AMP SHOOTOUT: Marshall Plexi vs. JCM 800

I had the opportunity to borrow a reissue Marshall 1959SLP, so I thought I would make a quick comparison with my own JCM 800.

The amps used are:
- Marshall 1959SLP Super Lead 100w reissue (circa 2010)
- Marshall JCM 800 model 2204 50w (circa 1985)

I recorded DI tracks using my Gibson SG Special, straight into a Focusrite Clarett 8PreX, then re-amped these using a Two Notes Torpedo Reload. Both amps were captured using GetGood Drums Studio Cabs: Goldstack impulse responses. For the boosted segment, a Mason OD808 was placed in front of each amp, with the Drive at minimum, the Balance at maximum, and the tone around 2 o'clock.

[truescotsman]

This is good. Everyone needs to be aware of the differences between these two platforms.

[davidstorm]

With youtube compression, even using good headphones, these sound identical

[joeinterrante]

My great friend has three Marshalls The Silver Jubilee with 4 12s sounds so fantastic. Great cleans, crunch and all the rest

[kahlrhoam]

THX for not using a booster!
It drives me crazy when someone does that, front to back in shootouts!
Great tone & rhythm there! 👏

[TexAgsArmyVet]

I once owned a JCM800 2204 50 that was modded by Voodoo amps out of New York.
I still regret selling that amp. I've been playing guitar since 2003 and it is still the best Amp I've ever owned or heard.

[the_anderman]

I have a JCM800 2203 and a 1959SLP and I can’t believe how similar they sound here.

To me, the 2203 is a bit harsher, more aggressive and tighter than the 1959. The Plexi has a nice sag and smoothness to it with a clangorous top end.

Obviously these differences are more apparent to the player than the listener – great comparison!

[baykay]

Excellent video and very helpful! Thanks

[psychedeliccarrie]

JCM 800 sounds a bit thicker but the general tone is very similar.

[shanemaderejr.]

Great video! It’s interesting how similar they actually sound. The JCM800 sounded like it had a touch more in the high mids, maybe 2.5 to 3 kHz.

[LoreAccurateHusky]

I can barely hear any difference between these two, only in the last isolated clip could I even hear a slight difference between the two and it was just some extra harshness on the 800 some post eq could fix.

In a mix you couldn't tell these apart, it would be literally impossible.

All this time I really believed all the talk about how the 59SL had this special sound of being perfectly voiced and balanced and how the 800 is always too harsh and bright and here this stands saying most of that is kind of bullshit.

You are doing the lords work, on god frfr.

[strummer]

Great riffage and great shoot out. Long Live the SG

[malthus]

so they sound absolutely identical. sweet! no need to buy both.

[j.koppany]

They sound really similar, the JCM800 is more fat to me, both sound great

[rareform]

SLP as a collector Player own Two in Stereo . 55 playing years is top of TITS 💫

[compucorder]

In this video they sound pretty similar, especially in the mix. But, I do think the Plexi sounds more articulate, brighter, but also more shrill. The JCM 800 is thicker, darker, more scooped and sounds smoother and more compressed. Listened to solo, the differences are more obvious, and would be in a sparser mix too. The Plexi is also more shy of bass and low mids than the JCM800, which is less obvious in a mix. And it has more pronounced hum in the upper mids that brings out the pick attack, and that's the signature of the Plexi sound. Where fuller bass, thicker low mids, and more scooped upper mids, smoothed out treble is the JCM800 sound.

[kiak]

both great amps, to my ears the Plexi is a little more versatile thanks to the eq, more precise and clearer

[bennyvandelocht]

Lovely sound!! Witch cabinet/speakers did you use? How did you place the mic? Which pickups are in the SG? My JCM800 has a lot more low end in the tone, so I might get the same with a treble booster...

[sassulusmagnus]

Great sound, great playing. 
That SG Special looks different. Crescent fretboard inlays and extra hardware on the headstock. Limited edition?

[jimmykrutakofficial]

Plexi is cleaner and brighter on the high end, JCM is muddier with a more pronounced high mid resonance

[BYRONLOAIZA]

sinceramente por más que me esfuerzo, no logro identificar una diferencia entre ambos, notaste talvez una diferencia en el tacto a tocar la guitarra?