• JBSRV
  • JBSRV
  • BONAMETAL
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  • From: Colorado Springs-Colorado
  • Registered: 2008-07-04
  • Posts: 1,047

Topic: Couple of gear decisions

Ok..... I have some things gear related running across my mind.. i was hoping for some help!

First is a uni-vibe pedal. I've tried one out and I love the way it sounds for some solo tone stuff.... is it a good, reliable pedal? Should I spring for one?

Second, is a used JCM 900 that I found here for $625. I was told that it was a LOUD amp and the way the guy made it sound kind of turned me off... he kept saying "It's just LOUD.....LOUUUUUUUUD" lol Does anyone have any experience with these? I would like a new amp, but I want the right one..... so I'm being picky.

Thanks
-Eric

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-23
  • Posts: 553

Re: Couple of gear decisions

Eric, well if you like the Univibes sound and the price is ok then
I see no reason not to buy it. You never know how reliable it is.
Beside the switch there cannot break anything.

So the JCM900s are loud..? You can guess that by any tube amp.. lol
Of course you can make a JCM 900 sound decent. Its all about trying and testing. Let your ears decide.
Here in the forum noone can tell you how good or bad YOU will like the amp.
Try the amp over a good cab. Thats the only advice one can give you.
I once played a 900 over a Slash Box (there are G12-Vintage speaker in. Marshalls version of the V30)
and it sounded pretty cool. Again, if the price is ok and YOU like the amp. Buy it.

Good luck
Alex

...it's a musical journey
www.u2-experience.de

Stratovari's Website

  • JBSRV
  • JBSRV
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Colorado Springs-Colorado
  • Registered: 2008-07-04
  • Posts: 1,047

Re: Couple of gear decisions

Thank you so much for the quick response.

Thanks for the advice.... I do plan on going back to test it and such. smile

-Eric

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Couple of gear decisions

Stratovari wrote:

Eric, well if you like the Univibes sound and the price is ok then
I see no reason not to buy it. You never know how reliable it is.
Beside the switch there cannot break anything.

So the JCM900s are loud..? You can guess that by any tube amp.. lol
Of course you can make a JCM 900 sound decent. Its all about trying and testing. Let your ears decide.
Here in the forum noone can tell you how good or bad YOU will like the amp.
Try the amp over a good cab. Thats the only advice one can give you.
I once played a 900 over a Slash Box (there are G12-Vintage speaker in. Marshalls version of the V30)
and it sounded pretty cool. Again, if the price is ok and YOU like the amp. Buy it.

Good luck
Alex

Wise words from a wise gear hound!  Great post Alex.  As far as Univibes go, I really really like my dad's Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe.  As Mike Fuller explains it is an exact clone of the old Univox Univibes of the '60s with an updated 9v adapter and smaller packaging.  I played a Voodoo Lab MicroVibe thinking, "wow this pedal sounds very good" but side by side next to the Mini Deja Vibe...no contest.  Bridge of Sighs, Machine Gun, Too Rolling Stoned...the Fulltone just NAILS it.  It's also less than other Vibe clones on the market.  Now the Marshall JCM900...it really depends on the model that you are playing.  I've played some good ones and some real stinkers.  They had the SLX, Dual Reverb, MKIII's, and something else (High Gain perhaps?) but I can't remember which is the more desirable model.  I remembered that I liked the cleans on the JCM900 a little better than most Marshalls and it's overdrive was okay.  For my money I'd have to consider some other amps as well.  For killer Marshall tones on the cheap check out the '80s Laney amps.  The Pro Tube Lead I had was a MONSTER for that hard rock tone.  For a little bit more you could get a new Ceriatone JCM800 clone.  Metro makes a Marshall plexi clone for about a grand.  Lots of great amps out there for what the JCM is selling for and this may be the best time to buy amps in history!  You can pick up some real jems on the cheap in this economy if you are patient enough.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.