Just Bought a Peavey JSX Head

Motorhate

Always wanted one of these, played one years ago and fell in love with it, but just not found one in my budget, or one around when I could afford a bit more. Finally secured one today for a really good price.
Does anybody use one of these regularly? Any tips or comments about them?

ElectroDan

A mate of mine had one a while back. He had it controlled by a TC Electronic G system with different drive pedals.
It sounded great! The clean channel is perfect for pedals as it has a powerful strident tone.
I actually preferred it with the drive pedals (a Suhr Riot was one) than with it's own lead sounds, although they were more than good enough. Impressive amp for what they sell at now.

Motorhate

Yeah I've heard good things about the clean channel being good with a decent overdrive going through it. The noise gate is a welcome addition. Could really do with one of them on the 5150

hubobulous

I used to have one and loved it. All channels had amazing sounds I thought.

professorben

Monster amp, unused to use one until I joined a wedding band and started getting snarky comments. 

PolarityMan

I tried one out when I bought my JVM but the stupid contorl names put me off a bit.

ThePrettyDamned

I quite liked these, I think it's a peavey xxx in different clothes? Or perhaps they're similar but different (like the satriani jvm). Good sounding though. 

Motorhate

Thanks for the advice fellas. I'll report on what it sounds like when it arrives.

@ThePrettyDamned you're right in that its based on the Peavey XXX but there are some differences according to an interview I watched with Joe Satriani. I think they stole some circuitry from another Peavey Classic model for the clean channel.

Fortheloveofguitar

Motorhate said:

Thanks for the advice fellas. I'll report on what it sounds like when it arrives.

@ThePrettyDamned you're right in that its based on the Peavey XXX but there are some differences according to an interview I watched with Joe Satriani. I think they stole some circuitry from another Peavey Classic model for the clean channel.

Aye as the XXX was complete pants 

rossyamaha

Really nice amps. Lead channel was based on the xxx with some (major) mods to smooth it out. Crunch was from a classic but has more gain in tap and the clean channel was ground up design specifically to take pedals. As I understand it, Joes main gain sounds were from using pedals and clean channel. He rarely used the gain channels. 

Motorhate

PolarityMan said:

I tried one out when I bought my JVM but the stupid contorl names put me off a bit.

Funnily enough, Joe Satriani has now switched to endorsing the JVM, albeit with some slight mods on the stock model.

rossyamaha

Motorhate said:

PolarityMan said:

I tried one out when I bought my JVM but the stupid contorl names put me off a bit.

Funnily enough, Joe Satriani has now switched to endorsing the JVM, albeit with some slight mods on the stock model.

It's an interesting story how that came about. Might tell after a few beers. 

DrJazzTap

All I know is that, allegedly these are very heavy. Is this the case? 120w iirc 

professorben

rossyamaha said:

Really nice amps. Lead channel was based on the xxx with some (major) mods to smooth it out. Crunch was from a classic but has more gain in tap and the clean channel was ground up design specifically to take pedals. As I understand it, Joes main gain sounds were from using pedals and clean channel. He rarely used the gain channels. 

Yeah every rig rundown I saw was him Vox drives into the clean side. 
Although I always got a great drive tone. 
The only times I got compliments on my tone was through that amp. 

Motorhate

rossyamaha said:

It's an interesting story how that came about. Might tell after a few beers. 

Do tell, I'm intrigued now!

professorben

DrJazzTap said:

All I know is that, allegedly these are very heavy. Is this the case? 120w iirc 

Yes, heavy in all senses of the word, the only profile player I know using one is Nili Brosh, solo and the Tony Macalpine band.

shes a bit good.

Motorhate

Well, I used it in rehearsal today. Whoever said it was heavy wasn't kidding. It weighs a ton (for a head) and I can see my back is not going to thank me for that.

I tried it with my Jackson RR5 and BC Rich Mockingbird through a Korg tuner > Ibanez Tube Screamer > Boss Noise Gate. The clean channel is really ... clean. Exceptionally clean with almost no break up at all. Impressive but I was more interested in the other two channels.
The green channel is just heaven - really nice usable gain which is great for chunky rhythm parts. Its a tamer and refined sound compared to the insane green channels on 5150 or 6506+ which I really like. Combined with the noise gate and tube screamer it gives a really tight, chunky, full ranged tone. This channel has been compared to a Marshall type high gain sound but to my ears (and compared to our other guitarist who was using a JCM 900) it was quite different to my ears.
The red (or lead) channel was more like the red channel on the 5150 and 6505, although it was slightly more refined with a bit more mid range. Really nice and complimented the rhythm channel very well. The built in noise gate is handy but as I was using a noise gate pedal, this was turned to "0". I didn't use the effects loop as I've been told that its best to go direct into the amp with effects, unless I'm using modulation effects like chorus or flanger.

Pros
Clean channel, surprisingly nice sounding compared to other clean channels
Great high-gain rhythm sound when used in conjunction with a tube screamer

Cons
It's heavier than the average head
Chrome decor amp front has to go, its way over the top and I am not a fan of chrome, be it on bikes or guitar amps.

professorben

Handy trick, if you are not using the fx loop for pedals, if you turn the send and return controls above 12'oclock the level will increase giving you a footswitchable boost on any channel.
i used to set the channels to 
Clean 
Crunch
Heavy
all at roughly similar volumes then use the fx boost for solos. 

Btw the chrome comes off and makes the head look super mean. 

professorben

I've heard that Satch used the Red for rhythm and Green for lead. 

I tried it and it defo makes your leads pop out, there is more than enough gain on either channel for anything. 

Motorhate

professorben said:

Handy trick, if you are not using the fx loop for pedals, if you turn the send and return controls above 12'oclock the level will increase giving you a footswitchable boost on any channel.
i used to set the channels to 
Clean 
Crunch
Heavy
all at roughly similar volumes then use the fx boost for solos. 

Btw the chrome comes off and makes the head look super mean. 

I'll definitely give that a go. That sounds like a useful feature.

I'm also in the process of ordering a piece of checker plate to fit on the front (like the Triple XXX has) but will be spraying it matt black. That chrome seriously needs to go.