@ten8goa I agree, it's a great amp. I used it for years and it never let me down. I switched to a Mesa Stiletto a year ago, mainly due to needing more channels. I used to get compliments all the time on the Marshall, even had a well known guitar tech ask me if it had been modified because he thought it sounded better than others he's heard. If you only need one channel, this amp is hard to beat.
Sounds great! Nothing beats the sound of a Les Paul and Marshall! Also,I was actually looking for some reviews of the JCM 900 SL-X but stumbled upon this. What is the main difference between the SL-X and MKIII?
@theKaarvaag1 I've never owned an SL-X, but I believe they have another preamp tube and more gain than the MKIII. The controls are set up the same way, with the switchable master volumes. They only made the MkIII for 2 years I believe, they made the SL-X for several years. Also I think most of the SL-X were made with 6L6 power tubes, the MkIII had EL34. There's plenty of info on both here on the web.
The MkIII can take the diode clipping completly out of the circuit (gain sensitivity knob), that makes it closer to the jcm 800 series. It's quite different beast than sl-x
Nice video man. I have the same head and run it through a mf400 cab. Your eq settings are a little odd but work well for you blues. You should check out my new demo for this amp I posted today. It goes through similar stuff but with cleans and a metal touch. Rock on!! \m/
Great tone bro, but when your voice is louder than the amp, you need to CRANK IT UP!!!!! This amp would sound 100 times better with the volume at a decent level to get the tubes cookin'! :)
Oh yeah man, I know! If I crank it up the video camera mic distorts and it sounds awful. You're right, it definitely sounds better the more you push it just like any other good tube amp. But this is one of those few tube amps that still sounds great at low volumes imo. Being a 50 watt amp I always thought is was perfect for club gigs, because you could crank it up to 6 or 7 on a big stage. That's when it sounds it's best.
hey, your video gave me a good insight into htis amp and there reasonably cheap on ebay, im thinking of buying one, my only problem is, i play both lead and rhythm parts alternativley on sweet child o'mine with my band so i kinda need the two channels, is there any marshall or otherwise pedals that would be able to influence the channeling thing? :)
@runerockgod7 That's the drawback to this amp imo, you only have one channel. You can back the volume knob down on the guitar and clean it up a little, but it's not a substitute for a good clean channel. You can set it clean by turning the gain down and using a distortion pedal for the dirty sounds, but then you miss out on the really nice distortion this amp produces. I'm currently playing in a cover band and needed more channels too, I've been using a Mesa Boogie Stiletto and love it.
@runerockgod7 You might also check out the JCM 900 Dual Reverbs, they have a clean and a dirty channel and can be found a little cheaper than the MKIII. But the distortion is a little different partly because most have 6L6 power tubes. I think some of the early ones used EL34's but I'm not sure.
I'm not sure on the headphone question, but I believe you shouldn't run the head without a speaker cab hooked up as it can damage the head. From what I've been told an amp should always have a speaker load hooked up to or you can burn up the power amp, so I'm thinking the headphones wouldn't make sense if you have to have a speaker hooked up. I could be wrong though.
Thanks for the comment! I think a good JCM 800 will get closer to Slash's sound imo. I've played in bands with other guitarists who used 800's, and they sound different than the 900's. Not any better imo, I think they are equal in tone, just different. 900's are probably better for heavier tones and 800's are better for classic rock tones. I think the 800's are a little warmer. The 900's scream easier without adding a pedal. But that's just my take, I'm no expert obviously.
@gtrplyr7777 Slash used a JCM800 that was modified to have an extra gain stage so it is actualy pretty close to the 900 according to the interviews i read anyway. It was a something he "borrowed" from a shop and tried to keep but, a roadie got him caught and he had to give it back but, that was what he used on appetite acording to new info.
Thanks! I love the mark iv, it's much more versital than the JCM imho. I'm using a Mesa Stiletto Trident now and love it. Also have a Mesa DC 3 that is one of the best sounding amps I've ever played. I love most Mesa and Marshall amps. I'd have one of every model if I could afford it.
Thanks! I love the mark iv, it's much more versital than the JCM imho. I'm using a Mesa Stiletto Trident now and love it. Also have a Mesa DC 3 that is one of the best sounding amps I've ever played. I love most Mesa and Marshall amps. I'd have one of every model if I could afford it.
You play those Kings Of Leon riffs with way to much distortion. Caleb uses a really light crunch at most. :D
Nickpatient 6 months ago
I love great head ;)
MeanGreenMovies 6 months ago
Thanks for all the comments, much appreciated!
gtrplyr7777 9 months ago
SING ME A SONG YOUR A SINGER....!
Pussynator123 9 months ago
This is the best sounding amp ive ever had and ive had a bunch of em. I run a processor in front of it and its unreal.
ten8goa 11 months ago
@ten8goa I agree, it's a great amp. I used it for years and it never let me down. I switched to a Mesa Stiletto a year ago, mainly due to needing more channels. I used to get compliments all the time on the Marshall, even had a well known guitar tech ask me if it had been modified because he thought it sounded better than others he's heard. If you only need one channel, this amp is hard to beat.
gtrplyr7777 9 months ago
Sounds great! Nothing beats the sound of a Les Paul and Marshall! Also,I was actually looking for some reviews of the JCM 900 SL-X but stumbled upon this. What is the main difference between the SL-X and MKIII?
theKaarvaag1 11 months ago
@theKaarvaag1 I've never owned an SL-X, but I believe they have another preamp tube and more gain than the MKIII. The controls are set up the same way, with the switchable master volumes. They only made the MkIII for 2 years I believe, they made the SL-X for several years. Also I think most of the SL-X were made with 6L6 power tubes, the MkIII had EL34. There's plenty of info on both here on the web.
gtrplyr7777 9 months ago
The MkIII can take the diode clipping completly out of the circuit (gain sensitivity knob), that makes it closer to the jcm 800 series. It's quite different beast than sl-x
Bezo12345 3 months ago
@gtrplyr7777 Some SLX's had EL34's. They sound pretty good, not great. The MKIII's sound really good. I have a combo and a head. Pretty rare amp.
tatsandteles 2 months ago
I think it was around 2 or 2 1/2. It just sounds better and better the louder it gets, but still sounds great at low volumes too.
gtrplyr7777 1 year ago
How low was your master volume? For being quieter than your voice, it actually doesn't sound bad. A lot of tube amps sound pretty fizzy that quiet.
ovneb 1 year ago
Good review man. ! Nice one.
philnumberone 1 year ago
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Nice review, I bought one recently. The 900 seems to get a lot of hate, but I think they're confusing it with the DR.
s13koop 1 year ago
Nice review, I bought one recently. The 900 seems to get a lot of hate, but I think they're confusing it with the DR.
s13koop 1 year ago
"it's been a great head" haha, sorry, that just made my day ^^
TenhoMeideia 1 year ago
that not even close to voodo child 5:34
mrflip321go 1 year ago
@mrflip321go
I've never learned Voodoo Child, just had that lick in my head. So yeah, I would agree, it probably isn't very close at all.
gtrplyr7777 1 year ago
@mrflip321go
who gives the crap, the dude knows how to play guitar!
biroskate1 10 months ago
Nice video man. I have the same head and run it through a mf400 cab. Your eq settings are a little odd but work well for you blues. You should check out my new demo for this amp I posted today. It goes through similar stuff but with cleans and a metal touch. Rock on!! \m/
dsl100stack 1 year ago
Great tone bro, but when your voice is louder than the amp, you need to CRANK IT UP!!!!! This amp would sound 100 times better with the volume at a decent level to get the tubes cookin'! :)
hellboundTX333 1 year ago
@hellboundTX333
Oh yeah man, I know! If I crank it up the video camera mic distorts and it sounds awful. You're right, it definitely sounds better the more you push it just like any other good tube amp. But this is one of those few tube amps that still sounds great at low volumes imo. Being a 50 watt amp I always thought is was perfect for club gigs, because you could crank it up to 6 or 7 on a big stage. That's when it sounds it's best.
gtrplyr7777 1 year ago
Nice review...these amps would be great with a clean channel added.
hebertoclemente 1 year ago
hey, your video gave me a good insight into htis amp and there reasonably cheap on ebay, im thinking of buying one, my only problem is, i play both lead and rhythm parts alternativley on sweet child o'mine with my band so i kinda need the two channels, is there any marshall or otherwise pedals that would be able to influence the channeling thing? :)
runerockgod7 1 year ago
@runerockgod7 That's the drawback to this amp imo, you only have one channel. You can back the volume knob down on the guitar and clean it up a little, but it's not a substitute for a good clean channel. You can set it clean by turning the gain down and using a distortion pedal for the dirty sounds, but then you miss out on the really nice distortion this amp produces. I'm currently playing in a cover band and needed more channels too, I've been using a Mesa Boogie Stiletto and love it.
gtrplyr7777 1 year ago
@runerockgod7 You might also check out the JCM 900 Dual Reverbs, they have a clean and a dirty channel and can be found a little cheaper than the MKIII. But the distortion is a little different partly because most have 6L6 power tubes. I think some of the early ones used EL34's but I'm not sure.
gtrplyr7777 1 year ago
I'm not sure on the headphone question, but I believe you shouldn't run the head without a speaker cab hooked up as it can damage the head. From what I've been told an amp should always have a speaker load hooked up to or you can burn up the power amp, so I'm thinking the headphones wouldn't make sense if you have to have a speaker hooked up. I could be wrong though.
gtrplyr7777 1 year ago
can you use headphones on the compensated output?
Dutchieboy20 1 year ago
great review and player but i wasnt sold on the guns n roses stuff - is the jcm 800 better for guns n roses??
SourSundae 1 year ago
@SourSundae
Thanks for the comment! I think a good JCM 800 will get closer to Slash's sound imo. I've played in bands with other guitarists who used 800's, and they sound different than the 900's. Not any better imo, I think they are equal in tone, just different. 900's are probably better for heavier tones and 800's are better for classic rock tones. I think the 800's are a little warmer. The 900's scream easier without adding a pedal. But that's just my take, I'm no expert obviously.
gtrplyr7777 1 year ago
@gtrplyr7777 Slash used a JCM800 that was modified to have an extra gain stage so it is actualy pretty close to the 900 according to the interviews i read anyway. It was a something he "borrowed" from a shop and tried to keep but, a roadie got him caught and he had to give it back but, that was what he used on appetite acording to new info.
diesect33 1 year ago
4:20 "that was a little excessive, but no big deal" haha... amazing review. thanks so much
browlesswonder 1 year ago
Thanks! I love the mark iv, it's much more versital than the JCM imho. I'm using a Mesa Stiletto Trident now and love it. Also have a Mesa DC 3 that is one of the best sounding amps I've ever played. I love most Mesa and Marshall amps. I'd have one of every model if I could afford it.
gtrplyr7777 1 year ago
Thanks! I love the mark iv, it's much more versital than the JCM imho. I'm using a Mesa Stiletto Trident now and love it. Also have a Mesa DC 3 that is one of the best sounding amps I've ever played. I love most Mesa and Marshall amps. I'd have one of every model if I could afford it.
gtrplyr7777 1 year ago
great review man!!!! im conflicted between the jcm 900 and the mesa mark iv. i love both so much!!!! but the 900 is so much cheaper.
AForetich 1 year ago