[HighGain510]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Quite true, I don't like the 5150, however I can acknowledge why people like the gain channel.

However I've never met anyone who said they like the clean channel over a JSX's clean channel, even those folks who love the 5150's gain channel.

It does one thing, and one thing well, unless you go and start modding it.

I like them both but agree with Jeff that if you're looking for something with a good clean channel you can skip the 5150 IMHO. I've played the XXX, JSX and owned a Voodoo Amps-modded 5150 II. The gain on the 5150 II was awesome but also had to be cranked to really get it going. The cleans on the JSX were way above anything the 5150 or 5150 II could do, again IMO.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by HighGain510

I like them both but agree with Jeff that if you're looking for something with a good clean channel you can skip the 5150 IMHO. I've played the XXX, JSX and owned a Voodoo Amps-modded 5150 II. The gain on the 5150 II was awesome but also had to be cranked to really get it going. The cleans on the JSX were way above anything the 5150 or 5150 II could do, again IMO.

I'm probably just getting old, because I don't like over the top gain anymore. I'm more inclined to use the Ultra channel at 3 and the crunch channel on 6 or so, then I am to go full tilt.

I'm really, really gassing for an Orange AD30 or Tiny Terror, and pairing it with an Avatar loaded with a Greenback or something.

[Krusty Metal]

i have heard that putting a set of el34s in the xxx makes a huge difference. I dont know if it would be cost effective though. Might as well spend the extra money on a better amp i guess

[7StringofAblicK]

I don't think the XXX is nearly as bad as people come off with.

I owned one any my other guitarist currently uses one. We both achieved great, crushing tone. With that said, I wish I would have tried ELs in it, but a XXX screams 6l6 IMO

[JJ Rodriguez]

I told my friend to snag some KT77's for his after hearing Zimbloth praise them so much

[DrakkarTyrannis]

I hate to be an ass..but for anything "core" maybe a 5150 is your best bet. And I'm one of the people who prefer a XXX and JSX over a 5150. The XXX is a misunderstood beast. He just needs to be taken in by an understanding owner..who will train him with new tubes and rebiasing..and if given the love and tone tweaking needed your XXX will RIP THE GODDAMN FACE OFF ALL WHO OPPOSE .....Dang..I gotta lay off the caffiene

[Lucky Seven]

I love my XXX. After spending time with it, I've gotten tones I really love, thought initially I did hate the amp.

[Edroz]

the 5150 and XXX were my main amps for about 8 years, so i know them pretty well. both have their own distinct voice, but if i had to choose between them, the XXX wins. as some have mentioned already, the right tubes and some patience will get you the results you want out of it. i think that holds true for almost any amp though.

[warlock7strEMG]

i think you should go with the 6505+. not that the xxx is a bad sounding amp or anything, i think they sound great!! but for the sound u are goin for 6505+ would be more suiting. the 6505+ sounds very raw and aggressive and is pretty much great for any type of metal; also sounds great with 7 strings and low tuning in general. on its own has a fairly tight and upfront sound and tends to have a pretty good amount of clarity for faster more articulate playing(even more so with the help of a ts9 or something of the sort) but is also capable of having a pretty ballsy low end with the help of the resonance knob(just dont crank the resonance too much or you ll start gettin some flub. its best to find a balance between the resonance and bass controls).

the triple xxx is very saturated and huge sounding and also sounds great with 7 strings/low tuning. can also be used for any type of metal, but i find its best for death metal(especially the ultra channel) and for that huge wall of sound heaviness, esp if you crank the master volume WAY up and roll back the treble to get rid of some of the fizz and keep the mids up pretty high. but compared to the 6505+, notes tend to get a bit mushy and lose clarity and the low end gets a bit loose with the xxx, which im sure a tubescreamer of some sort would help this a bit but ive never tried one with these amps. having resonance and presence controls would help this a bit too, which is think is the main reason i prefer the jsx over the xxx.

[VicerExciser]

Originally Posted by DrakkarTyrannis

I hate to be an ass..but for anything "core" maybe a 5150 is your best bet. And I'm one of the people who prefer a XXX and JSX over a 5150. The XXX is a misunderstood beast. He just needs to be taken in by an understanding owner..who will train him with new tubes and rebiasing..and if given the love and tone tweaking needed your XXX will RIP THE GODDAMN FACE OFF ALL WHO OPPOSE .....Dang..I gotta lay off the caffiene

this is true.
I'm pretty sure Whitechapel uses XXXs live.