N.A.D

[d1dsj]

Nothing really to shout about, but in light of my gigging dilema regarding my heads and need for a small (1 x 12) cab I managed to bag a very condition Marshall JCM900 1 x 12 combo for not much more than a decent 1 x 12. :D The guy I got it off bought it new in 1991!

I didn't really want another amp, but this makes more sense as it's the dual reverb model it has 2 volumes, dual reverb which I won't really use and it's an earlier EL34 model. This means I can now play small gigs without my pedal board.... just a WAH. Lets face it when space is an issue and drinks are flowing etc, I didn't want several hundred pounds worth of pedals being wrecked AGAIN! It alreaady happened a few years ago when some kind folk decided my board needed a pint! Haven't really been able to get the volume up yet, but it's actually better than I thought it would be at lower volumes. It's not meant to replace the Mk50 half stack or JTM45, but for me it's a sensible solution! Anyway, here's the obligatory pic or it didn't happen  :lol:

[Twinfan]

Enjoy it!

[BigB]

That makes 2 new JCM900 day in 2 days  :lol:

Never really liked the "boost" channel voicing on my (early EL34 too) 4102, but the crunch channel was pretty cool - even if a bit picky wrt/ dirtboxes. You'll perhaps want to swap the stock speaker for something with deeper lows and smoother hi-mids, too.

Oh, and yes : happy NAD  8)

[HTH AMPS]

Thats VERY clean and for around £200 ???.  Those dual-reverb JCM900s aren't as bad as people make out - it'll make a nice gigging amp.  I'd have one myself for that sort of cash.

I know where you're coming from getting a 1x12 combo - I went through the same problem recently, got a 1x12 combo cab built by Matamp and threw one of my experimental chassis amps in there.  Its much easier lumping a 1x12 combo to a rehearsal than a 4x12 and 100w head.

[d1dsj]

I'm not going throw much cash at this as it really is only a "small venue/ last resort/ no effects board required because there just ain't no space to set it up" amp!  :lol: However, I think when I do have it re-valved I'll go low gain pre amp valves so that I can keep the gains set quite high. One thing that has surprised is that it's more touch sensitive than I thought... and backing the volume pot down makes for a usable set up. I may well just make a pyramid shaped beam blocker too and stick it to the inside of the grille, this should tame the highs and spread the sound a little better. 

[BigB]

I'm not going throw much cash at this as it really is only a "small venue/ last resort/ no effects board required because there just ain't no space to set it up" amp!  :lol: However, I think when I do have it re-valved I'll go low gain pre amp valves so that I can keep the gains set quite high. One thing that has surprised is that it's more touch sensitive than I thought... and backing the volume pot down makes for a usable set up.

Yeps, despite the very bad rap it's got on HC and other places, it's still a pretty good amp (at least the first channel), and I do regret mine. Or to be honest, I do regret I bought the 4102 instead of the 4501.

[_tom_]

Nice, the dual reverbs are great amps. Dunno why they get a bad name. Through my cab, the one I tried was just as good if not better than my Laney!

[shobet]

I've got one of them but with the 5881 valves in it. I've had her since new and I think that she's in need of a jolly good service truth be told, as she's not a good sounding amp at the moment.

I suppose I better get ringing that there bloke in the hills what makes them amps.

[d1dsj]

This one still has the original valves, and the guy I bought it from has had it from new and the condition reflects that. He said he hadn't used it a great deal relatively speaking over the years as he is an acoustic player! He was in a church band... surprised he didn't get banished to hell this thing can sound quite evil!  :lol:

The crackly pots are easing up now, it's just a case of getting used to that boxey 1 x 12 sound. This amp definately sounds better with higher output pick ups... not so much for the gain, they just add some meat to the sound.

[Tellboy]

I've still got a JCM900 4101 - the 100 watt dual reverb combo version which I bought new (EL34s). I also have a matching 1912 150watt extension cab with it which greatly improved live performance. Haven't used it for some time since I got my Cornfords but think it was not as bad as some people claimed.

[BigB]

Nice, the dual reverbs are great amps. Dunno why they get a bad name. 

The most common complain is about the  the diode clipping circuit AFAICT - which is kinda funny since the latest JCM800 and the Jubilee series have the same "feature".  The stock speaker is also a debatable choice for the combos. Oh, and yes - it seems the built quality was very uneven, and thruth is I sometimes played JCM900 that were really dead sounding.

But I'd say that the real problem was with peoples not understanding this was designed and voiced as a (by that time) modern amp, and expecting it to work and sound as a vintage one.

[Alex]

I've just that amp for a decade, literally. I liked it, although it has clear limitations. I can give you some practical advice:

- the clean channel is nice and full, use it a lot and enjoy the reverb!
- the drive channel IMO is best when it is three-quarters up (more and it gets fizzy) and used with a overdrive for leads. It doesn't clean up nicely - at all, so an overdrive pedal that works well with both channels helps a lot.
- the original speaker is a bit limited, you can improve the sound a lot to your liking by putting in an Eminence or Tayden.
- make sure the loop jacks are used from time to time. if they get rusty or dirty, the amp might simply not give out any output (and you'll be wondering what is actually the problem).
- don't bother with expensive/different preamp tubes too much - the amp does not change a lot at all. A good preamp tube in the V1 and the rest whatever you have.

[roland_rat]

Congratulations on the new amp. Sounds like a nice find for the price you paid too. Enjoy :lol:

[d1dsj]

Roland Rat, cheers! Yeah it's better than I thought it would be. To be honest I never thought I'd buy another Marshall...EVER! But it will serve it's purpose for when the Cornford can't come out to play!  :lol:

Alex.
Thanks for the tips.

I agree that hi gain channel gets somewhat fizzy above 2 o'clock on the dial.
I am aware of the loop jack problem as it happened to a silver jubilee combo I had many years ago. I know there are alot of fans of those Jubilee but I didn't like mine as much as I like channel 1 on this at least!
I won't be throwing any money at it really, I already have a set of Tesla EL34's I bought many years ago that are still new in the boxes. I went to Maplins today and got some service spray for the crackley pots and whilst I had it apart done some detail cleaning, including all of the jack sockets. The Preamp valves look on good order and are marked ECC83M... not sure what that means but it sounded good enough with those in anycase. I doubt that I will change the speaker, BUT I may try a G12-65 if I do.