My vm with matching cab is my first marshall and I thought it was great but it wasn't until I tried others that I realised it was one of the best. Very thankful I picked one up back in the day.
TSL-100 with a rev.20 mother board. The rev. 20 board fixes the bias drift issue of earlier versions. SED winged-c EL34 power tubes, groove tubes 12ax7c's in all preamp slots. 4x12 with G12H30's.
@mickeystanic4750 With the VPR engaged and turning up the presence and treble controls, it sounds pretty good at really low volumes. On the lead channel, I get decent SRV tones at low volume, and on the crunch channel, I can get decent ZZ Top tones at low volume.
I have a Plexi from 73 that I rescued from being thrown in the trash (my luck is insane). It was modded to have a master volume and it has a switch to drop it to 50 watts. I don’t use it live but it’s so great.
It was nice to hear you talking about the Marshalls. I’m pretty schooled in Mesa Boogie amps. When it comes to Marshall, I am basically clueless about their different models and what they do. I wanna look into that more
I definitely have a soft spot for the TSL100. My dad and I used to flip alot of guitar gear, and that was the amp that pretty much started it all for us. Didn't really gel with it at the time, probably due to lack of talent on my part haha. It wasn't until years later when we eventually sold it, that I realized it sounded pretty good for what it was. Funny how that goes sometimes.
I never understood the hate for the TSL, but love for the DSL. Judging by the schematics the TSL is mostly identical to the DSL and offers a little more flexibilty eq wise. The biggest draw back on the TSL is that it doesn't have the Lead 1 mode on board. The red channel on the TSL is the same as Lead 2 on the DSL. The bias drift issue only occurs on the 1997-2003 models. Marshall then adressed this issue by revising the main pcb, so if you're looking to buy a JCM2000 make sure it's a 2004 one or later. Since 1997 Marshall products have a barcode sticker on the backside, which shows the datecode. First four digits are the year followed by two digits that indicate the week.
Man, I've had a few Marshalls. 4 hole JCM800 50w thatI never got the most out of, 100w Plexi that I loved, 4010 JCM800 combo that sounded surprisingly glorious and now I have Studio Jubilee combo that is just killer. Back in the day I had the chance to buy reissue JTM45. I tried it out, and it was the best amp I'd ever heard. For some dumb reason I passed on it, got the 4 hole 800 and got on with it. A friend of a friend bought the JTM. 20 years later, I had the chance to buy the same 45, and like a fool I passed again! Massive regret ever since. I didn't have anywhere to use it, but stil wish I'd just grabbed it on the second chance. Life lesson learned.... Its still my favourite Marshall and the reason that although I cant afford one anymore, I'll always want one
Love Jackson Guitars. My personal favorites are the Dinky and Fusion models from the 90’s. The MIJ ones are still relative bargains compared to other MIJ major brands from the era, and are of super high build quality. Great necks… it wasn’t as thin as the US spec speed neck…Nice Cshape getting fatter higher up with a 10” radius, resonant bodies. Usually basswood or ash. Most likely you’ll wanna upgrade the pickups and the bridge to your preferences. Pick one up when you see one at a good price on reverb! They made a myriad of cool different variations.
JVM is my fav, ive had the kerry king, the dsl (last two series), mg, and those others do not compare at all to the jvm. The 70s jmps are awesome to. I actually got to play through brad whitfords old one. Never tried a plexi tho.
I've had a few Marshall amps through the years; 2203, 2553, JCM900, JMP-1 and a few Valvestate and Code amps that I don't want to discuss... These days I have jumped ship and play a Splawn Street Rod through a Mesa Recto 2x12 for my 'brown sounds' and I've never been more happy with my tone 🤘
I like the 70s Master volume models before they stopped using Mustard caps. I have a '77 JMP 2204 that's the best sounding amp I've ever heard. I have an 81 2204 that sounds completely different in the preamp section but the power section sounds basically identical to the '77. The difference is the components changed a lot from the mid 70s to the early 80s. During the transition some of their amps lacked the punch and openness they just didn't sound good. I purchased a BE-100 Deluxe to replace that head and it doesn't even come close. The Plexi vibe is just a little bit more open and aggressive than the master volume models. The master volume Marshall has super sweet tube gain with no diodes or other crap in the way. It's an edge of breakup amp perfect for stacking overdrives to get modern high-gain monster tones.
I have an original Jubilee 2555 and Matching cab I bought new in 87..My Dad,drove a 22 year old me 7 hours one way to a big box Music store to buy them…He hated long hair,and loud guitar driven Rock music..He called it Narcotic Music,HaHa!!….but it meant a lot to me,so it meant a lot to him…We bonded that weekend over something he really didn’t like,which was cool….My favorite Marshall by far…but a Plexi,800,and 30th anniversary are amazing as well,and are among my favorites….the Studio 20’s are amazing as well….
Got a JCM 900 Dual reverb from when they first came out. Still have it. . I works fine, despite of the hate it gets. I mostly use the clean channel, which is a great pedal platform.
@@castleanthrax1833 And because they were disliked so much, you could find a bargain. A couple of years ago I saw a couple at around $500. Not anymore.
JCM 900 SL-X. It's the sleeper Marshall amp. Pure tube circuit. It's an 800 on steroids. Have a 2000 DSL 50 too. It's very different. SL-X has more of the classic Marshall grind. DSL more modern. Both have a ton of gain/sustain. Would be awesome to see you demo of one at some point. I think the Aliens are sticking around to hear this one for sure. In fact, I think one is knocking on my door right now!
Since I found the JVM410-HJS I have not wanted to buy another amp. For rehearsals I will use a Hughes and Kettner Grandmiester Deluxe 40 without a cab and in-ears. Cheers!!
I have an RR24 and it plays like butter, but the only downside is I gotta stand to play it. The JCM900 gets a lot of flack but it was my first tube marshall and I loved it. Now adays I'd say a studio vintage or vintage modern would be my favorite flavor. You totally should do a top 5 simpsons episode video!
I live about 30 miles for the Marshall Factory in Milton Keynes and I did go down there a few times. Met Jim as well back in the day. A guy i knew got hold of a limited edition Marshall Jaguar 2x12 and we went to collect it in person. We got the guided tour of the factory by the man himself and it was amazing. I agree about the DSL 50. I love those amps. They are like a Boogie MK3. Its a workhorse of metal. Shoutout for the TSL100 as well my first ever good amp. The only Marshall I have these days us a TSL60, I was looking for a DSL50 but this was mint and it sounds great. Ebay prices are really good for Marshalls in the UK at the moment £300 - £600 will get you most of the classic Marshalls so you cant really go wrong. Better than some of the crap that is out at the moment.
I have the plexi and the TSL. The TSL is very versatile amp, you can go from the jcm 800 sound to a modern high gain with some simple trick.this amp has also a good spring reverb made in USA. I believe in my ears and not what people saying
I´m surprised that not many people mentions the Marshall SLX. It´s the only 900-series Marshall without diod clipping. They put an extra valve in the preamp instead and I think it sounds just amazing!
Hi Leon I'm 72 now and still playing not live anymore but still love my marshalls i have a jtm45 reissue jcm900 sl_x which is a beast and a jvm410 which is insane love them all keep on rocking you dude's out there
Thanks for your content, Leon. I'm 43 and started playing in 1996. GIT graduate. Your videos on rack gear especially took me back to what was desirable when I was in high school in the 90s and studying music in the early 00s: Mesa Triaxis through a 90:90, usually. That said, I own more Jackson Kellys than any other guitar. I'm waiting for a Jackson Kelly with a multi scale 8 string Floyd Rose bridge so I can tune A E A D G B E A without breaking a string when the bar is pulled up. The Dean Rusty Cooley 8 string did this but was fixed bridge with a 23.5" high A I believe. It would need to be even shorter to survive a full bar pull up. E1 is too low to tune a guitar without it competing with a bass and kick drum in my opinion so the low F# string is wasted. As far as unpopular Marshalls, I remember being in a Hollywood Guitar Center in 2000 and trying out the then-new DSL2000/TSLs. Three channel tube amps were the new thing back then and I think these were Marshall's first attempt at it. I was more of a Mesa/5150 fan back then and the DSL2000 just left me a little unimpressed. Had I had a boost up front I probably would have liked it. Strangely enough, these days I prefer a boosted Marshall sound to a scooped Mesa tone. Other Marshalls that seem to get a lot of hate are the JCM900 (vs. a boosted 800) and of course the infamous Mode Four. But Alex Skolnick loved the Mode Four amps. Who am I to question his taste?
I have two Jackson Custom Shops. They are absolutely fantastic. I would love to own a Rhodes again. I had to sell mine due to economic issues and I miss it.
I absolutely love my Marshall DSL 100 H that I got 3 years ago. It did sit on the shelf for a couple of years because I got it, then joined a band......as a bass player, hahaha. It sounds great with my Jackson Adrian Smith or Jackson King V, so 2 stories in one!
In a very similar place. I have a sound I really like from it (at a volume my neighbours just don't appreciate, even down at 50W), and a lead tone is - for me - just a GE-7 away.
@@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t absolutely! I stick a TC Cinder's Overdrive in front of it for a lead tone and it does the business. Also got the 6 button footswitch so I have total control over the amp. I would only go the JVM, a 5150 III or an Engl Powerball 2 if I was to upgrade.
Definitely get your hands on a Jubilee soon Leon! I've got an original 50w 2x12 combo and it took me a while to get the best sound from it but now that I've got it dialled in, I love it.
@@Steaminlidz I was the point of considering selling it because I couldn't find the magic that most people raved about with it. Ended up looking up Joe Bonamassa's settings and presto, totally different amp. Bass 10, mids 6, treble and presence on 4-5, gain at 6 and set volumes to requirements. Joe runs the master output at 10 and uses the lead channel volume as required but that doesn't suit my needs. But it does sound even better with the master at 10 and controlling the output with the lead channel volume
@@Steaminlidz I thought the same, bass on 10 on a Marshall, but it works. Bearing in mind my amp is the 2558 model which is the 2x12 open back combo. If using a head and cab you might not need it at 10. But yeah, it works!
Absolutely. We live in the best time ever to make guitar sounds! It's amazing.. It's so cool that AxeFx gives such updates as well as some of the other makers of these units.. Very cool.. Thank you for answering my question sir.. I appreciate it.. Very very very much brother! Great Q and A sir.. Thank you as always.. Very cool.. Where was the kitty? 😛 Jackson guitars.. I've always been partial to the 90's versions of the Dinky. They had a great thin neck but not too thin.. I didn't like the trems, but I just blocked those or you could of course put a real floyd in them. I have a 91 Charvel Predator crackle with the best orange crackle I've ever seen. It came with a Schaller trem from the factory and you can't knock it out of tune if you throw it against the wall.. 😛 .. It also along with my early 90s Ibanez japanese guitars has the best frets.> They just don't wear and I'm pretty hard on frets.. I don't know what the steel was back then, but I've had fender strats, etc, and I just wear them down as if my fingers were steel files. 😛 My favorite Marshall was a DSL 40.. Great amp..
I am a long time user/owner/ of Marshall mk2 superlead heads (50 & 100 watts!!) & with just a simple pedal setup of Dunlop Wah,Boss TU2,MXR Phase 90/Ibanez Airplane Flanger/Ibanez TS808 keeley modded/Ibanez CS9 Chorus & 2X Boss DD2,s (long & slow delay) & everything is plugged into the front as no effects loops!!!!! My speaker cabinets of choice are Marshall base (flat front 4X12") loaded with 75 watt Celestions!!!!This setup does it all for me & 40 odd years later I still haven't bettered it!!!!!!
My fave Marshall would probably be the 2203/2204. I’ve owned an ‘89 2210 that was good, 6100 LM that was real versatile…..I do wish I had never sold an early 80’s 2204 I had as a 16 year old 🤦🏼….I also had a little 4010 (50w combo same amp) that I let slip away…..currently loving my ‘15 2203x 🤘🏼
I never played real Marshalls in my life. Probably because I am a modern metal guitar player, but mostly, I use Line 6 processors, so I don't know if those models are accurate enough. But I tried modeled versions of Marshalls, and they are excellent, but just not my style. But I see why people love them for some classic rock and stuff.
If you play any sort of distorted electric guitar you owe it to yourself to experience playing a real Marshall at some point. It's one of those historical touchstones tonally. The Line 6 stuff is good but their JCM800 in particular isn't particularly accurate. The Friedman's are probably better suited to metal stuff 9with a boost) anyway.
Was gifted a 1978 2203 last summer (long story) and ever since then, I've become borderline obsessed with Marshall amps. Added a killer sounding 1993 1959SLP and Germino Club 40 (1986) to my collection and am getting ready to order the new Metropoulos Metroplex Mk II (go to their RU-vid channel and check it out, you'll be blown away by what George has done). I will eventually grab a JTM 45, but for the time being, I'm all set.
My personal picks would be TSL 100, JCM 800 2205 and the Bluesbreaker combo for my favorites and the honorable mention goes to the Origin 20 combo. I've owned all except the Bluesbreaker.
9:20: the key to those plexi Marshalls is to drive the input. Not fuzz, not distortion… simply a saturation boost. Then turn up the amp. I have a 200w Major, and I used to push the input with a booster. Deep Purple 1973, this was it.
I LOVE My Jackson DK3M HSS with Duncans. It totally kicks some @ss in playing just about any style you want to play of music. I used to own a 80's JCM800 and sold it back in 1991. Back then I never payed attention what year it was made being I was a newbe to playing. But I do have a DSL100HR which is considered one of the cheapest Marshall valve amps today, but damn do they sound good with a little tweaking. Its capable of 50watts or 100watts, but I have always used a preamp pedal like a do now with a Mooer 012 and Mooer cab pedal right on my board and BOSS EQ with my Marshal 2X12 with Vintage 30 and Creamback H, and damn! It sounds awesome and I can attain super loud concert or bedroom levels. I know its not the best Marshall, but I can easily say this non-standard Marshall does kick @ss1
I’ve had a lot of Marshalls over the years. In general, my favorites are the 4 pronger JMP’s. My 2 favorites were a 100 watt Park, and the ‘69 JMP50 Plexi. Don’t have those any more. Currently running an ‘83 JCM 800 50 watt. Another excellent amp is the 20 watt Lead and Bass. 18 watt TMB is pretty cool too. Once had a ‘78 JMP MK II 100 watt combo that just killed too. I just can’t into the crappy design of the later amps with multiple circuit boards, board mounted pots and tube sockets, etc. just prefer the hand-wired, ir mininal PCB boards like the early 800’s.
Happy Monday bro. I'm over in the SF Bay Area in California. Basically the home of Thrash. In my band which is called Morbid Reflection, I use a stereo dual stack setup. I have a 6505+and I have a Marshall DSL 100. I have vintage 30s and G12-75s mixed and matched, Plus my pedal board is minimal having a custom crybaby a boost and some light chorus in front of the amp. Running through the loop of the Peavey I have got an MXR 10 band equalizer and then I use an ABY switcher and run a stereo delay into both amps. IT'S REALLY A FANTASTIC SOUND ESPECIALLY SINCE I'M THE ONLY GUITARIST IN THE BAND. At home I have two 25 w gamma amps using a Tonex and an XDrive and I'm waiting on my UAFX My drummer works there. That's pretty much what I play through I've got about 15 guitars various types. THANKS AGAIN Good channel Peace brother ✌️
I bought my first Marshall in 2014, it was a DSL40c, that Asian made combo, after 4 weeks i hated the fizzy sound, so i promptly bought myself another Marshall, a JVM410 Head and a 1960AX cab, I have been a pig in shit ever since, a bit of BF-2 with sounds great.
Also, would love to get your opinion on the Randy Rhoads signature Marshall amp. I’ve always loved it and nobody talks about it. I think it’s a very underrated amp. 🤘🏻
A 1975 JMP 50 watt MKII modded with a 2550 silver jubilee mod. All original components possible left in place and all added resistors are carbon comp for more organic tone, I removed the diode boost circuit, it sounded like trash. Gets sparkling clean on clean channel and from clean to very overdriven on the lead channel with a deep nasally tone with a pleasant high end more like some of the older plexis. I run it through a 1974 1960B cabinet with all four original greyback speakers with original cones.
I used to play a Metal Zone into a Twin Reverb & 4x12 cab, then scored a like-new TSL 100 w/ cab,…tried everything, ended up back w/ my Twin & metal zone! Was uninspired.
Many years ago, in my even more ignorant days, I picked up a JCM 2000 DSL 100 for 400€ because I had the money and was curious. I didn't think Marshalls sounded good because all I knew was my mates crappy solid state Marshall practice amp (ignorant). The DSL blew me away and marked the end of my financially devestating guitar purchasing habit and the beginning of my financially even more devastating amp purchasing habit because you can stack amp heads easier than guitars. I had to replace the main pcb in it eventually which started my amp tinkering too... So the DSL basically ruined my life in a beautiful way
Speaker pairings can make a difference in outcome, unfortunately different cabs were not available to me at all times Had : original JCM 800-didn't like the clean channel sound. Hi gain channel, no in between like feast or famine Original silver jubilee 50 head - favorite part was the old Svetlana tube glass tint Reissue silver jubilee 100 head - thought better than original 1987x reissue - great pure sound but LOUD JCM 900 - descent but not as good as my bud's that seemed to do most things well Current: original JCM 2000 DSL 50 - Probably the most versatile Marshall. Changed v2 to Brimar, hasn't blown up 1974x - Takes pedals well
Aside from maybe a JCM800 (I find they can really be hit or miss, a lot of diversity even among the same series) I would pick my Marshall Vintage Modern any day of the week.
My JVM410 does everything I want from a Marshall and more, close enough for me, where it killed my GAS for other Marshalls. My gigging amp is an Origin 50C 1x12. Sounds and works great for me, and I use a Source Audio EQ2 to push it for my lead tone. No other pedals needed. That said my favorite Marshall is my Engl Artist Edition E651 into a pair of Engl PRO E212VHB cabs with V30s; nails the classic '70s hard rock rhythm and lead tones; I have mine dialed in for '70s/'80s Kiss Paul Stanley tones. I can probably get the JVM410 there, but the Engl nails it. IMO
Nothing beats good 2204s. Yes, you can drive them harder to where all tubes, including the power tubes are just singing. Put a tube preamp in front and you have scary metal. Plus, it takes twice as long to go deaf as with 2203s.
Oh man. I had the modefour once upon a time. Had a love hate relationship with it. Some nights it was cooking... other nights... it was pure trash. It never saw above 12 oclock on the master.
I've been through several Marshall amps. Valvestate 8100 was my first, a hybrid with tube preamp and solid state power section. Very noisy and sounded worse with pedals. Then I tried version 2 with an AVT 50H. Sounded better but 50 solid state watts could barely push my 412 cabinet. Tried the 212 Valvestate combo, still not good. So now I'm thinking, I guess it has to be all tube. So I tried an old used MA series 50 watt all tube head. That thing sounded like a can of angry bees! Lol. Tried an Origin, still not good. Too bright and not enough gain. Tried an old dsl 15 watt head. Liked the sound but again, 15 watts could barely move some air. I tried a Blackstar HT50 head and finally found my sound. It wasn't fizzy and raspy like all those Marshall's were. Now I know, every one I owned were the budget variety and under $500. But so was the Blackstar because I bought it used, and I still prefer the sound of it. 🤷♂️
Hi Leon, in 1994 I went shopping for an Ibanez JS or JEM as a Satriani/Vai fan. I just didn't gel with either. The guy in store suggested that I try a jackson JDR 94. I hated the reverse headstock at first but it was my "go to" guitar for years. My "go to" guitars now are an ESP Kamikaze 1 (reverse headstock!!) and M1 Tiger. Thanks for all of your incredibly insightful videos.
I have a few great old Marshall’s . But if you treat the TSL100 like a rectifier and boost as if it was the magic happens . Listen to Hatebreed . Classic TSL
What a stooky QnA. My question is based on the Chords of Orion video (the one where he play ambient guitar while on a mountain)… What would gear would you take if you can play guitar on any national park and other names for parks), and what sort of music/song would you play? Otherwise have a stooky day/night
Best Marshall setup i had was same as Dave Murray from maiden played for years. JMP1-JFX1- 9200 power amp 100. Yep, sold it cuz i thought 800 head would look cooler. Big big mistake! Btw, greetings from St Paul, Minnesota. Its so cool to be able to converse with us brothers from England, Australia, Canada and USA. 👍
One thing I really noticed this weekend was how having the pickups close to the strings pulls on them VERY slightly where the tuning rings out weird. I prefer the sound of them close, but lowering them a hair so the tuning rings out cleanly is well worth checking for
I always fret the low and high e at the last fret. Then adjust the pickups an 8th inch from the strings. Then a raise the bridge about a 16th more from there. Seems to be my spot.
Question for next week? To get that Steve Vai Crossroads tone, do I use the Micropitch by Eventide or should one go for the Pitchfactor? Which would you use? Would they sound okay with a modeler VS an amp?
jACKSON X SERIES are amazing value for money. They play great & upgradable parts (tuners, pickups, tremolo) can still make the guitars higher spec but affordable against the competition if your a DIY tweaker. As a USA Soloist owner its solid,bullet proof professional quaulity & feel; but the x series feel more fun & if you customise your parts it'll never let you down. Have to say the USA made guitars, the wood used you can feel miles above the x series but 4x to 5x the price. The Jackson Active pickups are fantasticly balanced and tight. The Jackson Black Satin/Gold Hardware 2021 to try first, Neon Orange SL3 then The Jungle Camo Tiger Aactive soloist. What defines Jacksons is the 12"-16" radius D shape neck... this foundation design has "minute" variation throughout the range.
Marshall:JVM 410 cranked is hard to beat. And the JVM JS is mint... The DSL 100 and 20 are great but I have a love hate thing with my 100 (the latest version) my favourite is the 410 and DSL running together... Oh so good. I had an AVT150 which I always thought sounded good.... My mate has that now. Another mate has a vintage modern... I've not really spent to much time with that but it sounds pretty damn good 👍 I could use a Plexi and an 800... Just coz.😅 Jackson: I always wanted a Kelly.... Because of Marty friedman... What a player 🤘
I only have 3 JMP 50W Marshalls and a JMP-1. Never tried anything else from them . I own the first JMP since 1980 ( first amp). Still a great sounding amp today .
Funny you mention the Jackson Guitars, that was the Guitar to have or want back in the 80's. The Kelly, the Soloist or the Rhoads. I still have a few Jacksons today. I wanted to be different back the so I ordered a Custom 86 Kramer Baretta USA new when I was a kid. All the Music stores had your Jackson's , Charvel's Gibsons, A few Kramer's. There was not internet to order or shop from, What I did want was an ESP when I saw Queensryche Chris De Garmo & Michael Wilton plying them. I didn't know where to get those!
I like Perth. Been there a bunch of times. Driven across from the east coast once. Everyone should drive the Nullabor at least once in their life. Sunset out there is almost like being on another planet. I wouldn't say us east coasters want to forget about Perth. It's just that it's a major pain in the arse to get there ... not to mention expensive.
The best Marshall is the first one I ever played, the '78 or '79 100 watt JMP Master Volume 2203. PERFECT hard rock, rock and roll sound. I know lots of folks prefer the 50 watt 2204s but the 2203s sound bigger, with more bottom and weight. I'll never need another amplifier!
As one east coaster, I'd normally saying "Heading to Perth" if that's my destination. Otherwise, I'd add in detail, like Margaret River or Broome. But if you're in Perth, most of the rest of the population is "east" so it can refer to a bunch of places. Makes sense to say "going east" because it's basically what you'd say to indicate you're leaving the state.
I generally do pickup adjustments all the time, but that's only because I own a lot of guitars. And normally it's only when I get them (or when I'm setting them up - frets, action etc). Once it's done I can forget it. But when a new guitar comes in, as they're on the budget side of the scale, 9/10 pickup heights aren't really adjusted at the factory (like with a lot of other things on budget guitars). So it pays to do some setup for how you like it providing the pickups are OK to begin with.
I was playing a show back in 2001, and was sharing an amp with another band that night. The guy said it was the first show ever for the DSL50 we were using. We both used it through a 1960 4x12 cab. I loved the tone I was able to dial in that night. The other guy didn't like his tone so much. I happened to be on the market for an amp at that time. So I offered the guy $1000(CAD) for it, and I went home with it that night! Because of that amp, I found this channel.
I'm more of a Mesa Boogie guy however I own a Marshall DSL40. Great amp. I also own a bunch of USA made Jacksons. I own a few non-USA made Jacksons. They don't compare -at all. One of my USA Jackson is an Adrian Smith model. Its my favorite guitar in my entire arsenal.
I was heavily involved in the L.A. Sunset Strip guitar scene in the 80s and very early 90s and JCM 800s were HATED. Yes, there were a few players who liked them, but for the most part plexis were still prized. I had a JMP which I would boost with a Rat or MXR Distortion + or Boss Super Overdrive. It sounded great. But it was a pain to lug around, like moving a grand piano, and very unreliable. It ate tubes like potato chips. But it sounded great. I switched to a Boogie 50 Cal + combo which was a godsend to me. The most reliable tube amp I've ever owned to this day. I like Marshall's JVMs, but I wouldn't buy one. I prefer single channel amps boosted with a good pedal. Then I use a delay or reverb pedal depending on the venue, and a chorus and EQ pedal. This works fine for me. And I prefer combos to stacks. I like the reissue JMC 800 combo. For some reason, it just sounds a lot better than the originals or the stacks, certainly better from the two-channel version. It's a good pedal platform. I also like the Jubilee, the original and reissue.
It's probably the most Marshall-like Boogie I've ever played, but like a perfect Marshall. Think of a plexi capable of massive amounts of gain, no mud, and a low end you can tighten up without making thuddy. I chose it over a Mark III combo because of the tone, the simplicity, and the weight. The price was not a consideration, but it cost me less than half of what a 75-watt Mark III Simul-Class was going for in '89 and that was a nice bonus. With the money I saved I popped a Duncan Custom into my main Charvel and a Full Shred into one of my Kramers and enjoyed myself that summer. The Mark series combos and cabs still came with EVs in those days, and although they are my favorite speakers, the Celestion Black Widow designed in collaboration between Mesa and Celestion is the best sounding Celestion I've ever played to this day.@@LeonTodd
The EH phaser was a real wallaby wobbler you should keep for your arsenal... Lupin said it really kicked the door down but didn't wobble the room enough to rock him off his keyboard with his strut.. Vixen noo waay .. great playing as usual for you.. keep it kicking for us down under for us.. 🌏🦘🦘.. just discovered pretty Maiden and their slavedriver song..give it a listen . Can't believe they didn't make it to the top.
I had an 80s jcm 800 100 watt head with Mullard's and a 4by cab with celestions that really rumbled when cranked.. wish I still had it...lupin woulda loved it
