NAMM - New 20W Marshalls?

ICBM

Nerine said:

One thing they definitely got wrong with the 800 version is that it looks wrong. The edges of the cabinet look too big for the logo and rest of the amp IMO. Isn't proportioned very well. 

Its only a small thing, but it's that kind of thing that makes it look a bit naff IMO. Like a toy. 

Im sure they sound alright, but even so...irks me. 

I know what you mean, but I think it's just that the edges look thicker because the box is smaller - the logo *is* smaller but I think that's a good thing, the huge 80s logo would look out of place too.

It's a difficult balance to get right when you scale something down, but I think overall these look right - at least they've avoided past howlers, like not giving the JTM1 enough knobs so it looked like there was something missing... because there was.

And at the end of the day these *are* toys, for those of us who want that old-school rock tone at a volume that won't upset the neighbours in our suburban semis, or the pub owner and the council noise officer - real rock stars will continue to use full-size 2203s, I'm sure...

TTBZ

I do think the 800 looks a bit too much like the DSL20H, shame it doesn't have the old school basketweave style grille cloth which would have been nice. It doesn't sound like a toy though massive through a 4x12.

ICBM

TTBZ said:

I do think the 800 looks a bit too much like the DSL20H, shame it doesn't have the old school basketweave style grille cloth which would have been nice.

JCM800s never had basketweave cloth.

There is a popular belief that they did, like this...



... but in fact that is a standard black grille which has faded from exposure to light. If you lift the logo you'll see a perfect black 'shadow' behind it.

TTBZ

Ah, that's the one! Looks much better than the standard black though.