Jcm 800 2203 reissue

Mine is on the way. I should have it by early next week. Right behind it will be a fulltone OCD pedal. I'll be posting about it.

 

I lucked up and got a used one from a friend. It has blackback speakers in it. I'm not sure what wattage. I' ve heard 80. I"ll probably get a marshall or a Germino with greenbacks.

 

THe new ones are ok the trannies are not as robust and build quality is not as nice. The originals sounds all around better.

 

I don't get it, the originals used are dirt cheap.

 

You'll find that as with anything, tastes vary and opinions are subjective. Old vs New, single channel vs dual, blah, blah, blah. I can only give you my opinion for what it's worth...

I went looking for a JCM800 recently and tried the 2203, 2204, 2205, 2210, as well as the 2203 reissue. The thing I noticed the most was that the 2203 reissue was pretty consistant sounding from head to head...all the older models varied a tad. Channel switching wasn't a huge deal for me, but it was a cool feature...and I wasn't looking for <insert boutique name here> type cleans...this amp is to be used for a specific application. I wound up buying a 2205 (50 watts with 2 channels and reverb) from a forum member here and it was EXACTLY what I was looking for tonewise. (I believe it is either an '87 or '88...I forget.) The 50 watt versions of these amps are still VERY loud (my other amp is a Road King...and this head has NO problems keeping up with it at the volumes I play). A cool thing about the JCM's is that they're pretty simple, straight forward amps...they can be easily dialed in to your taste or modded for very little $$$ in most cases. If you know the JCM tone is what you're after...you probably won't go wrong with any of them IMHO . You can safely bet that if you don't like it, you could unload it for what you paid and not really take a bath...go for it.

 

Well that sums it up perfecly I would add that i have a 1984 2203 head and i love it BUT. If i were in the market, i would look for a 2x12 JCM800 50 combo and load it with something nice like a couple of greenbacks or fang+green combo.... I can also add that i miss having an effects loop for delay but hey! You don't buy a 5.0l. mustang for feul economy and comfort

 

I have the 2203 RI and i have the originals,the RI is just as good,in fact BETTER, its a brand new amp with the same circuit ,same componants,same eveything! and the loop isnt bad either,dont believe the hype regarding old verus new

 

I just cannot get over the pricing. I understand that it's competitive for today's market for a new, fine amp. But for a little bit more coin you are into boutique territory. I remember going to the stores and seeing these things stacked to the ceiling used.

 

That's a valid point. I loved the way the 2203x sounded, but the price was pretty steep considering what a used 2203 goes for. The flip side is that there is no loop...and I need a loop...which led me to the alternative of the 2205/2210...fortunately, I got one that sounds like I want it to.


Even the used JCM800's are starting to go for mad money.

 

The 2203X is a fine amp! I had 2 JCM800's in the 80's, moved over to Mesa Boogies for awhile then on to Boutique stuff. I've gone full circle and am back with Marshall again. I had a 2203X for about a year and it sounded better than my older JCM800's. They're pricey but I liked it even better than some of my more expensive Boutique stuff (Boutique does not always mean better sounding). I used a Seymour Duncan pu booster just to give it a little more hair for solos which sounded superb. BTW, I prefer the 2203 with a V30 loaded cab. I sold the 2203 only to fund a Bray modded Plexi which is very cool too, different but not really better. For what the JCM800 does, I haven't played a better amp.

 

Well, I certainly can appreciate buying a "real" Marshall. I've got a few myself. I do like the workmanship and tones of the boutique products I own. I recently looked at the Marshall 2203 in the Musicians Friend catolog and that was the basis for my pricing observation. Good to hear you know what you are looking for. If many of us could answer that very question, there would be alot less amps being purchased.

 

I'm getting one for two very good reasons. The first is that I'm getting it at a phenominal price from one of the greatest albeit not most prolific sales staff in US. These guys bread and buter was Gibson until they lost it. I've purchased two Gibsons from them and now this marshall and will be getting my effects from them too. thanks George.

The second reason is back in the day I had an old 2203 master v before they even came out with JCM. It sounded amazing. I've head many marshalls jmp this or that and they were way to clean. You could hardly play a maple board fender through one.
My mv 2203 sounded great. I'm confident this one will too.

If I were going to get an amp for a bit over 2 gran I would certainly go for the OD100 or the Fuchs supreme overdrive. The CAE does sound close to the JCM to me.

 

I got mine from a forum member, too. (It was packed well enough to withstand a full frontal nuclear assault, too.) I trust the members on this forum far more than going the ebay route.