I agree but don't keep the bright cap or put it on a push pull POT so you can turn it off and on like a fender amp... which i don't know why Marshall never did that??? it makes them way to bright a low volumes and if there was a switch I think they would have sold even more.. over the years...
I bought a modded 2204. I don’t use that knob after over 20 years of owning it. I dropped it down to 8ohm and the tone is way better through a bandmaster cab. It screams.
I think that's probably true too...especially in the last 20 years or so. One mod that is pretty unobtrusive, easily reversable and is very useful is a PPIMV in a Plexi/Super Lead. Without it the amp is very, very loud!
The Marshall 2204 you have has very very low plate voltage. I too had a 78’ 2204 and it measured 395v on the plates. 460v is about the sweet spot. It’s very difficult to get higher gain from the 2204 without it getting muddy because of the low plate voltage. I’ve discussed this in length with David Freidman and he agrees and told me this. He dislikes the very low plate voltage on those early 2204’s. I would discuss that with your tech as well. Nice vid
As was said in the vid, everything is a trade-off. With a higher plate voltage, you do get a clearer sounding high gain, but you have run the amp at a higher volume. With a lower plate voltage, you get an earlier break-up and "better" tone at a lower volume level. I say "better" because better is subjective. Personally, I think the sweet spot is at about 425v and that's subjective too!
Steve Grindrod, longtime Marshall R&D designed the 2203/2204 in 1976 by cascading the first two gain stages (they run parallel in a 4-holer). Steve also designed the JCM 2000 DSL100 in 1995 to compete with the Dual Rectifier before leaving Marshall to start his own amp company Albion.
I have been working on Marshall amplifiers for almost 40 years and I have owned several JMP 2203 and 2204 models at one time or another. They are just fantasitc amplifiers and I personally wouldn't mod them. You want a different sound out of the amp try different cabinets and speakers. This is just one of those circuits that I don't muck around with.
I’m waiting to pick up my ‘79 2204 from my tech who informed me that it had a mod of which I was unaware. Basically it was plexi’sh and didn’t have the gain I had expected. I typically used dirt pedals and basically it sounded good. But I knew something was wrong. I’m modding it back to stock specs and can’t wait to hear it the way it was intended.
I think a stock '79 2204 is more Plexi-ish than it is 800-ish. The Sound Dr. uses the names 2204 and "800" interchangeably which is confusing. The early 2203's/2204's with a MV were a transition from the 1959's/1987's to what became the JCM800's. A JMP50 is not the same as a 50w JCM800.
I just received my “clone” JMP 2204 and holy cow is this the sound I’ve always had in my head. The 2204 is my desert island amp followed up with the 1987X (Plexi) 🔥🔥🔥 I found that an EQ in front of the amp makes a HUGE difference too! Best to you and thanks for the video! ✌🏼
Eagerly awaiting Pt. 2.... and I see I'm not alone there ;) I never usually have more than one each of a couple of different amp styles, and the waiting game is one of the reasons why I learnt how to build and service my own amps, I wouldn't want either of them gone for months at a time. Cheers
Sorry to disappoint. I sort of fell outta love with this amp. I bought it back and decided it just was not for me. I ended up selling it and the next day bought a Bogner Shiva. Honestly, I loved the old Marshall, but even once it was modded, I just couldn't get into it. The Shiva rules.
@@Matt_McQueen Thanks for your time to answer. Ah, yes well, the last Shiva I saw sold on ebay went for over $6,000 AUD so it would want to be great at that price. Yeah I guess the Marshall is basically a one trick pony, (but what a trick!) so I can see most would prefer more flexibility. I built my own and tweaked until I'm really happy with the sound and response/feel. I am running a tube rectifier, early 2204 voltages, lower than later JCM 800, resulting in a "softer" sound/feel, still plenty of punch and very dynamic. Cheers, all the best, Steve.
just watched this video and then went looking through your subsequent videos to find the "part 2" video with sound clips and such... can't find it... did you do a part 2?
@@hrsey71 It's a Ceriatone, not a vintage Marshall like yours, but still a 2204 circuit. I'm should be able to do the swap Saturday if the parts arrive on time. I'm assuming you replaced the 1nf disk.
If I recall correctly, the 100 watt 2203s have a better low end. I had the 100 watt combo when I was in High School. I would not do too much to that amp, just get a power soak and a EQ.
I've Owned a 1976 an a 1977 JMP Master volume amps and I agree when you talked about fattening it up.. I Never would have gotten rid of the amps back in the late 90's If i knew what I knew today.. because I have bought hand wired amps trying to replicate the sound of those amps all these years later... because there is just something bout them you don't forget about the tone>>> and its the easiest mod ever!! which a lot of people already know... and works really well in the 50W JTM's I have. I think even better then the JCM 800's I've owned because the 800's /2204,s are harder to get some of the harsh highs out because of he the differences in the Input circuit of the 4 Imput Marshalls. JUST TAKE OUT THE BRIGHT CAP!!! You'll find that you don't have to try so hard to get fatter sound and then when you use a boost pedal to fatten it up those extra harsh highs aren't there!! Now I have one Metropoulos 50W JTM 45 and a Mojotone 50W JTM 45 that has a Master volume the same place as a 2204 PRE.. Phase inverter which I love a lot more then the PPIMV.. I think the PPIMV Master volumes take to much sparkle out of the top end and now that i've removed the bright caps I get every thing I want out of it and never have been happier...
Hi Guy, I've read from people the same comment about the ppimv, also that it reduces the effect of the presence pot, but I have fitted a Type 2 ppimv to mine and it doesn't change anything except overall level, and the presence still works a treat too, I can get plenty of brightness even without a bright cap. Cheers, keep enjoying the music (how could you not with such a great amp!) ;)
'77-'78 2204's typically run 350v B+ and have a bit more sag than later 2204's. Mine came w/ .022uf stock coupling cap. A 0.1uf cap got the bottom end right in my '78. Typically the value found in all later 2203/2204 heads.
Maybe that's why I couldn't get all the 800's i bought to sound like my 76 & 77 JMP's. It seems like there are so many simple things that can be done to these amps that just make them killer amps where over MODDing just kills them... Thanks for sharing this..
You got it exactly. The plate voltage is super low and putting more gain is almost impossible with that low voltage. That’s why the 2203’s from that era are more liked. And better for modding.
I've heard the most popular Marshall mod is modding it to stock
hahahaha! that is probably true.
I agree but don't keep the bright cap or put it on a push pull POT so you can turn it off and on like a fender amp... which i don't know why Marshall never did that??? it makes them way to bright a low volumes and if there was a switch I think they would have sold even more.. over the years...
I bought a modded 2204. I don’t use that knob after over 20 years of owning it. I dropped it down to 8ohm and the tone is way better through a bandmaster cab. It screams.
I think that's probably true too...especially in the last 20 years or so. One mod that is pretty unobtrusive, easily reversable and is very useful is a PPIMV in a Plexi/Super Lead. Without it the amp is very, very loud!
@markn4526 Yeah I did that on my last plexi build. There are enough hot rodded Marshall's on the market now its a shame to mod one of the vintage ones
The Marshall 2204 you have has very very low plate voltage. I too had a 78’ 2204 and it measured 395v on the plates.
460v is about the sweet spot.
It’s very difficult to get higher gain from the 2204 without it getting muddy because of the low plate voltage.
I’ve discussed this in length with David Freidman and he agrees and told me this. He dislikes the very low plate voltage on those early 2204’s.
I would discuss that with your tech as well.
Nice vid
As was said in the vid, everything is a trade-off. With a higher plate voltage, you do get a clearer sounding high gain, but you have run the amp at a higher volume. With a lower plate voltage, you get an earlier break-up and "better" tone at a lower volume level. I say "better" because better is subjective. Personally, I think the sweet spot is at about 425v and that's subjective too!
Steve Grindrod, longtime Marshall R&D designed the 2203/2204 in 1976 by cascading the first two gain stages (they run parallel in a 4-holer). Steve also designed the JCM 2000 DSL100 in 1995 to compete with the Dual Rectifier before leaving Marshall to start his own amp company Albion.
Then 'ol Steve is a FAMOUS man. Imo the two best Marshalls are the 2203/4 and the Dsl 2000 series 🤘
I have been working on Marshall amplifiers for almost 40 years and I have owned several JMP 2203 and 2204 models at one time or another. They are just fantasitc amplifiers and I personally wouldn't mod them. You want a different sound out of the amp try different cabinets and speakers. This is just one of those circuits that I don't muck around with.
I’m waiting to pick up my ‘79 2204 from my tech who informed me that it had a mod of which I was unaware. Basically it was plexi’sh and didn’t have the gain I had expected. I typically used dirt pedals and basically it sounded good. But I knew something was wrong. I’m modding it back to stock specs and can’t wait to hear it the way it was intended.
I think a stock '79 2204 is more Plexi-ish than it is 800-ish. The Sound Dr. uses the names 2204 and "800" interchangeably which is confusing. The early 2203's/2204's with a MV were a transition from the 1959's/1987's to what became the JCM800's. A JMP50 is not the same as a 50w JCM800.
I just received my “clone” JMP 2204 and holy cow is this the sound I’ve always had in my head.
The 2204 is my desert island amp followed up with the 1987X (Plexi) 🔥🔥🔥
I found that an EQ in front of the amp makes a HUGE difference too!
Best to you and thanks for the video! ✌🏼
They are fantastic sounding!
Who did your clone?
Eagerly awaiting Pt. 2.... and I see I'm not alone there ;)
I never usually have more than one each of a couple of different amp styles, and the waiting game is one of the reasons why I learnt how to build and service my own amps, I wouldn't want either of them gone for months at a time.
Cheers
Sorry to disappoint. I sort of fell outta love with this amp. I bought it back and decided it just was not for me. I ended up selling it and the next day bought a Bogner Shiva. Honestly, I loved the old Marshall, but even once it was modded, I just couldn't get into it. The Shiva rules.
@@Matt_McQueen Thanks for your time to answer. Ah, yes well, the last Shiva I saw sold on ebay went for over $6,000 AUD so it would want to be great at that price. Yeah I guess the Marshall is basically a one trick pony, (but what a trick!) so I can see most would prefer more flexibility. I built my own and tweaked until I'm really happy with the sound and response/feel. I am running a tube rectifier, early 2204 voltages, lower than later JCM 800, resulting in a "softer" sound/feel, still plenty of punch and very dynamic. Cheers, all the best, Steve.
just watched this video and then went looking through your subsequent videos to find the "part 2" video with sound clips and such... can't find it... did you do a part 2?
Still waiting on the part 2 of this vid…. !
Still looking forward to it 🤘🏼
I have a '76 JMP 50 MKII non master volume (with a PPIMV) it sounds awesome! I changed the bright cap on the high channel and it works perfectly
What cap value did you change it to?
@@qua7771 i believe i settled on a 100pf, seemed to be the best balance
I have a three way switch. (I may try that as one of my options (100pf, off, 500pf).
Thanks for the reply.
@@qua7771 smart! best of both (3) worlds
@@hrsey71 It's a Ceriatone, not a vintage Marshall like yours, but still a 2204 circuit. I'm should be able to do the swap Saturday if the parts arrive on time. I'm assuming you replaced the 1nf disk.
Did you do part 2 yet ? I’m interested in hearing the mods....
It’s coming!
Yeah.. I agree.. where is part 2?
If I recall correctly, the 100 watt 2203s have a better low end. I had the 100 watt combo when I was in High School.
I would not do too much to that amp, just get a power soak and a EQ.
I've Owned a 1976 an a 1977 JMP Master volume amps and I agree when you talked about fattening it up.. I Never would have gotten rid of the amps back in the late 90's If i knew what I knew today.. because I have bought hand wired amps trying to replicate the sound of those amps all these years later... because there is just something bout them you don't forget about the tone>>> and its the easiest mod ever!! which a lot of people already know... and works really well in the 50W JTM's I have. I think even better then the JCM 800's I've owned because the 800's /2204,s are harder to get some of the harsh highs out because of he the differences in the Input circuit of the 4 Imput Marshalls. JUST TAKE OUT THE BRIGHT CAP!!! You'll find that you don't have to try so hard to get fatter sound and then when you use a boost pedal to fatten it up those extra harsh highs aren't there!! Now I have one Metropoulos 50W JTM 45 and a Mojotone 50W JTM 45 that has a Master volume the same place as a 2204 PRE.. Phase inverter which I love a lot more then the PPIMV.. I think the PPIMV Master volumes take to much sparkle out of the top end and now that i've removed the bright caps I get every thing I want out of it and never have been happier...
Sadly, I sold this amp and bought a Bogner Shiva. I miss the Marshall, but ultimately the Shiva works better for me!
Hi Guy, I've read from people the same comment about the ppimv, also that it reduces the effect of the presence pot, but I have fitted a Type 2 ppimv to mine and it doesn't change anything except overall level, and the presence still works a treat too, I can get plenty of brightness even without a bright cap. Cheers, keep enjoying the music (how could you not with such a great amp!) ;)
Did you make part 2 yet ? If yes, what’s the link to it ?
It’s been 11 months 😅
...and subscribed.
'77-'78 2204's typically run 350v B+ and have a bit more sag than later 2204's.
Mine came w/ .022uf stock coupling cap. A 0.1uf cap got the bottom end right in my '78. Typically the value found in all later 2203/2204 heads.
Thanks! I got the head modded. Ended up selling it and buying a Bogner Shiva.
Maybe that's why I couldn't get all the 800's i bought to sound like my 76 & 77 JMP's.
It seems like there are so many simple things that can be done to these amps that just make them killer amps where over MODDing just kills them... Thanks for sharing this..
You got it exactly. The plate voltage is super low and putting more gain is almost impossible with that low voltage.
That’s why the 2203’s from that era are more liked. And better for modding.
Test bright caps in both channels normal and Lead to see if the bright cap makes the channel sound better or not
Sadly, I sold this after having it modded. And bought a Bogner Shiva. Which is honestly awesome!
@@Matt_McQueen Bummer... you should have kept it SMH....
your 2204 likely had the Jose mod or JEL mod which you removed. The next owner will put it back in. .
Who the Hell Turns down a Marshall? lol
Get a good practice amp for the bedroom.
if its 50 watts I think its technically a 2203
2203 is 100 watts. 2204 is 50. Those are the head designations. Combo would be 2103 and 2104.