Peavey xxx, jsx, 3120 same amp?

[ozzman619]

i know this had been covered before but it seems no one has really put their foot down and really stated whats really going on with these three amps, so far ive heard they are the same amp the jsx just has a noise gate and the 3120 uses el34's, are those the only differences really or whats up with these amps

[DrakkarTyrannis]

It's been discussed at length on multiple forums

The Triple XXX is the same as the 3120..only the 3120 comes stock with EL34 tubes.

The JSX is a modded XXX and has different features, less gain, not as expansive an active EQ circuit, and has more upper mids and is less aggressive.

The Triple XXX II is just the JSX relabeled.

[ozzman619]

Originally Posted by DrakkarTyrannis

It's been discussed at length on multiple forums

The Triple XXX is the same as the 3120..only the 3120 comes stock with EL34 tubes.

The JSX is a modded XXX and has different features, less gain, not as expansive an active EQ circuit, and has more upper mids and is less aggressive.

The Triple XXX II is just the JSX relabeled.

so for playing metal the jsx is the lesser amp out of the three? to me less gain+ less aggression = lesser amp for metal but i have been wrong once or twice before

[DrakkarTyrannis]

Depends on what you're after..it can do metal well, but it's just a different flavor. I've owned both a XXX and a JSX and got rid of the XXX. The JSX is my go-to amp, but it's a preference. The JSX is a better lead amp, more versatile, and has better cleans. With a boost, tube swap, etc it can get mean. The XXX has a retarded amount of gain, so the JSX is right where one needs to be for a high gain amp without going completely overboard

[ozzman619]

how versatile? cause ive been changing my tone like every week now, one weeks its close to amon amarths the next its high gain like bodom, they old school death metal like death, so is it capable of getting all of those reallt gnarly metal tones as well as going clean

[GuitaristOfHell]

I like JSX then 3120, then XXX

Essentially the 3120 and XXX are the SAME amp, but the 3120 runs on EL34's rather than 6L6's in it.

[DrakkarTyrannis]

It's capable of a wide variety of tones. I'm in a metal band that does all types of death black and thrash, and I always get what I want out of the amp.

[op1e]

The bummer about the old Ultra is no Resonance or Presence, shared EQ for the 2 rythm channels. I prefer the crunch channel cause its quieter and tighter, has more mids, but the way I have it dialed in when I switch to the Ultra channel it disappears in the mix a bit. Great cleans, though. I wanna try a JSX or 333xl next.

[KingAenarion]

Isn't the JSX EL34s as well?

[UltimaWeapon]

Originally Posted by KingAenarion

Isn't the JSX EL34s as well?

In JSX you can choose between EL34 or 6L6... i have an JSX too and im satisfied with the Ultra and Clean channel. I tought the crunch channel with a boost would sound like a less gained Ultra but if you play with a seven string the lower notes get messy... its good for open low tuned open chords but for example a Nevermore styled riffs you have to rather switch to the ultra channel. And if you want a jump lead channel just push the FX loop on your footswitch and you can get some +volume to it The Crunch with some gain on 13-14 o clock sounds like classical 80´s metal

[Inazone]

Having played through both the JSX and XXX, I'd pick the XXX for any kind of death metal unless you're strictly playing solos with it. Reason being, the JSX doesn't get the type of saturated distortion that most death metal calls for. It's a very clean, clear type of amp that is versatile enough to do virtually any style of guitar-based music, but it would struggle to go beyond Amon Amarth tones. At that point, the built-in noise gate wouldn't be of any benefit either. The XXX has more gain than most people really need, but within a metal context, it has a much wider range of tones.

Either amp could benefit from a boost - to tighten up the XXX or to beef up the JSX's gain - but I have yet to get a good death metal sound from a JSX . . . or hear someone else do it.

[DrakkarTyrannis]

Originally Posted by Inazone

Either amp could benefit from a boost - to tighten up the XXX or to beef up the JSX's gain - but I have yet to get a good death metal sound from a JSX . . . or hear someone else do it.

Death metal tones CAN be had from the JSX..all depends on how you dial it and what kind of death metal tone you're looking for.