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'68 Marshall JMP SuperPA, 100w



'69 Bassman, 50w

Which would you choose? ?

My personal Pros/Cons

Bassman:

Pros:
1.) Head is small enough to cart to gigs
2.) Definately loud enough with 50w
3.) Gets very dirty with my Les Paul!
4.) AB169 circuit which is apparently the BF

Cons:
1.) Not much clean headroom (with my Les Paul)
2.) Head wants a 4ohm cab, I have 2x16ohm Greenbacks


Marshall:

Pros:
1.) Takes pedals insanely well ???
2.) Plenty clean headroom, only breaks up at plenty something on the dial
3.) Dont be fooled by the PA part, done some reading and apart from the extra 4 inputs, its a Plexi, some suggest removing those inputs
4.) Switchable 4,6,16 ohm output

Cons:
1.) Its huge.. and weighs a ton
2.) Slight buzz which could be an old valve or dodgey cap
    I prefer the bassman. But that's cause I'd go for something that's got more managable volume. Do you mic up at gigs?
      MikeM wrote: I prefer the bassman. But that's cause I'd go for something that's got more managable volume. Do you mic up at gigs?
      Yeh, strangely the volume difference that I can hear (and that my neighbours will permit ? ) isnt much between them, the Marshall just stays cleaner longer at about 6 the Bassman is very dirty
        nick wrote: Yeh, strangely the volume difference that I can hear (and that my neighbours will permit ? ) isnt much between them, the Marshall just stays cleaner longer at about 6 the Bassman is very dirty
        I still think you should tweak that baby a touch ? Well that's what I mean by volume. Alan mentioned in another thread, the sweet spot most of us look for is where you can roll off some volume for clean, and use a boost for the drive we need. So it's at that point where I think the "volume" is.
          plexi or bassman ?

          think i need to go and visit nick sometime ?
            ?

            bassman for me..

            I find the marshall tone harsh.. that includes the JMP's, JCM's etc etc..
              Wait are you saying you have to get rid of one of them?? Or is this just for fun?
                guitarboy2828 wrote: Wait are you saying you have to get rid of one of them?? Or is this just for fun?
                I own one, Reinhard owns the other. Ive always been a Marshall guy so I lent his Plexi to A/B against the Bassman ?
                  I'm for the bassman...but then I want Jensen 8ohm alnicos in the cab
                    I already told you my choice. From your description, it sounds like the Bassman needs attention. Rather spend a couple of bucks getting it some TLC from a decent amp tech ... you won't be sorry! eMail me if you need a contact number for someone, but I'm sure the amp techs on the forum would be happy to have your baby on their workbenches.
                      Bassman for me. But they are both good amps and it boils down to which sound you want - you can sort out any other niggles once you have it.
                        MoJo JoJoe wrote: I already told you my choice. From your description, it sounds like the Bassman needs attention. Rather spend a couple of bucks getting it some TLC from a decent amp tech ... you won't be sorry! eMail me if you need a contact number for someone, but I'm sure the amp techs on the forum would be happy to have your baby on their workbenches.
                        Bassman has been recapped etc, I think the Studios pickups are just to hot and I overload the front end of it quite a bit. I think you need to play the Marshall after the Bassman 8)
                          nick wrote:
                          MoJo JoJoe wrote: I already told you my choice. From your description, it sounds like the Bassman needs attention. Rather spend a couple of bucks getting it some TLC from a decent amp tech ... you won't be sorry! eMail me if you need a contact number for someone, but I'm sure the amp techs on the forum would be happy to have your baby on their workbenches.
                          Bassman has been recapped etc, I think the Studios pickups are just to hot and I overload the front end of it quite a bit. I think you need to play the Marshall after the Bassman 8)

                          You know you can just turn the volume down on the guitar?
                            ezietsman wrote:
                            nick wrote:
                            MoJo JoJoe wrote: I already told you my choice. From your description, it sounds like the Bassman needs attention. Rather spend a couple of bucks getting it some TLC from a decent amp tech ... you won't be sorry! eMail me if you need a contact number for someone, but I'm sure the amp techs on the forum would be happy to have your baby on their workbenches.
                            Bassman has been recapped etc, I think the Studios pickups are just to hot and I overload the front end of it quite a bit. I think you need to play the Marshall after the Bassman 8)

                            You know you can just turn the volume down on the guitar?
                            I am aware of this, but to clean it up the volume is close to being off and then it gets a bit muddy. Im not complaining about the dirtier clean sounds, Im just used to the Peavey which was crystal clear at gig volumes. Switching to the 2nd input has half resolved the issue ?
                              Bassman FTW. 50W should be plenty for practical use and it has a sparkle that no Marshall has been able to match...
                              Aesthetics also come into play for me... it's beautiful!
                                Nick, does the BM also go dirty with single coil guitars ? ...What's the condition of its pre-amp and power valves ?
                                  From the description I'd say the bassman needs attention, it should have more headroom for cleans. I have a 68 with the ab165 circuit and it doesnt break up with humbuckers or single coils all the way to the top. Then again I think it does need some TLC soon to.
                                    Blackface bassman should break up around half way. It's the silverface circuits like mine that stay clean to the top.
                                      vic wrote: Nick, does the BM also go dirty with single coil guitars ? ...What's the condition of its pre-amp and power valves ?
                                      I've only used my strat on it for about 10 seconds but that was with lots of delay playing shadows type stuff ? I will test it tonight and see
                                        JeremyE wrote: From the description I'd say the bassman needs attention, it should have more headroom for cleans. I have a 68 with the ab165 circuit and it doesnt break up with humbuckers or single coils all the way to the top. Then again I think it does need some TLC soon to.
                                        It is possible its caused by the slight impedence mismatch of the speakers (8ohms vs 4ohms) and the fact that they are Greenbacks? Not really known for their sparkling cleans ?