Tell me about the JCM800

[emperor_black]

Nice topic for a thread. But, what the heck is a vertical input?

[Infernal Death]

The first ones got the input jacks vertically on the front panel.The later ones had horizontal inputs.
Here you can see the difference, horizontal on the left and vertical on the right:



Flo

[emperor_black]

oh! I could never have guessed that. Thanks man!

[chrisolson]

Man... I remember seeing a horizontal input JCM800 head a few years ago at a Music Go Round for $499... FARCK!!! I wish I would have bought it.

[Da' Melta']

The first ones got the input jacks vertically on the front panel.The later ones had horizontal inputs.
Here you can see the difference, horizontal on the left and vertical on the right:



Flo

Wow....that's a heap o' amps! Great pic!

[MSGfan]

I had a JCM900 50 watt Dual Reverb head, and it was...nice. Not great, but that was before I knew how to draw tone out of a good amp. In this case, a little boost to the front end would have done it.

The SL-X on the other hand, can get way outta hand quick, and I always found it to be a bit fizzy and harsh. I'm sure there's a mod that could smooth it out, but then you might as well use a 900 with a boost!

I agree on the SL-X, I had one for a short amount of time and it just didn't have the tone of my JCM 800 or my JMP 2204 so I sold it.
I did just buy an`82 JCM 800 2203, it definately has more low end than the 2204's awesome tone too, but damn it's loud!!

[Endrik]

no matter wich one you get... if it's in a good condition the changes are you are gonna sound good with it... easy to dial in and works really well with pedals... that's the thing with Marshalls..... even the newer shitty ones can sound good if you use the right pedals

[zeegler]

A friend of mine has a JCM2000 DSL100. I didn't like that at all. It sounded way too loose. I didn't try it with pedals, but I wasn't impressed. I guess he wasn't either, because he just recently bought an 800.

[chrisolson]

Sounds like maybe Marshall should just go back to simpler amp designs, and quit trying to one-up Mesa. Take a lesson - do what you do, and do it well. More isn't always better.

[markD]

in case of marshall that is SURELY the case!! i am eyeing a jtm45 head right now. i know i will NEED pedals (which i normally don't use) but it sounds ABSOLUTELY amazing in every way. if that falls through, i am looking at acouple of other older marshalls....a jmp head and a 1959 reissue, both of which are totally amazing too....

[Endrik]

in case of marshall that is SURELY the case!! i am eyeing a jtm45 head right now. i know i will NEED pedals (which i normally don't use) but it sounds ABSOLUTELY amazing in every way. if that falls through, i am looking at acouple of other older marshalls....a jmp head and a 1959 reissue, both of which are totally amazing too....

yeah... I would take those... amazing amps.... I was never a big fan of JCM series because when I compare them too the older ones they have nothing against those.... I'd personally take 1959 and let someone good mod it a bit

[horns666]

A friend of mine has a JCM2000 DSL100. I didn't like that at all. It sounded way too loose. I didn't try it with pedals, but I wasn't impressed. I guess he wasn't either, because he just recently bought an 800.

Agreed 100%..but if you gonna go with pedals and or mods go with What E suggested..but those will cost ya I think. But if you scored one, it would be a keeper. The early 2203 were cool too as well as the JMPs..all great Marshalls!

I liked the 2210 only because it had the right amount of gain for me without a pedal. I always went for classic VH/Savatage sound and that amp does it pretty well.

Yes less is definitely more in my book. I don't need all those fuggin' channels and bullshit anywhoo. All I need is ONE great channel..its all what ya do with it..

[zeegler]

Agreed 100%..but if you gonna go with pedals and or mods go with What E suggested..but those will cost ya I think. But if you scored one, it would be a keeper. The early 2203 were cool too as well as the JMPs..all great Marshalls!

I liked the 2210 only because it had the right amount of gain for me without a pedal. I always went for classic VH/Savatage sound and that amp does it pretty well.

Yes less is definitely more in my book. I don't need all those fuggin' channels and bullshit anywhoo. All I need is ONE great channel..its all what ya do with it..

I'm with you Bill. I don't need a clean channel, and I can use my EQ pedal for a solo boost. As you say, the simpler, the better.

[darrellm]

A friend of mine has a JCM2000 DSL100. I didn't like that at all. It sounded way too loose. I didn't try it with pedals, but I wasn't impressed. I guess he wasn't either, because he just recently bought an 800.

I've played a JCM2000 DSL50 for the past 10 years and have been pretty happy with the sound, it blew up earlier this year and I fancied a change so went for an Engl Screamer. Since then, several people have come up to me and said how much my sound has improved, yet I'm keeping it very simple: Les Paul / Flying V / Charvel into the Engl with just a Boss DD in the effects loop.

Most people I know regard the JCM800 as the pinnacle of Marshall, we were all playing them in the late 80s, why did we all get rid of them ??? Versatility I suppose, although mine was great it was a bit of a one-trick pony, no effects loop, etc.