Dilemma with effects loop.

[Josh Blagg]

I really dig the vintage Marshall and 80's Marshall sounds. *Right now I have the JTM45 Reissue, which has the sweetest distortion ever, but only at high volumes. *I was thinking about going after a JCM 800 instead. *The 50 watt model, with no master volume. *However, I did not know that these were sans an effects loop.

Now I know the JTM45 did not have an effects loop before I bought it, but I just wanted to try it out for a while at home. *In a gig situation, I need delay on my lead sound. *But the problem is, I don't want to dish out big bucks for an Echoplex or a simulator of such. *The Echoplex is designed to go in front of a distorted vintage amp. *I, on ther other hand, need to be able to run digital delay and analog delay in an effects loop -- sounds way muddy in front of the amp.

So the thing is, I don't really know what to do here. *I'm not into these high gain Mesas, Riveras, boutiques that cost a million dollars. *I pretty much like to stick with Marshall for the lead. *But I want to be able to run a DD-5 or a DM-2 without getting into a muddy mess. *I guess an effects loop can always be added, but it changes the tone of the amp in a lot of cases. *What do you think?

(Edited by Josh Blagg at 5:00 am on May 19, 2001)

[gkelm]

I think you could have a pretty good effects loop put in, but for the cost to have it done right you might as well look into other amps.

Your DM-2 muds up before the amp? *Mine does ok, but I agree, much better after distortion. *The EH MM Deluxe does quite well before...I think it's about as close to a tape echo as you can get.

Is the JCM800 going to help you get OD at lower volumes than the JTM45...aren't they close in power rating? *It seems that there is a device that reduces your amp output to line levell so you can run into effects and then into a power amp (not a variac, which reduces voltage, or power brake which I don't think take the level down that low). *But even then, you'd need a power amp. *Not sure what the best fix would be?

Greg

[jeff l]

Josh,
* * * *If you need delay only in a band situation, you could always run the delay effect through the soundboard. You could then seperately adjust the level of delay coming through your monitors and through the house/ main PA.

* * * * * * I don't know how practical this would be for you as some bands have the mixer onstage (you could then control it) and others have a soundman at the back of the room (soundman has control).

[Josh Blagg]

All the JCM 800's I have played let you get more distortion at lower volumes via a gain control. *Maybe the early model I am talking about doesn't have this?

Anyway, I would really like to have the effects loop, but it just may not be practical. *Looks like a tape delay emulator will be the most practical solution...and yes, the DM pedals really make my sound muddy when run before the amp.

As for running it in the PA, I thought about that, but a lot of time I won't even have a PA. *And for sitting around and trying to figure out my tone, I wouldn't be able to see how the delay would affect the sound while practicing at home. *Maybe I could find a Marshall with a good effects loop installed?