JSX or XXX?

[rumblebox]

Re: JSX or XXX?

I know the modern channel sounds like ass, but the crunch and vintage channels are pretty good for a SS. I only need it for metal anyway.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: JSX or XXX?

I don't think "only needing it for metal" makes it any better - the amp is sterile, boring, and lifeless for any genre, and using enough gain to play metal will only bring out those qualities.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: JSX or XXX?

How about the VK?

 

[BigBazz]

Re: JSX or XXX?

Valveking is a great amp, will give you 5150 esque tones if you dial it in right (though obviously not identical), more versatile than a 5150 with a better clean channel. From 2006-2011 playing in a metal band I ran a Peavey 5150 while my other guitarist ran a Valveking and to be honest in a live context our sounds were so similar you could not tell them apart at those volumes. So yeah I think the Valveking is a fantastic amp, infinitely better than that Transtube.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: JSX or XXX?

VK isn't bad at all. More JCM than 5150 - definitely a less 'metal' sound but certainly capable of getting brutal (although it might require an OD pedal infront to tighten up enough).

 

[rumblebox]

Re: JSX or XXX?

That may be better for me then, since I'm not a fan of the fizzy, gritty sound of traditional metal amps like the dual rectifier, mark5, diezel, krank, 5150/6505, etc.

 

[BigBazz]

Re: JSX or XXX?

VK isn't bad at all. More JCM than 5150 - definitely a less 'metal' sound but certainly capable of getting brutal (although it might require an OD pedal infront to tighten up enough).

More JCM than a 5150? It's a high gain Peavey style amp with a 6L6 power amp, sounds nothing at all like a Marshall. Don't give the guy false ideas about the amp, if he doesn't like the Mesa Rect/5150 type sound then he probably won't like the Valveking, it's in the same ballpark as those amps.

I think the Valveking is great, but it is not an amp with Marshall sounds.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: JSX or XXX?

Right now I'm basically going off the impressions i get of these amps by using the peavey ampkit app and the peavey vypyr i used to have. The emmulators i really like are the 3120/XXX, JSX, and valveking.

I really like the crunch channel of the XXX and the transtube.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: JSX or XXX?

More JCM than a 5150? It's a high gain Peavey style amp with a 6L6 power amp, sounds nothing at all like a Marshall. Don't give the guy false ideas about the amp, if he doesn't like the Mesa Rect/5150 type sound then he probably won't like the Valveking, it's in the same ballpark as those amps.

I think the Valveking is great, but it is not an amp with Marshall sounds.

You're right, I was thinking of the Windsor (which is, circuit-speaking, VERY close to an 800). I can't say I have much experience with the VK, sorry about that mixup!

 

[B2D]

Re: JSX or XXX?

Hey Jeff... through all of your 5150 and your experience with them, did you find a particular iteration of that amp that you liked working with best, or one that seemed to outperform all the others?

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: JSX or XXX?

Hey Jeff... through all of your 5150 and your experience with them, did you find a particular iteration of that amp that you liked working with best, or one that seemed to outperform all the others?

In order, 5150 bias modded, 5150 stock, and 5150II. 5150 with the bias mod was perfect IMO, with the 5150II being useable but had me always wanting the original instead.

 

[B2D]

Re: JSX or XXX?

In order, 5150 bias modded, 5150 stock, and 5150II. 5150 with the bias mod was perfect IMO, with the 5150II being useable but had me always wanting the original instead.

Bias modded for what, different tubes or running 6L6's slightly hotter or colder?

 

[BigBazz]

Re: JSX or XXX?

Bias modded for what, different tubes or running 6L6's slightly hotter or colder?

The 5150 is fixed biased and quite cold by default, the bias mod allows you to bias the amp, typically to make it hotter to reduce crossover distortion. Using 6L6's.

 

[TheTranslator]

Re: JSX or XXX?

Based on your needs, I suggest the JSX. I have a JSX, and both crunch and ultra channels can be tweaked for a classic rock distortion, with the crunch being better for classic, of course. The clean channel produces a "true" clean tone that can accommodate the hard-core chimey stuff needed for Funk, R&B and Pop, or a strait-up George Benson Jazz tone. As previously mentioned, it's a great channel to run fuzz boxes through, but with fantastic distortion channels already built-in, why do that?!?

 

[rumblebox]

Re: JSX or XXX?

I'm about to buy a VK100 head for $200 and build a 212 cab.

What speakers have the best bass response and the clearest top end? I'm leaning toward eminence texas heats.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: JSX or XXX?

Bias modded for what, different tubes or running 6L6's slightly hotter or colder?

Just the 6L6's running hotter, just out of crossover distortion. The come biased quite cold from the factory. The bias mod takes away some top end grind but you get a really cool midrange warmth afterwards. Closer to the 5153 than the 5150II, if that makes sense.