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Vintage threads from the first ten years

Re: Marshall JCM-800 50 watt top; any good?

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12/2/1999 7:29 AM

Psycho Bass Guy

Re: Marshall JCM-800 50 watt top; any good?

Wildbill,
The Amperex's are old US rebrands. They're most likely RCA, but could be GE. There is also a possibility that they are JAN Richardson's from WAY back. They COULD handle the voltages you describe without a choke, but it would make the amp ungodly clean. If they're that old you would want to check them out first, though. See what their emission is. You don't want to fry them. If they were mine, I'd sell 'em and use the money to get TWO sextets of modern 6550's. I'm sure they would go for a bundle on eBay. IME, the old 6550 types aren't really better than the new ones. Hifi guys just need that 'vintage' fix and will pay out the nose for them.

Psycho (the real one) >^}

12/2/1999 1:54 AM
Tonefactor	All JCM-800's sold new in the US used 6550's rather EL-34's as original equipment>> That's an absolute crock of shit. 6550's were only used for the first part of the 80's. All later 800's came with EL-34's.

12/2/1999 2:38 AM
Bombay	That's true, Marshall only used the 6550 tube as a substitute for EL-34's between the years of 1974 and 1986.

12/2/1999 5:32 AM

quote:
"Marshall only used the 6550 tube as a substitute for EL-34's between the years of 1974 and 1986."

Hmm, then I wonder why it looks like my '73 1987 was originally a 6550 amp? I'm guessing late '73.

-Dave M.

12/2/1999 5:33 PM
anonymous	Ok, now what difference does it make what tubes they came with and when they used what brand and... If you buy a JCM800, you'll most likely wind up retubing it anyway, - with your favorite type of tubes - The EL34 has predominantly been the tube of choice in traditional Marshall history. So, take it from there...

12/2/1999 7:52 PM
Psycho Bass Guy	The bias will be different for different tubes. That's a VERY important difference. You may end up having to change the bias resistor. Psycho(the real one)>^}

12/11/1999 12:36 AM
Eldon	The JCM-800 series was popularized ... The JCM-800 series was popularized because of the unique sound of 6550's. Who cares, what tube was used when. You seemed to have missed the point.

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