Marshall 4100 JCM900 Dual Reverb [1990-1999] [2003 - ? ]

I brought this unit about 6 years ago and have still got it .Being an in experience guitarist at the time I chose the unit because of its name and reputation. I havent regret it, except for maybe a few short falls. I paid $1100 Australian dollars for it.

I like the distortion voice on this amp with its ability to give you a modern tube amp sound.
I also like its ability to give you 2 choices a clean and distortion sound at the stomp of a switch.

The thing that i dislike about the unit is the clean sound which tends to sound a bit "tinny" on its own. However, in saying this the clean sound can be beefed up by adding different effects with it i.e a tube screamer.

During relatively loud volumes my amp has a rattle or buzzing sound and im buggered if i can find out where it is comming from. I took it to an Marshall amp specialist and even he couldnt find where the rattle is coming from. The rattle can be only heard when Im close to the amp, and hence, it hardly bothers me.

My Marshall has been good to me and has never broken down after 6 years of in and out of boots, tipping over, kicking and dropping once from 1 metre. It has a distortion sound with balls and a clean sound with none which can be overcome with effects. If your thinking about buying one test the amp to make sure it doesnt rattle at a good volume.

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

This is a tube amp with 5881 power tubes instead of the El34s you normally find in Marshalls. It is a 100/50 watt amp with spring reverb and two foot switchable channels that share the usual tone controls but have independent gain and reverb controls. The foot switch also controls the reverb.

UTILIZATION

Its a solid well built Marshall amp with straight forward controls.

SOUNDS

This was my first Marshall. I bought it in the early 90s (along with the matching 4X12 cab) and have long since sold it and replaced it with the 30th Anniversary Marshall so I'm writing from memory here. I was immediately disappointed with this amp when I got it and never warmed up to it. I wanted a Marshall that sounded like the classic Marshall sound of the 70s and assumed that all Marshalls were basically the same. I had no idea that Marshalls could be so different. Now I am wiser but poorer. This 900 Marshall sounded nothing like the classic traditional Marshalls which are based around the EL34 tube. The tube in this amp is more like a 6L6. The distorted sound is harder, more aggressive, darker, with harsher harmonics and for some reason the amp seriously lacks bottom end as well. Oddly enough I loved the clean channel with reverb which sounded beautifully liquid and almost magical at times but who buys a Marshall for its clean sound?
I have also come to realize over the years that the cab I bought was wrong as well for the sound I wanted because it has the now common Celestion G12T75 speakers which are best for metal but not 70s rock. Marshall speaker cabs of the 70s used G12H30s or others that sound entirely different. You live. You learn. You spend gobs of money.

OVERALL OPINION

This amp was not my cup of tea. However based on other reviews I've read some people apparently love it . Its clearly a love it or hate it thing with this amp. It depends on the sound your after. The bottom line is that you've got to realize that Marshalls from different eras sound quite different from one another and so do the speaker cabs depending on the speakers. To get the sound you want you've got to get the right model amp and the right speakers.

This super head JCM900 4100 is super super home Marshall.C'est really solid. In terms of sound, very well in the treble, by rgler well against the qualisation for the satur.La bte DLivre good 100W it's all the lampes.Toutes Traditional connectors on the back of the bestiole.Pour effects, rverbe and crunch.
I bought all 700 RVISE with nickel.Je lamps do this choice because it's Marshall and I'm crazy about Marsall.Voila voila ...

USE

Simple setup, plug it joue.Je have bought without manuel.Pour what?

SONORITS

It is suitable for hard rock, hard Mtal finally everything pte a little.

NOTICE GLOBAL

I, unwanted for 2 ans.Avant I Fender, the twin red knob.

100w amp head two channels. 4 EQ bands common to both channels. Independent reverb settings. loop switch effect pentode, triode or 50 / 100w. a little less headroom and harmonic 50. 3 12AX7 pre-amp and 4 EL34 power 2 for me as it was in Retube 50w .. SEE my opinion on JCM900 Dual Reverb 4100 (yes it is listed two Once the head ...)

I did Retube in 50w. Mine is equipped with EL34 and not 5881 (I think this is a very important detail.), Model lamp more représentaif sound marshall.

My lights are Mullard EL34 with a 12AX7 input golden dragon. (A must for the clear.) The powers are no longer as the number 2 course, 50w forces, so it's switchable 50 / 25W.



USE

I precisely this point in detail "sounds".

It is not so obvious as it seems ....

SOUNDS

The whole problem. its use does not ultimately proves to be so easy because it asked to be pampered Marshall future.

This is a maligned amp. For me, the views of a minority opinions "international", see eg Harmony Central.

This is an amp that ultimately needs to be tamed. The one does not ring on. Its major problem is its lack of bass. Its equalization which seems inneficace but gentlemen: Let's stay serious when he spits his bowels, CA has absolutely nothing to do.
And until now, I said loud and clear:
No amp seduces me as much as that one. I saw the green and not ripe for 10 years now ...

A highlight is the mode of operation of the lamps. In pentode or triode if I'm not mistaken. Or 50 / 25W.

25 it will tend to be more "soft" more chubby than 50 or it will sometimes be more acidic and sharp.

My opinion is especially the 25w mode.
The Channel A:

His clear and overdrive. Jmp sound can easily get out of this thing to be done: a small das GE7 the loop. A low one is there.
At higher volumes it will touch équalo the amp itself, las low wake, acute too! My setting is a low background and a support adapted to each situation by GE7. The mids and treble thoroughly virtually cut off. I play with the presence that makes the finest eq setting.

For the top, this is my solo trip, AC / DC and others just to rant a little amp.
For purely sounds clear I am quite a fan of the compressor mixture / chorus, which gives all its density. I use an old compressor Guyatone ps103 (mod germanium) cruised to a Boss DC2. (Never heard of such a chorus: MAGISTRAL).

Channel B:
Clearly lead! for the pun ... CLAIR lead-ing ... Ok I spell ....

It spits fire god! High gain, it certainly is not, but remember that we are coming out of a period or to saturate the amp that was all thoroughly developed bar ... and may be not necessarily the way to a pedal od significantly less accessible today.
Today, with modern music, the high gain mention seems ridiculous ...

The grain has narrowed, compact, mute already very nice .. Iron maiden, metallica and justice for all ... In her I always use my GE7, but in addition I stick him overdrive on the teeth!
A sd1 or Od1 home boss, that's what makes it sound better, mediums forward and dry acute, are perfectly acitivities grain of the amp.
Mutes are so daunting! mdrr!

One enters the Deftones without worry. It's heavy, dense and thick has wish. Muscle Marshall in all its glory, every time in 3 years I remain stuck and I'm in love! It amazes me to this amp AC, he knows how to clean, hard, heavy metal and carefree.

The reverb filled his role well, I find it a bit long, fine adjustments to the beginning of beach ca not displease me ...

In short, a versatile amp with a vintage anyway its always on the settings of channel A, and well suited to rock / hard / heavy.


NOTICE GLOBAL

If it were to do again, (I got it for 400 euros) I remade on.

In short it is an amp you need to know and do to tame what he's done. Versatile, and also inexpensive opportunity. For a review and a max!
Some settings and for me (it's also a pleasure to be HIS type of sound) in 25w rather, good lights, good effects and good guitarist.

Finally I ca work! mdrrr