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Author Topic: JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)  (Read 11948 times)

fps_dean

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #15 on: October 21, 2006, 08:47:45 PM »
Quote from: Tricalibur
Quote from: Crazy_Joe
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Laney-GH50L-Valve-Guitar-Head-Eats-yer-Marshall_W0QQitemZ230040706493QQihZ013QQcategoryZ10171QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

do you think this is worth buying, i can make a back panel so that won't be a problem, but it is 3 years old and it looks a tad dusty in the back!

Whats That big circular thing in the back of the amp?


A wierd circular transformer I think!
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Crazy_Joe

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #16 on: October 21, 2006, 08:56:10 PM »
What about a new Laney GH50L, against that Marshall JCM 900?
Black Dogs

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fps_dean

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #17 on: October 21, 2006, 09:08:08 PM »
Quote from: Crazy_Joe
What about a new Laney GH50L, against that Marshall JCM 900?

I meant if it was new or in perfect condition etc.  I've never been too big of a Laney fan
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gingataff

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #18 on: October 22, 2006, 04:39:18 AM »
Re weird big circular thing: it's a toroidal transformer.
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fps_dean

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #19 on: October 22, 2006, 08:51:32 AM »
Quote from: gingataff
Re weird big circular thing: it's a toroidal transformer.


That's what I thought... just didn't know the name of it.  It's where a transformer normally goes...
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JamesHealey

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #20 on: October 22, 2006, 05:04:34 PM »
i agree with Dean, a good set of JJ/Tesla tubes propperly biased in a working JCM900 would be a great amp, and would do metal/hard rock no problem..

I've owned 2 JCM900 MkIII's and loved them both, and a JCM800.

Crazy_Joe

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #21 on: October 22, 2006, 05:58:22 PM »
But the Laney GH50L is better, so i bought that.
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HTH AMPS

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #22 on: October 22, 2006, 09:14:46 PM »
Quote from: Crazy_Joe
But the Laney GH50L is better, so i bought that.


The right decision imo (not that the Dual Reverb JCM900s are half as bad as people make out).  I'd still go for the Laney if they were the same price, but at £250 for the Laney it's a no-brainer.

Get some 6550s in that Laney and it'll be bitchin!!!



 :twisted:

TwilightOdyssey

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #23 on: October 22, 2006, 09:19:50 PM »
I've used the 900 on several occasions. As long as you throw a Tube Screamer type of boost in front of it and don't dime the amp's gain, it sounds great for old school and power metal.

_tom_

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #24 on: October 22, 2006, 09:56:00 PM »
Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL
Quote from: Crazy_Joe
But the Laney GH50L is better, so i bought that.


The right decision imo (not that the Dual Reverb JCM900s are half as bad as people make out).  I'd still go for the Laney if they were the same price, but at £250 for the Laney it's a no-brainer.

Get some 6550s in that Laney and it'll be bitchin!!!



 :twisted:


Just wondering, whats the difference in tone between 6550s and EL34s (and E34Ls whist yer at it :P )?

Dakine

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #25 on: October 22, 2006, 10:40:14 PM »
EL34/6CA7:Aggressive, slender low end, higher total harmonic distortion…

5881/6L6:Great tube for clean sounds, good bluesy tones, also has strong bass and excellent clarity…

6550:Very loud, very good dynamics, strong low end, amazingly percussive…

KT88/KT100:Similar to 6550, but very punchy with great clarity and warmth…
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_tom_

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #26 on: October 22, 2006, 10:44:17 PM »
hmmm I think I'll be after some KT88's in my GH50L if the stock EL34s are too agressive (is that possible?!  :twisted: ). They will work in an EL34 slot though, right?

fps_dean

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #27 on: October 23, 2006, 05:42:06 AM »
Quote from: _tom_
hmmm I think I'll be after some KT88's in my GH50L if the stock EL34s are too agressive (is that possible?!  :twisted: ). They will work in an EL34 slot though, right?


Yes it will but I would suggest 5881s (6L6s) instead.  Still a little warmer but cleaner than EL34s.  KT88s are military grade 6550s, and may be a bit too clean for ya.
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fps_dean

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #28 on: October 23, 2006, 05:45:55 AM »
Quote from: Dakine
EL34/6CA7:Aggressive, slender low end, higher total harmonic distortion…

5881/6L6:Great tube for clean sounds, good bluesy tones, also has strong bass and excellent clarity…

6550:Very loud, very good dynamics, strong low end, amazingly percussive…

KT88/KT100:Similar to 6550, but very punchy with great clarity and warmth…


Just some additional thoughts...

EL34s: Should be used where you want power side distortion and never used perfectly clean.

5881/6L6: Great fat and warm sounding tubes, not quite as warm as EL34s but they hold their character while the master volume goes (mainly low end).  Great for cleans or those who want all their distortion from the preamp.

KT88s:  The military grade 6550s.  These will handle higher voltage and more abuse, yet they get a warmer too when driven but remain, like 6550s, super clean so any distortion you get best be coming from the preamp.
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Rebel Yells + Les Paul = the Ultimate Rock Pickup.

_tom_

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JCM 900 Enough Gain??? (answer needed quickly)
« Reply #29 on: October 23, 2006, 11:39:06 AM »
I was actually steering away from 6L6 tubes as my Fender is 6L6 (and I heard somewhere that mesa are also), and I dont like that tone for overdrive/distortion. Also, I think I prefer the sound of mostly power amp distortion as opposed to all preamp.