I need a new amp. I figured you guys would be a good source for opinions. I want something with a hell of alot of gain and distortion, like a Slayer/Exodus sound. I was looking at this amp, but is it any good? Any comments would help. Thanks!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...3721416306&rd=1

Oh yeah, I am looking for a 50 watt head for no mere than $700

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You should read up on the website: harmony central. Tons of info there.

Harmony Central

Funny thing is, I just bought the same amp just a month ago. I have sovtek preamp tubes though. The chinese tubes are terrible. You're gonna have to get some better ones if you're going to be serious. I plug through a 1936 2x12 marshall cab. It's got an ac/dc distortion when the gain and preamp knobs face eachother. The mark III model 2500 has got a 25/50 watt switch (the 2100 has got a 50/100 watt switch). This is the amp that preceeded the SL-X. The mark III has 3 preamp tubes where the later SL-X has got 4 preamp tubes. Hell, the preamp goes up to 10 and the gain knob goes from 11 to 20 (on the mark III). Spinal tap is the one who, I believe, initially requested Marshall to have a high gain head. This is it. I haven't had much opportunity to play through it lately (busy). $400 is a pretty good price (except for the chinese tubes). I bought mine for $550 CAN from some guy in Ottawa. I got a killer deal. It's definately worth more than that (at least the one I bought).

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5150

Why 50 watt??

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because it's easier to get a good cranked tube sound at more reasonable volumes if you have less wattage. poweramp distortion is what makes the jcm 800's and 900's sound good.
i'd suggest the 800 over the 900, but that's just me.

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The 800 is much thicker, much better sounding to me. I'm not a marshall kinda guy though, go Peavey!

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Hey, thanks alot guys. Yea, a 50-watt is more practical for me, for "basement practicing". I was looking at this 800 too, but what does he mean by "but the pots may need cleaning" ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEBWA%3AIT&rd=1

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theres probably dust in the pots making them noisy when you turn them.

you can clean them with contact spray

Well you can always get a 5150 and take two tubes out making it a 60 watter. The Peavey techs said that it wouldnt hurt the amp in any way, and you can also do that with mesa boogies.

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900s are good for rhythm playing and death metal type stuff.

if you want slayer/thrash type shit, youll need an 800. 800s are really good for leads as well.

get some tesla or sovtek el34s and youd be doing alright.

i have a 1987 2203 and a 1992 2100 mkIII, both 100 watters, and im keeping em for good.

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800s are bad unless you eitehr are already almost deaf or have a huge place to play at. Since the 800 is only one channel, you need to crank the volume to get that rich tube distortion, or setting for a shitty boost pedal.

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what kind of pussy needs a clean channel?
one way to cheat an amp like the 800...use an a/b/y switchbox to plug into both the high gain and the low gain inputs, it opens up your options a bit.

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You're right. I only need one channel. I am probably too cheap, but I bough this instead...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEBWN%3AIT&rd=1
So much for a Marshall.

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looks like this topic is over

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^I suppose...

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a 5150 doesnt sound like a jcm 800 or a 900....

you guys should check out the sovtek mig series amps. the circutry in them are almost exact replicas of the jcm 800's except the migs are set up for 6l6's instead of el34s but that can be changed.

my guitarist is thinking of buying a mig 100... after he played my friends mig 60 he fell in love with the sound. but he needs 100w not 60w....

and they don't cost as much either because they don't say marshall on them...

just thought i'd let people know about that, even though this thread is kinda over.

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bah, im sticking with a 5150

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He never said he wanted a JCM 800, I was just giving him more options. Seems like he alreayd amde up his mind and didnt take anyoens advic anyways

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MARSHALL