1 Channel, 100 watts, 4 EL34's, Standard EQ section with master volume, FX loop with true bypass switch, 4/ 8/ 16 ohm speaker out selector UTILIZATION The JCM800 should need to introduction. There are so many amps based off of its design, it's not even funny. They have been a platform for modifications since the early 80's. Very easy to dial in for that classic rock sound. It's one of those amps that will work for anything. Toss a boost pedal in front and it can do metal. Back off the gain and it does a great clean. The reissues have a built in FX loop, which you can bypass, which makes the reissue the one to get in my opinion. There were many many variations of the 800, but the reissue is a recreation of the famed vertical input 2203. SOUNDS Soundswise, this is a very versatile amplifier. Sure it only has one channel, but you can get anything for crystal clean to classic rock overdrive. The thing I really like about this amp, is that whatever guitar you use sounds like itself. Some amps tend to make every guitar sound kinda similar, but the 800 really shows off each guitar's personality. A Strat will sound very stratty, a les Paul will sound very Les Paul like. The 800 takes boost pedal very well, which is a huge plus. It can also sound killer very clean, which I honestly didn't expect. And it shines with a Strat! My only real complaint about this amp is that it tends to be on the brighter side. I like amps to sound great with everything set at 12 o'clock (except for maybe gain and volume). With the 800, I find myself turning off the treble and turning the presence way down. I do tend to like amps that are somewhat dark, but not too dark. The FX loop is good, but you tend to loose a little bit of 'something' when it is engaged. It's not a deal breaker or anything, but I would definitely not keep it engaged if I wasn't using it. The amp itself is very loud. It's 100 watts is definitely loud. OVERALL OPINION Overall, this is a very solid amp. It's an instrument in of itself and is excellent at showing of each of you guitars' unique voice. I have wanted on of these for years and years, and I am very excited to have on in the collection. I own lot's of great amps, and the 800 will remain in the stable.
What can I say that hasn't already been said about Marshall amplification. Marshall has been the leader in high gain amplification since the 60s. The Marshall plexi came out around 1967 and has to this day been one of the most heavily used high gain amplifiers for touring musicians and recording musicians. This amp is a take on the 1967 to 1969 plexi amplifiers. They look exactly like the old ones who was some new modern features. One of my very first Marshall amplifiers was a Marshall plexi from the early 70s. That one was an amplifier that I didn't gig with very much because of the old vintage value to it. Now that Marshall is reissuing plexi amplifiers, these are much more commonly used onstage now because of their enduring lasting ability. UTILIZATION Features 100W 4 EL34s in the power stage 3 ECC83s in the preamp True bypass series FX loop 3-band EQ Presence control SOUNDS If you like the tone of the old original amps then you will like these new reissue amplifiers. The tone remains the same with these new amplifiers but you also get an effects loop. This gives you the tone of the old days the new modern technology all-in-one classic looking amplifier. I like the sound of thai amp with Gibson Les Paul. There is something that magically happens with the Gibson Les Paul and Marshall plexi that has given so much inspiration to musicians around the world. If you want to get the tone from Van Halen, you would use this amp with a super Strat guitar. Using attenuation with this amp and that's super Strat and you will be rocking out to Panama all day long. OVERALL OPINION These amps come in at new price if around $2350. That is a pretty expensive amp. If you're looking for that classic Marshall plexi sound and don't want to spend $4 or $5000 to get the originals and then this is the best option you have available on today's market. $2300 is an expensive price for single channel amplifier but if you're looking for that classic Marshall plexi tone than this is the price to your going to have to pay to achieve that type of tone.
