Amp Quandry

Jethro Rocker

Jethro Rocker

Ambassador of Live & Loud Action
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Hmm. I got a used JMD-1 50 watt head a couple years ago. Initially thought it might be fun at the jamspace if I left a 2x12 cab there. No need for fx etc. Very versatile although I normally don't use rafts of tones, usually a clean where required which is rarely used, a raunchy base tone with a bit of gain variance, and maybe 2 solo tones.

Jamspace cannot be trusted with items left however. So now not sure how I will use it. If the built in fx are useful then likely it is where I wouldn't bother with a pedal board which is never. It also needs to go atop a 2x12 minimum and the smallest pub venue here will not fit that.
So... it becomes a 5 channel full size head, the fx aren't a biggie. 4 of the channels are presets so anything special ie- clean and solo. Seems pretty useful at that rate.

Now the kicker. I also own a JVM410 head. 4 channels, 3 modes per. No presets, each channel has individual controls. Konda makes the JMD seem redundant. I have redundancy in many areas already, granted, but cannot think when I would choose the JMD over the JVM or even the BluGuitar pedal amp or Mesa TC100.
I know, I know, it is my choice completely. No one should base decisions on what others think.
However, I might get some ideas I haven't thought about yet. I can also keep it just because. Why not? Use it here n there for fun.
Thoughts?
I do not play those amps at home.

Cheers



 
Jethro Rocker said:
Kinda what I am thinking, lads. JMD hard to come by in these parts and I can choose it over the JVM just for kicks sometime.
Also, as I had pedal board issues last gig, if anything died there the JMD would have most of the few fx I use...
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What happened with your board??? I'm very interested in this sort of thing since I'm the live performance instructor at the music academy.

Your logic with the JMD is sound, IMHO. Good backup plan.

For years I've kept a Solid State 1999 Marshall MG50RCD behind my rig and slightly offset, as a backup.

Last year, during a live show, my co-guitarist looked over at me and shook his head while pointing to his guitar.

We had discussed a possible failure ahead of time and he tossed me his cable. I plugged him in and we were off and running again.

Interestingly, his failure mid-show was traced to a bad patch cable - a Mogami that was brand new - and the only recent addition to his board prior to the event.

At first, he was skeptical because he believed Mogami to be infallible, but I checked the cable and it was bad. I swapped in a backup and we were back in the game.

I'm sure that I have completely overengineered my board, and at 34" across, it's a huge PITA, but it's been really reliable.

The academy has an old Marshall VS412 cabinet that remains on their Soundstage, so it's open to everyone who may want to use it. (This is the cabinet I ohm'd out recently at around 9.5)

I've found that my 1993 Marshall Valvestate Bi-Chorus 200 makes a great, simple amp for working at the academy without a pedalboard.
 
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steveb63 said:
In my case, of course IMHO etc... I have regretted almost every time I've sold something.

Unless it's hooking a brotha up with a toy they might be coveting, (me only of course) am not going to be selling equipment unless it's to a friend for their rigs.

So my worthless vote is..... stockpile Lol.
Click to expand...

Good points...

I've been downsizing, but I don't "miss" the gear I get rid of. I've discovered so much of what I've amassed just isn't necessary.

Aside from donating a few guitars to students at the music academy, I've also sold a few things here and there, (alwzys at a loss as it seems with music gear) which has given me much more room in my space here at home.
 
Jethro Rocker said:
Hmm. I got a used JMD-1 50 watt head a couple years ago. Initially thought it might be fun at the jamspace if I left a 2x12 cab there. No need for fx etc. Very versatile although I normally don't use rafts of tones, usually a clean where required which is rarely used, a raunchy base tone with a bit of gain variance, and maybe 2 solo tones.

Jamspace cannot be trusted with items left however. So now not sure how I will use it. If the built in fx are useful then likely it is where I wouldn't bother with a pedal board which is never. It also needs to go atop a 2x12 minimum and the smallest pub venue here will not fit that.
So... it becomes a 5 channel full size head, the fx aren't a biggie. 4 of the channels are presets so anything special ie- clean and solo. Seems pretty useful at that rate.

Now the kicker. I also own a JVM410 head. 4 channels, 3 modes per. No presets, each channel has individual controls. Konda makes the JMD seem redundant. I have redundancy in many areas already, granted, but cannot think when I would choose the JMD over the JVM or even the BluGuitar pedal amp or Mesa TC100.
I know, I know, it is my choice completely. No one should base decisions on what others think.
However, I might get some ideas I haven't thought about yet. I can also keep it just because. Why not? Use it here n there for fun.
Thoughts?
I do not play those amps at home.

Cheers



Click to expand...
Congrats on the new amp Geoff!! Nice score, and looks like it was well maintained..
 
Robert Herndon said:
What happened with your board??? I'm very interested in this sort of thing since I'm the live performance instructor at the music academy.
Click to expand...
I am not sure yet. Suddenly my backup amp ( The Mesa 35 died at last gig - only to work fine when I fired it up at home after:cautious:) sounded clean regardless of channel setting.
Now, I am using an effects switcher with 4 cable method so ONE loop essentially runs raw guitar signal directly to the fx return. I suspect the main line out became dislodged or such and that is what was happening as effects return does not care which channel one is on. Will always sound clean. But I gotta look. I wound up with guitar straight into Taurus pedal amp. Last set I pulled the wireless and tuner out and ran them into it as well. Adapt, improvise and carry on!! No time to troubleshoot much
gball said:
Onboard effects can be cool - for an afternoon. Nonetheless I'd keep it. Maybe just as a backup or useful for an impromptu thing if you don't want to drag a pedalboard. As long as space isn't a problem there's no reason to unload it.
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Well, it doesn't take up that much room. Still a fun amp....
My backups now are going to be the BluGuitar Amp 1 pedal. Unless I am gigging a smaller venue with the Blu.
 
One studio that I work for has been borrowing my Ivanberg Modded Origin 50 Head off and on for the past month.

This busy, privately-owned studio has quite a collection of odd guitars

This is the studio that has the Mike Morin Modded JCM800 2204. They are incrediblyi mpressed with what @syscokid has done to the Origin 50H and the new 50 watr master volume build, that they told me last night they are selling the 2204 along with a 9200 Marshall Monobloc rack mount identicalto the one in this file photo.

qzw3prrkexleiiupsrln.jpg

The asked me if they could "order" a custom amp from @syscokid.
 
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