Questions about Marshall JCM2000

Rockstar216

Rockstar216

New member
Ok heres the deal I am playing a show at the House of Blues here in Cleveland and they are providing a very decent backline as I have three amps to choose from.

Guitar - Fender Twin Reverb ('65 reissue Blackface model)
Guitar - Roland JC120 2x12
Guitar - Marshall JCM2000, 100watt w/4x12 slant 1960A

I'm 95% sure I'm going with the JCM2000 rig but I'm not familiar with this head nor playing through a 4x12. For those familiar with the amp how does the amp feel when playing, how good or bad are the cleans? If I had a dirt pedal I would consider the Twin but I rather have the two channels to switch between clean and dirt.

If they let me I might just bring my Blackstar HT40 1x12 combo just because I know what to expect but I think they prefer for artist to use the backline equipment. Also I'm the only guitarist in the band playing with two keyboardist, a drummer, bassist, two sax players, and three maybe four singers.
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

Do you know if it's a DSL100 or a TSL100?
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

In what size venue do you normally play the Blackstar HT-40? How does the HoB, Cleveland compare to your usual venues? In a big room, the sounds of a 40w amplifier could get lost.

A 4x12 is certainly going to project differently compared to a 1x12. My recollection is that the throw of a straight front 4x12 is quite directional. Too far off to either side of the cab and you cannot hear yourself as clearly as you might wish. The temptation then is to crank your volume. Pretty soon, everyone else in the band has notched up their volume and you cannot hear yourself again.

Marshall DSL v. TSL? I think that I would prefer the former. The Malmsteen signature model would be neat.

A re-issue '65 Twin Reverb will be loud enough but you may demand more midrange than it has to offer. Your choice of dirt pedal would be critical. IMO, a Catalinbread RAH would provide plenty of dynamically sensitive overdrive.
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

Here is what you need to know about the 2K series.

DSL: excellent with right speakers. Great cleans and crunch. Hard to get good EQ on crunch and lead channels using same settings. Bring a boost pedal to use for leads on the crunch channel.

TSL: pick one of the other two amps.
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

I have a JCM2000 DSL 50. I think anyone will find at least one tone in a DSL that they love, from cleans through blues and crunch to high gain. I live in the classic gain (green) channel's crunch mode, roll back my guitar volume for cleans and boost with an OD for leads.

It isn't great as a channel switcher because the EQ is shared and the channels are voiced differently. It doesn't work for me doing crunch on the green channel and leads on the red. I haven't tried pristine cleans on the green and distortion on the red because I don't play that way.
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

What kind of music is it? If youre used to playing with the Blackstar just take that, it should be plenty loud. I've played 2 different House of Blues venues with an AC30, and was asked to turn down.... their sound systems are reallllly good.

as for the amps they provide.. if you need overdriven tones and dont have a dirt pedal, your only option is the DSL. Use the crunch channel and ride the volume for cleans. Red channel kinda sucks...
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

DSL is a workhorse that was/is good enough for the likes of Gary Moore and Iron Maiden. If you play rock/hard rock, it would be hard to beat in terms of the list of choices you mentioned. I've owned both the DSL50 half-stack and a Twin Reverb Blackface Reissue and for harder rock, there's NO question that the DSL halfstack is a superior choice to the Fender. I ran my Carl Martin Plexitone into the Fender and it sounded very Marshall-esque, but the sealed-back half stack still had better, tighter crunch for rock because that's what it was designed for. If you play more light-bluesy, indie, alternative rock... then the Fender with a good OD pedal might be the superior choice. But make no mistake, the Fender can be every bit as "obnoxious" as the Marshall half-stack... so neither amp is a quiet soundman's dream. The Roland is only the superior choice if you play jazz IMO. For regular clean work that most guitarists like, the TRRI is the superior amp (it colors and compresses the tone, whereas the JC120 is more of a pristine clean, but less reactive and responsive than the Fender because it's not a tube amp).
 
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Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

They're most likely going to mic the amps, so I can't imagine that there would be a problem bringing your own. Unless it's a multi-band type of thing with minimal change over times. If that's the case, go with the Marshall. It will be the closest thing to what you normally use. You might also be able to run the 4x12 from your combo.


JeffB said:
TSL: pick one of the other two amps.
Click to expand...

I couldn't disagree more with that. TSLs are very versatile amps and can comp a ton of different tones.
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

I would go with the twin... The JCM2000 DSL and TSL cleans are thin and the with drive pedals they get boomy and ice picky with the 4x12. Just my experience with them
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

I would go with the Twin myself. I've never been happy with any Marshall...even the old ones.
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

go into a music shop and try out a twin reissue. Maybe try a pedal or two while you are there. Try out a DSL as well if they have one.
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

gibson175 said:
go into a music shop and try out a twin reissue. Maybe try a pedal or two while you are there. Try out a DSL as well if they have one.
Click to expand...

I've played a TRRI also i've played a true Black face and silver face twin. To me they all sounded good but I might go try a DSL if the Local GC or Sam Ash has one
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

DSLs are some of the highest production Marshall amps ever built. In fact, they still build them.
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

Also remember the DSL's changed around 05. I like the older original type but wasn't too impressed with the new ones.
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

I love Marshalls for various styles of music, but looking at the lineup in your band leads me to think that the Twin with a good dirt pedal is the way to go. It's easy to dial in a good clean sound, and then you just hit it with a good overdrive pedal for the crunch parts.

Best wishes on the gig!
 
Re: Questions about Marshall JCM2000

Twins are great sounding, classic, and very easy to dial in tonally.

The JCM2000's are my favorite Marshalls short of bona-fide Plexis. The 100W TSL in particular is my favorite, though on the Internet you will hear people bag on it for some reason. Anyhow, I love them, and used to own the 2x12 TSL combo. But they are "fiddly" amps, and take some time and experimentation to dial in. And, like most Marshalls, they really only do a handful of things extremely well. Anything else and it feels like they are reaching a bit outside of their comfort zone.

I'd go with the Twin Reverb. It's more versatile, and easier to just jump onto and quickly get a great tone.
 
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