Uploaded April 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I'm often asked how much distortion the JCM 800 delivers.
The answer is: well, that depends.
There are a few different JCM800 models, these two are the most common ones (there's also the 50W versions and the four input 1987 one).
Then there are several revisions of the 2210/2205 /the later ones have more gain and a different voicing, this one is from 1985).
I think the 2210 (even the early ones) have HEAPS of gain even without a boost...for this riff it'd even be too much for my taste, but the purpose of this video was not really to get the best possible sound out of each amp and compare them in terms of which one sounds "better", but I wanted to show you how much gain they have on tap.
the 2203 has actually more gain than people think it has (with a strong picking hand at least), but it'll need a little bit of a nudge from a tube screamer or other OD pedal to get into modern metal territory.
I'm often asked how much distortion the JCM 800 delivers.
The answer is: well, that depends.
There are a few different JCM800 models, these two are the most common ones (there's also the 50W versions and the four input 1987 one).
Then there are several revisions of the 2210/2205 /the later ones have more gain and a different voicing, this one is from 1985).
I think the 2210 (even the early ones) have HEAPS of gain even without a boost...for this riff it'd even be too much for my taste, but the purpose of this video was not really to get the best possible sound out of each amp and compare them in terms of which one sounds "better", but I wanted to show you how much gain they have on tap.
the 2203 has actually more gain than people think it has (with a strong picking hand at least), but it'll need a little bit of a nudge from a tube screamer or other OD pedal to get into modern metal territory.
