New ‘Modded’ Marshalls

[MirrorProfiles]

They are definitely engaging Diodes or Transistors regardless

The 1959 absolutely has clipping diodes+transistors, I don't think the 2203 does (you'd hear a drop in level when they kick in). The JEL mod achieves more gain than a stock 2203 just by tinkering with a few values, and doesn't rely on more valve gain stages or clipping diodes (of course you can add those too). It's just squeezing more out of the existing gain stages, at the expense of noise and potential oscillation/instability.

 

[LeftyLoungeLizard]

Someone tell him to take a solo.

They don't do that anymore... and isn't that that "Fluff" dude? Thought he was kidnapped or something recently...

 

[Sirloin]

The 1959 absolutely has clipping diodes+transistors, I don't think the 2203 does (you'd hear a drop in level when they kick in). The JEL mod achieves more gain than a stock 2203 just by tinkering with a few values, and doesn't rely on more valve gain stages or clipping diodes (of course you can add those too). It's just squeezing more out of the existing gain stages, at the expense of noise and potential oscillation/instability.

Ahh. Well, after looking at all of that and rewatching the demos, you may be correct about the 800.

 

[EOengineer]

Pre tonestack master volume is cool, I prefer it to PPIMV.

I’ve long held the opinion that a good PPIV and a 3 way bright cap mod adds enough flexibility to cover 90% of the use cases one would want from a 1959. I just assumed that master was PPIV because it’s such a popular and prevalent mod these days.

What is the pre tone stack master really bringing to the table here? That feels like a weird choice.

 

[Exluthier]

I’ve long held the opinion that a good PPIV and a 3 way bright cap mod adds enough flexibility to cover 90% of the use cases one would want from a 1959. I just assumed that master was PPIV because it’s such a popular and prevalent mod these days.

What is the pre tone stack master really bringing to the table here? That feels like a weird choice.

I'm assuming they used it because it was a Jose thing

 

[mbenigni]

I’ve long held the opinion that a good PPIV and a 3 way bright cap mod adds enough flexibility to cover 90% of the use cases one would want from a 1959. I just assumed that master was PPIV because it’s such a popular and prevalent mod these days.

What is the pre tone stack master really bringing to the table here? That feels like a weird choice.

Can I assume the pre-tone stack MV also means that any kind of unexpected signal at the FX loop return will send you to the E.R.?

This is a pet peeve of mine with certain channel-switching amps where the MV is pre- on one channel and post- on the other. You do not want to lose track of which is which.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

What is the pre tone stack master really bringing to the table here? That feels like a weird choice.

They all have their own trade off's and feel, but PPIMV makes the presence control act a bit weird. I think Pete Thorn and Jason Tong's videos have some examples of what they sound like.

 

[la szum]

Yeah I really did not like the first gen Stiletto. Never tried the Stiletto Ace.

Now I'll chalk it up to maybe being connected to the wrong cab (Mesa 4x12 with V30s), or not knowing how to set it up right...but all I remember is that it sounded like a very bassy Marshall which was not a good thing.

That's kind of what Mesa-izing a Marshall is. Friedmans and Bogners both kind of hype
and tighten the low end in their quasi-Marshall offerings, too.

The Stiletto is actually the brightest (to my ears) of the various British-inspired Mesa
amps over the years (Stiletto, Electra Dyne, Royal Atlantic, Badlander).

Hard to out Marshall a Marshall, though.

 

[Exluthier]

Can I assume the pre-tone stack MV also means that any kind of unexpected signal at the FX loop return will send you to the E.R.?

This is a pet peeve of mine with certain channel-switching amps where the MV is pre- on one channel and post- on the other. You do not want to lose track of which is which.

It doesn't have a loop.

 

[la szum]

The Stilletto also seemed to have 15 revisions during it's short run and that made it super confusing to pick one and be happy with it. Is it the duce the trident the ace the V2? I don't even know if I got that right. Too many iterations of the same thing.

Easy way I remember is Ace = 1 pair of power tubes at 50w, Deuce = 2 pair of power tubes
at 100w at Trident = 3 pairs of power tubes at 150w. Very much like the various versions of
the Rectifier (Solo, Double, Triple).

Even in a new Marshall amp release thread we all be still talkin' about them Mesas.

 

[la szum]

Swear the modded Marshall that everyone wants is a Plexi/Jose style circuit on one side and JCM800 (with more available gain) on the other? All in the same amp rather than having several single channel beasts.

LND150 FX loop, global and channel master volumes, switchable diode clipping, MAYBE a basic clean. Get that to under £2300 and it’s a winner.

Friedman is arguably closer in a lot of ways with the Smallbox, BE, JEL100, and even to an extent Twin Sister. JEL is probably the closest to modded 800+plexi in the same box. You’d hope Marshall could do one better and build it for less.

I tend to not be interested even a little in comparison videos.... but man oh man I cannot
wait for the Modded Marshalls (especially the 800) to be compared to Dave's forthcoming
Arredondo Friedman.

 

[la szum]

Same. I want all of them, but that's "kid's first car" money (not "dad's last amp" money.)

Haha! I sold a bunch of gear 2 summers ago to help finance a car for my Son. No regrets!

Better than a mother-flubbing loan.

 

[LeftyLoungeLizard]

What is the pre tone stack master really bringing to the table here? That feels like a weird choice.

Not sure, but the very first Marshall Master Volume series (100W, 50W) introduced in the mid 70's utilized the pre phase inverter tube Master Volume.

They changed to PPIV (post phase inverter tube) Master Volume in later years.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I tend to not be interested even a little in comparison videos.... but man oh man I cannot
wait for the Modded Marshalls (especially the 800) to be compared to Dave's forthcoming
Arredondo Friedman.

looking forward to whoever is the first person to mod the modded Marshalls. Mod^2

 

[EOengineer]

They changed to PPIV (post phase inverter tube) Master Volume in later years.

Is that on the vintage modern stuff? The 800s, 900s, and DSL amps were definitely not PPIV.

 

[EOengineer]

looking forward to whoever is the first person to mod the modded Marshalls. Mod^2

Buys $4k modded Marshall..,”mods” it back to stock.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Buys $4k modded Marshall..,”mods” it back to stock.

But puts new knobs on it so people know it's custom

 

[mbenigni]

It doesn't have a loop.

Sorry, I was looking at the 800.

 

[LeftyLoungeLizard]

Is that on the vintage modern stuff? The 800s, 900s, and DSL amps were definitely not PPIV.

I'm not sure because my memory is fuzzy. I am traditionally a Marshall nerd, but I haven't been soaking in the deep-dive info for some time now, and I'm way too lazy to look at each circuit.

 

[mbenigni]

But puts new knobs on it so people know it's custom

Plugs in "Mint" Relic'd Hamer Custom Standard fitted with SD Custom Custom Custom pickups.