Marshall JCM 800 Studio Classic - Is This The Ultimate Studio Marshall?

The great guys at Marshall Amplification have kindly loaned me a couple of amps to try out in my studio. In this first video, I look at the Marshall JCM 800 Studio Classic. This fantastic little amp boasts 20 watts that is scalable down to 5 watts. This is the first time I have ever been impressed with amp scaling it sounds fantastic! The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.
#MarshallAmplification #Marshallstudioclassic

[@davidmultimedia2024]

Paul, I freaking love your playing. So clean, tasty and dead on time., it's remarkable. Anything you play, from rock rhythms to sick licks is always perfectly executed. The way you express yourself when bending the strings gave me goosebumps. YEARS of experience showing up here :)

[@TheStudioRats]

Thanks David, thats real nice to hear.

[@martinlahaie6012]

Teteux lol

[@stewartkeyes2511]

Awesome dancing around the copyright infringement riffs during the intro! Well done.

[@58lp2002]

Amps sounds great! Love that they finally made a JCM800 in a 20 watt for more useable volumes. I do love the 100 watt but where can you really turn it up. I have a Friedman PT 20 watt combo for this sound.

[@TheStudioRats]

I love those little PT20’s.

[@JohnyToGoodForSchool123]

this is the best review of the features that really matters to me.. thanks bro

[@vespass225]

Exquisite playing, ultra professional sounding. And musically sooo yummie! And by the way, tone and production is top notch!

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Magnus!

[@jroobz]

God that sounds amazing

[@skaboosh]

Unbelievably nice playing

[@morningstar3188]

The JCM 800 Boosted with a tube screamer is the sound of 80s metal. I've owned a JVM for about 4 years now and I'm here to tell you that it's not possible to get the same sound no matter what you do.

[@G-NutZ]

I have 2 JVM’s, the 2 channel 215c and the 410 head. They sound great really but you’re right, even with all the tones the JVM offers, it’s just not in there.

[@billw7000]

I've got a JVM 410c and you're right it isn't quite the same.

[@Paul-dw2cl]

I really liked that note choice at 0:30- I like that skip down

[@adamwatson6916]

Finally a demo that does not make this anp sound like a thin fizzy mess .

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Adam.

[@chicochicoshukor7184]

Amazing marshall amps

[@xyema-mpa-ma-ma]

Great playing and lovely sound! Thank you for the excellent demo!

[@TheStudioRats]

Pleasure and thanks.

[@ZillaYT]

I got one 2 weeks ago, and love it.

[@benharris5210]

A shop in the UK had these in a Navy finish with a peppered gold and silver effect cloth, man i wish i didn't procrastinate and ordered one when i had the chance!

[@frankiebananas2784]

Thanks so much for reviewing this amp.Just ordered one.

[@cliffy3575]

Have u gotten it yet? Is it good for a slayer like tone?

[@ocd84]

Amazing intro!

[@chrisway7113]

Great playing! Great amp! Great demo!

[@lkssatch]

0:49 i´m sooooo stealing that run... that´s a great one

[@TheStudioRats]

Awesome, cheers Lucas.

[@BenJ2827]

Great demo which persuaded me to get this head! Loving this channel brilliant work guys!

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Ben!.

[@frankiebananas2784]

I like how it cleans up so nicely by turning the guitar volume down. That is why I just ordered one and this video reassures me I made the correct choice.Thanks.

[@surfrby8876]

Great Demo , I think I want one ☝️

[@tonictonetomrockstar1931]

my favorite channel on you tube, awesome playing and great info.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Tonic

[@bielartur]

Paula, amazing as always! Thank you!

[@TheStudioRats]

Anytime Artur.

[@ThePanchomack]

You guys make amazing reviews, hang on cheers

[@frankswildyear]

That’s one of the best sounding amps I’ve heard, could just be your playing

[@randyheath8566]

I tried to watch all the videos on this amp and most are not for me, mostly heavy metal. I'm a Classic Rock Guitar player and some other styles, this sounds so good over my Vox Super Beatle blue tooth amp. Great Video and Content. Cheers Mate

[@jackduxbury1632]

Sounds Buff Ting! Love the size and format of it too X

[@TheStudioRats]

big up business.

[@jorgetome7089]

Master at 1?

[@winston67]

Those things are so expensive but sound amazing!

[@RobSol]

that was excellent. thanks

[@purplelookplay2364]

Beautiful ! Great job ! ❤

[@TheStudioRats]

Thank you! 😊.

[@acousticguy1]

Anybody that knows Suhr guitars will know so much of that tone is the guitar. Just amazing instruments.

[@milkandmeat]

The pickups maybe

[@tomserotoninandthedopamine4375]

Nice playing Paul ! tums up :)

[@mo6020_]

There really is nothing that sounds like a JCM800. I keep eyeing all sorts of fancy boutique amps, and yet always come back to wanting that JCM tone. Great demo Paul, thanks.

[@TheStudioRats]

Well said!

[@reneotten7376]

Very helpful review, thanks.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers, any time Rene

[@Enice43]

Paul...that was awesome...

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Enice.

[@emcovlogs_136]

i would love to learn to play like you!!!! wow

[@planetearthify]

Yes.....yes it is indeed

[@angusorvid8840]

Great sounding amp but I dig my DSL.

[@Brainbox97]

tasty playing!

[@TheStudioRats]

Thanks a lot!

[@antonstefanov2146]

Someone once said if they launched the studio 15 a ten years later it would've been massive. The studio 15 runs on 6v6s though

[@MichaelDespairs]

I don't really know much about this amp but it may not have an attenuator at all if really sound good in the 5 watt mode. It probably is just a reduced power mode which isn't attenuation.

[@dmarkj22]

That song sounds like a combination of Highway to Hell and you shook me all night long.

[@Paul-dw2cl]

I like the SV20H the best but I do like the SC20H, it comes in 2nd

[@z.z.onichi5365]

Humbuckers + jcm800 = Rock Nice playing, do you have a Gibson SG to play this again on the same amp. I think that particular guitar with the jcm800 nothing else comes close :)

[@2Phipps]

What was your signal chain? Did you use a loadbox? Any IRs? Any post productions? Thanks for that tone and that informative video 🙂

[@newrockorder]

Ox Box I bet

[@alexandre891]

sound so great ! are you using a loadbox or attenuator ?

[@brucesguitardemos8197]

Brilliant dude

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Bruce!

[@guitarexpert2245]

Sold my Mini Jubilee & got the SC20. I like much better. It's way more open, louder, clearer, Sounds like an 800. Thought I'd miss the two channels but just roll back the volume on the SC20. I don't miss the Jubilee.

[@TheStudioRats]

Interesting, ive got both on order it will be great to compare.

[@guitarexpert2245]

@@TheStudioRats It's a matter of personal taste of course. But there is definitely a noticeable difference. It will be fun to compare. I went back and forth for days when I had both.

[@LaurenceAlmalvez]

Hey Paul! Awesome playing as usual. I'm trying to let it inspire me to be as good a player as you are. Quick question, you mention that the classic has the ability to sound somewhat like the plexi. Being on a budget would this be the amp that allows me to kind of go back between the classic Marshall tone and the plexi rather than getting the vintage head unit?

[@TheStudioRats]

Hi Laurence, cheers! Yes you’ll be pretty happy I think.

[@ibjlgup]

Hi Dave, what is it that makes you choose the Studio Vintage vs. this amp? If this amp does the Plexi thing on the cleaner channel and gives you more gain when you switch the channel, is it more versatile? I am trying to decide between both myself, so anything you can offer in addition would be great...thanks!

[@sollyharr]

Doesn't have a clean channel

[@philwoodward3922]

@@sollyharr yes it does, it's called the low sensitivity channel, which is as near to clean as dammit

[@stefannita3439]

@@philwoodward3922 but you can't switch between them. You either plug into the low sensitivity input or the high sensitivity one. This is a single-channel amp with 2 inputs

[@philwoodward3922]

@@stefannita3439 yes, I know - I didn't say they were switchable

[@internetselling]

@@stefannita3439 Yes, you can switch between the high and low inputs. Use an A/B pedal to toggle between them. Only difference is an extra cable…

[@emcovlogs_136]

also what on earth are thoes chords at 7.10? sounds very foo fighter like

[@martingreschner3268]

When everything was on 10, was the tube screamer on or not? While that was awesome! By the end.

[@Danthehorse]

No cleans then? Without rolling back guitar volume?

[@S1ipperyJim]

Cleans are great if you plug into low sensitivity, unfortunately a lot of these reviews only plug into the high sensitivity

[@Wooburnmusic]

Sometimes the big boy distortion stuff just doesn't give a true review

[@Burkhimself]

2203/2204 circuits are the best ever made IMO

[@Hotwired_hearts]

This sounds incredible 🙀 are you using the ox with it and if so what cabinet are you using.. thank you 🙏

[@mmartinez9764]

Tasty version of a AC/DC song 😁

[@SC2Edu]

Tried one today.. using the 5w settings it would not have any distortion at all..

[@Disabledguitarist1985]

Not doable at bedroom volumes then eh

[@jamesfulton8310]

Could call that composition “Shook me all week long” 😂

[@jamescourt2842]

@TheStudioRats Just question Paul when you record your guitar for these music videos is it literally just good old fashioned SM57 cab you use Then straight into DAW ? or do you have like dual mono setup 2 x cabinets 2 x Amps splitter then run one cab into Logic example like I say with cab then run the amp into like load box IR. Thank you 🙏 I love what you do and these videos Id kind off really like to have go making videos like this but I’m useless syncing audio video 😂. Thanks 🙏 James

[@TheStudioRats]

I normally use a two notes torpedo studio with amps to record the guitars down to a blackmagic atem pro iso.

[@Johnsormani]

I guess both this and the plexi version will become classics when Marshall stops making them. Especially with the current prices of an original plexi Igor JMP. JCM800 originals are still sort of affordable still for some reason at almost half the price of a JMP. I have 3 JMP’s but still looking for a nice JCM800 to add to the collection

[@tiptizlode4995]

Hi there, amazing video, thank you 🙂 You always have a great reverb / delay in your sound which is understated but very effective. What do you use please? Is it post production, separate pedals, or some kind of combined effects pedal? Thank you.

[@TheStudioRats]

Thanks but It’s always changing I’m afraid.

[@tiptizlode4995]

@@TheStudioRats ???

[@kalystossalesserviceskalys7742]

Great review, just wondering what other effects you have “out of sight” I’m sure there is delay in there?

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers, just reverb and delay from an Apollo interface.

[@bobby4043]

Great playing, what pedals are you using with the jcm 800. I've thought about getting one of the studio amps but haven't pulled the trigger yet

[@thefilthygringo9228]

I bought the same amp but the limited edition stealth and it was the best decision ever. Love this amp

[@clifford_2zero7]

I can say for a fact with pre amp and master both at 7 on high sensitivity sounds absolutely great even on 5 watt mode. But in no way would I consider it sensible for the average home player. Thing is still loud AF!! 😅😅 I've owned mine for about a year now. Pretty sure I had the cops called on me for less volume than that one night from a neighboring home.🤣 I have the combo.

[@jasoncorganbrown]

How is the low end chug on this amp versus the 100watt?

[@estebangarcia102]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5e8eZWCqtCihNU

[@KM-302]

It's less. The laws of physics dictate that the same or similar circuit through smaller trannies and other components will effect the low end and openness that a big amp will give you at volume. However at lower volumes, the difference is far less noticeable.

[@thecityrevival744]

I came to find out that when it's overdriven, and you try to add a boost pedal for pushing mainly the volume up, it does not boost the amp volume at all. Of course, that does not apply when using the effects loop circuit, but still, would have loved to have it post pre-amp and not the other way around. Have you found this annoying as well..?

[@BCyr1991]

"Boosting" a gainy sound doesn't really work from the input side if you are wanting a change in loudness. You'll compress it and get more gainy/noisey, but if you want to really increase volume you have to change the volume after the preamp.

[@humbucker1414]

"You Shook Me All In Black"

[@renaudleminnier2339]

How can you say that 5W does not affect the sound ? Maybe because mine was not offered by Marshall.

[@joshmuz9018]

It seems every review is plugged into some form of reactive load or ox. No idea what it sounds like through a cab. Do people just buy amps to use through headphones and computers these days?

[@TheStudioRats]

How many gigs have you been to recently? Load boxes are useful in the studio too.

[@bugeyedmudafuka2]

@@TheStudioRats I dont think anyone has been to any gigs lately ha

[@stefannita3439]

there's 0% chance you'd be able to tell the difference between an IR and a "real" mic'd cab. room mic is a different story, but not a very accurate representation of the sound since there are so many variables at play with a room mic

[@hackdog69]

@@TheStudioRats. I do gigs all the time and use cabs…. I also don’t play a 1st inversion major chord every chance I get with a clean tone. So there’s that. 😂😂

[@mickl2793]

😂

[@rodneywhite2565]

So is it the ultimate studio Marshall?

[@mauriziomaurelli2649]

in a live situation how can you change from clean to overdrive?

[@renetvedtpedersen5048]

That just sounds great. Was wondering about buying the Victory Sheriff, but this sounds as so good, and not sure anymore. Is the Victory more versatile? I can almost buy both the SC20h and the SV20h for the same price as the Sheriff. Do the Marshalls SC and SV20s have effects loop?

[@TheStudioRats]

They do.

[@TheStudioRats]

I’m about to do a review on the jubilee studio. You might want to wait.

[@thefilthygringo9228]

With effects loop in the sc20 you can either use it or there is a switch to bypass it so it takes it totally out of the circuit

[@earlfox6030]

is pre amp basically the same as gain

[@williamlittlefield4749]

What is the sense in doing an amp demo when you add effects such as reverb and delay? Howzabout letting us hear the amp without effects first? Also ... does anybody demo anything with P90s?!?

[@Wooburnmusic]

Absolutely agree with you, we are not really hearing THE AMP itself

[@bryanwilliams3665]

If the 5 watt mode cranked, was still too loud for the bedroom, Could you further use one of the several external "Power Attenuators" available on the market?

[@MrClarkio]

Yes, many people do. The bugera one seems popular in videos I've watched, presumably because it's cheap.

[@SteelyEyedMissileDan]

@@MrClarkio Yeah, the Bugera is okay, but there are much better options now. The Tone King Ironman II is the best attenuator I’ve ever used. If the mini version is even half as good as the big one, it’s still a damn good attenuator. In my experience, they’re the closest you can get to a pure reduction in volume without drastically altering the tone. I also have a Weber MASS 100W, which is great for knocking off a few dB, but might not be the most transparent option for attenuating a cranked 20W Marshall down to comfortable bedroom volumes. Plus, the line out and optional headphone output on the Weber are both pretty much useless, since they offer no built-in speaker or mic emulation. As for the Universal Audio OxBox and the BOSS Waza Tube Amp Expander, I’ve never used either of them because they cost too much for my broke ass, but I’ve heard they’re the best choice for recording direct into studio monitors, mixers, and DAWs.

[@jaredholton3145]

How do you deal with that white noise "shhhhhhhh" sound when you're recording? I get that way more with amp sims than with real amps but I find it super annoying to listen to.

[@TheStudioRats]

Guitars and especially if you are using gain are noisy. To be honest I live with it. In a recording you don’t notice it as it’s part of the sound. That’s what the mute button is for.

[@tristandrew5903]

Look in to noise gates

[@guitarcleveland]

Sounds fantastic. How do you make your drum tracks? Is that software?

[@TheStudioRats]

I think for this track i used eazydrummer

[@guitarcleveland]

@@TheStudioRats Thank you

[@richardmalar9380]

Great! What speakers are you using in this vid?

[@TheStudioRats]

its going into a UA Ox box.

[@guitarexpert2245]

This amp seems to have the same issue as my 2204. It's too loud. Seems like the M.V has to be really up loud to deliver which might be too loud for a small club

[@nothingEvil101]

Well that‘s kinda the thing of tube amps...

[@philfrank5601]

The only other lower wattage solution is the Origin 20. You can drop that to 3 and .3 watts. More JMP tone, but if you need a quieter amp, it'll do it. Plays great with pedals too.

[@guitarexpert2245]

@@philfrank5601 Maybe so. But it's not the same level of amp as the Studio versions.

[@TomasLineros]

So. Would you recommend this studio JCM800 for home use?

[@guitarexpert2245]

@@TomasLineros For home us it's still very loud even at 5 watt's but can be played low, but it's not the same feel or tone until you get the MV to 4. 20 watt mode it really comes alive in a big way.

[@TomasLineros]

Would you recommend this for home use?

[@adamfiedorczuk5969]

no

[@wjhandy]

What's the delay settings?

[@billhannum4117]

Can you gig this head? Does it have enough volume to get over a drummer?

[@GolecLuka]

What speaker do you use?

[@lancethompson218]

What cab are u using...or is this all computer manipulated

[@rsmallfield]

How do you feel the 5w mode is for home volume levels?

[@TheStudioRats]

It’s still very loud.

[@faridh2999]

What speakers were you playing this through?

[@TheStudioRats]

I think it was a UA OX box.

[@Dirge4july]

🥲Ugh I want one so bad but my dsl20 head with have to do.

[@Screaming-Trees]

I guess this amp doesn't do cleans at all?

[@knockknock3686]

Love it.. 🤣

[@TheStudioRats]

cheers Knock Knock

[@PeraDespera]

That amp doesn't sound like this at all when I try it in local store. Don't have that much gain, and it is extremly loud and trebley.

[@TheStudioRats]

You’re not going to get it to sound like that unless it’s turned up.

[@Brutuscomedy]

DSL shall suffice for Brutus

[@robmurrah3224]

7:04 7:23 blech, Fender style guitars sound so bad on the wound strings sometimes.

[@shankflanker]

What's the signal chain here? Curious if the Ox is involved.

[@TheStudioRats]

Yep the ox is in the chain. Guitar - a variety of pedals - ox. Cheers.

[@kmichaelp4508]

Paul, your playing is always exceptional. But does the 20 compare to my Katana 100? Hahahaha 🤐

[@TheStudioRats]

Thanks Mike, funny enough the Marshall is louder. Ive never really understood why, but a valve amp wattage is not the same as non valve amps. I’m sure there’s someone out there that can explain it to me.

[@cosmikrelic4815]

@@TheStudioRats watts are watts, it depends on how a given manufacturer rates their amps. in the days of boom boxes and other shitty stuff it became usual to quote the peak power of all the speakers. i've seen home theatre systems quoted at 30000 watts, no kidding. so the more speakers you have, you get the idea. incidetally i notice that the katana is rated at 77 watts in the manual. measuring loudness by ear is fraught with problems, tonal quality, the loudness curve of the ear etc, all play havoc on your perception. the only true way is to measure the power across a given load. and even then you have to be careful because wattage through a speaker is not just the voltage squared over the resistance because a speaker is inductive. if you have a look at some amps, like a VOX valvetronix you will see that its maximum rated output is more than the amount of power it draws from the mains supply. something wrong there. so, in short, they write what they like on the label.

[@untartelette7545]

No mic, too many effects.

[@Stormwoken]

Did the amp shake you all night long, Paul? 🤔

[@TheStudioRats]

Nothing is as satisfying as ripping off ACDC

[@NilsBreckoff]

@@TheStudioRats I thought I recognized the opening riff, 'Highway To Heck'

[@Tiler-ju9zl]

They lost there sound to the jcm 800 lead Sirius 50 watts 1980s

[@GuyHarrison-nm1xt]

The old jcm800 leas sirius had to volume and the master volume. Over the years mashall has lost there sound

[@chrisnichols9187]

You're basically doing the same thing that everybody else does with these 800 it's fine but it's old

[@MrWolfganger77]

Then watch something else

[@bojangles6444]

That solo in the beginning is too pretty. AC/DC doesn’t play modes. The blues has bite- Satriani ruins it. Every Satriani fan can’t play a damn blues solo without putting in stuff that has no place. I wanna hear some damn dissonance this isn’t giving me the tone. Practice playing with balls man.