Hey guys, I'd like to share my recent experience and possibly get your advice on a few things.
After having a studio set up for a while I finally decided to crank my 4104 JCM800 combo and...
Now I want a plexi!
:-D
I've found my favourite clean tone on the 800 by running both pre-amp and master on full and having the guitar volume on about 3 which is quite a revalation. With my Strymon Flint it's lush. Only issue is the amout of noise it creates and I struggle to integrate overdrive pedals effectively. Do you guys have any tips? (other than getting a second amp). I found this combination to be the best sounding clean tone as the touch responsivity and "bounciness" of the clean is exactly what I'm after. Makes me wonder if I could ever get that tone with the guitar volume on full to make best use of pedals. (I'm theorising, no)
I'd also like to query plexi's, should I opt for a 50w 1987x or SLP (or even JTM45)? I'm looking at getting a head and 4x12 as I've recently started a metal project akin to Tool/Mastodon/Kyuss with my SG in B standard. The single 1x12 open back 4104 isn't cutting it there. My other gigs range from funk to jazz and I mainly use smaller amps in those settings. I'm not against looking at Orange/Mesa amps as I require a tight low end and I also wouldn't mind blending amps for the ideal tone.
Thanks in advice, always nice to hear opinions from you lot
Cheers,
Shaun
Comments
If you want to get the gain from your amp I'd recommend a JVM or Jubilee. I play similar stuff to you with a Mini Jubilee but I'd love a JVM just for the orange gain channel which sounds massive into a 412. Mind you I wouldn't say no to a 1987x or 2203 either but I don't really need clean tones or a used Astoria Dual or Custom might be worth checking out.
Personally I would get a 2203 - I don’t think the JTM45 is tight enough for the harder rock sounds, and if you’re down-tuning there’s just something about 100 watt amps - not just volume. The 2203 is the best amp Marshall ever made in my opinion, actually better than a Plexi.
Keep the 4104 as a backup, you can always run it through the 4x12” if you have to as well as usingbit for the smaller gigs.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I’m using the low input channel so it could be the amp needs looking at. I’ve found a happy medium with the pre-amp rolled back to 3 or 4 which allows me to use pedals.
What is about the 2203 that puts it ahead of the plexi? The 4104 has the 2204 circuit, correct? If so it’d feel somewhat overkill to have the same flavour. I had thought of converting the combo to a head at one point. I agree with you about the 100w with lower tunings although I worry if excessive volume would be an issue. (thinking more for sound guys than studio).
I’ve seen a Friedman Smallbox head locally (keep forgetting about them) that could be interesting if I could get the cash together.
for cleans I do what you do, lower the guitar volume and to me they are terrific,
and for pedals if you find input 1 when over 6 too meaty input 1 low is killer, at least to me..
I think its just more versatile than the 800 and sounds bigger,more 3D and more dynamic..
this is all in my opinion of course..
To me, it sounds slightly better - I love the extra 'ring' it has - and it's far more flexible, a Plexi doesn't have enough gain until it's really cranked and then it's too loud. At least without an attenuator - and even then I think the ability to control gain, amp volume and final volume all independently in any combination makes the 2203 better.
The 2203 is just the sound of rock, to me - the absolute definition of the sound of an overdriven guitar amp.
Yes, but the 2203 sounds 'bigger' even through the same cab. It's not about the volume - the extra 3dB isn't going to make a huge difference - it's the extra chunk in the bottom end.
A 4104 in an open-back cab with a single speaker is going to sound very different from a 2203 through a 4x12" - and you can use different speakers to exaggerate it too, which will make them more useful. What speaker is in the 4104? For down-tuned hard rock I would use something like V30s or Classic Leads (or a pair of both) in the 4x12"...
I've only played one Friedman but I would say it's a one-sound amp - Van Halen in a box, but that's all it did.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I think with my current situation I could happily gig with the 4104 and run it with a 4x12. If I was going to get a head it would no doubt spend most of it's time in my studio so I'd want a different flavour of gain. I already have a Mesa, Vox and Fender so I was aiming at something plexi like.
I hear you with the low end benefits, would a 50w plexi be too loud even for gigging levels? I can stand to be in the same room as he 4104 on high sensitivity with the volumes maxed, which is on a par with my very loud drummer. I know a lot of Plexi sounds that I'm into come from ones that have been modded for more gain.
Clearly what you need is an empty head box to put on the 4x12”, and connect the 4104 up round the back .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Funny that, it's the 4x12's that are mostly empty at gigs these days
Focus on making music you know, rather than collecting amps....crazy thought I know!