NAD: Friedman-modded Marshall SC20C JCM800 Combo

[madhermit]

I was over in a part of the city that I don’t go to often this week, and I saw a Marshall 20 Watt JCM800 combo in the used section of the store. It was aggressively priced and then I noticed that it had a few Friedman mods listed on the sales tag, so I took a closer look. It has a 3-way bright switch (Custom, bright, off) and a Thump control on the back. I have LOTS of amps so I moved on.

Couldn’t get the amp out of my head, so the next day I emailed some guys that work in the store to verify it was done at Friedman in California (which it was) and then pulled the trigger.

It’s a killer amp! Has a great grind to it! I am VERY happy I picked it up.

The bright switch sounds best in the bright mode to me (the OFF setting is actually brighter, so I guess it means the mod if OFF, CUSTOM mode has a little extra sizzle to it that I sometimes like), and the Thump control can be run maxed out without the amp getting flubby. I am thrilled with this amp.

I wonder if it has the FX loop modded as it has no volume drop?

And how would I know if it has had any gain mod or other mods done to it?

The amp is from 2019 so it is an earlier version.

Anyway, I am stoked! This is the first actual Marshall I have owned since a Valvestate 8080 combo in the 90s. I do own a custom-built JTM45 1x12 combo, so I am not a savage.

 

[guitarbilly74]

Very cool man. These amps are great stock and Friedman definitely knows how to make them even better! Great find!

 

[madhermit]

Anyone here familiar with what kind of mods Friedman usually does on a JCM800 circuit?
I would have guessed a gain mod was pretty much a given, but the seems to be no external indication of that.

Maybe I should try and post some internal shots?

 

[guitarbilly74]

Anyone here familiar with what kind of mods Friedman usually does on a JCM800 circuit?
I would have guessed a gain mod was pretty much a given, but the seems to be no external indication of that.

Maybe I should try and post some internal shots?

It could be anything. Dave will do what you ask him to do. Take a picture of the board and send it to him, he will be able to tell him what was done. He's super helpful with this kind of stuff.

 

[vivanchenko]

Maybe I should try and post some internal shots?

That would be great.

 

[thesunship]

I was over in a part of the city that I don’t go to often this week, and I saw a Marshall 20 Watt JCM800 combo in the used section of the store. It was aggressively priced and then I noticed that it had a few Friedman mods listed on the sales tag, so I took a closer look. It has a 3-way bright switch (Custom, bright, off) and a Thump control on the back. I have LOTS of amps so I moved on.

Couldn’t get the amp out of my head, so the next day I emailed some guys that work in the store to verify it was done at Friedman in California (which it was) and then pulled the trigger.

It’s a killer amp! Has a great grind to it! I am VERY happy I picked it up.

The bright switch sounds best in the bright mode to me (the OFF setting is actually brighter, so I guess it means the mod if OFF, CUSTOM mode has a little extra sizzle to it that I sometimes like), and the Thump control can be run maxed out without the amp getting flubby. I am thrilled with this amp.

I wonder if it has the FX loop modded as it has no volume drop?

And how would I know if it has had any gain mod or other mods done to it?

The amp is from 2019 so it is an earlier version.

Anyway, I am stoked! This is the first actual Marshall I have owned since a Valvestate 8080 combo in the 90s. I do own a custom-built JTM45 1x12 combo, so I am not a savage.

congratulations - which city?

 

[V-Type]

Email Dave and send him pictures. He may very well remember what mods he did or the mods he would have done on a 800 combo. He's pretty good with emails and communication however he is a very busy guy. I bet that sounds better than its stock circuit though as everything Friedman touches generally delivers the Goods.

 

[madhermit]

congratulations - which city?

Toronto/Markham specifically.

So if it was bought around here, then this amp was shipped pretty far for these mods. Or moved here from somewhere else. I am curious about the story.