fugazi amps?

[garfight]

i know theres a couple of people floating around here that listen to fugazi.ive been hooked on this band since i heard their first record and have since gone through phases where my listening to them ebbs and flows. well ive been listening to them quite a bit lately and it just dawned on me while watching instrument that a big part of why i like them so much is ians guitar tone.
well i know that he plays jcm800 s but icant really tell from the live footage which model it is exactly i can see 4 el34s in the back and the 2 inputs on the front are next to each other. anybody know what model it is and why it sounds so much better than all the ones ive played?

[enharmonic]

Marshalls...at least when I saw em a couple of years back.

[e-flat]

I have always loved these guys. Its not every day you hear them brought up on message boards.
To help you along, I'm not sure about the model of JCM 800 Ian uses, but I think Guy Piciotto's sound has a lot to do with fugazi's tones too. I know that last time I saw them (man...probably 1996) Guy was using a Rickenbacker and an old Park halfstack! I was pretty surprised, but it definitely makes sense since histone is so open and jangly even though its loud enough to make you bleed from the eyes
Good luck determining which Marshall that is.

garfight-

I haven't seen fugazi in years, but I'm reasonable sure that Ian regularly used a 2203 head - 100 watts, master volume, JCM800 series. As for why it sounds better than those you've tried, I can't say, but the one's I've played through have sounded great, in general.

-Tom

[drbob1]

Those JCM800s have got to be CRANKED to sound good. The master just determines how much crunch, doesn't really make it quieter.

[outtahear]

As for why it sounds better than those you've tried, I can't say, but the one's I've played through have sounded great, in general.

Pretty sure he got it from Steve @ Angela instruments (Guy too-the whole Minor Threat/meatmen/Dag Nasty/Bad Religion bloodline have been longtime customers), meaning it's probably just a good ,stock, well set up example w/great tubes. Seriously! (was an longtime on/off employee at the Bethesda/Laurel MD shops..)

[garfight]

well ive been doing some research- and i read something about the inputs being reconfigured in the mid 80's .anybody know if theres any tonal differences between the vertical and horizontal input 2203s?

[6AM]

I think he also uses Dimarzio Super Distortion. I think if you tried a JCM800 with a Dimarzio Super Distortion, you would pretty much be there.

[cancelthesound]

Originally posted by drbob1
Those JCM800s have got to be CRANKED to sound good. The master just determines how much crunch, doesn't really make it quieter.

I've seen Fugazi 3 times and everytime they were loud as f%#$. The guitars always sounded great!

I had a JCM 800 way back. I sold it because my band mates complained that it was too loud. (I was young and dumb, and this was before I knew about hot plates, powerbrakes, etc) I was the first one to get a tube half stack and the bassist had a really low wattage peavey combo. I wish I still had that amp. Now I'm jonesing for a JCM 800

[Mastervolume]

I had a chance to play with Minor Threat in 1983. Ian wasn't playing then but everything else was Marshall 800 2203.

Of all the HC acts I had a chance to hang with or play with. These guys were the best/most fun/easiest to spend time with. Ian lives his vision and has always stayed true to his ideals.

I really don't think that it would matter a whole bunch to him what he played through.

[roknfnrol]

Ian- JCM800
Guy- vintage Park

Originally posted by garfight
well ive been doing some research- and i read something about the inputs being reconfigured in the mid 80's .anybody know if theres any tonal differences between the vertical and horizontal input 2203s?

The original master volume series from '81 to about '84-'85 came with the 2 inputs mounted vertically. The controls were connected via flying lead wires. Somewhere around '84-'85 Marshall switched to horizontal inputs mounting the controls directly to the board, added diodes, and came out with reverb and channel switching models.

"Generally" the original vertical input models without the diodes and channels are the most highly sought after ones - they are most like the earlier '70s JMPs.

Go to the Les Paul Forum and do a search on JCM 800. There will be hours of reading on the very topics I addressed above.

Incidentally, I have an '83 JCM 800 50 watt combo (4010 model) with the vertical inputs. Fantastic Marshall rock tone!

[garfight]

thanks for all the info guys-
i guess not playing a gig in over 8 months and watching live footage of one of the best live bands ever is not a good combination for keeping gas in check. you think the wife would notice a new marshall in my music room?????

[le_plastique]

Anyone catch their last album? I thought I heard a echo pedal somewhere. Is Ian finally messing with pedals? I think guy always had a MXR Distortion in his chain, right?

[e-flat]

le_plastique:
Last time I saw them (ages ago as mentioned above, '96) They had a tape echo of some kind sitting on the stage ... I remember them using it for freak-out shit. I think it was on "Give me the cure" off of their first EP (which has some weirndess on the end in its recorded version...) So, I think they've just used whats best for the song....Although they are among the least "gear conscious" bands, it seems. : )