My JCM800 2205 sounds really bad

rockerthenew · 09-02-2009, 10:27 AM

I got this JCM800 2205 head from 1984 and it sounds really bad, the tone is very scratchy, no matter how much i mess around with presence,treble, guitar volume/tone i can't get a smooth lead tone ..

Rhytm tone is OK but other jcm800 samples i've heard sound soooo much better, lead tone is just horrible, sounds worse then a MG15

What can i do ? the tubes are recently changed and its EL34s

Frankie · 09-02-2009, 10:46 AM

It's a 2205, so you have a diode clipping circuit in that boost channel. First, try playing in the normal channel with the channel volume pretty high up around 8. It should break up smoothly there. If it doesn't, then you might need to have the amp looked at. For the gain channel, I found I never liked my gain dial above 6 as it got really tinny and buzzy. My favorite way to run that amp was with the master volume on about 8, and then the channel volumes to control output. The diodes in the boost channel will always overdrive, and the normal channel will actually clean up and sound pretty smooth too.

That 2205'll never sound like clips you heard of a JCM 800 as they were most like 2204's and/or 2203's. Popular 2205 tone is Megadeth, Scorpions, and Rage Against The Machine. Most other JCM 800 bands you're probably trying to get a tonal reference from had 2203/4 models.

anthonyr · 09-02-2009, 11:15 AM

Dude, i had the same f@#king problem with mine. I hope you're not the guy I sold it to. Lol. Seriously though, no matter what I did, including countless power and preamp tubes and even new caps, it was just a dog. It still pisses me off thinking about that thing. My ears would adjust for the time I was playing it and when I'd come back to play later it was like Good Lord! That's the sound I was using?

I was lucky enough to score an '82 2203 while I still owned the 2205 and was able to a/b both side by side. The 2203 sent that 2205 to its grave. The good news is that I sold it on craigslist for $100 more than I paid the same day I posted it.

jcmjmp · 09-02-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockerthenew

I got this JCM800 2205 head from 1984 and it sounds really bad, the tone is very scratchy, no matter how much i mess around with presence,treble, guitar volume/tone i can't get a smooth lead tone ..

Rhytm tone is OK but other jcm800 samples i've heard sound soooo much better, lead tone is just horrible, sounds worse then a MG15

What can i do ? the tubes are recently changed and its EL34s

Is it loud? Have you had the amp checked out?

09-02-2009, 10:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
rockerthenew Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1	My JCM800 2205 sounds really bad I got this JCM800 2205 head from 1984 and it sounds really bad, the tone is very scratchy, no matter how much i mess around with presence,treble, guitar volume/tone i can't get a smooth lead tone .. Rhytm tone is OK but other jcm800 samples i've heard sound soooo much better, lead tone is just horrible, sounds worse then a MG15 What can i do ? the tubes are recently changed and its EL34s

09-02-2009, 10:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
Frankie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 362	Re: My JCM800 2205 sounds really bad It's a 2205, so you have a diode clipping circuit in that boost channel. First, try playing in the normal channel with the channel volume pretty high up around 8. It should break up smoothly there. If it doesn't, then you might need to have the amp looked at. For the gain channel, I found I never liked my gain dial above 6 as it got really tinny and buzzy. My favorite way to run that amp was with the master volume on about 8, and then the channel volumes to control output. The diodes in the boost channel will always overdrive, and the normal channel will actually clean up and sound pretty smooth too. That 2205'll never sound like clips you heard of a JCM 800 as they were most like 2204's and/or 2203's. Popular 2205 tone is Megadeth, Scorpions, and Rage Against The Machine. Most other JCM 800 bands you're probably trying to get a tonal reference from had 2203/4 models. __________________ w w w . c o w b o y m a f i a . n e t Myspace.com \| YouTube \| Facebook

09-02-2009, 11:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
anthonyr Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Clearwater Florida Posts: 80	Re: My JCM800 2205 sounds really bad Dude, i had the same f@#king problem with mine. I hope you're not the guy I sold it to. Lol. Seriously though, no matter what I did, including countless power and preamp tubes and even new caps, it was just a dog. It still pisses me off thinking about that thing. My ears would adjust for the time I was playing it and when I'd come back to play later it was like Good Lord! That's the sound I was using? I was lucky enough to score an '82 2203 while I still owned the 2205 and was able to a/b both side by side. The 2203 sent that 2205 to its grave. The good news is that I sold it on craigslist for $100 more than I paid the same day I posted it.

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