I really want a JCM 900 - no idea what this is though! :(

[Anitoli]

I never understood the "too bright" complaint about Marhalls ( unless they are trying to use a stack at bedroom levels then it's going to sound thin), Most tube heads have a treble knob, a presence knob and the guitar usually has a tone knob.

[GuitarGuy10]

I really don't want to have to spend a lot of money for a JCM 800, to have my friend at BFG modify like he did my Dual Rectifier. I also don't want to have to spend more money for a DSL or JVM even though professional reviews seem to say that those are better amps. All I can say is I have always found I love JCM 900s. Maybe it is because the 90s were such a big part of music for me and the fact that I love modified Marshalls, especially if they are a little darker than the JCM800 series. As long as a JCM 900 I buy used, is built well and sounds like it belongs in the same league as my other amps, I would love a used JCM 900 and Marshall B cabinet.

This is another clip that floors me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lWJYvp5joc

[Mats A]

I had one of these a 50W. I didn't really like it then. Thought it sounded thin. Saw a clip it was a Marshall shootout and i almost thought it sounded best of them all. It has diode clipping.

[GuitarGuy10]

I don't care about diode clipping but it sounds like the fattest JCM 900.

[Mats A]

Sometimes i think you get a fatter tone and more like having Power amp distortion when blending diode clipping with valve preamp distortion.

[GuitarGuy10]

I checked out my guitar tech's Marshalls, a bunch of JMP heads, 900s, 800s, and a DSL 50. We both agreed the JCM 900 4100 sounded better than the DSL 50 and both of his JCM 800s. I want one but not sure I care about reverb. Is the 2100 and 2500 as good as the 410o and 4500 tone?

Thanks!

[Mats A]

Hi! What was better on the 4100 than on the DSL you thought?

[Mats A]

I listened to some recordings i made when i had my 4100. It sounded good and fat but a bit stiff and undynamic. It was the same with the 2205 wich is a rather dull sounding amp. Remember having trouble hearing myself when i rehearsed with it.

[GuitarGuy10]

I listened to some recordings i made when i had my 4100. It sounded good and fat but a bit stiff and undynamic. It was the same with the 2205 wich is a rather dull sounding amp. Remember having trouble hearing myself when i rehearsed with it.

How does that compare to the JCM 900 2100 and 2500?

[Mats A]

I had a 2500 for a short time when it came out. I didn't like it thought it sounded thin. But i've heard it in a Marshall Shootout recently and almost thought it sounded best of them all.

[shaun]

There's nothing wrong with a Dual Reverb. Personally I wouldn't want one as my only Marshall, but I'd gladly add any of the JCM900's to my collection.

If you like a DR, get one. I doubt you'll get "classic" Marshall sounds out of it, but if you're okay with that then that's that.

Mott, i agree that there is nothing wrong with the Dual Reverb series, if that is what you want. At the time, it suited me for what i needed, and honestly, i didn't really know much better. Now, it is not what i would want in a Marshall.


Well, i have to disagree with myself.
I finally had a chance to play my 4100 head thru a straight 4 12 greenback cab. I have not played it for about 6 years, and i know this amp gets a lot of grief on the 'other' Marshall forum. At low bedroom volume it sounded very good to me.
With channel A preamp on full and Master at about 1 1/2 it gives a really good Marshall rhythm crunch.
Channel B with preamp on 12 and Master about 1 1/2 gives a bit more modern tone (not that modern, bit Maiden Powerslave era than say a JVM)
Channel A is a bit fuller or thicker than B.
Eq settings were Pres. 10 Bass 4-5 Mid 10 Treb 5.

I always had a bit of trouble blending the two channels, but thinking more of it as 2 single channels amps in the 1 head shell, it is a good amp. The diode clipping does not bother me in this amp.

Some of the complains about this amp are it is thin at low volume, but i did not find this. Just sticking to either channel, and eq ing that is the key for me. It may inspire me to play a bit more now.

Edit - i edited my previous post by mistake instead of quoting it. This was an update posted 14th Aug

[GuitarGuy10]

I ended ip taking my Bogner Shiva to my friends studio. I thought my Bogner just destroyed his JCM 900 and 800, and his DSL. Oh well....