After discovering Euge Valovirta on UA-cam I got a JCM800 (the studio classic version), a Boss SD-1 and dusted off my EMG equipped Les Paul. Now I don't need anything else anymore.
@@JohnWiku I think he runs his master around 4.5, mentioning a change in character from that point on. I dont have the real deal, but I love my Jim Root Jazzmaster (solid mahogany body) with EMGs into a boosted Mercuriall Spark JCM800 plugin with T-75s / Greenbacks / V30s. Still playing around with the speaker types a lot. And Mr Euge's word is my guidance
After discovering Euge I got the stealth JCM800 studio classic. I slapped an SD-1 in front but was massively disappointed. I felt it lacked a lot of low end and didn’t like the high end. Ultimately ended up selling it.
Zakk Wylde did pretty well with a JCM800 and SD-1 and EMG's.. Euge has his tone defintely refined.. those Scandinavian 800's have some sort of death wish.. he blows them with the master past 4..
The 2203 is basically a jumpered Plexi with a cold clipper stage, that's why it sits so firmly between the classic rock and high gain amplifiers. Mike Soldano accidentally discovered that you get even more gain by using a larger cathode resistor on the cold clipper and thus the modern high gain amp was born.
Yes, colder cold clipping produces more distortion, asymmetrical clipping by severely clipping just half of signal, keeping the other half of it fairly clean, it doesn't have more "gain". Actually, that "gain" stage produces less gain than a "proper" gain stage. The SLO has an added gain stage over the 2203, a colder cold clipper, and that's what you need to step into "high gain".
Long jcm800 2203 owner here... It drove me crazy because it didn't give me Slayer type of saturation. The tricks are: -hot pickups ( even better emg81) -boost slightly with a ts9 (not the usual way with 0 drive and max volume but instead a bit of gain and volume at 7) -eq after the od, cutting the lows and boosting slightly 400hz and 800hz, cutting 1.6k, increasing a bit the general volume but, again, not maxed) -presence never past 7, bass less than half (I use 2 when alone) mids between 4 and 8 (depending on the speakers or your taste, Jeff Waters used 4 with t75's for the first 4 albums), treble less than half (I use 2-3), preamp gain 10 or slightly less. -good tight dark speakers like g12-65's or old t75's (avoid v30's, gh30's and similar) -raise the master as much as you can or use an attenuator. If you're lucky enough to have a good sounding specimen you're done. Also, if you have the reissue with the efx loop, use a 10 band eq and a noise gate there! Good luck and have fun.
as for speakers, i happen to have a jcm800 cab with 1983 date code t75 speakers (first production year i think). some tube screamer clone should do the trick for the ts9 and my mxr 10band eq for the eq pedal. now all i need is the amp xD
I could never get use to the the pre and post on the 800 comparably. the 900 is the one with the independent Gain knob and the 800 is not. I guess with out a loop and the lack of extra circuit buffers that the 900 uses accounts for more powered head room for the eight hundred. Id like to be good enuff to make an 8oo sound good but i cant. ( Yet )
There's at least a couple different 2210 circuits. My understanding is the early and late ones are quite different so it could be that you had one of the "good ones". Totally Rad Guitars does a great technical rundown on them.
@user-ij5ny6uc9f Michael Amott from Arch Enemy uses a 2210 boosted with a TS9. He also posted about pulling his HM2s out of storage a while back but not sure if they're meant to replace the TS or not
@@apacheworrier3776 this is a really weird place to out yourself, but yeah, sure. just remember to wash that pillow case before trying to sleep on it again. Those burning crosses give off a lot of soot.
@@needsLITHIUM Minorities commit nearly 65% of all violent crimes, while only making up 13% of the population. I got that from the FBI crime statistics page. Is the FBI racist, or is anyone who can read their website racist?
The 2203/2204 is like a different beast depending on where that master volume is at. It's stupid loud, but after like 6 into 7/8 territory it gets massive. I have a captor x with the volume switch in the middle at all times to keep it in the range that doesn't kill all small animals within a 5 mile range.
@@robertstan2349 They certainly sound awesome cranked but I never thought they sounded bad even at bedroom volume. Cranking both volume pots usually gets too compressed and too bassy so realistically when you go to 10 on the master you have to dial back the preamp or use a treble boost.
Thank the almighty above than I have a 2203 with the Monomyth Skeleton Key mod!! Problem solved!! Brutality at it's best but can also be warm and fuzzy. Zero need for a boost/OD pedal whatsoever. I love it!!
Would love to hear the 2203 compared to the silver jubilee. I've heard people describe the jube as a 2203 with more gain and a more powerful EQ. I have a Jubilee I absolutely love... but never owned a 2203 haha
I’ve had both and sold the silver. Still prefer my 2204 after 15 years after comparing it to a lot of amps(I have some comparisons on my channel). The Silver is more compressed, more „squished”, smoother in the mids (although the mid knob is extremely powerful) and can have more lows than a jcm 800. But no one needs more lows than a jcm 800 produces… and that spark isn’t there…
The silver jubilee is a completely different thing. The circuit is totally different. Dave Friedman has been telling people that for years but I guess no one pays attention. Both are great but not the same. I like the jubilee distortion better but it’s more of a one trick pony than the jcm800.
the Jub is more compressed tone. It's not as open. I've had both and much prefer the 800. Althought I still like the Jub. The 800's were almost on all recordings back in the day. Jub's were NOT. Hwever nowadays the Jub's are getting much well deserved loved and used more and more than ever.
I bought the jcm 800 half stack for 800$ when I was 15… 35 years ago. It was amazing. I had the 2203. It had 6550’s and was fucking amazing. Absolute life regret selling it.
I’ve had a 2205 for about 10 years now and it’s by far my favorite amp. It does have its issues; channel bleed and not the greatest fx loop. However, the tone is worth it. Also, if you are using an overdrive, the channel bleed doesn’t matter because it blends it in. And as long as you keep your input and outputs clean it’s usually good to go. I run the gain at 10, treble at 2 or 3, mid at 5 or 6, and bass at 10. People always wanted to know how I got my tone and that was the key.
The other thing is: 2210 can do it both. You can get those high gain tones out of it AND also really good low gain tones (…) 😇😁😉. I got both: 1985 2203 and 1986 2210. Different. But 2210 is in no way inferior to the 2203 imo. I do particularly like the 2203 with an SD-1.
@@apacheworrier3776 Lol... a 12AX7 is a 12ax7, there are no "low or high gain" ones, the differences are so subtle that you won't be able to tell them appart in a blind test
@@SociopatheAssume The right 12ax7 in V1 and V2 of these and many other amps can make a significant difference in sound. My 4104 and SLO have an RFT in V1, great tube for more gain.
I have an ‘89 2210 and it rips! I run a 10 band MXR EQ in the effects loop and hit the front with an SD1 over drive. Great tone both 90’s rock, thrash, metal. Yes, pick ups do make a difference in tone with my 2210 as well.
I had a 2210 in the late 90’s and loved it. It’s picky about how to best dial it in but great. I have a 2203 JMP MkII and also love it. So much of my favorite tones have been made with the 2203, it’s just the quintessential rock/punk/metal tone to me.
I have always loved the 2205 and 2210 line of amps. My first was a 4210 combo that blew me away the first time i heard it, and the same went for all my friends. I searched for years and finally found a mint 1990 2210 that had spent its life in storage in Germany. It is a little tighter and stiffer than the 2203, but it sounds huge, and is my favorite amp of all. I also have a 2203x which is very nice too. I like to use the two heads together. I use a simple boost into a passive aby splitter to go into the amps. I use a reverb pedal in the loop of the 2203x and use some of the reverb of the 2210 and that's it. Great sound even at reasonable home volumes, i couldn't be happier.
I think the 2210 is a fine sounding amp. For the money though, in my opinion, you might as well save $1000 and just get a JCM 900. They were the same concept, but executed better. I think they are hands down the best value if you want a Marshall. You can kind of get the best of both worlds with the 4100/4500. There's no diode clipping in the "A" channel of the dual reverbs and IMO it hangs with the 2203/4's. They were still using Dagnall and Drake transformers in the 90's. Underrated amps. Reliable too.
In the Marshall documentary there was that Iron Maiden basically saved the whole company. Marshall was basically on the brink of bankruptcy, because punks did not use tube amps. But then came Maiden, and everyone wanted a Marshall again. Probably the 2203 is exactly from that period.
Judas Priest was just as much or more influential. But Marshall was still riding high in the glory days of power metal (80-83) thanks to Van Halen and Randy Rhoads though neither played a master volume JMP or JCM800
If Marshall was on the brink of bankruptcy, I doubt it was because of the punks (who did use tube amps, Marshall included). Probably had more to do with the UK’s economic woes, their distribution deal with Rose Morris ending, and/or unsuccessful products like the Club and Country.
@@ro307805Interestingly, the non-master volume models seemed to be more popular with the pros at the time. Look at, say, Judas Priest’s back line at the US Fest. That’s all JCM 800 Super Lead models, not 2203. Yet many don’t know that Marshall did in fact make non-master volume JCM 800s. A Distortion+ and an EQ into a Super Lead was the sound of British heavy metal.
I think it’s worth noting how every jmp/800 sounds drastically different. I have a 2203 of each jmp and jcm800. They’re the Canadian versions which are ever so slightly different but they can get fairly high gain with a simple overdrive.
2203 boosted for the W IMHO. A bit more bark, timbre, and depth (thicker without being too flubby) along with this woody kerrang I love. Another great vid Kyle. Love ya dude💪🙏 \m/
Pickups absolutely make a difference. I installed Seymore Duncan Black Winters in my Jackson Kelly and it totally changed the tone (for the better, the stock pickups were microphonic)
There is a crazy buzzing sound when you’re talking! Great video though, I have a high gain modded 1989 2210 and I love it! But I have to have a pretty aggressive boost in the front for it to be usable for heavy stuff
One thing that makes this amp great is that they are very very dynamic compared to ultra compressed modern amps, they sound very raw and are quite versatile once you know how to tame the beast. Sounds great non boosted too and becomes massive when the volume is past 9-10 o'clock, add boost, turn down the bass a bit and BOOM ! cuts right through the mix. If you can find a matching G1265 cab, you'll be in the golden era of rock heaven, use it with a V30 cab and get more modern tones. True that the channel switcher sounds a bit more modern.
Fascinating video, thanks for putting it together. Learned a lot as a non-Marshall dude who just wandered by. My only critical feedback is that 100% of the tones in this video are indeed dad rock tones. Thank u and goodnight!
Great comparison, I really appreciate you walking though the whole process of getting these tones through these amps! I wonder what these sound like compared to the Jvm410 od1 and od2 channels that are modeled after the hot or scooped jcm800
I’ve already have a 2203X so I would pick the 2210 because i want to have both. Personally I like to boost my 2203 with the Hexdrive I just ordered a Grim 3 and I can’t wait to plugged it in front
Man, as someone new to guitar and looking for a specific tone for a project I'm working on with better guitarist's than myself, I loved the sound of the 2203 boosted at the beginning. Specifically for drop d or drop c traditional hardcore riffs. I might have to buy myself a Marshall now. Great video!
2210 for sure, but you really have to do a lot to get them to sound good. Louise Torres used a plug in mod for his that added a second preamp tube and it made it sound a ton better. That might be what a person has to do to get a good tone without modding too much or using super expensive boost pedals
That is just kind of how was with most of the stock amps available at the time. When I played my 2210, I used a boost in front and eq in the loop. Had to do the same with my Rev G dual Rec. Now, at that time (late 90's/early 00's) there were obviously Soldanos, VHT/FRYETTE, Bogner, etc but most gigging musicians could not not afford them so they worked with amps like jcm 800's, which were cheap a widely available.
Not a JCM but I have a Friedman Runt 50 that's pretty close, and I have the legendary tones Mr. Scary mod and it rips. I play in a metalcore band and play pretty much straight in or with an SD-1 in front and it sounds so fucking good, I get compliments on it. It doesn't have as much gain as a 6505/5150 type amp but to me that just makes it sound tighter in a mix, especially since i tune to drop A. I play it through a mesa 4x12 with 2 DV77's and 2 CV75's
I’ve owned both, the 2210 had w lot more gain but also sounded badass as well, never understood the hate. Love the 2203 too, sold it for a RedBear MK120 and now I’m set for life.
Boosted 2203 all day. And I freakin love those greenbacks, man. Those might be my favorite speaker. Great content, thank you for all this effort man, it's greatly appreciated.
I have a '79 JMP 2203. These reissue 2203X are really thin and harsh in comparison to the actual vintage ones. Besides of that, you really need to push the power amp section. You will get a lot of saturation, which gives these amps the amount of gain and a nice complex gainstructure.
Legendary amps, but with so many real high gain options like the Engl Fireball, Savage, Peavey 6505 Original, etc., it’s much easier and more effective to get metal sound from these models.
And You can never have a 2203 boosted sound with a Fireball or any Engl amp or with a 6505. I know what i’m talking about because I have all the amps you mentioned and even more.
I was in 80s UK thrash band Hydra Vein, and I used a boosted 2203 or 2204 all through the 1980s. It was either boosted with a Boss SD1 or a Rozz Parametric EQ. Absolutely killer amps to cut through the mix. Regret selling all of them in the early 90s for peanuts.
Both sound really good. Although I personally always preferred amps with minimum knobs and a simpler circuit. FYI I turn the Master up all the way + not too much gain boosted with a TS or a Rat, relying more on the power amp section.
Evening Kyle. My question is do you run the overdrive peddle through the effects loop? Or in front of the amp. It's something that doesn't seem to get addressed much anywhere. Thanks man.
Dude talks about 'slamming the front with signal' to get into more modern territory. I think it's safe to say that for this demo the pedals were between the guitar and the amps input.
I've long been a Marshall fan (since the 70s, before I even picked up a guitar) and am digging this video. Alas, I sold my JCM 800 half stack long ago, but I now have a Marshall DSL combo and it has that excellent Marshall crunch. Honestly, I'd be happy with either of those two setups...
Love the Marshall JCM800 / 900 clean channel, but I prefer my OG EVH 5150 and MESA dual Rec for hi-gain 🤷♂️ …guitar straight to head, no boosts, no unwanted feedback, no problem
It's just like with my little mg 30 FX the bottom shelf lamp. It sounds better when you run your overdrive on the clean channel read mode and on the the green channel on the overdrive button.. I I have a sd1 and an mxr Zakk Wylde overdrive.. on the overdrive channel in the green mode it has a lot more top end like wider sound. But you run your overdrive pedal on the heavy red mode overdrive sounds great too it's tighter.. but I think you can get some heavier crunch and chugging sound from overdrive green channel with your pedal dang it now I'm going to plug in and test it all again LOL I do think you get a little more out of it when you have it on the clean channel with the game turned up. When I run it on the heavy channel I turn my game back a little bit on the amp and crank up the gain on the pedal.
I've never had a 2210 that sounded scooped because of a lack of low-end. Mostly because scooped means boosted lows and highs, and the mids sound scooped out.
2203 w/a Boss SD-1 all day. Leave the amp gain at 10 though….clean channel would be boost off and guitar volume down. I’ve owned a 2210 and own a 3 2204’s and a 2203x. I prefer the single channel. What year is your 2210 ? They had a circuit change in 1987 and made them a little more modern. I had an ‘89 than didn’t need a boost (for real) & it had some killer mids.
funnilly enough, mine bone stock OG vertical input one just prefers ts style od's. did play numerous other Marshall's and I tend to prefer SD type od's on them but for some reason my likes ts's clipping more. there's so much variation in them because they were cranking them in buckets in the 80's
Here’s the best thing from any forum around Marshall’s. “That amp doesn’t have enough gain for metal” also “most of your favorite metal guys are using much less gain on their records than you think”
yup,and play razor sharp so quadrupling doesn't sound like mudslide. you could put Bill Steer's Heartwork guitars thru mg10 and it would slay any modern metal.
You should throw a VTM on that stack too to see how much power tubes really matter. You showed me how awesome that anp is and it’s 100% scratched my 2203 itch.
Thank fucking God someone cleared this shit up. Love the 2204/2203 but it’s not a modern high gain amp. Also not a single amp sim I’ve tried actually sounds like one, and I think that’s where it gets confusing all the jcm800 amp sims have way too much gain.
I've had both at the same time. The 2204 has a thicker tone to it more punch. Stock less gain however with a pedal it rips. Got rid of the 2205 kept the 2204. Now a days I put a HOT MOD V2 in the 2204 and has more than then one will ever need and not pedals anymore.
I don't want to take the credit because I know you probably get hundreds if not thousands of replies every day on your channel, but a bunch of months ago I made a comment about using different pickups and speakers than the Duncan Distortion and V30 combo, and now I see that you're doing that, which is sweet. You also replied to my comment, which made me feel super special lol. From one Kyle to another, your channel is great. I love watching these videos. EDIT: Those Fishman active pickups sounded amazing. I'd still love to hear something with DiMarzio pickups, the Super Distortion is my all time favourite bridge pickup. Or a Gibson 500T. Those two pickups are crazy.
I was wondering since i own the Peavey Bandit 112 teal stripe from 1992 and being poor it is the best amp i've ever owned and want to know how you feel your Peavey Supreme 160 measures up to the mighty Marshall 2203 or 2210 as i know the Supreme 160 is solid state vs Marshall tube 800s but i am curious about how you think if at all for cheap if they compare at all as i feel my teal stripe Bandit does not need a boost to get into metal territory as the 800s do but i have never played a JCM 800 before unfortunately and would love to hear your take on both the Peavey and Marshall if you have an interest in the future and thanks for your very informative videos Kyle
Nice epi. Back in my day, it wasn't so much the Marshall amp, it was what OD you put in front of it. It was either a Tube Screamer or a BOSS SD. "Apples to Oranges"..........
I much prefer a jcm 900, I know "gasp" the 900 is way more flexible and has a nice clean channel that takes pedals well. The 900 is also a great power amp if you decide to go in the return.
@@Mazut0 Yes, I have an SLX & an 800. I put the HOT MOD V2 into the 800 now it almost has the same amount of gain the SL-X has but with more Low end. Pretty cool mod.
@@guitarexpert2245 everyone has personal preferences, The 900 Dr was used on tons of platinum records and top tours so some people must think it sounds good.
Great comparison. Something I would love is a comparison between a JCM 800 and a Splawn (Quickrod or Competition or something like that). And for the record the 2203 sounds better in this video! The 2210 is a bit too boxy on its own, though it might sit a bit better in the right mix.
My 1984 4104 with 6550s is the best sounding out of the many JMP&JCM 2204s/2203s I've had. My fav JMP 2204 sounded HUGE and tight with the volume around noon, but too loud. Shoulda kept it and the JMP2203. These amps take any boost that shaves off low end great for the hard n heavy stuff: treble booster, TS, SD1, Barber LTD/GC/BU, EMS, Klon, KOT, Fulldrive, etc. Fav is Timmy/Tim. 90s GBs with 6402 cones are darker than current GBs. They open up when you put volume on them, much like G12-65. I prefer the current GB ri.
Very similar. The 900 may have a very, very slight bit more gain but definitely not high gain by today's standards. And you definitely still need a pedal in front for hard rock/metal lead tones.
The fact that these amps sound great for Dad Rock or boosted with a modern OD for crushing modern metal tones is a testament to the greatness of their circuits. Jim Marshall knew what he was doing.
i have a 1984 2204 and its a monster with a boost in front of it. i have a tube screamer on full and i get a lot of people surprised an 800 can sound so mean
All the ones I’ve had needed at least 2 boosts to get where I want them. (SUPER tight thick & chunky) Also used lynch mod plus a hex drive on one that sounded great, but made me question why I just didn’t get a higher gain amp to start with lol
This is timely. Today I’ve been jamming the JCM 410h model in my axe fx. Just stumbled upon it. There’s something about it that is so more ish and really pleasing and it sounds brilliant when tracked in a mix. It’s not perfect though , the low end is a little strange. Kyle you should consider doing some IRs to sell. It seems you know the kinda of “‘high gain” tones people are looking for.
2203 all the way...just add a eq pedal in the loop and some form of overdrive in the front...good to go... i do the same in my original rockerverb 50 and it wakes up and tightens up
One of my all time favourite sounds from an tube amp was a boosted Marshall JCM 800. The rig used was a ESP LTD Arrow-200, an metalzone with cut mids and boosted highs and, ofc the marshall. I think remembering the Marshalls mids being boosted and gain all the way up.
JCM900 is what you're wanting to hear when you play an 800. it's all dad rock all the time. the 900 is the heavy one and if you're lucky you can score a JCM900 SL-X
You need a 900 mark iii 2500 or 2100 (not SLX 2100 or 2500) to really go head to head with a 2203 or 2204 as… it’s considered the next evolution from 2203-4… and… I own one already and it’s okay if you make them cost a fortune now lol
Hey Kyle i know this is off topic but i know you sometimes test new speakers and pedals and would really like to one day hear ypur thoughts on the $25 dollar Donner Morpher pedal and the WGS ET 90 speaker as i dont own either yet but plan to get both eventually as the demos ive seen on them are great sounding but if you can ever experience either yourself i would love to hear your thoughts on them as i like your honesty and if something is not to your liking you dont sugar coat it and that is awesome, the Donner Morpher is supposed to be a Suhr Riot clone for only like $25 or $30 bucks, anyway keep bringing us awesome content Kyle
I have a 4210 ( combo version of the 2210) I would like to know how you have set the knobs on both amps if possible. I boost mine with a sd1 and a mxr micro boost in sddition sometimes.
The 4210 imo (My main amp) is a little more limited than say the top version because it doenst have the Presence knob connected (though it exists on the PCB board). ill tell what i did to make it sing. 1: minor mod, connected presence from PCB to DI-out on the back of the amp and turned it maybe 8/10 towards full. 2: changed the original shrill crap speaker to a Classic80 (handles more power, this is very relevant) and levels out that spiky, earmurdering effect it had from the beginning. 3: since you changed out the mid/upper mid crap speaker to a high power neutral one. You need more mids 4: EQ: Treble 4 Middle: 8 Bass: 3 Boost gain 9 Boost Volume 10 SD1: level full, gain: 1/4 Thats what i use, milage may vary, and be sure to change all caps, mine 1989 jcm4210 had fukked caps all over and changing them made all the difference. But taming the upper mid/low treble harshness is what made me able to push it over the top to make it sound tight, and it makes the amp kill innocent ppl. Dont forget to add a quality noisegate !!
A word of clarification on my philosophy here: Without Presence knob the amp has a fixed presence setting which is low and makes the amp sound dark. to counter this one has to add treble Adding treble makes the amp sound shrill and horrible even though it gets in the right ballpark for say 80s thrash metal when used with an SD1. So the shit original speaker has to go, thats absolutely step n.o 1
Hey thanks for the comments. Mine came with a celestion g12-80 installed inside, which I find pretty mid forward. I'd like the presence control mod you did on yours, on mine, I was not aware of this. I might speak to my tech for this. I had a jcm900 slx 50w head before and I find the 4210 has a more direct punch and kick when you hit a note, but it has less gain of course. I miss the presence knob. Regarding the speaker, what do you use? I'll mess with that eventually, maybe a Vintage 30 or greenback more likely. Or a g12-65 maybe. I may just get a closed back 2x12 or 4x12 eventually.
Aaah. Then you have the same speaker, lovely! Then i would definitely get the Presence mod. Then you can brighten the overall sound and back off the treble and put mid forward. Atleast in my ears this makes it balanced, especially after maxing out the SD1 OD. Then ofc JJLabs power valves makes it somewhat sweet. I wouldnt change the speaker for anything other than even higher wattage. Atleast this is what i read on forums, if you throw in a 20w old greenback (or whatever wattage they are rated) you would soon get cone breakup and potentially damaging the unit. Its a whole other story if you would hookup a cab with 2x12 or 4x12. Then the power is divided between the speakers and no breakup distortion happens
i played metal for years with the 4212 (which is just the 2210 in a combo) and no extra distortion or gain was ever required. people can talk shit about it all they want, but no one who ever heard it didnt have to go see what it was because they coulndt believe it. ive owned other 800s and not all the ones you want. You gotta have that master volume setup and crank the gain and pre volume. EQ optional, mine never sounded thin, but maybe if your pickups arent as hot I guess i dunno. I used the stock bill lawrence originals in my custom 89 and its never wanted for power and tone. and the clean was amazing too. had 2203's and its basically ACDC tier unless you buy something cool like an ADA MP1, or do the preamp mods people did to them
After discovering Euge Valovirta on UA-cam I got a JCM800 (the studio classic version), a Boss SD-1 and dusted off my EMG equipped Les Paul. Now I don't need anything else anymore.
Don't forget CRANKED, he runs reactive loads, so the master volume is fairly open!
@@JohnWiku I think he runs his master around 4.5, mentioning a change in character from that point on. I dont have the real deal, but I love my Jim Root Jazzmaster (solid mahogany body) with EMGs into a boosted Mercuriall Spark JCM800 plugin with T-75s / Greenbacks / V30s. Still playing around with the speaker types a lot. And Mr Euge's word is my guidance
Euge also has the modd in his too...bad boy...lol 😂
After discovering Euge I got the stealth JCM800 studio classic. I slapped an SD-1 in front but was massively disappointed. I felt it lacked a lot of low end and didn’t like the high end. Ultimately ended up selling it.
Zakk Wylde did pretty well with a JCM800 and SD-1 and EMG's.. Euge has his tone defintely refined.. those Scandinavian 800's have some sort of death wish.. he blows them with the master past 4..
The 2203 is basically a jumpered Plexi with a cold clipper stage, that's why it sits so firmly between the classic rock and high gain amplifiers. Mike Soldano accidentally discovered that you get even more gain by using a larger cathode resistor on the cold clipper and thus the modern high gain amp was born.
Great info. Im curious which Plexi reissue do you think is best in Marshall's current lineup?
Yes, colder cold clipping produces more distortion, asymmetrical clipping by severely clipping just half of signal, keeping the other half of it fairly clean, it doesn't have more "gain". Actually, that "gain" stage produces less gain than a "proper" gain stage.
The SLO has an added gain stage over the 2203, a colder cold clipper, and that's what you need to step into "high gain".
@@monkeyrater there are only two current plexi reissues from Marshal, 1987x or 1959x. I have the 1959x; because more is more.
@@zoomzoom3950 the JTM45 has a 20 watt resissue, as does the 1959.
That’s part of it. Different gain stages in those amps.
Long jcm800 2203 owner here... It drove me crazy because it didn't give me Slayer type of saturation. The tricks are:
-hot pickups ( even better emg81)
-boost slightly with a ts9 (not the usual way with 0 drive and max volume but instead a bit of gain and volume at 7)
-eq after the od, cutting the lows and boosting slightly 400hz and 800hz, cutting 1.6k, increasing a bit the general volume but, again, not maxed)
-presence never past 7, bass less than half (I use 2 when alone) mids between 4 and 8 (depending on the speakers or your taste, Jeff Waters used 4 with t75's for the first 4 albums), treble less than half (I use 2-3), preamp gain 10 or slightly less.
-good tight dark speakers like g12-65's or old t75's (avoid v30's, gh30's and similar)
-raise the master as much as you can or use an attenuator.
If you're lucky enough to have a good sounding specimen you're done.
Also, if you have the reissue with the efx loop, use a 10 band eq and a noise gate there!
Good luck and have fun.
NAILED IT.
as for speakers, i happen to have a jcm800 cab with 1983 date code t75 speakers (first production year i think). some tube screamer clone should do the trick for the ts9 and my mxr 10band eq for the eq pedal. now all i need is the amp xD
Marshall had a kerry king sig 2203 with a gate and pre amp eq built in, not too many built sadly
Bass, Mids, and Treble maxed out, it brings out the full character of your amp and creates the best tone for live shows
@@helio1055 yes, if you want a shrill farting sound because you're deaf and need all those highs and bass to "feel" the tone.
2210 is without a doubt my favorite live amp. Even with t75s.
Owned one for 30+ years.
Agree wholeheartedly.
I never understood the hate for the 2210. I gigged with mine a ton in several different metalcore bands and sounds amazing.
Yep. Same here. Have lots of more “high end” amps but it still does it’s own thing really well. Saturated barking.
I could never get use to the the pre and post on the 800 comparably. the 900 is the one with the independent Gain knob and the 800 is not. I guess with out a loop and the lack of extra circuit buffers that the 900 uses accounts for more powered head room for the eight hundred. Id like to be good enuff to make an 8oo sound good but i cant. ( Yet )
The 2210 has always been a killer amp and is sort of the platform Scott Splawn based the Nitro on.
There's at least a couple different 2210 circuits. My understanding is the early and late ones are quite different so it could be that you had one of the "good ones". Totally Rad Guitars does a great technical rundown on them.
They sound weird by themselves, but amazing in a mix I've noticed.
Zak Wilde did a small concert where I live and I was shooting the concert, I noticed he was using a JCM800 with an OD. His music is heavy as hell.
He's always used 800s except for a brief time when he had a rack setup
Yeah he smashes the front end with an OD and EMG 81 pickups. So it's basically a double boost.
At the start he boosted it with a SD1 and after with a MXR ZW44 which is basically a modified SD1.
@user-ij5ny6uc9f Michael Amott from Arch Enemy uses a 2210 boosted with a TS9. He also posted about pulling his HM2s out of storage a while back but not sure if they're meant to replace the TS or not
Kerry King from Slayer uses JCM 800's and EMG 81 pickups too. I'm sure he uses an OD boost as well, but Idk what it is.
YOU DON'T KNOW THAT ABOUT MY UNCLE MATT
Your uncle isn’t a racist. He just knows how to read crime statistics.
@@apacheworrier3776 this is a really weird place to out yourself, but yeah, sure. just remember to wash that pillow case before trying to sleep on it again. Those burning crosses give off a lot of soot.
🤣🤣
@@needsLITHIUM
Minorities commit nearly 65% of all violent crimes, while only making up 13% of the population. I got that from the FBI crime statistics page. Is the FBI racist, or is anyone who can read their website racist?
@@needsLITHIUMbahahahahaha
The 2203/2204 is like a different beast depending on where that master volume is at. It's stupid loud, but after like 6 into 7/8 territory it gets massive. I have a captor x with the volume switch in the middle at all times to keep it in the range that doesn't kill all small animals within a 5 mile range.
the amps don't really start to shine until you push the power section
@@robertstan2349 They certainly sound awesome cranked but I never thought they sounded bad even at bedroom volume. Cranking both volume pots usually gets too compressed and too bassy so realistically when you go to 10 on the master you have to dial back the preamp or use a treble boost.
IMO master volume past 7 almost always sounds muddy and bad.
1-4 is the sweet spot.
Thank the almighty above than I have a 2203 with the Monomyth Skeleton Key mod!! Problem solved!! Brutality at it's best but can also be warm and fuzzy. Zero need for a boost/OD pedal whatsoever. I love it!!
Would love to hear the 2203 compared to the silver jubilee.
I've heard people describe the jube as a 2203 with more gain and a more powerful EQ. I have a Jubilee I absolutely love... but never owned a 2203 haha
+1 for this idea
I’ve had both and sold the silver. Still prefer my 2204 after 15 years after comparing it to a lot of amps(I have some comparisons on my channel). The Silver is more compressed, more „squished”, smoother in the mids (although the mid knob is extremely powerful) and can have more lows than a jcm 800. But no one needs more lows than a jcm 800 produces… and that spark isn’t there…
@@dominikignacik9736 I had both and ended up selling my Jubilee a few months after I bought it. The Jubilee is not as mean as a 2203
The silver jubilee is a completely different thing. The circuit is totally different. Dave Friedman has been telling people that for years but I guess no one pays attention. Both are great but not the same. I like the jubilee distortion better but it’s more of a one trick pony than the jcm800.
the Jub is more compressed tone. It's not as open. I've had both and much prefer the 800. Althought I still like the Jub. The 800's were almost on all recordings back in the day. Jub's were NOT. Hwever nowadays the Jub's are getting much well deserved loved and used more and more than ever.
I bought the jcm 800 half stack for 800$ when I was 15… 35 years ago. It was amazing. I had the 2203. It had 6550’s and was fucking amazing. Absolute life regret selling it.
Correction it was 25 years ago. Fuck!
I have a Marshall JCM800 4010 combo, I replaced the speaker with the Eminence DV-77 speaker and stack a couple of Overdrives and it's huge sounding.
DV-77 is the cat's pajamas!
Kyle, this is honestly the best intro you’ve ever made. You’re appreciated!!!
I’ve had a 2205 for about 10 years now and it’s by far my favorite amp. It does have its issues; channel bleed and not the greatest fx loop. However, the tone is worth it. Also, if you are using an overdrive, the channel bleed doesn’t matter because it blends it in. And as long as you keep your input and outputs clean it’s usually good to go. I run the gain at 10, treble at 2 or 3, mid at 5 or 6, and bass at 10. People always wanted to know how I got my tone and that was the key.
The thing is: Boosted 2203 can do it both. You can get those high gain tones out of it AND also really good low gain tones and everything in between.
The other thing is: 2210 can do it both. You can get those high gain tones out of it AND also really good low gain tones (…) 😇😁😉.
I got both: 1985 2203 and 1986 2210. Different. But 2210 is in no way inferior to the 2203 imo. I do particularly like the 2203 with an SD-1.
The difference in gain on this video is probably different pre amp tubes.
@@apacheworrier3776100% not. they are two different circuits
@@apacheworrier3776 Lol... a 12AX7 is a 12ax7, there are no "low or high gain" ones, the differences are so subtle that you won't be able to tell them appart in a blind test
@@SociopatheAssume The right 12ax7 in V1 and V2 of these and many other amps can make a significant difference in sound. My 4104 and SLO have an RFT in V1, great tube for more gain.
I have an ‘89 2210 and it rips! I run a 10 band MXR EQ in the effects loop and hit the front with an SD1 over drive. Great tone both 90’s rock, thrash, metal. Yes, pick ups do make a difference in tone with my 2210 as well.
This is the wholesome content we crave!! Do a JMP Video next! Intro on point 😂
Thanks for this, Kyle! Would love to hear these both with a Mr. Scary mod added in. Boosted, unboosted, stacked...madness!
Do you still have the JVM410H? If so, it could be interesting to see how close you can get to a JCM800 tone with it.
I'm partial to the 2204 circuit. The JMP version, in particular. Toss a Boss SD-1 in front as a boost and you'll be golden.
I had a 2210 in the late 90’s and loved it. It’s picky about how to best dial it in but great. I have a 2203 JMP MkII and also love it. So much of my favorite tones have been made with the 2203, it’s just the quintessential rock/punk/metal tone to me.
I have always loved the 2205 and 2210 line of amps. My first was a 4210 combo that blew me away the first time i heard it, and the same went for all my friends. I searched for years and finally found a mint 1990 2210 that had spent its life in storage in Germany. It is a little tighter and stiffer than the 2203, but it sounds huge, and is my favorite amp of all. I also have a 2203x which is very nice too. I like to use the two heads together. I use a simple boost into a passive aby splitter to go into the amps. I use a reverb pedal in the loop of the 2203x and use some of the reverb of the 2210 and that's it. Great sound even at reasonable home volumes, i couldn't be happier.
It takes a lot to get it there, but that boosted 2203 with the active pickups sounds so gnarly
I had a 2210 and I loved it. I miss that amp.
Same man… same. I actually really liked the channel switching capability, and for punk it had enough gain on its own.
I think the 2210 is a fine sounding amp. For the money though, in my opinion, you might as well save $1000 and just get a JCM 900. They were the same concept, but executed better. I think they are hands down the best value if you want a Marshall. You can kind of get the best of both worlds with the 4100/4500. There's no diode clipping in the "A" channel of the dual reverbs and IMO it hangs with the 2203/4's. They were still using Dagnall and Drake transformers in the 90's. Underrated amps. Reliable too.
In the Marshall documentary there was that Iron Maiden basically saved the whole company. Marshall was basically on the brink of bankruptcy, because punks did not use tube amps. But then came Maiden, and everyone wanted a Marshall again. Probably the 2203 is exactly from that period.
Judas Priest was just as much or more influential. But Marshall was still riding high in the glory days of power metal (80-83) thanks to Van Halen and Randy Rhoads though neither played a master volume JMP or JCM800
If Marshall was on the brink of bankruptcy, I doubt it was because of the punks (who did use tube amps, Marshall included). Probably had more to do with the UK’s economic woes, their distribution deal with Rose Morris ending, and/or unsuccessful products like the Club and Country.
@@ro307805Interestingly, the non-master volume models seemed to be more popular with the pros at the time. Look at, say, Judas Priest’s back line at the US Fest. That’s all JCM 800 Super Lead models, not 2203. Yet many don’t know that Marshall did in fact make non-master volume JCM 800s.
A Distortion+ and an EQ into a Super Lead was the sound of British heavy metal.
@@kalebaldwin5398 I agree.
Second time hearing this story...and still finding it a bit untrue
I think it’s worth noting how every jmp/800 sounds drastically different. I have a 2203 of each jmp and jcm800. They’re the Canadian versions which are ever so slightly different but they can get fairly high gain with a simple overdrive.
Will the full review of that adam Jones guitar ever come? Great video as always
2203 boosted for the W IMHO. A bit more bark, timbre, and depth (thicker without being too flubby) along with this woody kerrang I love. Another great vid Kyle. Love ya dude💪🙏 \m/
Pickups absolutely make a difference. I installed Seymore Duncan Black Winters in my Jackson Kelly and it totally changed the tone (for the better, the stock pickups were microphonic)
There is a crazy buzzing sound when you’re talking! Great video though, I have a high gain modded 1989 2210 and I love it! But I have to have a pretty aggressive boost in the front for it to be usable for heavy stuff
One thing that makes this amp great is that they are very very dynamic compared to ultra compressed modern amps, they sound very raw and are quite versatile once you know how to tame the beast. Sounds great non boosted too and becomes massive when the volume is past 9-10 o'clock, add boost, turn down the bass a bit and BOOM ! cuts right through the mix. If you can find a matching G1265 cab, you'll be in the golden era of rock heaven, use it with a V30 cab and get more modern tones. True that the channel switcher sounds a bit more modern.
Learned to work with my jcm900. Great amp.
Do you put a 10 band in the efx loop?
@@richpryor9650 with a clean boost.
@@richpryor9650try a simple clean boost b4 the loop with the extra eq
@@DosHemperor Does the boost help fill out the bass freqs?
2100 FTW 👍🏻🤘🏻
Fascinating video, thanks for putting it together. Learned a lot as a non-Marshall dude who just wandered by. My only critical feedback is that 100% of the tones in this video are indeed dad rock tones. Thank u and goodnight!
2210 is the GOAT !!!
I have an 85 and it’s KILLER
Tube screamer in the front and you get those yummy vintage thrash tones
Great comparison, I really appreciate you walking though the whole process of getting these tones through these amps!
I wonder what these sound like compared to the Jvm410 od1 and od2 channels that are modeled after the hot or scooped jcm800
Curious, is this the 2210 you got from Texas?
I’ve already have a 2203X so I would pick the 2210 because i want to have both.
Personally I like to boost my 2203 with the Hexdrive
I just ordered a Grim 3 and I can’t wait to plugged it in front
Man, as someone new to guitar and looking for a specific tone for a project I'm working on with better guitarist's than myself, I loved the sound of the 2203 boosted at the beginning. Specifically for drop d or drop c traditional hardcore riffs. I might have to buy myself a Marshall now. Great video!
2210 for sure, but you really have to do a lot to get them to sound good. Louise Torres used a plug in mod for his that added a second preamp tube and it made it sound a ton better. That might be what a person has to do to get a good tone without modding too much or using super expensive boost pedals
That is just kind of how was with most of the stock amps available at the time. When I played my 2210, I used a boost in front and eq in the loop. Had to do the same with my Rev G dual Rec. Now, at that time (late 90's/early 00's) there were obviously Soldanos, VHT/FRYETTE, Bogner, etc but most gigging musicians could not not afford them so they worked with amps like jcm 800's, which were cheap a widely available.
Not a JCM but I have a Friedman Runt 50 that's pretty close, and I have the legendary tones Mr. Scary mod and it rips. I play in a metalcore band and play pretty much straight in or with an SD-1 in front and it sounds so fucking good, I get compliments on it. It doesn't have as much gain as a 6505/5150 type amp but to me that just makes it sound tighter in a mix, especially since i tune to drop A. I play it through a mesa 4x12 with 2 DV77's and 2 CV75's
@@corbinhaynes7543 that sounds like a good setup! Yeah the mr scary! That's the name! Thanks!
I’ve owned both, the 2210 had w lot more gain but also sounded badass as well, never understood the hate. Love the 2203 too, sold it for a RedBear MK120 and now I’m set for life.
EMG 81 + Tube Screamer + JCM800 = 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻100%
I have to say, I prefer the 2210. Both sound great but I'd definitely go for the 2210
Boosted 2203 all day.
And I freakin love those greenbacks, man. Those might be my favorite speaker.
Great content, thank you for all this effort man, it's greatly appreciated.
I have a '79 JMP 2203. These reissue 2203X are really thin and harsh in comparison to the actual vintage ones. Besides of that, you really need to push the power amp section. You will get a lot of saturation, which gives these amps the amount of gain and a nice complex gainstructure.
Legendary amps, but with so many real high gain options like the Engl Fireball, Savage, Peavey 6505 Original, etc., it’s much easier and more effective to get metal sound from these models.
And You can never have a 2203 boosted sound with a Fireball or any Engl amp or with a 6505. I know what i’m talking about because I have all the amps you mentioned and even more.
@@gral9440 learn to EQ then
I love my 2204 with a 6550 power section. One of those amps that will never leave my collection.
I was in 80s UK thrash band Hydra Vein, and I used a boosted 2203 or 2204 all through the 1980s. It was either boosted with a Boss SD1 or a Rozz Parametric EQ. Absolutely killer amps to cut through the mix. Regret selling all of them in the early 90s for peanuts.
Both sound really good. Although I personally always preferred amps with minimum knobs and a simpler circuit.
FYI I turn the Master up all the way + not too much gain boosted with a TS or a Rat, relying more on the power amp section.
Evening Kyle. My question is do you run the overdrive peddle through the effects loop? Or in front of the amp. It's something that doesn't seem to get addressed much anywhere. Thanks man.
Dude talks about 'slamming the front with signal' to get into more modern territory. I think it's safe to say that for this demo the pedals were between the guitar and the amps input.
OG 2203 doesn't even have a fx loop.
I've long been a Marshall fan (since the 70s, before I even picked up a guitar) and am digging this video. Alas, I sold my JCM 800 half stack long ago, but I now have a Marshall DSL combo and it has that excellent Marshall crunch. Honestly, I'd be happy with either of those two setups...
Love the Marshall JCM800 / 900 clean channel, but I prefer my OG EVH 5150 and MESA dual Rec for hi-gain 🤷♂️
…guitar straight to head, no boosts, no unwanted feedback, no problem
It's just like with my little mg 30 FX the bottom shelf lamp. It sounds better when you run your overdrive on the clean channel read mode and on the the green channel on the overdrive button.. I I have a sd1 and an mxr Zakk Wylde overdrive.. on the overdrive channel in the green mode it has a lot more top end like wider sound. But you run your overdrive pedal on the heavy red mode overdrive sounds great too it's tighter.. but I think you can get some heavier crunch and chugging sound from overdrive green channel with your pedal dang it now I'm going to plug in and test it all again LOL I do think you get a little more out of it when you have it on the clean channel with the game turned up. When I run it on the heavy channel I turn my game back a little bit on the amp and crank up the gain on the pedal.
Damn that hardcore tone at the end is excellent. I gotta say, the 2210 has more aggressive mids, super tight but thick sounding
Never played or heard a 2210. Weirdly the thin bottom end on it makes the overall tone sound scooped? Does it sound that way in the room too?
I've never had a 2210 that sounded scooped because of a lack of low-end. Mostly because scooped means boosted lows and highs, and the mids sound scooped out.
2203 w/a Boss SD-1 all day.
Leave the amp gain at 10 though….clean channel would be boost off and guitar volume down.
I’ve owned a 2210 and own a 3 2204’s and a 2203x. I prefer the single channel. What year is your 2210 ? They had a circuit change in 1987 and made them a little more modern. I had an ‘89 than didn’t need a boost (for real) & it had some killer mids.
funnilly enough, mine bone stock OG vertical input one just prefers ts style od's. did play numerous other Marshall's and I tend to prefer SD type od's on them but for some reason my likes ts's clipping more. there's so much variation in them because they were cranking them in buckets in the 80's
I can get into DM territory fairly easy with my 88 2205. 10 band MXR EQ in the FX loop does wonders for channel switching 800s.
Here’s the best thing from any forum around Marshall’s. “That amp doesn’t have enough gain for metal” also “most of your favorite metal guys are using much less gain on their records than you think”
yup,and play razor sharp so quadrupling doesn't sound like mudslide. you could put Bill Steer's Heartwork guitars thru mg10 and it would slay any modern metal.
@ I love heartworks tone
You should throw a VTM on that stack too to see how much power tubes really matter.
You showed me how awesome that anp is and it’s 100% scratched my 2203 itch.
I’m here for A/B tests and comparisons between amps. So many guitar channels are just advertisements for a single piece of gear with no context
Thank fucking God someone cleared this shit up. Love the 2204/2203 but it’s not a modern high gain amp. Also not a single amp sim I’ve tried actually sounds like one, and I think that’s where it gets confusing all the jcm800 amp sims have way too much gain.
My 2210 is my favourite amp of all time and I've owned a 2303
I've had both at the same time. The 2204 has a thicker tone to it more punch. Stock less gain however with a pedal it rips. Got rid of the 2205 kept the 2204. Now a days I put a HOT MOD V2 in the 2204 and has more than then one will ever need and not pedals anymore.
My 2210 is headed in for repairs/mods this week!
I don't want to take the credit because I know you probably get hundreds if not thousands of replies every day on your channel, but a bunch of months ago I made a comment about using different pickups and speakers than the Duncan Distortion and V30 combo, and now I see that you're doing that, which is sweet. You also replied to my comment, which made me feel super special lol. From one Kyle to another, your channel is great. I love watching these videos.
EDIT: Those Fishman active pickups sounded amazing. I'd still love to hear something with DiMarzio pickups, the Super Distortion is my all time favourite bridge pickup. Or a Gibson 500T. Those two pickups are crazy.
The 2203 sounds like it has more clarity than the 2210 imo. New fan, I really dig what you're doing. Stay rad.
I was wondering since i own the Peavey Bandit 112 teal stripe from 1992 and being poor it is the best amp i've ever owned and want to know how you feel your Peavey Supreme 160 measures up to the mighty Marshall 2203 or 2210 as i know the Supreme 160 is solid state vs Marshall tube 800s but i am curious about how you think if at all for cheap if they compare at all as i feel my teal stripe Bandit does not need a boost to get into metal territory as the 800s do but i have never played a JCM 800 before unfortunately and would love to hear your take on both the Peavey and Marshall if you have an interest in the future and thanks for your very informative videos Kyle
Nice epi. Back in my day, it wasn't so much the Marshall amp, it was what OD you put in front of it. It was either a Tube Screamer or a BOSS SD. "Apples to Oranges"..........
I much prefer a jcm 900, I know "gasp" the 900 is way more flexible and has a nice clean channel that takes pedals well. The 900 is also a great power amp if you decide to go in the return.
SLX, sure! Dual Reverb and mk3, hell nah...
The tone of the 900 DR is shit. The tone of an 800 is amazing.
@@Mazut0 Yes, I have an SLX & an 800. I put the HOT MOD V2 into the 800 now it almost has the same amount of gain the SL-X has but with more Low end. Pretty cool mod.
@@guitarexpert2245 everyone has personal preferences, The 900 Dr was used on tons of platinum records and top tours so some people must think it sounds good.
@@rocketsauce5067 , Most people that hate the 900 never played one.
Hey Kyle, really enjoying the videos!
just wanted to let you know that there is some weird crackle or static noise while you talk.
Great comparison. Something I would love is a comparison between a JCM 800 and a Splawn (Quickrod or Competition or something like that). And for the record the 2203 sounds better in this video! The 2210 is a bit too boxy on its own, though it might sit a bit better in the right mix.
This video made me really appreciate my EVH 5150 50w a lot more
I HAVE A 1985 2203.. IT ROCKS WITH OR WITHOUT PEDALS
Might have missed it, but did Kyle mention where he had the volume set?
When I first started playing guitar I thought Marshall was the way to go until I owned one. I was wrong. At least for my setup
My 1984 4104 with 6550s is the best sounding out of the many JMP&JCM 2204s/2203s I've had. My fav JMP 2204 sounded HUGE and tight with the volume around noon, but too loud. Shoulda kept it and the JMP2203. These amps take any boost that shaves off low end great for the hard n heavy stuff: treble booster, TS, SD1, Barber LTD/GC/BU, EMS, Klon, KOT, Fulldrive, etc. Fav is Timmy/Tim. 90s GBs with 6402 cones are darker than current GBs. They open up when you put volume on them, much like G12-65. I prefer the current GB ri.
How does the 2210 compare to the JCM900?
Very similar. The 900 may have a very, very slight bit more gain but definitely not high gain by today's standards. And you definitely still need a pedal in front for hard rock/metal lead tones.
The fact that these amps sound great for Dad Rock or boosted with a modern OD for crushing modern metal tones is a testament to the greatness of their circuits. Jim Marshall knew what he was doing.
i have a 1984 2204 and its a monster with a boost in front of it. i have a tube screamer on full and i get a lot of people surprised an 800 can sound so mean
All the ones I’ve had needed at least 2 boosts to get where I want them. (SUPER tight thick & chunky)
Also used lynch mod plus a hex drive on one that sounded great, but made me question why I just didn’t get a higher gain amp to start with lol
"Racist Uncle Rock Tone"... I can't even find the words to describe how funny that is to me
This is timely. Today I’ve been jamming the JCM 410h model in my axe fx. Just stumbled upon it. There’s something about it that is so more ish and really pleasing and it sounds brilliant when tracked in a mix. It’s not perfect though , the low end is a little strange. Kyle you should consider doing some IRs to sell. It seems you know the kinda of “‘high gain” tones people are looking for.
2203 all the way...just add a eq pedal in the loop and some form of overdrive in the front...good to go... i do the same in my original rockerverb 50 and it wakes up and tightens up
One of my all time favourite sounds from an tube amp was a boosted Marshall JCM 800. The rig used was a ESP LTD Arrow-200, an metalzone with cut mids and boosted highs and, ofc the marshall. I think remembering the Marshalls mids being boosted and gain all the way up.
cranked 2203 with HM2 on full tilt: ua-cam.com/video/PtiJs_STZ8M/v-deo.html
JCM900 is what you're wanting to hear when you play an 800. it's all dad rock all the time. the 900 is the heavy one and if you're lucky you can score a JCM900 SL-X
My Langner modded 800 is an absolutely crushing metal unit! As is my Kerry King head.
So, is the 2210 closer to the Silver Jub?
Cheers from Portugal 🤘🍺🇵🇹
How does a silver jubilee compare to these? Please correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t they supposed to be similar to the jcm 800s?
not really,more like jcm900 slx.dual reverb jcm900 is ass
Hell yea! The 800 video the internet needed!
Awesome amps. I prefer the single channel ones and the 50W ones but they're all great.
2204 with a DOD 250 in front is my favorite tone Ive ever found. Miss that amp.
Love your videos but it would be helpful to see the settings on the amp and pedals
You need a 900 mark iii 2500 or 2100 (not SLX 2100 or 2500) to really go head to head with a 2203 or 2204 as… it’s considered the next evolution from 2203-4… and… I own one already and it’s okay if you make them cost a fortune now lol
Hey Kyle i know this is off topic but i know you sometimes test new speakers and pedals and would really like to one day hear ypur thoughts on the $25 dollar Donner Morpher pedal and the WGS ET 90 speaker as i dont own either yet but plan to get both eventually as the demos ive seen on them are great sounding but if you can ever experience either yourself i would love to hear your thoughts on them as i like your honesty and if something is not to your liking you dont sugar coat it and that is awesome, the Donner Morpher is supposed to be a Suhr Riot clone for only like $25 or $30 bucks, anyway keep bringing us awesome content Kyle
I have a 4210 ( combo version of the 2210) I would like to know how you have set the knobs on both amps if possible. I boost mine with a sd1 and a mxr micro boost in sddition sometimes.
The 4210 imo (My main amp) is a little more limited than say the top version because it doenst have the Presence knob connected (though it exists on the PCB board). ill tell what i did to make it sing.
1: minor mod, connected presence from PCB to DI-out on the back of the amp and turned it maybe 8/10 towards full.
2: changed the original shrill crap speaker to a Classic80 (handles more power, this is very relevant) and levels out that spiky, earmurdering effect it had from the beginning.
3: since you changed out the mid/upper mid crap speaker to a high power neutral one. You need more mids
4: EQ:
Treble 4
Middle: 8
Bass: 3
Boost gain 9
Boost Volume 10
SD1: level full, gain: 1/4
Thats what i use, milage may vary, and be sure to change all caps, mine 1989 jcm4210 had fukked caps all over and changing them made all the difference.
But taming the upper mid/low treble harshness is what made me able to push it over the top to make it sound tight, and it makes the amp kill innocent ppl.
Dont forget to add a quality noisegate !!
A word of clarification on my philosophy here:
Without Presence knob the amp has a fixed presence setting which is low and makes the amp sound dark.
to counter this one has to add treble
Adding treble makes the amp sound shrill and horrible even though it gets in the right ballpark for say 80s thrash metal when used with an SD1.
So the shit original speaker has to go, thats absolutely step n.o 1
Hey thanks for the comments. Mine came with a celestion g12-80 installed inside, which I find pretty mid forward. I'd like the presence control mod you did on yours, on mine, I was not aware of this. I might speak to my tech for this.
I had a jcm900 slx 50w head before and I find the 4210 has a more direct punch and kick when you hit a note, but it has less gain of course. I miss the presence knob.
Regarding the speaker, what do you use? I'll mess with that eventually, maybe a Vintage 30 or greenback more likely. Or a g12-65 maybe. I may just get a closed back 2x12 or 4x12 eventually.
Sorry i re read ypur comment and realized you put a classic 80. Disregard my comment regarding yhe speakers. ;)
Aaah. Then you have the same speaker, lovely!
Then i would definitely get the Presence mod.
Then you can brighten the overall sound and back off the treble and put mid forward. Atleast in my ears this makes it balanced, especially after maxing out the SD1 OD.
Then ofc JJLabs power valves makes it somewhat sweet.
I wouldnt change the speaker for anything other than even higher wattage.
Atleast this is what i read on forums, if you throw in a 20w old greenback (or whatever wattage they are rated) you would soon get cone breakup and potentially damaging the unit.
Its a whole other story if you would hookup a cab with 2x12 or 4x12. Then the power is divided between the speakers and no breakup distortion happens
I love my 2210. I put a mxr 10 in the effects loop & it roars
i played metal for years with the 4212 (which is just the 2210 in a combo) and no extra distortion or gain was ever required. people can talk shit about it all they want, but no one who ever heard it didnt have to go see what it was because they coulndt believe it. ive owned other 800s and not all the ones you want. You gotta have that master volume setup and crank the gain and pre volume. EQ optional, mine never sounded thin, but maybe if your pickups arent as hot I guess i dunno. I used the stock bill lawrence originals in my custom 89 and its never wanted for power and tone. and the clean was amazing too. had 2203's and its basically ACDC tier unless you buy something cool like an ADA MP1, or do the preamp mods people did to them
That intro about the uncles was hilarious! lol
Really? In what way was that funny?
Very cool video.
I dig ‘em both! ❤
I wonder how these compare with the Canadian version of the JCM800