Author Topic: Been thinking about this a bit... (Read 9542 times)

indysmith · « **on:** October 28, 2007, 01:24:21 PM »

Maybe it's time for me to get rid of my JCM800? I love it to death, but it's VERY loud. Also - I've moved away from it a bit musically - when i got it i was really into playing quite high-gain, bright 80's rock and metal. Now I'm looking for a far more warm, rounded, lower-gain sound. More Warren Haynes or Angus Young than Mick Mars or Van Halen.
I still love the sound it's putting out, but i can't help getting the feeling that there's probably better things out there for me. I keep hearing Suhr Badgers, and Roccaforte 18Ws, and Dr Z Route 66s and the like, and creaming. I can't get sounds that warm and smooth and fat from the JCM800 - It's just too damn bright for that.

The thing is nowadays, being a student, if i got rid of the JCM800... what could i get as an alternative? I don't expect that the £400 - maybe £500 absolute max that I'd make from selling my beloved JCM would get me my dream set-up, or even anything close to the same league as it...
I also have a Peavey poweramp lying around which i could sell to bring my funds up to maybe £600 overall.

What can you guys reccommend me on this kind of budget? I'd prefer a combo amp (love my combos), but a head and 1x12 or even 2x12 is good too if you can fit it into the price range.

My thinking atm is in the Laney Lionheart, Cornford Harlequin, Orange TT, Zvex Nano kind of vein. However, i haven't tried ANY of these (at least for quite a while...), so i expect I'm going to have to go for a trip to denmark st. some time in the next few months.

Thanks a load for any help guys and gals!

Stevepage · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2007, 01:30:28 PM »

If it's very bright, why not change the speaker/s and see how that works? new preamp valves maybe? I would try everything possible before getting rid of it and spending more and more money.

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2007, 01:44:53 PM »

I heard the Lionheart's are nice amps, Laney have clips on their website and it sounds well nice.
Cornford are expensivo so you will need money but a few people have them on here and are very pleased with them and they sound awesome.
Everyone is raving about the TT at the moment and i have to admit it sounds great, but i'm not sure about it being a main amp, more of a second amp that you have fun on.
And the Zvex, heard a clip and it sounds awesome but could be the same worry as the TT that you might get bored of just that one thing that it does.

indysmith · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2007, 01:46:01 PM »

Quote from: Stevepage

If it's very bright, why not change the speaker/s and see how that works? new preamp valves maybe? I would try everything possible before getting rid of it and spending more and more money.

I've changed the speakers and the preamp valves, and am very happy with the results; but it is obviously still too loud, and it is still voiced like a jcm800 rather than the plexi i crave

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2007, 01:56:21 PM »

Use the low gain input ! (if you have the single channel version)

It will sound a lot more plexi like from that

indysmith · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2007, 02:14:05 PM »

Quote from: FELINEGUITARS

Use the low gain input ! (if you have the single channel version)

It will sound a lot more plexi like from that

yeah i have been. It still sounds a lot 'harder' than what i'm looking for. I want a much softer attack and warmer sound.

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2007, 02:32:51 PM »

I think it's best to sell it up as it's pretty loud and you don't like the sound as much, you can probs buy a good enough amp for the same price you sell your amp at. Best thing to do is to go try out a load and see what you like best.

_tom_ · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2007, 02:35:32 PM »

Get that Orange that you were saying sounded awesome :D

Henk · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2007, 02:43:03 PM »

I cant imagine a JCM800 not being able to produce a warm bluesy tone, my jcm800 has an allmost plexi like tone, never harsh, wel unless you boost the mids on it cranked.

It could be yours is modded, they did a 'higher gain' mod in the early days which kind of sounded like you describe.

Another option might be that you play a pure metal axe which probably will make your amp honk like crazy clean and cranked. A good amp will react to the characteristics of your guitar.

You probably know this allready, still think it should be one of these two things.

And by the way, i would never sell my JCM800, it will become harder to find a decent one, i cant imagine you will buy something better for that amount of cash.

indysmith · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2007, 02:53:26 PM »

guys, my jcm800 is completely stock, been serviced by marshall just a few months ago. I've been playing a Greco LP with SD '59s in it - it's not a metal guitar by any stretch of the imagination. The amp's on top form; it sounds great, but I'm telling you it's not the sound I'm after anymore - stop telling me it is!

_tom_ i can't afford that Rockerverb - unless i somehow double my money :(

Henk · « **Reply #10 on:** October 28, 2007, 04:55:00 PM »

Quote from: indysmith

The amp's on top form; it sounds great, but I'm telling you it's not the sound I'm after anymore - stop telling me it is!

Dude, im telling you nothing, you should have just said you have GAS and need to sell stuff that your bored with. Dont blame the JCM or me for that.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #11 on:** October 28, 2007, 06:53:52 PM »

is your JCM800 a 2203 or 2204? - I pretty surprised you can't dial in a warmer sound. if it's bone stock and you're trying to run it cleaner, the bright cap (4700pF) WILL make it very bright. remove the cap and you should be good to go.

if you're 100% set on getting rid of it, then a JTM45 or Bluesbreaker will give you what you're after.

:twisted:

hunter · « **Reply #12 on:** October 28, 2007, 07:37:10 PM »

I would not sell the 800, I'm sure you will regret it A LOT.

I'm pretty sure that you could for example try a Damage Control Womanizer or similar sort of pedal into either the 800 or the peavey to get the tones you're after

hunter · « **Reply #13 on:** October 28, 2007, 07:41:17 PM »

...maybe you should have your bias setting and the tubes checked?

indysmith · « **Reply #14 on:** October 28, 2007, 09:31:32 PM »

i really don't think you guys understand what I'm trying to say-
The main reason for me wanting to get rid of the '800 is the volume - it's far too loud for uni (i just got it here to uni, played for about 3mins with hotplate on -16db, with the fine tuning on about 9 o clock, and i've had 2 calls from randomers complaining. Any lower and the tone disappears COMPLETELY and it turns into a buzzy yuck).
I was saying that if i was going to get another amp i'd like it to have a more Plexi-sounding, lower gain, warmer tone.
Hunter you're right though, i know if i was going to sell the JCM800 i'd definately regret it someday... It sounds so damn good (it actually sounds a lot better in my uni room than in my room at home - i expect this is due to the far more solid concrete floor in my halls as opposed to wooden floorboards at home...?
Maybe the answer is to ask for a quieter amp for xmas, or to sell that peavey poweramp and save up some pennies.