Marshall 2203 JMP MKII Master Volume Lead

I bought this Used, I have a 1977 Fawn Tolex Model 2203 -100W High/Low input loaded with EL34s, one channel - No Mods. It has all the sound and features I need, becuase it has TONE baby Tone... I have played other amps, and terms of power I have never played its equal even among other Marshalls. Its so load, that you can stand next to it and feel your pant legs blowing. It always infuriates other guitar players when the start that ".. I gotta be louder cause I ain't got no skilz.." thing. The versatility is in your hands and in your heart so...

I use a BOSS overdrive pedal when I want that Metal Halen sound, otherwise it gets a great rock sound. When I play to myself I put High to 2 and Mid to 4 and base at 6 and presence Max, OD pedal on drive Max, MV 4. Just enough to feel good without rattlin your foundations off. If you want to go clean and mean. crank the MV and very the amount of gain. Oh BTW you MUST HAVE A MARSHALL CAB with Celestians!!!! I nearly sold my head playing through a Peavey 2X12 and thinking man this sounds like crap...

Never let me down, I replaced the filter caps cause it was starting to 60 Hz home. Not bad for 20 years of ownership ( I bought it used)

Never needed em

I nearly sold the damn thing twice because I was ignorant kid who thought that technology was the answer. It wasn't till a friend who was dumber than I, said, "hey I can't hear your playing through all that sh*****, why don't you play without it" I ray of light hit me even though I denied that my effects rack and midi switchable crap was the end all. Goes to show you, sometimes age old wisdom and pre transistor technology has something to say in our Larg Scale Integrated Transistor Technology world. Shed your skin baby this is the real deal.

Review for a 1977 JMP in reasonable condition, with the most important asset intact: TONE. One channel of course; controllable preamp gain, passive EQ, EL34 output valves... all standard but classic Marshall fare. The only thing I did that makes the amp non stock is decouple one of the capacitors before the main tone stack to reduce brightness.

I'm glad it doesn't have reverb on it actually, one for the weight it adds, two for the fact every marshall without exception has had crappy sounding reverb.

I've used this with a 77 Gibson Les Paul (one of the better ones from the Norlin era), an 01 Gibson SG and an Aria Pro II guitar I can't remember the model of.

I run it with one of the above mentioned guitar into a sound city 4x12 with fane speakers and/or a reissue 1960AX loaded with greenbacks.

Does it suit my musical style? It IS my musical style! The cleans are alright if you don't mind a slightly broken up sound, the high gains are excellent when the master volume is cranked. Gritty, punchy and tight with just a hint of old plexi tone at higher volumes. Not loads of variety here just awesome rock sounds.

About the only other few Marshalls that can touch this, in my opinion, are the 6100LM, Silver Jubilee/Slash and the occasional top notch JCM800. I've always been more into the aggressive marshall sounds so I don't rate plexis like some people do (heck most of them are just fender bassman circuits with minor tweaks anyway).

Yeah, I think 27 years on and still teaching the new boys how a killer rock amp should sound is a pretty good sign of how well this amp was made. Still continues to be cranked and still continues to deliver, in the rehearsal room and on the stage.

Pretty poor in some respects. Yes they are polite and helpful - IF you can get through to them. Trying to order parts can be a friggin nightmare, be prepared to stay on hold for a time if you phone them up.

I don't need Marshall to repair this though, I have my own preferred technicians to do that if need be.

I've been playing around seven years. I've already listed the better gear I own and use. If this were stolen I'd go hunting for a Silver Jubilee head. I love the look and the top notch rocking tones. I hate the weight but hey what are roadies for eh?

I already compared it to other Marshalls. I would bother to compare it to other amps but for overdriven and distorted tones why bother with anything other than a top marshall. I tried bothering with other rock amps and it simply put off the inevitable.

I wish it had switchable channels but thats asking a bit much. Overall a great piece of kit, and because these aren't considered vintage yet, plus the fact they are currently available in great numbers, they can be had for stupidly low amounts of cash. Mine cost more than average cos it came from a guitar store not ebay or the trade papers.

TO MY UNDERSTANDING, MINE IS A 1980 MODEL. IT FITS MY STYLE PERFECT.
I PLAY A LOT OF HENDRIX, TROWER, FLOYD,SABBATH, SLAYER, ALICE IN CHAINS ZAKK WYLDE ECT. NO FX LOOP CHANNEL SWITCHING OR HEADPHOINE JACKS OR OTHER USELESS FEATURES. DOES WHAT I NEED. HAS PLENTY OF POWER.

I PLAY A 78 STRAT, A JIMI HENDRIX TRIBUTE STRAT AND A NO NAME S.G. COPY, ALL WHICH HAVE STOCK P.U.'S IT IS NOISY BUT IT GETS THE JOB DONE. I RUN THE PRESENCE @ 2O'CLOCK, THE BASS @ 3O'CLOCK,MID @ 6 O'CLOCK AND THE TREBLE @ 1O'CLOCK. I RUN THE MASTER AT 2 AND THE PRE AT 9. THE REST OF MY DRIVE COMES FROM A ZAKK WYLDE OVERDRIVE AND A BIG MUFF AND AN ARBITER FUZZ FACE

VERY DEPENDABLE, BUT I ALWAYS USE A BACK UP JUST IN CASE (LANEY AOR PRO TUBE LEAD 100 WATT). NEVER ANY TROUBLE

N/A ITS A MARSHALL

I HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR 13 YEARS. TOO MUCH OTHER GEAR TO NAME OFF.
IF IT WERE STOLEN I WOULD BEAT BURN AND SODOMIZE WHOEVER STOLE IT.
LOVE THIS AMP TO DEATH.

Dont know when it was made but the sticker on the chassi says tested 1977 , its a mk 2 so i assume its been shipped to the usa and retubed with 6335`s???? i suspect its older then 77 but not much. its as versitile as i need it to be , that said its got only one channel so if your thinking about buying one make shure you have a good boost pedal. i use this amp at practice and gigs , its MIGHTY loud and i rarely crank it past 4 on the master and 8 on the pre amp, plenty power!!!!

i use a les paul and a danelectro with this amp , it sounds thick and stoogesy with the les p. the dan sounds fabulously garagey through this amp.It does not like budget all in one fx boxes {zoom 505} they tend to hiss horribly , the amp can clang or roar should you choose it to do so but dont expect clean tones from this valve breathing beast

never broken anything other than the pre amp pot but that was my fault as i was trying to ram brass knurled knobs onto the pot shafts, it looks awsome covered in furry leopard skin { my own customisation }
changed the tubes to el34`s

never needed it

been playing since i could walk
if someone looks at my amp the wrong way i want to break their hands

i once told my wife that if there was a fire in the house not to panic and that i would be back to get her after i got my amp out of the building , she said "well you know i could help you carry it." i said "no its too heavy for you and you would probably drop it"

79 Marshal MKII Master Model. Added Gain Mod. 1 Channel, High/Low inputs, Marshall Tone Stack, Pre PI Master. 4 Speaker outs. FX Loop added By earlier owner.
No need for added features. Used for recording as well as gigging.

Just replaced the 6550 GE Tubes for 4 GrooveTubes EL34LS and 4 ECC83 preamp tubes. After biasing was complete this is a real monster. Love the natural distortion and with the mod it is really nice and big sounding. Not thin and Bright.
Good Harmonics and sustain. Each note is easily distinguishable.

Down low I get a fat bright sustain which is great for quiet rehearsing. Up loud maybe 3-4 max My neighbors are ready to mob the house. I have always bought the JMP master volume models 77-81 50wt and 100wt you always get your money back if not more, when you want to try another. This one more than satisfies my need for warm bright crunch. I have used many different cabs but the best for my sound are my 2 Marshall 4x12s running 25wt greenbacks in one and G12L-35s in the other. With this cab combo and this amp I get the body and attack I want. (Influences: Iron Maiden, UFO, Judas Priest, Halen, KISS, Scorps and Big Hitters.) I never buy any other type of head this is it for me. The new stuff is junk and flat most of the time. The competitors are close but ugly looking and thin sounding.

Never has let me down. Only 1 did when it took a dive off the double stack and hit concrete. Then it was only a fuse believe it or not.
25 years of playing only Marshall JMPs and I honestly can't image using anything else. Yes I have tried the others.
I have never once worried about retubing. I have always had ELs so I guess I've been lucky. You have to lug it- but it is worth it when you play.

I never worry about needing a company to sevice my amps.
I know a couple of shops that have good Marshall techs. If I had to, I would give them a try only on recommendation. I have never had to deal with a tech on one of these, I have had 9 over the last 25 years. Music stores are usually pretty lame when it comes to the older amps. They always try to push the garbage they need to move or whatever.

Playing 25 or so years. Gibson and Ibanez Explorers/Destoyers/V's.
Gibson hot ceramics or Seymour Duncans only. Straight input. Effects come with recording.
I will buy nothing other!.....Ever!...Yes my Mantra!
Marshall is the best in my opinion and very reliable if used correctly.

This is a 2203 and mad 17/01/1979. Its a very unusual color (a bit like a sort of whicker color) and i am told they made just a couple of hundred. This amp head is total rock. I have (and still do) use boogie triaxis and marshall 9200 (el34) and a boogie road king, but this amp has its own inimitable sound that is difficult to emulate on any other amp. Dont waste your time with simulators either they are generally crap. My 2203 is otherwise (I think) stock. The lead channel is VERY toppy, so much so that you have to turn the trebble right off, maybe its been modded Im going to check. Just lo and hi imputs, two speaker out and nothing much more, but who cares - this is rock n roll.

Yep, this is where the thing jumps out at you. The sounds (with the master above 5 and the pre up full will move your bowels (especially if you stand too close to the cab) and believe me, it is still one of the best rock sounds (along with the triaxis and road king kit) that I think you can get. If you rock - don't get one of those pussy foot newer tops - Ive had them all (the 2000 series, the dsl etc etc) get one of these - preferably not modded its awesome.

Ive only had this top for about a couple of months, but the previous owner had it 20+years so it looks VERY original under the cover. The valves had 1/4 inch of dust on them! This one has EL34's (the best for a marshall) so make sure yours has them too.

Don't need any, but from experience I know Milton Keynes will help.

Ive been playing since about 69 so have had some practise. Ive been in bands and also solo things, so I guess I have seen the miles (visit www.tonymckenzie.com to find out all about me).

I would buy another one of these amps without question. The hates for this amp are weight (but try picking up a road king ugh...) and loves remain the sound. I suppose Im a gear head as much as a guitarist, but you just know when something is RIGHT - and the 2203 Master Vol is dead right. I have also tried a Boss overdrive pedal with this amp, just use the level knob and dont use the overdrive knob (i.e leave it on 0) and this gives an overall smoothness to the sound - without any mods to the amp - you should try this on your valve amp - especially the older models.

79 Marshal MKII Master Model. Added Gain Mod. 1 Channel, High/Low inputs, Marshall Tone Stack, Pre PI Master. 4 Speaker outs. FX Loop added By earlier owner.
No need for added features. Used for recording as well as gigging.

Using only my 4 Gibson explorers with 550t and Seymour Duncans I have all I need.
I never use the FX Loop or the extra gain mod some dummy added to it.
I find this to be a sin since the sound I require comes from the amp itself.

Down low I get a fat bright sustain which is great for quiet rehearsing. Up loud maybe 3-4 max My neighbors are ready to mob the house. I have always bought the JMP master volume models 77-81 50wt and 100wt you always get your money back if not more, when you want to try another. This one more than satisfies my need for warm bright crunch. I have used many different cabs but the best for my sound are my 2 Marshall 4x12s running 25wt greenbacks in one and G12L-35s in the other. With this cab combo and this amp I get the body and attack I want. (Influences: Iron Maiden, UFO, Judas Priest, Halen, KISS, Scorps and Big Hitters.) I never buy any other type of head this is it for me. The new stuff is junk and flat most of the time. The competitors are close but ugly looking and thin sounding.

Never has let me down. Only 1 did when it took a dive off the double stack and hit concrete. Then it was only a fuse believe it or not.
25 years of playing only Marshall JMPs and I honestly can't image using anything else. Yes I have tried the others.
I have never once worried about retubing. I have always had ELs so I guess I've been lucky. You have to lug it- but it is worth it when you play.

I never worry about needing a company to sevice my amps.
I know a couple of shops that have good Marshall techs. If I had to, I would give them a try only on recommendation. I have never had to deal with a tech on one of these, I have had 9 over the last 25 years. Music stores are usually pretty lame when it comes to the older amps. They always try to push the garbage they need to move or whatever.

Plain old local papaers or Ebay even.....thats where I pick 'em up and I am always happy. Be sure to try it before you buy it though.

Playing 25 or so years. Gibson and Ibanez Explorers/Destoyers/V's.
Gibson hot ceramics or Seymour Duncans only. Straight input. Effects come with recording.
I will buy nothing other!.....Ever!...Yes my Mantra!
Marshall is the best in my opinion and very reliable if used correctly.

Even if you have to pay 900.00. If you like the sound similar to the groups above....you won't go wrong with these models.

Very best to you...enjoy!

1978 MK II Master Volume. Not versatile, but doesn't really need to be. 1 Channel, High/Low inputs, Marshall Tone Stack, Pre PI Master. 4 Speaker outs.

I play 'lawsuit' Ibanez' mostly. '76 Destroyer with a Duncan Custom Custom and a Floyd routed in is the main ride. Have a few others: Set Neck Greco LP Standard, another '78 Destroyer, Warmoth Parts Tele with mini-humbuckers, Mexi strat. I play '70s-80s style bluesy ROCK. My own stuff is similar to: Travers, Schenker, early VH, Frank Marino, etc. This amp works REALLY well for this style. I hit it with a Keeley-modded Tube Sceamer and an Ibanez Parametric pedal. Orange 4x12 loaded with Weber Silvers and Blue Dogs. Great combination!! This amp is running old Magnavox 6550's and is a tad bright and has a slight 'hole' in the mids. Am going to swap in JJ E34L's to remedy this. But the tonal building block that this amp intrinsically provides is fantastic! It's nature is all the right Marshall stuff. I may try a 330pf cap paralleled on the input resistor; I'll wait till I retube to decide. Nice basic Marshall quality already, though. I'm most often using now as a 'slave' into the low input. I use a Keith Reinneger head with an fx loop. One side comes back into the Reinneger Head, the other side into the low Marshall jack. KILLER!! Like havin a big bad power amp with an added tone stack!!

25 yrs. old. Has a scratchy mid pot, but that's easy to remedy. Feels VERY solid. The output tranny doesn't look original ton me, but I've been playing 'er for 3 months now; no problems.

I have one of the finest repairmen in the business.

Great, solid Marshall 100 watter. It is a one-trick-pony. But it's a mighty good-sounding trick! They're also easy to do minor mods like changing the Cathode resistor on V1b to lower value or like I said earlier, put a cap on the input resistor if you want. May put in a fx loop some day. The basic amp itself KILLS for stright rick/Bluesy Rock. Highly recommend it, but the price on these things is heading up, so move now.

This amp was made in 1980 according to the sticker on the chassis and the serial number is 02694M it has EL34 tubes. No modifications.
Just one channel (2 inputs)
I have used this amp for practise, recording and concerts. It has just the right amount of power I need.

I use a Galama (Dutch Guitarbuilder)Les Paul model handbuilt guitar with Bill Lawrence L90 pick-ups, a Reissue '67 Gibson flying V, a ESP Telecaster (first releases) and a '70 scalopped fender Stratocaster. There is only one sound, but thats GREAT.

It has always worked, never failed me.

I bought it with the Cab in 1984 from the first owner.

I have been playing for 26 Years, I own a 8040 valvestate for home use. A MXR (original) Distortion +, Marshall Guv'ner pedal, cry baby Wah wah and DOD 250 pre-amp (yellow)
I compared it to a marshall 2000 tsl once and thought I could throw it (2203)in the dustbin, that was, until I plugged the 2203 in, what a tone and growl. It blew it away.

I bought this jcm 800 2203 (it was made in 1981) used but its pretty straight forward gain and lots of it. it has 100w no effects loop which sucks and no reverb which sucks too, but the tone fucking rocks.

This is my rig, I have a Ibanez RG prestiege 2120x that is running to my effects, Ernie ball volume pedal, boss ge-7 eq, boss ls-2 line selector, boss ns-2 noise suppressor, boss dd-5 delay, boss ce-5 chorus, boss cs-3 compressor, ph-3 phase shifter, ds-1 distortion, dunlop 535q wah pedal. the amp sounds great, i like good clean tones and being only one channel its kinda hard but what i did was i took my eq and dropped all the sttings to (0) except for the volume which is up a little then it is run through all my modulation effects and sounds great for my style. I play anything from joe satriani, steve vai, to lincoln park, finch, flaw, mudvayne, etc... but this amp is just fine for me right now. i am going to have all the capasitors replaced cause its over 20 years old and i don't know how well the last owner treated it. i am also going to have it change from 6550 to el34 power tubes. then i am going to have some minor mods down by torres engineering, the mid range boost, the gain boost, 50 - 100watt switch, and a 100 watt bullet proof mod done to it ( basically this is a surge protector built in to the amp it prolongs tubes life and protects the amp. the midrange boost and gain boost are push pull pots which are on the bass and treble knobs and when pulled its boost the mids and gain and when pushed back it returns the amp to its original state, this is a feature of torres engineering that i liked beacuse i wanted more versitilaty out of my amp and everyone does mods to there jcm 800 but it doesn't sound like the amp they purchased in the beginning so i like that there mods can be turned off letting the amp sound original like it was supposed to sound.

don't know yet but being a marshall i don't think i ll have anything to worry about.

don't know

i love this amp and will enjoy playing for as long as i have it.