• From: BC, CANADA
  • Registered: 2010-12-29
  • Posts: 121

Topic: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

Hey everybody,

I just have to share this. For the last month or so I've been selling off some gear that just wasn't doing it for me any more. My JCM900 Dual Reverb...gone. My Mesa Rectoverb and 2x12 cab...gone. Even my Class 5 has found a new home. I even sold my SG special with the crescent moon inlays...since I got my R8 Les Paul it's hard to play anything else.

So I walk into a music shop the other day and what do I find a 1982 Marshall JCM800 4010. It's in very good shape, all original except for the speaker wire. I tried it out with a Les Paul and it's pure magic. The tone I've been trying to get with all those other amps is here in spades. It's loud enough for anywhere I'm going to play and it'll fit in the back seat of the car. I quickly negotiate a fair price and load it up before someone else grabs it. I probably could have got it for less...but I would have paid more. It's that good!

The only thing I'm not sold on is the Celestion G12M70 Speaker...I wonder what an EVM12L would sound like? Has anybody tried one in a small combo?

Have a look...notice the metal toggle switches and different fuse arrangement. It's a Canadian Model so it's something to satisfy CSA requirements.

http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i41 … 115933.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i41 … 115950.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i41 … 120012.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i41 … 120051.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i41 … 120115.jpg

RP

Guitars: 2002 Gibson R8, 2008 Gibson SG Standard, 1977 Fender Statocaster, 1979 el Degas Les Paul Custom, 2011 Epiphone JB Les Paul
Amps: 1982 Marshall 4010

2 Reply by cindyron (edited by cindyron 2012-06-09 17:09:12)

  • From: New Hampshire, USA
  • Registered: 2010-12-21
  • Posts: 3,650

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

rythmplaya wrote:

Hey everybody,

I just have to share this. For the last month or so I've been selling off some gear that just wasn't doing it for me any more. My JCM900 Dual Reverb...gone. My Mesa Rectoverb and 2x12 cab...gone. Even my Class 5 has found a new home. I even sold my SG special with the crescent moon inlays...since I got my R8 Les Paul it's hard to play anything else.

So I walk into a music shop the other day and what do I find a 1982 Marshall JCM800 4010. It's in very good shape, all original except for the speaker wire. I tried it out with a Les Paul and it's pure magic. The tone I've been trying to get with all those other amps is here in spades. It's loud enough for anywhere I'm going to play and it'll fit in the back seat of the car. I quickly negotiate a fair price and load it up before someone else grabs it. I probably could have got it for less...but I would have paid more. It's that good!

The only thing I'm not sold on is the Celestion G12M70 Speaker...I wonder what an EVM12L would sound like? Has anybody tried one in a small combo?

Have a look...notice the metal toggle switches and different fuse arrangement. It's a Canadian Model so it's something to satisfy CSA requirements.

http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i41 … 115933.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i41 … 115950.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i41 … 120012.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i41 … 120051.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i41 … 120115.jpg

RP

Hi RP
I am not sure if EVM12L will fit ? They are VERY HEAVY and Big deep that is. I love the way my Silver Jub sounds through EVM12L's. the tone you get is all the amp no coloration from speaker. but keep in mind some like the added tone the current speaker you have. But for me hands down EVM12L sound awesome. Remember what works for you may not work for me. Congrats Cheers Ron

"Joe B saved my soul, forever grateful Ron"
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  • From: Ridgeland, MS
  • Registered: 2009-08-12
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

An EV type speaker that weighs a bit less and has some British flavor is the Scholtz Classic. Austin Speaker Works KTS speakers would be nice. My favorite would be a Celestion G12-65.

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

That's a nice amp!  I had a JCM 800 50 watt head a few years back when I first started playing and that thing screamed!  I was a bit stupid though, it had a direct out and I ran it to a sound board no cab (which is a no no) and wondered why I kept blowing fuses after that.  I blew the transformer because it had a load and no speaker to dump the load into.  After I got it fixed a few years later I used it at 5 gigs and decided it was too much to lug around.  But it had this clean channel with a master volume, and I also had the old ES-335 that was refinished that I got for a steal.  Those 2 together had the fattest sound I had ever created.  EVERYBODY that heard that amp and that guitar wanted to buy it from me and I would hear of it.  When I started having kids though I couldn't give that stuff away!  I hope you enjoy the amp and honestly if it was me I would keep the speaker in it and go for a external cabinet.  You might decide what was making that amp sound so good was the broken-in speaker.

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  • From: Danville, IL
  • Registered: 2012-02-18
  • Posts: 458

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

Wow - that's a looker, and a real classic - color me jealous! smile

kestrou

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

Cool amp, glad you like it. If its the tone of your dreams, not sure why you don't like the current speaker..?!

AD3 is right, that speaker is well broken in and might sound better than you think once you compare with something else. But if you're not totally into it thats understandable. A speaker is an easy swap on a combo like that for a new flavor here and there should your tastes change or just looking to tinker with the amp a bit. I personally think an EV might sound a little sterile in it but I encourage you to find what sounds best to you regardless of who "says "and "plays" what. Ultimately you're the one playing it so listen with you're ears not your eyes!

  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

I searched for ten years...till I came across the Petersburg P100...which very simply, put is an 800ish circuit with enough gain, but the clarity of a Plexi and more Hiwatt cleans than a Marshall when let down on the volume. It's just all there.
It's an amp that has hairs on its eyeballs! Good luck with it...you cannot go wrong - solid base tone...leave it!

  • Registered: 2009-02-10
  • Posts: 470

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

"...for now" being the optimal words! tongue You NEVER finish finding your tone! big_smile

Love the amp though big_smile

  • sted
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  • Registered: 2011-03-20
  • Posts: 333

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

Nice! Love the 800's!

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

Great amp!

As far as a EVM 12L, I would get a marshall 1x12 ext cab and put one in there... then if you don't feel like carrying extra weight you don't have to. That amp would be 18 extra pounds if you put one in there... just saying from similar experience!

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11 Reply by rythmplaya (edited by rythmplaya 2012-06-11 02:55:46)

  • From: BC, CANADA
  • Registered: 2010-12-29
  • Posts: 121

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

That is so true! That's why it's called tone chasing. It's a journey...not a destination.

Jimi_lp wrote:

"...for now" being the optimal words! tongue You NEVER finish finding your tone! big_smile

Love the amp though big_smile

Thanks for all the advice. I do really like the amp but there was domething just a little off in the tone. I just assumed it was the speaker. I've had G12M70's in 2 other combo's and just hated them.

The speaker swap is on hold. I put the amp up on the bench this afternoon and pulled the back off to see if an EV12L would fit. Just by chance I decided to pull the tubes and look them over. The power tubes were not a matched pair...they're not even the same brand. Two mismatched and badly worn EL34's.

I retubed it with a complete set of JJ's, adjusted the bias and the difference is unbelievable. There's definition and charater to the notes that was just missing before.

Time to sit down and dial in my tone! smile

Thanks guys
RP

Guitars: 2002 Gibson R8, 2008 Gibson SG Standard, 1977 Fender Statocaster, 1979 el Degas Les Paul Custom, 2011 Epiphone JB Les Paul
Amps: 1982 Marshall 4010
  • macg1
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  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

Jimi_lp wrote:

"...for now" being the optimal words! tongue You NEVER finish finding your tone! big_smile

Love the amp though big_smile

I did with the Orange Rocker30.  The only other amps I am interested in are more Rocker 30's.  But just in case, please keep this saved somewhere in case you need to heckle me about it in the future.

congratulations on the JCM combo.  Those ARE really cool.  Don't forget that the Emminence Legend is also a high wattage EV'esque speaker and not only affordable, it is just awesome.

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  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 1,374

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

Very cool amp - I saw one on Craigslist a couple years ago and was really tempted.  I used to have a JCM 800 half stack that was just an awesome amp.  Like an idiot I traded it in to Guitar Center for something much less cool.  Ah, to be young and stupid...

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  • Registered: 2009-03-08
  • Posts: 309

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

You can't go wrong with a JCM 800 in my humble opinion.

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15 Reply by JoeMaMa (edited by JoeMaMa 2012-06-12 15:22:02)

  • From: North Hollywood, CA.
  • Registered: 2012-06-06
  • Posts: 16

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

I have a EVM12L in my 82 Carvin X100B combo. The speaker will handle anything you throw at it and want more. It worked fine for at least 30 years of hard playing. I just replaced it with a new EVM12L. One day I'm going to get the old one re-coned and buy an ext cab for it.

Keep Calm
     and
Carry On
  • From: BC, CANADA
  • Registered: 2010-12-29
  • Posts: 121

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

Hey guys,

So I've had this amp for a few days now and I'm just loving it. It takes pedals really well. So far the signal chain is this... Guitar--JB Wah--Tube Screamer--Xotic EP Booster--Xotic X-Blender W/Boss DD3 in loop--Amp. I'm still dialing in the EP Booster, it's nice to have it as a lead boost but it sounds great if I dial it back a bit and leave it on all the time. I'm leaning towards this, leaving it on all the time and just working the volume.

So now I need to find an alternate amp to pair with this combo. Any suggestions? Here's what I'm looking for...
* 1x12 or maybe 2x10 combo
* 40 - 60 watts
* 6L6 tubes would be cool for the glassy tone
* reverb on board would be an asset
* $1000 budget, give or take

Guitars: 2002 Gibson R8, 2008 Gibson SG Standard, 1977 Fender Statocaster, 1979 el Degas Les Paul Custom, 2011 Epiphone JB Les Paul
Amps: 1982 Marshall 4010
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: * N A D!!!* I've finally found my tone!...for now at least :)

If it sounds good on all the time thats cool, but I'd suggest you do have a pedal on there for leads. If you rely on the guitar's volume control alone, you might find you won't have enough left to get over the band. I always use a compressor, but even another OD will work. Can even add a touch of extra gain with it to beef up your leads.

Can also always seem to find used Fender combos on the cheap. You could pair with one of them. Plus they have reverb. Personally, I'd stick with another 1x12 combo.