25:43 song credit: Kevin Willett "Quasar". Kevin is an old friend of mine. We took Instrumental Music class together in high school. I co-wrote this song actually, writing the intro/outro, but those parts are cut here.
Back in the 80s when I was in school, I don't think we yet knew exactly what quasars were. They were simply referred to as the most distant objects our telescopes could detect. Now we know they are very early stage galaxies in the process of formation with a super massive black hole at the center. Amazing things. Brightest objects we've ever detected. I've always been fascinated with them. I suggested the name for the song because it reminded me of space travel. th-cam.com/video/3TZEp_n3eIc/w-d-xo.html
The Guitologist ....that red prs you played in the video reminds me of the fella that got me into, and taught me a lot, on guitar back in the early mid 90's. He passed from cancer several years ago, idk why but i just felt like stating that. Awesome playing too! Thanks for this video!
the "missing" components aren't missing at all. Marshall built all their amp versions, 4 input lead, master volume, bass, all on the same board in this era. Which is awesome for modding. My 1978 Superbass has been modded to Superlead specs after a short stint as a 2203 MV , all with minimum component changes.
I thought the Super-Bass was even more sought after than the Super Lead? I agree! This period of Marshalls were great, I don't think they made the PA or Tremolo (Keyboard) heads at that time, but they were great for modding!
I have one from 1979 and have owned it from new. Last year I took it to the Marshall factory to have it serviced( I live in the uk not far from the factory). They charged me about £95/$120 and replaced all the pots and caps on the front panel and jack sockets and one small cap on the main board. The amp actually sounds better now than when it was new.
@@brade42069 I believe there used to be a number on their website. But you just contact the service dept then drop your amp off . They will then give you an estimate before doing any work. It’s the best way to look after an old marshal.
In 1986 I bought one just like this for $300 in the Denver Post classifieds! It was beat to death, but it sounded awesome to me. The problem was I had no idea how to treat a tube amp in those days. The output transformer blew one day because I was in idiot kid and likely had it on with the speaker load disconnected, at some point during tear downs for a gigs (I can only assume). Worse, I didn't have the money to fix it for $250 at the time. So, I ended up selling it to the Guitar Center service manager for $150 (I was completely destitute) a few months later. Today it's worth 10x what I paid. I really wish I could have kept it but I'll probably scrape together the parts and build a clone for myself fairly soon. These days I want that particular amp back way more than I need the cash, but isn't that "the story" for most of us as we grow up?!
I passed up a 76 for 500 bucks around 1995. I had 450 and shop booted me. Now folks, the Artist 30 is a great budget tube hybrid. You can't tell its not a JCM800. Jrc4558s in preamplifier (aka ts808) and EL34s. Those are under 5 bills. Mine was 375 bucks and light as a feather
The year was 2000, I went to a studio to record my bands record with my 5150 and the engineer, who became a brother to me, introduced me to proper Marshall with this exact year and model of amp. I dont have one, but rather an 800. But my life was never the same.
I find this channel not only entertaining, but also full of tips and information. I think we should never be tired of making warnings and disclaimers about high voltage stuff.
That's my amp, only I have EL34s in it, and it's totally original. Absolutely loved your video. I had my amp serviced by a tech in Australia, who is a renowned Vintage Marshall guru. I'm glad I did. He just cleaned it up a little, changed the power chord to make it compliant, et voilà! It really is the greatest amp ever. I love it! Thanks for a great video.
There is spare tolex inside the amp on the over laps , in fact quite a lot of spare material for patches if you need it. thanks for the Sharpie tip !. I recently purchased one of these beautiful amps .it's also 1977 ! My birth year. Makes me feel old !. Thanks for the video.
Also, I would try using a small square of stainless steel or aluminum window screen material to hold down the Tolex during repairs. You can form it to the shape of the surface. This holds the flap down and frees up your other hand to spritz on the CA catalyzer right through the screen...much faster. Wipe dry and then a bit of black shoe polish or even black touch up paint, just wipe off the excess (especially if you color the repair with sharpie, which is actually appears reddish in some light after drying).
Paul Gibson They are tanks. I have been rocking a 4212 JCM800 2 x 12 50W Master Volume combo from new in 1983. I have never needed to carry a spare to gigs "just in case": Marsha has never, ever let me down. I recently had Marshall in Bletchley give her a complete birthday (decades of heavy metal gigging had left her in a rough state, but still working). Now she's good for another 36 years, looking good but with a few battle scars remaining on the control panel. I run either a 1998 American Standard Strat or a 2002 Les Paul Standard through her, and she rawks with either. With the amount of gain I use, I find a noise gate is essential.
I still have my 1979 Marshall JMP50 2X12 combo that I bought new back then. Pretty sure it is the same circuit as this 2204. I agree with Guitoligist. The JMP's are the best sounding master volume Marshall ever. My JMP50 has over well over 2000 nights gigging on it. It still performs and sounds awesome.
I owned a 1978 version of this amp, but sold it back in 2005 to fund a move from the East Coast to the Upper Midwest. I kick myself every day. I miss that amp so, so much.
Back in 1976 I was in the Navy. We had a short we were trying to find in F14A. We had an old megger, it used DC instead of megohms. Well the handle was a makeshift jury rigged thing. I was cranking that SOB (without the knob on the handle). I remember looking at the meter, it said 500V, I casually leaned up against the aircraft...wow. It was like I got punched in the jaw & the feet at the same time. I let go of every thing on my way to the steel hangar bay floor(we were on an aircraft carrier). The megger fell off the steel stand as well, & busted into about 1000 pieces! We had to borrow 1 that did megohms from our sister squadron. I'll never forget that! Lmao...now.
I have this amp that's why I'm here. 77 was a special year. Mine shipped with 6550 but I had it converted voltage is about 480 for el34s. I had an effects loop installed by a tech in the 90s. the amp is magic. for tone chasers this is the holy grail of all master volume amps. mine has magical mojo never heard any any amp that sounds like it except another great marshall or maybe a friedman.
Fun Fact; Steve Grindrod designed the two input master volume 2203/2204 in 1976. He also designed the JCM 2000 DSL50 and DSL100 in 1995 to compete with the Mesa Dual Rectifier.
@Mark Kidd Probably not. It currently has the perfect tone I was looking for. It really does sound like a Marshall. People used to buy various amps and say it sounds like a Marshall. I always wondered why they just didn't get one. For great rock tone unsurpassed. Hiwatts and Orange are wonderful but Marshall will always be number one for me.With that being said, my amp repair guy was retiring and I got him to work on my tube amps before he quit. He told me that my 1965 Twin Reverb is the best sounding amp he has ever worked on in 45 years of repair. Too bad I can't pick it up anymore.I have it loaded with 2 celestions and the clarity at any volume is astonishing. Keep on keepin on
Hey Brad, try contact cement for lifted tolex. Just let it sit 5-8 mins before you press it down. It wont white out and you can roll away any residue with your finger after it dries. Griot's tire shine will bring the tolex back to new. Love your channel man. Keep up the good work!
I have that in a 78 model. I bought it new. 50w red vynyl. Just out of the shop it sounds GREAT! When I picked that up, I dropped off my 65 Twin Reverb. I had it in the attic for about 15 years. I had put a pair of vintage 30s in it and then it quit working. My tube amp guy is retiring, but I got him to repair all my Tube amps.He has done it for over 40 years. When I picked up the Twin. He said it is the best sounding amp he has ever heard. Mind blowing considering he has probably worked on thousands.Now if I could only still lift it. Thanks! Love your vids.
I have the same Exact amp...I believe it's the first amp manufactured to have a ' Master ' and ' PreAmp ' controls..which today are standard..bought it in 1978...all original, never mod'd...the power tubes actually have the Marshal logo stenciled on them...I absolutely love this amp...it's been in storage for years...recently bought it out...someone offered me $2500 for it one time...not a chance. Great vid.
I've found the best thing for gluing down Tolex is Titebond, you can be generous with the glue, wipe off the excess, tape it down, then when it's dry a few hours later, a wet rag cleans the schmoo off the finished repair.
Probably works too. I've always used super glue for the quicker dry time, and isn't water soluble like titebond. Real humid day in the back of the van and the titebond might start to lose its grip.
good 'un I don’t doubt you, it’s just that my experience has been different. It still works fine for everything I use it for but I’m sure a fresh bottle would be better for stubborn repairs like tolex that wants to lift.
If you only open it for very short amounts of time, and/or if you live in a dry climate (or only open it in a well-air-conditioned room), and then always keep it in a ziploc bag in the fridge, you can get a lot more than 30 days out of it. But if you're in Texas during the summer, and open it in the garage, where it's 90+ degrees with 90% humitidy, and don't close it _immediately_, don't expect more than 30 days. Like good'un said, it's the humidity in the air that kicks off the curing process.
I actually had one of these and I believe I got it in 1975 possibly 76… It’s been a long time ago :-) but after this, Marshall, I never played on anything else and I currently own four marshals and I love them all. By the way, the 2204 was the best Marshall I ever owned and I’m sad that I sold it.
Lol, I thought you were gonna hot glue the tolex down! I think it's interesting how many folks took the time to comment about how this board is used for different amp models (which you mentioned, as you also said re the chassis). Yet some of those same folks did NOT take the time to pay attention to the clipped leads and non-factory solder flux around different components, nor did they listen to you as you described how such criteria tell you exactly that. Some people, man... LOL Thanks for another cool vid, Brad!
My favorite Marshall amp! Another vintage steal! If anyone is in the market for a newer Marshall in the $1500 range, do yourself a favor and buy a JMP!
Curious... When you repair a vintage amp like this one, do you send all the old components back to the customer? I love how you keep the embarrassing stuff in here. It keeps it real & we get to see what the process is truly like.
This amp was made exactly 5 days before I was born.how freaking cool.hey bro I watch your channel all the time and I was born in 1977 as well.love the videos buddy.thanks for what you do and I love your collection as well.cheers
I have been hit by 1 leg of a ten thousand volt transformer and I'm still here. Thats 5000 volts AC. I knocked me across the room and hurt like hell but didnt quite kill me. Probably shaved a few years off but didnt kill me.
I once blew the breakers in a garage with my face. :-) I was using an improperly grounded vocal amp, and soon as my mouth touched the mic, the current went through me and popped the breakers. I thought you'd get a kick outta that.
You are correct about the voltage danger. I've been working on amps and O-Scopes for over 15 years and Never touched full live voltage. Have been bit by charged caps a few times. The worst guitar amp for hot caps is the Peavey Windsor and other models with the Ground Shorting Relay, that's Suppose to short the caps to ground when its shut off. But the Relay stayed open and I got about 40vdc into my right hand ring finger. So don't rely on those shorting systems.
Agree with the JMP 2204 being the ultimate Marshall. I was a JCM 800 fan but after listening to a few examples, and matching it up against the catalog of iconic recordings... I'd have to admit the JMP is probably more my amp.
weirdly, in the uk these amps used to be everywhere for £200-£300. then in the last 5 years, they shot up to £1600-£2000. love the video and love the t-shirt. warriors is one of my all time fave movies.
Thank you for this Brad. Brings back memories. I had one of these. Bought it brand new, back in the day from Guitar Center in Hollywood. We were young and my friends were blown away "Wow, he has a Marshall stack!" Anyway, it sounded amazing and loved pedals. A Tube Screamer, Dyna Comp and some delay and it was arena rock for eons! Got married and sold it because it was too big for our first house, LOL ! Thanks Again!
I suspect my amp has a story like this behind it. My old roommate bought it in philly used before selling it to me, but it has a sticker from some LA electrical safety inspection on it.... who brought it from CA to PA? The tales these amps could tell!
I want you to know how much I enjoy your videos, they are so much fun to view. I understand that we are only looking over your shoulder and I won’t claim to have learned anything from you. I had some schooling in back in the late 60’s and have a fairly good understanding. Hey you play very well too. Thank you for sharing your time with us.
my first real amp. bought it new for $400-well actually $416. I worked all summer. I was only 15 and my mom had to drive me to the music store to get it.BAM!
Wow . . . 6550 power pentodes! I once had a bass amp head, with four 6550s (it might have been a Traynor) . . . these tubes ran very hot, glowed orange and plasma purple. I loved it, but eventually gave it away to a friend who helped me move, didn't really have any room for it in the new place. Also had two cabinets with 15" nameless speakers (very heavy magnets). Those were the days. If anything, you provided a fond memory of those times . . . nicely done tech video.
I have a 79 JMP 50 watt that has JJ KT88's and was modded by Southern California amp builder Mark Cameron. I bought it from a friend that had the mod done when I used to live in Huntington Beach about 16 years ago when I was first really learning guitar. It was sitting under a drum riser in our shared rehearsal space for about a year before I started asking about it. All I knew was a tubed Marshall amp was good, so when I asked he just said $500, which he told me was what he had paid just for the mod. It took me another 4 years of owning the amp to start to understand it and realize how big of a steal I got. So I got it retubed at Eurotubes in Portland, OR and that's when they set it up with the KT88's and been rocking the thing since. LOVE that amp and had some offers but would take probably more than most would pay to get her off me.
Probably my favorite amp of all-time. Great ep! Want to own one someday (Canadian version with EL34s and toggle switches) , but like you've shown, most have been messed with in some way.
Hello from Mexico City, my name is Dimas and I’m 42 year old. I’d like to know a little bit about some aspects concerning music; Electronics, acoustic, recording , and playing BASS hardcore punk STYLE too. I must say that your video is very cool and informative. Thanks a lot, it was pretty enlightening! Just a few days ago I got a 2204 in my lab , it turns on correctly, starts to sound too, all knobs work , but after a few minutes the sound lowers down gradually to zero, and it has to be turned off again, wait FOR A FEW minutes… turn it on again in order to have the sound back. Looking inside I noticed that it’s complete, in very good conditions ,no modifications or damages in the TAB components, maybe it has never been repaired. (my friend says the headS have been more time sleeping than in use. Almost for 25 years. The tubes are the 6550 general electric label (they are a little flamed) both glow. The preamp tubes have a blurry label. The ht fuse was repaired with a filament and the main fuse is in 2 amp not 3. The jumper selector cap is lost. I’d like to begin the troubleshoot with a cleaning up, an then I think I’ll have to test the tubes and the blue caps labeled DALY. The box is clean without damage only the logo is broken, but I have another and a 12” speaker from a flood survival . What’s your opinion doctor? I hope you can give me some advice in this process. Thanks in advance. Excellent work. PS. I’ll Attach YOU A FEW PICS to your mail GOODBYE. DIMAS RIVERA
I have a JCM800 2203 from 1981 and on the sticker I have the same woman's signature (Shirley). It's written in the same exact way and on the same spot on the sticker. Pretty cool.
Hey Brad,quick tip here...when you try to put super glue somewhere and you need to use your finger to press, you can wrap your finger with electrical tape so it wont glue together
Good trick - I actually use wax paper, especially in spots that I can glue and clamp. Put some wax paper between the clamp and glued area. When the glue has dried, the wax paper comes right off.
That one sure is a beaut. I'm a softy for all things Marshall. I'm a year older than you. I seem to be wearing it a little better. I blame it on a youthful diet of whiskey, THC, and hallucinogenics in my early to mid 20's. Lol! I pickled myself. Lmao! Love the channel man. If I ever get the courage for adventure, or the cash for the work, I have a '71 Sunn I'd love you to take a gander at. Stay gold man, and never quit being awesome. Cheers.
The 2204 is a bad ass amp 👍 very warm an thick Plexi tone at low volumes! The original Drake transformers are the best sounding parts of the amp also the mustard caps! Love this amp...
This was really fun to watch, and I did "inadvertantly" get more out of it than entertainment! I'm about 1/2 way through a 2204 build with a number of gain mods so, its great to see something like this. Well done and hey, pretty decent tone there. Thank you!
Another great video. I appreciate how educational these are (not that it is something I have an interest in doing myself) and how you are very knowledgable and pragmatic - a healthy bit of skepticism of how many people think they can hear the difference between two components
Those window plug impedance selectors have blown up more Marshalls than anything else I've ever seen.Coat hangers,Low E strings and duct tape have been used to get through the gig after the plug gets lost on the way to the gig.You know who you are.
I've recapped and cleaned up many Marshall JMP 50's and 100's as well as JCM 800's 50's & 100 watt Marshall's. This is a great video. Surprised to see you did not replace the two 10 mfd axial capacitors that usually come with the recap kit. Also if you can't get the bias up you could just piggy back a resistor on the bias resistor. I'm sure already know that. All your videos are awesome please keep them coming. 2 more things the 330 mfd capacitor is not needed on these amps and the bright cap should be clipped it just sounds better and takes away those extreme ear piercing highs.
All good points. On the axial caps, they are low voltage and were still working perfectly so I left them alone for now. I was borderline going to replace them though.
Brad - back in the 60's I used to use a thick clear vinyl glue in a little yellow tube. Seal-all. It had eye-hook tapered screw to seal the tube when you were finished with it. It was wonderful on black Fender amps. It would also seal small holes in car gas tanks. Being vinyl, it worked smoothly with the black plastic and unlike crazy glue it always remained soft. Just cover the repair in a bit of waxed paper and hold it down with some masking tape.
How about trading in a 4104 JCM800 from 1982 for a Gallien Krueger 250RL in 1985 and owing the guy money on top of it? I had the GK about a month and got rid of it. Replaced that 4104,but the original was magic..,,sigh.
...I find this channel so interesting, he presents and explains all these issues excellent, this guy is so informative I watch his videos and enjoy them all....... Thanks my good-man, I appreciate your channel :)))))
My first Marshall stack I got in 1988 was a 1979 JMP 2203...painted immaculate blue with a matching JCM 800 1960 cab (would be 4 Celestion G12M60, 65 or 70 watt 8 ohm speakers with 260 or 280 watts capacity. 3 ECC83 preamp tubes and 4 EL34 power tubes...Siemens or Telefunken. Louder than hell !!
Oh yeah, also, my 2204 build is being done in a Carvin V3M donor combo that will only be allowing about 400-420 volts on the EL34 plates so, a video llike this gives me hope that the sound wont really suffer due to that. Thanks again.,
I had a '77 Mk II 2204 for about 3 years in the mid 1990s then sold it like a dumbass. I got '79 a couple years after and I've played the hell out of it and it's needed little maintenance. Of all the amps I've had or still have this model is still the best. Crazy Marshall tone/crunch at pretty sane volumes if you want. Of course you can still crank the master and blow whole neighborhood up.
@@Twobarpsi when people say that there is variation they aren't kidding though, quality control at Marshall seemed to be out to lunch in this era. When they did it right however....... BOOM!
very nice amp! warm and quite bity, but not harsh. Cool playing on the ending of the video, I look your videos evrytime so, I skip to the end. Thanks, liked and subscribed. Greets from Munich
Fantastic video! Watched this on the big screen. Really very interesting. :) I think it sounded absolutely amazeballs too. The pick attack cluck and the way the notes tear just gorgeous. I don't hear that much these days .. !
On the lead series with 4 input the first two gain stages were in parallel, on the master they were in series like the jcm 800 so yes they did not use the 330 cap. First gain had a bypass,second stage should not as that has the 10k cold bias resistor.
My JMP 2204 is a '78. My JCM 800 2204 is an '84. Love them to death.... But the JCM needs maintenance, so I'm slowly getting the nerve to try to do some work on it myself. Filters, power tube and bias, got me two different ESR meters to try to do cap tests, would like to test the screens to see if they are reading in spec... a bunch of stuff....this was cool to see....
Got the filter kit, came with the 3 cans and 2 sprague atoms, havent gotten a count on the others yet. Got power tubes and I only have a one socket bias adapter, so I'll have to one at a time, and since getting the ESR's, I'd like to do some testing to see how they do measuring in circuit. ( thinking of getting a better Bias adapter with 2 maybe 4 adapters, switchable for each and plate voltage since i have a house full of 50W Hiwatts and Marshalls, and even a Sound City Plus..) I still like doing the math, but these seem useful...I think...I know its not a leak test, but was hoping to see how they do in giving me an idea of "good vs bad" while in circuit...great vid, especially since everything if very familiar in both 2204 amps.. Thanks!
25:43 song credit: Kevin Willett "Quasar". Kevin is an old friend of mine. We took Instrumental Music class together in high school. I co-wrote this song actually, writing the intro/outro, but those parts are cut here.
A great song to solder to
Americans have the date backwards think about it logically Day/month/year smallest to greatest unit !
Back in the 80s when I was in school, I don't think we yet knew exactly what quasars were. They were simply referred to as the most distant objects our telescopes could detect. Now we know they are very early stage galaxies in the process of formation with a super massive black hole at the center. Amazing things. Brightest objects we've ever detected. I've always been fascinated with them. I suggested the name for the song because it reminded me of space travel.
th-cam.com/video/3TZEp_n3eIc/w-d-xo.html
The Guitologist ....that red prs you played in the video reminds me of the fella that got me into, and taught me a lot, on guitar back in the early mid 90's. He passed from cancer several years ago, idk why but i just felt like stating that.
Awesome playing too! Thanks for this video!
Thanks for the marshall vid,it was informative.
the "missing" components aren't missing at all. Marshall built all their amp versions, 4 input lead, master volume, bass, all on the same board in this era. Which is awesome for modding. My 1978 Superbass has been modded to Superlead specs after a short stint as a 2203 MV , all with minimum component changes.
I thought the Super-Bass was even more sought after than the Super Lead? I agree! This period of Marshalls were great, I don't think they made the PA or Tremolo (Keyboard) heads at that time, but they were great for modding!
I have one from 1979 and have owned it from new. Last year I took it to the Marshall factory to have it serviced( I live in the uk not far from the factory). They charged me about £95/$120 and replaced all the pots and caps on the front panel and jack sockets and one small cap on the main board. The amp actually sounds better now than when it was new.
How did you arrange this? Just contacted them? Would they honor such. Thing for a non-original owner you think?
@@brade42069 I believe there used to be a number on their website. But you just contact the service dept then drop your amp off . They will then give you an estimate before doing any work. It’s the best way to look after an old marshal.
I had 2 of these in the early 80s the best rock amps ever. Period
In 1986 I bought one just like this for $300 in the Denver Post classifieds! It was beat to death, but it sounded awesome to me. The problem was I had no idea how to treat a tube amp in those days. The output transformer blew one day because I was in idiot kid and likely had it on with the speaker load disconnected, at some point during tear downs for a gigs (I can only assume). Worse, I didn't have the money to fix it for $250 at the time. So, I ended up selling it to the Guitar Center service manager for $150 (I was completely destitute) a few months later. Today it's worth 10x what I paid.
I really wish I could have kept it but I'll probably scrape together the parts and build a clone for myself fairly soon. These days I want that particular amp back way more than I need the cash, but isn't that "the story" for most of us as we grow up?!
I passed up a 76 for 500 bucks around 1995. I had 450 and shop booted me. Now folks, the Artist 30 is a great budget tube hybrid. You can't tell its not a JCM800. Jrc4558s in preamplifier (aka ts808) and EL34s. Those are under 5 bills. Mine was 375 bucks and light as a feather
They are such amazing amps, we use them for doing most of our testing, so versatile and reliable too.
All 2204s?
The year was 2000, I went to a studio to record my bands record with my 5150 and the engineer, who became a brother to me, introduced me to proper Marshall with this exact year and model of amp. I dont have one, but rather an 800. But my life was never the same.
I find this channel not only entertaining, but also full of tips and information. I think we should never be tired of making warnings and disclaimers about high voltage stuff.
Yes, exactly the same as I was thinking !!! Thanks!!! 👍
That's my amp, only I have EL34s in it, and it's totally original. Absolutely loved your video. I had my amp serviced by a tech in Australia, who is a renowned Vintage Marshall guru. I'm glad I did. He just cleaned it up a little, changed the power chord to make it compliant, et voilà!
It really is the greatest amp ever. I love it! Thanks for a great video.
This is heaven. Unfortunately 99% of PCB amps don't come within sight of this master piece.
I have a 2×12 combo. It is still rocking! Awesome amp.
A beast of an amp. The 70s JMPs sound absolutely incredible
There is spare tolex inside the amp on the over laps , in fact quite a lot of spare material for patches if you need it. thanks for the Sharpie tip !.
I recently purchased one of these beautiful amps .it's also 1977 ! My birth year. Makes me feel old !.
Thanks for the video.
black shoe polish ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, sharpie is is not truly black and is noticable in sunlight
And "Phenoseal black vinyl caulk " is best for repair
Also, I would try using a small square of stainless steel or aluminum window screen material to hold down the Tolex during repairs. You can form it to the shape of the surface. This holds the flap down and frees up your other hand to spritz on the CA catalyzer right through the screen...much faster. Wipe dry and then a bit of black shoe polish or even black touch up paint, just wipe off the excess (especially if you color the repair with sharpie, which is actually appears reddish in some light after drying).
I am still gigging my 79 Marshall mk 2 master volume 2x12 valve combo great sounds and never let me down.
Paul Gibson They are tanks. I have been rocking a 4212 JCM800 2 x 12 50W Master Volume combo from new in 1983. I have never needed to carry a spare to gigs "just in case": Marsha has never, ever let me down. I recently had Marshall in Bletchley give her a complete birthday (decades of heavy metal gigging had left her in a rough state, but still working). Now she's good for another 36 years, looking good but with a few battle scars remaining on the control panel. I run either a 1998 American Standard Strat or a 2002 Les Paul Standard through her, and she rawks with either. With the amount of gain I use, I find a noise gate is essential.
I’ll buy it!
I still have my 1979 Marshall JMP50 2X12 combo that I bought new back then. Pretty sure it is the same circuit as this 2204. I agree with Guitoligist. The JMP's are the best sounding master volume Marshall ever. My JMP50 has over well over 2000 nights gigging on it. It still performs and sounds awesome.
pat benitar band guitarist Neil Giraldo used two of them ans a delay thats it for years,, great tone.
I owned a 1978 version of this amp, but sold it back in 2005 to fund a move from the East Coast to the Upper Midwest. I kick myself every day. I miss that amp so, so much.
We have been looking for one of these for our studio, really cool seeing you go over it.
Cheers from Michigan, thanks for this timeless video
Back in 1976 I was in the Navy. We had a short we were trying to find in F14A. We had an old megger, it used DC instead of megohms. Well the handle was a makeshift jury rigged thing. I was cranking that SOB (without the knob on the handle). I remember looking at the meter, it said 500V, I casually leaned up against the aircraft...wow. It was like I got punched in the jaw & the feet at the same time. I let go of every thing on my way to the steel hangar bay floor(we were on an aircraft carrier). The megger fell off the steel stand as well, & busted into about 1000 pieces! We had to borrow 1 that did megohms from our sister squadron. I'll never forget that! Lmao...now.
I just bought an '81 2104 combo version yesterday. It's been converted to el34's and I'm absolutely thrilled with it.
I have this amp that's why I'm here. 77 was a special year. Mine shipped with 6550 but I had it converted voltage is about 480 for el34s. I had an effects loop installed by a tech in the 90s. the amp is magic. for tone chasers this is the holy grail of all master volume amps. mine has magical mojo never heard any any amp that sounds like it except another great marshall or maybe a friedman.
I like how you leave mistakes in, like not having it plugged in! happens to me all the time..Great content.
Fun Fact; Steve Grindrod designed the two input master volume 2203/2204 in 1976. He also designed the JCM 2000 DSL50 and DSL100 in 1995 to compete with the Mesa Dual Rectifier.
I have a 78 Red one that I bought new. It served me well and currently sounds great! Thank you!
@Mark Kidd Probably not. It currently has the perfect tone I was looking for. It really does sound like a Marshall. People used to buy various amps and say it sounds like a Marshall. I always wondered why they just didn't get one. For great rock tone unsurpassed. Hiwatts and Orange are wonderful but Marshall will always be number one for me.With that being said, my amp repair guy was retiring and I got him to work on my tube amps before he quit. He told me that my 1965 Twin Reverb is the best sounding amp he has ever worked on in 45 years of repair. Too bad I can't pick it up anymore.I have it loaded with 2 celestions and the clarity at any volume is astonishing. Keep on keepin on
Hey Brad, try contact cement for lifted tolex. Just let it sit 5-8 mins before you press it down. It wont white out and you can roll away any residue with your finger after it dries. Griot's tire shine will bring the tolex back to new. Love your channel man. Keep up the good work!
I have that in a 78 model. I bought it new. 50w red vynyl. Just out of the shop it sounds GREAT! When I picked that up, I dropped off my 65 Twin Reverb. I had it in the attic for about 15 years. I had put a pair of vintage 30s in it and then it quit working. My tube amp guy is retiring, but I got him to repair all my Tube amps.He has done it for over 40 years. When I picked up the Twin. He said it is the best sounding amp he has ever heard. Mind blowing considering he has probably worked on thousands.Now if I could only still lift it. Thanks! Love your vids.
I have the same Exact amp...I believe it's the first amp manufactured to have a ' Master ' and ' PreAmp ' controls..which today are standard..bought it in 1978...all original, never mod'd...the power tubes actually have the Marshal logo stenciled on them...I absolutely love this amp...it's been in storage for years...recently bought it out...someone offered me $2500 for it one time...not a chance. Great vid.
I've found the best thing for gluing down Tolex is Titebond, you can be generous with the glue, wipe off the excess, tape it down, then when it's dry a few hours later, a wet rag cleans the schmoo off the finished repair.
Probably works too. I've always used super glue for the quicker dry time, and isn't water soluble like titebond. Real humid day in the back of the van and the titebond might start to lose its grip.
good 'un I’ve a bottle of superglue that’s been going for several years now. I keep in a little baggie.
good 'un I don’t doubt you, it’s just that my experience has been different. It still works fine for everything I use it for but I’m sure a fresh bottle would be better for stubborn repairs like tolex that wants to lift.
If you only open it for very short amounts of time, and/or if you live in a dry climate (or only open it in a well-air-conditioned room), and then always keep it in a ziploc bag in the fridge, you can get a lot more than 30 days out of it.
But if you're in Texas during the summer, and open it in the garage, where it's 90+ degrees with 90% humitidy, and don't close it _immediately_, don't expect more than 30 days.
Like good'un said, it's the humidity in the air that kicks off the curing process.
Super glue is great on small nicks and dries invisibly. Use a popsicle stick to hold the tear down while it hardens.
I actually had one of these and I believe I got it in 1975 possibly 76… It’s been a long time ago :-) but after this, Marshall, I never played on anything else and I currently own four marshals and I love them all. By the way, the 2204 was the best Marshall I ever owned and I’m sad that I sold it.
Many happy gigs around 1979/80/81 with a #2203. I loved it.
I have a 2203 from 78, absolute monster, love it
Owner of two 78's, 50 & 100 watt.
Thanx for the tour. AWESOME!
Thoughts on how they compare? I'm looking at a 100 watt and a 50 watt myself but can't afford both.
Lol, I thought you were gonna hot glue the tolex down!
I think it's interesting how many folks took the time to comment about how this board is used for different amp models (which you mentioned, as you also said re the chassis). Yet some of those same folks did NOT take the time to pay attention to the clipped leads and non-factory solder flux around different components, nor did they listen to you as you described how such criteria tell you exactly that. Some people, man... LOL
Thanks for another cool vid, Brad!
My favorite Marshall amp! Another vintage steal! If anyone is in the market for a newer Marshall in the $1500 range, do yourself a favor and buy a JMP!
Curious... When you repair a vintage amp like this one, do you send all the old components back to the customer?
I love how you keep the embarrassing stuff in here. It keeps it real & we get to see what the process is truly like.
If they request them, I do. A lot of the time I'll bag stuff up and send back even if they don't request them.
"Fucking thing's not plugged in" turned my day around. Never stop making these videos please.
This amp was made exactly 5 days before I was born.how freaking cool.hey bro I watch your channel all the time and I was born in 1977 as well.love the videos buddy.thanks for what you do and I love your collection as well.cheers
Thanks for watching, Bryant.
I have one of these. Cranked it all the way up today! Sounds great!
I have been hit by 1 leg of a ten thousand volt transformer and I'm still here. Thats 5000 volts AC. I knocked me across the room and hurt like hell but didnt quite kill me. Probably shaved a few years off but didnt kill me.
Eh, it just woke you up real good. :D
I once blew the breakers in a garage with my face. :-) I was using an improperly grounded vocal amp, and soon as my mouth touched the mic, the current went through me and popped the breakers. I thought you'd get a kick outta that.
Pressley Press the show must go on.... Until something that wild happens. Lol.
Talk about lip service. It shorted out the AC service.
i had the mic screen pattern burned into my lips once.
You are correct about the voltage danger. I've been working on amps and O-Scopes for over 15 years and Never touched full live voltage. Have been bit by charged caps a few times. The worst guitar amp for hot caps is the Peavey Windsor and other models with the Ground Shorting Relay, that's Suppose to short the caps to ground when its shut off. But the Relay stayed open and I got about 40vdc into my right hand ring finger. So don't rely on those shorting systems.
Agree with the JMP 2204 being the ultimate Marshall. I was a JCM 800 fan but after listening to a few examples, and matching it up against the catalog of iconic recordings... I'd have to admit the JMP is probably more my amp.
Is there any difference to JCM800 model 2204 and JMP 2204?
@@qddk9545 As far as I know there are some minimal differencies but the circuit is somewhat the same, just the build quality is not the same.
I own a 1979 100W version of this amp The 2203. I also had a JCM 800 2203 at one time as well. Awesome amps!!!
I have a 2203, i love this model of amps.
weirdly, in the uk these amps used to be everywhere for £200-£300. then in the last 5 years, they shot up to £1600-£2000.
love the video and love the t-shirt. warriors is one of my all time fave movies.
Thank you for this Brad. Brings back memories. I had one of these. Bought it brand new, back in the day from Guitar Center in Hollywood. We were young and my friends were blown away "Wow, he has a Marshall stack!" Anyway, it sounded amazing and loved pedals. A Tube Screamer, Dyna Comp and some delay and it was arena rock for eons! Got married and sold it because it was too big for our first house, LOL ! Thanks Again!
I suspect my amp has a story like this behind it. My old roommate bought it in philly used before selling it to me, but it has a sticker from some LA electrical safety inspection on it.... who brought it from CA to PA?
The tales these amps could tell!
Got married, kept it in the living room. Got divorced.......... Amp is still there ;)
I want you to know how much I enjoy your videos, they are so much fun to view. I understand that we are only looking over your shoulder and I won’t claim to have learned anything from you. I had some schooling in back in the late 60’s and have a fairly good understanding. Hey you play very well too. Thank you for sharing your time with us.
my first real amp. bought it new for $400-well actually $416. I worked all summer. I was only 15 and my mom had to drive me to the music store to get it.BAM!
I tell myself I’m just going to watch a little bit then 20 mins flys by like nothing. I love this guy.
Wow . . . 6550 power pentodes! I once had a bass amp head, with four 6550s (it might have been a Traynor) . . . these tubes ran very hot, glowed orange and plasma purple.
I loved it, but eventually gave it away to a friend who helped me move, didn't really have any room for it in the new place. Also had two cabinets with 15" nameless speakers (very heavy magnets). Those were the days. If anything, you provided a fond memory of those times . . . nicely done tech video.
Dude.I am no tech. I fn love your vids. I have learned a ton and have laughed so hard when ulaigh at yourself. Much love bro
I have a 79 JMP 50 watt that has JJ KT88's and was modded by Southern California amp builder Mark Cameron. I bought it from a friend that had the mod done when I used to live in Huntington Beach about 16 years ago when I was first really learning guitar. It was sitting under a drum riser in our shared rehearsal space for about a year before I started asking about it. All I knew was a tubed Marshall amp was good, so when I asked he just said $500, which he told me was what he had paid just for the mod. It took me another 4 years of owning the amp to start to understand it and realize how big of a steal I got. So I got it retubed at Eurotubes in Portland, OR and that's when they set it up with the KT88's and been rocking the thing since. LOVE that amp and had some offers but would take probably more than most would pay to get her off me.
Probably my favorite amp of all-time. Great ep! Want to own one someday (Canadian version with EL34s and toggle switches) , but like you've shown, most have been messed with in some way.
Hello from Mexico City, my name is Dimas and I’m 42 year old. I’d like to know a little bit about some aspects concerning music; Electronics, acoustic, recording , and playing BASS hardcore punk STYLE too. I must say that your video is very cool and informative. Thanks a lot, it was pretty enlightening!
Just a few days ago I got a 2204 in my lab , it turns on correctly, starts to sound too, all knobs work , but after a few minutes the sound lowers down gradually to zero, and it has to be turned off again, wait FOR A FEW minutes… turn it on again in order to have the sound back.
Looking inside I noticed that it’s complete, in very good conditions ,no modifications or damages in the TAB components, maybe it has never been repaired. (my friend says the headS have been more time sleeping than in use. Almost for 25 years.
The tubes are the 6550 general electric label (they are a little flamed) both glow.
The preamp tubes have a blurry label.
The ht fuse was repaired with a filament and the main fuse is in 2 amp not 3.
The jumper selector cap is lost.
I’d like to begin the troubleshoot with a cleaning up, an then I think I’ll have to test the tubes and the blue caps labeled DALY.
The box is clean without damage only the logo is broken, but I have another and a 12” speaker from a flood survival .
What’s your opinion doctor?
I hope you can give me some advice in this process.
Thanks in advance. Excellent work.
PS.
I’ll Attach YOU A FEW PICS to your mail GOODBYE. DIMAS RIVERA
I have 2 of these (both middle 70's) in the garage (along with a 120w slantcab with greenbacks).... gotta get em rebuilt someday
Amazing!!! To see the inside of this amp and get a walk threw with some one who is as clearly knowledgeable as you! Very impressive!!!
I watched this video in its entirety. I was entertained, as you say but I was informed and understood a lot of what you were saying. Well done to you.
I have a JCM800 2203 from 1981 and on the sticker I have the same woman's signature (Shirley). It's written in the same exact way and on the same spot on the sticker. Pretty cool.
Very nice! How much do you want for it?
Rosemary is a well known tag signer in the early 70s too. Some people think that has some added value but they were just worker bees.
That sounds great JMP 2204 My favorite Marshall Ever sold mine 20 years ago Complete stupidity on my part.
Geez Brad,you could strip the paint off the walls with that! Sounds Awesome!
This is probably my dream amp
I have a 79 JMP 100 watt Superlead that is my favorite!
But too loud to overdrive without master volume (or power soak).
Hey Brad,quick tip here...when you try to put super glue somewhere and you need to use your finger to press, you can wrap your finger with electrical tape so it wont glue together
Good trick - I actually use wax paper, especially in spots that I can glue and clamp. Put some wax paper between the clamp and glued area. When the glue has dried, the wax paper comes right off.
You and that amp only have 22 years on me, sick video brad really enjoyed t as usual.
That one sure is a beaut. I'm a softy for all things Marshall. I'm a year older than you. I seem to be wearing it a little better. I blame it on a youthful diet of whiskey, THC, and hallucinogenics in my early to mid 20's. Lol! I pickled myself. Lmao! Love the channel man. If I ever get the courage for adventure, or the cash for the work, I have a '71 Sunn I'd love you to take a gander at. Stay gold man, and never quit being awesome. Cheers.
Thanks, Jason.
The 2204 is a bad ass amp 👍 very warm an thick Plexi tone at low volumes! The original Drake transformers are the best sounding parts of the amp also the mustard caps! Love this amp...
This was really fun to watch, and I did "inadvertantly" get more out of it than entertainment! I'm about 1/2 way through a 2204 build with a number of gain mods so, its great to see something like this. Well done and hey, pretty decent tone there. Thank you!
Another great video. I appreciate how educational these are (not that it is something I have an interest in doing myself) and how you are very knowledgable and pragmatic - a healthy bit of skepticism of how many people think they can hear the difference between two components
Those window plug impedance selectors have blown up more Marshalls than anything else I've ever seen.Coat hangers,Low E strings and duct tape have been used to get through the gig after the plug gets lost on the way to the gig.You know who you are.
I've recapped and cleaned up many Marshall JMP 50's and 100's as well as JCM 800's 50's & 100 watt Marshall's. This is a great video. Surprised to see you did not replace the two 10 mfd axial capacitors that usually come with the recap kit. Also if you can't get the bias up you could just piggy back a resistor on the bias resistor. I'm sure already know that.
All your videos are awesome please keep them coming.
2 more things the 330 mfd capacitor is not needed on these amps and the bright cap should be clipped it just sounds better and takes away those extreme ear piercing highs.
All good points. On the axial caps, they are low voltage and were still working perfectly so I left them alone for now. I was borderline going to replace them though.
Pretty impressed by the playing at the end. Wish I were this knowledgeable about gear.
Brad - back in the 60's I used to use a thick clear vinyl glue in a little yellow tube. Seal-all. It had eye-hook tapered screw to seal the tube when you were finished with it. It was wonderful on black Fender amps. It would also seal small holes in car gas tanks. Being vinyl, it worked smoothly with the black plastic and unlike crazy glue it always remained soft. Just cover the repair in a bit of waxed paper and hold it down with some masking tape.
Couldn't agree more with this. Had one. Miss it dearly. Perfect amp... does NOT have to be loud.
My goodness I had this exact same amp and sold it in 1989 for 450 bucks. I was such a fool.
MrJam1001 if it's any consolation, I bet that person still has it.
Join the club. I sold mine in 96 for around same price. I dont like thinking about it too much.
How about trading in a 4104 JCM800 from 1982 for a Gallien Krueger 250RL in 1985 and owing the guy money on top of it? I had the GK about a month and got rid of it. Replaced that 4104,but the original was magic..,,sigh.
johnnyd63 - was it because Iron Maiden at the time?
Fucking Somewhere in Time album!
I still have the one I bought new in '82. They'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands ;-)
...I find this channel so interesting, he presents and explains all these issues excellent, this guy is so informative I watch his videos and enjoy them all....... Thanks my good-man, I appreciate your channel :)))))
sweet .. I have a '77 2203, for 20 years now. Its Bogner modded too ,a simple mod. still sounds like a Marshall tho. so killer. my birth year too
The one hundred watt heads were 499.99 back in 1979. I had one. Boy do I regret letting that go.
What a cool job you have, i really am digging watching your channel.
Welcome aboard!
Those circuit boards were used for several different models, so some of the missing components could be for the 100w version.
12:36 Man you gave me the best LOL in a while :D Loved this video :)
This amp sounds great with the PRS, some nice playin too Brad.
My first Marshall stack I got in 1988 was a 1979 JMP 2203...painted immaculate blue with a matching JCM 800 1960 cab (would be 4 Celestion G12M60, 65 or 70 watt 8 ohm speakers with 260 or 280 watts capacity. 3 ECC83 preamp tubes and 4 EL34 power tubes...Siemens or Telefunken. Louder than hell !!
that sound at the end ... wow !
Oh yeah, also, my 2204 build is being done in a Carvin V3M donor combo that will only be allowing about 400-420 volts on the EL34 plates so, a video llike this gives me hope that the sound wont really suffer due to that. Thanks again.,
You are my new Bob Ross. Amazing stuff and incredibly informative. \m/
Thanks for watching.
I had a '77 Mk II 2204 for about 3 years in the mid 1990s then sold it like a dumbass. I got '79 a couple years after and I've played the hell out of it and it's needed little maintenance. Of all the amps I've had or still have this model is still the best. Crazy Marshall tone/crunch at pretty sane volumes if you want. Of course you can still crank the master and blow whole neighborhood up.
Great video.. I had the 2/12 combo of the very amp..these days I'm using the Origin 50 half stack and it's very easy to tell the difference.
I hold fast to my opinion that all the best Marshalls had 6 knobs.
6 knobs just looks right to me. 6 knobs, no switches other than power. Anything more and I are begin confused.
^^^^^ this is 1000% correct!
This is NOT correct. The Vintage Modern has two extra dials for Body and Detail. 6 + 2 = 8 knobs.
Mike H i agree
Mike H You're not wrong!
Oooooooh I need this amp!
I have the 1984 equivalent and it rocks. With the corresponding cabinets you can probably kill small animals with a strong e chord
@@EtherDais sounds so good! Love this era of amp.
@@Twobarpsi when people say that there is variation they aren't kidding though, quality control at Marshall seemed to be out to lunch in this era. When they did it right however....... BOOM!
@@EtherDais nothing beats a Marshall, for a classic, or hard rock sound. I own several amps, but the most pleasing sounding one I own, is my Marsh!
I had the 100w head. '77 too and also a "Carol" on the board.
And props on having a wicked name, bloke!
Brad's Guitar Garage heck yeah, brutha Brad!
Yep , the amp sounds musical now , and your playing and the music is very good.
I love hearing you play sweet licks on an amp after watching your fantastic work on it makes for a great day thank you
very nice amp! warm and quite bity, but not harsh. Cool playing on the ending of the video, I look your videos evrytime so, I skip to
the end. Thanks, liked and subscribed. Greets from Munich
Dang it. I want one. Nice shredding man! Sounds killer.
Ha! You make a fella glad he got up early! Great video. Always jonsin for the next one. Keep'em coming my friend!
Really enjoyable video.I always learn something valuable here.I had an 84 2204 and loved it.
Fantastic video! Watched this on the big screen. Really very interesting. :) I think it sounded absolutely amazeballs too. The pick attack cluck and the way the notes tear just gorgeous. I don't hear that much these days .. !
wozzlepop I was also using a Forever Pick ebony for this vid.
I cant help but wonder who dislikes this video? Just some random clicking of the dislike? Youre a pro at what you do and I learn a lot from your post!
On the lead series with 4 input the first two gain stages were in parallel, on the master they were in series like the jcm 800 so yes they did not use the 330 cap. First gain had a bypass,second stage should not as that has the 10k cold bias resistor.
My JMP 2204 is a '78. My JCM 800 2204 is an '84. Love them to death.... But the JCM needs maintenance, so I'm slowly getting the nerve to try to do some work on it myself. Filters, power tube and bias, got me two different ESR meters to try to do cap tests, would like to test the screens to see if they are reading in spec... a bunch of stuff....this was cool to see....
Good luck on it. The caps for this are less than $50 for all 3. Might as well go ahead and change them while you're in there.
Got the filter kit, came with the 3 cans and 2 sprague atoms, havent gotten a count on the others yet. Got power tubes and I only have a one socket bias adapter, so I'll have to one at a time, and since getting the ESR's, I'd like to do some testing to see how they do measuring in circuit. ( thinking of getting a better Bias adapter with 2 maybe 4 adapters, switchable for each and plate voltage since i have a house full of 50W Hiwatts and Marshalls, and even a Sound City Plus..) I still like doing the math, but these seem useful...I think...I know its not a leak test, but was hoping to see how they do in giving me an idea of "good vs bad" while in circuit...great vid, especially since everything if very familiar in both 2204 amps.. Thanks!
You made that amp kick some ass! Nice work, Brad.