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Author Topic: Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?  (Read 16470 times)

indysmith

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« on: February 26, 2006, 12:27:01 PM »
Alright, I have my jcm800, and it is actually amazing for what i generally use it for, it sounds INCREDIBLE - still got silly grin factor there. But what if i want to get more modern tones out of it sometimes? It's a 2x12 open back combo - perhaps bass is being lost out the back there? I have a mesa V-Twin preamp, but it isn't exactly turning the amp in a fire-breathing Recto (i know its not supposed to but still...). I really like the tone of the jcm800 with the V-Twin, and i use a lot. However it still sounds like a hot-rodded British amp. Sometimes if i wanna go all-out american-flavour modern metal i can't - i realise i'm never gonna get there exactly because of the circuit, valves etc. however, is there an overdrive, or cab, or e.q. or something i can use to get me in the ballpark? Also i'm thinking maybe THD yellow jackets could help me out - although i think they're a bit expensive arent they? thanks
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Skybone

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2006, 12:36:48 PM »
Mine has a pair of 5881's in it, instead of the usual EL34's for some reason, and they give quite a bright sound, not exactly "modern", but it's not your "normal" Marshall tone. Maybe next time you change the power valves, try putting a different power valve type in there, a lot of Mesa amps use 6L6's don't they?

Also, changing your pre-amp valves for something more "modern" will shape the tone as well. I bought some Sovtek 12AX7 WC's from HotRox, which gave the amp a very "modern" tone (to my ears anyway), which I wasn't after, so I replaced v 3 with an older ECC83M to give it that older sounding vibe. Find out what valves they use in the V-Twin from stock and put some of them in.

Just a thought...
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Twinfan

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2006, 04:55:40 PM »
I'm having virtually the same dilemma with my JTM60 at the moment.

I think the only option is to get a different amp.
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Ratrod

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2006, 04:56:31 PM »
Try the MXR Zakk Wylde overdrive.
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Skybone

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2006, 05:29:56 PM »
I tried one Ratty, and I thought it was too noisy even for an OD. Given that it's the ZW signature model, it doesn't have that "rip your face off" aggressive tone you'd expect it to have, even when the gain is maxed.
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indysmith

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2006, 10:54:17 PM »
Quote from: Ratrod
Try the MXR Zakk Wylde overdrive.

I really should try it out actually - hear a lot of good things about it - kinda seems to be about what i'm looking for. I read something about the MXR kerry king E.Q saying that it could turn ur low-gain vintage amp into a fire-breathing metal monster. anyone tried one? I'd like to have a go... I've been playing around a bit today with the v-twin, I've tried scooping the mids out a bit, which (in the bedroom) makes it sound a bit more metallica, especially if i put on the bass boost of the hotplate. Still - i'm not sure that what i want - its really rather hollow. I guess i'm after a Killswitch Engage kind of sound. I've got a mahognay body ibanez with a Nailbomb in the bridge...
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maliciousteve

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2006, 11:12:51 PM »
I'd say go with an ENGL Screamer. Those things are really really versatile. Sparkly cleans to blues to nut crushing metal. Plus they're pretty cheap too.
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indysmith

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2006, 11:17:01 PM »
Quote from: maliciousteve
I'd say go with an ENGL Screamer. Those things are really really versatile. Sparkly cleans to blues to nut crushing metal. Plus they're pretty cheap too.

Pretty cheap to a 16 year old is my lunch at school.
I don't want a new amp! i love screamers; but i don't want one all the time! i just want to get some moderner sounds out of my amp every so often. i dont want to tunr my amp permanently into anything angry and agressive, nor do i want to get rid of it. i must emphasise my JCM800 sounds PERFECT for pretty much everything i play. Sometimes i just crave a bit o'metal...
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maliciousteve

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2006, 11:21:07 PM »
:lol:  calm down. The best thing to do in that case is to get some kind of E.Q. The MXR's seem to be alot of peoples favourites.
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indysmith

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #9 on: February 26, 2006, 11:23:03 PM »
Quote from: maliciousteve
:lol:  calm down. The best thing to do in that case is to get some kind of E.Q. The MXR's seem to be alot of peoples favourites.

haha sorry man!!! i'm very protective over my amp because it is perfect... :P yeah i think i'll have to experiment with an E.Q if they can make as much difference as i've heard.. thanks dude
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tewboss

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2006, 12:19:13 AM »
I don't think you will ever get the KSE tone from a JCM800. I appreciate what sound you are after (as I would like that sound as well), but the nearest you would get is having it modified to Splawn specs and that isn't cheap.
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TwilightOdyssey

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2006, 01:12:58 AM »
Can't do it.
If you want an amp that straddles the modern/classic fence pretty well, you should look into a Diezel VH-4.
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Ratrod

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2006, 12:42:43 PM »
I tried my mate's V-twin a couple of times. It sounds nice but won't make your amp sound like a recto. It's a very tweedy, bluesy piece of kit. My Tube Factor gets alot closer to the Recto sound but it's too British sounding to actually nail it.

I have heard good thing about the Tech 21 SansAmp Tri-AC.

http://www.tech21nyc.com/triac.html

Check the sample: http://www.tech21nyc.com/sounds/triac_sounds/TRIAC-Metal.mp3
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gwEm

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #13 on: February 27, 2006, 01:02:35 PM »
+1

Using a sans-amp as a distortion pedal changes the character of my amp a huge amount. I dont have the Tri-Ac but the GT2... But I understand the tri-ac is like 3 GT2s in 1 pedal.

Obviously, they're really nice direct pedals too... i had my gt2 since years and cant imagine to be without it.
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Muttley

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Modern Tones from an Old JCM800?
« Reply #14 on: February 27, 2006, 01:16:22 PM »
Bung a Tube Screamer stomp box in front of it.  That's the way a lot of the classic metal sounds were made in the 90s, and I know Andy Sneap (ex-Sabbat) still uses JCM800's in his production work, so they can obviously still cut it.  :)

I borrowed a mate's JCM800 and 4x12 once, great amps.  :)

Muttley
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