Marshall JCM 900

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 17 Jan 2003 9:12 am

When I showed up at rehearsal last night I had the choice to play thru the PA or thru a JCM 900 Dual Reverb combo. Some choice !! I played a few tunes thru the PA but was having trouble hearing myself, so I figured that I would try the Marshall, thinking that hearing a crappy sound is better than not hearing at all. Well I plugged my Emmons into this thing , and nearly fell off my chair at how good it sounded ! A big fat punchy clean tone just on the verge of starting to break up a bit, even the reverb sounded good. Not a typical steel sound at all, but real pleasing to the ear, especially for C6. I think this Marshall uses 6L6 tubes in the output. Give one a try, you will be surprised.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 17 Jan 2003 6:26 pm

I have had some good experiences with Marshall amps myself. They use EL34 power tubes. I think the speakers have allot to do with how good they sound.
I'm using a couple Celestion 12" speakers in one set up and then I put an old Fane 12" in my Deluxe.

Bob

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 19 Jan 2003 12:07 am

Glenn,
I just checked and that Marshall amp does use 6L6's. All the marshall combos or heads I have used had EL34's in them. I'll keep an eye out and check it out first chance I get.

Bob

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 19 Jan 2003 7:07 am

It was real sweet sounding, not the typical Marshall clean sound, which is sort of dull sounding.

Jeff A. Smith · Post by **Jeff A. Smith** » 20 Jan 2003 12:58 pm

All the marshall combos or heads I have used had EL34's in them.

For a significant period of time they used 6550's. These power tubes are cleaner sounding than EL34's and 6L6's. Except for some metal players, most guitarists generally avoid them. I have Marshalls with all three tube types, and I think the 6550 probably has more bottom than the 6L6, definitely more than the EL34.

The 6L6-equipped Marshall that I personally have is a JTM45, a reissue of about the first amp Marshall made. As I understand it, it was pretty much modeled after the old Fender Bassman, and sounds very different from later Marshalls.[This message was edited by Jeff A. Smith on 20 January 2003 at 01:01 PM.]

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 20 Jan 2003 6:52 pm

What is odd about this amp is that it's one of those 80's shredder amps, with a real heavy metal sound when you have the preamp cranked. This one in a head only version was called the JCM 900 Dual Reverb, 2 identical channels with reverb on both channels. I going to try and find one for myself used. The 6L6 output makes a huge difference in sound. I've had a few Marshalls over the years, and have always found that they did only one sound really good, that glassy crunch sound, and everything else was mediocre.

SveinungL · Post by **SveinungL** » 21 Jan 2003 12:44 am

For years I payed both steel and telecaster through a 100 w Marshall combo. (The blue 30 years Anniversay model with 3 channels). Since there is no reverb in that amp I used a digital unit. It sounded good. (At last to my ears....).
If I remember correct I think that Al Perkins played a Fender lap steel through two small Marshall combo amps on a gig here in Oslo last year.....and that sounded VERY GOOD!!

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Thanks Sveinung Lilleheier
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Kentucky Riders

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 25 Jan 2003 9:06 pm

I have the 100 watt 2/12 JCM900 combo and it has 4 EL 34's. I thought that was the only speakers they put in that model.

bob