Just got a JSX Mini Colossal.

Top Jimmy

New member
Some of you said it was horrible which i thought at first, but once I tweaked around with volume, tone, attenuator settings, pedals you can get some decent sounds out of this thing.

I currently own a Vox AD30VT which has been nice but I was looking for something with it's own character and not trying to model other amps, plus I was looking for an effect loop.

EBMM JP6/Ibanez SZ520-->Boss TU-2-->DOD Compressor/sustainer-->Ibanez Distortion Charger-->Boss DS-1-->Metal Zone-->Boss GE-7 eq-->Ibanez Delay. Wah, flange, chorus never get much use. I know, I know the DS-1 and metal zone are junk to most people but the EQ helps to smooth out much of the buzz and nastyness normally associated with those pedals. Anyway pedal upgrades are next after i find the right amp.

First off, 5 watts is just too fricken loud for a condo dweller. Luckily it has a built in power soak. My beef with the soak is that it goes from zero power to a lot more power too quickly and hard to get a condo appropriate volume. But so far it's "good enough".

Second, the effects loop. Doesn't seem to work very well so far. I basically only use delay in the loop, chorus, flange, etc stay in the bag for the most part. But no matter what i tried so far the delay works better going into the front of the amp.

Third, depending on which guitar i use really changes the amp character. The Petrucci has the D-Sonic which really drives the amp much harder as does the Air Norton type pickup in the neck. The Duncan designs in the Ibanez, which rule by the way, are a much smoother classic rock sound. I didn't have much trust in "duncan designed" but i won't ever swap them out now. When i play my Vox VT, the guitars really sound the same for the most part no matter what pedal, amp, guitar combo I use.

Fourth, it takes pedals fairly well, but you never really get a "clean" sound out of the amp. But I use the DS-1 as an overdrive and it seem fairly effective to get more dirt and you can adjust the tone and levels with it too.

Finally, I haven't been able to open it up yet to see what it's really capable of, max volume so far was about 20% on the sponge and volume dimed. Nice enough tone, but some top end fizzle that needs to be eq'd out.

Got it for only $379.00 so it was a bargin I'd think. Hope to get some sound clips in the next few weeks.
 
Re: Just got a JSX Mini Colossal.

For the loop - if its like the combo, it has an active loop. SO, make sure youput the send to around 3, and return around 12 or higher. The loop controls actually affect volume...

I too am interested in the Direct Out... please post something soon.
 
Re: Just got a JSX Mini Colossal.

Don't know much about direct recording output soooo...

The JSX has a Cabinet Simulated XLR Output. Is there any sort of load on that I should be concerned about if say i went direct into my PC?

Thanks.
 
Re: Just got a JSX Mini Colossal.

I just double checked on Peavey's site. I was right. The mini Colossal is class A with an EL84 output tube.
Having tried out a Blackheart which is class A, and having bought a Palomino V32H and cab, also class A with EL84's, I recognize the hazy chime. It's an acquired taste for some. It doesn't really overdrive the same way as a Marshall or other amp of that type. But it is pretty cool if you dial it in right.

I recorded one track on my band's demo with my crate Palomino head, listened back, and thought "Whoa!! This sounds completely differnet than my Genz Benz El Diablo 60!"

Other Palomino owners say the amp sounds much better with a tube upgrade. It comes with Sovteks. I don't know what your Mini Colossal came with.

I think the class A amps I've heard sound best riding the line between clean and breaking up. That's the great thing about these amps. It's not a fine line. They gracefully transition from a clean to a crunchy overdriven tone and respond very well to your picking technique or to rolling your guitar volume back. The Edge uses this tone a lot with his Vox amps. I can also get tones that remind me a lot of AC/DC with my class A amp.

The Mini Collosal has an 8" speaker. That may also add some fizziness.

It's interesting that each of your guitars sounds so much different through the Mini Collosal. Sounds like it really responds to how hot a guitar is and to its tone.
 
Last edited:
Re: Just got a JSX Mini Colossal.

Don't know much about direct recording output soooo...

The JSX has a Cabinet Simulated XLR Output. Is there any sort of load on that I should be concerned about if say i went direct into my PC?

Thanks.

That would go to a mixer I suspect because it's xlr. You might contact Peavey before experimenting!
 
Re: Just got a JSX Mini Colossal.

Well got home and remembered I had a xlr cable and adapter so I plugged it into my cheap radio shack thing and into my line-in on my computer.

This is the jsx volume dimed and tone at about 3 o'clock. Ibanez SZ520-->JSX-->xlr direct out-->radio shack thing-->computer. Software is free Kristal mixer.

Cut me some slack, did it in like 5 minutes.

Guess I forgot the link...
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6665351
 
Re: Just got a JSX Mini Colossal.

Holy poop man, now I have to go buy one! I think it sounds good for direct.

What about the speaker, does it stay off when direct recording?
 
Re: Just got a JSX Mini Colossal.

Side note: The speaker isn't deactivated when you use direct out but you can turn the power sponge all the way down not effecting the tone I guess, thus silencing.
 
Re: Just got a JSX Mini Colossal.

One more crappy recording, think I'm clipping but don't really know what I'm doing.

Trying to get a Eric Johnson tone, but the mix is kinda wrong. EBMM Petrucci neck position, ds-1 as overdrive distortion all the way off, boss eq mid hump, ibanez delay, jsx set about 9 oclock volume, tone at 3 oclock.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6668116
 
Re: Just got a JSX Mini Colossal.

One more crappy recording, think I'm clipping but don't really know what I'm doing.

Trying to get a Eric Johnson tone, but the mix is kinda wrong. EBMM Petrucci neck position, ds-1 as overdrive distortion all the way off, boss eq mid hump, ibanez delay, jsx set about 9 oclock volume, tone at 3 oclock.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6668116

Is the effects loop active? Does changing the send/recieve affect volume?
 
Re: Just got a JSX Mini Colossal.

The sound clip sounded great! A little EJ in there for good measure! How did you set up that tone?
 
Re: Just got a JSX Mini Colossal.

just listened to Title: JSX Sample
Artist: Fedaykin
Genre: Rock : Guitar Rock

sounded full and all. Points to you TJ for stickin to the amp after the critical thrashing it got in another thread, pretty sure you were on that thread, too....Would you say it's strength is in its DR capabilities, with an additional bonus feature of having a speaker? ....if you know what I'm trying to tactfully say, while at the same time give you yer props? :nervous:
 
Back
Top