Topic: Jubilee settings suggestions

I recently purchased a Marshall Silver Jubilee (2550) head and 4x12 cab. After playing Marshall's for many years in Classic and 80's rock cover bands, I sold my JCM800, and purchased a Mesa Dual Rec for a modern rock outfit I was playing with a few years back; long story short, I am looking for a sound reminiscent of my old 800...Gary Moore, Scotty Gorham, or Mick Jones...that chimey, fat tone that can be cleaned up by rolling off the volume knobs on my Les Paul's. I took the GT-75's out of the cab, and replaced them with 25w Greenbacks which made a monumental tonal upgrade, but the Jub is quite a beast in the overdrive department, especially with the 50w head, which breaks quicker (less headroom) than the 100w. I have seen on other forums Joe's tone settings, and while I love what he does musically, it is a little more bass driven than the tone I am looking for...I do however like the way his tone cleans up while rolling back the vol. Any suggestions from other users would be greatly appreciated...By the way caught Joe live last month, and the show was amazing; we had a blast!

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

Hey buddy. I have the Ceriatone 2555 and I know it's not exactly a Marshall Jub, it comes close. I NEVER run my bass at 10 like Joe, it sounds flabby with my ET-65's. So generally, my settings are T-4 B-8 M-7 T-4 and Gain on 4 or 5. I find it is a very gainy amp. I generally keep my treble and presence below 5 and I set them the same.

If you're comfortable getting it modded, you can experiment with the bright cap that's across the input gain pot - a very easy, and reversible mod. Right now I'm experimenting with changing out the overdrive LED's that are built in to the circuit, as I've read that changing the size and color affects to tone.

Good luck!

"The way I like to look at it is....if that's the last time I ever got to play, I'd better give it everything I've got." -SRV

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

TubeSaturation wrote:

Hey buddy. I have the Ceriatone 2555 and I know it's not exactly a Marshall Jub, it comes close. I NEVER run my bass at 10 like Joe, it sounds flabby with my ET-65's. So generally, my settings are T-4 B-8 M-7 T-4 and Gain on 4 or 5. I find it is a very gainy amp. I generally keep my treble and presence below 5 and I set them the same.

If you're comfortable getting it modded, you can experiment with the bright cap that's across the input gain pot - a very easy, and reversible mod. Right now I'm experimenting with changing out the overdrive LED's that are built in to the circuit, as I've read that changing the size and color affects to tone.

Good luck!

Greetings, I think we are fans of the same tone, as your settings are nearly a mirror of my own. A few questions...are you using the "lead" channel, and if so, what are your Master Vol, Lead Master settings? I have found with my Jub that backing the Master and Input Gain too low, tends to lose that sweet spot for saturation.

In addition, I am interested in the mod you spoke of but am not familiar with the particulars behind it. If possible could you elaborate a bit more with respect to this mod?

Thanks for your assistance in my search for tone nirvana (laughs)-HC

4 (edited by TubeSaturation 2013-11-16 15:05:12)

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

I keep the Master Volume around 8 as well, and then run my lead volume above 3 (louder for gigs). I know exactly what you're saying about the input gain - if you run it too low, the tone falls apart and sounds pretty terrible.

Essentially, if you open up your amp you'll see a capacitor across the input gain potentiometer. What this does is keeps treble in the signal as you turn down the pot - it has no effect the further you turn it up! This is why you get less treble as you turn the gain up. So what you can do is experiment with no capacitor at all, or different values. My doing this, you'll get a meatier sound even with the gain turned lower since not as many treble frequencies are passing through. The real explanation is that as you increase the value of the capacitor, you allow more frequencies through. Jubilees use 1000pF capacitors which allows quite a bit of frequency through - by reducing this value, you are kind of "snipping" the upper frequencies and therefore getting a less middy/trebly sound. Experimenting is key here: I've found that with no value it's a very flat sound, but with 1000pF it's a little too fizzy for me. I'm in the process of trying out 500pF which would be right in the middle.

The LED mod is simple as well. Basically, you'll see two red LED's inside the amp acting to give more overdrive. It's basically like having a Tubescreamer built right into the amp to push it more...believe it or not, all that tone and goodness in our Jubilee's are from tubes mixed with LEDs! So you can use different value/color LED's here to cater to what you want to hear a little bit. Carol Ann posted here a while ago saying that he prefers using a combination of a 5mm green LED and a 5mm red LED for a more "classic rock" sound and not as much of an "80's metal sound". I haven't tried this mod yet, but when I get home in a few weeks I'm going to try it.

The cool part about this mods is they are easily reversible...and you can put them on an spdt toggle switch so that you can switch between the original circuit or your new "modified" circuit if you want.

If you try any of these mods, don't blame me if something goes wrong! They are very simple mods, but make sure you know what you're doing or take it to somebody that does smile I've had a few years soldering and modifying amps and pedals so I feel pretty comfortable.

"The way I like to look at it is....if that's the last time I ever got to play, I'd better give it everything I've got." -SRV

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

TubeSaturation wrote:

I keep the Master Volume around 8 as well, and then run my lead volume above 3 (louder for gigs). I know exactly what you're saying about the input gain - if you run it too low, the tone falls apart and sounds pretty terrible.

Essentially, if you open up your amp you'll see a capacitor across the input gain potentiometer. What this does is keeps treble in the signal as you turn down the pot - it has no effect the further you turn it up! This is why you get less treble as you turn the gain up. So what you can do is experiment with no capacitor at all, or different values. My doing this, you'll get a meatier sound even with the gain turned lower since not as many treble frequencies are passing through. The real explanation is that as you increase the value of the capacitor, you allow more frequencies through. Jubilees use 1000pF capacitors which allows quite a bit of frequency through - by reducing this value, you are kind of "snipping" the upper frequencies and therefore getting a less middy/trebly sound. Experimenting is key here: I've found that with no value it's a very flat sound, but with 1000pF it's a little too fizzy for me. I'm in the process of trying out 500pF which would be right in the middle.

The LED mod is simple as well. Basically, you'll see two red LED's inside the amp acting to give more overdrive. It's basically like having a Tubescreamer built right into the amp to push it more...believe it or not, all that tone and goodness in our Jubilee's are from tubes mixed with LEDs! So you can use different value/color LED's here to cater to what you want to hear a little bit. Carol Ann posted here a while ago saying that he prefers using a combination of a 5mm green LED and a 5mm red LED for a more "classic rock" sound and not as much of an "80's metal sound". I haven't tried this mod yet, but when I get home in a few weeks I'm going to try it.

The cool part about this mods is they are easily reversible...and you can put them on an spdt toggle switch so that you can switch between the original circuit or your new "modified" circuit if you want.

If you try any of these mods, don't blame me if something goes wrong! They are very simple mods, but make sure you know what you're doing or take it to somebody that does smile I've had a few years soldering and modifying amps and pedals so I feel pretty comfortable.

Interesting, I think I may have my tech try switching the LED's around...for my taste, the Jub gets too distorted when the guitar's volume is dimed, and in addition I am having a hard time cleaning up the tone when the volume is rolled back. I am looking for that airy ring of a Plexi, with the bottom and chunk of the Jubilee. I greatly appreciate your time and efforts, and wish you the best of luck in your search as well...maybe we can trade sound bites before and after mods to see where the amp has gone?
Thanks again- HC
P.S. Check out "Bernie Marsden's 1959 Les Paul Standard" and "NY Amp Show '10 - Celestion Room Demoed w/ a Dumble," 
on Youtube. The Trainwreck is unbeleivable! Tone of the Gods!!

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

Hey

Sounds like you need to revert to the JCM800 if thats the sound you are after I pair my jubilee with a JCM 800 and it gives the added bite and clarity that my jUbilee lacks

Thing is when you listen to the Borderline gig when Joe is using 2 Jubilees his tone is awesome I cant get my jubilee to sound this good.

"Everybody's entitled to my opinion. wink

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

I ended up doing similar. I have a Petersburg P100 - which essentially is an 800 in circuit terms...with more of a Plexi ring.
I owned and sold my Jub before I really got into JoBo, but I agree with the general consensus. I just could not afford to run it at Joe's settings...had to pay for too many broken windows and teeth. Seriously though...all my thoughts and questions on it were solved by switching back to that 800 style. They are different...
You could almost lump the 800, 900, Jub and 2000 into one basket to achieve a good sound...and a close approximation to the JoeClone you're after...but they are all very different in their own little ways.
Always worth a tweak though...if easily reversed.
Remember the fingers. Tone-fingers...fingers-tone.

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

SOFTMC wrote:

Hey

Sounds like you need to revert to the JCM800 if thats the sound you are after I pair my jubilee with a JCM 800 and it gives the added bite and clarity that my jUbilee lacks

Thing is when you listen to the Borderline gig when Joe is using 2 Jubilees his tone is awesome I cant get my jubilee to sound this good.

Greetings! I am torn between the punch of the Jub and the woody airiness of the 800/plexi's. At this stage, I am trying to sell my Mesa Dual Rec and Vintage Mesa 4x12, as I don't need two half stacks, and I just recently purchased the Marshall with matching silver cab at a price too good to mention...much less than a new 800 or a mint 80's model. I want to hang on to the Jub for an investment, as well as my main player. The thing I love about the Jub, is the bottom end and punch that the plexi/800's lack...sometimes they can be a little too bright/honkey for my ears.

While I enjoy Joe as a musician, I am more of a fan of the tones of Moore, Haynes, and Gibbons...same with Eric Johnson...while I love his playing and phrasing, his tone is a bit to bottom heavy for what I wish to accomplish as a musician.
Sometimes I feel that players are too vested in achieving someone else's tone, rather than fostering their own. Nearly every Silver Jub thread is dedicated to Slash, Joe, or Frusciante.

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

DaveWammbarro wrote:

I ended up doing similar. I have a Petersburg P100 - which essentially is an 800 in circuit terms...with more of a Plexi ring.
I owned and sold my Jub before I really got into JoBo, but I agree with the general consensus. I just could not afford to run it at Joe's settings...had to pay for too many broken windows and teeth. Seriously though...all my thoughts and questions on it were solved by switching back to that 800 style. They are different...
You could almost lump the 800, 900, Jub and 2000 into one basket to achieve a good sound...and a close approximation to the JoeClone you're after...but they are all very different in their own little ways.
Always worth a tweak though...if easily reversed.
Remember the fingers. Tone-fingers...fingers-tone.

Greetings! I will have to agree on the "fingers" comment...I have seen Gary Moore play Strats, Soldano's, and 80's rock guitars...all of which bring about his signature sound. With that being said, there is a general sound that I want to start with, which falls somewhere between the 800, Plexi, and Jubilee...if only I could afford a Trainwreck, Pre rola Greenback 4x12, and the 59 reissue LP...(laughing).

10

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

Hamcarver71 wrote:

Sometimes I feel that players are too vested in achieving someone else's tone, rather than fostering their own. Nearly every Silver Jub thread is dedicated to Slash, Joe, or Frusciante.

Such a true statement! Don't get me wrong I catch myself doing the same. In the end all of these amps mentioned can get you close. After that it's really about your own style and attack.

Anthony

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

The whole reason I actually started modding my Jubilee was so that I could try and get more clarity when I roll the volume back. I have a Sovtek JCM800 clone, but it's not smooth enough for me on it's own. I've also toyed with the idea of inserting a mini tube in place of the LED's.

It's really mind boggling. I think I'll probably insert switches on mine so that I can go between stock settings and the different "mods" that I'm doing to it. I really hate spending so much time on gear, but personally, I can't play and express myself unless I'm getting the sound that really is my voice.

"The way I like to look at it is....if that's the last time I ever got to play, I'd better give it everything I've got." -SRV

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

ACF wrote:
Hamcarver71 wrote:

Sometimes I feel that players are too vested in achieving someone else's tone, rather than fostering their own. Nearly every Silver Jub thread is dedicated to Slash, Joe, or Frusciante.

Such a true statement! Don't get me wrong I catch myself doing the same. In the end all of these amps mentioned can get you close. After that it's really about your own style and attack.

I will agree, but in the same breath, we are all products of our interests in these musicians...I just think that there are good starting points for musicians to emulate. I always laugh at the thought of shredders playing a Tele through a Twin, or Jazz players playing a Strat through a Hiwatt stack...this would make for interesting tv. Rather than "wife-swap" we could call it "rig-swap"!!

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

TubeSaturation wrote:

The whole reason I actually started modding my Jubilee was so that I could try and get more clarity when I roll the volume back. I have a Sovtek JCM800 clone, but it's not smooth enough for me on it's own. I've also toyed with the idea of inserting a mini tube in place of the LED's.

It's really mind boggling. I think I'll probably insert switches on mine so that I can go between stock settings and the different "mods" that I'm doing to it. I really hate spending so much time on gear, but personally, I can't play and express myself unless I'm getting the sound that really is my voice.

I understand your plight...would love to hear some sound bites before and after mods, as I am in the same boat. I guess the positive in all of this, is that there are so many different ideas of what exactly is the "Holy Grail" in guitar tone...Strat guys vs Les Paul guys, Marshall guys vs Fender vs Mesa vs Vox vs Roland...it really does open up the arena as far as tone is concerned, which in my opinion is really a good thing. The electric guitar is bar far the most diverse instrument on the planet!

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

Getting back to the nuts and bolts of the "tone" in question, I broke out an old album that truly blows my mind with respect to rock guitar recordings...Thin Lizzy's "Johnny the Fox" album. (Robertson and Gorham) if I am not mistaken, really encapsulated the sound that moves me to play.

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

SOFTMC wrote:

Hey

Sounds like you need to revert to the JCM800 if thats the sound you are after I pair my jubilee with a JCM 800 and it gives the added bite and clarity that my jUbilee lacks

Thing is when you listen to the Borderline gig when Joe is using 2 Jubilees his tone is awesome I cant get my jubilee to sound this good.

I just listened to this live recording...the opening tune with the Strat is really more "open" than Joe's current more compressed, bass driven tone of today...I like the 3 piece vibe as well...it really shows a musicians abilities with the holes in the mix!

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

Joe has chimed in on EQ settings for Jub.... bass all the way up, treble from 4-6 (i think), and adjust mids to taste. I think that's how he runs it. I always thought the louder you play the less the bass dial should be, but Joe swears on a Jub you can leave it wide open no matter how loud you play.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

This has been discussed before but here goes

I run my Jubilee as Joe does pres 5, bass 8, mids 6.5, treble 5,output master volume full on , lead master to taste, and input gain 6., BOSS DD3 in the effects loop also  using split cab with EVM12Ls

this yields a fat saturated tone , especially good with a strat, but my experience finds that it is hard to cut through in a band situation so pairing it with another mid heavy amp I have a Ceriatone Dumble clone, A JCM 800 2210 Early circuit  and a JCM2000 DSL100W .

all these amps sound great on their own but the only one I would not gig with on its own is the jubilee

"Everybody's entitled to my opinion. wink

Re: Jubilee settings suggestions

Hamcarver71 wrote:

Getting back to the nuts and bolts of the "tone" in question, I broke out an old album that truly blows my mind with respect to rock guitar recordings...Thin Lizzy's "Johnny the Fox" album. (Robertson and Gorham) if I am not mistaken, really encapsulated the sound that moves me to play.

Killer album. That band continue to be a huge influence on me.