Thoughts on the Marshall JMP-1?

[pfrischmann]

Hi Guys,
As You can see from my previous posts, I'm researching preamps. I'm a Marshall tone guy for sure but I need something quieter and more versatile than my 12 series 1959 clone and more Marshall than by Bogner 101B (quieter too). Really don't want to go all the way to a 3+se or a Fish. I just don't want to spend that kind of money.

On paper, the JMP-1 seems like a good idea but I've never head a demo that sounds good. For the most part, the demos I her seem to sound small, fizzy and thin, more like a pedal.

Are there good tones to be had here?

 

[Mario C.]

You can definitely dial some cool tones with a JMP-1, OD 1 sounds great, the cleans are usable too, OD 2 is a bit midrangey and noisy for me but still usable, I like the parallel effects loop, overall it's a good preamp considering the second hand price.

I've read it's more of a solid state preamp with tubes (don't quote me on that) it feels stiffer than a tube Marshall for sure but I still use mine a lot. Best way to know if it's for you is to play one if you can.

I'm looking for a way to mod OD 2 to reduce the noise.

 

[pfrischmann]

Thanks Mario,
I had heard the same thing, It's more of a solid state preamp with tubes. It's not easy to try one these days.

 

[xarkon]

Thanks Mario,
I had heard the same thing, It's more of a solid state preamp with tubes. It's not easy to try one these days.

Mostly op-amps. http://www.drtube.com/schematics/marshall/jmp1-61-04.pdf

 

[TheDentist]

It's not a bad pre after all.
Bass shift sucks, but if you keep it off all the time it's not a problem.
The power amp you pair it with is crucial. Good choices are Marshall 9*00 series and mesa 20/20. Marshall 20:20 sucks imo.

May I suggest you to consider Hughes & Kettner Access instead? It's really a forgotten gem!

 

[tazzboy]

You could get a JMP-1 on the cheap side and have Trace Allen at Voodoo Amps modify for you. If you want to go that route.

 

[pfrischmann]

Trace Doesn't mod Jmp-1's any more. I've heard mixed reviews on that mod. Some say it's an amazing change, some say it makes a minor difference at best and it's like a $900 mod.

 

[Sardocasm]

It's a very flexible preamp that can sound quite great when paired with a properly powerful poweramp. I ran mine with a Mesa Strategy 500 and it was a force.

 

[Sloppyfingers]

Maybe i had the wrong power amp when I owned my JMP-1, but I got rid of mine when modellers started taking over.
I found my JMP-1 was lacking..Correct me f I'm wrong on this, but I felt that the JMP-1 was almost a forerunner to current digital modellers..The bridge between sans amps and what what we see today. I had a Valvestate 8008 stereo power amp running mine, but maybe I would of been more satisfied with my sound had I ran it with a tube power amp...At the time, I felt I was dialing in better tones from my Pod HD500 when that unit first came out, so I sold off my circa 1995 jmp-1 ..Shoot me now.

 

[italo de angelis]

Maybe i had the wrong power amp when I owned my JMP-1, but I got rid of mine when modellers started taking over.
I found my JMP-1 was lacking..Correct me f I'm wrong on this, but I felt that the JMP-1 was almost a forerunner to current digital modellers..The bridge between sans amps and what what we see today. I had a Valvestate 8008 stereo power amp running mine, but maybe I would of been more satisfied with my sound had I ran it with a tube power amp...At the time, I felt I was dialing in better tones from my Pod HD500 when that unit first came out, so I sold it off my circa 1995 jmp-1 ..Shoot me now.

I won't shoot you... but... honestly... you sold an analog Marshall because a digital modeller sounded as a better Marshall than the real thing?

And... no... SansAmp is not a modeller.

 

[Ryan P.]

I'm surprised you're so vehemently, and baselessly, anti-modeler, Italo. One would think that you, of all people, with all your experience in digital effect programming, would see that guitar amplification is just another effect and can be accurately modeled.

 

[Mario C.]

I used my JMP-1 extensively on this tune, paired with a Marshall EL34 100/100 power amp. Used single coils and humbuckers. Don't know if this sounds good or not !
https://audionautas.bandcamp.com/track/manto-estelar

 

[Sloppyfingers]

I won't shoot you... but... honestly... you sold an analog Marshall because a digital modeller sounded as a better Marshall than the real thing?

And... no... SansAmp is not a modeller.

Yup that's right..My JMP-1 didn't wow me...My pod HD500 sounded better IMO, and I ultimately ditched the HD500.Who cares if the JMP-1 was Marshall branded..1991 vs 2008 Technology I suppose.The JMP-1 came about during that awkward transformation era, and wasn't it a sort of mish mash of early digital, SS with that one tube thrown in there?.Regardless, Marshall discontinued it after about 5 years +/-anyways. Now I'm using analogue tube pre amp pedals, and couldn't be happier..

 

[jbrown013]

Sounds great Mario.

 

[Dave L]

Regardless, Marshall discontinued it after about 5 years +/-anyways.

I think the JMP1 stuck around for closer to 15 years, at least I think I remember it from catalogues around 2005-2006 and it came out in 1991-1992.

 

[Mario C.]

Sounds great Mario.

Thanks !! I appreciate it

 

[Maltese Fan]

Dude from the Deftones was using them when I was with a documentary crew during the '99 Ozzfest.
Sounded huge.

 

[Serious Poo]

Voodoo amps modded mine about 2 years ago, they took a great preamp and made it extraordinary. I use it more than my Triaxis now. This is my second unit in 20+ years, they've both been great.

 

[buddaman71]

I used my JMP-1 extensively on this tune, paired with a Marshall EL34 100/100 power amp. Used single coils and humbuckers. Don't know if this sounds good or not !
https://audionautas.bandcamp.com/track/manto-estelar

that's a killer overdriven strat-ish tone. good tune and really nice recording and playing too!! like modern rock with killer bluesy SVR influences in there. i really like it.

 

[Guitar Josh]

You could get a JMP-1 on the cheap side and have Trace Allen at Voodoo Amps modify for you. If you want to go that route.

I would read the reviews on Voodoo Amps before I sent them anything.