Is a JVM a real Marshall or something else?

[aberry9475]

Well, it's the logical culmination of 48 years of mutation of the 1959 Bassman.

We should call it the Marshall Mutant Bassman. Or maybe the Marshall mutant RCA tube manual 100 watt auditory destruction unit-100H, to be precise.

 

[pj1967]

Thanks for that clarification.

Much of these things can be modded (some easy, some more involved) to get the JVM very close to the tone and feel of the 1959 and 2203.

I have a JVM410H that I applied a couple mods to...Choke Mod, switchable C83 mod, and an NFB mod. Of the three, I found the NFB mod to be more impactful.

 

[Michael Sinacola]

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 own a 50 watt JVM head.
IMO it’s a great amp and does give that “Marshall sound “
Some of the features I like are the master volume 1and 2. Helpful for live performances when you want a little extra for solo’s without changing your tone as it’s readily accessible via their foot switch ( no need for boost pedal between your guitar and amp which can change shape of your sound) .
Effects loop on/off again accessible via foot switch. So when not using effect and you want an in your face pure tone just step on effects footswitch off and you have pure signal.
Since it’s two channels but each channel sporting 3 options green/orange/red. It’s really 6 amps in one, with boost on all 6 channels and effects on off on all 6 channels right from one easy foot pedal. BTW footswitch takes any guitar chord, another cool feature .
Programmable footswitch makes this amp the best layout for live performances.
Marshall really thought it out well exactly what most guitarist that aren’t successful enough Or wealthy enough to have a guitar tech and give the average Joe that plays out couple times a month exactly what they need on stage , simplest of layout , most options and yes sounds great. Cleans are nice as well. I personally live mostly on the orange channel of crunch channel or channel two I’ll call it. I run the distortion on about 4-5
Master volume 1 on 8 Master Volume 2 on 10 ( yes it’s up there but this is where it just comes alive and the key to getting this amp to sound really really good very remanisesent of early Van Halen ) keep in mind you also have a pre amp gain so if you want more power amp push as I do I keep these on about 5 while I dine out master volume 2. Also I suggest the mids and bass for the dirty channel orange dimed out. Really gets you close to some of those very special moded 800’s from the day’s end a little better IMO.
If Freidman has the same layout and had foot control footswitch I’d also consider those as I’ve played just about everything . But for overall sound , layout and ease of control . Nothing beats a 50 JVM if you performs live .
I run a 4x12 green backs closed cab and I add a second 2x12 “open back “ with vintage 30’s. Plug in a 1958 custom les Paul remake with low output custom buckers and man it’s very hard to beat the tone. Dial back the volume nob and cleans up in a special way. Very dynamic. Custom strat sounds good in there as well .
good luck with your decision!

 

[avspecialist]

The stock JVM410H that I got new in 2014 was just awful and so was the 205C that I got about a year ago to convince myself that it was just me. It was awful too. The 410H clean is pretty nice, but the rest is a full salad shoot. Two was so chubby that you'd have to remove all the bass. Then, you sounded like you had no bass. Then you'd go the other way ...never win. The treble never came out either as it continued to sound like a blanket was over the speaker or like someone playing behind a bedroom door with it cracked open about an inch. Maybe an EQ would have solved this but how ridiculous is that concept? Three lost the excessive chub at orange but still had the blanket factor. Green was high-gain (not metal), transistor sounding, loose ...chub that made a very weird droney and muddy "transistory" sound when bending the notes in the 7 to 12th fret range on all the strings ..but mostly the treble ones. Orange was ok for sheer metal with dripping distortion ..so forget rock or hard rock. This is where the "metallic" transistor sound really kicks in. Red is actually comical and not even worth commenting on, and so is anything forward. The resonance works very well, but it really doesn't matter. The presence (I used to try to remove the blanket) will drive a cold ice pick into your head first. The reverb turns it into a modeling amp anyway regardless of whether it does or does not sound good ..or great.

I spent years going back to it telling myself "It's me ..it'll be different this time." Uh-huh. There has never been an amp that I f'd with so much as far as trying to dial in a good sound.

Questions welcome.

 

[SkyMonkey]

Great first post @Michael Sinacola and welcome to the MF

 

[Sapient]

@avspecialist

Indeed.

 

[Waldog]

I’ve owned numerous Marshall heads in my 30 odd years of playing and I’ve settled in the JVM410HJS. It smashes the other JVM models out of the park. All of the classics are in there along with great modern high gain sounds. IMO the original JVM models were a mistake, gain controls where three quarters of their range almost unusable, mediocre reverb etc. The HJS fixes all of these early teething problems and sounds way better in the process.

 

[burster1]

In stock form(The JVM), I'd say it's more compressed and stiffer than the old amps

And this why a JVM doesn't sound as vintage as a UK made DSL. More compression and stiff stiff stiffer. Get a UK DSL for all your classic Marshall tones without breaking the bank for the beloved JMP 1/JCM800 and a JVM for modern rock and metal. When recording I found a JVM on OD1 channel to sound somewhat similar to my Bogner Uberschall. Granted the Uber has way more and tigher bass but, when mixing I used low cuts on the SSL plugin so this is really a non issue. The gain structure is similar on the JVM and Uber. Much more so than my Dual Rec, 6505 and 6505+. Pan an Uber to the left and a JVM to the right for a beautiful wall of sound.

 

[giblesp]

And this why a JVM doesn't sound as vintage as a UK made DSL. More compression and stiff stiff stiffer. Get a UK DSL for all your classic Marshall tones without breaking the bank for the beloved JMP 1/JCM800 and a JVM for modern rock and metal. When recording I found a JVM on OD1 channel to sound somewhat similar to my Bogner Uberschall. Granted the Uber has way more and tigher bass but, when mixing I used low cuts on the SSL plugin so this is really a non issue. The gain structure is similar on the JVM and Uber. Much more so than my Dual Rec, 6505 and 6505+. Pan an Uber to the left and a JVM to the right for a beautiful wall of sound.

Know what you mean, but if you lower the resonance and adjust the eqyou'll go closer to vintage than modern. I'd describe it more as a cross between vintage and modern. And by modern I'd say 90's. Vintage tones are definitely in there, but if you want vintage you need vintage. The JVM to me is an all rounder, but its definitely not vintage.

Own a DSL 401 also, I'd say that is also pretty modern on the red channel as with the green.

 

[wmachine]

This has been interesting reading, thanks to all that have contributed. I dived into Marshall by getting a new Silver Jube 2555X with a full stack back a few years ago when they were being blown out. I since wanted to get one other Marshall to compliment the SJ and after much study decided to get a JVM410. The HJS was rather intriguing, but a fair bit more and harder to find. But I decided to hold out for an HJS and I'm glad I did. I got a lightly used one for a really good price. I have paired to a 1960A cab. Love it. I can tell it really takes a lot to dial it into what you want. There are so many setting potentials it will take me forever to fully explore it. I'll never get to the point of wanting to mod it. But that's just me.

 

[Sapient]

And this why a JVM doesn't sound as vintage as a UK made DSL. More compression and stiff stiff stiffer. Get a UK DSL for all your classic Marshall tones without breaking the bank for the beloved JMP 1/JCM800 and a JVM for modern rock and metal. When recording I found a JVM on OD1 channel to sound somewhat similar to my Bogner Uberschall. Granted the Uber has way more and tigher bass but, when mixing I used low cuts on the SSL plugin so this is really a non issue. The gain structure is similar on the JVM and Uber. Much more so than my Dual Rec, 6505 and 6505+. Pan an Uber to the left and a JVM to the right for a beautiful wall of sound.

You talk too much.

Happy 2027!

Jes kiddin'

 

[Raimo]

I get the same thing with my DSL40CR OD2.
The best high gain tones are to be had by lowering the Ultra gain setting and juicing the front with an OD.

Yes, I had the DSL100h for awhile and the same thing there. I send it beck and got refund and bought the JVM used. The same thing with the most Marshall amps.The only stock amp I owned that had the gain straingt up was the Blackstar HT-100. Regret selling it. I had a Marshall 6100 that I got modded by the Swedish amp guru Folkesson. The best sounding marshall I ever played, but stupid enough sold???

So, might as well get in the head that Marshall = ovedrivepedal.

 

[El Gringo]

The JVMs are not 'modelling' amps.
When I hear the word modeller I think digital emulation.
The circuitry in a JVM is supposed to recreate the tones of certain classic Marshall amps, and add some distinctly JVM ones on top.
I assume you have had the chance to read the JVM manual where it states the amps the JVM is supposed to recreate.

I'll do the lazy thing here and just reprint it.

Channel Overview
The JVMs front panel is divided into 2 main sections: Channels and Master. Each of its channels has 3 modes which are distinguished by a different coloured light (green, orange or red) appearing in the respective MODE switch;
the preamplifiers gain structure is uniquely reconfigured for each and every mode.

CLEAN/CRUNCH CHANNEL

CLEAN/CRUNCH GREEN MODE: This is the cleanest of the three modes and, in keeping with traditional clean amps, it uses a simple and straightforward circuit keeping the signal as pure as possible. In this Mode the channels Volume control is taken out of circuit as is the case in vintage amplifiers of this nature. This is the only JVM mode where this happens.
CLEAN/CRUNCH ORANGE MODE: This mode shares the preamp topology of the classic Marshall JTM45/1959 ʻPlexiʼ models
(i.e.: gain + gain + tone) but with a bit more gain than is found in the originals.
CLEAN/CRUNCH RED MODE: This mode is reminiscent of the Marshall JCM800 2203 amplifier, a staple of hard rock. The gain structure is gain + gain + gain + tone.

OVERDRIVE CHANNEL

OVERDRIVE GREEN MODE: This is very similar to the hot-rodded JCM800 sound found in ʻCunch Redʼ, allowing you to dial-in two distinctly different yet similar crunch sounds if you so wish - one in each channel.
OVERDRIVE ORANGE MODE: This adds another gain stage to the ʻOverdrive Greenʼ circuit, resulting in a sound thatʼs perfect for singing leads and hard rock/heavy metal tones.
OVERDRIVE RED MODE: Adds more gain to the ʻOverdrive Orangeʼ for a high gain Marshall sound.

All that said, I have never owned one, so someone else will have to fill you in on the actual experience.

First off my compliments on your detailed and very informative analysis in explaining the way this amp operates . You have done such a fine job of explaining that i want to go out and buy one now . As i already own 2 -2555X's i have all of my firepower . Wonderful details and so very informative for which i thank you .

 

[wmachine]

First off my compliments on your detailed and very informative analysis in explaining the way this amp operates . You have done such a fine job of explaining that i want to go out and buy one now . As i already own 2 -2555X's i have all of my firepower . Wonderful details and so very informative for which i thank you .

This may be a good or bad suggestion depending on how you want to take it, but I'd strongly suggest you take a close look at the HJS model. I've heard some say that lack of reverb is minus, but from what I've read (too inexperienced personally) you're better off adding it on the back end anyway if you really want it. I believe that is Satch's take on it. I can tell you that it blows me away.

 

[El Gringo]

This may be a good or bad suggestion depending on how you want to take it, but I'd strongly suggest you take a close look at the HJS model. I've heard some say that lack of reverb is minus, but from what I've read (too inexperienced personally) you're better off adding it on the back end anyway if you really want it. I believe that is Satch's take on it. I can tell you that it blows me away.

Reverb is something i loved and used back in my Fender days and once I jumped on the Marshall 2555X wagon i have forgotten all about it . I do know the model that is Satch's and it is quite facinating .