paultelestrat
New member
jcm800 and jcm 900 amp heads,what the difference?
what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
- Thread starter paultelestrat
- Start date
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
that is a very vauge questions...which models are you looking at?
that is a very vauge questions...which models are you looking at?
shredaholic
New member
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
from what I've heard they're supposed to sound very different
from what I've heard they're supposed to sound very different
paultelestrat
New member
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
to the gut who invented fire: how many different models are there? how do they differ? i'm interested in buying a marshall head.i was told to look at early 80's JCM 800's, but i'm seeing some 900's on ebay also.don't know much about them either.
to the gut who invented fire: how many different models are there? how do they differ? i'm interested in buying a marshall head.i was told to look at early 80's JCM 800's, but i'm seeing some 900's on ebay also.don't know much about them either.
paultelestrat
New member
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
sorry ,thats guy,not gut.
sorry ,thats guy,not gut.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
I'm sure someone will chime in here with detailed info and model numbers, but the first JCM800's were basically the same as the previous generation JMP amps. Somewhere along the way they added diode clipping in the preamp stages. (and changed the model number) I think the JCM900 series went though a few changes also.
Right now 800s are en vouge and are fetching higher and higher prices, the 900s are still the black sheep and you can find them cheaper. Quite a few early/mid 90's bands used the 900s, you can hear them on Green Day, Offspring and Rancid CDs for sure.
Go to some music stores and try out the different amps sitting in the used corner. Keep in mind that the first series of 800s was not extremely high gain, a lot of people hit it with an OD/Dist/Boost box before the input. Another thing is that those early 800s can be modded quite nicely and that's definately an option to consider.
I'm sure someone will chime in here with detailed info and model numbers, but the first JCM800's were basically the same as the previous generation JMP amps. Somewhere along the way they added diode clipping in the preamp stages. (and changed the model number) I think the JCM900 series went though a few changes also.
Right now 800s are en vouge and are fetching higher and higher prices, the 900s are still the black sheep and you can find them cheaper. Quite a few early/mid 90's bands used the 900s, you can hear them on Green Day, Offspring and Rancid CDs for sure.
Go to some music stores and try out the different amps sitting in the used corner. Keep in mind that the first series of 800s was not extremely high gain, a lot of people hit it with an OD/Dist/Boost box before the input. Another thing is that those early 800s can be modded quite nicely and that's definately an option to consider.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
JCM 800
-1959
-1986
-1987
-1992
-2203
-2204
-2205
-2210
JCM 900
-2100
-2100SLX
-4101
-2500
-2500SLX
To be honest I don't think that there are gonna be any 900's that will be close to an 800...
JCM 800
-1959
-1986
-1987
-1992
-2203
-2204
-2205
-2210
JCM 900
-2100
-2100SLX
-4101
-2500
-2500SLX
To be honest I don't think that there are gonna be any 900's that will be close to an 800...
paultelestrat
New member
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
thanks for the input,FIRE,i'm looking to get a hard rock/metal kinda sound,mostly rythym.any of those 800's you listed i should stay away from?or are they "all good"?
thanks for the input,FIRE,i'm looking to get a hard rock/metal kinda sound,mostly rythym.any of those 800's you listed i should stay away from?or are they "all good"?
paultelestrat
New member
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
thanks MEMPHIS and PFD.(i need all the help i can get)
thanks MEMPHIS and PFD.(i need all the help i can get)
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
well the 2203/2204 seems to be a Standard hard rock, lots of guys use them with a mild overdrive to boost the frontend to get a bigger more distorted sound and I have it on very good repots that the 2205/2210 is also a killer amp for crunch...people tell me that the cleans leave something to be desired but the crunch is great...
paultelestrat said:
well the 2203/2204 seems to be a Standard hard rock, lots of guys use them with a mild overdrive to boost the frontend to get a bigger more distorted sound and I have it on very good repots that the 2205/2210 is also a killer amp for crunch...people tell me that the cleans leave something to be desired but the crunch is great...
joelap
Red&Goldologist
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
Are you willing to mod your amp? The early single channel JCM800's (2203/2204) are easy mods. a common mod is taking the 12AX7 from the low gain input, and adding it as a third 12AX7 on the high gain input. Effectively, that'll give you more gain on the high gain channel (you'll have a harder time getting cleans out of it though), and the low gain channel will not be functional. Many people have that done as a common mod (I know for a fact that Mike Mushok of Staind has his JCM 800 single channel amp modded that way). There's also dvds that will give you mods by a famous amp modder by the name of Lee Jackson. Search for his name on ebay. ALSO: google "The Ultimate JCM 800". That page has a bunch of easy to perform mods that improve the tone of a single channel jcm 800... and best of all, you decide when "enough is enough".
If modding isn't your thing, you can grab a single channel jcm 800 (2203 or 2204), vintage or reissue, and get an overdrive to put in front of it. Zakk Wylde does this. And best of all, theres countless overdrives for you to try out, with or without tubes, boutique and production models. The possibilities are endless.
OR: you could get a dual channel JCM 800 (2205/2210), but those are getting more expensive and the cleans arent that great. Not to mention, the earlier dual channel jcm800's arent that great sounding. one thing to remember is that marshall and fender tweaked their amps from year to year without changing model numbers, so early and late editions of the same amps may sound different. As is the case with 2210's/2205's. HOWEVER 1989 2210;s/2205's are considereed as good as it gets by Jeff Seal, who is an amp modder and tech here on the forums.
OR: JCM 900's dont stack up as well technically as JCM 800's but if its your sound, go for it. I dont know much about JCM 900's only that Dave Navarro used one for Janes Addiction... that seems to be the tone those things put out. Not my box of juice, and you dont see too many metal guys using them (as far as I know, which isnt very far)''
OR: save yourself some money and look into other brands. A JCM 800 can run you between 700-1000 bucks. Theres a thread about a Laney Pro Tube amp which has a very marshall tone... check out the video that TwilightOdyssey posted, and believe me, that guy knows metal! Another amp to consider is a Sovtek Mig 50 or Mig 100. JCM 800 tone without the price. For the Sovtek, you will need an overdrive pedal to get metal tones... I'm not sure about the laney.
hope this helped!
Are you willing to mod your amp? The early single channel JCM800's (2203/2204) are easy mods. a common mod is taking the 12AX7 from the low gain input, and adding it as a third 12AX7 on the high gain input. Effectively, that'll give you more gain on the high gain channel (you'll have a harder time getting cleans out of it though), and the low gain channel will not be functional. Many people have that done as a common mod (I know for a fact that Mike Mushok of Staind has his JCM 800 single channel amp modded that way). There's also dvds that will give you mods by a famous amp modder by the name of Lee Jackson. Search for his name on ebay. ALSO: google "The Ultimate JCM 800". That page has a bunch of easy to perform mods that improve the tone of a single channel jcm 800... and best of all, you decide when "enough is enough".
If modding isn't your thing, you can grab a single channel jcm 800 (2203 or 2204), vintage or reissue, and get an overdrive to put in front of it. Zakk Wylde does this. And best of all, theres countless overdrives for you to try out, with or without tubes, boutique and production models. The possibilities are endless.
OR: you could get a dual channel JCM 800 (2205/2210), but those are getting more expensive and the cleans arent that great. Not to mention, the earlier dual channel jcm800's arent that great sounding. one thing to remember is that marshall and fender tweaked their amps from year to year without changing model numbers, so early and late editions of the same amps may sound different. As is the case with 2210's/2205's. HOWEVER 1989 2210;s/2205's are considereed as good as it gets by Jeff Seal, who is an amp modder and tech here on the forums.
OR: JCM 900's dont stack up as well technically as JCM 800's but if its your sound, go for it. I dont know much about JCM 900's only that Dave Navarro used one for Janes Addiction... that seems to be the tone those things put out. Not my box of juice, and you dont see too many metal guys using them (as far as I know, which isnt very far)''
OR: save yourself some money and look into other brands. A JCM 800 can run you between 700-1000 bucks. Theres a thread about a Laney Pro Tube amp which has a very marshall tone... check out the video that TwilightOdyssey posted, and believe me, that guy knows metal! Another amp to consider is a Sovtek Mig 50 or Mig 100. JCM 800 tone without the price. For the Sovtek, you will need an overdrive pedal to get metal tones... I'm not sure about the laney.
hope this helped!
joelap
Red&Goldologist
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
Oh yeah, i forgot to mention: if you get a vintage JCM 800 (not a new reissue), PLEASE do not do any mods to it that arent reversable. Some day those amps are going to be worth a pretty penny in their original form... they kind of already are. Thats what makes "the ultimate jcm 800" so great: all the mods can be undone and the amp can go back to its original form without anyone ever knowing you changed a thing.
Oh yeah, i forgot to mention: if you get a vintage JCM 800 (not a new reissue), PLEASE do not do any mods to it that arent reversable. Some day those amps are going to be worth a pretty penny in their original form... they kind of already are. Thats what makes "the ultimate jcm 800" so great: all the mods can be undone and the amp can go back to its original form without anyone ever knowing you changed a thing.
paultelestrat
New member
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
thanks again to fire,and to joelap.one thing for sure by your description of the the "900" sound ,THAT is not for me.you have supplied a lot of info.i saw a couple of 800's on ebay between $350-450, is something wrong with them?(too cheap?)not exactly sure what models?if i got a vintage one , i'd probably leave it alone,and use a pedal?
thanks again to fire,and to joelap.one thing for sure by your description of the the "900" sound ,THAT is not for me.you have supplied a lot of info.i saw a couple of 800's on ebay between $350-450, is something wrong with them?(too cheap?)not exactly sure what models?if i got a vintage one , i'd probably leave it alone,and use a pedal?
joelap
Red&Goldologist
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
Well, the key to remember on ebay is that the price you see is the current price... most people bid within minutes of the auction's end. To see the current going rate, click on advanced search, and click the check box "search for completed listings" or something along those lines. Those will show you (in green) the prices an item sold for, or if it's in red that the item wasnt sold (no one bid, or it didnt meet the reserve price).paultelestrat said:
greendy123
New member
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
If you were to get a jcm 900 I would look into getting one of the slx models. You can put out a bunch of different tones with them. Classic rock to even high distortion metal. These models are better as the distortion comes only from the preamp tubes. I think the other models in 900 series use diodes for distortion. I have a 2100slx model and it works great for me. Only thing about it is there is no channel switching, but just turning down the volume on your guitar can get you cleans anyways. If you find that 800's don't give you distortion you are looking for look into 900 slx models. Oh I forgot one more thing if you get a one of these make sure you get one with el-34 power tubes in it. I heard most people say that the slx models are bad with 5881 power tubes that some have in them.
If you were to get a jcm 900 I would look into getting one of the slx models. You can put out a bunch of different tones with them. Classic rock to even high distortion metal. These models are better as the distortion comes only from the preamp tubes. I think the other models in 900 series use diodes for distortion. I have a 2100slx model and it works great for me. Only thing about it is there is no channel switching, but just turning down the volume on your guitar can get you cleans anyways. If you find that 800's don't give you distortion you are looking for look into 900 slx models. Oh I forgot one more thing if you get a one of these make sure you get one with el-34 power tubes in it. I heard most people say that the slx models are bad with 5881 power tubes that some have in them.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
There's also the 4100 and 4500 in the JCM 900 line.
If you end up with a JCM 800 2203/2204, and it's stock, leave it that way. They are more desireable and will fetch a higher resale when left stock. Just push the front end with a good overdrive pedal.
As for the JCM 900's, either the 2100 or 2500 are the ones I'd look for. The SL-X models (Mk IV) with the same number are the same amp with an additional preamp tube. As an owner of the 2100 Mk III, the sucker has the Marshall tone. The 4100/4500 Dual Reverbs were good early on, up until late 93 early 94, then they started to sound stale.
An early JCM 900 is worth it (1990-1993ish) if you can't get a JCM 800. I know this is contradicting what joelap said but since he said he didn't know much about the 900's other than Navarro using it, I thought I'd chime in. That's not the only tone they put out, just making that clear.
the guy who invented fire said:
There's also the 4100 and 4500 in the JCM 900 line.
If you end up with a JCM 800 2203/2204, and it's stock, leave it that way. They are more desireable and will fetch a higher resale when left stock. Just push the front end with a good overdrive pedal.
As for the JCM 900's, either the 2100 or 2500 are the ones I'd look for. The SL-X models (Mk IV) with the same number are the same amp with an additional preamp tube. As an owner of the 2100 Mk III, the sucker has the Marshall tone. The 4100/4500 Dual Reverbs were good early on, up until late 93 early 94, then they started to sound stale.
An early JCM 900 is worth it (1990-1993ish) if you can't get a JCM 800. I know this is contradicting what joelap said but since he said he didn't know much about the 900's other than Navarro using it, I thought I'd chime in. That's not the only tone they put out, just making that clear.
paultelestrat
New member
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
thanks for chiming in erik and dave.just when i thought i knew which one i wanted......................................hmmmmmmm , what to do.
thanks for chiming in erik and dave.just when i thought i knew which one i wanted......................................hmmmmmmm , what to do.
JeffB
Let it B
Re: what's the difference between JCM800 and aJCM900?
I'd take a good 800 over a good 900 anyday..they are just more...erm...marshally....
However if you can find a good one, a 900 is a nice amp (as said by others, stick with El34s and the earlier it was made the better, tho I'm not fam w/ the SLX)
As for Gibbons...That's the last ZZ top stuff I ever heard (recycler)....and the best tones he got on that album were done with a Lead 12 as a pre-amp he got a little too gain happy with the 900's :crazy:
In fact that would lead to another piece of advice...the more ya crank the pre-amp gain on a 900 the thinner it gets (as do most amps). Keep that gain backed off and they do sound good and crunch quite well.
I'd take a good 800 over a good 900 anyday..they are just more...erm...marshally....
However if you can find a good one, a 900 is a nice amp (as said by others, stick with El34s and the earlier it was made the better, tho I'm not fam w/ the SLX)
As for Gibbons...That's the last ZZ top stuff I ever heard (recycler)....and the best tones he got on that album were done with a Lead 12 as a pre-amp
he got a little too gain happy with the 900's :crazy: In fact that would lead to another piece of advice...the more ya crank the pre-amp gain on a 900 the thinner it gets (as do most amps). Keep that gain backed off and they do sound good and crunch quite well.
