Dokken sound - Modded Plexi or modded JCM?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Achilles
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Splawndude,i have considered this amp in the past but i eventually lost interest. Even though it is considered as the most open and organic from the bunch, it's still a bit compressed and polished sounding with that signature Engl DNA in its sound.

Romanianreaper, that's good to know because i have decided on that amp as well hehe.

I want to thank everyone for their opinion on the matter. Much Appeciated!
I think I'm set on the EVH 5153 EL34 100w head.
It seems it delivers everything i need.
 
Be well everyone and be carefull in this covid nightmare we all live in.
 
You can do it all with 100watt superlead and a pedal/ guitar vol knob. Clean Crunch Lead
 
Hi folks,
I just saw this video of a stock Marshall JVM 410H and i must say, i really liked the first 2 channels:



Does anyone have experience with both?
How does the EVH 5153 100w EL34 compares to the Marshall JVM 410H or Marshall JVM 410HJS?
 
Hopkins Pandora Modded JCM800 or any of his Pandora Modded Marshalls will get you there in spades. Best amp I have ever owned.
 
rm5153 said:
Hopkins Pandora Modded JCM800 or any of his Pandora Modded Marshalls will get you there in spades. Best amp I have ever owned.
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Thank you for the great words! I just happened to be reading through and found this thread.

IMO any competent tech should be able to deliver. I find most of it is in the hands.

When you get inside a non master Marshall plexi circuit or a master volume Marshall JMP/JCM 800 circuit it is all the same to the tech who is going to "redisgn" the circuit. The most important things IMO are the OT as they are each very unique, much like pickups and their windings. The PT in the earlier JMP's will put out a healthy VDC nearing 500VDC & the latter JCM 800's closer to 465VDC. 500VDC = a bit stiffer and tighter reaction. Great for Jose Arredondo type mods (Pre Tone Stack Master Volumes). Jose was known to add an extra small transformer to boost the latter JCM's closer to 500VDC. Me? I like my chewy sag but defined. That in itself is interesting.

But here is a short of me playing George Lynch over a modded Plexi I did for my friend Noberto in California with athe Pandora Mod. No, I am not a note for note player. That takes the fun out of it for me unless it is Hotel California etc...

 
NewReligion said:
When you get inside a non master Marshall plexi circuit or a master volume Marshall JMP/JCM 800 circuit it is all the same to the tech who is going to "redisgn" the circuit. The most important things IMO are the OT as they are each very unique, much like pickups and their windings. The PT in the earlier JMP's will put out a healthy VDC nearing 500VDC & the latter JCM 800's closer to 465VDC. 500VDC = a bit stiffer and tighter reaction. Great for Jose Arredondo type mods (Pre Tone Stack Master Volumes). Jose was known to add an extra small transformer to boost the latter JCM's closer to 500VDC. Me? I like my chewy sag but defined. That in itself is interesting
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Hi, great insight info there.
Have you played the EVH 5153 EL34 100W? (no other version or the 50watters) It seems to have this chewy defined sag that you're talking about. The 100 watter, that is. How would you compare it to a JVM?
 
Christos rock said:
Hi, great insight info there.
Have you played the EVH 5153 EL34 100W? (no other version or the 50watters) It seems to have this chewy defined sag that you're talking about. The 100 watter, that is. How would you compare it to a JVM?
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Both are fine amps but do not Inspire me to play as well as perhaps even a stock Marshall with a SD-1 in front of it which adds hiss and robs the user of low end.

I seriously thought about the JVM when they first came out but stayed with my old reliable Marshall & pedal. I did order a 100 watt 5150 III original. I did not bond with it at all. In my hands & to my ear it was like a cross between a Randall & a Blackstar.

All fine amps but missing the Marshall/pedal compressed articulate sweet spot which is why I started modifying amps for my own use.

Having owned several Cameron’s (still do have a one off Cantrell, pretty sure it is damn near the Snorkler) & Friedman amps (still have one of the first Kitchen sinks Dave did on a 1976 SL & a BE/HBE/SAT & a 2014 BE 100, gave my son another for graduation to accompany his Blue Face VH4 Diezel) I have reached a pinnacle of knowledge of where I want to go and am able to manipulate the sonic out come for the most part.

I did add effect loops to the Marshall’s modded by Friedman & Cameron. Quality effects and allows for solo boosting that will be heard over everything.

But as I stated earlier most of it is in our hands and attitude. I can play about anything and sound like me but am most comfortable with what I like most. I think we all do.

Best Regards, David
 
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NewReligion said:
Both are fine amps but do not Inspire me to play as well as perhaps even a stock Marshall with a SD-1 in front of it which adds hiss and robs the user of low end.

I seriously thought about the JVM when they first came out but stayed with my old reliable Marshall & pedal. I did order a 100 watt 5150 III original. I did not bond with it at all. In my hands & to my ear it was like a cross between a Randall & a Blackstar.

All fine amps but missing the Marshall/pedal compressed articulate sweet spot which is why I started modifying amps for my own use.
Having owned several Cameron’s (still do have a one off Cantrell, pretty sure it is damn near the Snorkler) & Friedman amps (still have one of the first Kitchen sinks Dave did on a 1976 SL & a BE/HBE/SAT & a 2014 BE 100, gave my son another for graduation to accompany his Blue Face VH4 Diezel) I have reached a pinnacle of knowledge of where I want to go and am able to manipulate the sonic out come for the most part.
I did add effect loops to the Marshall’s modded by Friedman & Cameron. Quality effects and allows for solo boosting that will be heard over everything.
But as I stated earlier most of it is in our hands and attitude. I can play about anything and sound like me but am most comfortable with what I like most. I think we all do.
Best Regards, David
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Thanks for your input (y)

I'm struggling to find this bridge between vintage and a little more "modern" British/Marshall sound.

What I really need is a 4-channel amp based on the el34 British (Marshall with a twist) sound.
I'm not interested to play covers from all those 80s metal bands that I grew up with. I write and perform my own music. So it doesn't have to be a spot on Marshall sound but it has to retain some of its characteristics. Especially the growl in the mids when you hit an open cord.

I do need very good & dynamic glassy EL34 clean and semi-over-driven tones in the first two channels, a nice rhythm channel in ch.3 with this kerrang for my rhythm playing (like the first cord you hit on your guitar on the video you posted above) and a fourth channel for the lead solo sounds.
Those two high gain sounds doesn't necessarily have to be spot on Marshall but in the ballpark. Just not overly compressed like an Engl/Diezel for example because it becomes very uninspiring for me. It has to be the right amount of compression-openness-rawness and mid growl.

Having owned the Mesa Boogie Mark V and the Dual rectifier multiwatt in my arsenal, I don't need just another high gain amp, if you know what I mean.
 
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Christos rock said:
Thanks for your input (y)

I'm struggling to find this bridge between vintage and a little more "modern" British/Marshall sound.

What I really need is a 4-channel amp based on the el34 British/Marshall with a twist sound.
I'm not interested to play covers from all those 80s metal bands that I grew up with. I write and perform my own music.

But I do need very good & dynamic glassy EL34 clean and semi-over-driven tones in the first two channels, a nice rhythm channel in ch.3 with this kerrang for my rhythm playing (like the first cord you hit on your guitar on the video you posted above) and a fourth channel for the lead solo sounds.
Those two high gain sounds doesn't necessarily have to be spot on Marshall but in the ballpark. Just not overly compressed like an Engl for example. It has to be the right amount of compression-openness-rawness and mid growl.
Having owned the Mesa Boogie Mark V and the Dual rectifier multiwatt in my arsenal, I don't need just another high gain amp, if you know what I mean.
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It is my opinion this is why many professional guitarists use multiple amps & switching systems as I could never get everything out of one amp so I built/organized my own rig since my teens thinking outside of the box.

There are many ways to skin this cat.

David
 
NewReligion said:
It is my opinion this is why many professional guitarists use multiple amps & switching systems as I could never get everything out of one amp so I built/organized my own rig since my teens thinking outside of the box.

There are many ways to skin this cat.

David
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That's exactly what I am trying to avoid... A shelf with 4 Marshall amps.
I really hope I can find what I'm looking for.
Or maybe that could be your next project in the Hopkins Amplification Pandora series? Hehehe
 
For those who have played the amp, how would you describe the cleans on the EVH EL34 100W?
Is it a Marshall el34 style clean or american fender clean. I hope it is similar to a plexi style clean.

Also, have you tried any of the mesa british sounding amps like the stiletto, electradyne, royal atlantic or tc100?
I would love to know how they compare to the EVH EL34 100W.
 
Christos rock said:
That's exactly what I am trying to avoid... A shelf with 4 Marshall amps.
I really hope I can find what I'm looking for.
Or maybe that could be your next project in the Hopkins Amplification Pandora series? Hehehe
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I think with the quantity and quality of today's pedals you can get there with a SL or JCM style amp and a couple pedals. As much as I HATE pedals it really solves a lot of problems and as you said is much easier than a rack full of different heads and a way to switch all them thru a cab..
 
Christos rock said:
Hi folks,
I just saw this video of a stock Marshall JVM 410H and i must say, i really liked the first 2 channels:



Does anyone have experience with both?
How does the EVH 5153 100w EL34 compares to the Marshall JVM 410H or Marshall JVM 410HJS?
Click to expand...

You are right. first two channels sound really good..that third gained out channel sounds like a bit of a mess though. They might have used some direction there.
 
The Bogner Helios nails the 80's hard rock tone and much more.
You can get that kind of tone all day long.
It is pretty much a modded plexi.
 
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