Superlead wins, just for warmth and girth. Another great video. Sometimes I lie awake at night, anxious that one day Johan Segeborn might run out of ideas for comparing the amps of our dreams. Let's hope that day never comes.
+Ramidani Funny you should say that. I find the 800 series very very very flubby in the low end. That's the exact and only reason I like JMP's more than anything 800. Well... except the Silver Jubilee. That amp's heaven.
Never? They are not that expensive. In Norway you get them for about 1000 euroes. I would spend my money on old greenbacks though. and a cheaper head. You´ll get the same sound with a Vintage Modern with Pulsonic greenbacks.
@@JohanSegeborn The master volume is my favorite as well out of these 2 in this video. How does it sound at low volumes? I was considering picking one up since i can get one for around 1200. and using it at lower volumes. I already have a 69 metalface small box 1986 bass circuit that is better than any Marshall I have owned and I have owned around 20 or so. They are all a lil different but not that different. Some are just sweeter. I'd like a back up sort of amp.
@@HiHello-ku1fl i know im late to this comment but they sound great at low volume only if you have an attenuator or tube screamer/overdrive pedal. In order to get the distortion or breakup where you want it the volume should be at least at 10 o clock.
Dude, I am digging everything you're throwing down! I am new to plexi-lust being a fender/music man/Mesa player most of my life, but my tastes are changing.
I don't know which is more surprising- the fact that the 2204 kicks the superlead's ass in this video, or that some people don't recognize this fact!!!! Johann, you are simply the best.
Partial to the Master Volume but I have a 77 MKII 50 watt. The Super Lead seems more proper and the Master Volume seems more rude and saturates a little more. Another great video thanks.
Gotta go with the Super Lead here. Both sound phenomenal, but having less saturation and slightly less compression gives your tone a little more room to breathe and more character.
like the sound of both amps. I think the gain is a close call however I think the MASTER VOLUME sounds to have more mid range and more sustain. VERY NICE. Thanks Johan.
I hear different types of gain. The master has the punch right when the pick hits the strings, the SLP peaks right after. Great demo.....I wish I had your job, cheers
I was on another web page and that Master Volume caught my attention when you were playing the lead (note, pull-off,bend). Sounds good with your capable hands.
Looks like you are enjoying the MV at the end, sounds like MV has more gain I would prefer SL as MV gain can sound a bit buzzy from a distance from my experience. Thanks John
I never get tired of your playing! As for which amp, Master Vol has smoother gain than Super Lead to my ears. Super Lead has a more brittle gain. Can't guess what others would prefer but for me it's the Master Volume, but gain isn't loudness and the gain is always different at different volume levels with different amps.....I just made myself dizzy...have to go lie down now. 8^D
I have a 79 100 watt Master Volume and it's hard to stand in front of it on 2 !!!! Both of these amps are insanely loud!! I once turned it up to 7 and it literally shook the house and dimmed my lights briefly! 😂 and I loved it!😂😂😂
I also have 100 watt master volume and took it to my shop where I could turn it up with out bothering anyone. I could not turn it up above 4. It sounded really good at that volume but I would not have wanted to be in the same room with it turned up any higher. (In this case the room was a 3000 square foot warehouse)
I used to have that problem where I lived a year ago. But since we finished our house out in the country and I have my own music room above the garage I play as loud as I want. I've never, however, found it unpleasant to let the air blow me back a little....lol Either my hearing is half gone already or I'm a special kind of crazy but I've never played any amp that was "too loud" for me. If I don't feel it in my gut it ain't loud enough.
I like the low end whomp of the master volume and its out of control craziness, but I also love the clarity and ass kickingness of the superlead. Please ship me both...
I actually did the same comparison the other day between my 1977 2203 and a Yjm100. Used a hotplate on both, all controls at 12 o'clock. with the master on 8 and preamp at 5 it matches the gain of the Yjm100 patched and cranked. Actually the tone is so simular that I almost could not tell then apart. The 2203 is a tad brighter than the Yjm even though the bright-cap is removed on the 2203...
Both sound incredible. To my ears the 2203 has a clearer, more open tone that I prefer slightly to the Super Lead though. The mids on the Super Lead are just outrageous....in a good way of course! Thanks as always Johan.
So, Johan ... when are you going to do an album with all those monster riffs? Come on, mate. You must have some songs in ya. ;) I could listen to these tones all day.
They are basically the same amp or at least born of the same DNA. If you take a Super Lead and cascade the channels (one wire mod) then voice the circuit to control all of the gain and make it more usable (including adding a master volume) you end up with something quite similar to a 2204. "Which amp has the most usable gain (that you can stand in the same room with)?" is a better question. Great video, as always.
Thank you for another superb comparison, Johan! I have always preferred non-master volume Marshall sound ... at least on recordings. In person it would probably kill me. I would be curious to see if artists largely switched to MV after having built a sound on NMV. AC/DC is an interesting case study. They obviously started on NMV, but went through a period of MV ("Powerage" era) before switching back. solodallas.com/angus-youngs-marshall-amplifier-the-back-in-black-tone-project
I owned a '75 OR120..and it didn't break up until 9 on the volume..so gain wise..yeah, Marshall for the win. I don't want pedals to be the dirt, I want the amps voice.. I've had late 70's Fender Twins that would break up before the Orange did..biggest musical disappointment of my life...NOT a fan, sorry. BUT traded it for '74 JMP Super Bass, and life is good again.
great video and playing as always. like the nod to sabbath too. any chance you'd demo laney klipp or hiwatt or orange against the marshall of same vintage for a high gain shootout?
+Dan Kiefert Thanks Dan, I did actually dona 76 Marshall Vs Orange the other week, Laney Klipp is coming up too! Hiwatt is certainly long overdue here as well. Cheers
Gain (signal amplification) and distortion are 2 different things. The Master Volume was designed to get distortion a lower volumes. The Super Lead has more gain or at least usable gain because it sounds much better cranked than the Master Volume which was really never designed for that.
I don't like the 'dual' volume thing on my Bassman either...just don't like it. For me, the older 4 input is shrill in the top end and less tight on the bottom, by this comparison. Although I don't play full-on metal, I like the master vol. circuit better. Maybe one for UFO stuff and one for Gary Moore stuff? OK, maybe 2 of each?
not sure if the master volume was just louder to get that feedback, but because of that sweet feedback the master volume takes the cake for me, but it's probably less likely to get the volume that high all the time. the super lead was also excellent though
Master Volume has the potential for more gain but it sounds bad when doing so, unusable distortion. If you want lots of distortion without a pedal, the Super Lead is the only way forwards. Also comparing a 50w to 100w isn't apples to apples
This sounds totally awesome, i cant imagen how loud that 100 watt must be in that room you are in.. i mean all my 100 watts amps sounds insane loud when cranked to volume at 11 or even 12... Do you find it kinda hard to set the input gain from the mic infront the cab to not get the signal distorted when playing that loud ? Also.. back in the days when people like hendrix and such.. always had those similar amps cranked out att the maximum to get the real Marshall sound...
+HearGear Thanks, yeah it's uncomfortably loud, probably around 125dB, but the gain of the Super Lead still wasn't enough to get good sustain in the tone, so it's much harder to play than the Master Volume. It's no problem with the mics and Apogee Duet though. It has taken a lot harder punishment than this :-) I wouldn't put a ribbon up close there though ;-) Cheers
Yeah i heard that the Master Lead had alot more gain and gave alot more feedback as well.. Let me tell you a little story, someone that i know who was about 17 years old at the time was about to go and see Jimi Hendrix in Stockholm 1970, but just outside of Gröna Lund they heard about a massive party at some friends house that they was thinking of going to instead, he had money for the ticket to the Hendrix show in hes pocket, but bought beer for the cash and went to the party thinking: Hendrix will be back soon again.. well, he never came back to sweden again, my friend heard about hes death on the radio about a month later, still to this day he feel bad he didnt buy the god damn ticket to see Hendrix. The point of this story is, a friend of hes was there and said that Jimi had a few marshalls and 4x12 cabs... cranked up to maximum all of them and it was lound as hell... haha
Yeah.. well, Jimi used Plexis most of the time and those are very loud to, i think he even used the JTM45 100watt at some times, at least as far as i can tell by all the videos i have seen with hendrix... he always played all hes amps on full volume... and no ear protection.. hahaha
Johan, can you try halving the voltage going into the amps (w/ a Variac)? EVH did this to get a more distorted sound from his amps, that's how he got his distinctive tone.
Played a lot of Marshall over the years. But none catches up with my brothers 2204 Hell Machine. I wish I knew where that MoFo resides today. Believe it or not, the JVM 410 is now my "allround weapon".
As always, with a little tweaking youn can turn nearly any Marshall Amp into a Mean Rock Machine. BTW: If you got the opportunity, can you show us a 4140? I'm too keen on hearing it with the Jensens, mine's got the Celestion 65.
Another fantastic video clip Johan!!! Have you considered doing a comparison between a Marshall jmp master volume and a Hiwatt master volume of the same era like two 1970's models? I would love to hear the two compared side by side driven by yourself I think that would be awesome!!!
+Flametopology Yeah they are very similar, the MV is a tad more nadal and has better sustain otherwise it's basically the same sound compared to other amps
Johan Segeborn nasal or nadal. I m lost at nadal. this not sarcasm johan. I realize nasal is one letter different but in the modern day anything may represent a relevant term ......so I asked straight out
My Master Volume picks up radio stations when i turn the master volume up. I'm not even joking. It's also has a "clean" channel on low sensitivity with the pre on about 1 and the master where ever you want it.
The MV has the most but they are not so different. In your video of the 77 vs hand-wired series the 77 seemed to have a lot more gain than the hw. Am I hearing that right? does the hw have considerably less gain than your 1976 non mv jmp?
+matt whit No the 76 and the HW has a similar amount of gain. I'm afraid that in the other clip both the HW and the MV had volume on about 5. My bad. Cheers Jhan
As much as I love distortion I have to say that the master volume amp sounds slightly degraded and fuzzy in comparison to the Super Lead. I can tell you were having fun with the MV one though! :-)
Nice comparison Johan - they both sound great! Just wondering why you don't jumper the channels on the Super Lead? I've had a few non-master Marshalls and I think they always sound even better that way,.
Hello Johan. Nice chops as always. Both amps are set full (master)Volume, Bass 0, Mid full, and Treble half way if i understand you correctly. But how is set the Preamp of the 2204 ? I listened carefully (but swedish accent, french ears..) , more than once, and i don't think you specify it. I anticipate much more noise, compression and 'gain' with both preamp and master maxed out.
My JMP 100 seems to be a strange mixture of the two. It looks essentially like a '77 Master Volume but it has four inputs (two high and two low) and doesn't have a master volume. I guess it's some kind of cross over model.
I've done this comparison with a 100w '79 Super Lead and a 100w '79 Master Volume. The Super Lead was "hairier", but the Master Volume was tighter and punchier.
What are the big differences between the super leads like a 1969 versus a 1979 master volume is there much difference in the tone stacks I know the master volume has a cascade pre amp
Johan, which amp in this video has the most preamp gain? Is there a way to max the preamp gain/distortion on a Marshall super lead by simply turning one of the channel volumes up to 10 or close to 10 and maxing one or more EQ controls?
Could you possibly do a video comparing a Marshall master volume 2203 100 watt head and that Marshall 1959 super lead from 1976? I'm curious with the gain and tone comparisons of the Marshall 1959 super lead and the Marshall JMP 2203 master volume head since both are 100 watts! Maybe the 100 watt master volume head (2203) is less nasally or not nasally at all compared to the 50 watt master volume head (2204)!
Which is the 1st Marshalls to have a master volume, and will that one still get the awesome Hendrix- Duane Allman plexi type tone? I am trying to get as close as possible, working within a struggling music man budget..Which one would you recommend? So many model numbers, etc.. confusing.
Michael Craig The JMP 2204 and 2203s will definitely get you close there pal, so those artists. The jcm800 can also get you there. You just gotta know how to dial them in.
The Super Lead seems a lot more boxy than I expected. The Master volume sounds much more open and clearer. The Super Lead sounds like it's being recorded in a cardboard box. That's weird.
Both are great amps. Question is can you still find any one of these and can the average person afford one. Great demo, the master volume is my favorite. Hope to find one under my Christmas tree one day. Thanks Johan.
Whole Lotta Gain goin on there, not much diff at the end of it all..be interesting to hear what a Marshall Bluesbreaker BB2 pedal in boost mode would do, whole lotta feedback no doubt, great demo as always..
What seems odd to me is that I think that the 50w master volume has more bass and thumb than the super lead. It is very unusual the 50w to have more bass than the 100w. What do you think Johan?
Overall gain is close. I think the master volume model has a beefier, more EVH-ish tone. The Super Lead is probably (no surprise!) better for leads and solos.
Johan, your videos are absolutely impeccable. You are my go to reference for classic Marshall tone! Keep the videos coming, they make me very happy!
+Greg Reid Thanks Greg, that is really good to hear! Cheers Johan
Hands down, one of the best channels on You Tube...Excellent! Keep up the good work Johan!
+Tom Love Thanks Tom! I'm so glad to hear that. Cheers Johan
Superlead wins, just for warmth and girth. Another great video. Sometimes I lie awake at night, anxious that one day Johan Segeborn might run out of ideas for comparing the amps of our dreams. Let's hope that day never comes.
+odgeUK hahaha, don't worry I'll be around until you beg me to stop ;-) Cheers!
+Ramidani Funny you should say that. I find the 800 series very very very flubby in the low end. That's the exact and only reason I like JMP's more than anything 800. Well... except the Silver Jubilee. That amp's heaven.
I heard the complete opposite in the video.
Whats your take on the 600 .....I assume you prefer the 900 over most unless you take the 2000 dsl as the dominant creature of choice.
JED TAYLOR g
This channel is pure porn. The pleasure of hearing these classic amps and stuff that I probably will never afford in my entire life. :')
+GeometryMath Algebra Glad you like the channel! :-)
Never? They are not that expensive. In Norway you get them for about 1000 euroes. I would spend my money on old greenbacks though. and a cheaper head. You´ll get the same sound with a Vintage Modern with Pulsonic greenbacks.
@@andreas5153 Om du vet om noen som selger en super lead eller 2203 til 10k, så vil jeg gjerne kjøpe de.
Har aldri sett noe til den prisen x)
@@matiasolanderbrandal7790 det skjer ikke ofte. Greni solgte sin 1968 (med uoriginal trafo) for 10000. Jeg kjøpte min 1971 for 7500.
That Master Volume is a beast. My favorite of the two. Thanks for the vid Johan!
+Alicia Butler Thanks Alicia! It's my favorite too. Cheers!
@@JohanSegeborn The master volume is my favorite as well out of these 2 in this video. How does it sound at low volumes? I was considering picking one up since i can get one for around 1200. and using it at lower volumes. I already have a 69 metalface small box 1986 bass circuit that is better than any Marshall I have owned and I have owned around 20 or so. They are all a lil different but not that different. Some are just sweeter. I'd like a back up sort of amp.
@@HiHello-ku1fl i know im late to this comment but they sound great at low volume only if you have an attenuator or tube screamer/overdrive pedal. In order to get the distortion or breakup where you want it the volume should be at least at 10 o clock.
Dude, I am digging everything you're throwing down! I am new to plexi-lust being a fender/music man/Mesa player most of my life, but my tastes are changing.
+TheD33pthawt Thanks, glad to hear it man!
I don't know which is more surprising- the fact that the 2204 kicks the superlead's ass in this video, or that some people don't recognize this fact!!!! Johann, you are simply the best.
OMG! Great Tones! The Master Volume feedback is impressive!!!!
+Glauco Santiago Thanks man, yeah it's a pleasure to play!
This video is what classic Marshall "sound" is all about. Fantastic demo! I have a 1976 2204 (non-cascaded, which I prefer) and it takes some beating.
+mdub048 Thanks, your 76 is a very rare amp. Cool. Cheers Johan
mdub048 what tonal differences between the cascaded and non?
to me, it gets fatter sounding, but not much more gain/crunch, sounds more late 60's than late 70's.
Partial to the Master Volume but I have a 77 MKII 50 watt. The Super Lead seems more proper and the Master Volume seems more rude and saturates a little more. Another great video thanks.
+Jj Jones Thanks Jj!
Gotta go with the Super Lead here. Both sound phenomenal, but having less saturation and slightly less compression gives your tone a little more room to breathe and more character.
+Dagger 323 Thanks
this man has a 100 watt head running at full volume and he's just sitting there chillin'
I have always been a major fan of infinite feedback that is (1) octave above the root note...Well done sir!
+michael D. Fuller Thanks man, glad to hear it!
Hi johan, enjoying your vids, i own a superlead mkii 1976 for 20 years now, mod mv. I like this amp so much!
like the sound of both amps. I think the gain is a close call however I think the MASTER VOLUME sounds to have more mid range and more sustain.
VERY NICE.
Thanks Johan.
+STEVE SHAW Thanks Steve! Yeah the MV has much better sustain
Cool as always Johan. Another great video.
+PureToneAmps Thanks man!
Totally perfect both amplifiers. Good gig Johan.
+Dan Noc Thanks Dan! :-)
I hear different types of gain. The master has the punch right when the pick hits the strings, the SLP peaks right after. Great demo.....I wish I had your job, cheers
I can say only: the noise is incredible when REALLY using full volume.
+Janis Petku Yeah that's how I like it too :-)
I was on another web page and that Master Volume caught my attention when you were playing the lead (note, pull-off,bend). Sounds good with your capable hands.
6:10 - ahhh, so that is what amazing sustain sounds like.
+Crstov haha thanks my friend :-)
may the force of the Marshalls always be with you.
play on my rocking out brother!
Cheers my friend!
Cheers!
Both great, and nice ideas played on these strings. A must see!
Pure heaven! Both are incredible amps. Great demo!
Looks like you are enjoying the MV at the end, sounds like MV has more gain I would prefer SL as MV gain can sound a bit buzzy from a distance from my experience.
Thanks John
I never get tired of your playing! As for which amp, Master Vol has smoother gain than Super Lead to my ears. Super Lead has a more brittle gain. Can't guess what others would prefer but for me it's the Master Volume, but gain isn't loudness and the gain is always different at different volume levels with different amps.....I just made myself dizzy...have to go lie down now. 8^D
+D. B. Haha! Thanks, I'm so glad to hear that! That particular amp is the one I Play the most of all actually. Cheers Johan
Very cool!
I have a 79 100 watt Master Volume and it's hard to stand in front of it on 2 !!!! Both of these amps are insanely loud!! I once turned it up to 7 and it literally shook the house and dimmed my lights briefly! 😂 and I loved it!😂😂😂
Yeah, they are not very practical ;-)
I also have 100 watt master volume and took it to my shop where I could turn it up with out bothering anyone. I could not turn it up above 4. It sounded really good at that volume but I would not have wanted to be in the same room with it turned up any higher. (In this case the room was a 3000 square foot warehouse)
I used to have that problem where I lived a year ago. But since we finished our house out in the country and I have my own music room above the garage I play as loud as I want. I've never, however, found it unpleasant to let the air blow me back a little....lol Either my hearing is half gone already or I'm a special kind of crazy but I've never played any amp that was "too loud" for me. If I don't feel it in my gut it ain't loud enough.
I like the low end whomp of the master volume and its out of control craziness, but I also love the clarity and ass kickingness of the superlead. Please ship me both...
+lynyrddeville Hahaha, craziness and ass kickningness is what I'm going for :-)
I actually did the same comparison the other day between my 1977 2203 and a Yjm100. Used a hotplate on both, all controls at 12 o'clock.
with the master on 8 and preamp at 5 it matches the gain of the Yjm100 patched and cranked. Actually the tone is so simular that I almost could not tell then apart. The 2203 is a tad brighter than the Yjm even though the bright-cap is removed on the 2203...
Both sound incredible. To my ears the 2203 has a clearer, more open tone that I prefer slightly to the Super Lead though. The mids on the Super Lead are just outrageous....in a good way of course! Thanks as always Johan.
Master Volume has more gain & sounds "heavier"
+Mahler Haze Indeed :-)
Love your style and awesome amps. Subscribed!
+Ashstrodamus1 Thanks, that's great to hear. Cheers!
Great Demo! Pure cranked Marshall heaven!
+tim price Thanks Tim!
Wholy smokes! That master volume sounds like Armageddon
+lailer1975 That's the Ultimate compliment! Cheers!!
the master volume seems more open sounding to me...cool playing too!
So, Johan ... when are you going to do an album with all those monster riffs? Come on, mate. You must have some songs in ya. ;) I could listen to these tones all day.
+Chris ACT You make my day man! :-) I will be doing fully mixed songs here on the channel though soon. Cheers
Both killer amps, of course! SL is clearer and more punchy. MV sounds a little compressed in comparison, IMHO. Police NOT called??
:)
Hi Johan. Can you make a comparison JCM800 2203 (1982-1984) vs JCM800 2203x Reissue, please?
They are basically the same amp or at least born of the same DNA. If you take a Super Lead and cascade the channels (one wire mod) then voice the circuit to control all of the gain and make it more usable (including adding a master volume) you end up with something quite similar to a 2204. "Which amp has the most usable gain (that you can stand in the same room with)?" is a better question. Great video, as always.
2:20
Hellhammer - Triumph of Death
Thank you for another superb comparison, Johan!
I have always preferred non-master volume Marshall sound ... at least on recordings. In person it would probably kill me.
I would be curious to see if artists largely switched to MV after having built a sound on NMV. AC/DC is an interesting case study. They obviously started on NMV, but went through a period of MV ("Powerage" era) before switching back. solodallas.com/angus-youngs-marshall-amplifier-the-back-in-black-tone-project
Ya that would be interesting!
Super sound a little more rounded while the master is open but tameable. Both awesome, just a matter of use context.
+WilliamTanaka Thanks, man!
they both sound great, just different to my ears. loved your dirty tones, especially the feedback. great playing, Johan.
+Dave Kaplowitz Thanks Dave, Yeah especially the Master was so fun to play with the feedback helping out. Cheers!
BOTH of those amps EAT Oranges and shit Friedmans.
+Kris Ford hahaha :-)
Keep dreaming!
I owned a '75 OR120..and it didn't break up until 9 on the volume..so gain wise..yeah, Marshall for the win. I don't want pedals to be the dirt, I want the amps voice..
I've had late 70's Fender Twins that would break up before the Orange did..biggest musical disappointment of my life...NOT a fan, sorry.
BUT traded it for '74 JMP Super Bass, and life is good again.
Super Lead for me. Thanks Johan.
You should do kemper profiles with your amps an mic technik and sell it. That would be great. Love your tone!
+Frank Foullois Thanks Frank! If get the chance to do that I'll post them on my homepage.
Having seen both Motorhead and My Bloody Valentine, I can FEEL the sound of this. I can feel it inside my bones.
Hi Johan. Excellent demo !!! I really prefer the master volume. Next time could you can do the same with the Trouble sound, i'm a big fan :) ? Cheers.
+dafxtone Thanks! I'm afraid you're gonna have to fill me in on what the Trouble sound is though. Cheers
great video and playing as always. like the nod to sabbath too. any chance you'd demo laney klipp or hiwatt or orange against the marshall of same vintage for a high gain shootout?
+Dan Kiefert Thanks Dan, I did actually dona 76 Marshall Vs Orange the other week, Laney Klipp is coming up too! Hiwatt is certainly long overdue here as well. Cheers
Maybe a matamp too? Great job on the videos!
+Dan Kiefert If I get my hands on one, definetly!
My '74 JMP has one wire cascade mod and CRUSHES my '78 2203 gain wise.
The '74 runs 6550s, the 2203 EL34s
+Kris Ford Hi, yeah there are many factors to perceived gain, maybe it has a 0.68 cap on V2 mod too?
It does!
A big fat Mustard lol.
+Kris Ford I think the 74 has a higher Power Transformer Voltage too.
does yours have 4 cabinet inputs ?
Hi, Johan!! I saw your other videos. What a great collection!! I subscribed :) Enjoy music and be careful of your ears :)
+bullet rider Great to hear that. Welcome to the Channel!
Gain (signal amplification) and distortion are 2 different things. The Master Volume was designed to get distortion a lower volumes. The Super Lead has more gain or at least usable gain because it sounds much better cranked than the Master Volume which was really never designed for that.
I don't like the 'dual' volume thing on my Bassman either...just don't like it. For me, the older 4 input is shrill in the top end and less tight on the bottom, by this comparison. Although I don't play full-on metal, I like the master vol. circuit better. Maybe one for UFO stuff and one for Gary Moore stuff? OK, maybe 2 of each?
+TheDogpa :-) 2 of each sounds good :-)
Oh my god, tone heaven!!!!
+Jonathan Campagna Thanks man, good to hear that!
not sure if the master volume was just louder to get that feedback, but because of that sweet feedback the master volume takes the cake for me, but it's probably less likely to get the volume that high all the time. the super lead was also excellent though
+Samuel Packer Thanks Samuel, If any, the super Lead was louder. Cheers
Master Volume has the potential for more gain but it sounds bad when doing so, unusable distortion. If you want lots of distortion without a pedal, the Super Lead is the only way forwards. Also comparing a 50w to 100w isn't apples to apples
Yeah, the 50W is a bit more scooped and compressed than the 100W
thumbs are sore from your awesome vids. fingers sore from my awesome les paul HP
This sounds totally awesome, i cant imagen how loud that 100 watt must be in that room you are in.. i mean all my 100 watts amps sounds insane loud when cranked to volume at 11 or even 12... Do you find it kinda hard to set the input gain from the mic infront the cab to not get the signal distorted when playing that loud ? Also.. back in the days when people like hendrix and such.. always had those similar amps cranked out att the maximum to get the real Marshall sound...
+HearGear Thanks, yeah it's uncomfortably loud, probably around 125dB, but the gain of the Super Lead still wasn't enough to get good sustain in the tone, so it's much harder to play than the Master Volume. It's no problem with the mics and Apogee Duet though. It has taken a lot harder punishment than this :-) I wouldn't put a ribbon up close there though ;-) Cheers
Yeah i heard that the Master Lead had alot more gain and gave alot more feedback as well.. Let me tell you a little story, someone that i know who was about 17 years old at the time was about to go and see Jimi Hendrix in Stockholm 1970, but just outside of Gröna Lund they heard about a massive party at some friends house that they was thinking of going to instead, he had money for the ticket to the Hendrix show in hes pocket, but bought beer for the cash and went to the party thinking: Hendrix will be back soon again.. well, he never came back to sweden again, my friend heard about hes death on the radio about a month later, still to this day he feel bad he didnt buy the god damn ticket to see Hendrix. The point of this story is, a friend of hes was there and said that Jimi had a few marshalls and 4x12 cabs... cranked up to maximum all of them and it was lound as hell... haha
+HearGear Ah, I really feel for that guy. Yeah Hendrix didn't compromise :-)
Yeah.. well, Jimi used Plexis most of the time and those are very loud to, i think he even used the JTM45 100watt at some times, at least as far as i can tell by all the videos i have seen with hendrix... he always played all hes amps on full volume... and no ear protection.. hahaha
+HearGear Haha if an old geezer like myself would pull a stunt like that I'd go instantly deaf!
Johan, can you try halving the voltage going into the amps (w/ a Variac)? EVH did this to get a more distorted sound from his amps, that's how he got his distinctive tone.
Awesome!
Do you have a band, Johan? I hope all those great riffs comes to use somewhere!
+CheapshotBonanza Thanks! :-) I jam with other players but no band, I'm happy just posting the riffs here :-)
Dude that was brutal!
Played a lot of Marshall over the years. But none catches up with my brothers 2204 Hell Machine. I wish I knew where that MoFo resides today. Believe it or not, the JVM 410 is now my "allround weapon".
+juppheidi The JVM is a great amp, does vintage rock really well
As always, with a little tweaking youn can turn nearly any Marshall Amp into a Mean Rock Machine. BTW: If you got the opportunity, can you show us a 4140? I'm too keen on hearing it with the Jensens, mine's got the Celestion 65.
+juppheidi Hi I have no experience with the 4140 but I've read it came with McKenzies.
Upps, of course you're right. McKenzies.
Another fantastic video clip Johan!!! Have you considered doing a comparison between a Marshall jmp master volume and a Hiwatt master volume of the same era like two 1970's models? I would love to hear the two compared side by side driven by yourself I think that would be awesome!!!
+Googy007 Thanks, I'd love to do that. So first chance I get! Cheers
Johan Segeborn you rock!!!
+Googy007 Thanks man :-)
Maybe it's me, but they both seem to sound similar. Either way, they both sound great! I love my '81 2204. 👍
+Flametopology Yeah they are very similar, the MV is a tad more nadal and has better sustain otherwise it's basically the same sound compared to other amps
Johan Segeborn nasal or nadal. I m lost at nadal. this not sarcasm johan. I realize nasal is one letter different but in the modern day anything may represent a relevant term ......so I asked straight out
yep. that is the real tone. sacrilege or not the master volume sounds brutal.
+Eli Friedmann Thanks Eli, yeah it's probably not the amp that gets the most cred, but the choice between brutal and creddy is an easy one :-)
maybe master volume amp is totally ok...IF you turn it up loud enough that is! master volume w master on "3" maybe not so great sounding.
Eli Friedmann A 50w 2204 with the master volume on 3 will take your head off!
Flametopology Indeed !
Is that custombucker pickup wax potted? Nice that feedback scene. :)
+Rämpyttäjä Thanks, no they aren't, so one has to keep a tone going at all times or it will scream :-)
My Master Volume picks up radio stations when i turn the master volume up. I'm not even joking. It's also has a "clean" channel on low sensitivity with the pre on about 1 and the master where ever you want it.
Master Volume wins for me!
The MV has the most but they are not so different. In your video of the 77 vs hand-wired series the 77 seemed to have a lot more gain than the hw. Am I hearing that right? does the hw have considerably less gain than your 1976 non mv jmp?
+matt whit No the 76 and the HW has a similar amount of gain. I'm afraid that in the other clip both the HW and the MV had volume on about 5. My bad. Cheers Jhan
As much as I love distortion I have to say that the master volume amp sounds slightly degraded and fuzzy in comparison to the Super Lead. I can tell you were having fun with the MV one though! :-)
+morbidrockerdude Yeah I love that amp :-)
Is there any better way than this to demonstrate the pure genius tone of a super lead?
Nice comparison Johan - they both sound great! Just wondering why you don't jumper the channels on the Super Lead? I've had a few non-master Marshalls and I think they always sound even better that way,.
+Owen Sagness Thanks Owen, I think they often become muddier that way.
Right On!!! 1959 Non-Master Super Lead All the Way!!!!!!
I like the super lead more. Just taste i think! Any chance you can do a video on the marshall class 5??
+Niels Sloot Thanks Niels, yeah I will! Soon I hope.
Johan Segeborn see if u can throw the SL5 slash model in there also. It's mean. Love your Demos. All the best from OZ.🤘🏻
Hello Johan. Nice chops as always. Both amps are set full (master)Volume, Bass 0, Mid full, and Treble half way if i understand you correctly. But how is set the Preamp of the 2204 ? I listened carefully (but swedish accent, french ears..) , more than once, and i don't think you specify it.
I anticipate much more noise, compression and 'gain' with both preamp and master maxed out.
The Master Volume, Ragnarok in a box - you are Odin!
+TheBlueflower68 Thanks for letting me be Odin :-)
My JMP 100 seems to be a strange mixture of the two. It looks essentially like a '77 Master Volume but it has four inputs (two high and two low) and doesn't have a master volume. I guess it's some kind of cross over model.
I've done this comparison with a 100w '79 Super Lead and a 100w '79 Master Volume. The Super Lead was "hairier", but the Master Volume was tighter and punchier.
Ännu en grym demo🖒Tror jag föredrar Master Volume som helhet. Vissa riff/licks så gillar jag den andra bättre dock.
+Tommy Köllner (Sonofamustangford) Tack Tommy! Jag gillar MVn bäst också. Detta exet är den stärk jag spelat mest av alla faktiskt!
Great vid Johan !!! Where did you set the gain knob on the MV ?
SuperLead is pure 70's rock. the Master V '77 has more gain and brings the bottom end chunk of 80's metal. both are awesome
Wicked! Can there be too much awesomeness in one single video clip..?
+NPGANDERSSON hahaha :-) Cheers man
I think we need more awesomeness in a single video. Never let up on the pressure or Johan might slack off....haha.
+Rick McCargar :-)
What are the big differences between the super leads like a 1969 versus a 1979 master volume is there much difference in the tone stacks I know the master volume has a cascade pre amp
I would also like to install a master volume for jtm45 I am a little worried that the sound will not change. What do you think? Thanks
Hi Johan.
I want know if I can get the Master Volume's tone to put a graphic eq on a Super Lead. Thanks.
Johan, which amp in this video has the most preamp gain? Is there a way to max the preamp gain/distortion on a Marshall super lead by simply turning one of the channel volumes up to 10 or close to 10 and maxing one or more EQ controls?
+CM rocker The Master Volume has more gain. In this clip I compare the circuits
ua-cam.com/video/SU69O839D8U/v-deo.html
My favorite marshall sound is ac/dc gone shooting opening riff
DIG N IT! rock on sir!
Now the question is, which one do you prefer Johan? :)
+zurg9000 This 2204 and is my go-to Marshall so that's my pick :-)
Could you possibly do a video comparing a Marshall master volume 2203 100 watt head and that Marshall 1959 super lead from 1976? I'm curious with the gain and tone comparisons of the Marshall 1959 super lead and the Marshall JMP 2203 master volume head since both are 100 watts! Maybe the 100 watt master volume head (2203) is less nasally or not nasally at all compared to the 50 watt master volume head (2204)!
+CM rocker I'll keep it in mind. All MVs are more nasal than the 1987/1959etc amps, but 50W is even more nasal than 100W.
Would jumpering the two channels on the Super Lead elevate the gain to bring it closer to the Master Lead? Great demo and playing as always!
+Slashaholic Anonymous Thanks! Yeah it would help somewhat but also muddy tone up, so it's useful for solos but not rhythm if you need a firm cruncj
Which is the 1st Marshalls to have a master volume, and will that one still get the awesome Hendrix- Duane Allman plexi type tone? I am trying to get as close as possible, working within a struggling music man budget..Which one would you recommend? So many model numbers, etc.. confusing.
Michael Craig The JMP 2204 and 2203s will definitely get you close there pal, so those artists. The jcm800 can also get you there. You just gotta know how to dial them in.
Both amps are crazy good
The Super Lead seems a lot more boxy than I expected. The Master volume sounds much more open and clearer. The Super Lead sounds like it's being recorded in a cardboard box. That's weird.
+Blu All amps are individuals especially this old
I adore the SLP but the master volume sounds awesome.
Thanks! Glad to hear it!
Both are great amps. Question is can you still find any one of these and can the average person afford one. Great demo, the master volume is my favorite. Hope to find one under my Christmas tree one day. Thanks Johan.
Whole Lotta Gain goin on there, not much diff at the end of it all..be interesting to hear what a Marshall Bluesbreaker BB2 pedal in boost mode would do, whole lotta feedback no doubt, great demo as always..
What seems odd to me is that I think that the 50w master volume has more bass and thumb than the super lead. It is very unusual the 50w to have more bass than the 100w. What do you think Johan?
+Myself6M The 50W is more scooped and nasal than the 100W which recorded can seem as more bass heavy. But the 100W has more bass too. Cheers
Thanks! Great video btw as always.
If you had to choose one Marshall amp, what would be your dessert island amp? And why. Thanks man your the best!
Johan has said that this 77 2204 is his favourite.
Overall gain is close. I think the master volume model has a beefier, more EVH-ish tone. The Super Lead is probably (no surprise!) better for leads and solos.
I'm super curious, how much is that setup if you don't mind me asking? I'm sure it's ridiculously expensive. Or how much is one of the stacked amps?