Finally opened up my Marshall Randy Rhoads amp.....

[yngzaklynch]

looks cool geo, how do you like the tones your getting, does it have as much gain as a jcm 800.

Thanks Tom. Its a pretty dark, thick fat sounding amp overall, I'd like it to have some more top end snap/zing. Maybe something other than GB's would help that. I've only played my JB loaded LP thru it, so it could be that too.

CH I is basically a Superlead but it gets pretty crunchy when its turned up. CH II has more gain than a 2203. I think most guys would still use a pedal to boost it though.

Maybe it's that darkness that made Randy use Altecs which i read are quite bright sounding.

 

[Les Zombie]

i bet i would like it, so far i liked the slash and zakk models which are just a 2203 and 2555.
i do not like the jvm,tsl,dsl stuff but that rhoads seems really cool and the amps i mentioned are cool.
i also like my marshall boosted.

 

[Greazygeo]

looks cool geo, how do you like the tones your getting, does it have as much gain as a jcm 800.

Thanks Tom. Its a pretty dark, thick fat sounding amp overall, I'd like it to have some more top end snap/zing. Maybe something other than GB's would help that. I've only played my JB loaded LP thru it, so it could be that too.

CH I is basically a Superlead but it gets pretty crunchy when its turned up. CH II has more gain than a 2203. I think most guys would still use a pedal to boost it though.

Maybe it's that darkness that made Randy use Altecs which i read are quite bright sounding.

It could be. Some of it is the type of Presence circuit used. Its a much wider sweep instead of the peaky boost of the plexi style. A friend has some altecs we are going to load into something and try at some point. His are really midrangy, but were reconed at some point so maybe they sound different.

I was thinking swapping the JJ out of V1 would help, but maybe this Mullard is a dark tube too, need to slap a chinese in there and see.

 

[Greazygeo]

i bet i would like it, so far i liked the slash and zakk models which are just a 2203 and 2555.
i do not like the jvm,tsl,dsl stuff but that rhoads seems really cool and the amps i mentioned are cool.
i also like my marshall boosted.

The JVM, TSL/ DSL all share the same power section design (no choke). Not sure on the Slash/Jubilee but it may be the same as the 2203 / ZW which is the same as the RR (choke and 6 filter caps). I would like to do a few tweaks to this amp, but am going to keep it stock so it's original. Probably matching up the right cab/ speakers and a pedal will get me where mostly where I want to be.

One thing for sure....this is a LOUD amp no matter how you set it up. Slaving is working pretty well though.

 

[MrDan666]

I was thinking swapping the JJ out of V1 would help, but maybe this Mullard is a dark tube too, need to slap a chinese in there and see.

Definitly try a Chinese 12ax7 in there instead of that JJ!

Every amp i have owned, which had a JJ in V1, always was too dark sounding. As soon as i loaded a Chinese 12ax7 in there instead, it brings it all to life again

 

[zewango]

Sweet

How does it sound barely on
Paul Gilbert has a RR Stack in his new DVD, sounds great if thats what he's using.

 

[Greazygeo]

I was thinking swapping the JJ out of V1 would help, but maybe this Mullard is a dark tube too, need to slap a chinese in there and see.

Definitly try a Chinese 12ax7 in there instead of that JJ!

Every amp i have owned, which had a JJ in V1, always was too dark sounding. As soon as i loaded a Chinese 12ax7 in there instead, it brings it all to life again

Ive found the same to be true....now to take the back panel off again...ughhh

 

[Greazygeo]

Sweet

How does it sound barely on
Paul Gilbert has a RR Stack in his new DVD, sounds great if thats what he's using.

Barely on....hmm....LOUD LOUD LOUD!!!!!

Which new DVD is it? The last one i saw was the Get Out of My Yard thing.....

 

[zewango]

Paul Gilbert - Silence Followed By A Deafening Roar DVD
Just like the last DVD he plays parts of the tunes, licks etc. His sound is so much better with the Marshalls and he is standing next to a White Marshall stack, it has to be the RR.

 

[Greazygeo]

Paul Gilbert - Silence Followed By A Deafening Roar DVD
Just like the last DVD he plays parts of the tunes, licks etc. His sound is so much better with the Marshalls and he is standing next to a White Marshall stack, it has to be the RR.

Cool I'll have to look for that. His tone has always been hit or miss for me. Somethings sound cool and others

 

[MrDan666]

Ive found the same to be true....now to take the back panel off again...ughhh

Cool, let me know how it goes and if it fixes the problem.

If not, and if you were willing to try something.. you could snip the 330uF cathode bypass cap, and replace it with a .68uF. That would make it a bit brighter/clearer and would be easy to swap without even touching a single solder joint on the PCB

I personally dislike using the 330uF cap on the first stage's cathode in a higher gain Plexi/JMP circuit, as it 'seems' to add gain to all the frequencies (bass/middle/treble).. whereas a smaller cap like a .68uF sounds to me like it only adds an upper mid boost in gain. Keeps things nice and clear IMO

 

[Greazygeo]

Ive found the same to be true....now to take the back panel off again...ughhh

Cool, let me know how it goes and if it fixes the problem.

If not, and if you were willing to try something.. you could snip the 330uF cathode bypass cap, and replace it with a .68uF. That would make it a bit brighter/clearer and would be easy to swap without even touching a single solder joint on the PCB

I personally dislike using the 330uF cap on the first stage's cathode in a higher gain Plexi/JMP circuit, as it 'seems' to add gain to all the frequencies (bass/middle/treble).. whereas a smaller cap like a .68uF sounds to me like it only adds an upper mid boost in gain. Keeps things nice and clear IMO

Yeah, it's weird in this circuit. Using CH II cascades it back into CH I then thru the rest of the circuit. That 330uf cap doesnt have the same effect as it would in a reg 1959 circuit. It's not flubby or dark like I would expect. Using CH I is darker than I'd prefer, but it's not too bad. I don't want to do any circuit mods so I can keep this one stock and original. I have three 60's 100 watt Marshalls to "play" with. I want to try a few tube swaps and some different speakers / pedals and see what happens.

 

[MrDan666]

Yeah, it's weird in this circuit. Using CH II cascades it back into CH I then thru the rest of the circuit. That 330uf cap doesnt have the same effect as it would in a reg 1959 circuit. It's not flubby or dark like I would expect. Using CH I is darker than I'd prefer, but it's not too bad. I don't want to do any circuit mods so I can keep this one stock and original. I have three 60's 100 watt Marshalls to "play" with. I want to try a few tube swaps and some different speakers / pedals and see what happens.

Oh awesome, i didnt realise you had those 60's Marshalls to play around with! How are those ones tweaked? Still stock or any mods?

 

[Greazygeo]

Yeah, it's weird in this circuit. Using CH II cascades it back into CH I then thru the rest of the circuit. That 330uf cap doesnt have the same effect as it would in a reg 1959 circuit. It's not flubby or dark like I would expect. Using CH I is darker than I'd prefer, but it's not too bad. I don't want to do any circuit mods so I can keep this one stock and original. I have three 60's 100 watt Marshalls to "play" with. I want to try a few tube swaps and some different speakers / pedals and see what happens.

Oh awesome, i didnt realise you had those 60's Marshalls to play around with! How are those ones tweaked? Still stock or any mods?

Yep Ive had these Marshall's forever.

My '69 Metalface 100 is modded like a 2203 w 6550's and some tweaks here and there.

I bought back a 68 Super trem plexi 100 a few months ago. It is mostly stock except for a ppiv mv and removed trem circuit. I need to take out that mv at some point. It has higher filtering now.

The last one I have is a '69 Plexi 100 Superlead was modded like a 2203 w 6550's, higher filtering and some tweaks. It is the best sounding amp I've had. I recently put it back to stock, but I may re mod it. I listened to some recordings i did of it...man did it sound good!

 

[MrDan666]

Yep Ive had these Marshall's forever.

My '69 Metalface 100 is modded like a 2203 w 6550's and some tweaks here and there.

I bought back a 68 Super trem plexi 100 a few months ago. It is mostly stock except for a ppiv mv and removed trem circuit. I need to take out that mv at some point. It has higher filtering now.

The last one I have is a '69 Plexi 100 Superlead was modded like a 2203 w 6550's, higher filtering and some tweaks. It is the best sounding amp I've had. I recently put it back to stock, but I may re mod it. I listened to some recordings i did of it...man did it sound good!

Nice!!! So i take it you're more of a 6550 guy with Marshalls then? Im mainly enjoying EL34's most, but to be honest i never spent long enough with 6550's to decide if they were for me or not. Boy were they loud in my 1980 JMP 2203

 

[Greazygeo]

Yep Ive had these Marshall's forever.

My '69 Metalface 100 is modded like a 2203 w 6550's and some tweaks here and there.

I bought back a 68 Super trem plexi 100 a few months ago. It is mostly stock except for a ppiv mv and removed trem circuit. I need to take out that mv at some point. It has higher filtering now.

The last one I have is a '69 Plexi 100 Superlead was modded like a 2203 w 6550's, higher filtering and some tweaks. It is the best sounding amp I've had. I recently put it back to stock, but I may re mod it. I listened to some recordings i did of it...man did it sound good!

Nice!!! So i take it you're more of a 6550 guy with Marshalls then? Im mainly enjoying EL34's most, but to be honest i never spent long enough with 6550's to decide if they were for me or not. Boy were they loud in my 1980 JMP 2203

Yes, I prefer 6550's / KT88's over EL34's in MV amps. NMV amps I think EL34's work better. With MV higher gain Marshalls 6550's make the low end more solid along with better chord definition.

The only high gain amp with EL34's I have found that works for me so far is the Wizard stuff. But if i could find some nice 6CA7's

 

[rsm]

Not sure if he has what you need to get the original tubes, but I purchased some tubes awhile back from Doug's Tubes, great service; he took the time to discuss various options with me too. http://www.dougstubes.com/ Worth a look.

I've been keeping an eye out for some 6CA7's...hoping to not have to pay $500.00 for a quad of tubes. I know it would sound killer with those.

EH 6CA7 matched quad set, US $72. Scroll to the bottom of this page: http://www.dougstubes.com/el34.htm

"This tube was designed to the same specs as the Sylvania large bottle 6CA7 with lots of detail and nice bottom end"

 

[MrDan666]

Yes, I prefer 6550's / KT88's over EL34's in MV amps. NMV amps I think EL34's work better. With MV higher gain Marshalls 6550's make the low end more solid along with better chord definition.

The only high gain amp with EL34's I have found that works for me so far is the Wizard stuff. But if i could find some nice 6CA7's

I agree 100% about the 6550/KT88 having a more solid low end and better chord definition.. not to mention a shitload of extra headroom!!
For me, i just prefer the sag that you get from the EL34's when you push them past 4 or 5 on the MV. That said, every amp is different, and i will tube it with whatever suits its tone best.. be it KT88/6550/EL34/6CA7 etc!

The Wizard stuff sounds nice, id love to try one sometime. Im pretty much all set for Marshalls now, as im completely rebuilding/modifying my 1982 50w JCM800 and i also have a 1979 100w JMP being worked on too right now.

The thing i love so much about older Marshalls is how huge the midrange is.. it literally fills out any room with the massive sound.. Which is definitely something special, as many amps i have owned weren't capable of that! Gotta love these older Marshalls!!

 

[Greazygeo]

Yes, I prefer 6550's / KT88's over EL34's in MV amps. NMV amps I think EL34's work better. With MV higher gain Marshalls 6550's make the low end more solid along with better chord definition.

The only high gain amp with EL34's I have found that works for me so far is the Wizard stuff. But if i could find some nice 6CA7's

I agree 100% about the 6550/KT88 having a more solid low end and better chord definition.. not to mention a shitload of extra headroom!!
For me, i just prefer the sag that you get from the EL34's when you push them past 4 or 5 on the MV. That said, every amp is different, and i will tube it with whatever suits its tone best.. be it KT88/6550/EL34/6CA7 etc!

The Wizard stuff sounds nice, id love to try one sometime. Im pretty much all set for Marshalls now, as im completely rebuilding/modifying my 1982 50w JCM800 and i also have a 1979 100w JMP being worked on too right now.

The thing i love so much about older Marshalls is how huge the midrange is.. it literally fills out any room with the massive sound.. Which is definitely something special, as many amps i have owned weren't capable of that! Gotta love these older Marshalls!!

Every Marshall sure is different. I've had close to 30 (mostly 100 watt Superleads) and they were all different sounding. Out of all those I kept the two 69's until I bought the 68 Super Trem back. I had that amp in college and sold it to my roomate with the option to buy it back....the only other one I kinda wished I had back was a 72 50 watt that was my first Marshall head. It blew up all the time, but when it worked it sounded great.

I think you would dig the Wizard stuff....they are the ultimate Marshall.

 

[MARK1970]

wowsers, that's best looking, modern Marshall gutshot I've ever seen

+1, very nice