JCM 800 2203/2204? Master volume question.

[HoboMan]

I gig with a JCM800 1x12 combo. It's not very often that I can get the master past 2 but even at that low of a level it sounds better than many other amps.

 

[Frankie]

Wait, what's boat soda?

The Fender sometimes cuts the bass out or rarely the whole signal only when plugged into the vibrato channel and only when it's turned down on 3 or less it seems. When the bass/signal does drop out, a big pick dig into muted bass strings brings it right back to life. Only happens on the vibrato channel, the normal channel is fine. I've poked everything in the amp with a chopstick while it was on and couldn't get it to do it, so I think it's possessed. This is a '74 Super Reverb with a blackface conversion.

 

[TwinACStacks]

Frankie I ain't no tech, but that sure as shit sounds like a flaky solder joint in that Vibrato circuit and the Bass vibration is making it go in and out of contact. Maybe the Vol. Pot is acting up?

TWIN

 

[Frankie]

Frankie I ain't no tech, but that sure as shit sounds like a flaky solder joint in that Vibrato circuit and the Bass vibration is making it go in and out of contact. Maybe the Vol. Pot is acting up?

TWIN

I'm really feeling like it's the volume pot too. If I run the amp on like 6-8 it'll stay alive all day.

 

[MichiMarshall]

how high should i set the master volume for a club gig in my 1989 JCM 800 2205? How does iy interact with the drive volume and gain in the dirty channel? I see quite a difference with the clean channel which becomes quite loud after 3. Could i have something damaged? Filter caps were changed in 2020.

 

[spacerocker]

I wouldn't recommend an 800 for use in a bedroom (or any 100W Marshall for that matter!). I used to use a 2203 though a 4x12 Cab when I lived at home with my parents, and it was possible because it HAD to be (I couldn't afford a separate practice amp)

But the 2203 Master volume was either OFF (on zero), rotating it 0.001 degrees clockwise produced a sound that was just a bit too quiet, Rotating it another 0.001 degrees made it a bit too loud! Anything more than this was literally deafening!....I used to settle for the slightly too loud setting....

 

[DirtySteve]

Wow, talk about a blast from the past!

 

[Jethro Rocker]

how high should i set the master volume for a club gig in my 1989 JCM 800 2205? How does iy interact with the drive volume and gain in the dirty channel? I see quite a difference with the clean channel which becomes quite loud after 3. Could i have something damaged? Filter caps were changed in 2020.

Set the drive volume to match or whatever the clean and gain to taste then set proper volume level with master for the size of venue.
If you start with master too high then you can't get clean channel quiet enough.
It will get loud quickly

 

[jlinde1973]

2204

Wow, talk about a blast from the past!

2203/4s are always relevant even with a 14 yr old bump. One of the greatest circuits of all time. Nothing is sugar coated about it. Bad playing sounds horrible. Great playing sounds stellar. Pretty cut and dry amp. Louder than sin but well worth the punishment. I love my 4010.

 

[DirtySteve]

2204

2203/4s are always relevant even with a 14 yr old bump. One of the greatest circuits of all time. Nothing is sugar coated about it. Bad playing sounds horrible. Great playing sounds stellar. Pretty cut and dry amp. Louder than sin but well worth the punishment. I love my 4010.

I was referring to some of the previous posters in this thread who are no longer here and haven't been for some time. Those were the guys that were here back when I first joined. Good memories.

 

[Chris-in-LA]

Reading all those old posts pissed me off. Those dudes were talking crazy!

FWIW I play my 2204 for hours in the bedroom, sounds fabulous, no additional hardware or pedals needed.

 

[proxy]

WAZA TAE

 

[marcos69]

how high should i set the master volume for a club gig in my 1989 JCM 800 2205? How does iy interact with the drive volume and gain in the dirty channel? I see quite a difference with the clean channel which becomes quite loud after 3. Could i have something damaged? Filter caps were changed in 2020.

It depends on what and how you play, but I was usually around 2 on the master volume (100 watt) with a pretty loud drummer. I did go just above 4 once at an outdoor gig.

 

[rolijen]

WAZA TAE

+100

 

[79 2203]

It depends on what and how you play, but I was usually around 2 on the master volume (100 watt) with a pretty loud drummer. I did go just above 4 once at an outdoor gig.

Yeah I’ve never played a 2205 but on my stock 79 2203, with Preamp on 6-7 for my usual med crunch, the MV hits rock drummer levels on just over 2 with the guitar vol on full.

 

[dro]

I under a jcm 800 and need to get something i can use at home with a ok distortion (but i will buy a pedal anyway) but is also good for gigs?
Thanks muchly

I guess you could say a JCM800 2203/2204 has an ok distortion. Just listen to 70's-80's rock hits.

 

[Dirty-D]

Huge difference with a master volume and 2203/2204's don't sound good at "bedroom level" really