Marshall 2555X 100 Watt Silver Jubilee Amplifier | A Closeup Inside and Out Review | Tony Mckenzie
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- Опубліковано 11 бер 2017
- The Marshall 100w 2555X Silver Jubilee head is a legend, but is this re-release up to scratch? And what about the inside of this world class amplifier regarding the quality? Find out more in this inside and out review with playing.
I bought the Marshall 2555X amp for review because many people asked about seeing an inside and out review of this re release. Friends on UA-cam have them and when one came up at the right price I bought it. I did consider the 50 watt version but decided to go with the 100 watt amp because this was the re release of the 25/50 as I remember it.
So was this amp really worth the wait while Marshall Amps re worked the amp?
Find out more than any other review about this great Marshall amplifier. I play a Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul on the video and the sounds are exactly what you might expect.
If you like this review then don't forget to visit my UA-cam channel or visit www.tonymckenzie.com/marshall-... which is a link to the written review I made.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE AND RING THE BELL. And if you like the video then thumbs up! Thanks - its always appreciated and I won't bombard you with reviews!
(c) A B Mckenzie and tonymckenzie.com 2017.
All Rights Reserved. All Trade Marks Acknowledged.
I have just come across the channel, really informative,possibly the best review of the jubilee I have seen so far, you have made my amp buying decision easier.
Thanks for those kind words Bryan... yes this is a pretty cool amp and one of the nicer sounding ones of recent. The build quality was also very nice. I recently reviewed a H&K Triamp MK III (lists at £2695) and this amps build was right up there with the German amp. Thanks for watching.
After watching this video, I decided that this was the amp for me. Finally picked one up a couple of days ago and it sounds as good as it looks. Thanks for the awesome review.
Great to hear Cody... These are really cool amps as you now know and can do it all really. Thanks for letting me know and thanks for watching.
Nice to see you back! A surprisingly nice amp on the inside. Beautiful layout. Keep Rockin'!
It was very well made indeed. Looks a nice PCB. Thanks for watching.
Man Tony I missed this review of the silver jubilee I was second guessing buying one but after this video you have sealed the deal for me especially being made in the UK I love how you show the inside of the all the amps you review Tony this is why I love your channel.
Thanks Ricky.. This amp I thought had a pretty nice internals and I did not really see much wrong there. Of all the Marshall amps this looked pretty cool overall. Glad you like the inside shots and I always try and include those. I will have another Marshall coming up later in the year but currently can't really say more until I get it :). Thanks.
I'm also glad to see your back Tony! A very nice built amp and I also like the little bias feature they added...thank you for taking the time to show us....I also hope your feeling good buddy...us older guys have to watch out for each other..lol
Thanks Richard... Yes it's a cool amp and sounds really nice. Yes I'm OK now... there was a bereavement in the family and it can knock you back a little depending on how close you are with them etc. but here I am and it's good to start making some more videos... Thanks for watching.
Les Paul and a Marshall, you can't go wrong really. The top on your custom is outstanding, I have the Black Beauty myself and a DSL 40c, makes great noises when I am on form. Another excellent revue, thanks Tony.
I agree... those two were made to be together. Sometimes guys knock Gibson, or Marshall, or both... but when you have that 'right' combination it goes beyond the components IMO - it creates a perfect vehicle for great music. Some don't see it that way, and watching Hendrix on his Les Paul (or SG) and a Marshall amp I have to say was pretty painful... he was a Strat man and always would be (no one better with one of those). But we all know the guys that were/are godlike with an LP and a Marshall amp and the results achieved. It is inspiring when they are right. Thanks for those kind words Chris too. Stay safe.
Missed your videos, welcome back!
Thanks Hassan... appreciated. Thanks for watching too.
nice new reviews - always instructive and amusing - keep them coming!!!
:) and thanks fort watching.
Good to see you back, always enjoy your reviews. Unbiased and informative, which is rare these days!
Hey thanks for those kind words really... it's exactly why I started to make reviews. Thanks for watching.
Thanks...
That was an amazing in depth review. thank you sir!!!
Missed this comment Al... my apologies. Yes it is a great amp. Thanks.
Proper unbiased review as usual.
Great playing and straight talking.❤
Thanks Philc its always appreciated when someone actually 'gets it' from my work creating these video reviews. Thanks for watching.
Great review i'm actually looking forward to purchasing this 👍🤘🤘🤘
Yes it's quite a nice amp and that quality is there on this one. It sounds really nice too... different than say an JCM800 IMO. If you get one let me know your thoughts... and thanks for watching.
Thanks again! You sure coaxed some sweet tones out of that bad boy
The Marshall 2555X is one cool amp and I have an internet friend on UA-cam to thank for the introduction of that amp to me. I guess I would have got to it sooner or later but I do think its one of the better sounding amps they have these days. Thanks for watching and glad you liked it.
very cool review! Thanks for the video!
Thank you for watching.
Just bought the exclusive all-black (none more black) head a couple weeks back, largely based on this write-up & review. What a GREAT amp... I normally gig a Friedman Wildwood 50 3-channel Smallbox head but am thinking of putting this into duty for our Halloween gig. This thing sounds like one of the best Marshall's you've ever plugged into... Marshall tone goodness and an extremely beautiful & chimey clean channel.
Thanks, Tony!
B
Do you mean the SC20??? or is there a 2555X stealth. I only see the SC20 which I think was honestly a really great amp that drives so well. I still have mine :) and the 2555X has a different vibe I think, but it was made exceedingly well... actually they both are because they are both UK made which I prefer really. In any case great to know that what I reviewed was like what I said... I'm not always right but the recent Marshall stuff has all been so good except the core20 combo I looked at. Different of course. Thanks for the info and stay safe. And thanks for those very kind words.. really appreciated.
@@tonymckenziecom There's indeed a Stealth (or at least black tolex) version... In the US, Sweetwater carries it. In the UK, I've heard Anderton's carries it.
Here's the listing at Sweetwater:
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/2555XBLK--marshall-2555x-silver-jubilee-100-watt-reissue-tube-head-black-tolex
Ah got you... That's not a stealth as I know it (I was thinking SC stealth limited). Different marketing there I think. The 2555X as I said was so well made - if you check back to the insides it has a really nice board etc. - very different than near enough all the other Marshalls I have seen. I liked the 2555X also... on the silver one I had the tolex marked easily so the black option is probably a better choice. I liked a 808 pedal in the front of that amp but it depends what you play and for many guys the 2555X has the magic in there for sure. But great amp. Thanks for letting me know which one.
Great review! Thank you 🙏
An interesting amp for sure.. I have another Marshall review over the break period you might like... watch for it. And thanks...
Hi Tony, this would have to be one of the few if not only channel where an Amp is opened and inspected in detail by someone who actually knows what they are talking about, excellent, thank you.
If you ever get the chance would you be able to review a Marshall 50watt Vintage Modern combo, I own one and don't seem to be able to dial in a satisfying sound, it has 2 x 12"" Celestion Jimi Hendrix Greenbacks, Purple Tolex.
Kind regards.
Hello John, well I'm no expert compared to some of the internet guys for sure. But it's pretty obvious usually when you see something inside an amp that is just not the way it should be. The 2555X is an interesting amp because the way it is made is different than many recent Marshall amps I have checked inside... and sometimes even 'similar models' are somehow considerably different (I cite the JVM410H and the JVM420HJS boards) even though they are supposed to be basically the same - they are not - the layout was completely different.
Actually I have not had one of the Vintage Modern amps (but have often considered one) or been inside one so its hard for me to really comment on that amp. I'm sure it can sound good so maybe there's a combination of things going on. If you're anywhere near to me I could review your amp... but likely you will not be. If I find a reasonably cheap head kicking around I'll grab it and make a review. But don't depend on it - as I have lots of things to catch up on re reviews these days. Thanks for the info and for watching.
Great review!!Getting mine in at the end of the month!!!
Come back and post your opinion on the amp! Always helps many... and thanks for watching.
@@tonymckenziecom Will do Tony!Thanks sir!!
Great review! Nice Les Paul too!
Thanks for watching.
Great video, I just picked up a 2555X used for a pretty good price.
Very good amps from what I see and made well inside too... thanks for watching.
Great review!
Thanks!
Wicked sounding amp,nice Les Paul too.
Yes it is a nice Marshall and when you're 'in the room' so to speak it has some really great tones. The guitar (when in focus :) I like... you can check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/8-f8E9W78oA/v-deo.html shows the guitar really close up... Thanks for watching.
Great Video as always, recently bought a DSL40c and absolutely love it. I didn't quite have the extra £500 to buy one of these haha. Theres always the lottery i guess. Look forward o the next video.
This one was about £870 which was a very good deal so I got it. But the DSL's are not bad amps. They switched manufacture to somewhere else but some guys say they are actually a great job inside. I have not checked one so can't point you to a review sorry. I did have a DSL 100 a while ago when they were UK made (green tolex and short run amp) and I liked that too. You should comment what you like best about the DSL40c as guys always like to know what owners think... Thanks for watching.
Great review!!!
Thanks for watching.
Tony,
Rewatching this as I loved the tone setting you used in this. I just had a back operation and I can sit and play for much longer. Really loving the 490/498 humbuckers I had put into my Les Paul Custom.
For the first time in 6 months I actually played my Strat Plus for 45 mins today. I adore my LP Custom, but my goodness the Strat Plus Deluxe is just one of the best Strats Fender ever made. I actually had my master volume was set to about 8/9 with the gain around 4/5. Tone , Mid and Bass set to 5 (12 O'clock) and presence is on 7.
Are you still using this amp, as I know you agree with me about it being one of the better valve amps Marshall has pushed out.
Hi Dan. Firstly, great to know they are helping you with that back pain etc. Of course I still have this amp and really like it - all thanks to your recommendation at the time you got yours. I had the chance to get one as you see and I don't regret it at all - its a really nice sounding amp for sure. Aha I have had a Strat Plus Deluxe too :) a while ago and it is vague in my mind now but yours is cool... I saw the pics if I remember correctly. Thanks for the settings Dan and I know others will check them :). Good to hear you and I trust that back gets better and better. Regards. T.
Love your playing Tony. (I skipped ahead to the demo, but I will go back and watch you go under the "bonnet", to use the English expression. We say "hood" in the New World.)
Glad you like it. Sometimes I play better than others and some videos are very good playing and others are less so. In any case - thanks for the kind words and of course for watching.
What a great video! Subscribed!
Thanks for watching.
Great video mate, very enjoyable indeed :-)
Great to hear you liked it... and thank you for watching.
Nice video!! I really enjoyed sir. Btw, would you make engl se playthrough video sometime if don't mind?
I did... here: ua-cam.com/video/FL4TXg3gcXY/v-deo.html with a Strat I built. I did use it here too: ua-cam.com/video/k9ZjHm6lA0c/v-deo.html this was an early mix back around 2012 of an album I eventually released in 2016 here: ua-cam.com/video/4JoKaV-cKQw/v-deo.html and if you listen to that review then you will hear the engl in a number of styles. Thanks for watching.
Hey Tony, how are you, man? It's been literally ages since I commented on one of your videos. Really liking that amp! I've heard a couple of originals from the 80s and while I think they may sound a little bit sweeter, these reissues still do a fantastic job! Can't wait for your next reviews!
Cheers!
Aha how's it going? I recently posted a load of new videos BTW check my channel as sometimes guys don't get the emails from UA-cam.. ask them why they refuse to talk to me because I'm not a money stream for them. Some way to treat people huh.
Yes the 2555X is a pretty cool bit of gear and is also very well made I thought. Anyway good to hear you and thanks for watching.
tonymckenziecom hey Tony. I've seen all of your recent uploads and check your channel regularly. What I was pointing out with that comment was that I'am always looking forward to your uploads and can't wait for your upcoming reviews of all the interesting stuff you do reviews on :-)
I've got a lot of interesting new stuff as well. Gotta show you some of that soon including an extremely rare amp from the 80s!
Thanks for taking the time to answer all of the comments btw. Highly appreciated!
Hey let me know what that amp is :) I'm always looking at amps and stuff - its an incredible journey with that stuff for sure. I learned about the TSL100 (JCM2000) more recently from a friend name Steve (Hi Steve) and he was telling me about the main board in that amp having major issues since the first release... and that continued to version 7 of the board I believe, wrong resistors, bad board that conducted when hot etc. and as I have one (I recovered it in red vinyl you might have seen that one - came out wonderful) I checked it all out. Without getting in to this too much I have an association with a Marshall Authorised Amp repairer and they bought a replacement board brand new from Marshall version 20.
So I'm going to make a video comparing the two boards because there are so many of the TSL100 out there and the owners will have issues with bias change as the amp warms up and then it pops the tubes usually. That's something I have not seen before in this way so thought it would make a very nice upgrade/review and how to do it video. I used a TSL100 in 2006 to record a track called 'Metropolis' and to be honest that track has the best guitar sounds I have ever recorded... it had an incredible tone hence my like of the TSL100 (I had a TSL60 but there was no comparison). Anyway, that's coming up.
Lastly I have a guitar build that is different than any on UA-cam. It's true they are very long videos (three all together), but I had this idea of having 'Micro-Reviews' throughout the guitar build, so that way even if you're not actually building a guitar the video is very meaningful. It has taken some time and those will be up within a week or so, so watch for them.
Anywaydon't forget to let me know about that amp :)
Nice amp. Really enjoyed the blues number at the end.
Thanks James... that was just a jam track but I use those a lot... all from jamtrackcentral.com Thanks for watching.
You're welcome Tony. And thanks for the link.
Thanks for the great review Tony !! Especially the inside look through.
I like that they added the bias adjust board with the easy accessible pots and testpoints. I dislike that its not multivoltage like the original. As a tech that has been working in electronics for 30 years i do however think that the original amp will be more reliable in the long run since even though the reissue is constructed in what could be considered as a normal and sensible way in these days, the original is better constructed.
The original doesnt have any connectors inside apart from the tube sockets, the reissue has multiple connectors inside both mains, speaker transformer and between circuitboards and to speaker jacks, although connectors can be practical when repairing the amp all connectors really are a potentional risk of bad connectivity. Since we are talking about a guitaramp that is going to be lugged around in different temperatures and weather conditions for decades the demands are much higher than a desktop computer and it may show down the line. The tube sockets mounted on the circuit board instead of chassie mounted like the original will put at least some stress on the solderings.
I do understand why they did all this, its mainly to be able to make it more affordable and/or make more money out of it since it a cheaper construction. It will probably be fine for quite a while, but im sure it wont be as bulletproof as the original. It looks like they skimped out on the anodization of the chassis and painted it instead as well.
These are all very fair points you mentioned. There certainly are many connectors between the boards, but they used (they say) fibre glass (I think it was) cabling giving the impression to me that this was not regular stuff. I certainly tugged hard at those connectors and they seemed particularly good compared to many amps I have seen inside. That's not to say they are good, far from it and the point is entirely relevant. I too have mentioned the power tubes mounted on the PCB a number of times in my reviews, and even to Santiago Alvarez - Marshall designer) here: www.tonymckenzie.com/afd100_review.htm and the comments were like this: "The main PCB is a double sided through plated affair made from thick fibre material in keeping with today's technology and this board should prove good long term. I did notice however that the tube sockets are soldered right to the board which could at some stage offer up a board issue because of heat. The transmission of heat by conduction through the pins is not too big as the pins are relatively small. Main heat source is convected and radiated, blocked by the chassis in a combo. In a head the heat tends to go up away, so the PCB would run quite cool and definitely much lower than the temperature it could withstand. Well SA is the designer and I'm not going to argue with him; if he doesn't know then no one does!"
As you see I tried to introduce the aspect of power tubes affecting the board but Santiago said otherwise. And I'm sure you are correct re costings for production as that is the way of the world these days... and I guess in competing with companies that come entirely from China as opposed to companies like Marshall that actually do make some amps in Milton Keynes UK. Not sure if you saw my video of the Marshall factory tour we did a while ago here: ua-cam.com/video/WeerxAO3oRU/v-deo.html and part two here: ua-cam.com/video/rhe7qXP08qw/v-deo.html and I really enjoyed going around there.
Thanks for your long answer ! I have watched your Marshall tour already earlier and i really enjoyed it alot, great work ! (I love my Marshalls) Most of the PCB´s i have worked on was fibre glass, through plated and many even multi layer PCBs, so for me this has been standard for decades. Most of these were not consumer products though and some of them 10 times more expensive than an expensive tube amp, in cheaper or older electronics it may not always be used though.
The point about the tubes being soldered directly to the board was that it may lead to the solderings cracking both due to mechanical stress due to the weight of the components (tubes and sockets in this case) and temperature when it warms up and cools down since the heat from the tubes may transfer to the circuitboard, i agree that there is a huge difference with the upside down mounting of the tubes in a combo (much worse). Im not knocking the designer at all, it looks good in general, but i do believe it wont be as "bullet proof" as the original due to the points i made.
I would like to add that In my personal experience, designers and service technicians like myself think very differently, the designer thinks more of function, design and price, while us techs think more critical about what can go wrong and ive seen alot of unneccesary mechanical design flaws that were easily prevented some of them probably costing millions to correct even. Again this amp is probably mostly fine mechanically, but the original is more robust.
Thanks Stefan, I was also critical of the heat but in reality I have never had ANY Marshall amp fail with the problems I have often envisaged - but I'm sure some have. I once had a Peavey 'Mace' head (160 watts yikes!) that had the tubes upside down in the head and those amps kept zapping the board with the sockets on over time which was why I asked Santiago about it all originally. The 'Mace' was IMO an extreme example of how not to do things...
Anyway thanks for the comments as they are always useful and guys will come and read them... it's all helpful especially from someone like yourself where your job is repairing etc. you have a great skill. Thanks again.
Love that Wah sound!
That's a Dunlop Jerry Cantrell pedal likely. Thanks for watching.
I had the small version and I liked it, but it did not sound as good as the big version. Returned it and I am waiting for the 100W version. I've bought the matching 2x12 cab meanwhile. Thanks for the review
At one stage I almost bought the smaller one too. But I bought this amp in clearance and the difference in money at the time swayed me to get the 100w head and I'm glad I did. I had heard reports that the smaller head did not quite sound as good so my choice had to be the 100 head. I'm sure you will like it. Thanks for watching.
@@tonymckenziecom I love the build quality so much that I ordered the small version again for smaller gigs because it is easier to carry. It is quite a nice pedal platform. It is a bit harsher than the 100 version and overdrives faster but it seems to be built as good as the bigger one.
There's no doubt they are made great. Thanks for the info on the smaller one... I almost bought one of those too but the deal I had on the 100 was the thing that persuaded me to get the 100. Thanks for watching.
....and again!...it's like waiting for a bus.....😂🎸😂 great videos as always 👍🏻
I posted three videos today... I wanted to catch up a little :) Thanks for watching.
Not long ago bought this. Wipes the floor with Marshall after the 800
It's not a bad amp for sure and the build quality was awesome... even carried thorough to the studio 2555 equivalent - I was surprised about that. I have a review on my channel of that amp too. Thanks for the info and for watching.
Merci pour cette super vidéo !
Je viens de passer commande pour m'en acheter un
Merci pour ces aimables paroles et pour avoir regardé la vidéo. C'est un super ampli et je suis sûr que vous allez l'adorer!.
@@tonymckenziecom moi aussi trop hâte il est tellement beau ce son ✨✨✨❤️❤️❤️✨✨✨
Merci d’avoir regardé cette vidéo de l’ampli Marshall 2555X - c’est un amplificateur vraiment super et comme vous le dites sonne vraiment bien. Restez en sécurité.
Hello Tony , Have you tried this amp with Kt 66 tubes ? I really like my vintage Modern I own this amp too just trying to see if I can get a different sound from it Thanks for the great Video
I did not. May be I should have. I later sold this amp to fund more amps to review and for me this amp did not really suit the rock I play, I did get it going fine with a pedal of course, but I don't really like pedals much. No reflection on this amp of course. It was made extraordinarily well. If I remember the KT66 need a slightly different resistor than the 1K 5w (I think they needed 1.5K 5w) but I have not checked that all in a while. I do know the KT66 will fit but just check that resistor thing... just to be sure. Stay safe.
Pls helpme, what pedal OD is perfect combination to use with the OD from ampl marshall 2555x?
I would buy an Xotic SL pedal... it sounds really great with the 2555X. Thanks for watching.
Tony, love your channel, keep up the great work!
Thanks - glad you like this stuff and thank you for watching.
Did you happen to notice the volume controls on the amp are not super sensitive like other amps tend to be. The first time I played mine I was pleasantly surprised.
I hate to say this Cody... but often on that amp once I set them I don't go back :) to me its just a great sound when you get there. Actually I did not notice that... but there again I was not looking :)... good point and one I certainly missed... thanks for posting and for watching of course.
How would you compare it to the jvm hjs?
Which do you think has more mids and presence ? Iv found my hjs to be a bit spikey on top and kinda scooped sounding .
Funny I played one of these shortly at a small store and thought it was really really dark .
But I saw a video with the jubilee and jvm compared and the jubilee seemed much more present oddly enough. That confused me.
Would you say you found the jubilee to have more presence than the hjs?
The Silver Jubilee 2555X absolutely has more top end IMO (I relate that to presence) but you might have meant stage presence? I recently reviewed the 2525X 20w equivalent and that also seems similarly voiced but of course its adjustable just as all these amps are. So my answer is that yes the jubilee has more top. On the JVM410HJS well that amp (just my opinion) is probably one of the best modern Marshalls there is... and seems they are increasing in the pricing stakes. I like many Marshall amps but not all of them. The JVM410H as an example - I dislike because it is actually nothing like the Satch version - even the board is different and you would tell immediately if you played both. HJS has the resonance knob too so remember that will affect the tone compared to the 2555X that does not have it... thanks for watching.
do you have any idea know what potentiometer use for the 'lead master" knob? that knob in mine was just stuck, and it was break off after i try to loose it. i think i should replace one. plz let me know if you have any idea, thanks
Not sure but its likely a 250k pot ?? Thanks and stay safe...
I got one of these this week and one of the Knobs is frozen it won’t turn. I’m thinking it may have been kicked during shipping but the frozen knob is sticking out and not flush like the rest.
Sounds ominous... I would get it checked out... if its a new amp tell them! Thanks for watching.
Would it be expensive to replace the transformer for a 120V one? And beside that is there anything else that need to be modded in order to be able to use the amp in USA?
I really want to get one of these, specially from Europe because it costs like a thousand dollars less than here in USA, but unfortunately it comes with a fixed 230V transformer. So I'm thinking about getting one and converting it to 120, maybe that way it could still be way cheaper than buying one in USA.
Any information is really appreciated, thanks.
I guess you can buy the 120v power TX (my guess about $120) and also a few other components (probably $10-$15) for safety reasons. Then a tech (if you can't do it) to do it - I reckon a couple of hours... maybe up to three. I have the exact same trouble with Mesa Boogie gear here... and I have converted a few (about 4 or 5) and Bogner sometimes have the wiring ready to just change with PT supporting multi voltages - but I'm pretty confident that most Marshall does need a PT. Hope it helps and thanks for watching.
Great review I purchased one recently great amp.
Great to know you have one... is there anything that you might not like on it? This one seems cool without any issues really and input form owners always matters. Thanks for watching.
wouldn't change anything great amp.
Well that is a great recommendation from an owner. Thanks.
Is this great for playing in home?
It will work at home OK but sounds better when turned up a bit... but you can still get great tones at lower volumes because of the MV. Thanks for watching.
Excellent review and vid mate
Thanks... and thanks mostly for watching.
Hi Tony. Do you think this model or the Ceriatone Silver Jubilee is better? I know you have a Ceriatone D-style.
I have not used the Ceriatone 2555 amp. What I can say, is that the Ceriatone amp is a point to point amp design based on the original idea (I guess) and Nik will have surely worked on that design a while. Their amps are very good when made right. If you can make one then that's a good choice, but if you can't and still want a point to point amp then Ceriatone 2555 is as good as anything out there. But if you can't make one, or indeed are not prepared to pay for someone to build it then the Marshall 2555X is a really good choice. If P2P means nothing (as many guys don't really care about PCB or P2P) the Marshall is made very well (at least this one is) and has that 3 year warranty (in the UK) which has to be a great deal. I bought this one for around £870.00 which is a great price for the 2555X.
Also remember that 'better' is a subjective comment that means different things to different guys. I'm sure though that both amps will sound pretty cool. Thanks for watching.
Nice review. I own one. Happy with it. I thought I paid good price in July 2016. In USA they are now selling for $ 1,249.00 USD New. Why so cheap?
Why so cheap is a good question. I paid about £880 ($970) also new but they wanted to sell it so I bought it. I'm not so sure there really is any major reason for 'why so cheap' I think it's a cool amp and better made than some I have owned for sure. Basically JCM800 with different attitude is how I would describe it really... and that extra bit of drive too. Thanks for watching.
Hi Tony, you mentioned your preference for a choke instead of a resistor in its place. What do you think would a choke do to my chokeless 2554 model in terms of sound and FEEL ? Would it be an improvement ? (I would have to find real estate on that small chassis for it anyways...ouch!).
Nice review, rock on! Greetings from Berlin! Dave
Well they do on some amps fit a single usually large resistor of the cement variety from what I see - and I did cover this very subject some years back - its included on tonymckenzie.com. There ARE changes to the tone and feel but its very marginal and also very dependent it seems to me on the measurement of the choke you fit. Improvement? Well I did it on a JVM410H (I think it was) and its shown here: tonymckenzie.com/marshall_jvm410h_review.htm but the result is subjective, and as I said also dependent on which choke you use. Hope it helps... great question.
Hey Tony, many thanks for your immediate reply. The resistor in my little jube is a pretty cool brass looking thing with cooling fins. Anyway, if the difference is that subtle I will,give up finding a place to rest for a choke. I once played the 50W head with choke whoch felt a little bit more spongy which I liked a lot...
I will checkout your website about it.
Again thanks. That's what I love about the www: getting in touch with musicians!!!
Regards
Dave
That resistor sounds more like a load resistor to drop the output of the amp... I could be wrong of course, but ensure you have a decent diagram. Hope it helps...
Thanks so much for this video. This amp is....was...on my list but after seeing this I'm not remotely interested. Is the current JCM 900 4100 Dual Reverb made like this or like the original version, with power tubes mounted to chassis?
I am surprised somewhat. Of all the amps I have looked at this is probably the best made amplifier that I have seen out of Marshall of recent times. I'm not so sure on the JCM900 as I have not seen the newer ones... but thanks for watching.
The JCM900 dual reverb is crap compared to this amp....apples an oranges. I just ordered this head, can't wait.
Thanks for the info... and I liked this head too - still have it. Do let me know what you think when it arrives. Thanks for watching.
Glad you're back Tony. Keep up the good work, I always your videos.
Well... I made this video a while ago. Currently cough and bad chest so no videos right now even though I have stuff to review. Thanks and I will be back no doubt :) and thanks for watching.
Hi Tony! great review! I want to buy a small tube head that isn't too heavy for gigging and can do beautiful cleans. Should I go for the Marshall Mini Silver Jubilee 2525H or Hughes & Kettner Grandmeister 36? The smaller Silver Jubilee is made in UK as well, but it has 20W. I think the quality is really good. The H&K seem to be ok as well, they have a nicer DI built in, but chinese valves.
Well they are both great amps. I would relate to it like this, if you want those older Marshall tones then the 2525H is a good choice and better than the Grandmeister for that. However, if you want an amp that can basically do most stuff then the Grandmeister is a better choice because of the effects, the number of channels, the ability to drive the channels when you need to, and oh ... the ability to change the tubes for decent ones before you use it :)
Actually the GM tubes I would change as the amp as it came to me was a little toppy. Overall though both good amps there are no bad ones here. Hope it helps... Thanks for watching.
Thank you for your answer!
@@tonymckenziecom I ended up buying the 100w jubilee and the smaller 20w head as well. Love them, they sound really good and they seem to be build very well. I love the smaller one also, but the 100w one sounds better. Love your videos!
Is their any chance you could give us your oppion on the kemper profile 600 watt amp please!! Thanks
I did a review of the Kemper amp - unpowered, but later fitted my own power amp (on here) and reviewed that. Kemper are very good sounding amps. Thanks for watching.
tonymckenziecom thank you for the reply
Weird to see the powertubes mounted on the PCB. The new DSL100H that's made in Vietnam and is cheaper has them mounted on the chassis with wires to the PCB. Which personally I like more :) That black PCB looks killer though :p
I get that for sure. Once on a review I did of a Marshall amp I was communicating with the designer (Santiago Alvarez) about exactly that issue... sockets on the board. He stopped me in my tracks and said it was not an issue these days and was not a problem. I had a Peavey Mace (160 watt) once and that used to melt the PCB's. However it was an upside down chassis. The overall quality is up there with the best Marshall insides for a while. Thanks for watching.
The old DSL's (JCM2000) had them mounted on the pcb and there are numerous story's of pcb meltdowns on the web. Also, funny enough, while the JCM2000 was made in England, the build quality was terrible compared to the new Vietnam ones. I agree when tubes are upside down though, especially on combos, just not a fan of it since heat tends to go upwards. Also when a tube is a little stuck, I just feel more secure to yank them a bit when the sockets are chassis mounted :) But then again if Marshall gives three year warranty on this they must be confident in their build quality!
Yes I have a TSL100 which if I remember are on the PCB (but its a separate PCB from the main board) so that might not count in the same way :)
This one IS made in Milton Keynes... I believe (irrespective of what's printed on the amp by way of origin) that the 'M' at the start of the serial is denoting UK assembly. Yes there is a three year warranty... you have to be in the UK and you have only so long to register it...
16:28 - I thought this amp only has one pullknob not two. One's for lead master. But what's the other one?
It shows it here: ua-cam.com/video/4BO3QhLxDMk/v-deo.html and thanks for watching. One is master and other is clip.
@@tonymckenziecom thanks Tony, you're a top bloke!😎
I would love to see a video of yours about the Astoria line!
Yes a very interesting amplifier inside for sure... but they don't seem to be at a reasonable price right now Fabio. If one appears at a low(ish) cost I'll do it. That amp has been on the gun sights for a while. Thanks for watching.
Great! GuitarGuitar has it in clearence.
I checked and they sure do, but that's the one with no balls! :) and it's still £1100 or so. Ouch. I will still look around but that one is at best way down the list. The multichannel one would be a choice for me.
....no balls?...hehe....the one with clean and crunchy balls...hehehe
You know what I mean :)
Hi Tony.
I just read online that these Russian made tubes that Jubilee has are bad . Is that right?
It's all subjective. Some say this and some say that... but in my own experience I have only ever had ONE tube fail since 1971 - and that was a JJ in a Diezel Hagen some while back. Of the two I much prefer the Russian tube. But overall, if you buy matched and SELECTED tubes almost any brand would probably work... hope it helps and thanks for watching.
whats your opinion on the jubilee and how it takes pedals? boosts and overdrives
The Jubilee reissue takes pedals very well indeed. The basic amp does not have the drive of modern stuff (like the 410HJS for example) but it comes from a different era of course, so great if you only play 80's amps and they suit the music you play. But if you're like me, I need sometimes more drive and I have used the XOTIC SL drive pedal on this amp with great success. But I've used many other pedals too and they all sound pretty good IMO.
I can tell you I still have this amp and if it was less than it should be it would have been sold long ago. Hope it helps and thanks for watching.
This amp takes pedals better than my mesa boogie did. I thought I bought an expensive paperweight when my fuzz pedal wouldn't work with it. Just picked up a jubilee and it's now the best fuzz I've ever heard.
Thanks for the info Cody...
I see where there had been discontinued. A discontinued reissue. But, they are back on the market today. Have you looked at the new ones?
This is the last one I looked at. There may be some opportunity at some stage to come to newer models who knows but I'll create a video if I find one :) and thanks fore watching...
Hello Tony ,.......how can you know that the board is better quality than let say the YJM100 your reviewed ? is it the thickness or else ?........tx
Basically I have looked at many boards in Marshall amps... and the one in the 2555X stood out in many ways - from the look, the build quality (nothing even to straighten out!) it all looked batter than many boards I have seen historically. Just an opinion of course, but I have seen many Marshall boards... including the bad ones! Thanks.
@@tonymckenziecom Thank you Sir !!........appreciate !
Killer tones m8. This is a nice amp and seems pretty well made, glad you like it. Is it a keeper?
Yes it is I reckon. I am going to sell some amps after April to fund new gear to review but this one I will likely keep - as you say, it does have some very nice sounds in it. With the SL pedal you can get a 'Gary Moore' tone instantly... it's one of the better Marshall amps I have seen in a while - very clean inside etc.
Over the last few years I guess the Marshall amp that impressed me the most was the YJM (Malmsteen Model). It was hand wired, effects loop, low power settings and killer tone. Have you looked at those?
Have I looked at those! Sure I have here' s a video review: ua-cam.com/video/--CSLX066J0/v-deo.html and there's a part two. I also reviewed the YJM on my website in great depth here: tonymckenzie.com/marshall-yjm100-malmsteen-guitar-amplifier-inside-and-out-review.htm and the review I conducted with Santiago Alvarez who was the designer... so you could say that I know the YJM :)
Actually I have 45 videos of amplifier reviews in this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PL764D9C7505FDEC8D.html and you could be there for a while :)
I also looked at the JVM410H and the JVM410HJS Satch head... the differences are incredible.
Anyway, anyone who wants to know a lot about the YJM should check that stuff out. Santiago does not work for Marshall these days I am told, but he did tell me about when he went to Florida to Meet Yngwie who really did have a lot of input to the design and style etc. of the YJM.
Hey Tony, any chance of getting a Peavey 6505 (5150) or 6505+ (5150ii) on the channel? They are legendary amps originally made for Eddie Van Halen before he started EVH. I love my 6505+!
I don't have one! I will be selling some amps in April to make way for other purchases to review so I'll bear it in mind... but can't guarantee anything. If I find one easily and at the right price... Thanks for the info and for watching.
tonymckenziecom No problem man love the vids! The Peaveys can be had for super cheap used over here in the US. Not sure how many are across the pond though. Don't let the name fool you, it competes with the big boys and usually beats them imo
Likely here to cost more :( but that's life. I have had a few Peavey amps over the years... anyone remember the MX head? :) I had one of those built in to a flight case and they were rarer than rocking horse manure.
tonymckenziecom Haha I've never heard of hat one. I have a Peavey XXL and 6505+. The amps have a pretty good pedigree since they were the signature models for Eddie Van Halen. Also just so you are aware, they were called the 5150 before Eddie left to start evh. That confuses a lot of people but they are the same amp. So 5150=6505, 5150ii=6505+
Got it... yes that IS confusing and likely down to someone's copyright for sure. The MX was like this : ua-cam.com/video/JnW6RWdr4ys/v-deo.html but that head originally came in a flight case as standard - he seems to have his on a home made case... hybrid amp...
Should I buy the 2555x or Friedman runt 50??
This depends on what you play IMO (style for example) and which of these two will suit you best and fit your budget best. Personally, I have bought Friedman amps and Marshall amps and of the two my preference is Marshall. This is fr a number of reasons. 1. Marshall are cheaper by far in the UK. 2. The Marshall from my experience have a better internal build quality than the Friedman and 3. I prefer the tones of Marshall. This does not mean that Friedman are in some way 'bad' but more so that for me the Marshalls fit the bill better. If you are not in the UK the pricing might well be different. Hope it helps and stay safe.
@@tonymckenziecom thanks Tony. I played a Marshall once 10 tens ago but saw the 2550x in black with silver plate and said I got to place my order it’s in my cart along with the runt I think I’m going to remove the runt!! Yikes hahah
You know what... I think you might well be making the right choice. Inside this amp was one of the nicest I have seen in many years. Stay safe and have a great Christmas...
Thanks Tony dude!
Ha this one was for you Dan. I did not publish your name but if you check somewhere in there I mentioned that. :) Thanks for watching. Do you still have yours? I assume you do.
Yeah, I play a Gibson Les Paul Custom through it too! Really happy with the amp and it saved me from spending well over £2000 on the original 2553 combo that I was in before I got hold of a 2555x.
I'm glad you felt it was really worth the praise I've been singing about it for these past couple of years!
Well... this one I reviewed came up for sale in the local store www.musicstorepro.co.uk and they wanted to sell it at a discount. I paid about £880 which for a brand new amp I felt was really good. You always talked about that 2555X and when I saw it I immediately thought of you :) and your comments etc. so I bought it for review. Actually though I'll probably be keeping that amp - they do sound cool.
Not sure if you have one but try one of those Xotic SL drive pedals... you don't need much drive, but it takes the amp to even other levels that you would not think it can do - but it does...
Regards... T
That's a really good price. When I got mine, it was the only one the store could get (PMT Oxford).
RE: Pedals, I only use Boss pedals (I like collecting them) and I have the SD-1 (Super Overdrive) that I use to push the amp harder for solos. I normally find with my Customs "classic 57" humbuckers, that I don't need any boost for the stuff I normally play.
I had a god using your amp settings on mine and I really liked the tone, I rolled the bass back some as I don't like to have much bass if I can avoid it.
Tony, when will you do another guitar video? I swear that LP Custom is another one that snuck into your collection!
Well the 2555X is a year or so older now from launch (at least) and sometimes they can be bought for a good deal and I'm always looking for that sort of thing. This one came from local www.musicstorepro.co.uk which is in Hanley Stoke on Trent. I also try and support them when I can.
Boss make some very nice pedals and at great prices with good offers sometimes. If I remember correctly they just made an 'anniversary' SD-1 in gold and black... but I could be wrong on that.
Yes what I found with the 2555X is that it is a bit bottom ended and woolly (if that's a word) on the bass side. So I turned the pots (in general)until it went away. I used a 4x12 1960a cab standard from Marshall as I would not pay all the money they want for the 'silver' cab. Sounded good to me.
HB's will drive it for sure. The crunch is cool too - I did not really show that much of that sound but it is a pretty good tone no doubt.
The LP Custom was reviewed here: ua-cam.com/video/8-f8E9W78oA/v-deo.html under a different title but it's still a review and close up.
I have restrained from buying yet more guitars of late as I'm now being 'ordered' to do so by the wife :) so I will probably rotate a few through the coming videos that I make so guys can see them if they missed the review and I'll point them to it... a good idea from your comments :)
Great reviews ....Best on the tube..
Thanks for those kind words and for watching.
Why do the power tubes have only 7 pins soldered... that looks rather weird to me.
That is a really great question! I honestly don't know the reason, but maybe some pins are just not used? Anyone who has the answer to this question please do post it! Thanks for watching - great question Paul.
Hi, it is because pin 6 is usually unused. Older el34 amps (like the ol' jube) used pin 6 to connect the screen resistor to the wire from the pcb (Maybe it was the grid supressor...anyway, a resistor). Back then the tube sockets were not mounted to a pcb, so that solution was pretty smart and, of course economic. Greetings from Berlin! Dave
Tony, hope you are doing well. Can't wait for you to come back to us. Take care. You are reaponsible for me being able to get my Triple Rectifier to breathe fire. 😈... Ssssss!
:)
Is this one a keeper Tony ?
Indeed it was, and is! I still have this amp. Thanks for watching.
So can you fit any octal tube for power or????? That chart on mine without manual is confusing.
I agree with you - it was really confusing and that amp print sort of suggests that you can fit any octal tube. But in reality I doubt it. The manual did nothing to help either. Some of the octal tubes like the KT77 have different resistors than the 1k ones in this amp (check my review on the Burman 501 I showed here: ua-cam.com/video/jXvZoGaz7V0/v-deo.html a while ago. Someone fitted EL34's but the amp was designed for KT77 (if I remember correctly) and the power tube resistors should have been different for EL34 tubes I believe... they are not a straight swap although many guys do that.
Personally I would stick with what the amp comes with - it sounds really goo as is. Great Point and thanks for watching.
Always dud ya I love it just got it yesterday and it was use (like that really matters) and although my Laney AOR 50 and 100 kill it, you wont find a better Marshall amp stock out there for less. I paid 1300 for mine used. Fair price. I would love to own a Burman they are legendary in the hands of the dude in Killing Joke and Thin Lizzy. I heard that they tended to melt themselves down a lot.
Ya I got mine used at Sam Ash for 1300 and it kills prettymuch all amps that ell for less. Only thing comes close are my Laney AORs I have a 50 and a 100 both 8 knob versions. I love to own a Burman they are legendary Killing Joke and Thin Lizzy amps.
I only had it a year or so... it was beat up badly when I bought it so I thought I would resurrect the amp - it was a good amp but really hard to get the knobs and things like that so in the end changed them. I tried to research Burman as there was supposed to be a 'come back' some years ago, sadly it did not happen.
$1300 equals about £1000 which is about the going rate here for a new one, but across the pond (or anywhere else) they tend to cost more. I got mine for around £850 as a clearance... a very good deal for a new amp... but they all sound the same :) Yes I like the 2555X as the 2555 (and the X) all have a different tone than the other similar era amps.
Man, that Gibson...............oh my
Glad you liked it.... and thank you for watching.
Tony when's the next video ?
I have two simple but worthwhile videos in the pipeline for now (I am busy and have a trip to the USA coming up). The first one relates to something all guitarists buy... strings! I was in the local music store and wanted to get some of my favourite strings but looking up on the wall there were so many strings I could choose, last longer, won't tarnish, different tone, you name it, what the... well you get the idea. I realised right there and then that no one had it seems looked at it with this perspective and whether all that sales jibe really means anything at all. With strings costing as much as up to £20.00 ($25) a set surely all those guys have 'got away with it' for some time. I honestly cannot wait to tell it the way it is.
Second video covers cry baby wah pedals from about 1971, through a number of pedals I own through to modern ones. You would not believe how much those pedals have changed! My oldest (and original) one weighs about half the weight of a current cry baby? and the circuits have changed over the years for sure - but so has the tone. I think it will be a pretty fascinating trip (we'll call it that) across decades where the makers say one thing but actually do something different. Again, while some have shown the odd pedal here and the odd pedal there, I don't really see any perspective like the one I will adopt for that video.
So now you know! I also have a review coming up regarding the Presonus studio live (either the new 32 or 24 track) recording desk which as the name suggests could be live or studio. That review is not easy to complete because of the massive features of the desk. I guess it's still not as solid as my Yamaha O2R96 I have had some years.
Lastly, I have been clearing out some gear as well as working to completely update the computer side of my studio and the communications between the O2R96 and the PC. I am updating the PC to dual Xeon and 64Gb ram etc. (it's a new PC) and it all takes a very long time to do. I have said that I will make a video about the making of my recent CD called Gravity Waves and that is still on the cards so that might just appear anytime and likely before I do the studio update because the problems I had in some ways relate to some of that gear but a whole lot to vampires after the making of the CD sucking away in the background. It would all become clear when you watch the video.
I am of course looking to see other new gear appear and much of that seems less this year.
So hang on in there... it might indeed be a few weeks or before but the videos and subjects are all worth the effort or I would not make them.
nice tony, hope you can do a few vlogs while here . i spent 3 years in England and my brain refused to drive on the wrong side , peace
:) what's this 'wrong side of the road' stuff? You lot got it wrong :) and always remember that the steering wheel changes sides too :) Classic Mark. I'll be taking the camera but can't say what will be filmed... we shall see.
come back man
Saturday is a review of EIGHT Cry Baby pedals from 1971 to 2014. Some sig models too.
Beautiful playing as usual, Tony. I came over from your review of the Supersonic 22 where your playing just knocked me out. Very moody and soulful, which is not you at all, of course. (Just kidding, ha ha.)
Glad you liked it and thanks for those kind words. I liked the Supersonic 22 head (sadly discontinued in the UK) and it did inspire me to play like that - a nice sound indeed. Likely it was this that you watched: ua-cam.com/video/Sa5WbAgYirM/v-deo.htmlm35s which the backing was simply looped from 'wind in the trees' live by Satriani. The playing was entirely my own composition though. I like to think that particular playing was pretty cool too :)
Another one which I thought sounded cool is this: ua-cam.com/video/q9J6A9uSDGo/v-deo.html which was actually recorded using a Helix direct to the desk and then to the camera. This one was Gary Moore track but I put my own spin on it really. Thanks for watching.
Yeah, the first of your links was the one. I really like that. The second linked clip is great too. You have a real gift for melodic soloing, which I'm sure you know, but at least one fan knows it too. Nice Telecaster on that second clip. I had a 1983 Tele, black with maple fretboard, that could shriek the fillings out of your teeth. Unfortunately had to sell it during a hard time, along with some other nice guitars. Anyway, take care. I enjoy your reviews and of course your playing.
The Telecaster I made from parts here: ua-cam.com/video/ZgE1yzYft-k/v-deo.html and I think it turned out quite nice... not really a Telecaster... more a wolf in sheeps clothing :) Most tele's I have tried (of the original exact design) have that toppy tone and can be a bit much for me, so I try and use different pickups. I did make a telecaster later similarly but different stuff overall which I later sold to Glen Proudfoot... now that guy is a master at playing and he shows often what he played after... here's a link to him playing a guitar that I made: ua-cam.com/video/5pXffxnUBpE/v-deo.html ha be warned he's got a spider for his left hand :).
My channel is absolutely full of all this stuff and always worth a look when you have time... indeed even I go and re-watch some of it :). Thanks.
I often think that my own Tele would have been ideal for that Roy Buchanan style screech. My own chops unfortunately are not quite there. lol. Thanks for the link to Glen Proudfoot. Yikes, the kids nowadays are incredible.
I liked Roy Buchannan and he could play laid back stuff too remember... Indeed I still have his first album on vinyl :) and yes I really did buy it at the time in a record store (remember them!). Oh Glen Proudfoot is such a brilliantly technical guy - I could not even play that stuff at his slow speed :).
This is the last good Marshall made. They finally got everything right on that amp.
It's a pretty nice amp. Hope I showed enough of this one. BTW I have another Marshall coming up later in the year for inside and out review which should be interesting. Thanks.
@@tonymckenziecom review a Ceriatone all access. It's got it all.
Are you likely to be back??? 🎸
Posting presently...
These are amazing amps. A lot of amp for the money. The cabinet build quality is phenomenal. Too bad they discontinued these last year.
Yes I never really quite get why they do that - and that's been the case on many amps from Marshall, the AFD, the YJM and this one among others. Thanks for watching.
Back in production with a special order for $1899 US
@@drb9223 Indeed... so it seems... thanks for posting that...
what setting did you have the bass on tony?
Gain was 9.5, Bass was 6, Middle was 5, Treble was 9, and Master was 9.5. The treble boost if I remember was out. I did vary the Bass and maybe the treble a little in the playing off camera. Thanks for watching.
Joe Bonamassa uses olds Fender amps these days
Thanks for posting that... and thanks for watching.