Selling: Marshall 50th Ann JVM 1W combo (SOLD)

Investing in some clean tones, letting this go:

• Marshall JVM 50th Anniversary 1W all tube combo (power cord included)
• Condition: 8/10, please NOTE- the clean channel indicator is NOT working
• Self-collect @ CCK mrt stn, no testing
• No trades/ reservations
• Queries/ confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $449 (final)

Item SOLD 😀 

Go with your needs

Suppose you own an awesome amp, something that gives you what you want to hear, do you still need pedal reinforcements?

I believe Marshall's JVM gives me what I want to hear even its mini-me version here. It doesn't need a BOSS DS-1 to please me. However, I still hook it up for two main reasons:

1. A different type of drive. That's right, the JVM on its own versus a JVM plus the DS-1 are two different voicings. I tend to tame the gain down on the JVM with the DS-1 in use. If the gain over at the amp is maxed out, the DS-1 presence wouldn't be heard. I just amplifies the background hissing more than anything else. I need a marked contribution from the DS-1 but it shouldn't overpower the amp. It's quite a balancing act depending on the guitars used. Most of the time it's also because I have different pickups in various guitars so there's no fixed setting that will adapt to the different guitars, it's the joy of tweaking (both amp & pedal) & discovering the sweet spot.
2. Increased sensitivity. That's right, I discovered that a cascading drive set up (doesn't matter if it's an amp-pedal or a pedal-pedal combo) gives off extra picking sensitivity. Simple reason- we are dealing with two sources of gain. It's definitely different from cranking the gain up on the amp only; that's only a single gain source. The set back is that increased background hissing.

So go with your needs. If you need to hear your favourite amp being kicked by a mild distortion unit so that you can become what you are (& not under-perform)- do it. 

Combo magic

Still playing my Ibanez RG460 but looking for some tight end tone-wise so it's a combo reference. There's something about small drivers that limit excessive bottom end responses. It usually works better with single coils but with the right amount of resonance going, it'd be equally appealing. Of course, having your preferred pickups in the guitar, help as well. 😁

Marshall: JVM 1W

It's a Marshall Sunday & I chose to play this one: JVM 1W. It's one of 2012's anniversary models by Marshall which I didn't quite appraise at the close of last year but it's a keeper, definitely.

The immediate address here would be- 'would this puny rep be any close to the real JVM?' & the quick answer to this is- there is a semblance. The JVM is 'new' to Marshall in terms of drive voicing, it's unlike what a DSL or JCM800 has in store, it's just a little more defined. The clarity on board is much appreciated & you could hear that in this one. However, due to feature ergonomics, this JVM does not feature that fiery red mode of its drive channel so in terms of utmost extremity, it's not gonna happen. The cleans- one of the most respectable Marshall cleans out there; think contemporary, though, not vintage.

Tonal proceedings are restricted by the small 8" Celestion driver but it's a 'Celestion' you say & it's suppose to mean something in terms of tonal command- it's the size, not the brand name that pretty much defines this amp.

So it's my Ibanez S420 & this JVM this morning. I'm a little under the weather but it's no excuse for a good guitar time.

The great single pickup Sunday

This had been my playing set up today, I really enjoyed the solitary Duncan Full Shred in my Ibanez RG2610. People would whine; how useful can a single pickup be but Alan Holdsworth proved everyone wrong. No, I'm not trying to emulate the guitar wizard (i do borrow some of his ideas...) but it's a challenge to myself- how can I be commanding, working within certain limitations? This led me to focus on picking/ fretting techniques as well as utilizing the guitar's volume control.

As you can see, I still adopt a minimalist approach by only having the Ibanez TS7 in between the guitar & amp. Again, it's not about the JVM's inadequacy distortion-wise, I just play better with increased drive saturation.

Marshall Mustaine

Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)...
... is the latest guitar superstar to be liking Marshall's JVM.

LED... noise

Most amps are equipped with light emitting devices (LEDs) to indicate power status or channel slections, it's nothing new, majority of the amp manufacturers do include this feature, my JVM head included. The LED is located inside the power switch so every time it's switched one, the light comes on, it's that simple.

But this light isn't one which offers much help when one plays facing one's amp; your guitar gets too close to the light & the humming starts. I would've thought it's rather harmless but it gets you like other light emmitting devices should (TV screens, computer monitors, ceiling lights, etc); it causes hum.