Marshall JVM2 Series?

[James C]

I've been having a look at amps around the £800 mark for a live rig and have been perusing the JVM2 series 205C (50w Combo), does anyone have any experience of these amps? if so will they be able to handle the following tones (using songs as a reference)

Thin Lizzy (Don't Believe a Word) + Iron Maiden (NOTB to 7th Son) for Dirty Rhythm
Testament (Practice what you preach + Into the Pit) + Iron Maiden (Adrian Smith on Dance of Death / Paschendale)

Cleans need to be clear and articulate.

Guitars are MM Loaded LP by Signature and a Vigier Excalibur Ultra (just received my Nailbombs and trilogy suite)

If there are any other suggestions that people might have over the JVM2, please share.

 8)

[hunter]

In general, it will be difficult to get good hardrock and metal tones if you take no extra pedals. I think you wouldn't go wrong with a Marshall for these tones, and the JVM is more versatile than any other Marshall. I would maybe try to go JVM4 instead of a 2 (look for a used one).

Also a DSL100 with some pedals would be great, but don't think you can get this as a combo (except for the DSL401 which sounds lame).

In that price range there are several alternatives, Cornford, Blackstar, used Mesa, Engl, ... so I would keep my eyes open and go to some of the bigger shops and try out stuff.

Edit: Maybe worth a read: this review of the DSL 100  (http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=39270)

[James C]

Thanks for the reply, i'm looking to pretty much dial in a rhythm tone w/o using f/x and then kicking in either a Boss DS-1, MI Audio Tube Zone or MXR 10 band EQ for the lead sound, i had looked at the DSL-50 head.

ultimately, although i would love a 100w Stack, it would only really be feasible in regards to both space and volume for me to use a 50w amp with 2x12 cab.

I try and dial my rhythm sound in without too much gain, and then want to kick in a more saturated sound with a level boost to cut through on solos.

[hunter]

Makes sense.

By the way, 50W and 100W are almost the same volume wise. But 100W heads have more headroom and punch. Personally I prefer the sound of 100W heads (at least when I compared DSL 100 vs DSL 50 and Diezel Einstein 100 vs Einstein 50).

But the Cab will make a difference in volume. Maybe a DSL 100 with a nice 2x12 Cab would be a good idea.

[James C]

Hi Hunter, thanks for your comments, never really knew about the volume similarities between 50/100w amps although i did play through a bogner alchemist amp and when dropping to half power there was no real drop in level, just a a more prominent compression to the sound.

Looking at cabs i'm really interested in the Engl 212 cabs which have Celestion V30s mounted vertically. a skinny half stack as it were.

[lamp]

I've got a JVM410H and it's an extremely versatile amp. 
I've actually thought about trading this in for a 2 series head as I don't use the OD2 channel, but I love the amp and would really recommend you try one out. 

[Simon D]

As far as the Testament tone goes, I read a gear breakdown piece in Guitar World, where Eric Peterson says he's using a JVM210 head in his live rig, so you'll probably be fine for that. Also, the pic of the pedalboard shows no additional overdrive/distortion boxes.
 
I'm also pretty sure the Maiden lads used DSLs and TSLs on the last few albums, so you should be ok there too.

[hunter]

Bogner Alchemist might be nice too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h8wFOF-hbs

Or what about a Bugera?