2550/Silver Jubilee Q's

[Spectre]

Hi guys, I've been looking and reading, researching etc, and I've come to the conclusion that a Silver/Jub is what it looks like I'm looking for. From what I've read and listend to on the internet only.
With that said is there anything in particular I need to look/listen/ beware of watch before I purchase one. The head and cab are celestions are an 1987 model and is in perfect as perfect conditions as i can see. The man wants 3k firm.
I like classic rock from AC/DC to Zep and play a Trad and a R9.
Any input is appreciated.
Thankx

[LPV]

Not much to say other than its an amazing amp. My favorite. You may want to look into getting it recapped because those electrolytics are at the end of their life if it has not already been done. 3k seems a tad high in this economy but the value varies with the cosmetic condition. But a killer amp.

[Spectre]

Its supposed to be mint cond hence the premium price. I wont get to check it out in person until early next week. Is there anyway tell tale way to tell if the caps are going bad?

[kam4ff]

Google bad capacitor. Also I think the jub has the ability to do acdc in spades easy but I feel like its made for something different. That's just me.

[TOMMYTHUNDERS]

Originally Posted by kam4ff

Google bad capacitor. Also I think the jub has the ability to do acdc in spades easy but I feel like its made for something different. That's just me.

+1 to this.

if you wanna do zep to ac/dc i'd look into a 2204/2203. the jubilee is gonna have way more crunch than you need. and i'm probably alone here, but i'm not crazy about the crunch you get out of it. if you're dead set on a jubilee though you should take a look at the ceriatone clone. much cheaper.

[LPV]

Originally Posted by Spectre

Its supposed to be mint cond hence the premeum price. I wont get to check it out in person until early next week. Is there anyway tell tale way to tell if the caps are going bad?

If they have not been changed they are due. The amp will be noisy but if it has not been played much they may be aged even further. If they short they can take out other things. As a 25 year owner I have to say I don't find the Ceriatone sounds the same. Different transformers for one.

[TOMMYTHUNDERS]

Originally Posted by LPV

If they have not been changed they are due. The amp will be noisy but if it has not been played much they may be aged even further. If they short they can take out other things. As a 25 year owner I have to say I don't find the Ceriatone sounds the same. Different transformers for one.

i think the best bet with ceriatone is to source your own transformers, not a knock on their iron, but the difference in shipping cost is about 100 bucks if you skip their transformers... it also gives you the freedom to pick whatever transformers you like. For this type of amp I'd probably skip the mercury mags and go for heyboer or classictone.

[madaxeman]

Jubilees are dark sounding amps. I have two at present but have owned 9 over the years. They all sounded different. Partly due to the nature of the diode curcuit and the fact that Marshall tweaked the curcuit a couple of times during the run.
If the serial is lower than 3100 it will likely have the early curcuit. This is less bassy and thinner sounding that the preceeding design. The fat, warm thick tones that jubilees are renound for was introduced about a third the way through the 87 run. So if it is a silver you might want to check it's the later design if that's the sound you're after. The diode curcuit utilises 7 diodes (2 LEDs, 5 IN4007s) to create a blend of symmetrical and asymmetrical clipping. (harsher gainier cutting tones from the symmetrical clipping and wider fatter smoother tones from the asymmetrical clipping.) The waveform then has its edges rounded off by a little ceramic cap that goes across the curcuit. The perfect clipping blend is reliant on the forward voltage drops of all these diodes and as due to the tolerance in little components such as that they will vary alot from one amp to another. Thus some Jubilees sound great whilst others are either too muddy or too harsh. This is why I've been through nine of them, I sold off the ones that sounded shite. Oh and no amount of messing about with valves and caps is gonna help warm up a dog of a Jube. You gotta experiment with that diode curcuit.
Try before you buy. If you find a goodun keep it forever.
It will do ACDC but the voicing will be more lower end growl than the open vocal roar of a good JMP.
Just my experience. Hope this helps.

[Spectre]

Thanks guys this is exactly the input/opinions I need. Let me clear up my taste in artist, What I mean is that I like to play a multitude of artist not soley ACDC or Zep, but artist from a wide range. I love Bonamassa,Kossoff,Page,Shultz,Young,Rhoads,Downing ,Rossington, Classic Rock to some Metal. That warm,fat, thick crunch is what Ill be looking for the post 3100 circuit,( I hope it is anyway) while listening for anything abnormal. He said it was used in his studio for a few recordings and didn't get allot of use so that's why I want to find out as much info as I can as I'm sure a Half stack that didn't get used or broken in properly could have issues. @ Tommy I haven't ruled out a 2203/2204. I'm on the hunt for a great amp. This one just looks the part for the moment. Thanks for the detailed write up Axeman, I wish you were closer I'd buy you a pint. Who knows I might get back to Mildenhall one of these days to do just that.

[madaxeman]

Nice one Spectre. If you are ever in the vicinity you're welcome to pop round grab a les paul and blast through one of my Jubilees.
I play lead in a classic rock cover band (Zep, Sabbath, Free, Cream,Hendrix etc) and I find the Jubilee versatile enough to cope. The eq is very responsive and there are alot of nice tones to be dialed in. I love the cleans as well as the drive it's famous for. it has a real warmth to it. I'm sure if you find a decent one it will suit your needs. They are especially good for 80's metal.
Cant go wrong with a 2204 either though.

[AZPaul]

Here is a Silver Jubilee 2x12 combo here in Phoenix for $1,500.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/msg/2932045087.html

[Spectre]

Good info here, and clears up what to look for. When Good Amps Go Bad

The never ending quest were on, what a journey!!

[Spectre]

That would be a great gig, as you play what I grew up on. My nephew married a gal from Newcastle so now we have family over there n that's cool cause I like visiting europe. I picked the git up around 14 and always had one during my career in the USAF, its just recently that I started to get serious about learning the whole fretboard and putting in the time to do so. Cant wait till next week to check this baby out.

[TOMMYTHUNDERS]

madaxeman has got me wondering if i've heard the "wrong" jubilees.

[Big John]

Originally Posted by madaxeman

...The fat, warm thick tones that jubilees are renound for was introduced about a third the way through the 87 run. So if it is a silver you might want to check it's the later design if that's the sound you're after...

Did this circuit revision overlap into the black tolex 2550's from '88? I had one of them years ago and it sounded just like you described: fat, warm, & thick.

[LPV]

Originally Posted by Big John

Did this circuit revision overlap into the black tolex 2550's from '88? I had one of them years ago and it sounded just like you described: fat, warm, & thick.

Ya. If you search both schematics are out there. They are fairly different. Mine is around #4300 plus its Canadian and said to have slightly different trannies to meet some CSA spec. Its the same as JB's original #1 with the hoser toggle. Thick like syrup.

I found a difference between the 2550 and the 2555 as well.

Another less documented feature of the jubilee is their ability to sound great at lower volumes than the 2203/2204. It had the nickname "gentlemen's marshall" if I recall.

[madaxeman]

Originally Posted by Big John

Did this circuit revision overlap into the black tolex 2550's from '88? I had one of them years ago and it sounded just like you described: fat, warm, & thick.

Yes. Black 88's have the later curcuit and the ones I've played have been awesome.
This 2554 is my go to amp for rehearsals and smaller gigs.

[LPV]

OP, what are the celestions? The vintage 30's in original cabs are much rarer. The g12t75's are not great.

[Spectre]

Not exacty sure except I thought he said the speakers weren't "green backs" and he didnt opt for them because they were really dark? He liked the Celestions better. I will let ya know if they are the G12-70 or G12-75 speakers when I get to look at it.

[LPV]

Nothing as purty as the iron in the originals.

[Spectre]

That's a TRANNY!!!

[Big John]

Originally Posted by LPV

OP, what are the celestions? The vintage 30's in original cabs are much rarer. The g12t75's are not great.

The silver cabs with the V30's were all 8 ohm cabs, and the other cabs (70's & 75's) were all 16 ohm cabs.

Wierd.

[Spectre]

Wonder why John??? there's a couple of wonder whys while I'm here.
What I really don't understand, is why doesn't Marshall do a 50th Jub.
or a 100W with a power attenuation..
I the jub I listend to had G1275 on u tube didn't sound that bad... whats the difference between them and V- 30's.

[LPV]

What I really don't understand, is why doesn't Marshall do a 50th Jub.
or a 100W with a power attenuation..


The 100w AFD has that. And who knows what marshall's marketing dept has planned. But don't expect it like the heads from 25 years ago. Those days are gone.

I the jub I listend to had G1275 on u tube didn't sound that bad...


My Jube is the only head my t75's sound ok with. But you want better than "not that bad" with a Jube.

whats the difference between them and V- 30's


The V30's are very mid heavy. They supposedly match extremely well with the amp. Rumor has it that it was designed to be used with them. Never tried them with mine but I would like to.

[LPV]

Originally Posted by Big John

The silver cabs with the V30's were all 8 ohm cabs, and the other cabs (70's & 75's) were all 16 ohm cabs.

Wierd.

I didn't know that. I'd bet it was a matter of supply and cost at the time.

[Hamtone]

2203/04 and the jube are the 2 marshalls i want. But the jube has a different mid curve and has more fuzziness to it.

[LPV]

Originally Posted by Hamtone

2203/04 and the jube are the 2 marshalls i want. But the jube has a different mid curve and has more fuzziness to it.

It really depends on how you dial it in. I would not describe mine as fuzzy at all. Maybe if I crank the gain way up. But it is a 100w amp and so it has to be up there in volume before it shines. But not as high as a 2203.

[Smedley Smorganoff]

A good alternative to the jubilee (and much more affordable) is the JCM 900 MKIII. It's got the power section of the 800 and clipping diodes just like the Jubilee.

Marshall MKIII JCM 900 - YouTube

Marshall MKIII JCM 900 - YouTube

[Spectre]

Originally Posted by LPV

What I really don't understand, is why doesn't Marshall do a 50th Jub.
or a 100W with a power attenuation..


The 100w AFD has that. And who knows what marshall's marketing dept has planned. But don't expect it like the heads from 25 years ago. Those days are gone.

I the jub I listend to had G1275 on u tube didn't sound that bad...


My Jube is the only head my t75's sound ok with. But you want better than "not that bad" with a Jube.

whats the difference between them and V- 30's


The V30's are very mid heavy. They supposedly match extremely well with the amp. Rumor has it that it was designed to be used with them. Never tried them with mine but I would like to.

Thats right I almost forgot the AFD, I hope they get the power scaling issue worked out, I read a bunch having issues with them, regardless it still a very bad ass amp.

[Spectre]

Smedley,Very nice sounding MK111 and have to say some bad @ss jammin too go with it The Weber's sweet bud.... Thanks!!! Rock n Roll