The Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800 is a Marshall amplifier. Close alternatives include the Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost) and the Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp. It pairs well with the Greer Mizuki blue and the Xotic BB Preamp.
Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800
Marshall · amplifier
The Marshall 2203KK is Kerry King's signature JCM800, based on his personal 2203 head nicknamed 'the Beast'. It is a 100-watt single-channel master-volume head with the classic aggressive JCM800 crunch plus custom additions: an 'Assault' EQ mode that recreates the mid-boosted curve from King's graphic EQ, and a built-in studio-quality noise gate with an expander engaged by the 'Beast' switch. Unusually for metal, it pushes the mids forward rather than scooping them, giving a cutting, in-your-face tone. Powered by KT88 tubes, it is voiced for thrash and heavy metal rhythm and lead at high volume.
- metal
- thrash
- crunch
- noise gate
- rhythm
- eq
- high gain
- cut
Good for
- Live
Genres the Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800 is commonly used in
- Heavy Metal
- Metal
- Thrash Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Death Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Black Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800
Greer Mizuki blue
Greer
24% matchRun Greer Mizuki blue after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Xotic BB Preamp
Xotic
21% matchRun Xotic BB Preamp after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
EarthQuaker Devices White Light
EarthQuaker Devices
19% matchEarthQuaker Devices White Light's warm balances out the bright tone
Universal Audio Golden Reverberator
Universal Audio
16% matchKeep Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800's crunchy voice out front: Universal Audio Golden Reverberator goes in Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800's effects loop so its spring voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Meris LVX Delay
Meris
16% matchKeep Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800's crunchy voice out front: Meris LVX Delay goes in Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800's effects loop so its ambient voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Origin Effects MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive
Origin Effects
15% matchRun Origin Effects MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive after Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800 in the signal chain, clear of Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800's own gain stage
BBE OptiComp
Bbe
14% matchBBE OptiComp leans toward dynamic, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4
Jam Pedals
tonal matchVoiced for Marshall-style amps
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost)
Benson Amps
72% similarityBenson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost) recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp
Friedman
72% similarityFriedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
DOD 250-x
Dod
72% similarityDOD 250-x recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Vox Valvenergy Mystic Edge
Vox
72% similarityVox Valvenergy Mystic Edge recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Marshall JCM800 2203
Marshall
70% similarity“The Marshall 2203KK is Kerry King's signature JCM800, based on his personal 2203 head nicknamed 'the Beast'”
Randall KH103 Kirk Hammett Signature 3-Channel 120W Head
Randall
61% similarityShared character: two_channels, mix, high_gain_settings
Engl 120 E610 MK II
Engl
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Randall RD40 Diavlo
Randall
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Randall RD20-112 Diavlo 20W 1x12 Combo
Randall
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Randall RD100H Diavlo 100W 3-Channel Head
Randall
95% similaritysimilar tone character
ENGL E610II Savage 120 MkII Head
Engl
95% similaritysimilar tone character
ENGL Fireball 25 E633
Engl
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800?+
The closest matches in character are the Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost), the Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp, the DOD 250-x.
What pairs well with the Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Greer Mizuki blue, Xotic BB Preamp, EarthQuaker Devices White Light — Run Greer Mizuki blue after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm.