Favorite Vintage Marshall tone- reissues ok

[frankv]

If you want to build 1 ??? And you want a No Compromise Kit ??? To the Specs of a Metro GMP45 ??? Which is a reverse engineered copy of a 1966 JTM45

Go to Valvestorm. They even have NOS Mustard Caps and all the other NOS thingies. Lemco's, PEC pots.

You can als ask what stuff Metro uses on their Limited Edition Series amp. Like Mine. I also believe Mallory and the New "Vintage" SOZOs are what are also available.

Their kits are second to none and the only difference in 1 of these and a Metro is that a Metro is of course put together and burned in by George himself.

Other than that if youre good enough ect you can build the best JTM45 money can buy regardless of cost, if a true to spec JTM45 is what is really wanted.

Short of going back in time, the Valvestorm kits with the Heyboer/Metro Spec transformers/Choke and NOS parts, is as close as humanly possible you can get to an original 1966 JTM45.

I believe the Best kit with the Mustard Caps ect. The GMP45 kit... With a Head Cabinet is $1300. Or somewhere around that.

I myself like the later 1966 version of the JTM45, no Tremolo, and a clone is about the only way to get 1.

Not saying it better either. Just different, The Metro GMP45 is 1 of the FEW that you can find that has the Drake type transformers and KT66s.

The Marshalls, Germinos, Wallace, and others are based on the Earlier Cleaner, Radiospares Transformers. The earlier models are a little cleaner and 8 watts less. 30 vs 38 watts. The later 1's have a bit more of a very low gain NKT275 germanium fuzz face grit when pushed into OD.

Much of the never went back deal, IMHO, was because of the quest for more power and to compete with drummers ect. Everyone in the bands when these amps were being designed, were fighting for more more more.

But with great PA's now, you can use almost anything

I guarantee though that a 30-38 watt JTM45 with 2 x 4 x 12 of some Hemp coned JBL E120s will scare many a 100 Watt Marshall with 8 x 12 original Pulsonic coned G12M 30 watt 55hz cone Celestions.

My 38 watt amp with 2 E120s is very loud. 103db x 1/w x 1/m, 300 watts worth of speakers for a 38 watt amp. Even 1 speaker is very loud and clean. Its still a 150 watt speaker 103db efficiency speaker and 38 watt amp. 18lbs magnet and 4 inch voice coil.

But then again you can take the same 100 watt amp and add the same speakers and compete with jet airplanes. 2 E120's in a small place cranked with a 100 watt amp is brutal.

I myself like the KT66 JTM45 and the KT66 JTM45/100 as my favorite amps. After that it would be either the 10,000 or 12,000 series..67-68 Plexi and the 1986 for a 50 watter.

Under 50 watt amp and I like the KT66 JTM45 /GMP45 head. I like KT66s ( Real Ones ) better than EL34's or 6550's.

I also like to run my GMP45 with a 2 x 1 x 12 cabinets with hemp coned JBL E120s. I can scare 100 watt amps. I also have some Pulsonic cone celaestions but 1 x 12s are easy to carry around, very loud and I like JBLs.

Ive got all NOS tubes in it. 2 1956 Marconi Osram KT66s. 2 Mullard Master series 10M Gold pins in v1 x v2. NOS 1956 Mu Mullard Sq Getter, Long Plate in V3 and a 1961 Mullard Fat Base GZ34/5AR4 Rectifier.

Its all but dead quiet at full volume.

You can get the same parts as shown in my amp below from Valvestorm. Also the Metro Spec Transformers and Choke.

In the photo below that also a Blackfaced 69 Dual Showman Reverb with a Dumble ODS mod on the 1st channel. The Bright Switch engages the OD Mod.
Im running the Metro in 1 cab and the Fender through the other. Running the Showman at 8 ohms cuts it back to around 55 watts and makes it a great match for the Metro.

I have so much stuff in this room I cant hardly move. But its what I have at the moment.
I also have a Sound City 4 x 12 Cabinet loaded with 4 x 12 Pulsonic Coned Fane 100 Watt Cresendos. in here, a 2 x 15 Carvin cabinet loaded with Altec Lansing 418H. A 4 x 12 Mather 1982 Oversized TVB cabinet with EC Collins Bluesbreaker cloth and 4 1972 Pulsonic coned Celestion G12M's 25 watt 75hz cones. A Fender Cybertwin and 3 times more speakers in the Attic.

Ive found the 1 x 12's and multiple 1 x 12's a breath of fresh air compared to even lugging around 2 x 12 cabinets.

Lots of good stuff here.. thanks

 

[xSinner13x]

First, you need an option for 1959's
they ARE the epitome of the legendary Marshall sound to anyone who spent their formative years listening to radio rock and heavy metal in the 70's - 80's.


IMO as far as reissues go, I think the HW series revived in 2005 was the best thing Jim did for the business in recent history, really taking it back to it's roots.

I am VERY lucky, I scored a 2005 a few years back, one owner, never gigged, so gently used in fact I JUST changed the factory JJ's in it.....In April of this year, thats right, 10 years, and even before the bottle swap the thing was mean, now, it'll "Microwave your face", according to a buddy of mine.

Thats said I hereby cast my vote for the HW 1959 SLP "Plexi"

 

[frankv]

I am VERY lucky, I scored a 2005 a few years back, one owner, never gigged, so gently used in fact "

Some how those words don't paint a "Marshall" picture in my mind..

 

[bulletproof]

JTM-45....well,um....2203,no,2204...Super Bass,ah hell. I cant pick just one,y'know?

 

[Pwrmac7600]

go to the 7:55 mark for the best marshall tone ever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhh1A1RVTgA

my answer, whaterver model JMP Phil has.

Wow yeah that JMP tone is fantastic!

 

[riffsmachine]

JTM45 reissue HW
69' JMP 50 watt

 

[frankv]

go to the 7:55 mark for the best marshall tone ever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhh1A1RVTgA

my answer, whaterver model JMP Phil has.

Nah, too bright and tinny... there are many better examples of vintage marshall tone. IMO this isnt one of them.

 

[Mouse]

'67 JTM 50 - opening for the Blondie (2014) soundcheck , recorded with phone

[ame]www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ml0LrjivQM[/ame]


18watt clone, tremolo model
[ame]www.youtube.com/watch?v=85OfJuv3UEY[/ame]

'71 JMP 50 ('67 JTM on the top of it)
[ame]www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlURgDA4Cc8[/ame]

and

i'm building JTM45

They are all very good amps for certain tones

 

[Rodmac]

My '66 MKIV Supertrem Bluesbreaker Head. GEC KT-66s

 

[Steve Smith]

Hello Folks, newbie to this forum today. I am a tone chaser like many others. I own a 1976 JMP Mk 2 100W master model head, it is the one with the original type switches and the small logo. That amp made me a lot of money in the bars and clubs in the 80's and 90's. It was knackered, Tolex hanging off, it crackled and groaned and had beer accidentally poured down the back on more than one occasion. It was left in the band van through all weathers, but you know what? It NEVER packed up on me. If it started crackling at a gig I would just give it a whack with my fist to make it behave like an old valve TV. A few years ago I found a Marshall time served technician near to me who did a full refurb both cosmetically and electronically for 350 quid and it is just like new now, it aint EVER leaving the house, I owe a lot to that amp. I really believe that the greatest tone is like clean power and sustain without breaking up. For this I wind up the amp to 5 on both the preamp and the power amp so that it is just clipping nicely and use a 1970's Ibanez Tube Screamer to really push the sound. The early Ibanez TS's were awsome and a perfect combination with vintage Marshalls, just really clean power and sustain without being brittle. I use an early 1980's Tokai Strat copy with a Floyd and a Seymour Duncan Invader humbucker routed out to fit in the bridge position. No grit, just pure clean power and sustain to get that early Van Halen Sound. Stangely I was not that keen on the sound of the first VH album, I prefered the tone he got on the "Fair Warning" album. I use a Valvestate 2000 now for everyday use for gigs and recording sessions and it sounds great, really good compromise.

 

[LPV]

Is it modded?

Lol major necro-post here but being a big Phil fan, no it isn't modded but his fingers might be. That guy is awesome and thats just a stock jmp master model thru g75t's to boot ! He can get tone out of anything.

Carry on !

 

[Mr Insane]

A:too the poster who said Phil X's JMP was too bright and tinny, get your ears checked.

B:His JMP did have a 2nd master volume on it once, but had it removed and put back to stock. He said that the transformer runs very hot, that is why he took the front panel off.


I just ordered the same model cabinet that he uses, 1960 JCM 900 with 75 watt speakers. To say I am a fan of his, is an understatement. I don't try to replicate him exactly, but he knows how to get a good sound.

To be honest, I would rather see him in a heavier band than Bon Jovi, like Alice Cooper.

 

[LPV]

A:too the poster who said Phil X's JMP was too bright and tinny, get your ears checked.

B:His JMP did have a 2nd master volume on it once, but had it removed and put back to stock. He said that the transformer runs very hot, that is why he took the front panel off.


I just ordered the same model cabinet that he uses, 1960 JCM 900 with 75 watt speakers. To say I am a fan of his, is an understatement. I don't try to replicate him exactly, but he knows how to get a good sound.

To be honest, I would rather see him in a heavier band than Bon Jovi, like Alice Cooper.

Ordered? Like new? Because if I recall those jcm 900 cabs are exactly the same as the 800 cabs with g12t75s. I don't know what they go for now but I sold one of those a couple of years back and it took me 3 months to get an offer over $300.

 

[Mr Insane]

Ordered? Like new? Because if I recall those jcm 900 cabs are exactly the same as the 800 cabs with g12t75s. I don't know what they go for now but I sold one of those a couple of years back and it took me 3 months to get an offer over $300.

Used off of GC. Total after shipping and tax was $400. Just got it today. I have been playing the crap put of it.

 

[LPV]

Yes, more than one option missing on that (fairly old) poll for some of us...

 

[ht-57]

I prolly shoulda checked the date of the OP!

 

[OBX351]

68 JPM 50 is my favorite, the rest are godly too but are 8s and 9s compared the 68 (which is an 11). The JTM45, '66 BF and the combo, JTM45 20 watt with a '70 25w gb, are clones with NoS parts and tubes....dumb I know, but they sound good....the park 75 is a 72 or 73, the big box is a 4/73 hand wired jmp 50 and the last combo is my buddy's attempt of a JMP 1930 popular with a scumback pulsonic clone'esq 12", an incorrect box and mostly nos parts and tubes....the 8x10 is an all original 68, the straight is a 70 with early 70s 25 watt GBs, the beat up slant we think is a 74 with reissue 25w gbs and the grass cloth slant is new with 4x 25w GBs from about 71 or 72...did I mention I like Jim's products??

 

[matthew bear]

Well, for old times sake...

I'm a JTM 45 kinda guy. I like the softer feel of the amp under my fingers...For the most part. The stiffness of later models does have it's place and I have been playing more metal and hard rock stuff as of late... my examples aren't vintage or even "correct", really... Avatar 45 and John's V2 JJM 18(jcm 800 with mods), as well as some Phaez amps...

 

[Marshall & Moonshine]

That V2 is breathtaking.
I love my JCM 800 combo, exactly because the open back does soften it up a little.
I’d probably love a 6v6 version, maybe even tube rectified or built with a sag resistor.
Basically, I want a JCM 800 to make a baby with a tweed Fender.
Naturally, the 800 will be pounding the tweed from behind, with a finger up the butt.

 

[matthew bear]

perfect!

That's a bit of an odd marriage from a technical perspective, but sonically, it sounds like it would be awesome