Should I buy this (JCM800 content)

James · Post by **James** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:19 pm

Ok so Ive decided to spend some cash on gear. I went to the only guitar shop in town that does second stuff on the off chance they had anything before splashing the cash on ebay. And it turns out they had a 50w JCM800, with basic settings. Which is exactly what I want. Thing is, it's not in normal case at all. Its chunkier and narrower. I took a couple of pics on my phone but they came out a bit shite. The knobs are black and massive too. On the back it says its a 2205 model.

10 points for guessing what the pedal is on top of the amp, and 50 points for guessing how much I paid for it (with a Â£5 margin of error allowed).

The marshall is Â£350, he wouldnt go any lower on it. It doesnt have a standby switch which I thought odd, just an on/off switch on the left. On the right it has vertical high/low inputs (though i doubt vertical matters for this) and the pots control (l-r)

presence
bass
mid
treble
master vol
pre gain

When I left he locked up, and I'm at work when they open tomorrow. I was thinking about just calling 5 minutes after they open to say I'll get it, and go by after work and pick it up. Is this wise? It's basically what I want in an amp, and a very decent price, I've just never seen one like this anywhere online.

I shouldve probably said I'll give you x for the amp and pedal, but I was defo buying the pedal and not sure about the amp. Didnt wanna go back and the pedal be gone. That little bastard is right filthy.

euan · Post by **euan** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:45 pm

That case is weird. Its like someone has hacked a rack case to make it. Does it sound good? If so buy it. But ask Mike, he is Mr Marshall.

Zoom Ultrafuzz?

SickenedEmotions99 · Post by **SickenedEmotions99** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:46 pm

Zoom Ultra Fuzz?

James · Post by **James** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:55 pm

It is quite rack sized actually.

And aye, the ultra fuzz.

They had the "tri-metal" from the same series for the same price, i didnt try it out cos it was so nearly closing, but I might give it a go when I have time.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:58 pm

Could it have been rehoused? Even so, that looks like a professional job to me, and if it's what you want and sounds right, then I say go for it.

James · Post by **James** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:00 pm

euan wrote:That case is weird. Its like someone has hacked a rack case to make it. Does it sound good? If so buy it. But ask Mike, he is Mr Marshall.

Zoom Ultrafuzz?

I didnt play with the settings too much, but I couldnt really get proper dirt at reasonable volumes. But it has shite loads of power behind it. It can do "warm" very well. And (good news gary) had shite loads of bass. I plan on using dirt anyway, I have 3 nice dirt pedals at the mo (rat2, ultra fuzz and sansamp) and plan on getting at least one from pen pen, so really it should work out alright. I'm just a bit worried that it doesnt look like normal and the lack of standby.

To be honest, the look is alright, I was thinking about getting something like a Matamp so itd be smaller and i could do the vertical 2x12 thing if i wanted. I just dont wanna fuck up spending 350 on something only to find out its not worth that at all. Paranoid I guess.

euan · Post by **euan** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:09 pm

I don't know. Talk to Mike, he knows more about Marshalls and shit. As far as I was aware the entire JCM800 series should have more than 6 knobs.

James · Post by **James** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:14 pm

Its the same knob setup as that, but with a different panel. 6 knobs isnt dodgy, lack of standby and the general look is. Maybe theyt did make a rack version.

euan · Post by **euan** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:16 pm

I did a search for the 2205 and all I could find was the 11 knob or something version.

James · Post by **James** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:17 pm

Thats the split channel version.

Heres another with different grill. If it looked like this I'd have it home already.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:58 pm

2205 is split channel version - that can't be what you played today... 2204 is the 50W version of the 6 knobs 2203:

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#JCM800

I would steer clear personally

1) Rehoused in a casing like that the tubes have less space to breathe and there is no grill on the top to allow heat to dissipate - at the least your tubes will run hot and not last as long - at worse it will melt solder joints onto the sockets and/or rest of the tagboard.

2) you should have been able to get some crunch out of it with max pre amp and low master - did that not happen?

3) no standby switch is bad - tubes need them for protection from voltage jumps on switch on - it will wear out (expensive) power tubes.

What outputs were on it? Impedance selector? How many speaker outs?

Was there an effects loop added?

I would say well done on the pedal and call it quits - modded shit like that you'll get no hell from Marshall service or any tech on - if it dies you're fucked. Even though that price is alright it doesn't sound kosher - you should have been able to get some crunch.

That last pic you posted is a regular jCM800, they sometimes age like that.

Post by **Doog** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:01 pm

Like I said on MSN, it doesn't look like any JCM800 I've seen. I've be a little suspicious until someone finds a model name and picture online.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:05 pm

I know the model number - 2204 is the layout and wattage he's talking about.

teh 2205 on the backplate doesn't match and is probably just written on. It could be ANYTHING inside the box.

Jog on - it's a bad buy.

Post by **Doog** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:08 pm

Under the JCM800 "regime", the model numbering was changed. The heads retained their original model numbers, but the combo's were given model numbers in the 4000 range.

The solid state and hybrid heads were given model numbers in the 3000 range and the solid state combo's were given model numbers in the 5000 range. In some schematics the 4103 & 4104 combo's are still referenced as 2103 & 2104.

Never knew there was any hybrid/SS stuff in the 800 range.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:11 pm

There's a few models that are really unpublicised as they were.. shit frankly.

I think it must be one of those solid state fuckers tarted to look like a 2205 but he fucked up and chose the wrong model number. Shady.

Could you even see tubes in it?

James · Post by **James** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:18 pm

It has a small slider switch on the back to go between 8 and 16 ohms. Horizontal switch. To the left of that it had speaker outs A and B.

I dont remember it having vents on top, and the back was sealed too I think. All sounds like bad news for tubes.

I defo got crunch, but I couldnt get anything like filth. It did sound like as you pushed the master up it would get there, but it would be at very loud volume. This was with the pre all the way up too.

I'm sure it said 2205 on the back, but the back panel looked different to the standard marshall one with the black sticker like bit. I might go by again and ask to look inside, and take better pics.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:27 pm

Don't even bother mate. It's shady as fuck - don't throw your money away. The fact there is no ventilation is fucked up, the model number doesn't match and the fact there is no standby is a bad sign either way (SolidState or bad for tubes). Seriously I would pay literally nothing for that bag of worms.

I know you're excited but this one is not for you. If you got a real Marshall 800 I personally could pull it apart and fix it for you, this thing? Forgetaboutit

James · Post by **James** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:39 pm

Ultra fuzz was 39 bucks btw. Tied with the rat for best value first pedal evar.

I'll leave the amp then. I plan on getting one soon, but I wanna get one I wanna keep. This did sound good, but I can wait it out.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:40 pm

YOu got a great deal on a deleted pedal. Nice.

You walked out of this up. All good.

James · Post by **James** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:58 pm

Cheers Mike. The Ultra Fuzz is rocking, I think I might sell the sansamp. Not because I dislike it, just because its worth more than the rat and ultra fuzz combined and it means I can afford to spend a bit more on an amp and that.