The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

800's have a particular crunchy heavy rock sound, but are kind of 'one trick ponies.'

I'd suggest selling some stuff, adding money, and forking out the dough for a Splawn, Voodoo, Bogner, or Mojave Scorpion. They have better cleans, better highgain, and all the in between sounds are easy to dial in.

No offense directly to you buddy GJ,but I still see pretty much all Marshalls behind most of the bands when I watch VH1 Classics....I don't see the Bogners,Splawn,Trace's Voodoo stuff,etc...It's still pretty much Marshall in that backline...

 

[WhoFan]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

All this 800 talk makes me want to run my 800 head in for repairs right now!!!

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

No offense directly to you buddy GJ,but I still see pretty much all Marshalls behind most of the bands when I watch VH1 Classics....I don't see the Bogners,Splawn,Trace's Voodoo stuff,etc...It's still pretty much Marshall in that backline...

I remember taking exception to someone saying that the MV JMP Marshalls were "one trick ponies." But then I realized that that "one trick" encompasses most everything that I look for in an amp.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

I remember taking exception to someone saying that the MV JMP Marshalls were "one trick ponies." But then I realized that that "one trick" encompasses most everything that I look for in an amp.

It's true that sometimes doing one thing Great is better then trying to do more Good... I see a Canadian artist Kim Mitchell all the time live..... 4-6 times a year easy anyways.... His live gear is simple.... Stock 80's 50 watt 800 head, vintage Marshall cab with Greenbacks, and a few Boss pedals-(Blues Driver, Comp, and Chorus).... It is amazing how many tones he gets out of that rig... mostly uses an old Parts strat with Humbuckers and some EB Axis's..... Clean one minute and heavy metal the next.... It's hard to believe it's a single channel amp he is using.... I bought the same early 80's 800 head model as he uses.... a Early 80's Canadian issue head.....

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

I remember taking exception to someone saying that the MV JMP Marshalls were "one trick ponies." But then I realized that that "one trick" encompasses most everything that I look for in an amp.

I noticed the same with my Homebrew ( Which is based on a JMP MV) It may be a one trick pony? But it covers a lot of ground with that one trick. Pretty much anything from late 60's British Blues/Psychedelic to mid 80's Metal., And ALL IN BETWEEN! Kind of like a guy that can only hit Homeruns. Put him in the American League,Let him DH in the cleanup spot... You have yourself a perennial All-Star and a trip to Cooperstown.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

The classic 800 sound is the 75W celestions. But with the right speakers a good 800 will cover alot of sonic ground. From blues-rock of the late 60s to metal tones. Greenbacks, G12H, Blackbacks, I like all those speakers with them. I would tend to gravitate towards the GB/BB/12Hs for warmer 60/70s/early 80s sounds, and go with the 75s for harder rock and metal.

I'm not a fan at all of V30s (in a Marshall), but alot of people like them.

Speakers are a big part of the Marshall tone. As much as the amp. They can and will TOTALLY change your perception of one marshall being good for one thing and not another. A metalface or plexi NMV through 75 watt celestions will hang in pretty well with an 800 for 80s Metal.

I actually like Marshall cleans (post Bluesbreaker/JTM45). They are different than what most people want, but I prefer them, unless I absolutely need/want a Fender Bassman or Twin type sound for some "authentic" blues tones. I especially like the "small" cleans Marshalls produce when ya roll your volume down on a cranked amp.

I agree for the most part and disagree just a little. I love Marshall cleans as well. I also agree that the speakers are crucial. However, I don't really associate the JCM800 era with the 75's.

I almost bought a 2x12 combo with the 65's that I gigged with many times, and I recall the 65's as being the one used most ofton with 800's through most of the era. The guy I almost bought it from disliked the moderate breakup of the 65's and switched to EV's, then he like the amp. The 75's with their scooped mids, and very little breakup may have been what the guy was looking for as well? The 75's came out in the mid 80's and could be associated with 800's during the waning years of the 800 era. Nonetheless, a lot of guys sought out and ran older Celestions in their 800 cabs, so they could have been many different Celestions during that era. 65's most likely, or 75's later on , a few with 70's, quite a few with Lead 80's, but perhaps black back 25's, in many cases.

There is no one diffinative JCM800 amp, speaker, or sound imho. The JCM800 2205/2210 is a very different amp and sound from the JCM 800 2203/2204, and there were still four input 50 and 100 watt 1987, and 1959 model amps in JCM800 dress being sold and used.

The 2210 through 65's is a very "metal" sounding amp, imo.

 

[cream123]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

arrrgh, this thread angers me...

 

[JeffB]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

I agree for the most part and disagree just a little. I love Marshall cleans as well. I also agree that the speakers are crucial. However, I don't really associate the JCM800 era with the 75's.

I almost bought a 2x12 combo with the 65's that I gigged with many times, and I recall the 65's as being the one used most ofton with 800's through most of the era. The guy I almost bought it from disliked the moderate breakup of the 65's and switched to EV's, then he like the amp. The 75's with their scooped mids, and very little breakup may have been what the guy was looking for as well? The 75's came out in the mid 80's and could be associated with 800's during the waning years of the 800 era. Nonetheless, a lot of guys sought out and ran older Celestions in their 800 cabs, so they could have been many different Celestions during that era. 65's most likely, or 75's later on , a few with 70's, quite a few with Lead 80's, but perhaps black back 25's, in many cases.

There is no one diffinative JCM800 amp, speaker, or sound imho. The JCM800 2205/2210 is a very different amp and sound from the JCM 800 2203/2204, and there were still four input 50 and 100 watt 1987, and 1959 model amps in JCM800 dress being sold and used.

The 2210 through 65's is a very "metal" sounding amp, imo.

All good points and I totally agree with you..

I think when most people think 800 though (especially those less familiar with them) they think LA/Hair Metal...and thats really the 75w Celestion type sound...that kinda where I was coming from with that statement.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

All good points and I totally agree with you..

I think when most people think 800 though (especially those less familiar with them) they think LA/Hair Metal...and thats really the 75w Celestion type sound...that kinda where I was coming from with that statement.

Ah...I can see that.

 

[Rich_T]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

I remember taking exception to someone saying that the MV JMP Marshalls were "one trick ponies." But then I realized that that "one trick" encompasses most everything that I look for in an amp.

Heh yeah, makes it louder. To hell with the bells and whistles, thats what the pedals are for.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

What Speakrs did Zakk Use on No Rest For The Wicked and No More Tears?
I heard that's the same spaekers that SRV use to use? Does anybody know what kind of mods he did/does to them. JCM800 are awesome, but don't forget their beuatifull bastard cousins Laney Pro-Tube AOR, I have one modded just for metal, mmmmm ..... sweetness.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

I never got the part about Marshalls being one trick pony's....

 

[ErikH]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

I think Zakk has been using EV's since he started with Ozzy. 200 Watt EV's to be exact. And his Marshalls are bone stock, other than the fancy faceplate and grill cloth. He wasn't using Marshalls on No Rest For The Wicked. That's all rack gear pretty much. No More Tears is when he went back to the Marshalls (he used them before joining Ozzy) and that's been what's he's stayed with since.

 

[JeffB]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

I never got the part about Marshalls being one trick pony's....

Agreed. No more than any other classic amp, like a VOX AC30 or Fender Bassman. It's got a clean sound, and just gets dirtier and louder.

I can see why some may not like the Marshall cleans (barring the JTM45) cos they are are "ethereal" and better used for ambience... not pristine and upfront like a fender, or sweet and chimey like a Vox... but it all comes down to taste. I don't like "loud" clean guitar parts..so the Marshall works great..it should add to overall mood of the tune, not play a direct part (IMO)

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

On most classic Marshalls I can alweays get a great clean sound, it is just like the dirty one, just alot less distorted, big and glassy with that great snap and in your face sound.
Hendrix had some awesome cleans on his big heads, I can always hear when he was not using the Fender tops, then it was that snappy glassy Marshall sound, love it!

 

[ErikH]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

My MkIII can get somewhat clean with the gain sensitivity all the way down and my Tele plugged in to it. Even then there's still some dirt in there because the preamp volume is up full. When that's rolled down it gets cleaner but this amp was made for overdriven tones and it does them well. For an amp that's classified as high gain, it's not really a one trick pony.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: The JCM 800 - Metal amp?

I never got the part about Marshalls being one trick pony's....

I'm a Marshall lover, so maybe 'one trick pony' wasn't the right phrase. My only point was that they do what they do, and do it well. In the heyday of 800's, most players used OD pedals or modded 800's, and got the best cleans out of them by rolling back the volume. I used to use a Boss OD-1 and Rat pedal.

I suggested the "foutique" amps :6: just because most players in the 80's would have cut off a toe to own what's available to us nowadays. :laugh2:
The whole reason for the rack craze was to get more versatility, since 80's amps were slightly limited. I wish I would have known those JMP's would be selling for $1800 someday. I used to see them in the paper for $400, just because 1 channel amps were 'old hat' and everyone wanted a new Mesa, ADA, or Randall. :laugh2: