Which modded Marshall?

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Yeah a go for a King Kong with a molecular channel 2 and a plexi channel 1 OR you could get a Fender type circuit for channel 1 if you want something cleaner.

All in you are looking at about 1500 -1700 and if you don't like it, it will move pretty easily. I had a molecular and it can do thrash tones quite well along with the standard rock stuff. To me it just seemed like what I would want from a JCM800.

I had a leviathan at one point that is a very cool amp. It's just got a bit too much of that friedman DNA that I don't like(really perfect polished sound). I like a bit more rawness to my amps.
 
Ground Zero MOAB, IMHO nothing out there has all the options you get from this mod and still retain that Marshall DNA. Find yourself a good donor Marshall to send to Jeremy.
 
DistortED said:
Ground Zero MOAB, IMHO nothing out there has all the options you get from this mod and still retain that Marshall DNA. Find yourself a good donor Marshall to send to Jeremy.
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How about straight clone, like ceriatone?
 
glpg80 said:
Newer Splawn quickrods have been upped gain wise and have different iron in them than older ones. They are all not the same. Stay away from the 2006-2009 era - the era of weird mids.
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Just want to clarify, the "era of weird mids" is 2007-2012 for QR's. Splawns mid-2012 and after have the "modern" circuit version, just without the newer switching features. Splawn from 2005-2006 have only 3 preamp tubes, crappy clean channels, but AMAZING drive channels - no weird mids there, and there's a reason why the newest Splawns have a switch on them that specifically goes back to the "06" voicing. For the sake of completeness, there was also a version of the QR without gears, and a high/low input like a 2203, from the years 2004-2005 (which I haven't been able to get my hands on... yet).

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To the OP, I would not recommend Splawn for what you are describing. I love my Splawns, a lot, but I really don't think they do an authentic 70's rock sound because they just don't have a certain.. idk. Grit? Rawness? To them. Those sounds you describe are from amps that quite frankly also had a lot of drawbacks, flubby bass, etc... that's why people were modding them and all sorts of stuff - it was a time of experimentation and progress as far as guitar tones are concerned.

On the other hand, I think a Ceriatone King Kong is right up your alley. I have a stock one - no special channel requests etc - and Channel 1 does a very good impression of a late plexi panel super lead, except you are stuck on the high treble channel all the time (no jumpering). Channel 2 with its two gain controls, bright switches, and switchable clipping diodes... it's hard not to give it a glowing review. It'll do a lot of sounds from that era anywhere super lead based, modded or unmodded.

The compromise is that it is a cascading gain stage setup, same as a JMP 2203 or 2204, but it's not going to have that unique growl that a real 2203 has because it's not voiced quite the same way. It's voiced more like a 1987/1959 which is a hair smoother in the mids, but still plenty bright. Add in the various switches and it can get into modern detuned heavy metal if you really want. It's just extremely versatile, but you might spend a lot of time standing in front of it flicking switches - not something you can really do live if you use it for gigging because the Era switch (diodes) has a MASSIVE affect on the volume of the amp. No diodes will blow your ears out, switching in the diodes cuts the volume substantially... would drive the sound guy nuts. So pick the sound you like before you leave home haha, and add a pedal.

As others have said, you can customize the channels somewhat, or make special requests - or if you're handy, they are extremely easy to mod yourself too since it's all PTP wiring. Just don't electrocute yourself please
 
TotallyRadGuitars said:
Just want to clarify, the "era of weird mids" is 2007-2012 for QR's. Splawns mid-2012 and after have the "modern" circuit version, just without the newer switching features. Splawn from 2005-2006 have only 3 preamp tubes, crappy clean channels, but AMAZING drive channels - no weird mids there, and there's a reason why the newest Splawns have a switch on them that specifically goes back to the "06" voicing. For the sake of completeness, there was also a version of the QR without gears, and a high/low input like a 2203, from the years 2004-2005 (which I haven't been able to get my hands on... yet).

---

To the OP, I would not recommend Splawn for what you are describing. I love my Splawns, a lot, but I really don't think they do an authentic 70's rock sound because they just don't have a certain.. idk. Grit? Rawness? To them. Those sounds you describe are from amps that quite frankly also had a lot of drawbacks, flubby bass, etc... that's why people were modding them and all sorts of stuff - it was a time of experimentation and progress as far as guitar tones are concerned.

On the other hand, I think a Ceriatone King Kong is right up your alley. I have a stock one - no special channel requests etc - and Channel 1 does a very good impression of a late plexi panel super lead, except you are stuck on the high treble channel all the time (no jumpering). Channel 2 with its two gain controls, bright switches, and switchable clipping diodes... it's hard not to give it a glowing review. It'll do a lot of sounds from that era anywhere super lead based, modded or unmodded.

The compromise is that it is a cascading gain stage setup, same as a JMP 2203 or 2204, but it's not going to have that unique growl that a real 2203 has because it's not voiced quite the same way. It's voiced more like a 1987/1959 which is a hair smoother in the mids, but still plenty bright. Add in the various switches and it can get into modern detuned heavy metal if you really want. It's just extremely versatile, but you might spend a lot of time standing in front of it flicking switches - not something you can really do live if you use it for gigging because the Era switch (diodes) has a MASSIVE affect on the volume of the amp. No diodes will blow your ears out, switching in the diodes cuts the volume substantially... would drive the sound guy nuts. So pick the sound you like before you leave home haha, and add a pedal.

As others have said, you can customize the channels somewhat, or make special requests - or if you're handy, they are
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Actually, I prefer 1987/59 to the 2204/03.

I could probably customize if I have a good diagram/instructions.
 
glpg80 said:
Newer Splawn quickrods have been upped gain wise and have different iron in them than older ones. They are all not the same. Stay away from the 2006-2009 era - the era of weird mids.

If you hate stiff there’s no replacement for Cameron mods. Just so easy to play and no boost required. Fucking love my aldrich and I’d go down with the ship before I sell that thing.
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Cameron/Aldrich sounds like what I might be looking for as well
 
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What about something like a Bray or Hopkins? I definitely like what I've heard from Bray so far.
 
UsrName said:
So I've had several nmv and mv Marshalls with pedals in front but I'm missing the versatility. ATM I have an untouched 78 2203 but don't think I want to mod it and ruin the value.

My favorite tones are 70s nmv Marshalls as heard on 70s/80s rock and thrash metal - Rush Zep ACDC Aerosmith UFO Scorps, Priest, Maiden Metallica Exodus AIC, etc.

I've been looking at friedman bogner etc but also thinking of getting some sort of modded Marshall like ceriatone Hopkins etc, but there's many mods and builders out there class different flavors etc. And some more available than others.

I'm looking for that classic Marshall tone with the FOOTSWITCHABLE option to have the stock rock tone, high gain metal tone and a clean plexi tone with good eq shaping options and a good master volume?

Who has the best build out at a decent price that will do what I want?
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Ceriatone
 
UsrName said:
So I've had several nmv and mv Marshalls with pedals in front but I'm missing the versatility. ATM I have an untouched 78 2203 but don't think I want to mod it and ruin the value.

My favorite tones are 70s nmv Marshalls as heard on 70s/80s rock and thrash metal - Rush Zep ACDC Aerosmith UFO Scorps, Priest, Maiden Metallica Exodus AIC, etc.

I've been looking at friedman bogner etc but also thinking of getting some sort of modded Marshall like ceriatone Hopkins etc, but there's many mods and builders out there class different flavors etc. And some more available than others.

I'm looking for that classic Marshall tone with the FOOTSWITCHABLE option to have the stock rock tone, high gain metal tone and a clean plexi tone with good eq shaping options and a good master volume?

Who has the best build out at a decent price that will do what I want?
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Footswitchable, clean-rock-metal?

Get a stock 70s NMV. Grab a good distortion pedal(BE OD, Joyo Uzi), then a good boost pedal (OD1X, SD1 or thousands of others lol). Set your plexi to your clean tone, loud enough for you. Your pedals are -Guitar to OD pedal, to Distortion pedal, to amp. Hit the OD and set the gain where you want. Next, hit the distortion pedal and now you have your metal tone....and....the vol on the Distortion pedal acts as a Master vol for the amp. Balance that properly so all vol are similar enough. Done.

This is how I run my 72 Superlead. It stays stock, and yet it acts as a 3 channel amp. You just have to balance the three options as best you can, by manipulating the OD gain/level, and Distortion pedal vol. Works great, and no cutting into a stock Marshall.

As far as builders go, there are some options such as Jason at Headfirst, Jeremy at Ground Zero, maybe Shea at Monomyth for a 3 channel amp like you describe. Nick K out east does a mean Marshall mod to NMV Marshalls, I have one and it can be set to low gain then boosted for metal, and in low gain mode cleans up super well for a slightly dirty plexi clean.
But I find my stock 72 can turn into a 3 channel amp by using 2 pedals, the way I describe above.
 
Racerxrated said:
Footswitchable, clean-rock-metal?

Get a stock 70s NMV. Grab a good distortion pedal(BE OD, Joyo Uzi), then a good boost pedal (OD1X, SD1 or thousands of others lol). Set your plexi to your clean tone, loud enough for you. Your pedals are -Guitar to OD pedal, to Distortion pedal, to amp. Hit the OD and set the gain where you want. Next, hit the distortion pedal and now you have your metal tone....and....the vol on the Distortion pedal acts as a Master vol for the amp. Balance that properly so all vol are similar enough. Done.

This is how I run my 72 Superlead. It stays stock, and yet it acts as a 3 channel amp. You just have to balance the three options as best you can, by manipulating the OD gain/level, and Distortion pedal vol. Works great, and no cutting into a stock Marshall.

As far as builders go, there are some options such as Jason at Headfirst, Jeremy at Ground Zero, maybe Shea at Monomyth for a 3 channel amp like you describe. Nick K out east does a mean Marshall mod to NMV Marshalls, I have one and it can be set to low gain then boosted for metal, and in low gain mode cleans up super well for a slightly dirty plexi clean.
But I find my stock 72 can turn into a 3 channel amp by using 2 pedals, the way I describe above.
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I hear ya. This was originally my plan. But I'm intrigued by these modded/clones and have never owned one so I figured I'd explore them.
 
So will all if these options sound more Marshally than say a BE100?
 
UsrName said:
So will all if these options sound more Marshally than say a BE100?
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If you are comparing a BE to a Marshall with pedals, then yes....simply because you start with a real Marshall. The BE is close to a Marshall but tends to have a smooth, polished type tone vs being more raw/open like a 70s Marshall. But, it's been a while since I had a BE 100 so maybe the newer versions can be dialed in more raw. The BE Deluxe seems to have that rawness though. If I were buying a Friedman, I'd definitely go for the Deluxe since it does have that ability to get raw and nasty like a good 70s boosted Marshall.
 
Racerxrated said:
If you are comparing a BE to a Marshall with pedals, then yes....simply because you start with a real Marshall. The BE is close to a Marshall but tends to have a smooth, polished type tone vs being more raw/open like a 70s Marshall. But, it's been a while since I had a BE 100 so maybe the newer versions can be dialed in more raw. The BE Deluxe seems to have that rawness though. If I were buying a Friedman, I'd definitely go for the Deluxe since it does have that ability to get raw and nasty like a good 70s boosted Marshall.
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I meant the Friedman as well as the other clone options mentioned.
 
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UsrName said:
I meant the Friedman as well as the other clone options mentioned.
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I think that, the BE Deluxe, Alta, Ground Zero, and Monomyth will all give you a good to great Marshall type tone with lots of flexibility. For the details between each in comparison, I've only owned a Mono modded Marshall but it was a single channel amp. You'd have to dig here for some reviews on each. My 2 cents though; I still feel a good 70s Marshall and pedals is the best choice. The simpler the circuit, the better the tone IMO.
 
I definitely would not pickup a monomyth to get some sweet 70s rock tones. At least the skeleton key is a modern fire breather.

Somebody mentioned MGL up-thread and maybe a 2-channel 50 watt HG circuit on the used market with a boost would do it. Hell even the non-HG with a boost would. And they can def be had used for under 2k if you can find one.
 
Racerxrated said:
The simpler the circuit, the better the tone IMO.
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That's my impression as well. Of course pedals can add a lot of circuitry to the signal path. But what type of mod would you suggest for adding gain to the 2203 while retaining the essential sound?
 
Honestly, a pedal first....pedals today are really really good, and some sound just as good or even better than a mod in my opinion. It depends on what you are going for, really..like identify a player's sound you like, then ask that question and guys here will give you suggestions. For me, a stock 2203 and a Boss SD1 is a tried and true sound, I like the newer Boss OD1X better yet since it doesn't rob low end and is super quiet.

If you try a few boost pedals and you still would rather mod it, then I'd reach out to the others we've mentioned here, and they can answer your questions more specifically. There's a Jose mod, which involves diode clipping built into the amp, or an Aldrich type mod that is all tube gain. But there are other designs that also sound great.
But I'd personally try a few pedals first, and if you'd rather try modding after then reach out to one of those modders we've mentioned.
 
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