Marshall JCM 800 Cab versus 1960 standard cab

[jemke]

I recently bought a 4x12' JCM 800 cab after A/B'ing them.
I first tested the new cab with a crunchy jcm 800 amp. It was a huge sound, lots of bas, impressive.
Then I tested the JCM 800 cab with exactly the same settings. The first impression was a more midrange focus and more detailed sound and more presence. After playing both for about 1/2 hour I realy liked the 800 sound because it is realy an into your face sound. It was a real different tone.


As far as I know the JCM 800 cab is the most recent model (1987-1990) because it can handle 300W so I suppose it has the same speakers as the standard 1960 cab.
Why the huge difference in sound?

Am a wrong and are the speakers different? Is it an overal different contruction and choice of material that makes the difference?

[Ant1981]

Maybe the JCM800 cab is a bit more 'run in' or they could have the G12M70's.

[red5]

G12M70s were only offered in cheap Marshalls something like 20 years ago for a limited period of time. They sound just like the G12M-75s as well, except they are rated at 75 watts. I doubt that G12M70s would sound significantly better than 75s when they are a cheaper model of the same speaker.

But I am going to guess the speakers were replaced. I have 2 JCM 800 cabs, both with G12M-75s and I am not the only person who thinks the G12M75s give Celestion a bad name. They do get a good Zack Wylde like tone, but they suck clean. I hardly ever used my straight cabinet, and I put Classic Leads into the angled cabinet and I sure as hell will not use the straight cabnet again unless I put some V30s or Classic Leads in that!

[bluealien]

When I use to play Marshall, I never had a 2 cabinets that sounded the same... so it just might be the the slight differences in how it was built, wood, speaker age, not remebering now is there insulation in them too?

[red5]

Not in mine - typical closed back cabinet (not sealed or whatever they call it when the back is permanently attached like the old Fenders).

[Ant1981]

Originally Posted by red5

G12M70s were only offered in cheap Marshalls something like 20 years ago for a limited period of time. They sound just like the G12M-75s as well, except they are rated at 75 watts. I doubt that G12M70s would sound significantly better than 75s when they are a cheaper model of the same speaker.

Do you think JCM800's are cheap? Guess what speakers are in JCM800 combos? G12M70's

[red5]

After they phased them out and switched to the G12M75s at least they were only used in Marshall's budget amps. This is after the JCM 800 era, so 15 years ago is more accurate. But I have never seen a cabinet with G12M-70s, only 65s or 75s.

Guess what speakers were used in the golden JCM 800 era? G12M-65s. Then came the G12M70s for a brief period and then the G12M75s after that. I remember you have a later 80s JCM 800 like a '89 or something? Must be a 4210 (I don't think they switched to 75s on them).

[jemke]

Thanx for the replies. I think that I'm going to open the cab and see what speakers are realy into my cab!

just have to an apprpriate find a screwdriver (just moved and everything is still in boxes, hehe)

[red5]

Originally Posted by jemke

Thanx for the replies. I think that I'm going to open the cab and see what speakers are realy into my cab!

just have to an apprpriate find a screwdriver (just moved and everything is still in boxes, hehe)

I am interested to hear what they are. I am guessing they have been upgraded significantly

[jemke]

They are G12T-75's

[jemke]

So are they original or not? What's the difference with G12M-75 or are they the same?

[red5]

Originally Posted by jemke

So are they original or not? What's the difference with G12M-75 or are they the same?

They are the same, except for possible minor differences. I am pretty sure they are still using the same mold for them as they did back then (some of the molds got wrecked and they had to make the molds again - the G12M-80s were one of them, so the new mold model is the Classic Leads).