Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $2,075

High-end/Boutique

$300

$801+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

Unleash your inner rock god with the Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head. This beast dons a striking tribal stripe graphic and defaults to Kerry King's signature "reverse shape" EQ tone. Renowned for delivering powerful, raw sound, it's the ultimate gear that matches the audacity and aggression of the Slayer frontman himself.

Key Features:

  • Powered by three ECC83 vacuum tubes and four KT88 power stage tubes
  • Kerry King's signature "reverse shape" EQ tone
  • Features a three-band EQ for extensive tone shaping
  • Inbuilt "Beast" boost for an extra kick in your sound
  • Includes Gate Threshold control for noise reduction
  • Assault Intensity control to dial in that perfect amount of crunch

Product specs

Amp Type tube

FAQs

What are the key features of the Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature amp head?

This amp head features 100 watts of power, 4 KT88 power tubes, and 3 ECC83 preamp tubes. It includes a Master Volume, Preamp Volume, 3-band EQ, Presence control, "The Beast" Boost, Gate Threshold, and Assault Intensity for enhanced tonal control.

Is the Marshall JCM800 2203KK suitable for live performances?

Yes, with its 100-watt power output and robust construction, the Marshall JCM800 2203KK is well-suited for live performances, delivering powerful and aggressive tones ideal for metal and rock genres.

How does the "The Beast" Boost feature affect the sound of the Marshall JCM800 2203KK?

"The Beast" Boost feature enhances the amp's gain and aggression, providing a more intense and cutting tone that complements heavy music styles, such as those played by Kerry King.

What kind of music genres is the Marshall JCM800 2203KK best suited for?

The Marshall JCM800 2203KK is tailored for metal and hard rock genres, offering high-gain tones and aggressive sound characteristics that are ideal for these styles.

Does the Marshall JCM800 2203KK work well with guitar pedals?

Yes, the Marshall JCM800 2203KK is known to take pedals well, making it versatile for guitarists who use effects to shape their sound further.

Guitar World

Guitar World

Kerry King's Signature Marshall 2203KK Amp

Video thumbnail for Kerry King's Signature Marshall 2203KK Amp by Guitar World

Kerry King's Signature Marshall 2203KK Amp

Guitar World

Guitar World

Video thumbnail for Marshall 2203KK Kerry King signature JCM800 head by Guitar World

Marshall 2203KK Kerry King signature JCM800 head

Guitar World

Guitar World

Video thumbnail for Signature Amps | Kerry King | 2203KK by Marshall Amplification

Signature Amps | Kerry King | 2203KK

Marshall Amplification

Marshall Amplification

Video thumbnail for Kerry King & His JCM 800 Signature Amps by Premier Guitar

Kerry King & His JCM 800 Signature Amps

Premier Guitar

Premier Guitar

Video thumbnail for Marshall JCM800 2204 vs JCM800 2203KK Kerry King by fpackwood

Marshall JCM800 2204 vs JCM800 2203KK Kerry King

fpackwood

fpackwood

Video thumbnail for Marshall 2203KK Kerry King Signature JCM800 Guitar by A R

Marshall 2203KK Kerry King Signature JCM800 Guitar

A R

A R

Video thumbnail for Marshall JCM800KK - Kerry King Signature Head Playthrough #JCM800 #JCM800KK #marshall by The Tone Zone

Marshall JCM800KK - Kerry King Signature Head Playthrough #JCM800 #JCM800KK #marshall

The Tone Zone

The Tone Zone

Video thumbnail for MARSHALL KERRY KING SLAYER SIGNATURE JCM800 JCM 800 GUITAR AMP HEAD 2203KK UP CLOSE VIDEO REVIEW by Essex Recording Studios

MARSHALL KERRY KING SLAYER SIGNATURE JCM800 JCM 800 GUITAR AMP HEAD 2203KK UP CLOSE VIDEO REVIEW

Essex Recording Studios

Essex Recording Studios

Reviews

PROS

  • Exceptional distortion levels, clear even at high gain

  • Durable construction, solid over time

  • Collector's item, especially the signature series

  • User-friendly interface with straightforward controls

  • Integrated noise gate in the Beast section is very practical

  • Offers tremendous power and clarity with KT88 power tubes

  • Versatile sound, great for Thrash/Death Metal

  • Built-in EQ enhances sound shaping

  • Harmonics and crunch are well-defined

CONS

  • Lacks a clean channel, not ideal for purists seeking clean tones

  • No built-in effects loop, requiring additional investment to install

  • High resale price, can be prohibitively expensive

  • May lose value if modified to add effects loop

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head.

Comparisons

  • The JCM800 2203KK is described as having more middy and tighter bass tones compared to the darker, more modern sound of the Rivera Knucklehead Tre.

    Source
  • The Marshall Mini Silver Jubilee is cited as a similar but more versatile option with 20 and 5 watt modes, effectively a hotter JCM800 for smaller gigs.

    Source
  • The JCM800's higher price is attributed to its vintage status and rarity compared to the JCM2000, which is more recent and less sought after.

    Source
  • A Peavey VTM 60 or 120 can be considered an alternative to the JCM800, as they are based on the same circuit.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The JCM800 2203KK's KT88 tubes provide a tighter and cleaner sound than the stock EL34s, which is polarizing among users.

    Source
  • The JCM800 2203KK lacks an effects loop, limiting routing options for effects chains.

    Source
  • The JCM800 was one of the first Marshalls to run the last preamp tube with a cold cathode, offering significant preamp distortion at manageable volumes.

    Source
  • The JCM800 is known for delivering a tight, punchy sound by keeping the power stage clean, contrasting with older Marshalls that focus more on power stage distortion.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The JCM800 2203KK is noted for lacking a clean channel, making it less versatile for those needing cleaner tones.

    Source
  • Without a functional output section, replacing the phase inverter valve with a 12AX7 from another amp might revive the unit, offering a quick troubleshooting step.

    Source
  • The JCM800 requires a boost pedal, like an MXR 10-band EQ or a Tubescreamer, to achieve death metal tones, as it doesn't naturally reach high-gain levels.

    Source
  • For a more versatile setup, some users suggest pairing a Marshall with a distortion pedal to achieve desired tones across various music styles.

    Source

User experience

  • It's mentioned that the JCM800 2203KK is best used at high volumes, which can be impractical without an attenuator.

    Source
  • Owners report that the phase inverter valve is crucial; a malfunction can lead to total silence from the amp.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Internal HT fuses can fail without disabling tube glow, requiring tech intervention for inexperienced users.

    Source
  • Capacitors inside the amp can hold lethal charges, emphasizing the need for professional servicing.

    Source
Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 4 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
marty_holloway

Great amp

Has a lot of Crunch. and cleans up well, the sound is well defined. Great harmonic profile.

skylinerr

Great

Had this for a while it sounds great I got it second hand (reissue) £750 great sound through a Mesa cab.

Genres:

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Kerry King uses Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head

Kerry King

Guitarist, Composer

Slayer

...
Verified via YouTube

Kerry King’s Signature Marshall JCM-800 Amps are shown at 7:35 in this video interview. He describes the amps saying “The one that this is based on is called the beast and I had it sent to Marshall to find out what was so great about it and see if anyone modded it over the years before I got it. The reason that head was so good, Marshall has parameters, and every transistor, everything has to be within this range. My entire head, everything was straight up. It was the perfect head. It’s how it was supposed to be and they don’t all come out like that, but that was the perfect one and they based this off of that.

He continues “It’s got the beast button which engages the assault mode and the assault mode’s got a built in gate because it’s basically taking my 10 band equalizer with a decimal boost and putting it in the head. And you can’t change the parameter, but it’s the parameter that I always had set. And you can add more or less of it. It’s really cool. I could go anywhere in the world and if this rig didn't show up, I don’t care, I’ll play through a cable if I have to. But if I have one of those heads, you wouldn’t notice any difference in my sound because I go directly into that.”

See how Matt Pike uses Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head

Matt Pike

Guitarist

Sleep

...
Verified via YouTube

At 0:21 this item is seen

See how Alexi Laiho uses Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head

Alexi Laiho

Singer, Guitarist

Children of Bodom

...
Verified via Musamaailma nettikauppa

Alexis Personal amps were sold after his death. From the listing: "The amp is a Marshall JCM 800 2203KK Kerry King Signature head (serial number M-2007-36-0898-1). JCM 800 was Alexi’s ”go-to” amp on many Children of Bodom records and live tours. This Kerry King model was used by Alexi particularly during the Blooddrunk era. After Alexi’s passing, Kerry King himself paid tribute to Alexi, describing him as ”A Guitar God”."

See how Bill Kelliher uses Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head

Bill Kelliher

Guitarist, Singer

Mastodon

...
Verified via Premierguitar

For his two-amp lineup, Kelliher went with a ’80s Marshall JCM800 and a Marshall Kerry King 2203KFK JCM800, the latter of which has KT88 tubes that crank out “a chunkier, fatter, heavier sound than the standard JCM800.” The heads blast through two Mills Acoustics 4x12s loaded with Celestion Vintage 30s and a Marshall 4x12 equipped with 75-watt Celestions.

See how Brendon Small uses Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head

Brendon Small

Guitarist

Dethklok

...
Verified via YouTube

In the video "Brendon Small Live Gear" on YouTube, Brendon Small uses the Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head, which appears at the 6:17 mark.

See how Takayoshi Ohmura uses Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head

Takayoshi Ohmura

Guitarist

BABYMETAL

...
Verified via Photo

This 2007 photo shows a young Ohmura standing with his THEN new ESP Ohmura Custom Snapper in Royal Silver and his Marshall stack which features a Marshall 2203KK Kerry King Signature JCM800 Guitar Amp Head. The largest giveaway of this signature model is the grey tribal pattern woven into the speaker mesh.

See how Leda uses Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head

Leda

Guitarist, Bassist

BABYMETAL

...
Verified via YouTube

In this music video of Deluhi's "Frontier," Leda can be seen using a Marshall JCM 800. He used the Kerry King signature model during his career with Deluhi.

The amp can be first seen on 0:21.

See how Joel O'Keeffe uses Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head

Joel O'Keeffe

Singer, Guitarist

Airbourne

...
Verified via YouTube

In the middle of this video he talks about what amps he uses. He goes to show that he uses a JCM 800 kerry king without the beast mode engaged because he likes the sound of them. This happens at 7 minutes and 45 seconds.

See how Rick Parfitt uses Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head

Rick Parfitt

Guitarist

Status Quo

...
Verified via YouTube

Rick Parfitt is seen using the Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head, notably in white, throughout the entire performance of "Caroline" at the Glastonbury Festival on June 28, 2009, as documented in a video by frede olsen on YouTube.

See how Ryan Roxie uses Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head

Ryan Roxie

Guitarist

Alice Cooper

...
Verified via YouTube

At 6:37 of this rig rundown the Marshall JCM800 2203KK is shown by Ryan Roxie of Slash's Snakepit.

See how John Stuart "Rage" Dixon uses Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head

John Stuart "Rage" Dixon

Guitarist

Venom

...
Verified via Photo

John Stuart "Rage" Dixon uses the Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head as part of his studio rehearsal setup, as shown in the user-uploaded photo.

Album Usage

The Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Marshall JCM800 2203KK Kerry King Signature 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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