ironlung40

Hey all,

first let me say I've got a couple of JCM 800 2203's, and I love them. But, I've also got an SLX 2100. I've had it for awhile now and like it, but I've never really used the switchable masters live as I don't have a band or opportunity to do so at this point.

Anyway, at home I really love the way you can boost this slx for solos without compromising the tone like a boost pedal does on the 2203's. you can set it for just a little more push and not add any gain or mush up the amp at all.

On my 2203's I'm already boosting them which adds gain, and it's sounds wonderful, but when I need more for a solo boost, I cannot get there without adding a lot of color from the pedal board, ie more gain, mids, etc.

this thread may seem pointless, but I was just wanting to get some input on this from some slx veterans

In short, I'm really seeing the value in a good SLX

Adrian R

Ironlung..

Yes, that is a GREAT feature with the SLX head. I've used them in a band scenario before and its great to have the power to really get over the mix.. ne nice thing about Boogie Rectos is that solo feature...that really is slick and I wish Marshall would incoporate that feature in all of their heads!

__________________
Adrian R.
Amplification:
Marshall JCM800 2205
Marshall JCM900 MKIII 2100
Marshall JCM900 Dual Reverb 4500
Marshall MG15 Micro Stack
Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cab. w/75w Celestions
Sonic 2x12 Cab.
MXR Fx.

Guitars:
Gibson LP Standard
Gibson Explorer
Gibson Flying V
Guild DV 6 Acoustic

"Only two tones apply: loud and LOUDER"

Sir Don

My SLX900 is my main gigging amp and has been for many years. Did you know you can also get a clean sound out of the amp by inserting into the fx return? You just need an a/b switch with one line going into the front input and the other to the fx return. You can put eq or any other effect into the fx return to match up levels and tone. This is what I do by using my gt8 with the 900. A great amp and more versatile than people think.

__________________
My gear:

2204, 2210, 2555, 9005, 1959, 5005, 4103, 2100, TSL100

www.myspace.com/rockthebosss

ironlung40

Thanks for the comments above, guys.
I did not know about the clean option on the amp by using the fx return, I'll give it a go. Is this effective enough to essentially run the amp like a channel switcher? If so, then I guess any single channel amp with an effects loop could be done this way, like even the 2203 RI?

Adrian, you like the 6l6gc's in your 900 dual channels. What about the SLX you played? did it have the 5881's or EL34's. Mine has 5881's which I think sound pretty darn good, but it seems most prefer the EL34's.

Ironlung40

Sir Don

You can do it but what I find is that I have to boost the input to the fx return so that the clean and crunch volumes are similar, no big deal you could do this with an eq pedal easily enough.

__________________
My gear:

2204, 2210, 2555, 9005, 1959, 5005, 4103, 2100, TSL100

www.myspace.com/rockthebosss

ironlung40

O.K. let's see if I follow you here. (I would just try it, but I don't have a eq or a a/b box at the moment)

Anyway, so run one side of the a/b box into the input on front of amp, then the other end of the a/b to an eq and then from the eq into the fx return, adjust to even out the volume difference, and you essentially have a 2 channel slx?

I'm liking this idea. Never really used loops before, but this will give me a good reason too. I usually run two amps, one for clean and one for dirty, but If I can get by this way, then it'll save me from transporting 2 heads. I'm not currently in a band, but I travel to play with a friend sometimes.

Thanks for this info.

Sir Don

You got it, my main amp for a while was the TSL100 simply because it has three channels. If you run the SLX the way I mentioned you essentially have a three channel amp. It just takes a bit more dialling in but with my gt8 it's pretty simple. So you have a clean channel through the fx loop return, the normal crunch channel through the front of the amp plus your lead boost. Give it a go and see what you think,.

__________________
My gear:

2204, 2210, 2555, 9005, 1959, 5005, 4103, 2100, TSL100

www.myspace.com/rockthebosss