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Archive for February, 2012

Marshall 50th Anniversary Stack – Custom Shop

February 29, 2012 Comments off

If only this were the real Golden Jubilee… I’d certainly be happy with a JCM800 as the Golden Jubilee (perhaps with a few extras like an additional gain stage that’s switchable with a pedal, power scaling and 50 watt switchable, and of course gold tolex)…

Just to be clear though, we have no official word from Marshall about whether there will be a Golden Jubilee (although all the hints suggest their will be), and the photo above is a production model JCM800 2203X reissue, with a custom shop option of an image printed on the grilles of both cabs and the head, specially for Marshall’s 50th anniversary year.

For more info on custom shop options, visit the Marshall Custom Shop

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Marshall Zakk Wylde Iron Curtain – The Legend Continues

February 29, 2012 Comments off

The first time I saw Zakk’s ‘Iron Curtain’ was at the Cambridge Corn Exchange in February 2011, and what a sight it was! There were no fewer than 24 Marshall amp heads, and 28 4×12 cabs all arranged in full stacks with double amp tops, and another 4 cabs centre stage…. Or was there? I can assure you that I wore ear plugs and it was LOUD, and some friends I went with who didn’t wear plugs had cotton wool ears for a couple of days! It certainly seemed like a very loud gig!

In reality Zakk and Black Label Society’s 2nd guitarist, Nick Catanese, both use three Marshall 2203ZW amps (Zakk’s original signature, from 10 years ago, released in 2002), and some of the cabs that are on stage (probably 6 each). Some more cabs (as you can see at the bottom of the stacks in the photo above) are bass cabs, and the rest are dummy cabs. The Iron Curtain heads (2203BLS it seems they may be called) are just front panels and tubes that light up to look like they’re real amps (see the link below for photos of these dummy amps/cabs)

The interesting question is when will Marshall release the new Zakk Wylde signature head, and will it look like the Iron Curtain head? If it does, I’m sure Marshall will sell a lot of these amps, as many Zakk fans have shown interest in these new amps being used on tour (even though they were dummies). I know I’d love to own one when they’re released (a man can dream!). Zakk’s also been interviewed in various guitar magazines recently stating that a new signature Marshall will be released in 2012, and will be a copy of one of his currently owned heads. Whether he means an existing 2203ZW or another amp he uses, we don’t know. But he’s famous for using JCM800 heads, so I can’t believe it would be anything other than a JCM800 2003 clone, with perhaps a couple of little extra features (FX loop and built in OD pedal perhaps (like the YJM100), and maybe even power scaling like the AFD100 and YJM100).

Some info and photos of ‘The Iron Curtain’ are here:
http://www.marshallforum.com/marshall-amps/33803-zakk-wyldes-iron-curtain-not-so-much.html

Line 6 Relay G90 – Rackmount Guitar Wireless

February 28, 2012 Comments off

If you haven’t already read my Relay G50 review, take a quick detour as some of what I’ll say about the G90 is related.  Rowbi’s G50 Review

Essentially the G90 has all the same great features of the G50, but with a few extras thrown in for good measure.
Read more…

Line 6 DT25 Review – Little Brother or Little Devil..?

February 28, 2012 6 comments

The cutting edge Line 6 DT50 is where it all started just over a year ago, but Line 6 certainly didn’t finish what they wanted to achieve in a single product. The DT25 is the new kid on the block, and while you could initially be mistaken for thinking of it as the DT50′s little brother, it is in fact very capable tube amplifier in its own right, with a couple of extra features that the DT50 itself doesn’t have to boot!

Read more…

Chokes In Guitar Amps

February 23, 2012 Comments off

If you’ve been reading all the rumours about the Satch Marshall signature amp that looks like it’s on its way soon, you may have also heard the information from Santiago Alvarez about the mods he made to the stock JVM410H, and one of them being the introduction of a choke.

Well if you’re not sure what a choke is or how it can affect your amp tone, check out the following link for a great description:
http://www.300guitars.com/articles/chokes-what-are-they-what-do-they-do/

Satch JVM Released – Unofficially

February 21, 2012 Comments off

That’s right Satch Fans!

If you want to pre-order a JVM410JS Satch Signature, the black head (looks like a JVM410H but with gold piping) is available for pre-order for £1399 and a limited (to 500 units) blue head and blue 1960A package are available for £2199 (and a 1960B blue cab are available as a seperate order). The blue head will not be available seperately from the blue 1960A cab. The shame is that you can’t just buy the blue 1960B with the blue limited edition head, as Satch has stated many times that he uses a 1960B cab… Oh well, best you limited edition hunters buy the package and a seperate 1960B-Blue too!

Info isn’t being released by retailers, as I assume Marshall want to do an official release at Musikmesse in a month, and rightly so. But there is a photo in circulation to dealers, showing a medium resolution picture of at least the black production model (with the gold piping). That’s under tight wraps though, and only dealers are able to see it… For now.

Delivery is in May 2012 for those lucky enough to get an order in quickly, and here is the info I have:

JVM410JS
Marshall Amplifications are pleased to announce the JVM410H Joe Satriani Edition. This new addition is not only the latest in the Signature Series range, but also an addition to the award winning flagship, the JVM. This collaboration between Marshall and one of the world’s most respected guitarists take the well known front panel features of the JVM410H and overhauls the tone to a completely new level.
HISTORY
Joe Satriani has long been associated with Marshall, in earlier days often citing the 30th Anniversary model, the 6100 as his amp of choice. After Satch’s departure to experiment with other brands, he found his love again for Marshall as he was recording the self titled debut album from Chickenfoot in 2009. Joe initially opted for stock JVM210H units, and after discussions it was deemed appropriate to add Satriani to Marshall’s Signature Series list.
SOUNDS & FEATURES
At a first glance, the JVM410JS may look familiar. Taking a more detailed look (and listen) though, will make you realise just how different this amp is from its stock counterpart. So, how is the JVM410JS different from the JVM410H?
Firstly, and probably most notably is the fact that the four reverb pots from the original JVM410 have now been replaced with noise gates; four noise gates no less, one for each channel and each with their own threshold. Another visible change to the front panel is the addition of a “Mid Shift” button that can be used for both OD1 and OD2 channels, shifting the mid character of the sound to that of Joe’s specification.
Tone wise, the amplifier is very different. The Clean channel is based on the aforementioned 6100 when on the green mode, with the orange and red modes being hotter variations of that tone too. The crunch channel takes the original JVM410 crunch and adds some of the popular Marshall “AFD” circuit to it, and the OD channels are now transition between modes. The mid shift button determines the difference in mid character between the original JVM410 OD1 and OD2 tone, moving the mids from around 650khz (Mid Shift off) to around 500khz (Mid Shift on).
The rest of the JVM410JS plays out in familiar territory; the amp is still powered by EL34 valves, there are two master volumes, the supplied footswitch enables you to switch between channels, modes, 2nd master, FX loop and now also the Noise Gates and Mid Shift too. There’s also full MIDI implementation to the unit.

Marshall Golden Jubilee – Possible September 2012 Release Rumour

February 21, 2012 Comments off

Well it looks like someone is either guessing, or do they know some inside info?

The rumour is that there may be a September 2012 release of the Marshall Golden Jubilee 100 watter (although as yet we have no idea what that amp will be). Realistically anyone could have a guess that at some point near the end of this year Marshall will release their Golden Jubilee amp…

Anyway, the hint comes from the Marshall Forum, and the poster actually links to a video where a Marshall demonstrator also suggests (as Chris George has hinted at in the past) that the 1 watt amps are just the start of things to come in this 50th year of LOUD!

Source:
http://www.marshallforum.com/marshall-amps/37332-official-50th-anniversary-thread-19.html

Satriani Signature Marshall JVM – Pricing Rumours

February 12, 2012 Comments off

As previously mentioned, the ‘word on the street’ is that Marshall will release a standard production model of the Satriani JVM signature head, and also a limited edition model in blue.

The rumour at the moment is that the standard production model will be around £1400, but final pricing details have yet to be announced.  The pricing for the limited edition model are to follow…  So remember to subscribe to this blog, or bookmark and keep checking back to the Satriani Signature Marshall category on this blog here:
http://rowbinet.co.uk/category/news/amp-news/marshall-amplification/joe-satriani-signature-jvm410js/

Marshall Satriani Signature – First Details Emerge

February 9, 2012 Comments off

Those of you in the know will obviously recognise the photo above as one of Marshall’s limited edition 30th anniversary 6100 heads and 4×12 cabs… Boy don’t we wish those were still available to buy as production models!

But fear not, your wanton desire to own a Marshall covered in sleek blue tolex may be fulfilled! I’ve just heard a rumour that the Joe Satriani Marshall signature amp will be released in March/April 2012 (which will coincide with Musikmesse in Germany) as a production model in black tolex, and as a limited run of 500 in blue tolex (similar to the photo above). Details of the exact number in the limited run aren’t clear yet, but there should be a matching blue 4×12 available too.

Guide prices are to follow soon, and here’s the link to all my Satriani JVM blog posts for you bookmark: CLICK HERE.

Note: Actually if you want a blue covered Marshall, you can of course custom order any production Marshall in blue for only a very small extra charge at the Marshall Custom Shop.

Meambobbo’s POD HD500 Tone Guide

February 8, 2012 6 comments

Meambobbo is a regular on the Line 6 User Community, and is particularly knowledgeable and helpful in the POD HD section of the Line 6 User Community.

Recently he has prepared a very interesting and in-depth guide covering the wide-ranging and all-encompassing topic of guitar tone.  But if you’re pushed for time the contents page at the beginning will help you narrow down to the section you are after to get some good general advice on what parts of you and your rig make up your guitar tone or what part of your POD HD setup needs some more work to improve your tone.

Click here for the webpage guide.

Click here for Meambobbo’s tone demo site.

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