Marshall Amp Forum - View Single Post

Riffraff · 05-16-2012, 08:03 AM

The Vintage Modern is nothing like a 2204. The Vintage Modern is a hotrodded JTM45. It has a KT66 power section. KT66 tubes have more sag to them than EL34s. The fact that the modes of the Vintage Modern are foot switchable is a bit of a mystery to me. HDR mode adds a 12AX7 to the preamp for a gain boost. This gain boost also boosts the volume.....a lot. Because this is foot switchable most people think this can be used for a solo boost. You really can't because the volume difference between LDR & HDR is extreme. This is not to say the VM is a bad amp, it isn't. I've got a 2266 halfstack and it's a fantastic amp but it is a single channel amp that is best controlled with the controls on your guitar. It's not an amp that you approach like a channel switching amp. If that is what you are after, and it sounds like it is, the DSL would be a better fit. The DSL actually has the features you listed and is typically about 30% less on the used market. Boosting the green channel in a DSL will get you closer to 2204 tone with all the modern features.

05-16-2012, 08:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Riffraff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dutchess County NY Posts: 1,205	Re: Vintage Modern = 2204 modern? The Vintage Modern is nothing like a 2204. The Vintage Modern is a hotrodded JTM45. It has a KT66 power section. KT66 tubes have more sag to them than EL34s. The fact that the modes of the Vintage Modern are foot switchable is a bit of a mystery to me. HDR mode adds a 12AX7 to the preamp for a gain boost. This gain boost also boosts the volume.....a lot. Because this is foot switchable most people think this can be used for a solo boost. You really can't because the volume difference between LDR & HDR is extreme. This is not to say the VM is a bad amp, it isn't. I've got a 2266 halfstack and it's a fantastic amp but it is a single channel amp that is best controlled with the controls on your guitar. It's not an amp that you approach like a channel switching amp. If that is what you are after, and it sounds like it is, the DSL would be a better fit. The DSL actually has the features you listed and is typically about 30% less on the used market. Boosting the green channel in a DSL will get you closer to 2204 tone with all the modern features. __________________ Gear Clip Page: http://www.youtube.com/user/Riffraff12571?feature=mhee Last edited by Riffraff; 05-16-2012 at 03:31 PM.