[Nyquist]

Hi,

I'm looking to purchase a new half stack soon and the Peavey JSX looks very attractive, my only concern (without hearing one yet) is can it pull off a really heavy thick distortion tone.

The Triple XXX seems it can pull it off, but is the XXX just a one trick pony - with great distortion?

The Mesa Boogie stuff is awesome, but it's WAY out of my price range.

If you were going to purchase a new amp and you mainly play Dream Theater, Metallica, etc. type music which amp would you buy and why?

Thanks guys, I really appreciate any advice you have.

[Fret Melter]

Is the JSX Heavy enough? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh yes Surprisingly heavy actually!!!

[Nyquist]

Are you using the JSX 4x12 as well, or some other cab?

[rummy]

Roland Cube 30 or the 60? What's your budget?

[Nyquist]

No real budget, however, I'd like to try and stay reasonable.

The JSX 4x12 is $900
The XXX 4x12 is $800
The Rectifier 4x12 is $1200

Or, should I just hunt down a used Marshall 1960 4x12, they're about $500

[note: $ = Canadian Funds]

By the way, is there any (noticable) tonal difference between a slant cab and a straight cab?

Thanks again.

[Drew]

Originally Posted by Nyquist

By the way, is there any (noticable) tonal difference between a slant cab and a straight cab?

Most of it is due to the way the project. A straight cab has a larger interior volume, all things equal, than a slant, so it'll have slightly better bass response. The bigger change, though, is that the top two speakers are angled slightly up towards your head, so you'll perceive more treble when you're playing.

For what it's worth, for what you're likely to get a JSX head for, you could also conceiveably snag a Mesa F-30 or F-50 head, Nomad-45 head, or possibly a Single Rectifier head, used, all of which absolutely slay for heavy rhythm guitar.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by Drew

Most of it is due to the way the project. A straight cab has a larger interior volume, all things equal, than a slant, so it'll have slightly better bass response. The bigger change, though, is that the top two speakers are angled slightly up towards your head, so you'll perceive more treble when you're playing.

For what it's worth, for what you're likely to get a JSX head for, you could also conceiveably snag a Mesa F-30 or F-50 head, Nomad-45 head, or possibly a Single Rectifier head, used, all of which absolutely slay for heavy rhythm guitar.

+1 on the Mesa stuff. The JSX's are nice but they're not that much less used than say a Mark III or a Rectoverb. Both can be had in the $800 neighborhood.

[noodles]

I owned a XXX before my Mesa. With the JSX on the market, there is absolutely no reason to buy the XXX. The cleans are sterile, and the ultra channel is a buzzy, diode-clipping mess. If you need that much distortion, you can do much better with a pedal.

What kind of music are you playing? That would really help us point you in the right direction. If you need brutal rhythm playing, don't forget the 5150.

[skattabrain]

i agree with noodles.

i love my JSX ... i'll tell you straight up when i first got it ... i was like ... hmmm ... where is the rest of the gain i heard in the store. i was used to that pod modeling ... uber gain with fizz sound that now sounds like garbage to me now.

well, i'm glad i got it, cause i can actually hear my attack better than with that thick ultra gain and realize the ultra gain is WAY less heavy and aggressive then what i have now. i'm in love with it and i get compliments constantly from those that hear it. my singer has been in bands with rectos as a standard ... he thinks it the sickest sound he's heard yet. do i think it's a recto killer? no ... it's different.

if you want death metal tone ... keep looking ... but if you want brutality ... as in rip your face off with the force ... it's pretty kick ass. not to mention the crunch channel gets me an awesome tool kinda tone and the clean simply can't be pushed into getting gritty ... that's what the crunch is for in this amp.

but i wouldn't buy anything without hearing it ... it's an amp ... it's either gonna rock your world or you'll be disappointed ... you must try before you buy when it comes to amps man ... no other option.

oh ... btw ... with guitar rig 2 in my effects loop i can basically dial in that ultra thick gain at 15 sound with ease.

my JSX says cork sniffers can go pound sand.

Originally Posted by Nyquist

No real budget, however, I'd like to try and stay reasonable.

The JSX 4x12 is $900
The XXX 4x12 is $800
The Rectifier 4x12 is $1200

Or, should I just hunt down a used Marshall 1960 4x12, they're about $500

[note: $ = Canadian Funds]

By the way, is there any (noticable) tonal difference between a slant cab and a straight cab?

Thanks again.

dude, get a 4x12 avatar for under $500 with whatever speakers you want + great construction.

[eviltoaster]

after playing all amps in www.musicstore.de whihc included rivera,mesas,vht and diezels imho the best amps where the engl SE which i own now,the JSX and the engl blackmore!

the jsx is a great great amp!!!!i think i saw arch enemy and darkest hour playing them....(and 5150).no really,it IS actually heavy enough for everything and simply sings.every single channel really usable