Is a JVM a real Marshall or something else?

[Casey_Butt]

I have a JVM410H (albeit somewhat modded) and a era-correct 1959/2203 clone (switchable). To be totally honest, the 1959/2203 clone has more "girth" - deeper bass, clearer highs - than the JVM on the corresponding settings. The difference, however, is small and probably due largely to the excellent output transformer in the clone. Yes, my 410 is modded to sound and behave more like a classic Marshall but every time I play a stock JVM I'm still impressed with the quality of the sound. I can't see how a Marshall fan couldn't get impressive sounds out of a JVM. The only way I see that happening is when someone is used to a different model amp and can't comfortably transition to the JVM with all its knobs and channels.

All that said, if you're comfortable with modding or have a good tech and are willing to do it, you can tailor the JVM to sound however you like... not that it's necessary unless you're very picky or are going after a very specific sound/response.

As far as "topology" goes, I don't know precisely what Marshall was trying to say but the JVM circuitry is very similar to the 1959 and 2203 on the corresponding channels/modes. The significant differences are largely to achieve all the JVM channels/modes being able to coexist in one preamp. So the corresponding JVM circuits aren't identical to the old amps but they're damn close and probably as close as practically possible (in a mass production sense) considering it's a multi-channel amp with selectable gain stages. The power amp is almost identical.

 

[oldmanrockin]

I guess i mis spoke about being a modeler. I know its not a modeler, but it has all the extra channels and foot switch abilities that my DSL doesnt have. My concern was the more compressed sound or basically being more of a modern metal amp than a 70's rock sound amp. And the red channel on my 40c is okay with the c19 clipped. I can use it. I guess i just need to find one to try or do the Sweetwater 30 day. Thanks for the info.

 

[tonefinder]

As a proud (read: embarrassed) owner of a Line 6 DT50, I can attest: When an amp designer starts throwing around the word "Topology," don't walk- RUN in the other direction.

 

[AlboK]

Looking at a JVM50 head, but have never played one and not sure what they sound like. Do they do traditional Marshall sound or are they something more on the likes of a modeler of a Marshall sound. I have a couple DSL's and they do the Marshall ring on the crunch channel. But they are limited on channel switching, as the red channel for me is basically useless. I would like to have something with more options, but with covid crap its hard to go somewhere and find one. Any ideas or reviews on a JVM?

which DSL do you have? I have a JCM 2000 DSL 50 and the red channel is great. It's a hottodded JCM 800. What speakers do you use? What tubes are you using? I use JJ"s plus Marshall Vintage 30 speakers.

 

[AlboK]

I like "vintage" Marshall only, not very keen on the DSL line or any of their low end stuff. I bought a JVM410h from Sweetwater, it was so noisy I thought is was broke, so they sent me another. It wasn't broke. The 2 OD channels I found almost useless, the clean was ok but nothing extra, the crunch ch. was good it had a lot of range throughout it. I sold it shortly after for a whooping loss. I would have liked a 3 ch. version with the clean and 2 crunch ch. much better. All the write up's I read said the drive on the 2 OD ch. was almost unusable past 9-10 o'clock, I thought they must be wrong but in my case they were right. Some people really like them, but if you don't dig the DSL much you probably won't like the JVM either. If you order from Sweetwater you can send it back. I found my "versatile Marshall" sound in an amp from Ceriatone called a Chupacabra and love it. It's a modded Marshall type, but they have one called a "Plexi 51 All Access" you may like. If a JVM410 turns out to be your thing, look for a used one. (about $1000)

A JCM 2000 DSL doesn't sound like a JVM. Maybe the newer DSL's do but no the 2000's.

 

[jeffb]

As a proud (read: embarrassed) owner of a Line 6 DT50, I can attest: When an amp designer starts throwing around the word "Topology," don't walk- RUN in the other direction.

Rheinhold finally figured out to stick with his own amps, and not mess with that Line 6 hybrid stuff. It only took him 6 or 7 half-assed attempts, too

 

[ampeq]

A JCM 2000 DSL doesn't sound like a JVM. Maybe the newer DSL's do but no the 2000's.

Your right, that is the one DSL I actually like. Not sure why they didn't keep that one, most do like it best.
As for "modding" the JVM, I was told to do 5 mod's to it to get it to sound better and not be so noisy. Why in the hell would I want to do all that, if I have to rebuild the amp to try and like it there is a good chance it's not the amp for me. I found a good brit toned amp I would not trade for 3 JVM's and paid less than 1/2 of what I paid for the JVM. (And it's hand made.) Some folk's do like them very much, but I sure didn't. The JCM 2000, at least to me, is a much better sounding amp. Also I never tried the 200 series JVM, mine was a 410h, some say the 410 from HJS is a little better but I never tried it. I was really hoping the JVM was going to give me both vintage and modern tones when I bought it.

 

[masher_uk]

Looking at a JVM50 head, but have never played one and not sure what they sound like. Do they do traditional Marshall sound or are they something more on the likes of a modeler of a Marshall sound. I have a couple DSL's and they do the Marshall ring on the crunch channel. But they are limited on channel switching, as the red channel for me is basically useless. I would like to have something with more options, but with covid crap its hard to go somewhere and find one. Any ideas or reviews on a JVM?

I have both a JVM205H and a JVM410H and, like the rest of the range these are full on pure valve heads - not modelers. I've gigged both; the 4-channel offering a bit more versatility obviously. I too find the 'Red' OD channel(s) more difficult to control so don't use them. What I do like however is the midi control feature which I use with my (ageing) Boss GT-10 multi-FX unit in 4CM mode. The emulated line out is also pretty good for direct FOH/monitoring/recording. Expensive but worth it and if either of mine suffered terminal failure I'd buy another one without hesitation. Finally, unless you're a weightlifter, I'd avoid the combos and go for a head...

 

[NoelH]

It's genuine Marshall to me. Capable of really high gain? Yeah. But it can do a pretty good impersonation JCM800. Not not dead-on exact, but close.
FYI, I just played an LM6100 last weekend, and LOVED IT! And people were saying similar things about that amp 25 years ago or so.
"Real" an odd adjective to try to apply. A '67 Camaro RS is a "real" Chevy. So is a 2012 Camaro LT.

 

[Woodshed Pilgrim]

I have the JVM 1 X 12 combo and think it is an awesome amp. 100% Marshall tones are in there.
My other Fender amps are not used much anymore. Everything I need in a amp is in the JVM. Made in England also shows Marshall's intent to provide a pro quality amp in every way. Had the DSL made in Vietnam and liked it, but the JVM blows it away. I have no need for the head / 4 X12 half stack....really who does? If you play stadiums, ok I get it.

 

[atarilovesyou]

Of course JVMs are not real Marshalls. Real Marshalls have only 6 knobs in the front panel.

Just kidding, but, I'm not a JVM fan, already had One, a 410H, they're Ugly, too many knobs, and for all the versatility they have, with the 12 channels and programmable footswitch and all, O couldnt get a sound I truly liked, its like they took another amp, and put a blanket Over the speaker. Not for me.

I prefer the DSL / JCM2000s.

:d
...I see what you did there, lol

 

[dro]

I disagree. In theory it should be possible to re-create any audio device digitally! It sounds like Electro-Harmonix haven't achieved it yet - but someone else might, if not now, then in future!

Yeah well they've been trying for decades now. The digital emulations may fool Joe citizen. Who has 5 or 6 beers in him listening to what's left of his favorite 70's band. But to those of us who know what glowing tubes sound like. It don't quite cut it. Will it in the future? Probably not, but we'll all be dead, and the 20 somethings of today will say. Oh yeah that Amplitude kicks ass. Sounds just as good on my ear buds. Yeah right. The whole point behind Marshall in the first place was LOUD. Not ear buds. If you're Marshall isn't rattling the walls. You ain't doin' it right.

 

[davejackson]

Looking at a JVM50 head, but have never played one and not sure what they sound like. Do they do traditional Marshall sound or are they something more on the likes of a modeler of a Marshall sound. I have a couple DSL's and they do the Marshall ring on the crunch channel. But they are limited on channel switching, as the red channel for me is basically useless. I would like to have something with more options, but with covid crap its hard to go somewhere and find one. Any ideas or reviews on a JVM?

I have a JVM 410 and love the sound. It's heavy and loud as heck which is what I expected. The clean channel is ok, but I can't get the chorus sound I want. It may be my pedals.

 

[Sapient]

I have the JVM410HJS and it's cool. It's the only Marshall I want now and forever ..even though I just dick with one channel playing on the couch now.

Green 3 about 10:30 gain can cause sonic erections.

 

[avspecialist]

I have my jVM410H for about 9 years now. I initially went into buy a JCM 2000 at guitar center after seeing Gary Moore play one at the 50th anniversary of the Strat. He did a rendition of Red House with a strat and the sound he got out of it was amazing, probably the best I heard. Marshall would be a big change for me since I have a wide range of Fender amps. When I went into GC to get one there was the JVM410H there. I was immediately interested especially after getting a catalog from Sweetwater and reading about their new flagship over and over. After auditioning the JCM it thought it was very good, but then I thought it was a 1 trick pony foe me. Then I the played the JVM and from clean green to OD2 it gave me everything from Beatles to Black Sabbath. I then my quest for the right speakers started. I built a 4x12 Baltic Birch cabinet to the same size specs as a 1960B.

I bought a lot of speakers and tried a fair amount of combinations. Mostly Weber Celestion types. I did that because a lot of people wrote about the Celestions being spiky and harsh. So I didn’t bother. Then a guy on the JVM forum HyFive started writing up a lot about the Creamback 65’s and how great he felt the match was. So over a period of time I was able to buy 4 creambacks. For me this started the transformation of balanced sounds in all modes.

Up above in this post is CaseyButt. He came up with some fairly simple mods any basically skilled person could do. I did the negative feedback mod I believe the R97 mod and I believe a 1uf cap across R128, (Casey correct me if i’m wrong) and this started filling the little holes in the amp for the sound I was looking for. I did the preamp tube rolls and yes it changed the sound slightly one way or another. I eventually ended up with a new line up of current production tubes.

Recently my biggest change was when I took out the 4 JJel34 and replaced them with the Preferred Series el34’s. I rebiased them using my scope and volt meter. I ended up at about 81mv for the pair on one side and about 79/80 on the other at 475 plate voltage , to slightly unbalance them. Basically I judged the calibration looking at the crossover notch on my scope.

To my surprise this was almost a big a change as the speakers.

Recently, I was able to buy a quad of Celestion G12T75’s in fairly new condition for $200.00. I did this because from what I have read the amp was designed these speakers. The result was not so good. The amp became very noisy and wanted to feedback all the time. Also it became very bright and a lot, I mean a lot of upper midrange. I think this is one of the worst combinations by far.

Basically to sum up, setting up an amplifier properly, perhaps tweaking the amp slightly, getting the right speakers and calibrating the power tubes has made this amp by far the best amp I have ever played. I really have to thank the JVM forum members for that.

 

[giblesp]

I have a JVM 410 and love the sound. It's heavy and loud as heck which is what I expected. The clean channel is ok, but I can't get the chorus sound I want. It may be my pedals.

Try MXR Black Label Chorus. Great pedal and compliment to the JVM sound.

 

[tallcoolone]

I have a JVM410H (albeit somewhat modded) and a era-correct 1959/2203 clone (switchable). To be totally honest, the 1959/2203 clone has more "girth" - deeper bass, clearer highs - than the JVM on the corresponding settings

First off, a clone is an EXACT repro and the 1959 and 2203 are totally different amps. Secondly, a JVM is a totally different instrument. I didn’t read the whole thread....I assume this has been pointed out but...yeah

 

[tallcoolone]

Yeah well they've been trying for decades now. The digital emulations may fool Joe citizen. Who has 5 or 6 beers in him listening to what's left of his favorite 70's band. But to those of us who know what glowing tubes sound like. It don't quite cut it.

Nah, you just haven’t spent enough time with the right gear

 

[proxy]

JVM sucks donkey balls ...

 

[LPMarshall hack]

JVM sucks donkey balls ...