Official original Marshall JVM appreciation thread

[laxu]

hmmm, I am thinking if any other noteworthy anecdotes...
- the amp indeed started with a 2203 upside down. First I added an extra tube, then some extra controls on the front, etc. I scrapped the whole thing once the amp got launched.
- the first artists to try the prototype (the butchered 2203) were Trivium although they never ended using it as they had some other endorsing deals by then. Matt Heafy loved the Charvel guitar though, asked if I was selling it haha
View attachment 49739
- the first band that put the amp on tour were most likely The Cranberries, at least I remember talking with their guitar tech about the MIDI programming and stuff like that.
- I had a newer firmware with full MIDI implementation, like in the Satriani amp, but it never got released. It also had an 'secret' mode where you could insert the Clean channel tone controls ahead of the distortion channels.
- right before it was lanched I had finished the Kerry King amp and everybody was impressed with the gate. We wanted to put it in the JVM but couldn't have it done in time as all the launch, etc. was already planned. In hindsight, that's probably the biggest 'regret' if that's the right word, more than regret I'd say it would have been worth the extra 3 months.

hmmm, that's all I can remember now, if anything else I'll keep posting it

If you were to design the JVM today, what would you do different?

 

[KingsXJJ]

hmmm, I am thinking if any other noteworthy anecdotes...
- the amp indeed started with a 2203 upside down. First I added an extra tube, then some extra controls on the front, etc. I scrapped the whole thing once the amp got launched.
- the first artists to try the prototype (the butchered 2203) were Trivium although they never ended using it as they had some other endorsing deals by then. Matt Heafy loved the Charvel guitar though, asked if I was selling it haha
View attachment 49739
- the first band that put the amp on tour were most likely The Cranberries, at least I remember talking with their guitar tech about the MIDI programming and stuff like that.
- I had a newer firmware with full MIDI implementation, like in the Satriani amp, but it never got released. It also had an 'secret' mode where you could insert the Clean channel tone controls ahead of the distortion channels.
- right before it was lanched I had finished the Kerry King amp and everybody was impressed with the gate. We wanted to put it in the JVM but couldn't have it done in time as all the launch, etc. was already planned. In hindsight, that's probably the biggest 'regret' if that's the right word, more than regret I'd say it would have been worth the extra 3 months.

hmmm, that's all I can remember now, if anything else I'll keep posting it

That is a beautiful Charvel!

It is fascinating to hear the details from your perspective. I suppose I would have been frustrated by the “realities” faced by production on such a scale. The gate would have been nice for sure but it’s kind of understandable.

The unreleased firmware stings a bit as the midi would have been nice and “secret mode” sounds like such a great idea. Plus you had already done the work! Too bad there isn’t that file lurking somewhere that could be put to use.

Thank you so very, very much for sharing these killer details with us! You are a legend Sir!