Marshall 2210 JCM800 Split Channel Reverb [1982-1989]

I've played guitar for 41 years. I'm a lead guitarist and lead singer, but don't mind playing rhythm to help the band out. I was in a Country Western band about 8 years ago which was fun, doing Top 40 C/W. I've played the blues in bars, which is great fun, and consider myself a bluesman first. I'm a songwriter and I've recorded demos of about 100 of my songs for publication/albums in the future. I play primarily in church now, keeping my chops up, 20 years of that so far! But when I retire in a few years I plan to perform locally and/or as far as it will take me.



I paid $2,634 for this half stack in 1990. Bought it new at Ace Music in Santa Monica. That was as much a chunk of change then as it is now, but I am REALLY glad I bought it and kept it.

What I like the most about this amp is it has an acoustic/airy sound to it at lower volumes and acoustic guitars w/ pickups sound excellent through it. Even when you crank it up with your Strat or Les Paul, it seems to have that quality to it, which I love. The loudest I've played it is at 7, but look forward to cranking it up to 10 some time in the future. It has that great solid chunky sound, and it screams like a banshee when you want it to. Plus, it has an amazing unpredictable element to it because of its tubes. It's really a fine instrument, very high quality, and any kind of music you play sounds fantastic through it. Use the Marshall Power Brake and you can crank it up as far as you want and attnuate it down to the speakers so you get that loud tube tone but save your ears.

Well, it IS quite heavy. Lugging it to gigs over and over makes you wish you had a roadie to do it instead. But I think that's the price of its great, unbeatable sound. I do think metal jacks would have been better than the plastic ones, which are cheesy. I suppose one could replace them if needed. The plastic channel/reverb foot pedal switch that came with the unit was crap, but the steel Marshall pedal switch I replaced it with is much better.

This thing is built to last and has lasted. I've had it for 16 years now and love it as much as when I first bought it new. It's very versatile and just a blast to use. Very solid construction and high quality.

I very much like the dual channel, footswitchable, allowing you to dial in your distortion on one channel and punch in and out of your clean channel. It's a world class amp and I hope to tour the world with it some day.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Bought new in 1987, $1,200 for head ($600 each for both cabinets)

The most flexible Marshall ever made, clean channel has it's own tone section, boost channel (distorted) has its own tone section. This is the ONLY true dual channel Marshall ever offered. This would be evidenced by the 5 12ax7's in the pre-section (3 pre-amp, 1 reverb driver, and the phase inverter tube) Has an exceptionally usable clean sound, although would advise a bright mod done.. exceptionally easy, and also has the most desired overdrive sound available by any amp!

The gain mismatch between the clean and boost channels (for those actually seeking a "clean sound") will usually force the clean sound to become somewhat distorted to achieve equal levels. Marshall never came closer to achieveing perfection. (I have modified mine to overcome this problem, but I realize not all of us are tech's) Even still is by far the best amp ever made (in my opinion) for playing a diverse songlist. (I play everything from Aretha to Eagles to Pantera and never change amps)


Marshall is the epitome of bullet-proof, as with all pro, but not quite famous guitar players, my amp is routinely "thrown" into the trailer after a night's gig. (You know the feeling, get the stuff loaded, get paid, go home and sleep.. when "careful" is in your vocabulary, but not in your actions). Mine finally got dropped off the top cabinet while rolling it out two months ago,... no problems just more "road wear".
AM NOT real fond of the Marshall plastic input jacks, they have less contact area than the older Fender jacks. A quick note for all Marshall owners, clean these jacks often as these have been the only source of problems in this amp...

By far the best amp ever made... I am an amp tech and I get the privilege of playing through amps all day long. There are amps that can outperform in certain genres. (1964 Fender Blackface Showman has a much superior clean sound,..like you didn't know that!!! And believe it or not an original PEAVEY Ultra 120 has a slightly tighter distorted sound... Killer if your playing thrash or death metal...) Anyway, the Marshall is exceptionally dependent on your pickup selection, your average Ibanez or Squier strat will sound horrible through this due to the pickup's tone. I have been playing for 24 yrs. and can honestly tell you that your pickup selection is the key to the world of tone... USE IT!!!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Bought used from a private party in NYC with a Carvin 4X12 cabinet for $650. He obviously had no idea what he had. His loss. This is the 100-watt 2-channel lead head.

This amp is a 2210 series JCM-800 circa 1988. HUGE Marshall sound. LOUD doesn't begin to describe this amp. Try ear-splitting, deafening, I could go on.

Seriously, I can't put the volume past 2 in a medium-sized practice room because it completely buries the drums....and we have a hard-hitting drummer. It's that good.

Versatile, 2-channel with a footswitch. Clean, it's warm as can be. Distorted, it will rip your head clean off. I play a variety of guitars (Fender custom shop Strat, Les Paul, and Hamer Explorer) through this amp and they all sound great. I use a small-clone chorus pedal and that's all you need.

Nothing. It's the be-all end all. Period.
Nothing even comes close. I've tried the new Marshalls (puke), Randalls, Crate, etc. and they're all pretenders.

It's an old amp and it's been kicked around a lot. I have to have it re-tubed every 6 months or so, but that's the story with tube amps. It's held its own like a champ. It weighs about a ton.

Don't waste your money on the new Marshalls. They suck. Get one of these today...seriously...they truly don't make 'em like this anymore.

The only amp that even comes close is a Mesa Boogie triple-rectifier and hey if you've got $1500 to drop on one of those more power to ya.

I like the JCM 800 better and you can get them cheap since they're older and most people don't know what they have when they have one.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

100w amp all lamps (5x + 4x EL34 ECC83) 1985
2 channels: clean and lead
rverbe
Effects Loop
Adjustable DI output

Simple and effective

USE

The rglages are intuitive, like any good self-respecting Marshall.
THE very easily typical sound of Rock is obtained (the real).
No frills, dry sends with a Les Paul !!!
Pretty darn hard, this amp.

As speaker, I have a Marshall 1960A V30 with 2 and 2 Greenbacks, all cabl X, precision and clarity to the RV !!!!

SONORITS

As said, this is THE sound of Marshall is THE quintessential Rock Sound.
I play this amp with a Les Paul "Orville by Gibson" custom BB reissue 57 '... as you say that I reach aisment (the goal) THE sound of Gary Moore (Parisienne walkways, Still got the Blues ...), AC-DC, Santana ..... on the lead channel.

The Clean channel is pleasant, but nothing more (Actually, I prefer when has a little crunch!)

In short, everything that I love .....

NOTICE GLOBAL

I just acqurir, but I knew already.
Indeed, I possdais two full-stacks (a jcm 800 and a master jmp lead) in the 80's.
So I knew what I'm enchrissais (Ebay Germany) and I got it for 540 euros.
Very proper, when I see how much is in store or negotiates OCCAZ in France !!!!!
Anyway, nothing to do with modern amps !!!! I dfinitivement and remains hooked to the sound of the 80's!

Because or thanks my experience, I redid the choice of jcm 800 ... and you know what? I entirely right! I love it!