Marshall Mini Jubilee 20 Watt head

[guitarobert]

Lacking a bias control kept me away from this amp when GAS set in. From reading comments, it seemed people either loved the amp or hated it. The fixed bias seemed to be a factor. It might be a crapshoot regarding what tone you get depending on the tubes used. I wouldn’t want to go tube rolling just because the bias can’t be adjusted.

 

[MistaGuitah]

Lacking a bias control kept me away from this amp when GAS set in. From reading comments, it seemed people either loved the amp or hated it. The fixed bias seemed to be a factor. It might be a crapshoot regarding what tone you get depending on the tubes used. I wouldn’t want to go tube rolling just because the bias can’t be adjusted.

Wait, are you sure it's fixed bias? Isn't it cathode biased? Cathode biased allows you to swap tubes without re-biasing, and I think you can use various tube substitutions like KT77 and 6CA7 without any problem. That would actually be an advantage of the 2525.

 

[Racerxrated]

Lacking a bias control kept me away from this amp when GAS set in. From reading comments, it seemed people either loved the amp or hated it. The fixed bias seemed to be a factor. It might be a crapshoot regarding what tone you get depending on the tubes used. I wouldn’t want to go tube rolling just because the bias can’t be adjusted.

Wait, are you sure it's fixed bias? Isn't it cathode biased? Cathode biased allows you to swap tubes without re-biasing, and I think you can use various tube substitutions like KT77 and 6CA7 without any problem. That would actually be an advantage of the 2525.

The 2555x does allow you to swap ANY octal tube pair in it, but it has test pts and a bias screw, which is a great feature. Not sure about the smaller versions. I've had 7 original Jubes and while I think the original iron makes the vintage versions best, they did a great job with the reissues. Throw a boost pedal in front and they are fire breathers.

 

[napalmdeath]

Yeah, you can swap tubes, but cathode biased. You'd need to find the right grade of tube to run efficiently. The one I had was well under 70% dissipation, to get out of crossover distortion. Could have been a fluke, but the set of tubes were way too cold!

Cathode bias is well-known to contribute to a spongier, looser feel, and more sag. However, this typically produces more dynamics & sustain. Cathode vs. Fixed adjustable, as with the 2555X, explains the difference in feel, for me, between the two.

I just looked back at notes I had for the 2525H, when I went through it. Plate voltage was 258, bias was at 56mA. So, it was above 50% dissipation, BUT, for a 25 watt tube, it should have been closer to 66mA, (68mA would be 70%, I normally drop a couple mA from 70%). I'm guessing that would have warmed it up a bit, and a warmer rated pair of tubes would have done the trick, I assume.

I wanted to like it. It really had potential, but I hate fighting with an amp. I'm no engineer, and maybe the crossover distortion and 70% dissipation rule doesn't apply here with cathode bias, who knows. But, I'm guessing either, A. They didn't test or grade their tubes, or B. They purposely used a cold grade to extend tube life, which, I believe, holds the amp back from it's potential?

 

[Speeddemon]

The Mark 25 is good, but I don't see how anyone would like it better than the Mark V. As far as "shitting" on the other amps, well I don't think going that far is helpful to people with serious inquiries. It's also a whole different animal with a very different kind of tube. When the Mark V came out, it was king for a long time. Then the Mark V25 came out and everyone ran to it. Then the JP2C came out, the crowd clamors, and proclaims it better than the Mark V. I do not agree since I never follow the crowd. I think when the dust settles, the Mark V is still king. Perhaps a significant part of the appeal of the JP2C is that it's a little simpler amp than the Mark V. How I got sucked into that discussion, I'm not sure, but on the topic of the 2525, I think it's just a matter of taste and not fair to proclaim that it's inferior to whatever other Marshall. The thing about Marshalls is that people seem to approach every Marshall with similar expectations, but the Silver Jubilee is a different beast.

Well, 2 things... the OP is looking for something small... so why even bring up the fullsize Mark V or JP2C?
Secondly, I've heard many people claim who've played both the Mark V:25 and the Mark V, that they liked the V:25's Crunch mode a tad better.

Talking about fair; a comparison between a 90W 6L6 amp and a 25W EL84 amp ain't that fair either, huh?

As someone who gigs with an EVH 50W and has the V:25 at home, the V:25 is the most complete, lunchbox amp with the best cleans in town. Fact.
Whether it's gigworthy, is up to you.
Personally I'd miss the beef that big iron+big glass brings live, and a footswitchable fx-loop. Ideally even a 3rd channel (Clean/Crunch/Xtreme...40ish watts, 2xEL34 )

Oh, and Segeborn's 2525 video definitely brings it!

 

[napalmdeath]

Well, 2 things... the OP is looking for something small... so why even bring up the fullsize Mark V or JP2C?
Secondly, I've heard many people claim who've played both the Mark V:25 and the Mark V, that they liked the V:25's Crunch mode a tad better.

Talking about fair; a comparison between a 90W 6L6 amp and a 25W EL84 amp ain't that fair either, huh?

As someone who gigs with an EVH 50W and has the V:25 at home, the V:25 is the most complete, lunchbox amp with the best cleans in town. Fact.
Whether it's gigworthy, is up to you.
Personally I'd miss the beef that big iron+big glass brings live, and a footswitchable fx-loop. Ideally even a 3rd channel (Clean/Crunch/Xtreme...40ish watts, 2xEL34 )

Oh, and Segeborn's 2525 video definitely brings it!

SavageDrifter...errr...MistahGuitah, is in denial. He started coming unhinged when I simply stated "the 2525H is inferior, tonally, than the 2555x". Which was an opinion.. Well, he's interested in the 2525H, and don't you EVER, imply that he's wrong, or question him, under ANY circumstances. He further didn't like my comment of the Mark V 25 "shitting" on ANYTHING. Especially, the 2525H, that he's been coveting. Yet, insists that I'M "reactionary, & irrational"..

I too, loved the Mark V 25. I reccommend it every chance I get, when somebody's after a 25 watt head. Aside from the cleans, ALL 3 modes on the OD's are simply fantastic. Aggressive, focused, and very musical. Nails Metallica Kill 'Em All, to Lamb Of God. Boosting it is absolutely INSANE sounding - I used an MXR GT-OD.