, so to speak. I didn't know it had diode clipping till I saw this thread. Maybe that's why it wasn't my bag. I did like the clean channel cranked though. Also a good clean tone to be had. All in all a good amp for sure. Anyway a guy offered me more than I paid for it, and since it wasn't getting played I let it go.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Oh crap, impulse buy (Marshall content)

thanks for the input nedcronin. the OD can be a bit harsh. at the same time, I dig it's low volume sound - like a big amp trapped in a little amp's body.

peeps say it's a loud amp, but I don't know about that - at one point I had the master about maxed out for a quick second and I was surprised it didn't seem as loud as I thought it was going to. Not that I need a loud amp in my house.

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Ok, I get this amp now. Made to have the master up pretty high and pre about half mast. Sounds like Marshall right there. Not super high gain, more like my old 800, not as buzzy as when gain up too far. Actually one of the few amps I've had where I can get that master up there and have it usable! Even my lead 12 gets too loud and noisy when master is up a lot. This one stays quiet.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Oh crap, impulse buy (Marshall content)

I have a vintage 4 10" Marshall cab that was given to me on permanent loan from a good friend. I think it is a '70 or 71. It has 4 15W Celestions in it so I was considering this amp in a head to pair with it. I had one all lined up and decided to discuss it with my amp tech. He talked me out of it. He said it was a poorly designed head and as you have already mentioned it has overheating issues as well as others. I STILL think its a great overall low wattage head. Next time I should just pull the trigger...

 

[nedcronin]

Re: Oh crap, impulse buy (Marshall content)

The Tube Depot has SED tubes on sale. I bet a set of those power tubes would really help out. For Marshall I have a TSL now, and I put SED's in it a while ago. I tried some JJ 6CA7 in there....sounded horrid! I put the winged c SED's back in, makes a huge diffence, especially if you can turn the master up. WAY more harmonics and dynamics. Pleasant power tube distortion too, where other brands I have tried sound not nearly as alive, etc. Flat is the word I would use for the 6CA7's, very sterile with a gross PT distortion. I use a DR Z air brake with this amp so I can crank it, otherwise it's sort of lackluster. But with the master on 10 and the crunch channel gain on 4-5, it's all good.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Oh crap, impulse buy (Marshall content)

SEDs would be sweet, from what I've read!

Bludave - it is a bit of a gamble. Might not be for everyone. Perhaps you did the right thing.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Oh crap, impulse buy (Marshall content)

Lil update - honeymoon is starting to get weird. I recant my theory about the diodes not impairing with the sound. Pretty sure any frustration I have with the sound is from the diodes. Turn up the gain and it's buzzy. Use a pedal with the amps gain backed off and it pushes the diodes into buzz. They must be destroyed. Not sure why the heck they put them in, I mean at least put them on a mini toggle or something! I can hear the real amp in there but man those diodes are holding it back. Next tech visit for tubes, those things are getting yanked.

Makes me wonder if the jtm60 that sounded so good to me at GC had them out. What sucks is I've seen 60s for sale with them out which would probably cost less in the long run.