OpenTube

I Cranked the MARSHALL JCM900 in the Studio (Here’s What Happened)

Jamie Slays

22,234 views

🔥 I cranked the Marshall JCM900 to a loud volume in a professional recording studio to find out what really happens when you unleash this 100-watt beast. The result? Pure, raw British tube tone — loud, aggressive, and unapologetically metal.

In this video, I put the Marshall JCM900 4100 100W Dual Reverb head against the Marshall JCM900 Studio version to hear how they compare when pushed to their limits. Both amps were dialled in for tight chugs, crushing mids, and that unmistakable Marshall bite.

If you’ve ever wondered how the JCM900 performs for metal guitar, this is the test. I recorded both amps loud through real cabs, using high-output pickups and pro-level studio gear to capture every ounce of tone.

⚙️ Gear Links (Affiliate)
🎸 Marshall JCM900 4100 100-Watt Head (Sweetwater): https://sweetwater.sjv.io/RGe2Dg
🎸 Marshall JCM900 Studio Head (Sweetwater): https://sweetwater.sjv.io/dO65PK
🎸 Marshall JCM900 4100 100-Watt Head (Thomann): https://tinyurl.com/cch7j8ja

🏛️ My Metallica Made Easy Masterclass. Start for FREE:
https://courses.jamieslays.com

🤘 Don't wait, unlock your guitar potential. Get your sweatbands today!
https://jamieslays.com/landing-sweatband

🛠️ Download your FREE beginner guitarist guide
https://jamieslays.com/resources

🔈 Check out my killer list of guitar gear:
🎸 Grab your gear at Sweetwater & support the channel 👉
https://sweetwater.sjv.io/09o5zE

🇺🇸 Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/shop/jamieslay...

🇪🇺 Thomann EU
https://thmn.to/thocf/w1ttciz9x2

20 Comments

@JamieSlays Creator 11 months ago Pinned

⚙ Gear Links (Affiliate)
🎸 Marshall JCM900 4100 100-Watt Head (Sweetwater): https://sweetwater.sjv.io/RGe2Dg
🎸 Marshall JCM900 Studio Head (Sweetwater): https://sweetwater.sjv.io/dO65PK
🎸 Marshall JCM900 4100 100-Watt Head (Thomann): https://tinyurl.com/cch7j8ja

@cgh1026 10 months ago

The JCM 900 studio is awesome has 1,5,20 watt all in one . Perfect for home use

@TaylorDanley 11 months ago

Sick 💪 I have a Marshall obsession right now, unfortunately for my wallet 😂

@patrickmcgee8556 11 months ago

If you increase the speaker load(ohms) you can effectively crank it without blowing your ears out

@froblivion8284 11 months ago

I have the studio - love it. Great crunchy - chewy Marshall tone. Versatile too. Great video Jamie - keep her lit ! 👍🤘😬

@sirtog2 11 months ago

Sounds great. Nice to see Marshall making something useful again

@JoelCSabo 11 months ago

Solid video, as always, and that Rhoads is lovely.

@NinecoreNeil 11 months ago

When I see a 900 it always reminds me of when I borrowed one for Download and the sound guy put it on 7 😮 it felt great

@mattpearce79 9 months ago

I have a studio JCM900 and it sounds great, it actually runs two 5881 power tubes.

@wilsonjames299 3 months ago

I really like blowing the doors ..this old man loves it loud I never grew out of it. The 20 watt wouldn't be enough what I need...I do a lot of private party's mostly outside I love the JCM 900 100 on volume 4 it starts coming alive then.. it doesn't sound that great at lower volume but 3 and up. Look out Rock and roll...great video. 2thumbs up 😊😊😊😊😊

@Loki_Morningstar666 10 months ago

Marshall's 20 watt amps are awesome if you only play in your bedroom and small gigs where you can't turn up loud. In the studio I think a cranked 100 watt amp is the only way to go so you get that big low end. Personally I have a Marshall JCM 800 2203 and use a power attenuator when I'm practicing at home. The thing I like about the JCM 800 is that you can change its sound really simply by changing what pedal you use to boost it. With amps like the JCM 900 you are competing with the baked in sound of the amp. If you like that sound that's just fine. I want too make it clear I do really like the JCM 900, but I like the JCM 800 better because I feel like I can sculpt it to sound however I want and it sounds good in any context.

@ken33-z8n 11 months ago

solid content as always, keep it up man!

@mattreichenberg309 6 months ago

Love my 900 with EL34s and either a Mesa xl closed back cab or my Mesa half back cab.

@magnusnaess3605 10 months ago

Thank you for highlighting a great amp. I have owned and toured with them . Great workhorses that just sound right for metal. Cant go wrong with it. Also check out the forgotten gem Peavey classic wich is a bit similar and misunderstood as its also great for classic metal.

@Ronny_Webster1985 11 months ago

This makes me wish I still had my DSL 20. That thing had gain for days.

@christocaster 5 months ago

Wow, great demo, thanks a lot! You're really excellent and so much better than the new Marshall demos with that other guy and his Music Man that sounds like... well... anyway! I had the Studio Plexi 20W and the Classic 20 JCM800, and for the smaller ones, the OT gives less bass than the bigger 100W ones, as you said. But for me, on those two amps, that was a problem: the sound was great, but it lacked the power and that low end that I appreciate so much in 100W heads. Apparently, that's not a problem for you, at least not on this JCM 900 model. You seem to prefer the little extra gain of this smaller head to the massive sound of the larger model. In any case, what you're doing is great, I'll be following you! 👍🏻🤟🏻

@pjc4425 8 months ago (edited)

Picked up 900 Studio little over month ago loving it.
Feeding Mesa UK V30 in MonoPrice 112 cab.
Pedal in use- Plumes EarthQuaker. ChA - setting 3 & ChB setting 2.

ChA is crystal clean & its gain provides that classic Marshall drive covering 70s & 80s rock.
EarthQuaker pedal in setting 3 provides tube drive.

Then we have ChB , Head Bangers Ball ready to shred.
EarthQuaker pedal setting 2 provides clean boost pure

@PippPriss 11 months ago

I found exactly this to be true as well with my Bugera 1990, which is a clone of the JCM900. Then it sounds really incredible. Damn. I have to revisit my amps at some point. I guess I should be way more amp demos!

@lindseycloughley2657 11 months ago

Interesting stuff, great hearing you play Megadeth, especially Holy Wars, never get enough of Holy wars

@jimidrammer4187 9 months ago

I cranked my DSL 2000 half stack in my bedroom. The chunkiness made me think I was having a heart attack. Needless to say the drummer couldn't keep up at band practice, wish I hadn't sold it years ago.