Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

[OlinMusic]

OPINION TIME SO CHIME IN...

Which models?

do you think a JMP can do it? or is it too vintage? Jcm800?

Maybe the JMP1? 6100? Jubilee?

do you prefer the versatility of a clean channel a la the TSL, 6100, and channel switching 800s OR is it better to get a 2204/2203 with a RAT pedal or something?

 

[JeffB]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

DSL 50 w/ something besides V30s really opens that amp up.

Otherwise I'd go for a JMP-1 Preamp/ El34 power amp, if I was looking for more modern Marshall tones.

That said, I'm a 800 series and previous Marshall guy.

And the clean channel on the 2205/2210, IMO was nothing noteworthy (at least stock). They sounded better cranked and goosed for a crunch tone.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

Plexi + pedals = most versitility. You figure a TSL or a DSL with pedals = most versitility, but the Plexi accepts pedals better. For more modern tones, buy an EQ pedal and take out some of the mids. Or, you can get a modded amp a la Zakk Wylde. Like a vintage JCM 800 with 6550s, but Im not into modding amps, just pedals. I think Plexis are a great place to start when building your tonel. You pretty much got the "industry standard" (and I hate saying that) of rock tone and you just add your own flavor.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

Going the plexi + pedals route might be very interesting, but for increased versatility and louder chimier cleans, perhaps a change in the usual tubes and speakers would help. A plexi with something like 6CA7's or KT66's, and a slightly cleaner PI, might yield some interesting results, since it would be pedal boosted anyway.

A totally different experimental path may be a DSL50 with upgraded componants, such as the output transformer and the caps. I have heard that the DSL 50 with the OEI plexi OPT has formidable tone mojo while retaining full modern versatility sans pedals. I would think that not using the usual ceramic V30 or T75 speakers would help highlight the increased dimension of plexi transformer DSL50. Perhaps an alnico loaded 4x12? Now that's something to think about.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

I tend to lean more towards the Plexis personally. They are considerably more difficult to use........ mainly because you gotta crank em to sound right. For a more modern sound I would say a 800. I don't really care for them much, but I have only played thru them a few times.

 

[Grandor]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

An 800 or a plexi would be great.

not a mode four tho.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

ok in the Plexi with pedals vs 800 / DSL50

which wins?

 

[Bludave]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

For versatility I would go with a DSL. A Plexi is just unusable in most GIGS today. They are way too loud. Unless you are playing in a large venue. Plexis sound best when cranked, and when they are cranked most pedals will just get in the way( OD and Dist). The other guitar player I play with has a 50W DSL and it sounds great. The clean channel is very reminecent of a Plexi, and the Drive channel is a plexi pissed off and beyond. I think it is a fine sounding amp. I have heard bad things about build quality and breakdowns, but thats only what I have heard. As far as sound goes.... It will be an amp I will eventually have.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

I'd go for the bluesbreaker/18 watter. Those things are so damn loud still, but they ain't a Plexi and are very transparent. You put a strat with it, you got more subtler smoother overdrives and you plug a Les Paul into it and its got the signature Marshall crunch with a bluesy, heavier vibe. I also think that they have the best cleans because they're the closest to the JTM45, and therefore, the closest to the Bassman. And it's got a pretty cool tremolo just for the hell of it! And I'm sure that they take the pedals best out of the Marshall family too.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

I'm just not into distortion/OD pedals except as a slight gain boost...(exception..for low volumes/home I love a Guvnor or Plexitone into the right clean amp)

so I'd Def go DSL vs a plexi w/ peds if we are talking about gigs.

Send one over to Trace at voodoo. His TSL/DSL mods kill.. LINK

That said if I was buyin an amp with a mod in mind from Trace I think I may actually go RECTO

 

[y2stevo]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

Dunno about the comparision to other amps but I Gig with the DSL50 and absolutley love it!!

You can definitly get a modern as they come tone from it, aswell as old as they come!! Very versatile amp indeed!

 

[ErikH]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

For modern, JCM800 (since they're still popular) or DSL50.

One that I'm gonna cheaply plug even though you crinkle your nose at them...lol (but I don't care), JCM900 MkIII Master Volume (NOT the Dual Reverbs). These are the predecessor to the SL-X, with one less gain stage than the SL-X and one less preamp tube. Very diverse, goes from clean to scream easily. There's been a few 50 watt heads on eBay but not many. They're getting harder to find.

 

[hareek]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

An 800 or a plexi would be great.

not a mode four tho.

i agree. the mode four had some good features but i just couldn't get into a solid state amp from marshall. I love my TSL 100. The difference in the Crunch and Lead channels adds to the versatility. Although I have had some problems with it, the 5 year warranty covered it and I think I just got the "bad lemon" from the warehous because my neighbor has two full TSL 100 stacks and two TSL 122 combos and he's had no issues with any of them.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

i agree. the mode four had some good features but i just couldn't get into a solid state amp from marshall..

All in the speakers (like any other marshall). I hated the mode 4 on it's acommpanying cab.

Then tried it at another shop through an old 900 series cab with 75w celestions. BIG (positive) difference.

Still WAYYYYYY overpriced, but with some speaker experimentation it sounds pretty dang good.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

Plexi type head for better clean tones and more versatility over an 800 series amp or the DSL series....

Vintage 30s are great speakers and it's totally in the ears of the beholder...I don't feel that V30s aren't open sounding speakers at all...I get killer tones through V30s clean and with the little amount of gain I use!

 

[rockinangus]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

I agree with Hareek my TSL100 rocks! The difference in the channels does add versatility and I love how clean it sounds and it has plenty of power too. I am to young to know much about the vintage amps you guys are talking about but hopefully I will get to listen to them sometime. My first amp was tube preamp and SS amp and there is no comparison to the TSL100 all tube amp in my opinion. What say you fellow forum people on a 1960 Lead cabinet versus the 1960 Vintage cabinet. What do you guys like better?

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

<- Thinks the DSL's sound like ass.


the 6100 is the most brutal and still toneful Marshall I've ever played, and the only one I've liked for rhythm.

 

[B2D]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

I don't like DSLs that much... I don't think the tonal integrity or the build quality justifies the price.

If I was gonna go Marshall again I'd get an old 50W JCM800 with Drakes and vertical inputs and shove a pedal in front of it. I used one for a gig or two while my Carvin was being repaired and the tone of that amp coupled up with an OCD just SLAYED for hard rock.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

I don't know, when I think "modern Marshall", it's hard to ignore the JCM 900 series. Not everyone likes the Dual Reverbs, but the one or two that I've heard both had great high gain, modern sounding crunch.

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Which Marshalls for a more modern tone with some mojo?

A used DSL-50 is hard to beat for value and I like the tone they put out. They can be had as low as $650 used. Of course a Plexi has more balls, but where are ya gonna crank that and a JCM-800 is sweet, but don't forget the DSL-50's clean channel is awsome, excellent for blues. I'd go used and do the upgrades people are talking about, like the tranformer, you'd have a pretty outstanding amp and they're not bad at all stock, either.