Marshall 2203 JCM800 Master Volume Lead [1981-1989]

This is a great sounding Marshall amplifier that originally came out in the 80s and has continued to give some of the very best Marshall tones have any amplifier they've ever manufactured. This is a crate workforce amplifier and great gigging amplifier as well as a perfect amplifier for modification for new modern type tones.

UTILIZATION


It's a pretty easy and fired dial-in with its presence, bass, middle, treble, and a two volume controls for gain in overall master volume. You have a high input in a low input to get your overall volumes more tailored to your liking. The amplifiers pretty easy to dial-in and you just need to use your ears to find that perfect sweet spot. I generally like the preamp game master volume to be maxed out because the amplifier stock don't really have that much of preamp gain distortion so their best maxed out and with a pedal in from of it to get there's a harder saturated rock tones with. You have to speaker inputs in the back and the impedance selector him for voltage and that is about it when comes to this amplifier as farce feature wise guys.

SOUNDS

This amplifier has the best Marshall amp that Marshall has ever done in my opinion. This is the best 80s amplifier for throwing a good boss distortion or any type of distortion pedal in front of him getting a great high again block tone. This amplifier mixes very well with a H 30 or greenback speaker and a 412 cabinet. The tone of this amp is a bright tone and generally needs a good warm instrument match well with it. It works really well with a super Strat for a Gibson Les Paul guitar.

OVERALL OPINION


These amplifiers have been discontinued for a while now and use market is the only way to go to get this amp. They are pretty easy to find and I have actually bought some for right around the price of seven $700. I've seen them go full as high as $1200 depending on the year that it was made. I have to recommended this amp to anyone is needing to good workforce amp and good gigging amp that will last you night after night of abuse and touring and road playing. This is a fantastic sounding amp and will sound even better if you can take it to the good amp tech to get the components upgraded as well as the transformers upgraded to you better performing iron.

100W
All lamps
1981 (according to the N serial number)
2 channels for mine. Indeed, it has been changed, I come back in the following chapters
No effects loop.
No reverb. At the same time, Marshall reverb ..
I put 9 because no effects loop does not bother me too much. I know that for others, it would be very annoying. That said, a good technician can install one.

UTILIZATION

I do not have a manual but is it necessary? Of course not.

3 EQ knobs
1 knob preamp
One knob "presence"
1 master volume

That is the basis of this model. Mine has a second preamp and a second master + a boost mode controllable foot. This is not a clear channel but a second channel. On the photo you can see the mod.

Certainly, your sound will ask to search, refine, test. But it has a side plug-and-play. One branch and it sounds. It refines after.

SOUNDS

My style is generally saturated. From small to big overdrive sound crazy. I love the big sound but not necessarily metal. For a long time, I am looking for a big sound, not only able to take off the wallpaper, but also crack the wall behind. BUT, I want a typical rock sound. And then, by plugging a Gibson SG with the pair of microphones 496R/500T, I finally have a great working basis.

The sounds are impressive. Boost mode is quite efficient. IL encapsulates the sound, adds bass without distorting the specific grain of this amp. And when you push the amp well, the palm mute are impressive.
But the role of this boost does not stop there. He has two other functions:

1 - For a clear, should moderate the preamp by setting it to 2 (or 8 hours) and push the master. It activates the boost, and then, surprise. A clean high quality are obtained. Which normally is not the strength of the couple SG / Marshall. It's round, it's hot, it's powerful. We even begin to twang fenderien with rope MI (yes, yes .. with SG). And as there has 2 channels, one can easily switch from light to full.

2 - A low volume, and coupled with an efficient and progressive Master (rather than on the JCM 900), it makes the boost JCM 800 usable at home. IF so, I swear ..
I point at home, I play plugged into a 2x12 "homemade dimensions more than generous massif. Pine 20mm, and a couple G12T75 and Vintage 30. When the neighbor is not there (and it is quite common, especially on weekends), it sends severe. But when I speak of a JCM usable indoors, my opinion shall take account of the presence of neighbor.

The guitars are used mainly: a Gibson SG '61 490R/500T in a Epiphone Les Paul Studio SH-1/SH-8. The SH-1, coupled with overdrive (OCD Fulltone, Marshall JH-1, MI Audio Blues Pro or Vox Ice 9 Satriani) you would drool blues sounds, although dirty but very dynamic. The HS-8 allows you to go the edgy rock jusu'au metal.

Depending on the level of saturation that we choose, we can have a precise and sharp enough sound to a fatty but powerful sound. The Marshall sound ..

I would edit later after testing my various pedals.

OVERALL OPINION

I just have. He will wait for me 33 years. It is a bit like Christine Carpenter movie, when the guy discovers the car. And that I had just come to an overdrive pedal. That day, there were 2 JCM 800 OCCAZ. The other was a recent Reissue 840 €. To be honest, the old JCM 800 has impressed me so much with his mods and I have not even tried the other. I was definitely irreversibly conquered.

I also play on an Orange Jim Root, a JCM 900 4101 Dual Reverb, a Marshall Class 5 and a DIY amp 1W high quality (made by someone who has talent!). I also keep my first amp, a Valvestate 100W head 8100 (1st generation)

The feature I like best? The true and pure grain Marshall. And like all typed amps, love it or do not like, but the quality is there. I am in love with this sound.

€ 900 Cygnus' with this double modification, if we look at all the ads JCM 800 this time, it is a very good deal.

And as I like to have radical phrases, I say NEVER I do revendrais! Other yes, but not this one, not possible.
Really, what amp .. I have all the history of rock with him.

I put a 9 overall because I do not personally know the other Marshall that time or before. You never know, I could live a more intense experience with one of those ..

Amp head single-channel 100-watt lamp.
Lamps - 3 x 12AX7 preamp
- Power Tubes 4 x EL34

Setting: Presence, Bass, Middle, Treble, Master, Preamp

Input High or Low switchable not.

Attention, there are several JCM800 2203. Those of the early 80s are more famous than the late 80s (nearest JCM900)
Mine dates from 1982 (you can find out thanks to the serial number).

UTILIZATION

I always used the input High, the Low input is just feeble and takes very little part of the lamps ...
Configuration is very simple: EQ, Master, Gain ...

By plugging directly into the amp it gets immediately grain Marshall, not really way to go tap elsewhere.
BUT, you can tweak the lights to change the race preamp gain and / or add effects pedals the amp stand perfectly.
There are also plenty of mod to do or how to do ...

So the grain Marshall bidouillable what!

SOUNDS

First thing, beware the 100 Watts of 80 this is not the 2000s. The amp sounds good when the master is at least half = way too loud! Personally, I paid an attenuator otherwise the amp was not exploitable reasonable volume. (Apparently this is the same problem on version 50 Watts)

Second thing, the gain! Rather I want a good crunch boosted (or not) by the pedals rather than high gain vintage. I changed three 12AX7 for a 5751 combo, AX7 and AT7 in rectifier. The winning race became more progressive and I gained momentum. It truly was the revelation that change. Good afternoon if you are looking for high gain 3 AX7 do downright good!
My three essential pedals are: Boss GE-7 EQ + a + Fulltone OCD Xotic EP Booster ... It works great with the preamp tubes.

I often read that the head lacked bass equalization that was very effective: it's true ... But this is easily correctable with a EQ pedal. Frankly a beast GE-7 has brought a lot to my son!

I can not put away a year before managing to get sound I wanted so you still cling to, take an interest, do research, etc. ... Personally, I was pretty much on my purposes because I heard this sound mind in a lot of records (rock, punk, noise, post-rock).

I also use other effects: delays, reverb, tremolo ... it goes nickel in my JCM800!

My cabinet is a 1960A with Celestion G12-75. I think it works well (Marshall Marshall cabinet that still sounds good I feel).
I tried with a Mesa V-30, I shared mediums drool a little and pert mellow Marshall!
On a Hiwatt with HP Fane Vintage: outstanding! exellent sitting in the bass!
I'd tried the Greenback which apparently HP's preferred JCM800!

OVERALL OPINION

You want to make the hard rock? You arm your gibson ---> you play ---> you're happy!
This is the base register of the amp, the Marshall typical rock grain.
After customization are endless and this is what I love!

This is one of the most respected brand amp and it is justified!
If you like the marshall grain can not be loving.
If you want something else and like the hack, which is a geek effects pedals, it will do too!

I paid mine € 700 used in 2012 with lamps in good condition.
This is a good price I think. When I see some sell more than 1000 €, I find it a bit abused when even an amp past 30 years ...

I do not regret that choice.