Unlock the Truth: Is Marshall JTM Studio ST20 the Best 20w Tube Amp?
71,225
Published 2023-08-06
Marshall released the JTM Studio ST20 after a long delay. But is the truth that maybe this amp is at the top of the pile for quality, tone and flexibility. Lets unlock what others never showed you. A fully independent review too!
Related links:
Fair Deal Music: www.fairdealmusic.com/
My website: tonymckenzie.com/
Marshall website: www.marshall.com/
Marshall playing: • Studio JTM | Official Demo | Marshall
Contents:
0:00 Start
0:26 Intro & Preamble
0:57 JTM45 Example
1:30 Fair Deal Music
2:26 Comparing with Friedman
2:50 The Chassis
3:19 5881 Power Tubes
3:45 Preamp Tubes
4:02 Inside the Amplifier
4:13 Switch Quality
4:47 Preamp Area
5:33 Power Amp Area
5:47 Cement Resistors Compared
6:57 Control & I/O Boards
7:33 Back of the Amplifier
8:15 Made in England!
8:49 Front Controls
8:58 JTM1 in Marshall Museum
11:06 Amp Aesthetics
11:40 Start Guide & Manual
12:06 3 Year Warranty!
13:02 The JTM Era
13:25 JTM Tones Opinion
14:37 Driving The Amplifier
16:29 Marshall Reissue Pedals
17:32 Other Thoughts
18:39 Have I had Enough?
19:39 Tones with Les Paul
21:39 Tones with a Stratocaster
22:47 Tones with Jumped Channels
25:34 Final Track Tone Example
What you will learn in this video review:
Is this amp flexible for many styles?
What does the JTM Studio 20H cost?
What about overall quality and build?
Does it have a good warranty?
Note final track I edited... as copyright... they say: but sadly not Gary Moore? :(
Unlocking the truth about the Marshall JTM Studio ST20 and comparing with other gear - you decide.
I never expected this amp. And along it came just a few weeks ago so I ordered one for review. I bought mine from Fair Deal Music and I had that amp the very next day! Their service was excellent and the price was very good.
With the Marshall JTM Studio ST20 amplifier this amp uses 5881 tubes as opposed (at least in the UK) to EL34 which on a JTM45 I own had those EL34's fitted.
Many guys will never have played a JTM tube amplifier, let alone with those 5881 tubes, so they really won't have much of an idea about the sounds from this great little amp. And I have to say, neither will they have likely experienced the quality of the Studio series of valve amplifiers from Marshall either if they don't own one.
So in this video I wanted to show most features and benefits that the Marshall JTM ST20 has to offer, but also some of the other products out there that cost far more and frankly paled in to insignificance once you mention quality and maybe engineering prowess.
While I show you some of the things that others really never do, I do also show just how great this amp really is in most respects including some of the tones. Alas the last track someone claimed a copyright.. questionable as they were NOT Gary Moore...
I expected from the Studio series maybe a newer amp model from Marshall (TSL maybe?) after all the previously released Studio series including the SV20, the SC20 (Marshall studio classic), and the 2525, but I have to say that this amp really did surprise me; not least from its incredible flexibility of different tones and suitability to different styles available to anyone who buys one. It's not a deat* metal amp of course! But it can easily do, clean, blues, rock, heavy metal and with the right pedal maybe more.
I do show some of the pedals that I have tried with the JTM Studio ST20H and each has a different tone to it. In there are of course many tube screamers (even a hand wired one) that work great with the JTM.
From just 5w watts out or 20w watts out and that ability to balance the tones with a jumped connector makes this amp very flexible.
Its finished in the older style levant too, and you'll notice no corner protectors.
I do show the Marshall JTM1 at the Marshall museum in the video so do take a look at that priceless amp yourself and see where it all started.
Of course there's not really a Fractal Audio Axe-FX III in the JTM and make no mistake there's no JTM ST20 in the Axe-FX III anything like this one. Real 5881 tubes (valves) rule.
I have spent considerable time creating this video entirely as I said and at my own expense:
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, RING THE BELL, AND THUMBS UP to give my channel a boost and thank you for watching - I hope the video is enjoyable for you and that you see the tings in it that other reviews NEVER show!.
(c) A B McKenzie and www.tonymckenzie.com/ 2009-2023
All Rights Reserved. All Trade Marks Acknowledged
Visit www.tonymckenzie.com/ for more incredible reviews or my YouTube channel
#marshall #jtm #guitaramp #guitaramps #guitaramplifier #studio #tonymckenzie #tubeamplifier #tubeamp #5881
All Comments (21)
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Excellent review……….as always. Please don’t stop making content. Your reviews and the work you put into them are a breath of fresh air. The small minded people who think differently are jealous of you.
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Thank you for the in depth review like no one has done for this amp. It's a beauty. Please keep the videos coming. I really enjoyed your take on things.
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Love your in depth reviews, Tony. Don't let the numpties and YouTube get you down. Got your vid in my recommendations, and glad I did. Really loving this amp, just wish the pricing in Canada was closer to the pricing in the UK.
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Greetings from Brazil! Thank you for another excellent review. All your equipment reviews are always serious and professional, without the "strings" of sponsored products. I wish to you all the best.
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Yes! The review I’ve been waiting for - thanks Tony, just strapping in
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Tony, I am sure that you have a very appreciative and large group of people that will find your videos even if they are not notified. On my very new Mac, with a fiber optic network, many notifications don’t turn the bell icon red as they used to. Being subscribed to your channel means that I can always find your new videos in my subscription history. I can understand your frustration but I hope you will find time now and then to make my (our) days brighter!! Cheers!!!
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Thank you for the fair and in-depth review, Tony!
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Glad to see that you’re back ! Always enjoy your reviews and jams !
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Glad to see you back Tony! we love your reviews!
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This was the first REAL review I have seen of this amp. Thousand thanks. 👍
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Great review Tony. I really like your no BS approach and in depth reviews. Keep them coming. IMO Marshall are absolutely nailing it with these studio amps and evidently surpassing so called boutique amp builders in terms of build quality. Made in England too, as Marshalls should be.
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Tony, this is the among best amplifier review I have ever watched here on YouTube. I have been watching your video's for a couple of years now so today I have subscribed. I wish to encourage you to continue to educate people about amplifiers as you talk about how they sound and also about how they are built and that is something very few people do. Please continue as your efforts are greatly appreciated (and needed). I am 73 years of age and my favorite guitar amplifier is the Marshall JTM45 /2245, but for some reason I have had bad luck with them and all 3 JTM45's that I purchased brand new had issues within 10 days so I returned each of them. I still want the JTM45 sound as it inspires me. If I can get that sound from the new Marshall JTM Studio ST20 I shall purchase one immediately. If I need the Xotic SL Drive Mini overdrive pedal to get that sound using the JTM Studio ST20 then I shall get both immediately. Or if only the Marshall JTM45 can get that sound I shall try again and get another new JTM45. I am of an age that I want to be satisfied with my sound as I play all day and for several hours every day and evening of my life. I am not a wealthy man but the price for me is worth it. My playing is something close to a jazz, blues, rock with a touch of metal thrown in. I have no need to play extremely loud but I still like a long sustain note available when I want to play one. I actually play at a softer, moderate volume and Allow the tone to carry me away. Marshall JTM45/2245 has that tone at any volume I want. I love the tone. To me the JTM45 has a strong bottom end tone and when I play I dial up the bass while lowering both the mids and treble controls on the amplifier to get the sound that I like best. I also like to play through my Marshall Origin Full stack because two 412 cabs (the top 412 is a slant or type "A" and the bottom is the type "B" 412 cab) can really distribute the sound all throughout my living room/studio. I had a Marshall 1960A and 1960B Full stack years ago but sold it when we moved. I am settled in now in our own home but my finances have changes and now I have the newer Marshall Origin 412A and Marshall Origin 412B Full stack Still not too bad at all! Now, having heard your playing at the end portion of this video I can say that my playing is similar to yours as played here. Well, your notes have a certain amount of more treble than mine but otherwise our styles are close enough. - Peter age 73
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Glad to see you back Tony, what a great in depth review as you always Do, Nobody does reviews like you, I’ve said before and I’ll say it know you can’t beat UK Marshall build Quality yes they have a few Quirks here and there with the JCM 2000DSLs and TSLs but nothing that can’t be sorted out by replacing a board, I think they nailed the JTM 45 tone in a smaller package,Thanks for the review Tony!!
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Thanks for this review Tony. The normal reviews of "Oh, look...it makes noise!", got old rather quick since I was even more interested about the build quality, like whether the resistors were on or off the board. As you pointed out, having the resistors lifted off the board goes hand in hand with reliability. Cheers!
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This is the first time I want to buy a Marshall amp since I sold an old mid 60's 50 watt half stack several years ago. The JTM Studio seems so versatile. I have to check the prices here in Canada. It would be nice to get the speaker cabinet as well... it's not like I have a lot to choose from personally. Thanks for another great review, Tony! I hope there's enough interest to keep you doing these... without the hassles. Take good care.
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He's back and that's good ! Thanks for this very interesting video !
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Please don't stop what your doin Tony , its all good ,info ,your playing and super in depth info on the goods we buy. Hell I'm71 and still enjoy rock music and been a player since 1962. 👍🇬🇧
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Cracking Review! Great to get your insights Tony - please don't stop! It would be really interesting if you did a breakdown of the cabinets as well as the heads as it seems like great value based on your feedback.
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I've seen so many videos about this lately. Yours and Tone Preist's are the only ones that didn't feel like paid ads. Good review as always ! I'm surprised you gave it a good review, actually. I'm kind of spoiled and have been building my own hand wired amps, and I've kind of gotten snobby about pcb amps.. Glad to see this one is well made. It really looks amazing, too. Good first offering from the new owners of marshall
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Outstanding overview as always. You've inadvertently served to muddy up the waters over which amp I'd like to get , ha! I was thinking of one of the three 20-watters or ... just get a JVM that has more flexibility ... and more complexity. I do keep coming back to these guys and the 20w JCM800s they have, they both sound great. Regardless, thanks to your videos, it seems that all are very well built and won't give up the ghost on you any time soon!
