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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → Got my jcm 800...!
Just got her... Anyone have any good settings to get me started with this beast?
Everything at 12 o'clock? 
this thing might need to be re-tubed... there is almost no sustain and it sounds pretty harsh and very bright... i hope i can fix this out... not thick and creamy as i'd hoped
this thing might need to be re-tubed... there is almost no sustain and it sounds pretty harsh and very bright... i hope i can fix this out... not thick and creamy as i'd hoped
I had an 800 that was harsh...some good quality tubes will help...though 800s are sharper and more aggressive than what people think...not 100% for blues.
What guitar are you using? Can you work with the tone knob of the guit? what brand tubes are in it? what speakers are you using?
i played one before that sounded way smoother than this one... the previous owner said that it was just re-tubed, so maybe they need to be broken in. I was playing through a '58 RI Les Paul, tone and volume down to 5 (ish). It is going into a Marshall 1960 slant cab which is stock... not sure of the speakers. Maybe it'll help when I get another marshall to blend it with, and a cab with EV12L's.
i played one before that sounded way smoother than this one... the previous owner said that it was just re-tubed, so maybe they need to be broken in. I was playing through a '58 RI Les Paul, tone and volume down to 5 (ish). It is going into a Marshall 1960 slant cab which is stock... not sure of the speakers. Maybe it'll help when I get another marshall to blend it with, and a cab with EV12L's.
maybe it was retubed recently but maybe not with the best set of tubes for that particular amp? I would suggest TAD power tubes and tungsol preamp tubes.
i played one before that sounded way smoother than this one... the previous owner said that it was just re-tubed, so maybe they need to be broken in. I was playing through a '58 RI Les Paul, tone and volume down to 5 (ish). It is going into a Marshall 1960 slant cab which is stock... not sure of the speakers. Maybe it'll help when I get another marshall to blend it with, and a cab with EV12L's.
If your cab is stock, they are probably gt75's and they tend to have more low end. That can help give your tone some body, assuming those ARE the speakers. I would cut the high and mid out completely and start with some bass at 12 o'clock, then sparingly bring up a touch of high and some mid. I'd leave the presence off until I found a sound I liked then bring it into the equation. You can even try setting it up for a mild breakup and use an OD with the gain maxed on it, and if it has Low and High knobs even better to shape the sound. The added gain of the OD with the low preamp gain makes for a smooth distortion.
That sucks you aren't as pleased with your new amp as you'd like to be. I'm sure you'll figure out how to make it work for you. When the Vintage Modern arrives you can probably expect more of the same. They tend to be tough to dial in, but if smooth is your goal, they work best with an OD I think. Keep at it! -S.
what model jcm800 is it ?
if its the 2203 then they need to be cranked before they sound good . try an external pre-amp or od box
or even a THD hotplate to get the output tubes cooking.
It's a 2204. I haven't had long to play with it yet... I got a mediocre tone using a tube screamer but it still isn't quite what I had in mind.
I've used a 2203 as my main amp since 2006. Mine is from 88'. I use it through a 1960 TV cab with Greenbacks. The problem with these amps is that they are for loud-ass gigging and that's it! Mine sounds thin and harsh unless the master is at at 9 o'clock or higher. Even at this relatively low level on the master you're still gonna piss of the neighbors and blow your ears out. I'd recommend an attenuator if you're planning on running this thing in your bedroom. I run the mid on 7, bass on 6, treble on 4, presence off, preamp on 8. Hope this helps. BTW, running the preamp between 7 and 8 with a Tubescreamer set to low gain will be on the spot.
Thanks for the settings. I'll definitely check those out when I get home. I have been doing research that I wish I read before. Evidently a lot of people have had issues with it being overly bright and harsh. There are several mods that can be done (I don't understand them, but I'm hunting down someone who could do it for me) that balance the eq controls, cut some of the treble, and over all smooth and fatten everything up. I'll keep you updated and list everything I have done to her!
Logan
What is it with some Marshall's (is it just the reissues?) being thin and harsh? I had my dream amp, a 1959 SLP 100w RI, only to find that it sounded like #@#% as well. It sounded 'ok' with an attenuator and the "bright cap" clipped, but nothing like it should have. Traded for the Mesa Stiletto Trident Stage 2 (EL34 their "Marshall Killer") and this thing is a dream. Full-on Marshall tone at any volume - clean or distorted. Wind Cries Mary to Foxy Lady in a heartbeat.
Sorry to hear of your situation - you are not alone...if it's a RI I would get rid of it. Just MHO.
I've not heard even one decent SLP reissue.
The line that Marshall give that 'no one could tell the difference side-by-side' is a very bad lie or lots of people need to hand their jobs over to people with a pair of ears.
The Hand-wired versions are night and day from what I have read. I see Joe B used a HW SLP 100 RI on BCC...if he used it - they gotta be good.
It's a 1984... I guess they are really hit or miss. Still trying to find someone local who can do them for me
Opened the back up lastnight and found out the jcm has 6550's which evidently I am not a fan of at all. Found a local amp tech that is gonna mod it so it can run el34s. If this doesn't help, I'm gonna sell it
Logan
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