What a Surprise!

I had been looking at this Marshall JMD102 tube/modeling ‘hybrid’ for quite some time.

My other two amps are Fender Tubes and I always really love how my American Special Telecaster, 1972 American Tele and American Standard Strat sound through the Fender tube amps. They literally are made for each other! However with Humbucker-type guitars like my two Gibson Les Paul’s, my old ES-335 DOT, MM Flying V and ESPECIALLY my new Gibson Midtown Standard with the ’57 pups. I never quite found the tone/sound that I desired. A nice sound could be tweaked out but not even close to what I wanted from my Gibson’s. Billy Gibbons was no where to be found in my Fender Tube Amps.

I had the Marshall JMD102 on my Sweetwater “wish list” and could not resist the JMD102 any longer. Especially when it was just $100 more than the 50 watt, one speaker JMD Combo version. I hit the “buy now” button and as usual from Sweetwater, I quickly received the amp last Monday.

There is a lot to learn to use this amp. Not complicated at all but there is just so many fantastic options built into this amp. After a day or so I had it down fairly well. This amp is extremely well built and the fit and finish is exact. For all of those that are skeptical of a “hybrid” style Marshall … rest assured that this is, without a doubt, a TUBE driven screaming box of magic. I was blown away by all of the various Marshall historic and modern amp tones that can be achieved by just clicking the rotary dial to the various clean, and I mean so many glorious variations of clean to very heavy distortion madness. This Marshall creation can play from the sweetest blues to the hottest stinging crunch and every tone you could ever desire. Play ZZ TOP licks like they were meant to be played! My Gibson’s finally feel at home plugged into this masterpiece.

The Most Versatile Amp Available

I've owned this amp for 2 months now and continue to be amazed by its sonic versatility. I'm getting quite good at dialing up tones that are dead on with songs that we cover. So fun to tweak and experiment with new combinations of pre-amp and effects settings. This amp can really do it all, if you put in the effort to master its capabilities. The learning curve can be a bit steep at first, but it will reward you many times over for the initial investment of time and effort. I just wish that the cabinet were made of high quality plywood, instead of MDF. I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for quality birch plywood to get a lighter and more durable cabinet. Overall though, it is a brilliant design with tone that will inspire and motivate you to greater heights of musicianship. Nicely done, Marshall!

Masterpiece

This was so much better than I thought it would be. Quiet at low volumes unless mega gain which is what you would expect. A supreme high tech Envelope Follower noise gate that is invisible. How great is that. One ECC83/12ax7a-- 4 EL34's on the output. The thing has so much tone of any type an then some. Have a Mesa, Line6, Fender Mustang 212 and my Marshall Class5 & this are the best accross the board! Whoa! Power to spare and transparent effects make this a phenominal piece to own. Don't fall for the all tube or nothing scenario. Just limiting yourself tons of tones.Build quality is 5 star with super tight tolerances from what I see in the construction. What else do you want? A++++++++

Fantastic Amp accross the board

This am really delivers acrross all fronts.Have compared to mesa, fender, peavey, line6 etc... It is so quiet at low volumes but has overdrive to spare or any veriety of clean you can imagine. The reviews left off the ecc83 in the preamp. Not just el34's in the output.
Built like a tank at just short of 70lbs. Marshall put over 3 years of design into this and does it ever show on all fronts. For the all tube people don't get caught up in that theory. This delivers! What else do you want?

Amazing tone and Great sounding Effects!!

This amp sounds amazing.....even when cranked! The effects sound awesome being that they are built into the amp. It is great that you can program each channel with the sound you are looking for with your favorite effect! I also like the wide selection of amplifier choices...really gives you a lot of flexibility. It is like owning several Marshall's in one amp?

I also like that this amp is identical to the head version. Great for heading to band practice without having to bring the 4x12 cab too!