I just picked up a Marshal JCM900/1960 4x12 cab

[ZoCrowes]

and I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate it!! I got it dirt cheap thanks to some trades and it is in excellent condition but I hate the tone. I was expecting the fat Marshall tone I am used to out of my JTM30 and this just sounds thin and processed. My fucking Line 6 POD sounds better than this damn thing.

In all fairness I have not had a chance to crank the damn thing yet. That will come in an hour.

[toddzilla]

1. never been a marshall fan..

Unless they are on 10 and have a chunky humbucker guitar going through them, they just plain suck for tone.

[XNASA]

2. My problem with Marshalls is that they always sound the same.

That Marshall tone that everyone loves is great, but it's the only tone you can get out of it....and you have to be cranked up to get it.

Not only that, but it doesn't seem to matter what kind of guitar you use, the tone is always the same.

That said, they are fun to play live if yo're really rockin'.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. I Concur

The one tone is terrific, but if you want something else, well i guess that explains the popularity of modeling pedals.
The Professor

[Zorra]

3. I love the tone of a 100 watt Marshall, but I find that I really have to

drive the tubes and tweak the amp just so to get the tone I like. When I use Marshalls I also use a power soak so that I can play at lower volumes and still get decent tone.

[bullimiami]

4. exactly the point that occurred to me.

unless you can play at arena volumes a marshall 100 just wont do it.

the power soak is a solution.
I worked on a 1959 that had a pretty crude mod to kill 2 power tubes.
you could also just pull two tubes and make it roughly a 50w amp but it doesnt really work that well.

50w marshalls are functional.

[BlueEyedSon]

5. Get a vintage Hiwatt 4x12.

Just got rid of mine, sounded great and less "stereotypical."

Downsized to Bag End single 12 cabs, amazing!

[bullimiami]

7. plus the hiwatt looks cool.

everyones seen marhalls.

an old orange with an orange cabinet is fun too.