CMW Amps JCM888 Mod

My JCM800 is a 4010, a one channel combo with a G12M70 speaker. It's an'83 with vertical inputs and it had KT77 tubes when I bought it. As all Marshall's, it sounds best when it's turned all the way up. Since this created two problems: angry band members in rehearsal and squeaky sounds caused by worn out tubes, I turned to CMW amps for servicing and some mods. Instead of KT77's it has now got EL34s as power tubes and it has been recapped.
The main mod is the PPIMV instead of the external speaker output. This means my presence is still available, although it is influenced by the PPIMV setting. When the PPIMV is all the way up, presence is fully available.
At the same time I got a bit more gain, a more fat sound, tighter low-end and a more effective mid-control.

Lay out hasn't changed, it's still the same 6 controls.

I play in a cover band, but I like to step outside my normal set list and play some heavier stuff.
I use it crancked in a dual setup, it has only got one task. since I looked for the sweet spot and found it, I do not play around with controls. When preforming I try to adjust as little as possible, but that depends on the volume that I'm allowed to play.

It's a one trick pony, but it can compete a race horse :-)

No problems so far, and I not counting them in either.

Chris at CMW is a great guy, took the time to find out what I wanted and kept me informed. Easy to reach and fast and correct in answering emails or calls.

I have started to play at the age of 32, 6 years ago. I'm not nearly an incredible player, but I know how it should sound. The other amp in my setup is a Mesa boogie Blue angel which I use for clean sounds.
I mostly play Rhythm guitar.
At this moment I use a crybaby, FL-9, small stone, echopark, rangemaster clone, and an OCD, my board is equipped with george L and the cables are Fatsoflex. My main guitar is a Godin LG equiped with Tetrad's, my back up is a telecaster with SD quarter pounders. I like 70's rock sounds...

I chose the JCM888 mod because I heard good things about it on a forum and after Chris showed me what it does for your sound at low volumes, the choice was made.
If it is stolen, I will buy another JCM800 and it becomes a JCM888 once again

Originally my amp is a '79 Marshall JMP 2203 combo. It had few problems and had been modded before (effectsloop built-in and removed, part of the chassis removed and some indistinct mods to warm up the voicing of the amp).
Chris from CMW serviced my amp for me and did a few mods whilest my amp was at his shop.
The main mod is the PPIMV instead of the presence control. The other mods are: a bit more gain than stock, a fatter and fuller sound, tighter low-end (no flabbyness anymore) and a different more effective mid-control.

It's just a straight forward amp, 6 controls (1 vol, 2 gain, TMB) and 2 different channels hi/lo, although no channelswitching. I really wish I could switch between the hi and lo channels, it's got a great clean (very warm en punchy and ballsy) and a really big sounds crunch/od channel.

This amp is the quintessential rock amp for me, but I use it for any style of music. I play in a coverband and instead of using 3 different sounds for every song on the setlist, I use 2 amps (Vox AC15 and this CMW modded Marshall) for 2 great sounds and boost them with pedals. It does anything from The Kooks to Beth Heart, from fat clean sounds to really big and loud OD sounds. It's really versatile, just use 1 channel and few OD/boosters, or just plug straight into the amp with only your guitar and cable.

Now for the 2 channels, first the lo channel:
The lo channel is the clean channel, it stays clean with my les paul with the mv on 10 and the gain on 6/6,5. Use a strat/tele and it will stay clean a bit longer. No Fender clean, it's got it's own voicing, fat and Marshally, think John Frusciante/Hendrix. I found something really fun, with this channel dimed, you get a really nice crunchy Hendrix sound, then boost it, and you get the same medium gain OD as on the hi channel. the drawback is, is that this channel is half as loud as the hi channel, not really a problem since you can't switch channels and the hi channel is too loud.

Hi channel: This is why I bought this amp in the first place. Plug in a les paul and you get instant 70'/80's rock/hard rock. The big problem is that this channel is really loud, to loud to play on any stage smaller that a stadium. But this is were the CMW JCM888 mods come in handy, especially the PPIMV. It lets you turn op the gain and vol and then adjust the volume with the PPMIV without compromising the tone a lot. Ofcourse, you will hear the difference between the PPIMV on 1,5 and on 10, but if you want to rehearse with this amp of play it amp home (as I do too) you won't get a more authentic Marshall sound at low volumes.

The mod also modified the sound/voicing of the amp. It sound fatter and a brighter than before the mod, but not the harshness the 2203 can be known for. I rehoused the amp into a head and rebuilt the combo into a closed back cab. You'll get a lot more bass and warmth if you use a closed back instead of an open back, at least that is what I experienced.
It can be a bit noisy though, but that is dus to my own settings, I like to set the mv to 8/9 and the gain to 5. That will give you a bit of hum, but it's most noticeable with the PPIMV on 1,5, when I use it at home.

But the biggest suprise and fun thing is the new mid control, I never found Marshall tonestacks to really change your sound. But the new mid control is like a voicing control, you can go from midscooped, compact sounds to screaming leads with a lot of body and mid with this new mid crontrol. It really makes the amps a lot more versatile, especially on the clean channel. You can make it a bit 'vox'like if you play with the mid control and set it around 4 with the bass and treble on 7/8.

Some Marshall are reliable, others break down within 5 min. But that hasn't got anything to do woth CMW, he just modded the amp. I'm sure his work will continue do it's job until I get tired of the amp. It hasn't stopped working yet and I gig with it.

CMW is a one man company, that's what I like about it. He's very easy to contact and always very friendly to deal with.

About the overall rating, if I'f buy another 2203 I'd get the JCM888 mod again, it just makes the amp so much more useful and better sounding on lower and smaller stage volumes.
It's one of the best amps I've heard till now, and my alltime favourite when it comes to OD/lead sounds. The only real drawback is that the combo used to be really heavy, but I solved it now and rehoused it into a head.
My other amp is a Vox AC15CC1, terrific for clean sounds. On big gigs I A/B those 2 amps, Vox for clean and clean lead, 2203 for OD/OD lead.
On smaller gigs I use either my AC15 with OD pedals, or my 2203 on the lo channel woth OD channels, depends on where we play.
My guitars are, a rare Orville by Gibson les paul '59 Reissue, a Fender MIJ telecaster '62 reissue, another Fender MIJ stratocaster and an Epiphone Sorrento woth P90's.
I'm a guitarplayer in a new and upcoming coverband, and I really need a good reliable amp for gigs, and this one does it.
If it was stolen I think I would save up to buy another one have it modded again. Or buy an custombuilt CMW amp.