REVIEWED
MARSHALL YJM100
Swedish rock guitar virtuoso Yngwie J Malmsteen unleashes the fury once again in the form of his first signature amplifier… courtesy of Marshall, naturally!
Words: Tim Slater
Among the living rock legends that use Marshall amplifiers neo- classical virtuoso Yngwie Malsteen is one of the British amplifier legend’s most accomplished and flamboyant ambassadors. The Swedish maestro is no stranger to signature endorsements of the highest caliber; indeed way back in the late 80s Malmsteen was only the second guitar player after Eric Clapton to be honored with his own official signature Fender Stratocaster. An official Yngwie Malmsteen Marshall amplifier may have been a long time coming but it seems to have been well worth the long wait. Playmusic
MARSHALL YJM100
SRP £1515.00
All prices include VAT CONT
ACT
Marshall Amplification T:
01908 375411 W:
www.marshallaamps.com
was lucky enough to see Yngwie officially unveil his new signature amp in America last January and boy, did it rock!
Overview
Appearance-wise the YJM100 is something of a hybrid. The gold anodized front control panel looks to all intents and purposes exactly like a late 1960s 1959 Plexi head, while the cabinet enclosing the circuitry is based on the Marshall Major model from around the same period – the favourite Marshall amp of Yngwie’s boyhood hero Ritchie Blackmore! Nip around the back, however, and it soon becomes apparent that this is no off-the-peg vintage reissue. The JYM100 is bristling with state- of-the-art features that are built-in to give the player instant access to the legendary Malsteen tone. These include a footswitchable boost with optional integrated noise gate, digital reverb, 100/50 watt power modes, Marshall’s new EPA power attenuator and a very user-friendly low maintenance threshold that will help Mr. Average Joe Guitar Player to keep the amp running in prime condition with a minimum of hassle. There are several key areas where the YJM100 bridges the gap between
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a typical vintage 1959 reissue and a modern Marshall amplifier. Starting with the more familiar vintage specs; this is an all tube 100 watt amplifier that draws its power via a quartet of EL34 output tubes and a valve-driven preamp that harnesses 4xECC83s. Like a traditional Marshall 1959 Super Lead Channel 1 (Normal) and Channel II (High Treble) can be combined to blend each channel’s distinctive sound (a high quality patch cable is helpfully provided for that very purpose).
Both channels use a common three band passive EQ and a presence control and whilst there is no channel switching in the traditional sense, the YJM100 nevertheless offers some very effective options for dialing in some truly killer-sounding Marshall overdrive tones.
Rear guard action The back panel is where most of the action takes place. The YJM 100 incorporates a couple of features borrowed from stomp boxes
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