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Average Price: $2,100
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Description
Step into the world of classic rock with the Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II Master Lead 50w, a legendary guitar amplifier head that has powered countless iconic performances. Known for its distinctive British tone, this amp head delivers 50 watts of pure, unadulterated sound, making it a favorite among professionals and enthusiasts alike. The JMP 2204 Mk II is celebrated for its simple yet effective design, offering straightforward control over your sound with its intuitive interface.
Equipped with two channels, it provides both clean and overdriven tones, allowing for versatile play styles from crisp, clear melodies to gritty, powerful riffs. The amp's all-valve design is a nod to traditional craftsmanship, ensuring warmth and depth in every note. This model is also revered for its master volume control, enabling players to achieve high-gain sounds at lower volumes, perfect for both stage and studio settings.
Built to last, the Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II is encased in robust housing, ready to withstand the rigors of touring. Whether you're chasing the sound of classic rock legends or crafting your own signature tone, this amplifier head offers the perfect blend of power, precision, and performance.
Key Features:
- 50 watts of power with all-valve design
- Two channels for clean and overdriven tones
- Master volume control for high-gain sounds at lower volumes
- Intuitive interface with straightforward controls
- Durable construction ideal for both stage and studio use
Product specs
| Brand | Marshall |
| Model | JMP 2204 Master Model Mk2 Lead 50-Watt Guitar Amp Head |
| Finish | Black, Fawn |
| Year | 1975 - 1981 |
| Made In | United Kingdom |
| Categories | Guitar Heads |
| Color Family | Black |
| Direct Output | No Direct Output |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Impedance | 16 ohms, 4 ohms, 8 ohms |
| Number of Channels | 1 Channel |
| Number of Inputs | 2 Inputs |
| Output Power (Watts) | 50 |
| Power Tube Type | EL34 |
| Reverb | None |
FAQs
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What kind of music is the Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II Master Lead 50w best suited for?
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The Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II is renowned for its classic rock tone, making it ideal for genres like hard rock and classic rock. Its master volume design allows for rich, saturated overdrive at lower volumes, perfect for achieving iconic rock sounds.
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Does the Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II have multiple channels?
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No, the Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II features a single channel. This design focuses on delivering a pure, powerful tone without the complexity of channel switching.
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What type of power tubes does the Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II use?
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The Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II uses EL34 power tubes, which are known for their distinctive British tone, characterized by a strong midrange and pronounced harmonic content.
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Can the Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II be used with different speaker impedances?
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Yes, the Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II supports 4, 8, and 16-ohm speaker impedances, allowing flexibility in pairing with various speaker cabinets.
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Does the Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II include built-in reverb?
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No, the Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II does not have built-in reverb. It focuses on providing a straightforward, powerful tone without additional effects.
Videos
The Guitologist
Secrets of the Marshall JMP 2204 Master Model 50W Mk2 Lead Head - The PERFECT Marshall Amp!
Reviews
PROS
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Iconic classic rock and blues tone, unmatched by modern alternatives
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Master Volume feature allows great tones even at lower volumes
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Highly praised for its distinct, vintage Marshall sound signature
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Smooth overdrive with dynamic response and singing harmonics
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Versatile sound with minimal pedal use needed for optimal performance
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EL34 tube conversion praised for enhancing tone and feel
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Ideal for capturing authentic hard rock sound of late 70s and 80s
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Strong preference from users over digital modelers and profilers
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Attractive vintage aesthetic, particularly in rare fawn color
CONS
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Limited clean headroom, challenging for heavy pedal usage
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Requires careful speaker pairing for optimal output power
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Tone continues to improve with volume, potentially limiting quiet use
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High input gain can be less forgiving with excessive pedal use
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II Master Lead 50w.
Features and functionality
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The low input channel on the JMP 2204 is noted for producing excellent cleans, especially with the preamp set to 10.
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Mods and upgrades
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Avatar Hellatone 60 speaker pairs well with this amp, offering a smoother tone by being a broken-in version of Celestions.
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Converting from 6550 to EL34s involves resistor changes, leading to smoother power tube overdrive.
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Drilling extra holes for PCB standoffs is recommended to improve reliability in horizontal input models prone to developing bad connections.
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Comparisons
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For those who find Celestion Vintage 30s too spikey, the Eminence DV77 is recommended as a smoother alternative.
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The JMP 2204 is likened to a Plexi with a master volume, offering Hendrix-like tones at more reasonable volumes.
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The 50-watt version of the JMP 2204 is preferred over the 100-watt version by some owners for its tone and manageability.
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Build quality
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Custom combo cabinets by Weber are praised for their craftsmanship, often favored over the original headshells.
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The "new" 2204 models (1979-81) are identified by a serial number next to the power switch, distinguishing them from earlier versions.
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Horizontal input models may develop bad solder joints due to components being soldered directly onto the PCB, leading to reliability issues over time.
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Value and pricing
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Prices for the JMP 2204 have spiked significantly post-COVID, with current listings around $2800, indicating potential for further value increase.
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Use cases and applications
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating
68
A mighty beast
This amp prove that not only bass amp can produce enough energy to make you shake from the inside. This amp was made in the mid to late 1970 and was part of the handfull of amp that defined the 70 and the 80. This model is part of the second generation of marshall amp. The first generation being the classic ''plexi'' amp (JTM,1959 and 1987X). The JMP where the firsts models to have a Master Volume and a Pre-amp volume (gain). They sound really similar to the previous line but with more gain on tap. The JMP line became the JCM line in the 80 with the first flagship being the JCM800. Some say that the only difference between the JMP and the JCM where the changes made to the face of the amp. While the Master volume give you the ability to play quieter, the amp really is at his best while cranked to get that stressed el34 grind that we all have learn to love. To be in a room with this beast of an amp cranked into a 4x12 is an experience that everyone should feel at least once in his lifetime (with earplug of course). This is addictive and you'll always want to play a little more. A good complement for this amp is an attenuator.
Artist usage
Add artistDuring the first few live shows after Unlimited Love has released, you can see that instead of using his Silver Jubilee, John Frusciante opted for a Marshall JMP 2204 head to pair with his Marshall Major. You can get a clear look at it at 5:04, and you can differentiate it from the JMP 2203 by the smaller logo and the more squared off EQ cutout.
"This Marshall 2204 Master Model 50W MkII Lead is from the private collection of Billy Corgan.
This was part of Corgan's rack of four Marshall heads that he had in the studio to provide classic Marshall tones or particular harmonic layering within a track.
This head is missing the handle on top and has a handful of scuffs and scratches, as well as some tape labeling it for Corgan "BC" and a "1" sticker on the side. It is otherwise clean, with no major blemishes.
This 50W Marshall head is a joy to play, with warm, thick, articulate cleans on the low channel and endlessly satisfying crunch on the high channel. All pots and controls work cleanly and reliably.
The power cable is attached on this amp head."
In this photo, Chris Cornell is seen using a tan Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II Master Lead 50w amplifier while recording Soundgarden's 1996 album "Down on the Upside"
In 1988, a press release by SST for the album You’re Living All Over Me mentioned that J Mascis uses "two fifty-watt Marshall heads going into a Marshall one hundred-watt head, which in turn goes into two 4X12 cabs." This indicates that the two fifty-watt heads are likely the Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II Master Lead 50w, as suggested by the head cabinet size shown in the source image.
Easily the most important amp for Dave Murray in the 80s. Four of these are seen behind Dave Murray in this photo. The amp is also mentioned countless times in official stage set gear lists from the era, gear rundown interviews, and has been seen in video with Dave Murray.
Album Usage
The Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II Master Lead 50w 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 JMP 2204 Mk II Master Lead 50w, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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The Dirty channel features a tone stack voicing switch that delivers the sweeter JTM tone control voicing and balanced gain response in one position, and the more in your face JMP voicing in the other. The Gain control knob cascades through multiple tube gain stages in a unique way that starts out with Classic Plexi tones early on the dial giving way to scorching High Gain tones later on. The Gain Boost switch engages even more gain as well as kicking in our unique clipping diode circuit that gives you the sustain and precision of a ‘Jose’ but retains the organic Plexi clarity when backing off of the guitar’s volume control. See below for a description of each of the three individual amp voices available in the dirty channel.
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