Marshall JMD:1 vs Blackstar ID

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singtall

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before anyone flames me for even mentioning these heads on this forum, i just wanted to add that some of us older 80's shredders no longer gig or can afford massive (or expensive) rigs because of family obligations...but we still want to shred when we get a chance. this topic is for us "old" guys.

i was looking into both of these heads...because they are the evolution of everything i wanted since the 80's. i only need 4 good channels with some moderate effects, and both of these heads fit the bill.

the Marshall uses EL34 tubes for power, which is great to crank up and compress for that natural marshall tone. the downside is that you only get one power tube tone, albeit a good classic tone.

the Blackstar uses all emulated solid state stuff...no tubes. they claim they can emulate several different tubes, which is great for tweakers....if it actually sounds accurate.

but both are made in China...so that might end the tube vs solid state longevity argument. nothing against Chinese people. they gotta make a living too...but they will assemble any bad design that a company pays for to make a buck, then the company blames China when the design flaw causes failures. but that's for another rant.

pricewise: the Marshall will end up being a little more expensive. but resale value may make it a better choice if you ever want to sell it.

both are new technologies and the first consumers to buy them will be the ones that can tell if they hold up under use. i played one of the first Bugera 333XL's and really liked the tone, but luckily i waited a little while and found the first batch to have issues....good thing i didn't get stuck with one of those heads.

in the end...laziness usually controls my gear purchases. i have some great sounding gear now, but i almost dread when someone calls for me to jam. the time it takes me to load it all up, hook it up, make adjustments and remember how to tap dance my midi pedal just makes me not want to play. just three days ago these words came outta my mouth..."I think i'm gonna quit playing guitar and just sell everything". three people jumped me (verbally) and made me rethink myself. after some thought, i decided that it just isn't as "fun" anymore. when i want to play, i have to turn on a bunch of gear and play with headphones...while my wife keeps bothering me the whole time. just no way to be inspired. i barely get the rust off before the nagging starts. maybe if i could just go next door to the jam room and turn on one piece of gear and jam on one of 4 awesome presets? and yes, i have considered that if i had a good $3000 head i might be happy and play more...but i just can't justify that cash when i have four kids.

anyways, someone else share their thoughts on these or other head with effects options.
 
Derail of sorts, but it may justify your thoughts on buying a quick fix...

Once upon a time, there was a guy (me of freaking course) that had a massive rig that shook the whole apartment complex. This caused massive trauma from wife, neighbor, apartment manager and at one point, police nagging. So, this guy took a one hundred dollar bill and bought a Line 6 Spider IV 15watt combo... Then, he proceeded to write an album or two of material, be inspired in ways his massive rig had not inspired him and grow as a musician, neighbor and husband.

Moral of the storal, cheap gear isn't "bad". Not at all, go play it, if it makes you play, write and enjoy playing. F' a bunch of the gear whoring and the opinions of those who diss said gear.

Oh and on the note of chinese, I will not buy "Tube" powered Chinese stuff. The sensitive nature of those electronics (or my paranoia) leads me to avoid that stuff. If it's all chip-set/digital stuff, those tiny handed bastards can nail it. Just do research on the QC and longevity of the products in question and be a smart buyer and all should be fine.

My .02 :rock:
 
Singtall,

You had that killer rig with the GSP1101 and the ss poweramp. Your you tube videos convinced me to buy the 1101. Why don't you go back to that, I have seen the 1101 for $300 used now, get a 4 space rack and a 1x12 or 2x12 and you are set.
 
i have an eleven rack which sounds and feels better than the gsp1101 did, also have a tube preamp, and a blackstar head, but the issue becomes convenience and laziness.

i get much less playing done when i have too many options to play with. in the end, i always end up with just 3-4 basic tones/presets. i can get the tones out of many preamps...but i have to haul the rack, cabinet and midi pedal around.

bottom line: i just want to turn it on and jam with minimal fuss and setup. i have more fun with my 5 watt blackstar head than the preamps, because i just turn it on and it sounds good. the two heads in question could eliminate any pedals or effects units, which would make my life easier.
 
IMHO the price of convenience and laziness is paid in tone. I am not saying the 2 amps in question don't sound ok, I have a friend with a Blackstar 5 watt combo and it does sound surprisingly good. Only you can decide how much of a degraded tone you can accept in the name of laziness. :lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL:

Based on how good you play and how good you can get a rig to sound, I'd keep the 11 since you got it dialed in and use it at home and get a used tube combo amp with effects loop and run the 11 into it when you go jam.

Once you play through/own a great sounding rig you will not be satisfied with less.

So just get over it, buy a full stack, 48 space rack and let'er rip! :rock: :rock: :rock: :lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL:
 
So...has anyone gone any further with this? Singtall...I could've - almost word for word - written your post. I, too, have an Eleven Rack and even my "dream" amp (Mesa Mark V), however, the JMD has really piqued my interest the past several days. With my Eleven Rack rig and the JCM and Ecstasy presets, I'm able to get almost the exact sounds I typically play, however, it would be great to get it by just plugging into one amp, which is also somewhat portable. Although the Mark V is simply a tremendous amp, in it's own right, I am struggling to get "the turn down the guitar volume to clean up the tone" sound which my Eleven Rack presets nail. You even get it with the GSP1101 in your YouTube vid (first time you plug in).

On top of all this is my biggest mental stumbling block: I've waited almost thirty years of playing to finally own a Mesa Boogie amp. I feel I have a great amp in it, however, just that one tone capability is missing and I really want that. Before wasting time talking about guitars, PUPS and all the other things which contribute to this capability, keep in mind that I can nail this with the Eleven Rack, through a Carvin SS poweramp, with the same 2x12 cab. I did have this rig in a portable format, but have since integrated it into my home studio and (for the most part) would kinda like to keep it that way.

All the above blathering aside, I'm simply curious if anyone here has really gotten their hands on a JMD, yet. FWIW: Doug Aldridge could plug his guitar into a month old turd and make the dog want to take it back. I'm 100% certain of that. He's incredible. :rock:
 
Greetings guys - been a lurker on here for a while - decided to chime in since I do have something to add to this topic. Now, I've always been a tube guy and although I'm not afraid to dip my toes into the digital/modeling realm (I own an Axe-Fx Ultra), I usually find the classic config of a Les Paul or super strat of some kind through various pedals and into a good tube amp the best solution for most live situations. But, as stated by others, this isn't always practical at home - so modeling amps/effects are great for this. But I agree that sometimes the time it takes to sit and program/tweak to get a good tone on some of these things can get frustrating. Sometimes I like to sit and noodle with getting tones - other times I want instant gratification by plugging right in and getting the sound I want. Being more of a Marshall guy - I own a DSL 100 and a Vintage Modern 50 watt - when they put out the JMD:1, I was interested to see if they could do a better job of modeling their own amps than other devices. When they dropped the price from $999 down to $599, I figured "What the hell", and pulled the trigger. I wanted something to use for band practice/rehersal that I could leave there and still have access to all the basics in terms of tone and effects so I don't have to drag my "good" stuff back and forth. Maybe it would even work well for small gigs where I don't need or don't want to load in my fill rig. Now, I've only had the amp for about a month and haven't spend a ton of time with it yet, I've dialed in a few tones I like and think I'm going to keep it.

Impressions:
The layout and features are laid out well and it's very simple to program and use. No menus of any kind - just dial in your tone and save it as a preset. Stupid-simple. Has all the other great features like MIDI, switchable loop, emulated output (balanced too), etc. Definitely has all the things most guys would want in a head.

Tones:
Of course this is always subjective. While it's not perfectly accurate (what modeler is?), it sounds very much like the models it's emulating. If you don't like Marshall tones - look elsewhere. There are some that sound really good - others not so much - but it comes down more to taste and not really as much of they don't sound like the intended amp. I'm not a fan of the Marshall Mode 4 - and I don't really like that setting on the JMD:1 - not surprising. I also really question the amps Marshall chose to model here. Why they chose to model channels of their JMP-1 preamp - a preamp what was supposed to emulate pre's of some other Marshall amps - is beyond me. A digital model of an analog model of another amp??? Seems kinda dumb, but not that they necessarily sound bad - just think they could have included some other classic amps and did some more Plexi models. And the Haze 40?? Really?? Not a bad little amp, but I don't see many guys running out to setup their modelers to get the 'Haze 40' tone - maybe I'm living under a rock??? Having said that, there are some that sound really good and are very useable. The Guv'nor pedal sounds really good - and it may not be that accurate in modeling that pedal - it's a really good starting point for getting good tones with this amp. The JCM 800 is good as well. I've tried running some overdrives and distortions in front and I think this might be the weak spot for this amp. I think it may be because of the digital front-end preamp that this amp struggles with pedals out front. Seems to sterilize the pedal's tone in a way I'm not fond of. Some pedals are better than others and again I haven't spent a ton of time experimenting yet, but again I wanted something that had everything I wanted "in the box" so I don't need pedals. Having the full EL34 power amp section is what gives this amp a much more realistic feel than other modelers and it really does feel authentic. I A/B'd the JMD:1 on the DSL setting with my actual DSL and aside from slight tonal differences, I didn't notice any difference in "feel". It feels and reacts the same - a very good thing. You don't have to crank this amp to get a good tone either, but if you do, it opens up just like other amps and adds to the fun.

Effects:
I REALLY like the reverb - one of the best digital verbs on an amp I've come across. Blows the verb on my Vintage/Modern out of the water. Has a nice shimmer, but not overpowering and can be dialed in to taste very easily. The delay is acceptable - not going to blow anyone away, but does it's thing. It has a tendancy to get lost a little bit on certain pre-amp settings. But again - I'm looking through my "ultilitarian" specks with this amp and it's good enough for my purposes. The Modulation effects are decent - I don't normally use those kind of effects very much - aside from a little chorus on some clean stuff or the occasional phaser to spice up a lead - so others may have a more stark opinion on those.

So, all-in-all - for the money I paid for this amp - I feel it's good at what it does. If you are looking for something that can give you a "Swiss Army Knife" tool you can tweak with simple knobs and are not looking for the "Holy Grail" in amp tones - I would definitely recommend picking one up.
 
thanks for the review IceMan. it's sounds like we are both on the same page tonally. i too questioned the haze40 model amongst other thinks you mentioned.

my plan is to use the amp pretty much like you stated; it's not the Holy Grail, but a tool to jam and be inspired. when i want the Holy Grail tone, i will rent an amp in the studio.....until then, i'll save my money.

i'm leaning towards the Marshall 50 watt JMD head so far....though the Blackstar does sound decent. for some reason though....i keep thinking the Blackstar tone on video is a little sterile. maybe my ears need cleaning.

another question: is there a speaker that sounds "best" with the Marshall or Blackstar head? i have celestion g12t-75's, seventy 80's, and Carvin's version of a V30. i need to thin the herd, so i thought i'd ask what sounds best.
 
Of course YMMV, but I initially ran it through my 1960A cab with GT-75's and was kind of disappointed. I think the general 'scooped' character of the 75's made it hard for the amp models I like to come through the way I like them. I then tried a pair of Greenbacks from one side of another cab and that was better. Much richer. Then I tried V30's and I was liking it MUCH more. Mids were more "there" and were smoother. So, the more classic gain settings on the JMD:1 (JCM800 and Guv'nor) like the vintage 30's - but the 75's might work better with the more "metal" sounds of the Mode Four settings and such. I've been going back and forth between the V30's and Greenbacks for different tones. If one were to run this amp with a switcher and several cabs - you could really have versitile sounding rig.
 
IceMan...thanks a million for your experienced input! That's exactly what I was looking for. I'm very much considering getting the JMD102 (as opposed to the head) and will definitely provide a response if/when I do. Thanks again.
 
I have a jmd:1 and I love it. Other current rig is an axe fx ii. The jmd:1 excels at live use believe it or not. It really was designed with the power amp in mind so u need to get it cooking. That may disqualify it for home use, but it's pretty good at home too. Also it loves pedals. If you do buy the 50 watt, one tip to get more volume is to toggle the fx loop on all the time and leave the mix knob around 11 o'clock. This boosts the headroom.
 
i waited a few days to think about it some more.....then i took a vacation and cleared the gear thoughts from my mind. finally, i got some peace about it and ordered the Marshall JMD50 head from AMS for $539.10 shipped after using code WL711 for first time buyers (saved 10% off the normal discounted price of $599).

i waited months for Blackstar to release their head, and i wonder if that will ever happen....with all of the bad comments i see people making after watching the videos. i even hear that Marshall may drop the modelling amp line i just bought after they realized that people aren't going to spend big bucks on it. the heads started at $1200 and now you can get them for half price....what does that say? many dealers are showing discontinued item and there is much talk on forums about the line being dropped. the advice i got from owners of the amp is "get one while you can"....so i did.
 
ok, so i got the head in and hooked it up to a 2-12" cabinet loaded with celestion seventy 80's. the speakers are fairly neutral to my ears, but i will try 3 other speakers to find the best tone.

first impression? i didn't like it. lol. but then again i don't like anything out of the box without some tweaking. after 10-15 minutes of getting used to the controls, i started getting some good tones.

for ac/dc style crunch; the jcm800 model satisfies the ears easily.

for over the top liquid gain; the JVM modern model is quite good.

there are several good sounding models and none that i would consider terrible, although with these particular speakers the mode four model was a bit scooped and abrasive sounding...but still usable for industrial metal.

the one amp model i questioned before getting this head is the Haze40. but surprising, that little amp model sounds nice and offers something a little different from the "standard" Marshall tone.

i will try some different speakers and report back later.
 
i just finished playing around with the marshall jmd:1 headphone sounds and i think the eleven rack sounds better direct. it's not bad mind you, but not as good as a properly tuned in eleven rack preset. i think most amp manufacturers use the same little circuit to emulate an amp out. it might be okay in a mix, but tends to be 2 dimensional to my ears. but no fizzy sounds at least.

while using headphones i made four presets ranging from crystal clean to molten metal. yep, this amp is a keeper. so many different sounds available that i like.

my four go-to presets:
1) super clean dream theater images and words cd tone. has chorus, reverb and delay.
2) jcm800 crunch. pretty much covers the 70's and early 80's.
3) thicker crunch. handles the late 80's to late mid 2000's. same preset as lead, but gain halfway.
4) super high gain lead tone. reverb, and delay added.

it's raining here and my raw speakers are next door, so i haven't changed out my cabinet speakers yet. stay tuned for more....
 
more thoughts on the amp;

effects:

the reverb is decent, especially compared to other amps built in reverb. the guitar stays up front in the mix even when using a ton of reverb, so they must have setup the reverb with several milliseconds of predelay before it kicks in.

the delay has 4 settings, and each one has it's place....overall, pretty good. but same thing as the reverb....you can really crank the effects without fear of getting lost in effects.

the modulation effects are okay. the chorus sounds ok considering it's in mono, phaser is old VH'ish, flanger is okay....but the effects are more of an afterthought during the amp design. it's like they made the modelling section and decided there was enough processor left to make some effects. they are decent, but discrete pedals or a separate effects unit would be better if you are really into your effects. that being said, i could gig with this head tomorrow and be happy with the effects.

this amp is more meat and potatoes.....but offers a buffet of good tone.

the gate is really good, but you have to choose between it or the modulation effects. for me, it's not a problem because i only use modulation effects during times when i don't really need a gate...like clean presets, or full out cranked distortion....but never when i'm planning on playing with my guitar volume rolled back to a subtle clean tone.

my favorite clean amp model is the JCM2000...just glassy, beautiful clean sounds.
favorite crunch amp is the JCM800....covers a lot of ground.
favorite high gain amp is the JVM410H....thick like a Mesa, and plenty gain on tap.

any one of those amps cost more than $599, so i got a great deal on this head! i can't imagine buying all three heads to get the tone i now have.

i still haven't tried any dirt pedals with this amp yet either. normally, i would use a JCM800 or JCM2000 with a pedal like a Boss SD-1. i used to set the amp for a nice almost clean breakup, then push it hard with a pedal. the JCM2000 is especially good for that. i may pick up a pedal just to try it. oh, i forgot that i have a behringer tube distortion pedal that i picked up from a friend that needed the money...i will try that out.

i almost bought the combo amp instead so i could have a more compact rig, but a guy using multiple cabinets convinced me to keep my options option by using a separate cabinet.

more info to come as i play some more.
 
boy do speakers make a HUGE difference in tone! my first test today revealed that the headphone cabinet out sounds almost the same as my cabinet loaded with celestion seventy 80's. which is cool if i wanted my rig to sound the same through my cabinet or PA system going direct.

next up, the Carvin Vintage 30. it's supposed to be a smoother version of celestion V30's. compared to the seventy 80's, it sounded bigger...in every way. the lows were deeper, the mids more 3d, and the highs were serious! my clean sound was amazing, my crunch big and full with a little more upper end fizz, my lead tone was all fizz. so i worked the tone controls a little bit, and after killing all presence, lowering treble to about 10:00 and boosting mids wide open i got some really good numetal tone going. if i was only after the most hard core metal sound on the planet, this speaker would be perfect. but it lacked the 5.5-6khz rolloff that i'm used to. it's sounds like this speaker extends well past 8khz.

in the interest of science and tone, i'm going to try another speaker and report back shortly.
 
finally, i tried my old 1986 celestion g12t-75's. these speakers are WELL broken in and sound nothing like new stock versions. i compared these to my friends old 1972 Marshall cabinet with greenbacks and these sounds fairly close in the mids, but have a little more lows and highs. think of them as a beefier greenback.

this will be my final choice as these speakers just sound smoother and more classic. what can i say, i've been using these speakers for a long time and i've grown used to that tone. to me these are a better match for the voicing of the head. any time i can put all tone controls up the middle and have a decent tone, i have to conclude the speakers are a good match.

these speakers have a natural speaker breakup that works with the head to reward you with that crisp and chewy distortion that Marshall is famous for.

final conclusion: darker speakers work best with this head for classic rock. i heard a Marshall JCM800 in GC played through a Marshall cabinet loaded with V30's and i thought it sounded a little harsh and raspy for my taste. but everyone seems to be on the V30 bandwagon, so it all depends on what you want. had i stayed with the Carvin Vintage 30's and got a tube screamer, i would be in Djent heaven right now....but that is not what i play 90% of the time.

if i can find someone with a V30 loaded cabinet, i will try it and see what it sounds like...but for now i stay with the old g12t-75's.
 
Glad to see you're enjoying your JMD:1!! As I've said, if you spend and little time and experiment with the settings and different speakers, I don't know how someone couldn't find a sound they liked with this amp. Lots of options and killer price point. I'm convinced this will be one of those amps that didn't sell well and falls off everyone's radar - only to be rediscovered years down the road as an amp that was "before it's time" for Marshall.
 
Singtall,

I am glad the amp is working for you. If I never played out I would have 5-6 Bogner cubes, each loaded with a different speaker. the speaker/cab really is 50% of your tone.

It is interesting that you brought up your old well worn g12-t75's. I bought a beat up late 70's Marshall A cab with g12-t75's and that cab is my live cab of choice. There is just something cool about speakers/cabs that have been "around the block."
 
i heard that the old g12t-75's are more like a fat greenback and the new ones are more scooped sounding. that's truly the case with my speakers.
 
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