sarge

Hey Marshall guys,

Die hard Mesa guy here (Mark IV)

I recently had the chance to try out a JCM800 2204. I will admit I was blown away. It was at guitar center in the back in the sound proof room so I had it cranked pretty loud. No, I'm not selling my Mesa, but I am now looking to add the JCM 800 to my gear.

I'm not one who loves gobbs of gain. Even though I play a lot of metal, I still keep the gain lower then most. I pound on the strings pretty hard. I had the gain (or preamp I think it was called) pegged. It was just a touch less gain then I would like. One of the reps brought me an OCD and I was in heaven.

Anyway, my questions.

1. Is it possible to get a good tone out of it at low volumes?
Most times I will not be able to crank it. I have also read that attenuators can mess with the tone. I had gone back to GC to test it at low volumes as I never thought to when I was there, but it had already sold. I would even go so far as to get something like a grendel dead room if need be.

2. Biasing. The only tube amps I have owned long enough to where I had to replace the tubes were Mesa's, and they are all fixed bias. What does biasing entail?

3. Getting and effects loop added. I really like my delays for leads. Anyone know what the average cost of getting an effects loop added is?

Thanks

Marshall Amps

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ThreeTone

I have a 2203 which is virtually the same circuit but in a 100 watt version. I use an Ultimate attenuator and it's fantastic at low volumes. I think the tone cut is minimal, it's just that the speakers/cab aren't being driven, but it sounds great even at TV volume. It doesn't sound the same as it does at high volumes, but the difference is small. The UA is the best attenuator I've used. A great investment if you have to restrict your volume.

My 2203 doesn't really come into it's own until you hit 4 on the master, so anything lower than that and the UA is great to have. I can crank it wherever I want it and still hear the doorbell or the wife calling me to dinner

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'83 Marshall JCM 800 2203 / '83 1960A 4x12 G12-65s / SED Winged =C= 34s / RFT V1, RFT V2, Telefunken V3 / Ultimate Attenuator
'00 Fender Blues Jr.

'09 PRS SE Custom 22 / Tobacco Burst
'01 Gibson Les Paul Classic / Honeyburst
'01 Gibson Les Paul Studio Plus / Desertburst
'00 Fender '62 AVRI Strat / 3-tone 'Burst
'99 Fender Telecaster / White Blonde
'76 Fender Strat / Mocha
'65 Fender Malibu acoustic

"It whispers no, this will be, the last..."

ptate

1. Yes, but you will need a great boost pedal or attenuator. I use a pedal with the Volume at 1 (at home- different with the band) and it gives me the Rhoads/Zakk Wylde tone I want.
2. It means measuring the bias across the grid then adjusting it with a variable resistor (generally).
3. Nope, 'cos I use my pedal (nothing else) in front.

JCM800. Awesome amp.

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sarge

Thanks.

With the option I want it looks like the ultimate atenuator would run me 600.

With regard to biasing, I saw the video on Eurotubes. I think I'll just take it to my tech and pay the 36 bucks.

I wish they offered the 2204 as a re-issue, but apparently it is only the 2203.

That comes with a loop but I have read (don't know how true it is) that the re-issues are not like the originals

gtrman

Well they are not ... but they are still kick ass amps. I have the 2203 reissue and it's a beast. In my opinion the amp stands on it's own mighty fine. It's possible to put in KT88's to get even more omph ... and the effect loop comes in real handy as well. Yes it 100w but the Master volume makes it possible to get plenty gain even at fairly low volumes but as with most Marshalls it shines more when played LOUD !

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JCM800 2203X - 2204 - 1923 85th Anniversary - JCM900 SL-X - VM 2266 - 425A - 6100LM - 6101LM - Silver Jubilee 2550 - Silver Jubilee 2553 - Silver Jubilee 2554 - 1960A - 1960B - 1960Slash - 1922 - 1936V - 1936Greenbacks

TubeStack

I've posted this elsewhere around here, but you really should check out the Ho Attenuator. It's hand-made in Canada by the creator of the Ultimate Attenuator. The Ultimate is his product rebranded and marketed more heavily.

Mr. Ho's attenuators are WAY lower in price, the upgrades are half as much, and you're getting it hand-built by him, not a factory in China. It looks more homebrew than the Ultimate, but who cares (I actually dig that). And his prices are in Canadian dollars.

He's old-school in that he doesn't do email and hasn't got much of a website. You have to get his phone number from the site (HoElectronics) and call him.

I've got one on order that should be here in a week and a half, or so.

Lots of info at thegearpage and guitarscanada, too.

TubeStack

And no, I'm not on his payroll.

MajorNut1967

2204 is great amp. But its a bit tough to get real good sound out of them at low volume. Marshall put a treble peaking circuit in the front end of the amp, till this day I still don't know why and it is a bit brassy and weak at low volume. if you get rid of this circuit and change the follower resistor to a 4k instead of 10k (Stock value) you'll get BIT MORE POOP! And might even think about selling your Mesa, just kidding. But if you do these mods they are all easily reversed to go back to stock. Save the old parts! An FX-Loop is major mod and if its a Vintage 2204 you might not want to do it, but if its a must and you do it right with it being buffered it can also act as another gain stage then you will sell your Mesa!
Good Luck
MJN1967