Marshall 2204 bright/harsh Tamed!

[mixn4him]

I have a mutt that started life as a stock 1987XL, Don Butler then converted it to JTM50 specs and it has been my test bed and mutt since then. Don did a great job but a clean Marshall is not me so a-modding I went. It has had every mod and config I could fine here and everywhere but have landed at a good ole stock 2204 config with a couple tweaks. And as expected it can be bright and harsh at times with a strat even without a bright cap.
I have also been a Dave Friedman fan boy for a while as well, there is no way I can afford one of his amps but have researched and gathered gut shots of most of his amps and tried most of circuits in this mutt. The one thing I have noticed in almost all his amps is a plate bypass cap on V2. I know other folks and Dave also bypass one side of V1 but Dave always bypasses V2. So I figured why not, 500pf cap and BAM! instantly my amp is soo much smoother. I can actually use the treble and presence pots pass 3 now! It can be a little dark with my HB guitar but my strat is the sound I have wanted for a long time. May install a switchable bright cap for when I play HB's.

Just passing on as I have been a long time lurker here and have spent ALOT of time in all the sections learning as much as I can from everyone here. Thanks for all the great info !

[lifer]

hey dude- sounds cool -glad you got it tweaked. dumb question......do you mean a 500pf paralleled with the 820r ?

[d95err]

do you mean a 500pf paralleled with the 820r ?

Plate bypass; parallell to the plate resistor, not the cathode resistor.

[lifer]

10-4! thanks bud. did you find pics of friedmans amp just by searching? or website?

[coldengray]

Hook us up with some gut shots. I have Dirty Shirley but would like to see the Smallbox.

[rgorke]

Please don't post any pics publicly.

[coldengray]

I used this trick on my 2204 build and it worked like a charm.