Which Marshall style Amp?

[gtrshow]

After months of deliberation, I finally took the plunge on an 18W Marshall (Ceriatone TMB). Plugging in a Strat for the first time was everything I'd expected... beautiful, warms cleans and fat overdrive tones. Perfect. With a Les Paul I was, surprisingly, underwhelmed. Too forward and gainy, lacking in spaciousness and headroom.

This has me thinking that I'd like to add a slightly higher powered Marshall style amp to the arsenal, but which one? Something JTM-45'ish seems like the obvious choice. I'd like more headroom, but nothing too loud. Master volume would be nice depending on wattage, but not an absolute necessity as long as I can get clean to crunch at less than ear splitting volume. If I can keep the price at ~$1000 or less, all the better.

So what should I be looking at in the way of a lower gain Marshall style amp that might fill the bill?

[DirtyChains]

I think the JTM 45 would be ideal. There is not a lot of headroom with the 18 watt amps, but I am still surprised you didn't enjoy the tones more.

At any rate, I have a 1990 JTM 45 RI with all Drake transformers, in excellent condition, and has a MV mod. If you are interested PM me.

James

[QRSS]

jmp2204. dial in the amount of gain you need. with the master cranked, it'll still be clean enough to get close to jtm45. ~$750.

[gtrshow]

I think the JTM 45 would be ideal. There is not a lot of headroom with the 18 watt amps, but I am still surprised you didn't enjoy the tones more.


Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the 18W... with single coils. I just wish there was a little more headroom with humbuckers.

[HeeHaw]

I've not yet heard a master volume that sounds good on any NMV amp. Try as they might, while you may get all the fizz at low volume, the lack of speakers working hard is the largest detractor to overall tone. In my opinion there are too many compromises made with the addition of an MV to an NMV amp.

I find the fact that you didn't have enough headroom in an 18 watt amp with a Les Paul is very telling. Perhaps you do need a JTM45 and are well able to deal with the volume more than you think. Maybe I'm spoiled, but after hearing a JTM45 and a 4x12 full tilt, I just cannot go back to any master volume amp.

[LesMarshall]

Rocktops running a special a JTM 45/50 with power scaling $1100 .... not connected to them in any way just passing along some info FWIW

[derek_32999]

Rocktops running a special a JTM 45/50 with power scaling $1100 .... not connected to them in any way just passing along some info FWIW

If you can get in touch with them.

[exodus]

Rocktops running a special a JTM 45/50 with power scaling $1100 .... not connected to them in any way just passing along some info FWIW

they have a website?