Marshall JCM 600 2x12 combo

[dugliss]

I picked up one of these a while ago as I`ve been ampless for a time. I get the impression from reading threads on here that Marshalls aren`t overly popular but I`ve had several over the years and personally really like them. The thing with this JCM 600 is that it kind of sounds different from the others that I`ve owned. I can`t really explain what it is but I can`t quite get the exact sound I`m looking for and it seems to over emphasise the harmonics from the guitar and almost has a quackiness to it. I`m probably not explaining it very well but I was just wondering if it`s just the tonal qualities of this particular amp or if it would maybe benefit from a change of valves or some other kind of service. Having owned several tube amps I`m ashamed to say I have no idea how you can tell when the tubes need replacing. Any ideas?

[ESBlonde]

Marshalls are sold in larger numbers than any other British made amp both here and around the world. Like Fords etc. anything sold in those quantities will have some detractors. Mind you Marshall have made the odd 3 legged dog over the years,

In terms of Valves, the tone tends not to be the most noticeable change but either silence or pops and squeals that accompany the guitar sound. New valves can make a small difference (typically brightness) but a change of loudspeaker driver (make or model) will usually result in more noticable changes to the overall tone. Do you have access to a separate loudspeaker cabinet, maybe via a friend? Plugging the amp head into that might reveal something different.
Not all Marshalls sound the same and it just might be you don't like the JCM600 2x12". Theres nothing wrong in that though, just trade into something else that matches the tone in your head.

[dugliss]

I`ve recently had a JCM 900 head and before that a JCM 800 50watt head, both of these very easily gave me the sound I was looking for. I also had a 1x12 valve combo that I got 2nd hand in the late 80`s, that too gave me what I was looking for. Just wondering really if I should be able to expect that from the 600 or whether it`s a totally different beast and, like you say, trade in for something else. The only info I`ve really been able to find about the 600`s is that it has a dcent clean channel

[ICBM]

I don't really like to say this when someone has just bought something, but my honest advice would be (if you haven't already committed to building your set-up around it, which it doesn't sound like you have) to get rid of it and get a different, better, Marshall.

These are some of Marshall's least well-designed and built amps from a reliability and maintenance point of view, and in my opinion don't sound very much like a classic Marshall either. I don't even think the clean channel is "decent", it's just *cleaner* than most Marshalls - it still sounds thin and gutless to me.

Sorry...

[dugliss]

Don`t be sorry, I think that`s what I probably wanted to hear. I only bought it as a stop gap anyway as I`ve not been playing for a while but the chance of doing a few gigs in September popped up so I needed something and the price was right. Maybe I should delete this thread now and then stick it in the classifieds
So what do you think of the DSL 401`s then? I`d rather get something a bit smaller anyway

[ICBM]

So what do you think of the DSL 401`s then? I`d rather get something a bit smaller anyway

When given a few minor reliability upgrades - which can usually wait until they fail, unless you're intending to gig it without a backup - they're actually a pretty reliable, fairly good-sounding amp and more like a classic Marshall. Not amazingly loud for 40W, although a better speaker helps a bit... and with the similarly slightly gutless tone, but a better speaker helps that too.

[Fez]

I like my DSL 401, live I use an extension cab (1x12) and it's fine. Sounded great through a 4x12 at an outdoor gig we did for the Queens Jubilee. What I am looking for now is a suitable small head to drive at least the extension cab if a failure should occur.