which JCM 800's are least desirable?
- Thread starter jerryjg
- Start date
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
Some folks have issues with the post 1984 horizontal input 800s.
The 2205 and 2210 were the op-amp driven, multi-channel 800s and they came out post 1984 IIRC.
The 800 line actually had plexi models but most people are referring to the 100 watt 2203 and 50 watt 2204 master volume amps when they talk about the 800s.
Some folks have issues with the post 1984 horizontal input 800s.
The 2205 and 2210 were the op-amp driven, multi-channel 800s and they came out post 1984 IIRC.
The 800 line actually had plexi models but most people are referring to the 100 watt 2203 and 50 watt 2204 master volume amps when they talk about the 800s.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
Make sure you try it first. If you're referring to a 50W JCM800 2205 2 ch head, it's one of the worst sounding Marshalls I've ever owned.
Make sure you try it first. If you're referring to a 50W JCM800 2205 2 ch head, it's one of the worst sounding Marshalls I've ever owned.
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
Before I knew anything about Marshalls I bought the first used JCM 2x12 combo I could find. Big mistake, as it was the awful channel switching model. No matter what I did I couldn't get to sound good. The distortion sound like a swarm of angry bees. It sucked so bad I traded towards a Vox AC30CC. The guy who took it off my hands thought I was crazy for getting rid of such a "classic". Check the model number before you buy. If its a channel switcher run
away.
Before I knew anything about Marshalls I bought the first used JCM 2x12 combo I could find. Big mistake, as it was the awful channel switching model. No matter what I did I couldn't get to sound good. The distortion sound like a swarm of angry bees. It sucked so bad I traded towards a Vox AC30CC. The guy who took it off my hands thought I was crazy for getting rid of such a "classic". Check the model number before you buy. If its a channel switcher run
away.
WhammyBar Allstar
New member
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
The single channel 2203's and 2204's seem to be the most desireable. Verticle input 2203's from '81-'83 which had the full filtering (6 big caps). The horizontal input 2203's that came after still sounded ok but Marshall started cutting corners in manufacturing and started mounting all the pots and jacks to the PCB with those. The 2204 50 watters remained the same. The 2203's not to get are the ones that started using lower filtering (5 caps, and then later down to 3 caps).
The channel switchers are a completely different thing altogether using diode clipping in the pre-amp section and different OT's and cost cutting parts. Some of these sound good, but not all... there was a tremendous amount inconsistancies with these models.
The single channel 2203's and 2204's seem to be the most desireable. Verticle input 2203's from '81-'83 which had the full filtering (6 big caps). The horizontal input 2203's that came after still sounded ok but Marshall started cutting corners in manufacturing and started mounting all the pots and jacks to the PCB with those. The 2204 50 watters remained the same. The 2203's not to get are the ones that started using lower filtering (5 caps, and then later down to 3 caps).
The channel switchers are a completely different thing altogether using diode clipping in the pre-amp section and different OT's and cost cutting parts. Some of these sound good, but not all... there was a tremendous amount inconsistancies with these models.
Pushpin&Poetry
New member
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
Not saying it will sound amazing, but that is a good price if it's all original and works/in good condition. They are selling a couple late 80's models that sound so so to me for $1395 at the local music shop. I don't know if they'll get it, but at that price if they don't sound great to you, at least you can always make your money back assuming good condition.
You've prob seen this thread, but I think it's great for learning about the JCM 800's.
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=47866&highlight=jcm+800
Not saying it will sound amazing, but that is a good price if it's all original and works/in good condition. They are selling a couple late 80's models that sound so so to me for $1395 at the local music shop. I don't know if they'll get it, but at that price if they don't sound great to you, at least you can always make your money back assuming good condition.
You've prob seen this thread, but I think it's great for learning about the JCM 800's.
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=47866&highlight=jcm+800
Brow
Active member
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
I have 1 of the 100w 2210 Channel switching heads and it does sound like a swarm of angry bees... UNLESS you can get it cranked to gig level and then it sounds great
A tip with the channel switching amps is to lower the gain on the OD channel and then boost it back up with a good OD or Boost pedal, sooner than whack the gain up.
I have 1 of the 100w 2210 Channel switching heads and it does sound like a swarm of angry bees... UNLESS you can get it cranked to gig level and then it sounds great
A tip with the channel switching amps is to lower the gain on the OD channel and then boost it back up with a good OD or Boost pedal, sooner than whack the gain up.
lpmarshall
New member
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
Same amp I have as a backup, and I do the same thing. It is really hard to get it sounding decent without cranking it up, and you can't give it too much gain.
I have 1 of the 100w 2210 Channel switching heads and it does sound like a swarm of angry bees... UNLESS you can get it cranked to gig level and then it sounds great
A tip with the channel switching amps is to lower the gain on the OD channel and then boost it back up with a good OD or Boost pedal, sooner than whack the gain up.
Same amp I have as a backup, and I do the same thing. It is really hard to get it sounding decent without cranking it up, and you can't give it too much gain.
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
If it's a 2205 or 2210 it makes a good jump off point for ole Jeff Seal to make you a KILLER channel switcher.....o course he pretty much rebuilds it as a twin on one side and a Super Marshall on the other.
I don't know how far Kerrville is from Houston, but if you got down there I'm sure Jeff would let you try his 2210.
Luke
If it's a 2205 or 2210 it makes a good jump off point for ole Jeff Seal to make you a KILLER channel switcher.....o course he pretty much rebuilds it as a twin on one side and a Super Marshall on the other.
I don't know how far Kerrville is from Houston, but if you got down there I'm sure Jeff would let you try his 2210.
Luke
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
I like the early 80's 50 watt model with vertical hi/lo inputs best.
Most Marshalls sound really good...and the same amp with horizontal inputs sounds good. But '82 with model sounds better than later models and regardless of what anyone thinks, the circuit is not exactly the same in the '82 model and the later 80's model of the same amp.
The dual channel models sound good too...but not as good as the '82 single channel with the vertical hi/lo inputs and master volume.
Lew
I like the early 80's 50 watt model with vertical hi/lo inputs best.
Most Marshalls sound really good...and the same amp with horizontal inputs sounds good. But '82 with model sounds better than later models and regardless of what anyone thinks, the circuit is not exactly the same in the '82 model and the later 80's model of the same amp.
The dual channel models sound good too...but not as good as the '82 single channel with the vertical hi/lo inputs and master volume.
Lew
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Rich_T
Kyuss_Rockologist
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
Yeah, that's my feelings on the matter too. My 1980 2204 sounds fantastice with the wick wound up thorugh my 4x12 greenback loaded 1960ax.
Yeah, that's my feelings on the matter too. My 1980 2204 sounds fantastice with the wick wound up thorugh my 4x12 greenback loaded 1960ax.
J Moose
New member
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
I'll agree that "most" channel switchers aren't quite as hip as the single channel models... especially the clean side which I find to be highly uninspiring most of the time, BUT... it's pretty easy to mod the 2-channel JCM 800's into something of a Jubliee clone.
A lot of the circuit on the gain side is similar, biggest difference & first step is to remove the diode clipping for LED clipping followed by changes to the tone stack. It's not very expensive to do either.
I have a 1984 2205 that rips, most people can't believe it's a 2-channel... really "phat" sounding & loaded with 5881's. The output transformers on the two channels varied as well, some have Drakes & sound good, others have a rather generic OT and as a result, a rather generic tone.
I'll agree that "most" channel switchers aren't quite as hip as the single channel models... especially the clean side which I find to be highly uninspiring most of the time, BUT... it's pretty easy to mod the 2-channel JCM 800's into something of a Jubliee clone.
A lot of the circuit on the gain side is similar, biggest difference & first step is to remove the diode clipping for LED clipping followed by changes to the tone stack. It's not very expensive to do either.
I have a 1984 2205 that rips, most people can't believe it's a 2-channel... really "phat" sounding & loaded with 5881's. The output transformers on the two channels varied as well, some have Drakes & sound good, others have a rather generic OT and as a result, a rather generic tone.
devastone
Well-known member
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
There are also a few different versions of those channel switchers out there, I've seen 2 or 3 different schematics for 2205s and 2210s. I think there are good ones and bad ones, but I can't tell you how to tell the difference.
There are also a few different versions of those channel switchers out there, I've seen 2 or 3 different schematics for 2205s and 2210s. I think there are good ones and bad ones, but I can't tell you how to tell the difference.
3
34029324079
Guest
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
all are good and all are bad
if you play metal you wont like a 2x12 open back combo
if you dont want 2 channel versatility then you are mucking things up with extra variables
if you are going to put a pedal in front of it you are getting diode sound anyway
TADAAA!! thats all folks haha
all are good and all are bad
if you play metal you wont like a 2x12 open back combo
if you dont want 2 channel versatility then you are mucking things up with extra variables
if you are going to put a pedal in front of it you are getting diode sound anyway
TADAAA!! thats all folks haha
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
there is a local player up here that uses an early 80's 2204 like mine.... with a few Boss pedals he has that thing pumping out clean sounds one minute, and heavy distortion the next! You'd swear he is multichanneling some how... he is stomping on and off his Comp and Blues Driver all night
there is a local player up here that uses an early 80's 2204 like mine.... with a few Boss pedals he has that thing pumping out clean sounds one minute, and heavy distortion the next! You'd swear he is multichanneling some how... he is stomping on and off his Comp and Blues Driver all night
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: which JCM 800's are least desirable?
I looked this morning and my 1984 2203 has the 5 big caps and the Drake in it.
Lately I have been running it on 4 for the master aan pre with the treble on 4 and the presence on 7. I have been getting failrly solid cleans by slightly rolling the guitars volume back a little and I am front ending it first with a new Tube Screamer and an original big box Rat.
It goes from clean to pushed to hot and finally to nasty quite nicely that way.
I looked this morning and my 1984 2203 has the 5 big caps and the Drake in it.
Lately I have been running it on 4 for the master aan pre with the treble on 4 and the presence on 7. I have been getting failrly solid cleans by slightly rolling the guitars volume back a little and I am front ending it first with a new Tube Screamer and an original big box Rat.
It goes from clean to pushed to hot and finally to nasty quite nicely that way.
