NAD tommorow ! 1978 JMP 50W yummy, yummy !!

[hamfist]

I'd just like to start by saying - "hi, my name's Alan and I'm an ampaholic.  :?

  Just got a bargain (I think) on the 'bay.  A '78 50W JMP 2204 head. These are often considered some of the best amps that Marshall made for the rock musician. Supposedly it is in very, very good condition, and completely unmodified. And just by chance it will cosmetically match perfectly to my '78 Marshall cab.
   So it's down to another head to head (there's a good pun in there somewhere !), between my Ceriatone 1987 with PPIMV (a very, very awesome amp) and this new JMP.
  Strangely, I'm actually hoping for more headroom from the JMP. The Plexi doesn't really do clean, and doesn't clean up particularly well from the guitar volume either. It is a true gain monster (not in a high gain sense, but in a 70's Marshall sense). I have read that the 2204 actually has more headroom than the classic 1987 circuit.
  I got the amp for such a price that I can even afford to pay for a bit of troubleshooting, and a cap job on the amp, and still potentially have some money left from the sale of the Ceriatone, if it comes to it.
    I almost can't imagine a better amp for my purposes than my 1987, but I read a few bits and pieces and listened to one or two mindblowing clips of the 2204 circuit, and just knew I would not be satisfied unless I actually tried one. I'm actually hoping it will be rather more mid-heavy than the 1987, which is itself not mid-scooped at all. I love the crunch from the 1987 but I seem to crave mids these days.
  So Dave, I'm sure your antenna's picked this one up. Either a top quality '78 JMP 2204 , or a Ceriatone 1987 available in the near future.

[Will]

Nice one. How much did you pay for it? I am guessing it was the one that finished in the lower to mid 300's?

I have one coming this week too :) same year  8)

[Twinfan]

.... Strangely, I'm actually hoping for more headroom from the JMP. The Plexi doesn't really do clean, and doesn't clean up particularly well from the guitar volume either. It is a true gain monster (not in a high gain sense, but in a 70's Marshall sense). I have read that the 2204 actually has more headroom than the classic 1987 circuit.

More headroom?  Where did you read that?  I'd be very surprised as essentially you've got two very similar amps, both with master volumes.  The lack of headroom in your 1987 is in part due to the master volume which affects the negative feedback loop.  The pre-PIMV of the 2204 will get rid of that problem but at lower volumes you're going to get a thinner tone.  Which leads me to...

.... I'm actually hoping it will be rather more mid-heavy than the 1987, which is itself not mid-scooped at all. I love the crunch from the 1987 but I seem to crave mids these days.

I doubt it'll have more mids just by circuit alone.  Different valves may come into play here though, as I'm sure you know.

.... So Dave, I'm sure your antenna's picked this one up. Either a top quality '78 JMP 2204 , or a Ceriatone 1987 available in the near future.

Just let me know when you decide which one you're selling  ;)  I'm still after a 50w Plexi/MV  :)

[ailean]

I'd just like to start by saying - "hi, my name's Alan and I'm an ampaholic.  :?

I think we know :) And I feel your pain.

I hope it works out for you! (The amp, not the ampaholism)

[hunter]

very nice, now you need the ultimate attenuator :O)

[hamfist]

Nice one. How much did you pay for it? I am guessing it was the one that finished in the lower to mid 300's?

I have one coming this week too :) same year  8)

Yup, that was the one - £336. Cheap, even for ebay prices for a really good condition one. I'll find out tommorow exactly what it's like but it all sounds A1.

[Will]

very nice, now you need the ultimate attenuator :O)

Living in the middle of nowhere :D

Well mine was £350, great condition etc. There are a few of them on there at the moment, so I figured it was a good time to buy as the price was a bit lower.
I was controlling my excitement before you posted this  :shock:

[hamfist]

very nice, now you need the ultimate attenuator :O)

Hunter, I'd love a UA, but my Hotplate does me OK for the moment. A UA, with a couple of the options, plus import charges, would be outrageously expensive.

Dave - yes I am hoping for more headroom. I've read several descriptions of both amps - and there are definately more than one exact circuit for each type, as marshall did various changes and upgrades through the years.    
  the Ceriatone 1987 is a very gainy version, and if you read the HC reviews, you'll see mine is not the only one. Even on the low gain input, it makes little difference. It's into full crunch at 3 (on both dials, if you are jumpering channels). I have read many reviews that state the 2204 (on the low gain input) has really good headroom. Even on the high gain input, some folks are saying that it doesn't get really crunchy until 5 or 6. It may get more gainy than the Plexi, when on 10, but also has more headroom (if that makes sense). I've never played a 2204 so, to be honest, I'll just wait and see what all the fuss is about, when I get the amp.

[Twinfan]

Furry 'nuff!  Looking forward to the review...

[LazyNinja]

I had a 2204 for a while and that was very a very nice amp. I swapped it for my VH100R at the time because I needed a 2 ch amp but otherwise I would have kept it! It didn't sound as rich or thick as my Ceriatone but it's a really cool sound, exemplary Marshall sound. Make sure you get the caps replaced if it hasn't been serviced for a while though.

BTW I heard that this guy makes the Ultimate Attenuator but you can buy it directly from him without the "Ultimate" label for a big discount. Not sure if that's true but could be worth investigating.

[gwEm]

very nice, now you need the ultimate attenuator :O)

Hunter, I'd love a UA, but my Hotplate does me OK for the moment. A UA, with a couple of the options, plus import charges, would be outrageously expensive.

Dave - yes I am hoping for more headroom. I've read several descriptions of both amps - and there are definately more than one exact circuit for each type, as marshall did various changes and upgrades through the years.    
  the Ceriatone 1987 is a very gainy version, and if you read the HC reviews, you'll see mine is not the only one. Even on the low gain input, it makes little difference. It's into full crunch at 3 (on both dials, if you are jumpering channels). I have read many reviews that state the 2204 (on the low gain input) has really good headroom. Even on the high gain input, some folks are saying that it doesn't get really crunchy until 5 or 6. It may get more gainy than the Plexi, when on 10, but also has more headroom (if that makes sense). I've never played a 2204 so, to be honest, I'll just wait and see what all the fuss is about, when I get the amp.

thats not true - with the gain on 10 you get crunch at every master volume level. its true it sounds a bit thin with really low volumes, but I think its acceptable, i don't miss an attenuator. it is true though that the amp sounds the best with the MV 4->6 or thereabouts.... at least in my experience

enjoy your fine new amplifier!

[FernandoDuarte]

I think I'll need a power attenuator, buying a clone of Plexi MV 50w...
But this Ultimate is VERY expensive, £550  :o
There is any other good?

[hamfist]

I think I'll need a power attenuator, buying a clone of Plexi MV 50w...
But this Ultimate is VERY expensive, £550  :o
There is any other good?

THD Hotplate works very well with my Ceriatone 50W Plexi clone !

[hamfist]

Ho hum.   Well, I picked up the amp today. Plugged it in at the sellers house, just to check that everything works fine - which it did.

  Got it home, plugged it in. Within about 3 seconds I knew the amp was not going to be staying with me.  I played for a few minutes trying to get sounds that I really liked, but couldn't. I didn't realise how much brighter the amp would be than my 1987 clone.  It's got that Marshall broken glass thing going on. I know many, many folks love that, but it's not for me.  I know I could start fiddling with bright caps, but I simply can't be bothered.
  And yes, the 2204 had much more clean headroom than my 1987. I'd actually say that my 1987 has more gain overall too. With all controls maxed on the 2204 (heavily attenuated obviously - I'm not stoopid !), the amp has about the same levels of gain as my 1987 on about 8.

  Cosmetically the amp was pretty good for a 30 year old amp. A few nicks and minor lumps out of the tolex - nothing too bad. Completely unmodified too. In fact, generally a very saleable amp. I can't believe I got it quite so cheap. In fact I expect to sell it for more than I paid for it.
   Unless someone here is desperate for it, I'll be turning it over on ebay in a couple of days. If anyone here is willing to pay £360 plus shipping, they can have it. However, I would strongly prefer the amp either to be collected or I would deliver within 120 miles for the cost of fuel.
   One of the knobs had lost it's gold cover, so I've ordered a replacement. Once that arrives, if no-one here wants it, I'll get it all ship shape, take some photos, and start yet another donation to ebay's profits.

[Twinfan]

I had a feeling you wouldn't like it Alan  :(

I need to find out if I have £360 lying around.  I think it would do a good "Angus on the If You Want Blood live album" tone........