Marshall JCM900 Dual Reverb - In Depth Review
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- Опубліковано 28 лип 2024
- An overview and play test of one of Marshall's most infamous amp designs, the model 4100/4500 Dual Reverb. While this amp has clipping diodes, it also has a lot of opamps that provide gain in the circuit - unlike any other high end Marshall. This gives it a characteristic "love it or hate it" tone - but either way, it excels at certain genres.
Help me out by shopping for one at this link (Guitar Center Used):
guitar-center.pxf.io/0Zz5dL
0:00 Introduction and history
2:53 Features
5:28 Circuit
8:59 More info
11:52 Sound test
13:41 Channel A
18:15 Channel B
28:41 FX Loop Not Jumpered
29:23 FX Loop Jumpered
32:04 Channel B in Drop C Tuning
Just wanted to say that these amp deep dives are quickly turning this channel into one of my favourites on UA-cam. Thanks a lot for the content!
Thank you! They are fun to make too😅
Always wondered if my ears were bad because I love how these 900DRs sound.
I agree with you, people say they don't like it because it's not all tube and has some solid state stages, but then they put a pedal in front of their Plexi, which is basically the same thing. Uneducated...
It does not have solid state stages..the entire preamp is solid state…distortion is all made by op-amps and diodes…the preamp valves do not saturate, they drive the eq, the reverb and the effects loop…
@@marcopanza1011basically the same thing when you put your distorsion pedal in front of your vintage $4,500 fender blonde super mega clean
@@emimartt1068 no it’s not the same thing…this amp preamp is totally solid state (preamp valves only act on eq, reverb and one as phase inverter but all the gain, even on clea, is done by op-amps and diodes…the only valve thing is the power amp…when you put a pedal in front of a real all valve amp with a real valve preamp it is all another story…signal goes through the preamp valves which enrich it (and not cheap op amps) and then goes into the valve power amp…sound is much tridimensional and warmer…if yoy send a transistor pedal signal through a lot of cheap op amps and diodes and you add transistor + transistor = fizz, bad compression, no 3D sound, poor harmonics…so it’s not the same thing sorry
@@marcopanza1011 Ok you have a point
I've tried 800 and 900 and I never feel the difference
Marshall Jubilee is not the same thing?
@@emimartt1068 no because clean channel on the jubilee is all valve no op amps and no diodes and on the lead channel the signal is amplified by the preamp valves before going into the diode clipping section and not by cheap op amps…so the signal is from valves and then distorted by led and silicon diodes like in the jcm 800 2205/2210…it is very very different …
Sounds great. Thanks for producing this.
Been waiting for this video! I just picked up a ‘93 50w head and it’s become my favorite amplifier. It sounds wonderful and I really enjoy the clean channel as well. I’ve owned a ‘66 Super Reverb that didn’t sound as good as this amp. Some people will hate this amp for having diodes, but more for me and you! 🤓 thanks for the great informative video.
One thing I may add is I run through my Boss Tube Amp Expander and I am able to crank the volume to about 7 or 8 on both channels and it starts to bring in more low end and it sounds like any 90s punk/rock that I grew up listening to.
It's a fantastic sounding amp but I also understand why someone buying this hoping for an "800" type tone would be disappointed - that's not really what it's meant to do. The first time I played it I heard the same thing - 90s punk sound in spades. Of course, it can do much more than that too!
I'm still playing 90's style skate and pop punk with mine, I also a JCM 2000 DSL 100. My 900 has 6L6 tubes, I got it used on Guitar Center for $500 and didn't realize it was the "5881". I run a Friedman Buxom Boost and to add another layer I add my Boss SD-1. I'm mainly a drummer (still playing punk) but I also play guitar and bass 👍. In the 90's Jcm's were the amp for pop and skate punk and the Mesa was for Fat and Epitaph bands for the most part, my guitarist played a 900 back in 1995 along with a matching cab and a Gibson SG Standard, he played straight through the amp as most did back then.
Love the Kramer!!! I have a Kramer Sustainer which still works!!! I have an early 90s JCM 900 50w and LOVE it. Only heard about all the hate this week...all these years later!!! Thank you for this in depth review and your honest opinion.
Nice! Take good care of that Sustainer, beautiful guitars.
I have one of these that I rocked back in the early 2000's and we literally put an EQ in the FX loop. I laughed out loud when you said that was a typical recommendation.. been doing it for 22 year myself lol
I must say I really appreciate your objective attitude when conducting these analyses of amps, you create a highly professional impression on your audience - kudos! :) I would also like to point out that it made me feel happy to see that realizing that the amp is fun to play actually made you smile at one point, the JCM900 series amps are one of the most fun amps to play, in my personal opinion.
I would also like to interject regarding this specific model - I own a very early unit, a 1990 4101 100-watt 1x12 DR combo (G12H-100) equipped with EL34's, of course. In the beginning, I found extensive tampering with the EQ (bass up, mids also increased, treble cut and compensated by increasing presence) was a must in order to attain a good tone and I was fairly satisfied with the result with respect to the entire JCM family, I felt the tone was right there with the greats. However, considering the lack of tube stages in the preamp, I have to mention that in order to get that sweet Marshall bark from this amp it is absolutely vital to reach power tube saturation. Once the volume is past six, the power amp tubes get cooking and the amp turns into a real monster! Trust me on this, with the power amp overdrive element present, this amp really starts to sound like a proper Marshall, even akin to a JCM800 series model in the case of my own unit. I strongly recommend that anyone using this amp and enjoying playing it purchase an attenuator for this purpose - I use a JHS Pedals Little Black Amp Box in the FX loop (takes care of the FX loop-patch-thing, killing two birds with one stone) and set the volume to approximately 6.5. The tones I get are nothing short of amazing and I have received compliments from many old-school players.
P.S. All of this is said with regards to the B channel, I would also advise that the gain level is kept below 16, anything above is simply too much for the amp, too much compression and not enough definition. I find ~13 to be the sweet spot, and the amp starts to sound like a proper Marshall! Gain set at 13 is perfect for any classic rock riff, and is even sufficient for some heavier riffage (like Metallica or Megadeth), but for some shred I use a TS mini dialed as a clean boost (overdrive at zero, volume at max).
Thanks for reading, I hope this helps some confused JCM900 DR users!
I use a similar pedal, a Donner knock off, in the fx loop of certain amps that have overly sensitive master volumes. It works really well for thickening up the tone and giving some more flexibility turning knobs on the front of the amp. Something worth noting is that a black box is just a volume pot connected to two jacks, super simple, and it’s not letting the power tubes saturate any more at all. It’s reducing signal across the fx loop (similar to the mod I did on my 1987x video), so it means a little more saturation in the early preamp stages. Placebo effect maybe, but I agree it sounds great, but it’s not a true substitute for an attenuator between the speaker jack and speaker cab for example. Personally I think it sounds great with just the volume box as you describe, which is why I’ve never purchased an attenuator (borrowed some though, didn’t seem worth the money to me, personal opinion only here). Cheers
@Totally Rad Guitars Thank you for the reply and the clarification! Keep up the good work, all the best!
Another awesome overview! When Marshall re-issued this amp, I was shocked - since it was hated by most (for good reason), and, was triple what they cost when new!
We had a dual reverb 4500 in the band. It was the spare amp if anyone needed it. Around 2007 we decided to part with some gear that was hanging out in the band trailer. The 900 was sold for $500 to a kid on my block who was getting into guitar. I wish I had not. The kid was one of those guys with all the money to buy gear but never learned to play. I'm sure he traded it in for some combo modeling amp 10 years ago.
23:04 dude that's identical! Also good explanation and video.
That was one of the best review on UA-cam about this amp. I will now watch you JCM 800 2203 and the Silver Jubilee 2555x reviews. You should compare them because I noticed the SJ was years ago.
Thanks! Yeah the 2555X video is really old and not really up to my current standards. I’ll be re-doing it with more detail and better recording quality
Great rundown of the Dual Reverb!
I own a 4100 from 2000 and it’s a great complement to my 2203 and TSL100. I pretty much only use channel B with the gain at 14 and master at 5, attenuated with a THD Hot Plate.
This amp compresses in a cool way unlike any other Marshall.
There are times when I want to sell mine but then I play it again turned up and remember why I still have it. Rock on!
Yes I sold my 900's but would always crank them.
Fantastic video - just subbed to your channel. JCM900s are great amps - Dave Navarro used two JCM900 combos (and later used heads and half stacks) for the original Jane's stuff.
I recently picked up a 900 4100, a '92 build with EL34 stock, and it sounded really close to what I was looking for. I took it to Jen at Kruse Control Amplification and he did hi Hot Rod Mod and added his Master Volume mod as well. This thing sounds amazing now.
Wait, why does a Master Volume amp need a Master Volume mod?
@@rocketpigrecords3719 the 900 has separate volume controls for each channel, there is no Master Volume.
Great videos!
Ive had my 900Dr since 96 and its a solid amp to this day and extremly reliable.
They need to be played hard for best sound or through a powerbrake.
A point to note on the diodes is that they are sensitive to the guitar signal going in. By this I mean the harder you strum the more they come into play, lighter picking & they have less of an effect regardless of gain setting.
To see this, take the chassis out of the cab and observe the diodes / LED's glow as you strum lightly then harder regardless of what channel or gain setting your using and you will see what I mean but be careful as high voltages are present.
They are reliable but the tones is just awful. I bought one years ago an EL34 & got rid of it. Now have an SL-X no comparison.
My understanding with the jumper trick is that there is a sweet spot on the loop level that really makes the difference come through. I couldn't hear the difference in your video but on mine I definitely heard a significant difference in the room.
I'll give it another go - I tried the loop maxed, off, and halfway and didn't notice any major changes but I didn't record all 3 of those for comparison, that might've been worth a try.
Very good review .
Great video. I bought my original JCM 900 4100 in 1991 and sold it 10 years later. About 5 years ago I acquired a secondhand 4500 with the matching 1960A JCM 900 4x12 cab. It didn't take me long before I traded the 4500 in at a local music store and used the money to buy the 4100 Vintage Reissue. I am glad I did it before the amp price hike. It is mind blowing that I bought my original JCM 900 and 1960A cab for $2000 Canadian dollars brand new in '91 and now can't even get the head for that. Anyway, you are 100% on point when you said that the folks that were using the 4100 head were Punk Rock. That was exactly what kind of band I was in at the time. And you are right. This amp is perfect for 90s Punk and that is why I bought it again. I wanted to get the kind of tones I had when I was gigging and recording in the 90s, so it was a no brainer to buy the vintage reissue 4100 head. I have never understood why the JCM 900 4100 got such a negative reputation with Marshall amp fans. Maybe I came from never owning an earlier Marshall series amp, so when the JCM 900 was my first Marshall amp, I loved it. Maybe if I had been playing JCM 800s before getting a JCM 900 I might have a different view point? I really can't say. I also have a JVM 410 Satriani head and my opinion on the JCM 900 hasn't changed. I still love the 4100 as much as the JVM 410HJS.
I think that's where most of the hate comes from for sure, people used to JCM800s while the 900DR is a pretty big departure from that sound. Add in the bad words like "diodes" and "op amps" and "solid state" and you get a really averse reaction. As a big JCM800 fan myself though, I do understand it - there are some tones I just don't think a 900DR can pull off that the 800 can, but the same is true the other way around too, which is why I have both! Of course, I am a bit excessive when it comes to guitar amps, and if I had to pick one, with the music I play I'd pick an 800 with some pedals, but depending on the band I was in, I can definitely see why I'd choose the 900 instead.
Nice buy getting in before the big price hikes. Also, count me jealous of your HJS amp, always wanted to try one side by side with the regular JVM.
@@totallyradguitars959 Thanks for the reply and the comment about the Satch Marshall. The HJS is a really nice amp. Really, I lucked out in finding one before the amp prices went up. When I saw it in a local guitar shop, I just couldn't pass it up.
Yes, I usually put an electro-harmonix graphic Fuzz in the effect loop, which allows to compensate the lack of bass, and brings the headroom that is missing.
Hi and thanks for this very interesting video on the jcm 900.
I have had one in the 100w version for a very long time which is from 1992 and I think it's a great amp for all its sound possibilities, very versatile for those who know how to adjust it correctly. Not to be compared with a Jcm 800 which is very different.
very long criticized by people who swear by the jcm 800 especially by the effect of emitted but who, in my opinion, have never really tried it.
It is an amp that deserves to be better known and which is really worth it.
It is one of my favorite Marshalls because I also use an 800 and a Silver Jubilee at 100w.
Greetings from Paris France. 🤘🏻🔥
Well said! Rock on :)
i just got a 900 2100 used. I like it a lot. It goes great with my JCM800 2203 and Freidman BE DLX.
Awesome video, you go further in detail with the circuits on these 900s more than I've ever learned.
So glad I dumped my 1994 dual reverb. These amps sound diseased to me
Very informative, thanks
I got some decent cleans out of my 900DR on the "A" channel with the power switch on low. I would say every tone needs to be tweaked in with this amp, adjust your Gain, Vol, Tone and Presence knobs to taste. There's two channels so you can easily set up two completely different tones that are foot switchable. The half power switch is pretty nice as well, not just to kill a few db's but also get some nice blues/rock tone. Add a dirt or an OD pedal in front, EQ in the loop and there's really nothing this amp can't do. The reverb is nice too. What 900DR may lack in tone for some people, it makes up for in versatility, IMHO.
I tried using a Mooer EVH styled preamp pedal through the return side and it sounded good. I also tried a boost pedal through the front door noticing it sounds better on channel A than on channel B. This amp is a good platform to do whatever you may want.
So is my 170 buck Peavey Supreme, except it doesn't need a preamp bypass or a pedal in front to sound good.
These were never that cheap & there's Oodles of "pedal platforms" that do a similar or better job.
Good amp, but a crap Marshall, to be quite honest.
Hey ! I love how you explain things in details ! You have a new sub here from Quebec !
Thank you!
seeing all the comments about 90s punk makes me happy that i’ve decided to get one of these for what i wanna get
No idea why people dump all over these so much, sounds great. Just a great '90s punk rock machine through and through.
No idea. Then you really have no knowledge about Marshall amps. They are known to be the worst model they ever made for a reason. They are thin sounding, sounds like a Tube Screamer is Alway on and can't turn it off. Sound very solid state. And what bands from the 90's used this amp? Surely NOT Greenday .Offspring, Bad Religion, Blink182, Foo Fighters, Socail D. None of these band used a JCM 900 DR.
@@guitarexpert2245 Robin Trower used 900DR's. There's your classic Rock right there. John 5 and Dave Navarro use 900DR's.
@@guitarexpert2245 Wow you are very very triggered about someone's opinion. The video got some really good sounds out of the amp in question. Are you ok?
@@JinxRemoving No I'm not ok, I have gas!
@@r1deftone I wouldn't call Dave Navaro, Classic Rock, Remember Dave Navaro can Crank his amp to the fullest and you don't know if it's modded. And I love Jane's Adiction, I saw them in 91 at a party in Laurel Canyon , it was the Colonel's house party (Elvis's manager) they played on his tennis court. I was inches from Dave Navaro. He was amazing for sure. Great tone. Something I'll never forget.
Best amp ever !!!!! I love my JCM 900
I'VE had one for years it plays great ,just like any other marshall you need to run an overdrive and its Awesome. Havent really heard anybody dogging this amp out.
It definitely takes a boost really well with the bright voicing. Most of the negativity I’ve seen about this amp is from years ago when they first released, replacing the much loved jcm800 line. Player expectations were more of that same style while the 900DR is really a departure of that. It’s an expectations thing - even today, if someone is shopping for Marshall tones and they hear an 800 in their head, they probably will not like the 900DR long term (even if they like it at first). That leads to bad or middling reviews.
I too have this giant wooden distortion pedal running into 2 4/12 cabinets. Mono and monolithic.
Miles of tone that is very heavy compared to my other amps.
I still use mine circa 1990 The clean channel is gold.... Input signal is crucial
Also try running a Pre-Amp (I use a JMP1 and a Sans Amp PSA1) into the FX return.. so it's just a power amp.
You can still use the amps Pre's like a drive pedal (Loop) if you want that option.
I've changed my rig so many times over the years, still do, always will 🙄 but the 900 is always up for it.
Hey don’t apologize for the punk riffs, imo this amps is the best for 90’s punk tone. Also great vid, one of the best demos of this amp on UA-cam.
Thanks!
I’ve got a DR from 2003. Originally had 5881’s. I modded it for EL34’s. I find I get the best tones by keeping the gain down and cranking the volume up 🤘
How much work does it take to convert it to el-34s, I have a 5881 tube base but it has 6L6 which was an alternative to the 5881. I want to get that El l 34 warmth because the 6L6 are little too thin sounding for me
@@1thess523 It’s just a matter of changing four resistors. It’s been awhile since I did it, can’t remember the specifics. And of course, re-biasing
Same here! I took over a JCM900 from my bandmate and it gets all the bass and more when you turn up the Master Volume. I feel it really needs the power amp compression as the amp sounds quite fizzy without it. The videos on UA-cam don’t do this justice as they can’t crack the amp. We play in a bunker as rehearsal space and use ear protection- the amp really shines in these settings. Master at 5 on clock, gain at 10 are my settings. I can also go back to clean from a rather heavy rhythm sound to clean in channel B just by backing off the volume of my guitar (50s wiring). It took some time to figure the amp out but I’m positively surprised. Will get an attenuator next :D
THANKS FOR THE DIAGRAMS
"... it's a really good sounding amp. But, it sorta depends on the type of sound you're going for"
The same is true of EVERY amp.
But I agree, it's a great sounding amp. Just use it for what it's good at.
I personally think the JCM900 is the ideal amp for the 3rd guitarist in a band. Like if you have a
vocalist that also wants to play guitar. The JCM900 sits nicely underneath adding an extra level
but without poking through too much. A lovely gritty layer to add extra for choruses etc.
It can totally be used by itself, but I think it shines in that role.
I totally agree. I probably should’ve put it in context, I think any of the main-line Marshalls can do that specific popular Marshall classic rock tone, but the 900DR is probably the worst at it (only my opinion), so I understand why people expecting something similar to an 800 or even a DSL are not as happy with it. However if you tossed out your preconceptions of what a Marshall should sound like, the 900DR really rocks and is unique in the realm of Marshalls.
I love the idea of a 3rd guitar/singer using the 900 to add grit to the chorus for example. It has enough fizz on it that it’d add to the sound overall without stepping on the other guitar player and is probably forgiving of little mistakes too. Good idea for tracking on a recording too, ex 800 as your main tone, layer 900DR on choruses or breakdowns.
Cheers
I had a SLX 900 15 years ago and I traded it in for a JCM2000 DSL100 and even after replacing the motherboard twice now I still don't regret it. Not trying to bash the 900 it just wasn't the sound I was looking for.
At first I thought to myself, 'fuck, here we go again...' then I continued to listen to you speak and realised you actually know what you're talking about. Also, much respect for that beast of a Kramer, has that bad boy got a Dimarzio SD in the bridge? Love the contrast. Subscribed.
Edit: SH-8 Invader I see.
@@mickhoward3954 Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it! I can be a bit long winded so respect to anyone who makes it into a video long enough to see the tech bits. And yep, a pink SH-8 Invader, though now it just has a regular JB in it, and I sent the Invader to a pink guitar instead. Made sense to me.
I have a 1990 JCM900 50w 4500 model with the EL34. I have owned this for years and have been hearing all the hate this amp gets and I can see what they all say... to some extent. I feel 90% of the hate this amp gets is because it "replaced" the 800 series. A few months back a friend of mine gave me a GT-7205 (premium 12ax7) pre amp tube for V1 and OMG did it wake this 900 up! It took that trebly spiky highs this amp is hated for and gave it some growl! I thought I was hearing things when we swapped it out so we placed it back and it went back to the blah sounding this has always been. The next thing we did was play this through my same friends Randall cab with 4 Eminence Super V speakers. They are modeled after the old 70's HiWatt Purple Back speakers. These speakers have a lot more bass and sound fantastic with my 900. I do run a 7 band EQ in the loop but its more for a boost than an EQ. I have the bass up a bit more than the middle. My cab is a Randall 4x12 cab but with the Celestion Lynchback speakers. These sound great but the Super V's are just that little bit better.
If you get a chance I really do suggest you get a GT-7025 tube for V1 and give it a try. Reeves Amplification sells a replica Purple Back speaker and it looks like Eminence is making these for them. My guess is they are just the old Super V speakers re-labeled as these Purple Backs as they look like the old Super V ones do. Reeves doesn't charge that much either for them either.
I’ve got a 4500, I’ll try that tube. I’ve always thought the clean channel wasn’t too bad
@@johngonzalez7967 try it, you won't be disappointed. When we first put it in, the hair on my arm raised up it surprised me so much! I thought for sure I had to be hearing what I "wanted" to hear so we put the old one back in and the blah flat response was back. Put the GT-7025 back in and wow what a difference it makes!
The next big difference was speakers. My cabinet before was an old Randall with the cheap Jaguar speakers. I bought a Randall Lynchback cab with the 4 Celestion Lynchback speakers. Just a different version of my buddies Randall 4x12 cabinet with the Eminence Super V speakers. Both sound great and really open this 4500 up a lot! I prefer the Super V a little bit over the Lynchback speakers but it's close.
Nice video! It would be awesome if you could try to recreate Tom's tone from Enema of The State where he blends the channel A of the JCM900 (cranked) with the dirty channel of the triple rectifier (I think dual rectifier should work too). Cheers!
This are great amps
Well done. There is definitely some Internet hate for the 900 DR, but far more people who have actually owned one love them. I really like my JCM900 DR 4500, I also really liked the 100w single 12" combo version. I think speakers & cab are also critical with any amp. I like mine through my 1960A cab with V30's. For the sake of comparison, I also have a JMP 2204, JCM800 2204 & 2205, JCM900 2500 SL-X and I would rate the 900 4500 last among all those. That said, I still really like it. It has a darker, more 90s metal tone than the 800's and the JMP. It's a hell of a bargain as well, if you want a real, 50 or 100w classic Marshall made in England.
I completely agree, I have similar other amps and while I'd put the 900DR behind my 800's for the styles of music I play the most, it does have a great and unique tone. Speakers are a big deal - I have a cab with G12T75's and one with V30's and either of them can pair really well with these amps for slightly different tones.
I have the 1x12 version of the 900 Mk III and the G12H100 speaker in that amp is one of my favorites, so if the same speaker is in the Dual Reverb combos that's probably a killer combination as well!
that's if your doing metal. Not everyone does metal. if you do classic rock or hard rock. Not so sure.
@@guitarexpert2245 I don't know about that but everyone has their own opinion. I just played my 900 DR through my Mesa Halfback 4x12, jumpered the loop and tried the half power setting. Killer hard rock and classic rock tones to my ears. Of course it can go metal as well. Better on the full power setting for that. I was impressed. Takes pedals well too. I think people just have these misconceptions they can't let go of.
See my comment I just left about my 900 4500 model. Speakers help a lot but I felt replacing V1 preamp tube with a GT-7025 really woke this amp up!
@@guitarexpert2245 I play blues through mine. I know of a guy who has a 5881 version (mine is EL34) and he gets his 900 sounding just like SRV playing a Fender.
The JCM900 is a sweet amp IMHO. hate it when people say "my tech did this and that" whatever, no he didn't!
I just picked up 2 of these and I like the sound of both of them. I don't play through them myself, I bought them for my guitar players, and I wanted a heavier sound I wasn't getting from the JCM 800. My guitarists have very heavily laden pedal boards so the effects loops come in handy. I think it makes it a bit quieter. The reverb on one isn't working. I'm going to take it to my tech for a look see, but what kind of reverb tank would I need if they need to be replaced, and do you know where I can get them. Thanks for this video.
Assuming you have already tried replacing the V2 tube (reverb return driver so if that tube is dead, so is the reverb on both channels):
I had to replace the reverb tank on my 2210 and I used a MOD brand tank. In the case of the 4100, take a look at the stamp on the tank to be sure but most likely you need an 8DB2C1D equivalent tank. Don't put any random tank in there, the impedance for both in and out have to match the original spec or it won't work/sound right. You most likely won't be able to find an original accutronics tank (they have closed up shop sadly).
Make sure you verify the model number in your amp before ordering, some 900's used different spec tanks it seems, depending on the exact year. AmplifiedParts.com is a good source of stuff like this but there are a few options, even Reverb or Ebay.
MXR Micro amp is a great boost pedal for the cleans with that amps.
I appreciate the Punk stuff 👍, there's enough rock playing out there 😉
One tube gain stage? And you need an eq in the effects loop? I have a DBX 2215 and the 2204 heads sound like Marshalls regardless of how I set the eq. "Mostly op-amps and stuff.A tiny bit more on the thinner side." Understated.
Can you get a good decendents like tone from this I love there tone
Which of the 900s do you like best? MkIII, SLX, or Dual Reverb? Cheers, and greatvideo. SUBBED!
Thanks!!
Out of them all, I think my favorite is the Mk III. The reason being that you can turn the diodes completely off and it's basically a single channel Marshall circuit, but then you can turn up that knob and get more gain and grit. I think coupled with a boost pedal or two it can do anything, and if I were willing to modifiy it... I'd make that knob with the diodes footswitchable, so I could engage it at a preset spot.
The SLX is second but that one will always sound a little different since you can't dial that extra tube gain stage completely off, but maybe it could be made footswitchable with a mod?
The Dual Reverb, I don't hate it, and it definitely nails a really specific 90s tone to my ear but it would be the first one I'd sell out of them. I like the amp a lot it just doesn't speak to me
That last tone reminds me of Drowning Pool's Sinner
Great video man, just subscribed!
Which of the three JCM900(DR, MKiii and SL-X) models would you recommend as an all around gigging amp? Or would you recommend a different Marshall altogether?
What type of music do you play? I think it really depends on if you need clean/crunch/lead tones or if you can get by with just a single tone etc.
Ex. if I were in an AC/DC cover band I'd get a Mk III in a second and use the second volume boost for solos and that's all I'd ever need. The SLX as a close second. The JCM800 2203 is killer but you need either a reissue with an FX loop and/or some pedals to give it the versatility you might need for a live performance.
If I were in a top 40 cover band though I'd be looking at the 6100LM, DSL/TSL, or JVM410's just for the sheer versatility. I had a JVM410 and it sounded pretty good and had tons of options with four channels, but I liked the tone from my TSL better. The DSL is just like the TSL but only has two channels so you can do either clean+lead or crunch+lead but not both, but they are dirt cheap and it's hard to argue with the tone at that price. The 6100LM's don't come up for sale often but they also sound great, though a bit different than the DSL/TSL/JVM which all have extremely similar sounding lead channels (in the room - recorded you can pick out the subtleties more clearly).
Last small note, my favorite Marshalls are the 2205 and 2210 split channel JCM800's, but the tone is not for everyone. They are darker and grittier than other 800 models and since they are both old in age and design they can be a bit finicky especially compared to modern gear which is more plug and play. However if you told me to come play a show tomorrow with your band I'd have a really hard time talking myself out of bringing one just because it's "my tone" and despite all of the drawbacks I'd probably try to find a way to make it work anyway. My best advice is to also find "your tone" in amp amp, then work around it's pros and cons to make it work for the music you play.
Take all of this with a grain of salt though, I do not play live and haven't since I was a nerdy college kid playing Weezer with some other kids in our dorm and open mics. At the time I used a VOX Valvetronix if that gives you any idea how non-pro I was haha. Cheers
@@totallyradguitars959 thanks for the reply man, that's a lot to take in!
We play the usual functions and parties and cover everything from the Eagles to AC/DC, Green Day and Thin Lizzy, to softer R n B type stuff. I'm using a Marshall Bluesbreaker at the minute run clean with a T Rex Mudhoney and Alberta, stacked and separately, depending on the song in question.
I started learning guitar in 1995, right when Oasis really hit their stride, and the 900 was the holy grail. We didn't see too many real Marshalls in rural Ireland in the 1990s!! It might be more of a nostalgia thing, but I still have a thing for the 900s!
@@totallyradguitars959 You really like that MKIII over the SL-X? Humm.
@@totallyradguitars959 Have you done a vid on the split channel JCM800's? I'd like to see that. I was just playing my 2205 and loved it.
@@guitarexpert2245 Not sure if they are all like this - but my Mk III with the diodes (sensitivity) knob turned all the way off is just as bright as my 2203 is - maybe worse because it doesn't have quite as much punch in the lows, probably because it's 50w compared to 100w. I think you could reasonably get an AC/DC tone and if I lied and said it was an 800 only the most extreme tone junkies would be able to tell that it was the Mk III.
Its not what I'd choose for my particular sound but I think its actually a super cool sounding amp. If I was more of a hardcore/punk kind of guy it would def be my go to.
I totally agree. I still have this amp, I rarely play it, but it's really nice to have when I need to scratch that certain itch.
When I heard the reissue costs $3k i was like 😳. I got my 1995 JCM 900 High Gain Dual Reverb 50w for $500.
Question : would you say the master volume between the channels are fairly equal? I have a jcm900 dual reverb and channel A seems louder. I have to set the master on channel b at around 6 to match channel A master volume at 3-4. Trying to figure out if something is wrong with my amp or if this is normal, Thanks!
Nice review btw
Any insight on the volume discrepancy between channels?
I just pulled mine out again and cranked it up, and the volume on both channels for me is almost exactly the same, so what you’re describing doesn’t sound normal to me.
However mine is a newer reissue, and since channel B has more clipping it makes sense that it might need a higher setting but either way, it might be worth getting it checked especially if there are any other symptoms. Both channels use identical tube stages so it’s unlikely to be a tube issue
@@totallyradguitars959 thanks for the reply, greatly appreciated
Some people think that the tube steak Boogie not a fully tube amp on that song
Interesting, I bought one of these new in 1992. Maybe there have been circuit revisions but on mine if I put can A on 10 and Chan B on 10 or half up the channels sound identical. 100% you cannot hear when you sit and swap channels at all. If you try to put channel B lower the gain falls off quicker than channel A does but I think thats the pot taper. I wound up using the amp with a TC electronic line driver as a boost and a bbe sonic maximizer in the loop, yeah I know another piece of hated gear. But it helps fill out the tone of the amp for me at least.
Almost definitely, you have a modified amp then. It's a pretty common mod to clip out the diodes which would make the channels sound nearly identical, or to change the type of diode in use. From factory, it would've had LED's on ChA and something else on ChB - 1N4007 or similar. Since both channels share a tone stack/eq circuit the voicing will be the same too if those diodes are messed with. (Note: ChA uses V1A and ChB uses V1B and each half is biased slightly differently so even with diodes removed there will be minor differences in tone from that)
I know you bought it new but did you ever have any work done on it?
@@totallyradguitars959 Nope, it's bone stock other than tube changes. Like I said it might be a different revision. I double checked just in case I was hallucinating and yeah you can make the 2 sound identical. I even had my wife do the changing while I played with my back to it, set like that I can't even hear the channel switch.
Amazing video, thank you!
I had one in the 90's and I hated it (because I mainly played metal and it was a bit shrill), but listening to you play through the 90s punk, it's definitely that sound - I think I may need to have another look at these as they are pretty abundant and cheap'ish on the second hand market. 👌
Thank you! Yes it's a great amp bang for the buck, it's not my favorite Marshall but there's a reason I still have it after all this time.
Hey Whats the best setting on this amp for like blink 182 tones?
Depends on your guitar/pickups but I really liked Channel B Gain between 12-16 somewhere, bass maxed, mids 6, treble 5, presence 4, then if I want more cut in the mix I raise the presence up to 5-6. Play with it a little bit and you'll find something that works for you. Could also roll the gain down some and put a boost in front for a different texture/feel.
One gain stage . One gain knob for both channels is More convenient to find the right amount of gain. i think if its setup right- theres no gain knob on an 800
How do you jump the effects loop? Is it just a standard patch cable between the send and return or is there some kind of load built into it?
Just a standard TS patch cable
@@totallyradguitars959 thanks
Thanks for your review.
I own a 4502 fitted with kt77s one of my favourite amps.
To hell with the haters 😂
I have a 1991 year mfg that I am going through for a friend. Hasnt been turned on in about 20 years. All pots cleaned and voltages seems fine. Does this amp have any appreciable volume at 2 or 3 on the master with the pre amp on about 5 or 6? Doesnt seem to get any real volume until the master is over 5. Send/return loop jacks seem ok as well.
Hey, mine is a 2013 reissue, so it may be different from yours. Mine is quite loud by 3 on the volume knob and just about deafening by 6. It is possible though that the taper of the pot is different - but low volume by 3 sounds odd to me.
check ic´s in the circuit board, you may have to replace 1 or 2.... mine had same issue... nevertheless, it has less volume than a jcm800, but at 3 it should start to sound loud and opening up...
People hate it because it isn't an 800 or a plexi. I use one and I play in a pop punk band, I changed out my cab speakers to v30s and I use a tube screamer in front of it. It does everything I want it to. Clean channel is good for ska, lead channel is good for everything else in my opinion. Love that kramer guitar dude.
Thanks! I’m a big Kramer fan. It’s a great amp for sure, I love the 800 for leads but this does quite a few sounds the 800 can’t do.
Bass always at 10 with this amp.
Hey, just watched your reviews of the Dual Reverb and the SL-X and MK-III. I was wondering what in your opinion is the big difference that sets the DR apart from its more popular cousins. Thanks for the great content!
Hey, the most clear difference functionally is that the DR has two independent channels while both the Mk III and SLX are really single channel amps. If you need to go from very clean to very distorted without pedals, the DR is your only option (out of these 3).
As far as what sets them apart in terms of popularity, the DR is easily the most polarizing because most player’s ears can tell that the DR is an op-amp powered amp with only a single tube stage later in the circuit (whether they understand the technicalities or not) - not an all tube circuit - and not even a tube circuit with some diode flavors added in. This wouldn’t be my recommendation for certain styles of music for this reason, but that’s only my opinion. It is very versatile, but I don’t think it really excels in certain categories the way some other Marshalls (including the Mk III and SLX) will. For example, while you can definitely get some classic rock tones out of this amp, a 2203/2204 or 1959/1987 does it a more authentically, and for metal tones, the 6100/DSL/TSL/JVM does that better. It’s best niche - again, my opinion - is gritty 90s style punk and rock guitar riffs, and of course because many of those tracks used 900DR’s it makes sense to me. Part of the reason I feel that way, justified or not, is that a brand new 900DR reissue is as expensive or more than a 2555x, 2203x, or even JVM410, and I just don’t see the value. The used market is a different story of course, and mirrors player sentiment pretty accurately (900’s are cheaper than 800’s and so on)
I love my 4100 Marshall its from 1994 🤘🏻
hello, nice thorough job man. Can I ask how you manage to play in such high volumes? you have attenuator connected?
Hey, no attenuators. I play during the day and have a room above the garage with no shared walls so I don't annoy my neighbors. You can hear it pretty clearly standing in the driveway but no one has complained yet!
@Totally Rad Guitars I see, thank you for your quick reply. The guitars you have at full volume mostly ? Is impossible for me to have the master volume even at three if the gain is at 9-10 where sounds good. Was trying use the screamer in the effects loop at low level but the sound is not good. Any ideas?
@@Mr131313ck I am lucky, I have a dB meter and I can usually get up to 110-115db without any complaints where I live, but that's a little too loud for me in the room anyway so I only do that when recording - when I'm just jamming I don't play that loud, to protect my hearing.
There is a trick I use on certain amps to fill them out more, and make the master on the amp more manageable. It won't stop you from getting too loud but it helps make it easier to dial in the master on the amp. The trick is to put a volume knob across the fx loop - some amps have this feature from factory (Riveras, Splawns) but you can buy a pedal that does it for about $30. It's extremely simple, you can set the pedal at say, half, and then the master on the amp itself you can turn up to 4 instead of trying to find that exact spot between 1 and 2 where it sounds good. I use one called the "Donner EMO Amp Attenuator" from amazon. Despite the name, it is *not* an attenuator - since it's in the loop it also will not help you get power tube distortion, and it only works for amps with series effects loops (not parallel).
If you're handy, you could also build one super easily, just cut a patch cable in half, and wire a 500k guitar volume pot right in the middle of the patch cable. That's basically what I did for my 1987x, I just wired the pot directly onto the fx loop board instead of a patch cable but the result is the same.
@Totally Rad Guitars really appreciating your time to reply to me in detail. As I said I tried already to put in the effects loop of my JCM900 (100W) combo dual reverb (which is in series) the tube screamer 808 set it at low overdrive and reduced a lot the level in order to tame the current to the speakers. But this results in a distorted sound. Is this arrangement not similar to what you mentioned with the use of a pontesiometer?
@@Mr131313ck That's not really the same technique - a tubescreamer even with the drive off and the level set low, your signal is still going through the Opamp and Diodes, an active tone circuit, and the volume - even set low it's still coloring the tone as opposed to a pot which is a simple, passive, volume reduction with no additional circuitry.
Sorry for the long replies, but to elaborate, diodes and op amps in a pedal like a tubescreamer clip the signal (add audible distortion) based on the amplitude of the incoming signal. The pedal is expecting instrument level and is designed with that in mind (from your guitar). The signal coming from the send of your amp is DRASTICALLY louder (line level) than instrument level and as such will cause the diodes in the pedal to clip very noticeably and sooner. Turning the drive completely off on a tubescreamer does not remove these diodes from the circuit, the signal is still going through them. Putting any drive pedal in the loop is more about experimental sounds than - it's not going to keep the true tone of your amp at reduced volume.
I would really like the way you're doing this video, I have a question to ask you, a few years ago I had to sell my "JCM 2000 dual super lead" and recently I've been thinking of purchasing a DSL100H as a replacement, with the JCM 2000 I used the crunch channel with my analog pedals (and HSS Strat), gave me the sound I was looking for, (Stevie Ray Vaughan even Jimi Hendrix, and or Rock Blues/Classic Rock), my question to you is, do you believe the JCM 900 reissue (channel A) would give me back what I used to have with my JCM 2000 or should I maybe save the money and go for a DSL 100H, in your opinion?
Hey! I’m glad you liked it. I also have a JCM2000, the TSL model. Personally, and this is just my opinion, but I would get the DSL instead. You can find them cheaper than 900’s and it will do the tones you describe much much better. The 900DR like in this video always has op-amps and diodes in the sound, so if you like that - great - if not, you’re stuck. The DSL is an analog path and you can always add op amps and diodes later via pedals if you want it. Keep in mind this JCM900 “dual reverb” is different from the JCM900 SLX, which is an all tube signal path, so if you can swing one of those that amp might be even better for you (as long as you don’t need/want two channels like the DSL has)
@@totallyradguitars959 that's an awesome response! thank you so much!
I'm going for the DSL and pocket the 2K it'll save me, right on!
@@RobAndKim444 Just word of advice, I see used JCM2000 era DSL's on the Guitar Center website (if you're in the USA) pretty often for $650-700. The newer ones like the DSL100HR have a few nice extra features and should sound almost the same, and are usually in the same price range (but not made in the UK, if that matters to you). You can still get JCM900's cheap, but lately they've been in the 800-1000 range. I know I have a relatively new JCM900DR Reissue in this video, but there is no way in hell I'd pay the current price of $2999 for a brand new one.
@@totallyradguitars959 you're the best brother, God bless man!
I got a 4500 JCM900 several weeks ago, with a proco rat, dgital delay and chorus pedal all conservatively dialed in and an EQ in the fx loop it has caused me to sell my JVM410 without hesitation. I play Death and thrash metal btw.
That's awesome. PS, Conquest/Starion is a dream car for me. Been looking for one for what feels like forever. That's a beauty in your profile pic!
@@totallyradguitars959 thanks, I've had it since 2007. Been toying with selling it but if I do I'll let you know.
Agreed 100%!
I dont get the hate for the 900 while the JVM gets so much praise.
I had a JVM for a short period of time but after a quick A/B Check the lack of punch, responsiveness & character of the JVM is undeniable, sold it immediately!
Sure, the 900 is Not the greatest Amp in the world but its fine for what it is. If people bitch about the 900 that they cant get a decent Sound out of it, its on them and the amp!
Cant you just get an eq pedal, turn the volume on that all the way down, set channel A to the amount of gain you want, then click in the eq if you want a clean sound. The eq will effectively act like rolling down your volume, except that it is in pedal form.
That works, you can also use a volume expression pedal, in front of the amp if you want to fine-tune (similar result to turning down guitar volume). However it also results in a noticeable volume drop as well, so if you want your clean-ish tone to be quieter than your distortion, that works fine. If you want them around the same level, you'd have to do something else for that. Cheers
Good amp takes pedals well
Nice vídeo. I have subscrived. Can you review Silver Jub (studio version)?
Cheers from Portugal 🤘🍺🇵🇹
Cheers! I don't have the 25w Silver Jub, but I do still have the 100w 2555X and I plan to re-do the review I did of that one at some point. Stay tuned!
Marshall head here:
It has a sound, a good one, for like 90s punk, and for people that *do not have Marshall experience* or taste for these things.
Not an insult, there's stuff I don't get along with, either.
This is NOT a JCM 800 substitute, or a JCM 900 Dual Volume substitute, or a DSL fighter. Might be a good pedal platform, but so is a Quilter or Bandit so idc.
It isn't a *Sansamp* fighter, ffs.
Marshall Lead Series, Valvestate, Peavey Transtube I'd take over it in a heartbeat. Even if it was a choice between free amps.
An odd duck in the Marshall lineup, despite being in a million backlines in the 90s. The DSL put this out to pasture for a very good reason.
Well said. On the one hand, it’s unique with the op amps and LED clippers - no modern “boutique” remakes of it unlike the many JCM800 clones. On the other hand, it’s a very polarizing sound… not my favorite amp by any means but I can see where it’d be useful. DSL was a worthy replacement for the same style 2-channel Marshall and I’d pick that over this for most things (especially now that DSL’s remain cheap while 900’s climb in price)
@totallyradguitars959 locally there's one for DSL money, but I can get a DSL from GC with a warranty, so why bother?
For the life of me, I can't figure out why my FAVORITE, the JCM900 MKIII/SLX was never reissued, zero clines, but Bugera and Marshall both put out versions of it.
It gets weird with these things. My Mig 60 in high school was my budget JCM900, then I got the real deal, and now the Mig is more money. Go figure.
FWIW a Tri A.C. on British into clean SS amps is my secret weapon for 20 years, sadly sold the MKIII leaving LA after my dad died. But tbh I like that sound as much as most amps I've tried, more than some.
The prices on Marshall amps in general in the US are extremely high when you compare them with the prices in the UK.
Jcm 900 going for around £500 in the UK
Brexit
Maybe the cork sniffing purists would wine and bitch about clipping diodes and whatnot but it doesn't change the fact that the JCM900 kicks some major ass and well worthy of any arena in the world!
U have to ensure the loop level is set to maximum pass..
The SLX and the Mark III are the best. Dual Reverb being the Marshall re-issue was quite disappointing. They were asking 3 grand.
I have a JCM900, I use a OD pedal and a EQ pedal to the dial in. Top me it sounds better.
Definitely the Dude Ranch amp. Contrary to popular belief, it was not blended with a Recto on that album. It was all JCM900
That's what I'm hearing for sure, maybe with some EQing going on to add some bass which is where some of the rumor comes from I bet. Or maybe, recto mixed in but really low - either way, for playing around at home the 900DR is the one to get for that sound!
what eq is suggest on this,
Its almost as if different people have different tastes in tone and Amplifiers .
Poeple may even have different signal chains. Diffent guitars different pickups different cabs and speakers Etc. These things could explain why some think the 900 sounds amazing while others think its they are awful .
Just some thoeries .
I only paid 300. Wouldnt pay 3 grand. I can get a mint 60's jcm800 with matching 4/12 cabinet for 1500 and might for stereo left and right stacks, and some gauze for staving off the violent ear bleeding from duration of standing in the middle of a ping pong delay in serious floyd mode.
i have 3 900 amps 2 mkiii and a dr absolutaly very good amps
I just got a 2003 JCM800 2203 used from guitar center last week for $1400. I couldn't believe it was that cheap.
Wow! Sounds like you made out with a killer deal. My JCM800 is also a 2005 reissue I got from guitar center, believe it or not, for $850. I bought it without a picture and it was described as a 2210 - which I would've liked just as much personally - but you can bet I didn't correct them when it ended up being the 2203 (and I ended up buying a 2210 shortly after with the savings :) )
They missed their chance there to have the gain go to 22.
The 3k price is basically the we don't really want to build it, but if you want to pay a crazy price...
Hey, good point! Can't say I blame them - give the people what they want
Subscribed. I had one of these - it's a shame because I like the actual voicing of the amp. It just lacks a little depth against other Marshalls.
I feel the same way. I'm glad I had one, but if were forced to sell a few amps there's no way I'd keep this one over a 2203 or 1987x - or even a DSL/TSL.
@@totallyradguitars959 yeah the DSL gets a lot of flak for no good reason. Paired with greenbacks, these amps are great! Unfortunately, at least 75% of the guitar world are using v30s or T75s
You should demo a DSL and then a TSL if you have the time and inclination :)
@@steviesedge I have some old school T75's and I like them a lot (used in most of my videos), as well as some mid-90s UK V30's. Tough part is speakers with the same names even sound very different - the only Greenback I have is CN from 2012 or so... would love to get my hands on some old school greenbacks to try out.
I have the TSL but no DSL yet but I've been tempted a few times. At once point I had a JVM as well and returned it because I liked the TSL better - they sounded SUPER similar with the JVM on OD1 and I hated OD2. The TSL and DSL have an incredibly similar signal path with the only major difference being that Lead 2 mode on the DSL throwing in a tiny bit more gain (TSL crunch and lead channels are nearly identical, component wise)
Long story short lol, definitely on my list to do those amps.
2:41 ...probaly the same people who say stuff like that then put a Tube screamer or something up front
👍
Never place a Blackstar atop a Marshall even on a rack. That’s like wiping your feet on the flag.
Solution...Get a twin reverb and a distortion pedal..Problem solved...
D.R sound solid state, Like a tube screamer is Always turned on. Your can't turn it off. Most people who own these never A/B them against a pure tube Marshall. However I said most, not all. I'll take my SC20H, SL-X, JCM 2000 DSL over this amp any day of the week. I've owned an EL: 34 version and got rid of it. I don't play metal. I play, Hard Rock, Classic rock & punk & hair bands. Happy you spred accurate knowledge about this amp, there's alot of mis information out there. Your's is accurate.
I A/B mine against my '79 JMP 2204, JCM800 2204 & 2205 & JCM900 2500 SL-X. Like I said before, I still really like the 4500. Sounds like you had one that needed service.
I like the DR for a few really specific tones but I agree - it is basically a distortion pedal in an amp with a single tube gain stage and compared to the more tube-y Marshalls I’d have trouble picking it over those when it comes down to it. Luckily… I don’t mind keeping them all haha.
@@r1deftone Could be, back then I really wasn't thinking about getting it serviced, I wasn't too knowledgeabl about servicing amps back then.
I used to own an original 4100 and it sucked really bad.Was excited because it was my first marshall.Truthfully my peavey bandit walked all over it
The bandit is still on my list to get someday - they are inexpensive sleeper amps
Less talk more playing
PS C:\get-EL34 -stock
: The tube 'EL34' on 4100 '.' does not exist.
😉
Are you sure about that? Early '90-'92 Dual Reverbs should have all been stock EL34's and there are lots of reports of factory EL34's in later year models too.
Huh?, actually SA .... the EL34 tube shortage didn't start untill 1994, and the Duel Reverbs -4100 & 4500 and the MkIII's -2100 & 2500 (both 100w & 50w respectively) were debuted at the January 1990 NAMM show (with EL34's) and also when the 900 SLX (again, both 100w & 50w versions) debuted in 1993 they had EL34's. It was only in '94 when Marshall decided to do the tube change because of the worldwide EL34 shortage that they changed and hence, the early EL34 900s of all models have become quite desirable.
@@totallyradguitars959 Humor failure on my part. I was referring specifically to your amp, not all DR's.
@@divebomb99 Ah I understand. Someone over on the Marshall forums got me on the right track before I made this and let me know that all Dual Reverb RI's came with 5881's which is why I mentioned that in the video. Maybe I wasn't clear, either way, no biggie, just trying to make sure I didn't miss something since I definitely don't know everything! Cheers!