Mesa Boogie Rectifier Preamp or Peavey JSX - Page 3

Darin · #31 04-05-2007, 11:44 PM

Last one. JSX Clean channel, Man I love this amp.
http://www.christianbattleofthebands...SX%20Clean.mp3

RSVampire · #32 04-05-2007, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voodoo_child

Yeah, i can't be 100% sure, i just remember something about a slight difference in the combo version, maybe a pssive EQ vs active or something? Id imagine someone who owns one could shed light, im just rummaging around the back of my mind, and theres a lot of crap there

The hotplate is more aimed at any amp really, whether its got a low power switch or not. I just find them great gizmos, they really do a great job on making really powerful amps a bit more manageable. Sometimes you find a really great amp and are thinking 'man, this amp sounds amazing, i wish i could play the damn thing at home without waking half the neighbourhood'....

I'd assume it's something with the tone stack if there are any differences. They should both have active eq's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by voodoo_child

Hi Darin, I wont disagree with you, since you've got a JSX and I dont.

Ive found hotplates to be great additions to any amps, whether they sound great quiet or not. Simply because power tubes do certain things when they are running flat out.

Im not a amp-expert (usually just go by my ears), so someone might correct me here, but unless you're running your power tubes at full whack, you're not going to get that sag and clip that makes an overdriven power section sound so great.

Same as, you might have a car with a great engine that sounds great and pulls strongly in any gear, but you're not going to go fast unless you put your foot down....?

But i may be wrong, i'll look forward to your clip, they've all been great so far.

Power Tube distortion is also just a preference for people, some like a little or none and other don't even like tubes (take Frank Gamble or Wayne Static).

Most amps now-a-days have cheap transformers (not really pointing any fingers) so you can't really push the power amp tubes a whole lot without risking something. The master knob is mostly for pushing air with the speakers and clipping the speakers which also sounds really good. Also, even though amps claim to be "all tube" most amps made after the 80's have a solid state rectifier section anyways.

RSVampire · #33 04-05-2007, 11:48 PM

also, nice clips Darin. I already want to buy the amp and now you're just putting salt into an open wound! aaahhhh!! I want one!

nice playing too btw.

Darin · #34 04-05-2007, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSVampire

also, nice clips Darin. I already want to buy the amp and now you're just putting salt into an open wound! aaahhhh!! I want one!

nice playing too btw.

haha, thanks.

Darin · #35 04-06-2007, 12:06 AM

Ok, this might not be the last one after all. This is quite fun.
Just a little jam.

http://www.christianbattleofthebands.../JSX%20Jam.mp3

Just FYI, this is the guitar I'm using. It's a custom built by a guy in CA that builds custom guitars. Back around 1990. I have just installed a SPH90 in the bridge and a tele neck pickup in the neck. The rhythm is in the middle pos and the lead is the tele pickup until the end you can hear the switch to the bridge. Tele pickups are alot cooler than most people think.

newbieguitarmaker · #36 04-06-2007, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpleMind

Hei,
i really need some help here. I am living far away from any decent guitar store. A few days ago i came back from Munich were i got the possibility to test out the Mesa Boogie Express 5:25/50, a Soldano, some Marshalls a Mesa Boogie Rectifier and some other amps which didn`t blow me away.
I would like to have the sound you can here on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WWvG...elated&search=

(He has the following gear:

Guitars: Ibanez JEM7VSBL, Ibanez Double Edge RG2020X modified.Pedals: Dunlop Original Crybaby wah, MXR Wylde Overdrive, Digitech Whammy 4, TC Electronic G-Minor MIDI foot controller.
Rack: Furman PL-Plus II Power Conditioner, TC Electronic G-Major guitar processor, Mesa/Boogie Rectifier Recording Preamp.
Amplifier: Marshall 30 Anniversary Series 6101 made in 1992 (only output stage used))
I am now considering to buy one of the following choices:
1. Peavey JSX Combo
2. Carvin legacy Combo+ Rectifier preamp
3. Mesa Boogie Roadstar rectifier
My limit is about 3200 Euro.

Which of the options would you recommend to get that sound?
P.S.: I read a lot about the different amps here and got some good information but i can`t still make up my mind what kind of gear i should choose. I send also a message to Cesar but didn`t get a concrete answer which means he recommended me to try out the stuff, but i don`t have that option.
Thanks in advance.

well cesar is also using a T.C. electronics effects processor with that amp, so I think you should get the jsx for the money and for the sound

Darin · #37 04-06-2007, 12:42 AM

My experience. The Legacy NEEDS to be loud to sound good, but still not like you seem to want. The Boogie would be a good choice. I've had a few. But the Rectifier I think is a high watt amp than need to be cranked to smooth out, like the Legacy. They are all fine if you plan on crankin it up. But really honestly, the JSX sound the best at lower levels, period. But then again it's still just my opinion. It's really to bad you couldn't demo them all. If anyone else around here has the other amps, they should post clips.

SimpleMind · #38 04-06-2007, 09:20 AM

Thank you alltogether for being such a great help- especially Darin for the amazing soundclips. This is really a great forum with lots of very friendly and helpful people.
I have heard soundclips from other amps here on the Jemsite but Darins amp was in my opinion the by far best sounding amp with an incredible punch even at low levels and a pristine clean sound. Looks like the amp is really versatile too. So i will get that thing ordered as soon as Easter is over. I am still a bit uncertain regarding what to choose (combo or half stack) but will manage to figure that out.
As a little thanks for your help did i digged out some of my favourite non-electrical guitar videos. Maybe you haven\t seen it and hopefully like it.
Best regards Andreas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-7pelKGwqA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YcrG...elated&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nt5GUaxfZk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmg_DWlVohI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhpIw...elated&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igv3ytUCGq8
http://www.mauriziocolonna.com/

SimpleMind · #39 04-06-2007, 09:24 AM

Forgot one that`s really cool too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8orExTCF1js

voodoo_child · #40 04-06-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSVampire

I'd assume it's something with the tone stack if there are any differences. They should both have active eq's.

I pulled up an article pulished in Guitarist magazine with an interview with Joe and reviwe of the JSX at the time of the JSX head release. The combo was supposed to have a passive eq versus active on the head. This may have been a pre-production spec that was changed (the head was released before the combo), i dont know.

The power tube clip isnt something even worth talking about I guess, there's probably a million threads on jemsite about it already. Theres something about the 'feel' that ive never been able to get playing quietly, I guess i should have a try of the JSX if its a good as Darin says

Quote:

Most amps now-a-days have cheap transformers (not really pointing any fingers)

Theres something about low-grade transformers that play a part in the sound actually, it contributes to the sag and the sustain somehow, but like i said, i leave that one for the techies in another thread

Excellent clips Darin

shogun · #41 04-06-2007, 01:44 PM

i thought about the JSX and XXX.. the treble side of the amp goes to **** when they are turned up.. it was an overrated amp.. not to mention the nosiegate is useless.. dont cheap out and buy one, spend some money and get a real amp

Darin · #42 04-06-2007, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shogun

i thought about the JSX and XXX.. the treble side of the amp goes to **** when they are turned up.. it was an overrated amp.. not to mention the nosiegate is useless.. dont cheap out and buy one, spend some money and get a real amp

Might be your speaker cab that can't handle the volume of a head turned up if you are having a problem with the JSX when turned up. I'm using a Legacy 2x12 with v30's, and I don't turn it up SUPER loud. There is no reason to. And certain cabinets do their best work as certain levels. The Legacy works best at a moderate level. Loud, almost uncomfortably so, but not hurt your ears to be in front of it loud. Just curious, what amp do you recommend?
I played the 6505 the other day. I liked it for about 30 seconds. It was too brittle for my taste, and didn't "sing". I'll tell you another amp that I would buy if I were int he market. The new Fender Super Sonic. It's warm and smooth as butter. Not like any Fender I've played before. I use ti to demo guitar when ever I go to the local music store. And very versatile.

I agree that there is something about the "feel" of being cranked. I hate to sound like a JSX salesman, but it's the only head I've owned that you can play with at ANY level with usable tone. Sure it punches harder when cranked, but if you live in a townhouse, or have a wife asleep in the next room, you don't want to have to have a separate practice amp when you spent a thousand bucks on a high watt high gain head.

I've played the VHT Pitbull, which sounded great. But it's almost 3 times the price. I also thought it was little colorless. Great gain, and smooth silky saturation, but very sterile as well. It was a bit like a nice solid state pre amp into a nice tube power amp.
Tube preamps tend to make you have to play a bit more precise than solid state. I guess they just aren't as sensitive, which is why alot of us put a compressor or some mild overdrive to punch the guitar a little harder into the input, bringing out all of our weaker legato notes.

Here' my final thought. If you need a big rack and all kinds of "stuff" to great tone, that's fine. But if you want simply an amp and a guitar and great tone, the JSX will do it. There are other amps that will to. But for under a grand for killer head, it's a great choice.
You can walk into a gig with your JSX combo, and a guitar, and you got all you need to rock the masses. I used to have the big rack full of stuff and the pedal board loaded with pedals. Enough of that for me. To much aggravation and to many wires and things to go wrong. And I was doing it all in search of "tone". And who would have thought it could be as simple as just plugging into an amp.

I'd love to hear clips of other amp. I'm sure there are lots that sound great. Which is good, we all have different taste, so we all want a different amp. That's cool. I'm merely posting clips and sharing my thoughts on the JSX for anyone looking at it as an option for them. I'm not saying it's the "best" amp money can buy, just that it's the best amp I've owned, and honestly, I can afford any amp I want. And I want the JSX.

Now tell us what you really dig about the amp of your choice.

Later, Darin

trondulseth · #43 04-07-2007, 10:33 AM

I'm also in the situation that

a) I'm looking for a new amp
b) I live in a small town with limited access to trying out different stuff
c) I have some limits to how much I can spend

I tried a MesaBoogie Nomad - liked the clean sound, but not the distortion.

Then I found an ad for a used 5150II in Oslo, and deceided to try it out on my way through Oslo (going for easter holidays). Well the 5150 was sold already when I got there, but I got to try out two other heads. The first one was a XXX. Did not like it much at all. The other was a brand I've not heard about before, but many of you have, a Genz Benz (El Diablo). Now if I was in the market for a clean amp I'd buy it right away. That amp had the best clean channel I've ever tried. The response to my playing and the pick-up possition was just awesome. And the sound was great. I was really excited as I swithced over to the overdrive channel. I twisted and turned and tried for what seemed like ages, but I could not get a single overdriven sound out of it that made me happy.

So now the question is, will I find an amp that will have the clean channel that is as good as the Genz Benz, but also that would have a overdrive that I would be as happy with. After all the overdrive channel is where I spend 95% of my time (roughly estimated

)

After all I've read I think maybe the JSX might fit my bill, and I'm really looking forwards to a chanse if trying it out. Anyone compared the clean channel on it with a Genz Benz?

Darin · #44 04-07-2007, 05:04 PM

What is your budget?

SimpleMind · #45 04-07-2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shogun

i thought about the JSX and XXX.. the treble side of the amp goes to **** when they are turned up.. it was an overrated amp.. not to mention the nosiegate is useless.. dont cheap out and buy one, spend some money and get a real amp

Hei Darin,
Bad noisegate -does that mean lots of backgroundnoise/ buzzing? Is that a problem with the JSX?