Marshall JTM45 or Marshall Clone JTM 45? Need Help!

[Fretboard]

I'm now in love with the JTM45's...but cant decided which one to get...I've heard that the Clones sound more like the old ones( I'm looking at metro amps). The JTM45 reissue is 1989 (the first one reissue they made) I would greatly appreciate any help I can get.

Which one would you pick?

Thank you in advance,

Fred

[Liam]

Well, depends if you really want something that sounds like the old ones. Clones definitely get closer to the sound of the real deal than the Marshall re-issue. (In 1989 I seem to remember the Marshalls were on PCB and those white poly capacitors. They sound great, but they don't sound like an old JTM45)

But they tend to cost more, and they aren't Marshalls. The Metro stuff looks good, but there are quite a few out there nowadays. Most seem to know what they're doing. We're living in a bit of a golden age of amp clones at the moment.

Just out of interest, why did you settle on wanting a JTM45 rather than a 1987 Plexi? If I was buying a 50 watt non-MV Marshall clone, I'd go for a 1987 Plexi circuit every time.

[Fretboard]

I think that the 1987 would be way too loud

[Mars Hall]

Get a Metro JTM45 kit and build it yourself! It is so rewarding, then when you crank it up and it sounds so good, you can say to yourself, "I made that". They really do sound like the real deal.

They have step by step instructions and great support from all the forum members. If you can solder and have put a model car together, you can build your own amp!

[Liam]

Originally Posted by Fretboard

I think that the 1987 would be way too loud

If you can tell the volume difference between a 1987 and a JTM45 you've got pretty finely tuned ears. They are both about 50 watts.

[Fretboard]

Originally Posted by Liam

If you can tell the volume difference between a 1987 and a JTM45 you've got pretty finely tuned ears. They are both about 50 watts.

Well the JTM45's on metro-amp are not 50 watts but I have been considering those two...not sure which one.

[Fretboard]

It's hard to make a decision because I can't hear the tone in real life

[Fretboard]

Yeah now that I think about it...I think the 1987 would be the best. I think I would want it in lead specs

[coldsteal2]

the JTM 45 is 30 watts but i believe
its more like 50 watts in reality because
they deffinatly keep up with a 50 watt
I think you can also increase its output with
a more powerful output transformer

Hey there are two 1989 JTM 45 reissues for sale on eBay
probably alot better quality than the new ones
one of them has a serial number of 0033X
I wish i had the money

[Blind Lemon]

JTM is more like thirtyfive watts clean, depending on who you listen to-but whats a couple watts between friends, but around 40 cranked. You probably won't be able to tell much difference in volume between the two. Personally I like the Plexi for THAT Marshall tone.

And as you can tell......I would build my own.

JMTC

BL

[SlyStrat]

I'm ordering a completed CeriaTone 1987. $630 without tubes. The clips I've heard sound great.

[SonicBoom]

Check out Germino. The web site has some nice sound clips. His Classic 45 is sweet sounding.

[monsterwalley]

Go with the metro for sure IMHO. I have built a jtm 45 with nos mustards and gec kt66's along with nos pre's. Then I built a 67 100 watt superbass with mustards and nos glass. George also offers the dual voltage transformer for the 100 watters for a simulated variac effect. works excellent!

The price is a little more but the directions for the jtm45 are extremely novice friendly and they have an excellent support group through the forum members. All the components are top quality, no skimping.

He's even coming out with a 2203 in kit form this May. I'm saving my pennies for it but trying to get my 59 les paul copy done first.

JMHO......

I just reread what I typed, It sounds like a commercial sorry. I've been at the metro forum for a few years and just came here a couple of months ago to try my hand at a guitar build. I have a lot of respect for the guys over there.

[Fretboard]

Does the 1987x Leads specs sound like the 100 watt superlead?

[Tweed Cab]

I use a 2006 Head with a TV cab + Ibanez tube screamer. Works for me. Shit you do not have to dime it to get great tone... PS I use RCA preamp tubes.

[Fretboard]

Originally Posted by monsterwalley

Go with the metro for sure IMHO. I have built a jtm 45 with nos mustards and gec kt66's along with nos pre's. Then I built a 67 100 watt superbass with mustards and nos glass. George also offers the dual voltage transformer for the 100 watters for a simulated variac effect. works excellent!

The price is a little more but the directions for the jtm45 are extremely novice friendly and they have an excellent support group through the forum members. All the components are top quality, no skimping.

He's even coming out with a 2203 in kit form this May. I'm saving my pennies for it but trying to get my 59 les paul copy done first.

JMHO......

I just reread what I typed, It sounds like a commercial sorry. I've been at the metro forum for a few years and just came here a couple of months ago to try my hand at a guitar build. I have a lot of respect for the guys over there.

Haha, no problem at all. I appreciate all help I can get...I'm really not sure if I should get the 1987x 50 watt or the JTM45...(metro amp) I am looking for a rock tone but just a little bit of blues.

[Darkburst]

I have a Rockytop 45/50 with EL34's. It can switch from JTM 45 to JMP 1987 pre amps and from tube to SS rectifiers. Most of the time I have it set to 1987 mode. It delivers more of that classic "Marshall" crunch you think of for classic rock tones. Rockytop prices are good too:

british series

[Fretboard]

Yeah...theres so many choices out there.

[monsterwalley]

by 1987x are you referring to the reissue? If so Metro has a kit for that too. From what I hear (never owned a reissue) they arent that whippy.

EDIT: I am talking about the resissue being crappy. NOT the metro amp. I gotta quit typing when I'm in a hurry.

[Fretboard]

Yes, that's what I want to get the 1987 metroamp

[GuitarnLax36]

my dads building a metro amp jtm45 right now and from what hes heard and i have heard they are great. My dad says that people on the forums are very helpful. That is the metro amp forum. The jtm45s that metro makes are supposed to be the closet sounding to the original that is with everything in between too the cosmetics and everything. Also on the metro site you can upgrade a lot of the stock components that george from metro puts in the kit to the more expensive but well worth it upgrades for the more vintage tone. Im putting mine in a bluesbreaker cabinet to make it like the bluesbreaker combo that clapton played. The only difference between the bluesbreaker and the jtm45 is that the bb has a tremelo circuit and the 45 doesn't. Also to clarrify on the volume. The amp watts measurement is how loud the amp is when it is clean for instance the plexi 50 watt is 50 watts when clean and when turned all the way up and at clipping volume it is over 50 watts.

EDIT: Another cool amp site for really really close vintage clones are Germino amps.

[SlyStrat]

Read this:
Mercury Magnetics - Premier Magazine article
I love my Marshall JTM45 RI. KT66's, SS rectifier, and split cathode, move it toward a JTM50 tone. I can crank it and its no where near as loud as a 50w.