Author Topic: Bought a Marshall (Read 9969 times)

LazyNinja · « **on:** January 14, 2007, 09:28:08 PM »

I bought an original 1979 Marshall JMP MkII 2204 50 watt head :twisted:

Got it from Musicground Leeds yesterday. I went there with the intention of ordering Laney VH100R but I decided to test this amp at the guy's recommendation.

The JMP with an OD pedal sounded so sweet, really has that brown sound completely nailed and it sounded pretty nice at low volumes too but obviously a bit rumbly and fuzzy then. With an OD pedal it sounds like a smoother, sweeter JCM800 but with just as much gain. I much prefered it to two JCM800s and a JCM900 which I also tried that day. I also tried some Hiwatts, THD and also Laney chrome VC combo (i think it's same as VH100R but in combo format). The amp is so responsive to the picking, imo much more so than a GH100L I tried before. Now I know why a lot of guys like single channels.

This is completely in reverse to what I was setting out to get but I'm pretty happy with what I got. I might have been ripped off tho coz I paid 650 for the head, OD pedal and speaker lead. meh oh well at least it sounds fecking awesome. I'm trying to forget how much I paid for it lol. I may still get VH100R some other time, maybe from tax return, but then again Uni in september so might not be such a good idea. Anyways just telling you guys about my new old amp :)

indysmith · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2007, 10:19:57 PM »

sounds delicious - I've never tried one mysel,f but now I'd REALLY like to!

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2007, 10:45:44 PM »

nice score, JMP Marshalls are fi'm awesome - something like an SD1 or TS9 goes great to bump the gain up a notch.

I'd say you paid over the odds for it though, I'd expect it to be MINT for that kind of money.

:twisted:

Twinfan · « **Reply #3 on:** January 15, 2007, 08:27:20 AM »

Yep, I agree with HTH. That's pretty expensive, even for an expensive dealer ;)

But if it's what you want, you gotta pay the price they want for it!

JamesHealey · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2007, 08:34:09 AM »

Music Ground are complete w**kers, i've been going into that shop since i was about 9 years old.. and they still talk to everyone like shite even repeat customers like myself who've spent in excess of 10k with them..

but they do have a great selections of amps, did you try the 2 JCM800 at Dustys(Northern Guitars) across the road?, I like the guys who own that shop they're fantastic people.

LazyNinja · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2007, 09:06:51 AM »

Yeah I did try the JCM800 at the Northern Guitars. Didn't like it as much as the JMP tho, plus the ones there were all really crackly. I dunno but the fat guy in the Northern guitars were really rude to me he didn't even let me play the amp at volumes past one. I know the old guy with long hair is a nice guy tho.

My JMP I wouldn't say it's mint but a solid 8.5 out of 10 just been serviced and revalved apparently. Cosmetics wise it's perfect no rips or anything just bit faded due to age. I've got one year warranty on it so it should be alright. If it does go I can get them to fix it for me. Maybe I did pay too much it was advertised as 1977 but later I found it was 1979 maybe I could use that to get small refund? Doubt they'll do it tho.

I've been playing some Aerosmith and GnR stuff on it all day yesterday and it sounds awesome :D

Adam.M · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2007, 11:35:18 AM »

I was in MG on sunday... hmm... well for a tiny short while anyway.

Gotta agree with james, i don't like how people get treated in there.

Seriously up their own arse half of the time, i only buy something from there if no one else has it, i even prefer sound control over that place...

Any chance you spotted a Laney LC15? i'm looking for one... again... or an epiphone valve junior.

hunter · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2007, 12:16:29 PM »

Well, the amp is old and in good state...

I mean if this amp is great in a way that it's even within its its range a comparably top one (like the best 10% amps of that range where all the parts have just the right value within the tolerances they may have) why not pay it.

You could have a new Marshall TSL for that money, or a Peavey 6505 or even a Orange Rocker 30, but they might sound weak in direct comparison.

I salute you, well done. I always wanted a Vintage Marshall and got something with more buttons instead. Probably you did the right thing.

JamesHealey · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2007, 01:36:43 PM »

yea the fat one is called dusty, he's a mardy bugger when he wants to be.. but a great guitarist and more willing to cut you a deal than music ground, if you can get past his slightly grumpy attitude..

but i think music ground are just plain rude.

Skybone · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2007, 05:57:24 PM »

I've always found Music Ground to be incredibly expensive, unwilling to deal, and just plain awkward.

There's some nice gear in there, which is usually highly overpriced, and some absolute tat (which is again overpriced).

Scoring an original JMP for £650 sounds like a bargain from them!

stuckin93 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 15, 2007, 07:55:35 PM »

Same amp as me! 8) What overdrive pedal did you use? i have decided my DOD 250 is a bit harsh & am looking for an alternative.

...Oh, and if you think it sounds good at low volume buy a hot plate & then crank the amp - it just doesn't get better!!! :twisted:

LazyNinja · « **Reply #11 on:** January 15, 2007, 09:11:31 PM »

my amp started making rumbly sound at low volumes and the bass note became very buzzy! :x :( that's only after about 8 hours of playing!

Just been serviced my arse!!!!!!!!!
I think it might be a good idea to take it back so that it can get fixed or I could get something else. I might just hold on til this weekend when I have a band practice and see if the problem still persists... What do you think?

You guys are right, musicground is full of w@nkers it seems

JamesHealey · « **Reply #12 on:** January 15, 2007, 09:35:21 PM »

does it sound like rumbling wind, like a bassy wind blowing through the amp?

if so that could be just the tubes, but yea that amp has never been serviced or even turned on by musicground the only service it's had is the lip service.

gwEm · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2007, 11:29:58 AM »

i have this amp too! (i assume its the master volume)

i've done quite alot of research into it.

differences in the 1979 one to the JCM800 version are the JMP has a lower plate voltage (a little more saturation, but a bit fuzzier), and higher quality capacitors (smoother, nicer top end). plus it looks a lot cooler, i reckon :)

even earlier ones (not yours) have a different preamp circuit which affects things alot more.

you got a nice amp there mate! i hope you get it sorted.

LazyNinja · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2007, 12:17:29 PM »

Quote from: gwEm

i have this amp too! (i assume its the master volume)

i've done quite alot of research into it.

differences in the 1979 one to the JCM800 version are the JMP has a lower plate voltage (a little more saturation, but a bit fuzzier), and higher quality capacitors (smoother, nicer top end). plus it looks a lot cooler, i reckon :)

even earlier ones (not yours) have a different preamp circuit which affects things alot more.

you got a nice amp there mate! i hope you get it sorted.

Yeah your explanation makes sense, because that's what I thought when I tried it. However, it's now sounding really bad with no defintion on the lower notes. Could just be the tubes I guess, but I have talked with Musicground and I might swap it for a Orange Rocker 30 instead. Do you think it's a bad move?