Which SS JCM800?

[Rich_S]

I stopped by my favorite store for cool old gear today. It's not near home, but I go past it regularly when I'm on business trips.

First, I checked to see if they still had an amp that I've been thinking about for a while. It's a Marshall 5010 Master Lead Combo, 30W 1x12". Gearjonser and Kevlar3000 have had good things to say about this amp in the past, but I've never pulled the trigger on it. It's in pretty good shape, and they want $149. Once again today, I looked it over, but didn't go ahead and buy it.

As I was about to leave, I noticed an amp they never had before. It looked like a JCM800 2x12 combo, but then I realized that it, too was a solid-state amp. It's a 5212 Split Channel Reverb, 50W 2x12" combo. Very similar to the 5010, but the 5210 has a separate clean channel, 20 more watts, and reverb. The weird thing was the price, it's tagged at $129.

I have nagging feeling that I should have bought one of them. For my needs, the smaller one makes more sense but the 2x12 seems like a smokin' deal.

I've seen some good reviews of these amps, but I'd like to hear more. Anybody have some hands-on (or ears-on) experience with these old solid state Marshalls?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

id rather have one or two great amps that i really like using for both gigging and recording, than a whole bunch of gear that i don't.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

Keep your tube-snobby nose out of my thread. Like most, I've been playing tube amps exclusively for years, but know enough to understand that there are good-sounding solid state amps out there. In fact, I would argue that for needs such as mine (low volume home playing, occasional jams and band reunions) solid state amps excel. Their light weight is a boon to the elderly, and the fact that they don't have to be wound up to 11 to give up the goods makes them a bit more flexible that many tube amps. I love my baby Marshall clone, but even its paltry 13 watts is too much for my needs most of the time.

There's not a lot of info out there, largely because tube snobbery has kept these amps under the radar for a long time. However, the little bit of info available is almost all positive. If I can take advantage of everybody else's ignorance and get a good-sounding, light weight, reliable sleeper for low, low $$$, that's great.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

at 129 i would jump on it... whats to lose? I still have my old 5005 mini stack thats from the same series... not super flexible but cool as hell and a decent sound

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

Those are great amps! I had one for 15 years and I never had any problems with it. The tone section is very similar to a Marshall Govner pedal and it produces a convincing Marshallesque tone. I had mine modified with a volume dependent loop. Honestly put a tube screamer in front of it and you can cover 90% of rock tones for the last 40yrs.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

Keep your tube-snobby nose out of my thread.

i didn't mention tubes, and i only added my view on the thread, which is what forums are all about.

Go ahead and buy it if you feel the need to increase the size of your amp collection. While you are in the market for a good SS amp tho, dont make a decision without checking out the modern SS gear from behringer, roland, peavey, marshall and many others. You'll find a lot of that gives pretty good bang for buck, usable sounds and it wont have 30+ years of wear and tear on it.

 

[dominus]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

i didn't mention tubes, and i only added my view on the thread, which is what forums are all about.

Go ahead and buy it if you feel the need to increase the size of your amp collection. While you are in the market for a good SS amp tho, dont make a decision without checking out the modern SS gear from behringer, roland, peavey, marshall and many others. You'll find a lot of that gives pretty good bang for buck, usable sounds and it wont have 30+ years of wear and tear on it.

Just make sure the "modern" doesn't mean digital. I'm a huge fan of solid state amps, but some of the digital amps are hit or miss. When in doubt, look at the back for an effects loop. Some of the digital amps will have a few good tones, but a lot of true solid state amps will have one *great* tone.

When it comes to Marshall solid state, I prefer the Valvestate amps, but the older Lead/Mosfet amps will do a convincing JCM800 tone.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

blah blah Behringer blah blah.

The GM10 from Behringer is essentially a sansamp with a ss amp and a 10in speaker attached. They're treated like trash as far as resale too.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

. Honestly put a tube screamer in front of it and you can cover 90% of rock tones for the last 40yrs.

They also take dirt pedals much much better than most SS amps do...

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

The GM10 from Behringer is essentially a sansamp with a ss amp and a 10in speaker attached. They're treated like trash as far as resale too.

I've got the 2x12 version of that, and the real weak link is the power section. Stay within the limits of the amp's dynamic abilities, and it sounds very good.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

good to know. I keep seeing them coming up for completely random prices and I debate on trying for one of the cheap ones. Lots of stereo out stuff...but I think I'll just go for the Mustang like I've been planning. Nothing but gold stars for that thing thusfar...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

For the classic 800 sound, I tend to think the single channel SS Marshalls come the closest, just because they probably use all the same values for the EQ and gain, only minus the tubes.

Cheap prices are the key. I wouldn't pay premium prices for 80's SS amps, but if you can snag clean ones for the price of a pedal, do it. But I think the best cheap Marshall is still the Class 5 combos, if you can grab one for around $300.

If you have a lot more money and want a stellar sounding Marshall, search the used market for the handwired 2061X head. That little sucker sounds great. I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for one on the cheap.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

My #1 amp is a DIY 18 Watter clone (with a Weber MASS hidden in back), which pretty much covers the same ground as the 2061X and the Class 5. I'm looking for something as a backup or loaner amp in a similar vein, or maybe more 800-ish that the 18 Watter.

The bigger 5212 is tempting because it seems to be priced about half of the usual going rate, and ... it's bigger. More power and more speakers are always better right?

Then my practical side kicks in and I think the 5010 is the better amp for me, since it will be a good grab-n-go, and I never use channel switching or reverb. (It's the same as the one GJ pictured, but the vinyl on this one is in better shape and it has all its gold knob caps.) Its price is in line with the market rate, so its an okay deal but not a great deal like the 50-watter.


But... bigger!

 

[dominus]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

You can always turn the volume down on a solid state amp if you need to and keep the tone the same.

The only reason I look at smaller amps is because I don't play live, I use the effects loop send to go straight to the computer.

 

[dominus]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

Cheap prices are the key. I wouldn't pay premium prices for 80's SS amps, but if you can snag clean ones for the price of a pedal, do it.

I have a lot of solid state amps that were the price of a pedal, or less. That's what I tell myself every time I grab one.

 

[Rich_S]

Which SS JCM800?

I'm trying not to think like that, or I'm likely to end up with BOTH of them!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

Twenty five years ago, as a birthday present, I bought my brother one of the Marshall 12w Lead combos. He still has it. Guv'nor mk1 and some sort of reverb or delay pedal and he's riffing away.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

The Marshall Gov'nor pedals have been mentioned a few times in this thread.
Those little pedals are worth the money. Since they're made by Marshall and voiced like a Marshall, they blend perfectly with them.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

Woohoo! NAD!

I tried this little wonder out for about half an hour today and then bought it. It sounds awesome! Who knew? It reminds me of the 4010 I had back in the '80s, but never needs re-tubing. Compared to my memories of "real" JCM800s, the tone controls on the SS version are more active. This is a good thing because the SS amp can get fizzy when the gain is cranked and the wider-ranging treble and presence controls are needed to dial it in. By comparison, the tube amps are more consistent-sounding over a range of gain settings, which is good because the tone controls don't do squat. LOL

It's nice to have an amp with the big, scripty M-word on the front again, after so many years without.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Which SS JCM800?

It's nice to have an amp with the big, scripty M-word on the front

lol. that is really what this is about isn't it!