Time for a Marshall plan

[bnwitt]

Well in between my day job and family commitments I have managed to build myself a Tweed Deluxe, a black face reverb and am now working on the hand wired AC15 amp.  After that one is done I will only need to tackle a low wattage Marshall-esc amp and my back wall for the studio recording work will be done. I need to find a low watt Marshall design with some versatility.  I am at the moment focused on the JCM2000 DSL401 layout with a DSL201 power section but I'm not sure if that is what I really want.  I want to cover as many Marshall tones as possible so if anyone out there has a suggestion for a circuit that is 15 to 18 watts that does all things Marshall (or at least most things) I would love to hear about it.  I hope life is treating you all well.

Barry

[TIMBO]

Hey Barry, This is the next one that I'm thinking of, got a full set of irons just waiting 

http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=6895.0

[bnwitt]

Thanks for the Reply Timbo.  I think I'm looking for something a little more versatile than an 18 watt with a hot switch though.  I've built a butt load of those type amps and still have about 8 complete part sets from cabinet through chassis, loaded boards and speakers in the shop.  Someday I'm going to sell all those parts from my 18 watt infatuation days.  I'm afraid the amp and the forum turned out to be a bit of a disappointment.  I really thing the JCM800 and the Plexi are my two favorite Marshall amps and if I could get both amps in an 18/20 watt output circuit I'd be happy with it and a few pedals.  I think the DSL401 does the JCM800 thing well but the Plexi part is missing.  I need something that does both at an output level I can manage in a studio isolation booth.  Maybe I'm searching for the holy grail.  I hope not.
Barry

[sluckey]

Maybe this will give you some ideas. It's a 1987 Plexi preamp driving a fixed bias EL84 power amp.

    http://home.comcast.net/~seluckey/amps/november/november.htm

Or, maybe put this dual 1987 and 2204 preamp in front of the above power amp.

    http://home.comcast.net/~seluckey/amps/misc/Marshall_Dual_50.pdf

[Ed_Chambley]

Barry, take a look at the Fargen MKII.  All it is is a Handwired, Push Pull JCM 800 with a decade switch for changing values to JTM45 Plexi and JCM 800 (cap/resistor switch).  All he had done is reduce voltages, but still had about 25 watts.  They have a great Marshall tone as they are Marshall circuits.  In this one he does use a small Mercury OT, but 25 watts may be still too much.  Still EL34 amp with chest thumping qualities.

[Jack1962]

What part of the Plexi are you having trouble getting the tone? I have built a few Plexi clones low wattage and higher(100 watts) it's probably the easiest amp I have built(next to the champ lol) . Also which Plexi and which JCM800 they made a few different models of each and they all have a slightly different tone.

[bnwitt]

Gentlemen,
Again, thank you for the replies.  I'll take a look at the Fargen MKII Ed and Steve, I like the second amp in your post.  If I can change it to EL84s it would be the ticket.

Jack, the tones I'm after are from the 1987 and the 2204

Barry

[Jack1962]

Ok brother this is what I have done myself I have built the preamp from the 2203 and used and EL84 power section from 1917, yep slammed the 2 together , maybe not the correct way to play a amp but it made a 20watt JCM800/JMP , oh yeah I also change the cathode resistor and cap to 820 ohms and the cap to a 220uf (like the low gain input on the normal channel of the JMP) I did this because it make the amp much more responsive , well it did for me anyway.

[Ritchie200]

Barry,

Glad to hear all is well with you!  It looks like you are not afraid to take on a project if you are looking at a DSL!  Have you considered a Vintage Modern?  Take the 2266 50 watt 4xKT88 version and take two tubes out.  I think this is one of the best sounding Marshalls since the 800 - and of course they quit making it.  Just do a you tube search, everybody is using them from Robin Trower to Paul Gilbert.  Awesome amp.  Not as good as the Major - of course!

Here are the schemo's:

http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=21933

Jim

[kagliostro]

Hi Barry

Happy to see you here

Franco

[bnwitt]

Thanks everyone.  I'm sorry my presence here is so erratic but my business is still eating me alive.  Ritchie, I'll do the YouTube thing on the Vintage Modern and thank you for the schematic link.  Jack, do you have any layouts or schematics on that Frankenstein you built?  It sounds interesting.  I'm hoping I am going to have some time for amping soon.

Barry

[Ed_Chambley]

Thanks everyone.  I'm sorry my presence here is so erratic but my business is still eating me alive.  Ritchie, I'll do the YouTube thing on the Vintage Modern and thank you for the schematic link.  Jack, do you have any layouts or schematics on that Frankenstein you built?  It sounds interesting.  I'm hoping I am going to have some time for amping soon.

Barry

It's all good.  Did you build a AC/30 or AC/15 using a marshall style layout.  If so, can you post the schem and layout you used.