Marshall JMP 2203 ⚡️ ZEN Amp Vault Ep06 ⚡️ The pinnacle of rock tone

Welcome to the amp vault at Zen Amplification in sunny Sydney, Australia. R&D for our very own tube amp is in full swing (more on this below) - but in the meantime we thought we'd have a little fun and invite you into the vault.

🎧 What to Expect:
Good friend and Aussie guitar legend Leon Todd will host what will become an entire series directly from Zen HQ. Leon and a bunch of other great players will showcase every amp in our collection with a minimum of fuss or distraction. No reviews, chatting or zaney clickbait antics here - just pure tube tone, from super clean through to metal.

We'll feature mostly raw samples, plus some full mixes and double-tracked clips for kicks.

🗂 Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:40 - In A Nutshell
01:43 - Full Mix

REFERENCE CLIPS
03:02 - Ref A: PAF Crunch
03:52 - Ref B: Will It Shuck?
04:41 - Ref C: Cult of Duffy

RAW CLIPS
05:42 - 1. Sheffield, 1981
06:50 - 2. Blackmore, 1975
07:46 - 3. Zakk Attack '88
08:32 - 4. Badlands
09:19 - 5. Boosted drop-D
09:52 - 6. Clean ES-345
10:47 - 7. Stingin' Tele
11:39 - 8. James Noodling

11:56 - Recording Info
12:43 - Player Comments

🎼 About 'Reference' Clips
A reference clip is a consistent one that will be used across different videos via the magic of re-amping, i.e. nothing in the chain will change but the amp. This is a good way for those interested to compare amps until we get around to collating them all into a mega shootout.

Typically each video will feature 3 or 4 reference clips of appropriate styles highlighting the signature tones of the amp.

🎴Our Mantra:
In short - tubes still rule.

In an endless sea of digital promises, we firmly believe that traditional tube circuitry still offers so much that simulators just can't. Punch, depth, immediacy, interactivity and attack are some words that come to mind. Not to mention the simplicity and the tactile advantages of real amps.

For us, the feeling of playing through a great tube amp is inspiring, distraction-free and simply brings joy. When this tonal trinity occurs, great music is made and good times are had - and that's what it's all about.

🇦🇺 We built a wall - to keep bad tone out:
The vault houses modern classics from companies such as Wizard, Friedman, Diezel, Bogner, Soldano, 65 Amps, Landry, Splawn, Mesa, Orange, Rivera, Divided by 13, Tone King and Peavey. And of course there's a number of vintage stalwarts around the studio from Marshall, Fender, Vox, Hiwatt and more.

To top it off the vault also houses a similarly impressive selection of vintage and modern guitars from Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Suhr and PRS.

🎤 Analogue Recording Gear:
• 4x12 cabs close mic'd with a Shure SM57 / Sennheiser E906
• Combos and open cabs close mic'd with a Shure SM57 / SE VR1 ribbon mix
• Pair of Neumann U67 room mics 4.5m back, mixed in just a touch
• Neve 1073 preamps for close mics
• API 3124 preamp for rooms
• Little Labs Redeye3D DI (some clips reamped)
• KHE amp switchers to manage the wall, Mogami cabling, Neutrik connectors

🖥 Digital:
• Recorded via an Apogee Symphony A/D converter
• Waves reverb added to some clips
• Minimal post-processing - just a LPF and HPF to better reflect how it sounds in the room

🎛 The Zen Amplifier:
We can't reveal too much right now but there is a very special amplifier design underway in the Zen workshop. It is an all-tube design that incorporates some next-generation innovations, enabling it to compete with the versatility of digital - whilst retaining the responsiveness and punch of traditional tube amps of course.

More details to come later, but sufficed to say we're very excited about this project and can't wait to share it with you.

Thanks for checking out our channel, and don't forget to subscribe to keep up-to-date with all things Zen.

Special thanks to all our amazing guitar playing friends that helped out - Leon Todd, Joel McDonald, Ryan Thomas, James Norbert Ivanyi, Dave Bleus, Cale Storer, Dave Longo, Voya Milutinovic, Ned Koncar, Odin Wolf, Jesse Turner, Daniel Willington, Alex Wichello, Tim Maxwell, Seb Bartels, Jimmy Lardner-Brown & Cameron Henderson.

[pudgydaddy]

There's simply no denying how glorious that tone is when the Full Mix kicks in. Man, I could bathe in that forever.

[bluesful]

The tones with that 345 are just awesome.

[sassulusmagnus]

Great demo. I had to smile when it came to the Zakk Attack '88 section. The Boss SD-1 can sound a bit meh with some amps, but into a 2203 it is pure magic.

[thechannelforeverything]

Clicked for Leon playing a Gil Yaron into a glorious Marshall. Stayed for the entire video, because this was completely amazing. Zen absolutely crushes it again with some of the best amp demos on YouTube.

[arissp]

it is the pinnacle of rock hands down. Thanks for not playing mindless solos and actually have a very good production as well. Sick sound the best

[robertleslie]

I play a ‘79 JMP 2204 through a 60’s Marshall B cab loaded with 25w English greenies with Les Paul p90 guitars. Crank that amp up with a LP Jr. Hear that sound? That’s the sound of women runnin’ round with no panties on. Have mercy Miss Percy.

[KelsterVonShredster]

Sounds incredible. This is quite possibly the best series of amp videos I've ever seen. Amazing job guys! So great to hear these amps with all these guitars and cabs. Thanks so much!

[leosun]

Multiple classic tones done SO well with awesome riffing!🤘🏻
Fantastic demo!

[HarkoBarf]

I've got this amp myself. I don't think I will ever hear an amp that has a better overdriven sound than this one. I like it with all kinds of speakers except for the V30. This video confirms that as well for me.

[thebadterrorists]

Nice to hear The Darkness in there. Great channel. Any video that makes me plug my guitar in is going some...

[guitartonetopia]

These clips are killer guys! This channel will be huge

[arissp]

I love the format of how you present the amps and you have all the necessary info without being too much. Keep up the good work. subscribed

[MorGuitarz]

My favorite Marshall... THE sound of Rock & Roll

[jukkamurto]

Very nice video! Great sounds and playing! I´ve owned this same amp since 1985, new filtercaps a couple years ago and checking up on circuitboard and soldering. I recently got hold of a 90-s 1960AX cab with the 6402 coned greenback remakes and it made huge difference nailing those vintage rock sounds (used to run 1991 V-30s for a more "metal" sound) . A little lead-push from a SD-1 and a dunlop wah is all I need right now. Thank you for the inspiration!

[truescotsman]

I have the bottom to that cabinet with 55hz G12-H 30s and a '77 JMP 2204 to go with it. The sound of rock!!

[dkarr]

Did Kylo Ren just pretend to be Angus?

PS - this was AWESOME guys. Well done.

[MatsDagerlind]

That's the definitive rock sound. I personally think I prefer the 50 watt JMP 2204 version with a little less clean headroom. They are both also nearly identical to the JCM 800 equivalents, but much more pleasing to the eye.

[jimhahn]

Excellent video! I have a 1976 Marshall JMP 2203 MkII Master Model Lead 100W, and it screams. I have played JCM800's and I even had a 71 class A head. The 2203 just gives you great tone and everything that you want in a Marshall. I bought mine from a friend in 1980. It came with a 1960A cabinet all for the whopping price of $600.00. It has been my companion since. I had a 50 watt /switch put in for small clubs.

[JinxRemoving]

How is it I'm only now discovering this channel?! Loving everything on display here, amazing work guys! Also love to see G12M-65 Creambacks in use, as a user of them myself. Not that I'm biased or anything.

[sheercerebralpower]

Yep, that is what my 78 JMP also sounds like….I bought it 30 years ago with the original 4x12 loaded with G12 65H…. still use it in my studio…it is an ungodly loud beast and yes it does immaculate Blackmore….and I primarily use the low input with my Leslie and a Hermida Zen Drive…..