Tagged As: Jcm 900 Head
Question:
I'm about to buy a Marshall JCM900 50watt head (used). Is $350 a good price? Can anyone tell me more about this amp, like what cab i should use with it?
Answer:
I owned a 50 watt JCM 900 head, and paid $275 for it with the previous owner giving me 2 extra power tubes on the deal. I liked the switch on the back that lets you select between 50 and 25 watts - I put it on 25 watts and played it cranked all the way up. I played it through a `74 Marshall 4 x 12 cab with 25 watt Celestions, or a `72 Marshall 2 x 12 cab with 30 watt Celestions. Personally I think part of the key to having the best Marshall tone is to use Celestion speakers. The modern Celestion speaker that is my current production favorite is the Vintage 30. Remember, the build quality of the cab plays a part in the sound and tone as well. Don't buy a crappy, cheap 2 x 12 cab and put Celestions in it and expect it to sound the best. Marshall used Baltic Birch in their old cabs and many believe it contributes to the tone and the sound. I don't know what part of the world you're in, so I can't give you a recommendation for cab builders, etc. I thought the JCM 50 watt head was a good head, but given the opportunity to purchase an early 70's 50 watt non-master volume 4 input head for $600, I would save up the money and get the older amp. If you can get the JCM 900 for under $300, then you'll certainly get your money's worth. Remember the club scene you'll be playing in - most clubs mic the amps so you won't need a stack of gear to play - you'll want to look at amps and cabs that are portable and easy to move, and of course that sound good.
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