Spent sometime with my Marshall’s this Morning

[jcm800gridlock]

Used three of my Les Pauls and my new Telecaster.

Still working with the 800 to get more bottom-end out of the High Input.

There is plenty of bottom-end from the Low Input but not enough gain without a pedal.

I even experimented with an attenuator but really not much improvement over working with the Master Volume.

 

[FleshOnGear]

Have you tried an EQ in front of the amp? Or maybe a different speaker would do it? What setting are you using for the Preamp Volume?

 

[Troy T. Blues]

Beautiful amps! I certainly miss my old 4010. Have you tried using an EQ pedal?

 

[LargeBoxSmallBox]

Try putting a TC Electronic Spark Mini in front of the JCM 800, you might be really surprised at how much low end shows up...

 

[jcm800gridlock]

Have you tried an EQ in front of the amp? Or maybe a different speaker would do it? What setting are you using for the Preamp Volume?

Yes, I played with an EQ but I want to stay away from pedals with this amp. I do have a new speaker on order that may somewhat help.

Currently a G12-65 inside.

 

[FleshOnGear]

Yes, I played with an EQ but I want to stay away from pedals with this amp. I do have a new speaker on order that may somewhat help.

Currently a G12-65 inside.

I understand that. I have some amps that I want everything inside the amp to just be right, and others that I expect will need a kick.

What speaker did you order? The Eminence Swamp Thang came to mind, if we’re talking big low end.

You might be able to mod the amp to be a little more bassy, but I wouldn’t want to mod an old JCM800 if I could do it any other way. Someone here was trying to beef up the tone of his 2203. I think it might’ve been @Matthews Guitars, but I can’t remember for sure. I don’t know if he ever came up with a remedy.

 

[Gene Ballzz]

Open back, single 12 combos are often simply lacking tightness in the bottom end. There may be some bottom there, but it is usually kinda non-descript. I'll bet if you plug it inro a closed back 4x12 with greenbacks (or similar) that bottom end will magically and tightly appear!
Simply Thinkin'
Gene

 

[Jethro Rocker]

The bass drops significantly with gain below 10. I cut one leg of the bright cap.
Depending on one's style, sometimes we have no choice but to go to pedals with some amps and cabs.

Yes, I played with an EQ but I want to stay away from pedals with this amp. I do have a new speaker on order that may somewhat help.

Currently a G12-65 inside.

What speaker? The old 12 -65 is a nice fit for that amp.
I agree with above, a closed back 2x12 or more cab will do it.
Before I got the Lynch Mod, I used an OD pedal with a 2 or 3 band EQ on it. Way easier to tweak the tone.
Gain full on amp by the way.

Beautiful LP!!

 

[FleshOnGear]

The bass drops significantly with gain below 10. I cut one leg of the bright cap.

Right. That’s why I asked where he set his preamp volume control. That .001 cap lets a lot of highs through compared to bass when you have the gain down.

 

[jcm800gridlock]

I

I understand that. I have some amps that I want everything inside the amp to just be right, and others that I expect will need a kick.

What speaker did you order? The Eminence Swamp Thang came to mind, if we’re talking big low end.

You might be able to mod the amp to be a little more bassy, but I wouldn’t want to mod an old JCM800 if I could do it any other way. Someone here was trying to beef up the tone of his 2203. I think it might’ve been @Matthews Guitars, but I can’t remember for sure. I don’t know if he ever came up with a remedy.

I have a Scumback M75LD on order. I’ve always wanted to try those speakers since first hearing one about 8 years ago.

If the speaker doesn’t get me there, I’ll install the M75 in a 1x12 cab that I’m not using, and see if the second speaker helps.

It’s that, or have my tech work with the bright cap, or trade the amp for another 2x12 JMP Marshall combo.

Seems that I usually don’t get along well with 1x12 combos, due to lack of bass.

I really do want to make the little JCM800 work for me. It’s a great size, plenty of wattage for gigging or jamming with a drummer, and good overdrive without a pedal.

I did try the JCM800 today, in the low input with my J-Rockett Dude OD and it sounded great.

 

[jcm800gridlock]

Right. That’s why I asked where he set his preamp volume control. That .001 cap lets a lot of highs through compared to bass when you have the gain down.

Thanks. The bright cap mod is definitely something I’d try with this amp. I recall have that done with both a JCM800 4104 and with a 50 watt JMP combo that I’ve owned.

Maybe it’s my ears now, not hearing certain bass sounds.

 

[maico996]

I agree with trying a closed-back cabinet. My 4010 through 4x12s sounds awesome.

 

[scozz]

Have you tried an EQ in front of the amp? Or maybe a different speaker would do it? What setting are you using for the Preamp Volume?

I was also going to suggest an eq pedal, but I would definitely suggest he try it in the loop too.

I think it would be more effective in the loop, (after the preamp), for increasing just the bass frequencies.

In front, the pedal will increase the gain too.

 

[BluesForDan]

good to know because the JCM 800 4010 is one of my amps searches for a portable Marshall option with EL34s

 

[jcm800gridlock]

Right. That’s why I asked where he set his preamp volume control. That .001 cap lets a lot of highs through compared to bass when you have the gain down.

I usually run that gain between 4-7. The amp has plenty of gain there with Humbuckers. I have to experiment with gain at 10. In the high input with gain at 10 the amp would go to mush with my current settings.

 

[jcm800gridlock]

G

I was also going to suggest an eq pedal, but I would definitely suggest he try it in the loop too.

I think it would be more effective in the loop, (after the preamp), for increasing just the bass frequencies.

In front, the pedal will increase the gain too.

No loop in this amp, but I do have another attenuator with a loop.

 

[jcm800gridlock]

Try putting a TC Electronic Spark Mini in front of the JCM 800, you might be really surprised at how much low end shows up...

I’ll definitely Google this.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

I

I have a Scumback M75LD on order. I’ve always wanted to try those speakers since first hearing one about 8 years ago.

If the speaker doesn’t get me there, I’ll install the M75 in a 1x12 cab that I’m not using, and see if the second speaker helps.

It’s that, or have my tech work with the bright cap, or trade the amp for another 2x12 JMP Marshall combo.

Seems that I usually don’t get along well with 1x12 combos, due to lack of bass.

I really do want to make the little JCM800 work for me. It’s a great size, plenty of wattage for gigging or jamming with a drummer, and good overdrive without a pedal.

I did try the JCM800 today, in the low input with my J-Rockett Dude OD and it sounded great.

I usually run that gain between 4-7. The amp has plenty of gain there with Humbuckers. I have to experiment with gain at 10. In the high input with gain at 10 the amp would go to mush with my current settings.

They are loud, killer little amps. I would hate to see you ditch it. Those gain settings are fairly low gain depending on one's style. Open er up and just clip the cap on one leg. So easy to put back. Then it won't thin out when gain is on 4 or even 7.

Mush... I wonder if it is biased correctly? They should have that bright, ballsy 800 tone even with master on like 2. They can sound harsh and too bright but I wouldn't describe any settings on a 4010 as mush.

This is with mine gain full up and an OD with level high on OD but no gain set on OD. Doesn't sound mushy to me, still bright and cooking even with the OD, IMO.
I do play higher gain tho. Even if you pin gain and turn guitar down.

 

[marshallmellowed]

Used three of my Les Pauls and my new Telecaster.

Still working with the 800 to get more bottom-end out of the High Input.

There is plenty of bottom-end from the Low Input but not enough gain without a pedal.

I even experimented with an attenuator but really not much improvement over working with the Master Volume.

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If you're playing through the amps elevated, as they are in the photos, that will kill a lot of low end. As with subs, there's a lot of bass coupling through the floor.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

If you're playing through the amps elevated, as they are in the photos, that will kill a lot of low end. As with subs, there's a lot of bass coupling through the floor.

Yes!! Very good point.