So, I got the JCM800

[fretburner]

Re: So, I got the JCM800

Is it as good as a good plexi? No of course not. Is an upgrade to a JCM900 DR? Yes certainly , in most cases. It will not have the pre-amp gain of a 900. You will have to play it louder, but nothing like the volume levels of a 50 watt plexi. The basic 2204/2203 designs were not that much different from the non-master amps. The have a master volume added and more pre-amp gain mainly.

I find the JCM900 a bit buzzy... not as smooth as my JTM60, and not as much mids.

How are the mids of the JCM800 4104 (combo version of the 2204)? I hope it won't be too buzzy?

Most of the early 800 combo's came with G12-65's and thats a good thing.

The amp I'm thinking of getting has a pair of G12-65's, but re-coned. I can't find merchants online selling recone kits of G12-65s. I only want the kits, the the entire recone service. Maybe you know of some merchant who sells kits? If not, what's a good substitute speaker? I might have to replace them later on.

edit: a friend of mine just pointed me to this: WGS ET65. Are these good? They're pretty cheap, at $69 each, versus the Heritage G12-65 which is a whopping $205 each!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: So, I got the JCM800

^would you like them if you didn't know how awesome plexis are?

No...never liked that somewhat thin tone they make...boxy grainy unpleasent.
It is the same with late 70's Marshalls.

 

[fretburner]

Re: So, I got the JCM800

Quick question: All JCM800's don't have an FX loop stock right?

If it's got an FX loop, then it has to be modded? Also, if it's got an FX loop, how does that affect the tone of the amp - assuming you don't use the loop?

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: So, I got the JCM800

I find the JCM900 a bit buzzy... not as smooth as my JTM60, and not as much mids.

How are the mids of the JCM800 4104 (combo version of the 2204)? I hope it won't be too buzzy?



The amp I'm thinking of getting has a pair of G12-65's, but re-coned. I can't find merchants online selling recone kits of G12-65s. I only want the kits, the the entire recone service. Maybe you know of some merchant who sells kits? If not, what's a good substitute speaker? I might have to replace them later on.

edit: a friend of mine just pointed me to this: WGS ET65. Are these good? They're pretty cheap, at $69 each, versus the Heritage G12-65 which is a whopping $205 each!

Buzzy-ness is usually caused by driving pre-amp tubes too hard. The 2204 doesn't have that much pre-amp gain (compared to modern amps or the 900's) so it should not be all that buzzy in comparision. To get much distortion at a moderate volumes you will probably have to use a pedal.

I find that most 2204's have nice mids, especially with EL34's. 6550 loaded versions will be a bit more scooped.

If the speakers have already been re-coned then they should go for years more, considering it's a 50 watt amp with 130 watts of speaker handling. Of course the tone may be altered slightly by the re-cone, but that's water under the bridge. They may sound great too.

I don't have any experience with the ET65's. Emminence also makes a G12-65 clone, so you do have several possible options.

I gigged a JCM800 combo with 65's a few times during the 80's. It's been a long time, but I recall that I liked the amp a lot.

 

[fretburner]

Re: So, I got the JCM800

Buzzy-ness is usually caused by driving pre-amp tubes too hard. The 2204 doesn't have that much pre-amp gain (compared to modern amps or the 900's) so it should not be all that buzzy in comparision. To get much distortion at a moderate volumes you will probably have to use a pedal.

That's good to hear

I got a few very good OD pedals - Drivemaster, Guvnor (the old, black pedal), and a TS9. I got a few more, but not too crazy about it - just kept it for variety-sake.

I find that most 2204's have nice mids, especially with EL34's. 6550 loaded versions will be a bit more scooped.

The owner said this came in with EL34's stock - although the current tubes are not the best brand. It's the 1st thing I'm going to replace.

If the speakers have already been re-coned then they should go for years more, considering it's a 50 watt amp with 130 watts of speaker handling. Of course the tone may be altered slightly by the re-cone, but that's water under the bridge. They may sound great too.

They were reconed with "thicker" paper, the owner said. I don't know what kind of paper they used, or what glue, or whatever - but he said, the local tech who did it copied the grooves "accurately", and he said they sounded good. But I don't know if good to him is good to me. He said it's got a bigger bottom now, kinda like those Mesa Boogies. Bad sign.

I don't have any experience with the ET65's. Emminence also makes a G12-65 clone, so you do have several possible options.

I'm attracted to the ET65's because people here seems to be raving about them, and they're relatively cheap! Although, my 1st option would be to get a recone kit. I've been googling stuff and I came across this thread that says the Classic Lead 80 uses the same exact cones as the G12-65s. The former might be easier to source.

I gigged a JCM800 combo with 65's a few times during the 80's. It's been a long time, but I recall that I liked the amp a lot.

Sounds good. I'm not as happy as the JCM900 as I am with the JTM60, which is why I'm really like already 90% decided to get this JCM800. If I get it, I guess the next time I'm going to get an amp, it would be a half stack already - which I don't see myself using several years from now!

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: So, I got the JCM800

I love my 800 for what it does, but I do want a good plexi... even though it is totally unusable for me lol.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: So, I got the JCM800

Quick question: All JCM800's don't have an FX loop stock right?

If it's got an FX loop, then it has to be modded? Also, if it's got an FX loop, how does that affect the tone of the amp - assuming you don't use the loop?

The originals don´t have one, but the more recent reissues and special versions (ZW + KK) do.

My 2204 doesn´t have one, no Idea what it would do to the tone...

 

[fretburner]

Re: So, I got the JCM800

The originals don´t have one, but the more recent reissues and special versions (ZW + KK) do.

My 2204 doesn´t have one, no Idea what it would do to the tone...

Cool. The seller just confirmed it doesn't have an FX loop. I was worried he's modified it. Not that it's necessarily bad, but if I don't know who modded it, it would be a huge turn off.