Marshall 2203 JMP MKII Master Volume Lead

High and low sensitivity inputs, four-band EQ, Pre-amp gain, and master volume. Not much else to say. I'm one of those people who likes his amps sweet and simple.

This is my backup amp. My main amp is a Super Lead 100. This is a good sounding amp, though. I am kind of spoiled on tone because I've been exposed to so many great amps, but this one holds its own and I'd use it in the studio and live for sure. It's got that 70's Marshall Distortion sound. VERY bright, screaming, etc. Although my Super Lead has more thump, cream, and sustain to it, this one beats it in features. The master volume is a big help to control the volume. Still, this one needs the THD Hotplate because it's very loud. The amp sounds very good with the Master between four and six. After six, it gets too compressed and has too much "give" in the feel. This amp's sound is really good if you want that late 70's, early 80's rock sound. Think Randy Roads Crazytrain. The funny thing about this amp, is that like all Marshalls, the pick attack is really sensitive. Combine that with the fact that it's got no reverb, it's very easy to sound sloppy through this thing. If you make even a smigin of a mistake, like fret noise or a mis-coordination between your picking and fingering, etc- the amp will hear it. So will you. Mistakes are heavily amplified in this amp, just like my Super Lead. You've got to learn how to play really clean or you'll end up sounding like you've rushed yourself into your chops and you're sloppy. All in all this amp is just a good rock and roll amp. Nothin' else.

Mine is a 1978, so the fact that it has been working well is good. I've had bad luck with my other Marshalls, but not with this one. I guess I don't apply since I've only had the amp, oh- 28 hours.

Marshall customer support sucks.

I'd buy this one again. It's got a nice tone. I love the vibe of this amp- it's a 1970's Marshall, it's kinda beat up, it's simple, etc. It really does sound good, but it's not versitile at all. I'd recommend it, but be sure you know the limitations of this amp. It just does rock, metal, or maybe jazz fusion. Get it if you want a good classic rock sound and you can't afford the Super Lead. If you buy a THD Hotplate and you can afford the Super Lead, get it. If you want a higher-gain, cheaper amp that's in the same ballpark, get the JMP.

As near as I can tell the amp was made in 10-84. It doesn't have many features but what it does do is create kick-ass tone at painful volume levels! other than a D.I. out it is very sparce feature wise, not unlike older amps. I tend to like minimum features in this way!

I have a strat, tele, and Les Paul and all are more or less stock, the strat sounds pretty good, the tele is a little bright for my taste but the Les Paul roars! I would think that any axe with humbuckers should yield some lethal tones! using the "low Input" you can dial in some pretty clean tones, it is also not as bright I find that you can crank the treble and leave the mids, lows and presence about "5" and set the master to "7" then use the pre-amp to set volume to get reasonable rhythm type tones. The high input is gain city and produces any thing from light and crunchy to ear splitting classic marshall crunch and thump! the amp isn't really quiet but I'm sure it could use a set of filter caps and a new set of tubes. This amp uses 6550s I will modify it to use EL34's to see what that does.

I have been a service man for 20 yrs. and have seen very few marshalls over-all this is partially due to the relative scarcity when compared to other companys (Fender, Peavey, ect.)and also because of the decent quality. Experience has shown that only a few problems are common.
1. filter caps after 15 yrs.
2. tube sockets on octal sockets sometimes come apart. (this one has had one socket replaced).
3. noisy pre-amp tubes.(this is due to the high gain front-end and usually selecting quiet ecc83s will cure this)
thats about it.
Marshall doesn't run their plates as high as other companys and usa versions that used 6550s will last and last typically the tubes will break from "road rash' before they will wear-out. they do-not however sound as good as they british versions using EL-34s.

I only buy used equipment and repair my own so I normally don't have to deal with warranties, However getting parts is a breeze from New Sensor, Antique Electronic Supply and many others! just surf and you will find what your looking for

I have been playing for 28yrs. and have owned many amps including other Marshalls, I currently own a vintage JTM45 and I like the 2203 as well in different ways. the "45" has that vintage 60's woman tone and the 2203 has that power and attitude for days! If you like tons of feature this isn't the amp for you. If you like tons of classic Marshall tone "set it and forget it" this baby will shack your world!
(ear protection a must)

Mine is roughly a '78 and is very bare bones. Lo/Middle/Hi and a Pre-amp and a Master Volume. 2 inputs: Lo and Hi -- I only use the hi because I think my lo input is broken. 50 watts -- all tube -- I use 6440s. Ohm selector on the bacl: 4, 8 and 16.
Again, very slim in the features department compared to a new Mesa or one of those Line6's. However, answer this question: Do you use a lot of outboard effects, like distortion, delay, chorus, wah, etc? If so, this is an excellent amp and does not need any features! They would only crowd your sound.
But if I had to add one thing it would be reverb...

I play roots/Indie rock with a 77 Gibson SG thru a Proco Rat to a Dunlop cry baby to the MKII, and I get phenomynal sounds. In my band, I'm the lead guitarist, so I don't need shimmering clean sounds. If you do, however, need such cleaness, get another amp. Although it's clean for a Marshall, it does not stack up compared to a Twin or its ilk. But if you need to rock, and you use outboard FX, this thing will provide you the brute sound that you need.

Never had a bit of a problem in a year's worth of heavy use. (Knock on wood... I don't have an adequate back-up...)

LOL -- it's 20+ years old. Go to your local music shop for service.

I love this amp. I have it paired with an old VOX 2x12 cab and the two together are devastating -- I wouldn't play any other. It's perfect for small to medium size club gigs; and looks awesome on stage.
I've played Fenders which are nice, but don't provide the "rockness" I sometimes need.

This 100watt 1977 Marshall isnt loaded with features at all witch in my opinion is no problem. No chanel switching witch is a plus in my mind and no efx's loop another plus. The valves are 4 6550 but you can also use a EL34's because6550 and EL34's are both basicley the same valve but the 6550 is the U.S. version of the tube. And its got 3 12AX7A in the pre amp. Controls are for Mid, Treble, Bass, Presence, Volume, and Pre-Amp volume. Being a master volume model is one of the things I hate about the amp. But you can open the amp up and disable the master. It's not to hard to do. Also like all other master volume models (to my knowledge) it has only 2 inputs. 1 is for high sensitivity the other for low. They should have kept it with 4 inputs like the earlier Plexi's and Superleads. But the worst thing is when you open it up to look at the electronics inside. It's circit board. I hate that. That is really I geus my bigest problm with this amp but many people could care less about that. It dosent have Reverb or Tremalo built in but thats not to big of a deal. No earlyer Plexi's or Superleads had reverb so no big problem there some did have tremalo witch is a really cool feature on any amp in my opinion. But because lack of being hand wired, Only 2 insted of 4 inputs and having a master volume it gets a 7 actulaey it realey deservs a 6.5

This is a great sounding amp once you crank it for overdrive. In my mind I would actualey consider this a high gain amp. Allmost no one else would though. I geus it seems like that to me becuse I mainley use Fender amps at lower volumes to get a real clean warm tone. Well any way. This amp also seems to have a whole lot of treble but just back off on the treble to fix that. When I got it I wanted somthing that sounded difrent form all my Fender, MusicMan, and Gibson amps and it certinley sounds difrent. It's great for a giant overdrive but it could be better. The earlier Plexi's and SuperLeads Sound better especialey the plexi's but they cost a good amount more. The clean tone well it's. Lets just say it is lack luster. But hey you don' realley buy a Marshall and expect to get crystal clear clean sounds of a Fender Twin Reverb. You buy it for a big overdrive sound and becuse there LOUD!!!!!!!! Once you crank one of these you will see what I mean. Well thats my opinion anyway. This realley deserves a 7.5 in this catagorey.

Well it's over 20 years old and still going strong so I think it will hold up. I think the person who had it before me just sat this thing in a closet and used it every now and then. It dosent really seem neglected at all just kida dirty and in need of a clean up and thats it. I would easily use it at a gig without a backup.

Who needs it this amp is over 20 years old!

In all my time of playing I kinda just over looked Marshall amps. But after geting it I see what people say when they tell you these things have a great overdrive and are extreamley loud. The olny thing I can think of that has the same wattage rateing and is louder is a HIWATT Custom 100. I would however like to trade it towards a Marshall Super Lead or Super Tremalo made from 1969 to 1973 or a Orange Graphic 120 and mabey even a HIWATT Custom 100 with 4 inputs. I just wish it was hand wired, and had no master volume and had 4 inputs insted of 2 . (Note I also took into account in this review the cost of the amp wutch was not that much especialy compared to origanal Plexi's and SuperLeads.)

This is a classic Marshall amp, made around 1975. Has two inputs, one for high gain and one for low gain. Has pre amp volume knob, which, if cranked on the lo sensitivity channel, does about nothing. you can get a decent vintage overdrive when your on the high sensitivity channel, though. This amp is LOUD. It's only 50 watts, but it would blow any other 50 watter away. Of course, it is all tube.

Well, i pretty much summed it up above, but it does have a nice clean sound for a marshall. It really comes alive with a box distortion or a RP-7, which is what I use.

It was reliable for a while till i messed with the ohm selector switch. It seems that it was broken and hard wired to 8 ohms. It started cutting in and out. It does this every now and then, and it works once you find the right spot.

never contacted Marshall

Well, if you want an amp with great pre amp distortion & drive, this aint for you. It stops at a nice overdrive, maybe a little heavier at lower volumes. But when using an external source for you source, it really cranks. Loudest 50 watts ever.