Battle of the Marshalls

  • Thread starter Thread starter Emg77
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Emg77

Emg77

Well-known member
So, I’ve got a friend of mine I’m making deal with on one of these Marshall’s.

1. ‘88’ Jubilee
2. ‘83’ Canadian 2204
3. Late 90’s 2203x

I’m currently shooting them out and there is a lot of similarities with all of them. The Jubilee has a bit of a shift in the mids than the other 2. I really digging them all ! But I’m leaning towards Jubilee.
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I'm going jube all the way.. more versatile for my needs.. and I have a 2203 too.
either amp will let the sound of your guitar come through as they are not littered with gain
 
lespaul6 said:
I'm going jube all the way.. more versatile for my needs.. and I have a 2203 too.
either amp will let the sound of your guitar come through as they are not littered with gain
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I’m feeling the same way about it. I’m finding more useable tones out of the Jubilee. Although the lead channel not so much. The 800’s have ‘A’ great tone once dialed in.
 
Rick Lee said:
My '79 2203 has smoked each of the five Silver Jubilees I've owned. Not even a contest.
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Yeah I had a 1980 JMP 2204 and a 80 NMV 2203. I really dug those amps as well. I’m not getting that out of these 800’s.
 
Go for the Jube, they don’t come around ans often.
Everybody makes a jcm800 now.
 
Rick Lee said:
My '79 2203 has smoked each of the five Silver Jubilees I've owned. Not even a contest.
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..and I have a 1972 Superlead that chews up and spits out any of the 20+ JMP/JCM 800 2203/4s I owned. Lol

No contest. Push, clarity, thump....NMV Marshalls for the win.

OP, I'd go Jubilee as it's easily more versatile...great lead channel, great clean (best of any Marshall post 1970) and a good loop...plus the EQ is by far the most reactive of any Marshall ever made. And they are hard to find. I've had over 10 originals, and 1 2555x.
 
I'd take the '83 2204 of the 3, but really don't see any reason to get a post 1980 or so Marshall if the goal is to optimize. I find Jubilee's a bit smooth and bland sounding for my taste vs any Marshall's from the 2203/4 or earlier models

The 3 to consider I think are a late '70's JMP2203/4 if you want the most growl and juicy mids of the bunch, early '70's Super Lead if you want the most hard hitting punch, open and brash sound (I've got a 1972 Super Lead 100 myself), and '60's Marshall if you want something darker, warmer and smokier sounding, although I partly got rid of the '67 Tremolo 50 I had because of my Alessandro Redbone (one of the best amps I've got)

I found the Marshall's outside those 3 categories to be not needed if one gets one of those 3 depending on taste (or maybe all 3 lol). If within budget too of course. Otherwise I guess look for a reissue 2203, SLP or Jubilee I suppose
 
Rick Lee said:
My '79 2203 has smoked each of the five Silver Jubilees I've owned. Not even a contest.
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Agreed. I had a '79 JMP2203 and '87 Silver Jubilee at the same time. The Jubilee sounded much smoother/lacking growl and more bland on powerchords. It was tighter and had some nice punch, but then I compared it with the Wizard I had at the time and the Jubilee got smoked hugely for punch and tightness too, so couldn't find a reason to keep it around, although it was a bit more raw and growly than the Wizard, but lacked a lot in that category vs the '79 JMP2203, so it was like no man's land
 
I have a 50 watt jubilee, and i like it only with the eq tones all open and 10, precence at taste (i use it on 5-6). I tried to use the tones, but it always blank the amp and make it thin and artificial.
 
When I see the YT videos of the various Silver Jubilees, I love them. Seriously, so many of them sound great. But I just can't bond with them. I had the 2525C and loved it. But when it ran out of balls at an outdoor gig, I knew it was too much for a practice amp and too little for band duty. I miss my '78 NMV 100w. I really regret selling it, but it was kind of redundant in my collection at the time. If anyone in Phoenix is shopping for a 2555x, you can come over and run it at full tilt for a try out.
 
Luca79 said:
I have a 50 watt jubilee, and i like it only with the eq tones all open and 10, precence at taste (i use it on 5-6). I tried to use the tones, but it always blank the amp and make it thin and artificial.
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What are your output master, input gain and lead master at?

Have you checked bias?
 
Emg77 said:
I’m feeling the same way about it. I’m finding more useable tones out of the Jubilee. Although the lead channel not so much. The 800’s have ‘A’ great tone once dialed in.
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The Jubilee is surprising in that you can totally change both the gain structure and the voicing ( dark/smooth vs brute/cutting) with the turn of the knobs.

If you do not take the time to experiment with it.....you totally miss the genius that hides in this box.

If you want a Brite cutting rock setting.......start with Joe Perry's everything on "7", and adjust to your liking.
 
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