For those of you who have played a 70's Marshall JMP...

[scmavl]

I'm lost.

I've owned many amps over the past couple of years, some of which I totally dug (Cornford Carrera, Dr Z Maz 18) and some of which I've had a hard time with (Two Rock Custom Reverb, Fender DRRI). I'm wondering if a Marshall JMP 50w may work for me. I like writing Radiohead/older Modest Mouse-ish kind of stuff, but I often find myself noodling on what I grew up on (Gn'R and other hair rock). Would a JMP be able to deliver nice cleans that work well with pedals (to get different tones, I know this amp has some OD on tap) as well as a slightly broken up sound? I'm unable to play one around here. I'm looking at the master volume model mainly but would consider the non-master as well, since I have an attenuator. Also, would it sound decent with a 1x12 cab? I simply cannot transport a 4x12.

Any input at all on the JMP would be helpful, especially the late 70's models. Cheers, fellas!

 

[awardsjake]

Happy New Year,
I have a mid 70's non master JMP 50 watt bass amp. I've changed a couple of components to remove some of the low end and it has probably the best clean tone of any amp I've played. It does the just broken up to medium break up thing well but is in no way a "gain" monster. This one is not too loud and I suspect it's because of low plate voltages...375 volts on the plates. It works well with an attenuator as it has plenty of high end on tap . It's pedal friendly as well. I actually prefer it to several black face Fender's that I own for cleans believe it or not.
Best wishes,
Jake

 

[Franktone]

Once had a late 70's 50W JMP Master volume 2x12 combo JMP back in the early 80's. It was traded in for a brand new 83 JCM800 50W single 12 combo master volume. Both of those amps were amazing in tones. The 83 was traded to someone in exchange for a 1980 Hi-Watt 100 two hole head, one of the last with Partridge Transformers, a great amp in its own right, but kinda loud. The Marshalls were missed and the Hi-Watt was sold. A 1981 JMP 2x12 50W combo was eventually found, and it is still here. A 50W JMP belongs in everybodies stable. The master volume was the best sounding of its kind back in the day and still works well today. Put in some ear plugs and roll up the master volume to near full and bring the gain to about half or more, and you are there in real rock. It works quite well with most pedals but is not the pedal amp the 59 Bassman reissue is. The DMM does not seem to team well up with the cranked up JMP. Grab either a JMP or JCM 800 50 watter before they climb up in price to where they should be.

 

[GAT]

I've owned a couple of nice '71 JMPs, great sounding amps!

You may look into a Blankenship Variplex, great sounding amp.

 

[charveldan]

I prefer JMP MK II 2203's, awesome amps, i've had a 2204 [50 watt], not enough headroom for me, but awesome for small gigs.

 

[Flameout12]

Make sure you understand:
MV v. non-MV JMPs. The MV JMPs are 2 holers, non-MVs 4 holers. The MV JMPs morphed into the JCM800s around '81-'82 and they actually made some non-MV JCM800s, but they are kinda rare.

So the big question is do you want a MV amp or not? And all of these were designed to be cranked to sound good.

 

[rob2001]

I had a 1977 JMP non master...1987 model. I also have a JCM 800 2204,(almost the same as JMP 2204) had both at the same time. The non master JMP is a brute of an amp. BIG FAT cleans and not a lot of gain until it was REALLY loud. An attenuator didn't really get it to where I wanted it gain wise. I can't see running a non master Marshall into a 1x12, a 2x12 is barely enough....I ran it with a 4x12 greenback loaded cab and it could crush that cab.

For the type of sounds you are talking about i'd choose a master volume 2204 or a 2203. You'd need a dirtbox in front to get GnR/80's rock with a non master. All of these are capable of great sounding cleans, not pristine, but very nice....i'd give the edge on big cleans to the non master JMP.

I decided to sell the non master. For my playing situations a master volume amp is much more practical and it gets the gain levels I want without using pedals or attenuators. Put it this way, both have great tones but I felt the master volume 800 could do the non master cleans better than a non master did higher gain.

Non-master = Hendrix,Townsend,Malcolm Young , and very loud

Master Volume =Slash, early EVH, 80's rock/metal, also loud, but more manageable, sits just right with a rock drummer.

Both take pedals well.

 

[sled]

Where in NC are you located? You're welcome to drop by and play mine. I'm in Clemson.

Although mines a 100W 78 JMP MV it'll give you the idea. A JTM45 sounds right up your your ally. I also have David Bray JTM45 that's pretty fantastic.

 

[kpflyingv]

My 50watt MkII JMP, no master is the best amp I've got. I love it over many other Marshall amps, but every person has a different "tone" they are searching for. I love this amp..

 

[DICKIE C]

I have a '76 JMP50. It's a 4-holer NMV, 1987 circuit. It sounds great. Gorgeous cleans. One of the best amps I've ever played, won't ever get rid of it. Currently looking for a suitable transparent OD pedal for when I can't crank it.

 

[gravy]

late 70`s MV JMP 2203 here, mine can get bright/thin (for a marshall) so will cut but always plenty of rock thump available. a secret weapon is to plug into the lo input and this amp really warms up. cleans are very sweet but are marshall cleans-a great sound! i set it up clean verging on the edge and use a couple of pedals as you describe and it`s a simple set up that can deliver in all size rooms. i would say it`s more slash than greenwood but i`ve used this set up in an alt roots rock band in fine fashion. never tried a 1x12, 2x12 works awesome.

 

[scmavl]

Thanks for all of the great info and opinions. And Keiffer- I may take you up on that one day, I'm in Asheville.

 

[Greg.C]

I would go 2x12... and look over the Germino heads. Just an idea...... The lead 55 brings the goods!

 

[drewl]

My '73 50w JMP breaks up nicely when pushed, and since you have an attenuator volume won't be an issue.
Kind of a one trick pony, but it does it well and sounds incredible.
They take pedals well, so depending on what you have you can get alot of sounds. A nice overdrive, distortion or fuzz and these amp just sing.

 

[tonesurfer]

Gnr and Radiohead is more Superlead. JMP-50 is a bass circuit and has more girth to the tone. Play both of these if you can and see what you like best. There's lots of clips online of them too. I have both and love each of them but if I had to choose I would probably go with the superlead. Then again sometimes my mind sways the other way. For modern amps with great master volumes you could try the Straub Cantus for the JMP-50 thing and the Landry LS model amps for the Superlead/JCM800 sound.

 

[sled]

Thanks for all of the great info and opinions. And Keiffer- I may take you up on that one day, I'm in Asheville.

great... that's not far at all.

 

[Stu Blue]

I'm lost.

I've owned many amps over the past couple of years, some of which I totally dug (Cornford Carrera, Dr Z Maz 18) and some of which I've had a hard time with (Two Rock Custom Reverb, Fender DRRI). I'm wondering if a Marshall JMP 50w may work for me. I like writing Radiohead/older Modest Mouse-ish kind of stuff, but I often find myself noodling on what I grew up on (Gn'R and other hair rock). Would a JMP be able to deliver nice cleans that work well with pedals (to get different tones, I know this amp has some OD on tap) as well as a slightly broken up sound? I'm unable to play one around here. I'm looking at the master volume model mainly but would consider the non-master as well, since I have an attenuator. Also, would it sound decent with a 1x12 cab? I simply cannot transport a 4x12.

Any input at all on the JMP would be helpful, especially the late 70's models. Cheers, fellas!

Marshalls are voiced to sound good with a measure or distortion, which means they make a better fist of any standard pedals you throw at them than a clean fender, with the exception of reverb. Personally I prefer Marshall cleans to Fender, but then I run the tone controls all on 10, with some careful use of the tone and volume controls on a strat. That way, if you don't run them too dirty, you can go from Steve Cropper to Jimi just by touch and a cheap Fuzz Face or/and a NY Big Muff will be all you need to go further.

Be aware though, JMPs and JTMs are quite capable of feeling too heavy/deep, too thin, too bright, too mushy and too clean... all at the same time/settings... they take a little getting used to... just don't follow the advice so often given on this forum to turn the bass down, just wack the presence up or the gain down a bit instead.

 

[stratman89]

My 50watt MkII JMP, no master is the best amp I've got. I love it over many other Marshall amps, but every person has a different "tone" they are searching for. I love this amp..

I had a '70s Mk II from 1977 until I foolishly sold it in 1997 and have to agree about loving this amp. All I needed was the guitar plugged straight into the amp with a jumper cable between channels.........pure nirvana!

 

[michael.e]

After some 20 something years of searching, I have come full circle to using a '74 Superlead as my main amp. In my opinion, they are unmatched in versatility and varying levels of sweetness and meanness. Best amps on the planet.

 

[Amp_Addicted]

I have been the proud owner of a few different Marshalls over the years and I currently own a 1983 4010 1x12 combo that sounds stellar and loud. IME the late 70's to mid 80's Marshall amps are pretty consistent. They are truly the sound of hair metal-especially the 100 watt head. If you are willing to change settings and use the two inputs, these MV Marshall amps have a wider tonal palette than they are given credit for. As others have said, the 4 input head needs to be turned up to appreciate its virtues. I am not a big believer in using attenuators, so I think an early MV Marshall amp would work really well for your purposes.