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* EDIT: Up-to-date information is available in Yek's Guide to the Fractal Audio Amplifier Models *
Brit PRE and Brit JMPRE-1: based on Marshall JMP-1
The Marshall JMP-1 is a MIDI-controllable rack-mount tube preamp, based on the JMC 900, Marshall’s amp from the ‘90s. Bands such as Def Leppard, ZZ Top and Deftones are known for their use of the JMP-1. (Deftones now use the Axe-Fx II.)
Fractal Audio’s first model of the JMP-1 was the Brit Pre. Cliff re-worked the JMP-1 modeling, resulting in the JMPre-1 models. The Brit Pre stayed on, because it is used by several prominent “A-list” artists.
The power amp section of the models is based on a typical Marshall 100 watts power amp of the ‘90s.
The JMP-1 has four modes: two Clean ones, and OD1 and OD2. Fractal Audio modeled both OD modes (JMPRE models).
OD1 is “a warm vintage drive reminiscent of Marshall Super Lead amps through to modern day Master Volumes". And: “Features the purity of distortion from the golden age of the plexi glass Super Leads. As the gain is increased you pass through degrees of distortion into a rich higher gain mode, with just the right nuances for the modern blues rock player. Vintage crunch, modern metal and fat blues lead sounds are all readily available.“
OD2 is “a tightly focused high gain drive which can be smooth or aggressive depending on the E.Q. and gain settings". And: “Tightly focused stunning high gain is what you will find in OD2. Modern and aggressive, smooth and fluid, the gain levels and singing tone of this channel will give you infinite sustain whilst retaining a pure toneful quality.”
The JMP-1 provides Gain, Bass, Middle, Treble and Presence controls, all adjusted through keys instead of rotary knobs. No Master Volume because it’s a preamp.
Cliff’s commenting on the Brit Pre model:
Cliff’s commenting on the JMPre-1 models:
There is also a Bass Shift control on the JMP-1. Marshall:
The two models with “BS” in the name were created with the Bass Shift function engaged on the real amp. I prefer the non-BS models, because I don’t like too much bass in my tone, but that’s a matter of personal preference of course.
IMHO the models of the JMP-1 are well balanced. At default values they already sound fine, although you may want to turn up the gain.
Because the JMP-1 is a preamp, there's no matching cabinet per se. Let your ears decide, or go with the traditional Marshall ones.
And here’s a recording by Guitarjon using the BRIT PRE and JMPRE-1 models:
Brit PRE and Brit JMPRE-1: based on Marshall JMP-1
The Marshall JMP-1 is a MIDI-controllable rack-mount tube preamp, based on the JMC 900, Marshall’s amp from the ‘90s. Bands such as Def Leppard, ZZ Top and Deftones are known for their use of the JMP-1. (Deftones now use the Axe-Fx II.)
Don’t confuse this with the current JMP1 “baby” Marshall.
Fractal Audio’s first model of the JMP-1 was the Brit Pre. Cliff re-worked the JMP-1 modeling, resulting in the JMPre-1 models. The Brit Pre stayed on, because it is used by several prominent “A-list” artists.
The power amp section of the models is based on a typical Marshall 100 watts power amp of the ‘90s.
The JMP-1 has four modes: two Clean ones, and OD1 and OD2. Fractal Audio modeled both OD modes (JMPRE models).
OD1 is “a warm vintage drive reminiscent of Marshall Super Lead amps through to modern day Master Volumes". And: “Features the purity of distortion from the golden age of the plexi glass Super Leads. As the gain is increased you pass through degrees of distortion into a rich higher gain mode, with just the right nuances for the modern blues rock player. Vintage crunch, modern metal and fat blues lead sounds are all readily available.“
OD2 is “a tightly focused high gain drive which can be smooth or aggressive depending on the E.Q. and gain settings". And: “Tightly focused stunning high gain is what you will find in OD2. Modern and aggressive, smooth and fluid, the gain levels and singing tone of this channel will give you infinite sustain whilst retaining a pure toneful quality.”
The JMP-1 provides Gain, Bass, Middle, Treble and Presence controls, all adjusted through keys instead of rotary knobs. No Master Volume because it’s a preamp.
Cliff’s commenting on the Brit Pre model:
"The two channels have preset tone stacks. Then there is a digitally controlled 4-band graphic EQ which is the B/M/T and Presence. This technique gets around the problem of trying to digitally control a tone stack. The Triaxis uses LDRs in place of potentiometers. The Soldano X-99 uses motorized pots. Both techniques being expensive. So the JMP-1 uses a fixed tone stack and then a digitally controlled graphic EQ. The Axe-Fx model of the JMP-1 is "better" in the sense that the tone controls control the tone stack rather than a graphic EQ. You then have the separate graphic EQ to further tailor the sound. What I didn't do, and why people probably feel the model differs, is "normalize" the tone controls so that with B/M/T at noon the tone stacks match. On the Axe-Fx you might need to set the Bass to 3, Mid to 7, etc. to get the tone to match. I just used a standard Marshall tone stack whereas the JMP-1 uses a standard Marshall tone stack but the pots are replaced with fixed resistors but those values don't necessarily correspond to the pots at noon."
Cliff’s commenting on the JMPre-1 models:
“The JMP-1 tone controls have more range than the actual preamp. The preamp has about +/- 8 dB for each tone control while the model has the standard +/- 12 dB."
There is also a Bass Shift control on the JMP-1. Marshall:
“It’s a subtle low frequency character control. When selected it thickens the bottom end of the sound and tightens the playing feel. On clean selections it adds body and on overdrive it provides the extra low end “throb” so essential for heavy rock sound.”
The two models with “BS” in the name were created with the Bass Shift function engaged on the real amp. I prefer the non-BS models, because I don’t like too much bass in my tone, but that’s a matter of personal preference of course.
IMHO the models of the JMP-1 are well balanced. At default values they already sound fine, although you may want to turn up the gain.
Because the JMP-1 is a preamp, there's no matching cabinet per se. Let your ears decide, or go with the traditional Marshall ones.
And here’s a recording by Guitarjon using the BRIT PRE and JMPRE-1 models:
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