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Ive never paid more than £1000 for one is good condition.
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
They’re the best-sounding Marshalls ever made in my opinion - but they’re not especially rare, and often have been hacked, modded, badly repaired, or simply thrashed, and need extensive work to make them right - so don’t pay even that much unless you know exactly you what you’re getting... a full overhaul can easily cost a couple of hundred pounds, and that’s before putting right any damage. Replaced transformers are also common and make a big difference to the value even if done correctly.
They weigh a ton for a head and are stupidly loud before they really sound great, usually - even with the master volume - although oddly, some work much better down to lower levels. You will need an attenuator to get the best out of one at home and possibly even at a gig unless you play in a very loud band. You also need the right cabinet - a large 2x12” or 4x12”, they really don’t sound best without some ‘room to breathe’ - and enough power handling, they put out a lot more than the rated power, a 50W or 100W cab is not enough.
But if you get a good one it’s the absolutely definitive sound of rock guitar in my opinion.
"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
Interesting on the cab @ICBM, I might go for the 2204 then to avoid the need for a 4x12 for now. Wish I hadn't sold my oversize Bogner cab! I've got a 2x12 with V30's in but was thinking about pairing the JMP with a new cab with G12-65's.
"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 used it with an old 4x12 with G12-65's and vividly remember that one time when I could finally play it loud. It can sound a bit thin and bright when the master volume is set low. But put it past 3 or 4 and it thickens right up. Sadly, that was only possible on some outdoor gigs! I would love to acquire a 2204 and play in a Thin Lizzy tribute or something like that!
Later 'horizontal input' JCM800s have some circuit changes, particularly to the filtering in the 2203, which make them stiffer-sounding.
Earlier 2204s also have lower power supply voltages, which make them a bit softer and thicker-sounding. Very early (1975-76) 2204s also have a very different circuit, without the two input gain stages cascaded, and sound much weaker and less gainy - they were changed to the 2203 circuit almost as soon as it was introduced, which all have the better cascaded circuit.
"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
"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
But the difference between a JMP 2204 and a 2104 is purely the cabinet, the amp section is exactly the same. I think the 2204 sounds best through a 2045 2x12” cab, in fact - not a 4x12”. With a 4x12” you want the extra punch of the 2203.
They’re small differences though... all of them sound great - and you can get quite wide variations in individual examples.
The best I’ve ever heard was a very early ‘76 2203 with toggle switches, which only the very first had - the best Marshall I’ve ever played, including all the plexis. Remarkably, it had the best master volume as well - it sounded perfectly consistent right down to 2... I have no idea why, they mostly don’t. Unfortunately the owner wanted it 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
But that occurred before the MV models were introduced, so it's not why the JCM800s sound brighter than the JMPs. Even the very first 2204 circuit in 1975 had the separate resistor.
"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