Revisiting The Marshall JCM900. 

I toured with this exact amp from 2007 to 2010 and absolutely adored it. It now lives at the studio!

As a JCM 900 fanatic (I still love my '90 4100 to this very day), it definitely sounds like you got one that was either heavily modified or malfunctioning somehow. In my experience, there is not anything fuzzy or muffy sounding about a JCM 900 MKIII at all. Glad you got the opportunity to give it another try!

Morbid Angel used the JCM900 for all of their carreer both live and in the studio. This amp is responsable for the most massive tones ever recorded on albums like Covenant and so on.

Enjoyed the video thoroughly! I can hear your musical socialization in the playthrough and loved your personal backstory with the amp. I remember, when you told us the story of you saving up on your first Marshall back in the day and it braking down on you. Thanks for putting in the effort, the playthrough sounded great and I can see why some people love the 900 series. More videos like this please 👾🙌🏼

Damn, that full mix is basically the sound of my youth. It reminds me so much of the guitar tones a lot of the bands I Iiked back then had on their records. I love it.

Been using the 900 for years and never an issue. Awesome tone at lower volumes with no pedals and super easy to dial in makes it much more practical for real world use. That it's hated in some circles is an added bonus.

I've had my 4100 dual reverb head since 1998 and absolutely love it.

My first and only ever amp has been the JCM900 4100 High Gain Dual Reverb Head for $900AU with a Vox4x12. Got it when I just turned 18, 23 now and still sounds great

I love your musical interludes.They should be longer !

I got my JCM900 1x12 combo about 10 years ago for $400, changed the tubes a couple times and have been rocking it ever since. Throw a boost in front, delay in the effects loop, and this amp is awesome! Cuts through any mix and has such a good high gain sound.

Sounds Great Brother! Killer Combo!

I have owned the exact amp you are demonstrating in this video. I think that the JCM 900 is a great sounding, and reliable amp. I have nothing but praises for it.

Punk rock amp, straight on. Great review man, as always.

Oh I love a good Rise Against - Revolutions per minute! And I just happen to have purchased a JCM900 SLX that I am waiting for. You made me impatient...

Great stuff man!

I got a JCM 900 circa 1990, a 6100 a year or 2 later, and then an SL-X in the mid 1990’s. Still have all three of them and haven’t played any of them in probably 20 years. I’m afraid to fire them up at this point. Outstanding video man!

Cool video of the Dual Reverb Fluff! 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. But cleans are also stellar. This amp compresses in a cool way unlike any other Marshall. Gotta get the master volume cooking to get the power amp flavor in, like pretty much any Marshall.

I've had a 2500 model since college. It has seen many smokey bars and bumpy car rides, but has always performed reliably and brought the rock-n-roll.

I did hear some bush tone and even green day while you were messing with dials. Thanks for the vid!

I love my JCM 900 4100. Played hard all these years! It's in my Ampsenal wirh the 800, JVM 410H, DSL and the JTM45! Greats sounds Fluff!

BTW, I dig the new environment Fluff! Looks good amigo!

The other guitar player in my old band played one of these and it sounded great. We were a hardcore/metal band, and the tone of our 2 Marshall's kicked the shit out of most of the bands (sometimes much more expensive rigs) that we gigged with. He went straight from his 90's Gibson Les Paul studio right into the amp. No tube screamer or anything

My buddy brought his over last night and played his Firebird thru it. Sounds great Love when he brings that amp to play thru.

I’m fairly certain that John 5 uses a JCM 900 on the road (at least from his rig rundown that I saw, although that was almost 10 years ago.) I went in a bit skeptical of the amp when starting this video but honestly, this thing is still pretty solid. This was a great demo of the tones you can get out of this thing. Loved the in context mix section track too!

I had the Marshall JCM900 50w for years, served me well!

What a great video bro! I've never owned a Marshall Amp let alone jcm 900, I'm definitely gonna start trying them out now since I liked how different that sounded from my evh 5150.

I bought one of these new in '92 played it for about 10-12 years sold it bought a Boogie and never looked back, lol. Not a bad amp my tastes just changed. Thanks Fluff!

Great amp, totally underrated future classic.

ive had a 900 for years now, used loads of different amps before, and theres just something about my les paul custom and that marshall together that just causes some kind of tonal magic when im playing live.

I have a ‘90 JCM 900 4100 with EL34’s I bought it new. And used it in my band in the early 90’s. I then got a ‘92 SLO 100. Still have that too!

My fav Marshall tones. JCM900 is wicked

Got my 900 about a decade ago, it’s the only amp I’ve used for any gigging or recording since. Leaving on tour with it once again this Saturday morning.

Still rocking my JCM900 from 1991´ish i even bought a second one a few years back, love them both :-D

Basically the sound of classic pop punk. Love it!

JCM 900 SL-X goes hard as hell. Best of the 900s IMO.

I have had my JCM 900 model 4100 since 1990. It has an incredible sound, but it is also the most finicky amp I own. It only sounds great through my early 70’s Marshall 4x12 with the original creamback speakers and my 1987 PRS. If I change the guitar or cabinet the head does not perform well. Now that I use an Oxbox to record I use my vintage Superlead 100 and a distortion pedal. Thanks for the video Fluff!!

LOL my 1950's Les Paul 2022 model. Of all the amps I have, my JCM900 is my absolute favorite. I also own it's clone in my Crate Blue Voodoo 120. Great video.

I have used one for 10 years and never understood all the hate it gets, this thing sounds awesome. I wouldn’t say it’s better than some of the top Marshall amps but it sounds really good to my ears. It’s also an amazing pedal platform! Try a few different Boost pedals with it

I got a DSL 100H last year and it is an awesome amp. It covers lots of ground from clean to high gain. For less than £400 it was a bargain!

I had & sold an original JCM900... I regretted it every day until I found a 1994 dual reverb Combo version (which I still own & will never sell)... most underrated, but awesome amp ever!!!

Been using JCM 900s since the mid 90s. I’ve had two in that time and I’ve never had an issue, though the learning curve for how to properly use it and the FX Loop was a little challenging. Once I properly understood what worked and what didn’t to get my ideal sound and tone for what I played (Thrash and Death Metal), which took only a few days, I’ve never looked back. Over the years I have had several Marshall heads, including a first gen Valvestate VS100, a JCM 2000 and a Mode Four, but I always come back to the JCM 900 because I can easily dial in my preferences for live performances. It is a live beast!

Ive had my 900 DR since 98. Bought it new. I play 80s shred and this amp doesnt disappoint. Im running a boss mt-2 into return and also running the mt-2 into return of my 2000 dsl head. Together they crush, especially w delay between the 2 heads

Finally someone not bashing a JCM900 I own3 of them A Jcm900 2100 mark 3 and a JCM900 4100 and a JCM 900 2500 I got them all really cheap years ago my favorite one is the 2100 I’m still looking for a clean JCM 900 SLX , Killer video Fluff

I bought my jcm 900 100 watt half stack new in 98-99… loved it then And still do.. is perfect for skate punk! … has always been my main amp

GREAT VIDEO FLUFF. I don't understand the hate either, pretty sure its people who've never had one. I've tried multiple of these and every single one sounded different. Couple years ago I finally found a 93 JCM 900 4100 Dual Reverb, and its a lifer, I love it. It sounded good stock but wasn't great. It was too thin and high end for my taste. Since i cant afford a 800 or jubilee i modded it to my liking to sound more of a silver jubilee or a monster 800. These heads are great stock, you just got to dial them into your liking but they are also great for making them into any sound you want if your into modding like I am.

Definitely an interesting sound. It definitely is as described. A big 90s sounding distortion pedal. Can barely tell it has a tube power section. Solid call using the les Paul. I bet the Slash model would sound great as well or even the Tremonti that you have. While I wasn't the biggest fan of the sound by itself. In a mix it worked great.

Thanks for this vid. I just bought a 1990 4102 version of this amp (2x12 combo). Yet to receive it, but I've played one of the heads in the past and thought my fuzz face sounded great through it. Maybe having a naturally thinner or brighter sound is good for when you're using a fuzz pedal, so it cuts through better.

I bought this amp when it first came out. Still a great amp. The clean channel is a very good pedal platform.

I fucking love that tone so much. I kind of understand why some people hate the 900, but in reality, it is because they want it to be something that it is not. To me, the best example of an awesome JCM 900 tone is Everything Sucks by Descendents. Incredible album!

I have a Dual Reverb 4500 and I love it. It was built in 90 or 91, can't remember now off the top of my head. I'm running EL-34's in it which is what it came with new. I love the clean channel and can get very "marshally" tones out of it. One just needs to take the time to dial it in for your taste. The hate is undeserved and a lot of folks are starting to realize it.

I'd love to see a revisit of a 900 SL-X. I know you've said you owned one in the past. It's the only Marshall I've ever owned, and a great amp in my opinion.

JCM900s are pop punk in a box, and that's why I've always loved them

Sammy from Acid Bath used this on their records, combined with a Randall RG100ES is an INSANELY massive tone.

I just got my hands on an SL-X and it's one of my favorite high gain amps, it can get that boosted 800 kinda mid heavy low end thing or you can really tighten it up all depending on how you dial it. Absolutely love the SL-X. This amp sounds pretty good, a bit fizzy/buzzy sounding but not terrible

I had a early 90s 50w Master Volume (the one you play here) in the 90s, and now have a 93 Dual Verb (I do not use the verb anyway). STILL one of my favorite amps. I traded in a JCM 2K on it that I NEVER could get dialed in. Played the 900 in the shop and had the sound dialed in 3 knob turns.

Yeah - this tone rules!

The sound of 90s punk as well as a very good clean channel that a lot of alt rock bands liked. It was pretty common to run a rat or ds1 into these

Great video man. I just recently recorded my bands second album and i used a JCM900 SLX from the 90’s that i thought was so awesome. I was trying to go for that classic Marshall 80’s thrash tone and blend it with my 6505 and it sounds absolutely amazing. Big fan of this amplifier.

I own a JCM 900 and not crazy about it’s gain sound. I run a Wampler Pinnacle distortion pedal and Seymour Duncan 805 overdrive on lower tunings. It depends on the guitar and sound I’m looking for. Sometimes I use the Pinnacle by itself and 805 by itself, and sometimes I stack them. I do like the 900’s clean channel for pedals. I am a classic rock guy.

Great review! The JCM900 line is quite misunderstood. All the models were meant to be the evolution of the previous. The 2100/2500 (Mk III and later Mk. IV SL-X) were the successors to the 2203/2204 single channel amps, but with an FX loop and dual master volumes. The 4100/4500 were the successor to the 2210/2205 split channel models. Similar concept but more gain. The 6100 (30th Anniversary) was technically supposed to be a 3 channel addition to the line, but was delayed, so it was re-named. The best of the lot were the 6100LM and the 2100/2500 Mk. IV SL-X, but they often get overlooked because of the hate of the 4100.

I didn't realize how much I love this sound.

I love the JCM 900 4100 dual reverb with 5881/6L6 tubes. Most of the hate comes from JCM 800 fan boys that can't cut they're hair and let go of the 80's. Most people who hate the JCM 900 haven't even played it. John 5 from Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie and now running with Motley Crue used nothing but the JCM 900 and the cleans from that amp sound amazing.

Love the 900

I currently have a JCM900 4100 (from 98) and it’s been so solid! Tone is “Marshall” the gain allows for bedroom use at low volume even at 100w! When I had my 83 JCM800 that thing would need to be run at 12 o clock before being able to chug anything. I also had a Silver Jubilee which had the same issue, they’re just not user friendly at home levels.. the 900 is great all round! Plus it’s cheap!

I have a 94 JCM 900, and it sounds phenomenal! Great for early 90's metal! I think all the hate mostly comes from Marshall purists hating change.

...Throughout the 90's I only used JCM 900's the "4500" Versions. (DUAL REVERBS). I Absolutely LOVED them! Dialed on correctly these amps are beasts! What I never really liked about a lot of mine was that I could never get a factory channel/reverb pedal to last more than like 2 gigs! I never used mine live with any effects at all! Rarely I would in rehearsals hook up a delay to it, just to add some ambience to my clean channel. But seriously I hop everybody does keep sleeping, & hating on these, ...I would hate to see them go up in price!

I’ve got an old 50 watt dual reverb that is an incredible sounding amp. It’s basically only got one setting, but that one setting does all that I’d ever want it to do. Gain channel with bass and mids cranked, treble and presence between like 4 and 6 and gain all the way up. Sounds like Enema of the State. Best part is it only cost me 500 bucks

The MKIII 2100 Master Volume is a really great version too 👍🏻

I've had two original 90s 900s (had to sell because money troubles) and loved both to death and have several I've got my eyes on to grab again once I've got the money

I run mine on channel A. Great rock tones with input gain at 3 o'clock + clean boost pedal. The amps do get a fuller tone the higher you drive the overall volume.

Back in the day, these amps used to be the bane of my existence and were a common staple in venue backlines and dingy rehersal studios. Most of the ones I played, I was never able to coax a decent tone out of them that wasn't harsh, shrill and thin, EXCEPT for the MKiii version - that thing sounded like a hot rodded 800 w/ a boost in front if you cranked the preamp knob and gain. If you can get your hands on one, definitely worth giving it a shot.

I own a 1991 JCM900 4100 Dual Reverb stack....not my only amp as I own many Mesa amps also but through the stack it is pretty sweet

I have a 4500 90s 50 watts. And I really love it

I LOVED my 900! I sold my JCM2000 for an early 90's 900 and it sounded WONDERFUL. you DO have to spend a little more time to dial it in..... but have you ever tried to dial in a Mesa MK3? I only sold mine because I wasn't gigging and had too many amps so I sold almost all of them off. been seriously thinking about picking up an old used one. Thanks Fluff for ruining the market. 🤣

First off love the channel and great video. I definitely hear mid to lake nighties pop punk in this amp. With regard to the diode clipping. There is diode clipping going on but I don’t think it is fair to say this is just a stomp box amp. The schematic shows the ac signal goes through the first half of 1st tube as a buffer, next is the second half of the tube as a gain stage, then it is hard diode clipped to ground, then another half of the tube is used for a 2nd gain stage, then the last half of the second tube is used as a cathode follower (no gain) for the tone stack. If I had to guess I would say the second gain stage tube, after the diode clipping, is probably going into saturation at higher gains, and probably clipping the single at a lower threshold then the diode clipped. So basically at real high gain the diode clipped section is far less noticeable. I am not 100% positive as I haven’t done calcs or modeled it but I would assume this is the case. If the goal was to only introduce diode clipping then the 2nd gain stage could be omitted completely. I imagine at low to mid gain you are getting a combo of diode clipping and tube saturation. But it is definitely different then just a straight op amp to diode hard clip stomp box sound.

The model 4500 was the 50 watt Dual Reverb model. I've had one since about 95 or 96 and it's my all-time favorite amp. I have an 800, a rectifier, and a 5150 III and I always go to the 900 first. It has a different voice than anything else and I love how it sits in a mix.

I owned a 900, and I'm sad I sold it a couple of years ago. The clean channel is insanely good. But I did like the gain channel too.

Just sold mine last year, a 4500, great amplifier.

Gotta jump the loop with these though! They Sound sooooo much better if you do! And use cha A and a SD-1nn

My favorite Marshall amp. For 10 years it with my 1976 Les Paul Deluxe it was my sound while I still played shows (No pedals, besides a old Morley wah I used as a tone cut.)

I had both the 4100 and the 4500 over the years. Originally I had a JCM 4100 Dual Reverb I bought in 1991 and had it until I foolishly sold it in 2001. A few years ago, I purchased a near mint used JCM 4500 head and the matching 1960A cab and it was okay... but it missed some of the sound I loved from the 100 watts of the 4100 head. It definitely wasn't as tight sounding as the 4100. That difference between the 100 watt 4100 and the 50 watt 4500 is very noticeable to me. So, a few of years ago, I went to my closest Long and McQuade music store traded up the JCM 4500 head toward a brand new Vintage Reissue 4100 head-- and it is the same great sounding amp like I had in the 90s. I am so glad I got the 4100 Vintage Reissue and my JVM 410H Joe Satriani head when I did, just before the amps prices went through the roof. The amp prices now are completely crazy now. I played every style on the JCM 4100, but mostly 90's style Punk Rock. It can do any style from Black Crowes to Alice In Chains to Slayer. It is an all around great heavy Rock amp.

Great video! I need an amp for my new band and the combos are on reverb for like $700! How about a video on the Vintage Modern?

I have an original 1990 JCM900 4500 model with EL34's. You need to try a GT-7025 preamp tube in V1 position. Trust me you'll love it!

If anything blows a young guitarists' mind, it's the notion of sound alone vs. sound in a mix. I never had more compliments and amazement for my live tone than the brief period I had a 900 in the 90s. I of course dumped it for a Recto because that was clearly "better." Nobody ever raved about my live tone again. There's something about the 900 that just cuts, even if it (like me naked) is nobody's fav in the bedroom.

I've owned an early 90's JCM900 4500 DR and loved it. I NOW own a '93 JCM900 DR & '87 JCM800, both 100 watts. I actually prefer the JCM900 cuz it has more gain and effects loop for soloing boost.

I have both a 50w jcm800 and the 900 and absolutely agree. The 800 is incomparable but the 900 has it's place and has served me well.

I play my JCM900-4102 in stereo thru a clean 100 watt Traynor Block 100 junker, dial them to a nice balance and my clean dirty sound using no other effects, just the stock foot 900 pedal is great. Folks hear it and love it.

Lots of players still use them to this day, my most recent sighting was Johnny Needles (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts) sporting two JCM900 half stacks, sounded badass IMO

Good video. What is your set up for getting the audio to RU-vid? It’s quite clear and seems to represent the amp sound quite well.

I picked up a 1990 50w model about 5 years ago and found a trick with a small patch cable in the effects loop that adds abit of top end boost right out of the gate..I usually run and tube screamer or a evh 5150 pedal in the front end and it’ll blow any highgain 100w amp out of the water on a full stack with v30s

in the late 90s I played live with a 900 4500 and an 89 jcm 2205 both on 900 4/12 cabs with t75s. The 2205 seemed to jump out better and had better mids. The 900 seemed tamer and wanted to be pushed to sound good and was brighter. BUT the CLEANS just walked all over the 800. Anyway I sold the head to a boy that was learning how to play and got a plexi reissue and have been playing live with it ever since. The 2205 is always stacked under the plexi as a back up. Anyway, I bought a used re-issue 4100 last night and waiting for it to arrive. All these years I have thought about those cleans I used to get, so I am revisiting the 900. I think they cost a bit more to build is why they ask so much for a non popular head. They have to spec a 6l6 tranny, valve failure circuitry, pentode/ triode mode ,Reverb tank and circuit, and the effect loop is a bit diffrent. (sweepable pad vs in/out). People say it's a stomp box in a power amp. I think they are a bit more than that.

Was doing sound for a gig with 3 JCM900s provided for house backline. Every single one sounded completely different, like, not even slightly close. The only thing they had in common was that they all needed the treble and presence practically off, bass on full and mids on about half. Even then they sounded like a can of wasps.

I’ve owned one a few times. Love them. Miss when I could find them for 600-700 on Craigslist

The JCM 900 had its place…but that being said I never could love mine so I flipped it. The video re confirms my notions on why I got rid of it. That plastic fizzy top end.

I played a JCM900 in my band for over 15 years in the 2000s. Great tone, cut through a live mix great, and recorded OUTSTANDING. Recorded better than my friends Mesa Triple Rex. Terrific amp, big recommend from a long time user. NOTE: Bugera 1990 Infinium is modelled on the JCM900, and sounds exactly the same for even cheaper.

The JCM 900 SL-X didn’t use clipping diodes. It had an extra cathode follower after the first preamp stage to increase distortion and ICs running into the master volumes for extra gain. Definitely the best sounding of the line.

Seemed like everyone in the Chicago scene was playing a 900 in the mid to late 00's. I was in my local used shop like 10 years ago, I put the JCM 2000 and 900 side by side, I ended up with the JCM 2000. It just had more of that Marshall sound that I was looking for.

Started recording my new album with the jcm 900 with greenback speakers. :) sounds awesome.

These were coveted in the 90s in every punk, hardcore, and heavier indie circle I was aware of and played in. I can't recall anyone dissing it then or now.

There is nothing wrong with diode clipping - if it’s done right. Many modded Marshalls - including a lot of those beloved Jose mods - use diode clipping. And, of course, we stick overdrive pedals in front of our amps.