My Marshall 2203KK sounds thin and harsh :/

JD-MAN · 07-15-2012, 06:44 AM

Hi guys, I recently got a 2203KK (it was 2nd hand) and I don't know what it is but I find it to be sounding very cold, harsh, thin...
It still has a lot of power and goes extremely loud, but it lacks warmth, body and character. I can't get a nice full round tone out of it.

In fact, I simply hate the cleans and I have to pull back all treble and middle to make it a bit better.

Also, I'd say it is not some "crank the master" thing, because that's not the problem. My other amp is a Marshall JCM800 2210 and it is exacly the opposite of my 2203KK.

Any ideas what it can be? Is this worn tubes? (because I think the amp is still a bit young to get filtercaps replaced, right?)

Odin69 · 07-15-2012, 06:51 AM

My Peavey acted the same way before one of the transformers took a crap. One of the power tubes and a diode being bad caused the problem, according to the repair man?

Hopefully, this is not your problem and you just need to replace the preamp tubes since, you say there is no drop in volumne?

diesel king · 07-15-2012, 09:13 AM

I'd replace the tubes for sure. Stick some JJ's in the preamp to help tame the highs. Roll back on the presence and treble too otherwise it does get bright.

The KK should sound anything BUT thin and harsh. What speakers are you using and how are you dialing the amp in? My KK with the master vol up to 4 and beyond sounds heavier than a mammoth giving birth to a planet

V-man · 07-15-2012, 11:14 AM

+1 on checking powertubes.

ReiGnMaN · 07-15-2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V-man

+1 on checking powertubes.

If I were you, I'd go 50 watts and swap tubes around... if it doesn't work replace em. Truth be told, I run most of my amps at 50 to push them if need be without being absolute overkill..........

(Every little bit helps trying to please bar managers or sound guys)

But seriously, if you havent tried it before, it's easy, pull the outside power tubes or the inner 2 tubes, no biasing needed what so ever to try it and see if she "Comes back"..... Beats buying new tubes just to shelf them.

JD-MAN · 07-15-2012, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diesel king

I'd replace the tubes for sure. Stick some JJ's in the preamp to help tame the highs. Roll back on the presence and treble too otherwise it does get bright.

The KK should sound anything BUT thin and harsh. What speakers are you using and how are you dialing the amp in? My KK with the master vol up to 4 and beyond sounds heavier than a mammoth giving birth to a planet

Thanks, I've tried other preamp tubes and it only changed tone a tiny, tiny bit, but it's not the difference that I need.

As for speakers, I've the standard Marshall 1960 cab with G12T-75's, not the warmest, but the speakers are broken in nicely and they do very well with my 2210 amp.

Guess I'll have to order a new set of powertubes... expensive buggers, so I hope that will solve things...

JD-MAN · 07-15-2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReiGnMaN

If I were you, I'd go 50 watts and swap tubes around... if it doesn't work replace em. Truth be told, I run most of my amps at 50 to push them if need be without being absolute overkill..........

(Every little bit helps trying to please bar managers or sound guys)

But seriously, if you havent tried it before, it's easy, pull the outside power tubes or the inner 2 tubes, no biasing needed what so ever to try it and see if she "Comes back"..... Beats buying new tubes just to shelf them.

Thanks, I'll give that a try as well.

SuperBeaver · 07-15-2012, 01:35 PM

It could be a ton of things.
I'm never comfortable when I buy a used amp until I have it serviced, if it needs it or not.

It always comes back sounding better than before and if you have a trustworthy repair dude he'll only do what's absolutely nessacary. Added to the sound improvement you will have the peace of mind of someone of gravitas telling you that the amps a good un

HOT TUBES 70 · 07-15-2012, 03:04 PM

yep .... the trusty old 2210 was a killer box !!
It's hard to beat one of those bad boys cranked up !!!

I'm gonna go with the rest of the gang , and say its time to check your tubes ...

V-man · 07-15-2012, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReiGnMaN

If I were you, I'd go 50 watts and swap tubes around... if it doesn't work replace em. Truth be told, I run most of my amps at 50 to push them if need be without being absolute overkill..........

(Every little bit helps trying to please bar managers or sound guys)

But seriously, if you havent tried it before, it's easy, pull the outside power tubes or the inner 2 tubes, no biasing needed what so ever to try it and see if she "Comes back"..... Beats buying new tubes just to shelf them.

Either you forgot something important, or I mis-learned somethimg back in the day:

AFAIK, when pulling two tubes, you then need to set the ohm to doublethe workload, e.g. a 100W head running through one 16 ohm cab would now be set to 8 ohm once the two tubes are pulled. Can we get a confirmation on this?

Regardless, it is a good solution (whether long term or short while waitimg for a.replace,emt quad to ship).

ReiGnMaN · 07-16-2012, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V-man

Either you forgot something important, or I mis-learned somethimg back in the day:

AFAIK, when pulling two tubes, you then need to set the ohm to doublethe workload, e.g. a 100W head running through one 16 ohm cab would now be set to 8 ohm once the two tubes are pulled. Can we get a confirmation on this?

Regardless, it is a good solution (whether long term or short while waitimg for a.replace,emt quad to ship).

Shit. Yes, you're absolutely right brotha... I should have mentioned that *SMH*

mickeydg5 · 07-20-2012, 04:01 PM

Read up on this too:
KT88's in 2203kk - 25watt max dissipation?

I think most 2203KKs are biased too cold.

Reckless_Life · 08-02-2012, 08:16 AM

Sorry, post should've gone into the 2203KK thread!

07-15-2012, 06:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
JD-MAN Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 24	My Marshall 2203KK sounds thin and harsh :/ Hi guys, I recently got a 2203KK (it was 2nd hand) and I don't know what it is but I find it to be sounding very cold, harsh, thin... It still has a lot of power and goes extremely loud, but it lacks warmth, body and character. I can't get a nice full round tone out of it. In fact, I simply hate the cleans and I have to pull back all treble and middle to make it a bit better. Also, I'd say it is not some "crank the master" thing, because that's not the problem. My other amp is a Marshall JCM800 2210 and it is exacly the opposite of my 2203KK. Any ideas what it can be? Is this worn tubes? (because I think the amp is still a bit young to get filtercaps replaced, right?)

07-15-2012, 06:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Odin69 Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: California Posts: 713	Re: My Marshall 2203KK sounds thin and harsh :/ My Peavey acted the same way before one of the transformers took a crap. One of the power tubes and a diode being bad caused the problem, according to the repair man? Hopefully, this is not your problem and you just need to replace the preamp tubes since, you say there is no drop in volumne?

07-15-2012, 09:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
diesel king Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: UK Posts: 1,131	Re: My Marshall 2203KK sounds thin and harsh :/ I'd replace the tubes for sure. Stick some JJ's in the preamp to help tame the highs. Roll back on the presence and treble too otherwise it does get bright. The KK should sound anything BUT thin and harsh. What speakers are you using and how are you dialing the amp in? My KK with the master vol up to 4 and beyond sounds heavier than a mammoth giving birth to a planet __________________ JCM800 KK

07-15-2012, 11:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
V-man Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3,820	Re: My Marshall 2203KK sounds thin and harsh :/ +1 on checking powertubes.

07-15-2012, 01:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
SuperBeaver Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Northern Ireland. UK Posts: 862	Re: My Marshall 2203KK sounds thin and harsh :/ It could be a ton of things. I'm never comfortable when I buy a used amp until I have it serviced, if it needs it or not. It always comes back sounding better than before and if you have a trustworthy repair dude he'll only do what's absolutely nessacary. Added to the sound improvement you will have the peace of mind of someone of gravitas telling you that the amps a good un HOT TUBES 70 likes this. __________________ Haar '57' T style. Gibson SG '77JMP MK II 50 watt 1987 Vintage Modern 2266 Cornford Harlequin 1960AX

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07-15-2012, 03:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
HOT TUBES 70 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Saskatoon , Canada Posts: 8,870	Re: My Marshall 2203KK sounds thin and harsh :/ yep .... the trusty old 2210 was a killer box !! It's hard to beat one of those bad boys cranked up !!! I'm gonna go with the rest of the gang , and say its time to check your tubes ... medicjg likes this. __________________ Custom pedals Pedal modifications

07-20-2012, 04:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
mickeydg5 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: US of A Posts: 3,837	Re: My Marshall 2203KK sounds thin and harsh :/ Read up on this too: KT88's in 2203kk - 25watt max dissipation? I think most 2203KKs are biased too cold.

08-02-2012, 08:16 AM	#13 (permalink)
Reckless_Life Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 705	Re: My Marshall 2203KK sounds thin and harsh :/ Sorry, post should've gone into the 2203KK thread! __________________ 1984 Marshall JCM 800 2203 1984 Marshall JCM 800 2204C 1988 Marshall JCM 800 2205 1990 Marshall JCM 800 2210 2007 Marshall JCM 800 2203KK Peavey Bandit 112S TT (1st gen) Peavey 5150 Last edited by Reckless_Life; 08-02-2012 at 03:39 PM.

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