Re: Fender Hot Rod amp

On 5/9/2011 10:10 AM, Jim wrote:
On 5/8/2011 4:51 PM, TheChris wrote:
Jim<ask@first> wrote in
news:tY6dndt3Lp4xQlvQnZ2dnUVZ_u-dnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

On 5/8/2011 9:12 AM, TheChris wrote:
jh<user@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in news:iq5v3j$mgg$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx:

...to add up on Zinky, there's a second Fender designed by him
which is
a great "gain amp" - the Tonemaster. Capable to put a 2203/2204
into the
second line.

regards

Jochen

I had both a 2203 and a 2204 - Hated the distortion from both (I
know Jim
will
disagree :)

I wouldn't disagree, because I know people have different tastes in
tone. My setup is what works for my ears/my tastes. Even so, if the
2204 was the answer to everything, I'd have no use for all of the other
amps that I own.

Some things that I've learned about 2204's...

* There are different models of 2204's. There are two JMP versions
(the second version has the cascaded preamp). Then came the JCM 800,
with increased voltages (slightly more power, but different sounding
distortion). That changed the tone. Then they went to the less
reliable printed circuit board mounted jacks and pots, along with
changes in the power supply. Then they tossed in an effects loop, and
that also impacted tone. You will find a variation of tone in the time
line. I like the cascaded JMP.

* Tube choice makes a big difference in these amps. Buzziness is an
indication of cheap tubes, bright speakers, or poor choice of
presence/EQ settings (especially if a guy likes the diode clipping
model, but calls a 2204 "buzzy").

* Speaker choice makes a HUGE difference in these amps. I think my
cascaded preamp JMP 2204 with real Mullard preamp tubes (a 1957
production long plate in V1) and E34L JJ power tubes sounds best into my
70's Hiwatt/Fane 4x12. It sounds VERY different into my Vintage 30 cab,
or even into my second Hiwatt (80's). The early Hiwatt cab is less
efficient and darker sounding. That means I can crank the amp up for
more power tube saturation at a lower volume, and that the darker sound
makes the preamp distortion much more convincing, while taming the
brightness of the amp. Believe me, there is a HUGE difference when I
change cabs. And a very significant difference between real Mullards
and current production types. I have mine dialed into my ears, although
I'd like to have a pair of real Mullard EL34's drop into my lap.





I recently got a 2210 (the amp that Mattias Jabbs uses) I'm finally
happy :)



I know we've done this tap-dance before. Over the course of the 23
years that I
owned the amp, I had dozens of tubes in there - As you remember, I had
one with
KT-88's. While they made *some* difference, they didn't change the
sound from
Neil Youngs "Live Rust" sound to Van Halen I. And of course, I've had
MANY
cabinets in my day, and still use the 1960A cab I used with that with
my Carvin
Legacy. I've always been a Celestion guy - those are fairly
consistent. I could
plug even my Crate Power Block into a Celestion and be happy.

It just wasn't a good sound for me. It wasn't what I was taught that a
Marshall
should sound like (Judas Priest/Accept/Schenker). Luckily, I traded it
to a guy
that didn't like the onslaught of the 2210 :)

My Carvin smokes that thing... Even my 2210 smokes it - but has a bad
clean.

The bottom line: While your later JCM 800 shares the same model number
with my amp, they are DIFFERENT. You may hate my amp in person, or you
may say "damn, why didn't mine sound like that!" Either way, my opinion
doesn't trump yours (stating the obvious) and good for you for finding a
Marshall that works for you.

In re-reading this message, it occurs to me that "good for you" could be taken two ways. I meant it in the friendliest context. Not the "neener, neener" context!

I'm opinionated on tone, but I'm not foolish enough to think that I "know better" than the next guy. I only know what *I* like best, and I'm happy to share that only "for what it's worth."

- Jim
.

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