Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

[Lewguitar]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

Hey John...... I found this http://www.legendarytones.com/marshall2c.htm
big paragraph in the middle....

that Marshall looks familiar....

That WAS a great read! And it answered the questions I've had for years about why the vertical input version from '82 kicked the butt of my horizontal input Marshall from '86.

I always said the '82 sounded ballsier...he uses the words "more gain" and "more aggressive". Same thing.

I was just a beginner at working on amps when I had those two and never quite figured out what the problem was. Thanks a ton for that link. Lew

 

[Rich_T]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

my DSL hasn't failed on me yet, i run it loud and hot. The tone just isnt my thing, its more of a blues/punk kinda amp. I need the chunk of a half stack.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

Look for an early 80's JCM-800. 1982 or so. Vertical inputs...NOT side by side inputs. GREAT AMPS!

I'm not fam with the bands you mentioned but It's hard to beat Loew's suggestion.

Also look into a 600 series combo. The JTM series sounds good too, but apparently have major reliability issues (mine did), and they were replaced by the 600's.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

That WAS a great read! And it answered the questions I've had for years about why the vertical input version from '82 kicked the butt of my horizontal input Marshall from '86.

Yep..a good read and a great explanation for the uninformed as to why those old Marshalls are so highly sought out. They are not made the same and don't SOUND the same. No matter how much Marshall says "our new amp X has the same crunch of a Plexi".

I understand the business aspect of controlling costs, but as far as I am concerned, Marshall lost it's "magic" 20 years ago. The DSL/TSL do sound better than the 900's, but they just don't have the mojo of those old amps. The reissues and hand-wireds are the way to go if you want the "real" Marshall vibe/tone/dynamics.

and despite what that fellow says in the article, I'd avoid any Marshall 800 that used 6550's...while those particular amps he mentioned may sound a bit better with them vs. EL-34's, IME 6550's sound horrid in them regardless.

 

[Imp]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

my DSL hasn't failed on me yet, i run it loud and hot. The tone just isnt my thing, its more of a blues/punk kinda amp. I need the chunk of a half stack.

+1 man, im looking into a 2x12 for mine now.. the stock speaker just dosent give it the girth it deserves lol

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

Yep..a good read and a great explanation for the uninformed as to why those old Marshalls are so highly sought out. They are not made the same and don't SOUND the same. No matter how much Marshall says "our new amp X has the same crunch of a Plexi".

I understand the business aspect of controlling costs, but as far as I am concerned, Marshall lost it's "magic" 20 years ago. The DSL/TSL do sound better than the 900's, but they just don't have the mojo of those old amps. The reissues and hand-wireds are the way to go if you want the "real" Marshall vibe/tone/dynamics.

and despite what that fellow says in the article, I'd avoid any Marshall 800 that used 6550's...while those particular amps he mentioned may sound a bit better with them vs. EL-34's, IME 6550's sound horrid in them regardless.

I agree. However, my '82 came with 6550's. I modded the amp slightly so I could bias it properly to use EL-34's and it sounded just great afterwards. So I wouldn't let the 6550's scare anyone off. It's a simple mod.

Lew

 

[JeffB]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

I agree. However, my '82 came with 6550's. I modded the amp slightly so I could bias it properly to use EL-34's and it sounded just great afterwards. So I wouldn't let the 6550's scare anyone off. It's a simple mod.

Lew

Oh yeah..no problem if ya re-bias for El34s, Lew...I was speaking more about avoiding using 6550's in a Marshall in particular, not avoiding the amps themselves..I should have been more clear in my post.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

Oh yeah..no problem if ya re-bias for El34s, Lew...I was speaking more about avoiding using 6550's in a Marshall in particular, not avoiding the amps themselves..I should have been more clear in my post.

Ahhh....I see. Thanks! Lew

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

The DSL/TSL do sound better than the 900's, but they just don't have the mojo of those old amps. The reissues and hand-wireds are the way to go if you want the "real" Marshall vibe/tone/dynamics...

Then again, if you're right into 90's rock music, a JTM 900 ain't such a bad idea. I'm never, ever, ever, gonna pay through the nose for one of Lew's slightly-modifed-but-unbelievably-high-price JTM800s cos I really don't like 80s music and sounds - instead, I grew up on Oasis, so it's all JTM900s and Orange amps for my wishlist...

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

The two JCM 800 combo amps I owned were single channel master volume 50 watters too. The only 100 watt JCM 800 I've owned was a a two channel with reverb and channel switching...it was fun for a while. I liked the distortion channel better than the clean channel and the reverb was OK, but not great.

Anyone that knows anything about the 800s,knows the 2203 and the 2204s were the ones with the best distortion tones...The 800 series wasn't noted for it's clean tones....That's why I prefer the earlier Non-master volume metal faced 50 watt 1987 head alot better...To me,this is "The early Marshall Tone" I grew up listening to...I sold my 50 watt 800 years ago,but seeing what they are going for now(used),I wish I still had it...Oh well.. :smack: :wink:

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

Yep..a good read and a great explanation for the uninformed as to why those old Marshalls are so highly sought out. They are not made the same and don't SOUND the same. No matter how much Marshall says "our new amp X has the same crunch of a Plexi".

I understand the business aspect of controlling costs, but as far as I am concerned, Marshall lost it's "magic" 20 years ago. The DSL/TSL do sound better than the 900's, but they just don't have the mojo of those old amps. The reissues and hand-wireds are the way to go if you want the "real" Marshall vibe/tone/dynamics.

and despite what that fellow says in the article, I'd avoid any Marshall 800 that used 6550's...while those particular amps he mentioned may sound a bit better with them vs. EL-34's, IME 6550's sound horrid in them regardless.

The conversion from 6550s to EL34s is only 1 or 2 resistor changes....The 6550s were used here in the states for reliability issues with the EL34s,but the Marshall sound is all about the EL34s....I'm talking after the JTM 45 series..The last really great Marshalls for tone and reliability were the 800 series in my opinion though...It's funny that with all of the 800s I've messed with(most 50 watters)that I simply never noticed the difference between the vertical and side by side amps? Cool to still learn something about these amps....The 100 watter is just a beast though....HOLY SH$T! :smack:

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

Then again, if you're right into 90's rock music, a JTM 900 ain't such a bad idea. I'm never, ever, ever, gonna pay through the nose for one of Lew's slightly-modifed-but-unbelievably-high-price JTM800s cos I really don't like 80s music and sounds - instead, I grew up on Oasis, so it's all JTM900s and Orange amps for my wishlist...

You mean "JCM 800" and not JTM 800....

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

Anyone that knows anything about the 800s,knows the 2203 and the 2204s were the ones with the best distortion tones...The 800 series wasn't noted for it's clean tones....That's why I prefer the earlier Non-master volume metal faced 50 watt 1987 head alot better...To me,this is "The early Marshall Tone" I grew up listening to...I sold my 50 watt 800 years ago,but seeing what they are going for now(used),I wish I still had it...Oh well.. :smack: :wink:

100% agreement. My '82 2203 was a great amp, but not quite the equal of my '70 Marshall 1987 small box 50 watt head. That's why I sold both my '82 and '86 and kept the '70 small box 50 watt head. Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

100% agreement. My '82 2203 was a great amp, but not quite the equal of my '70 Marshall 1987 small box 50 watt head. That's why I sold both my '82 and '86 and kept the '70 small box 50 watt head. Lew[/QUOT

Yep....All the tones I was hearing wasn't at all about the 800 series...The very first Marshall I bought at the time(Early 80s)was the 800 amp..I found out a short time later that it really was the older "Plexi" 1959/1987 tones that I was digging...Sold my 800,but I don't plan on selling my old head....I do gig with it once in awhile with some pedals,but I need to get a "Mass" unit for it...I had a Marshall Powerbrake,but I didn't care for it much...The last thing I did with my 50 watter was to put an O.E.I transformer in it...It made my amp alot smoother and just better sounding overall...

My 50 watt 800 amp was an 83 Vertical input model....

John

 

[JeffB]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

Then again, if you're right into 90's rock music, a JTM 900 ain't such a bad idea. I'm never, ever, ever, gonna pay through the nose for one of Lew's slightly-modifed-but-unbelievably-high-price JTM800s cos I really don't like 80s music and sounds - instead, I grew up on Oasis, so it's all JTM900s and Orange amps for my wishlist...

I can certainly understand all that..a "generation gap" so to speak, though I'm not familiar with the band you speak of. However MY generation would be considered the 800 series, yet I don't care nearly as much for those as I do the mid 60s to mid 70's marshalls.

Regardless, my point is that people won't truly know why Marshall became who they are without handling those old amps...or even the reissues to a certain extent.

:austin powers voice:It's all about NMV baby!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

The 6550s were used here in the states for reliability issues with the EL34s,but the Marshall sound is all about the EL34s....I'm talking after the JTM 45 series..The last really great Marshalls for tone and reliability were the 800 series in my opinion though...

100% in agreement with you John I wasn't clear in my initial post replying to Lew about the 6550's.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

100% agreement. My '82 2203 was a great amp, but not quite the equal of my '70 Marshall 1987 small box 50 watt head. That's why I sold both my '82 and '86 and kept the '70 small box 50 watt head. Lew

Yep....All the tones I was hearing wasn't at all about the 800 series...The very first Marshall I bought at the time(Early 80s)was the 800 amp..I found out a short time later that it really was the older "Plexi" 1959/1987 tones that I was digging

Seems we all agree there. The 1987's whether vintage or the reissues are my fave Marshall heads. I do prefer the 73 and later 1987's as well as the reissue because of the increased gain and "heavier" tone. But the cleans are still really good on the later boxes as well, though I got magnificent cleans jes rollin the volume on my guitars back too.

Excellent head. Hate like hell to sell my X, but It's just not practical anymore

 

[Rich_T]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

Then again, if you're right into 90's rock music, a JTM 900 ain't such a bad idea. I'm never, ever, ever, gonna pay through the nose for one of Lew's slightly-modifed-but-unbelievably-high-price JTM800s cos I really don't like 80s music and sounds - instead, I grew up on Oasis, so it's all JTM900s and Orange amps for my wishlist...

JCM 800s aren't one trick ponies. The 900 has the more typical buzzy 80s tone compared to the 800s. Graham Coxon from Blur and James Dean Bradfield from the Manics have both used JCM 800s extensivley, both great exponents of the Brit-rock movement.

Other big 90's rock bands using the 800s were Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine.

 

[greendy123]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

Would you guys suggest I just get a marshall head and cabinet instead of a marshall combo? If I got a head I would need to get 1 x 12 cab or 2 x 12 cause my room isn't big enough for a 4x12. So what do you guys think about that idea?

 

[Jeff Seal]

Re: Recommendations on marshall all tube combos

100% agreement. My '82 2203 was a great amp, but not quite the equal of my '70 Marshall 1987 small box 50 watt head. That's why I sold both my '82 and '86 and kept the '70 small box 50 watt head. Lew[/QUOT

Yep....All the tones I was hearing wasn't at all about the 800 series...The very first Marshall I bought at the time(Early 80s)was the 800 amp..I found out a short time later that it really was the older "Plexi" 1959/1987 tones that I was digging...Sold my 800,but I don't plan on selling my old head....I do gig with it once in awhile with some pedals,but I need to get a "Mass" unit for it...I had a Marshall Powerbrake,but I didn't care for it much...The last thing I did with my 50 watter was to put an O.E.I transformer in it...It made my amp alot smoother and just better sounding overall...

My 50 watt 800 amp was an 83 Vertical input model....

John

..reffering to the pics posted earlier..

John, just as a question, are R24 and R25 100k for "attenuating" reasons... just curious as I usually opt for the 220k's here...with C19 and C20 being utilized for much better low end response....if that's what the customer's after..

...looks good, nice work bro!!


Jeff Seal