JSX mods

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supes0328

supes0328

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So I've been talking to Mike (MYLILSS) on here, and have gotten a pretty great start with some mods to do to my current JSX. I'm just curious as to if anyone else has done some modding and can add some suggestions. Just curious. Currently I have already added a choke, and with be putting in the upgraded output transformers. I'm running KT77 power tubes with JJ 883 pre's all 4 positions. I'm looking to just tighten up the amp, make the gain more usable, and add clarity. I play modern rock/post hardcore/djent. :rock:
 
Your already talking to the right person (MYLILSS) :lol: :LOL: I got a chance to try his JSX and definitely has its own tone.
 
That's sick! Well, my amp tech was kind of on the fence with the list of mods he sent me... but I believe I'm going to do them myself now! hahah. So I'm excited. And that's sick that you had a good time with the amp. I love the JSX, but I just feel it could be tightened up.
 
Tighter? Really? My JSX is probably the tightest amp I've ever played without a boost. I do find the amp sounds clearer and the gain is more usable if you don't use super high output pickups.
For me, high presence and resonance settings on the ultra channel with the Fat switch off and the gain at 6/10 is an amazingly tight metal tone.
 
A boost is all I needed when I had a JSX for some killer metal tones. For tightening and clarity why don't you try running some lower gain preamp tubes? The only thing about the JSX is that it is fairly compressed, with some good 5751's or 12ay7's in a couple slots it would lower the gain enough to make it a wider range and give you better clarity. I would be curious if the OT really makes that big of a difference or not. I have heard varying reports on the effect of these in amps depending on who you talk to. The only reason I sold mine was because of the lack of good inbetween tones and I was ready for something different. Still one of the best amps I have owned period.
 
Whenever I use active pickups I'll plug into the Low Gain input to help peaking some of the unneccessary gain in the highs. Theres just some "hair" on the top end that needs calmed with the amp. MYLILSS has given me some awesome tips as to how to mod some of it out, and I was just curious to as if anyone else has done some sick mods to this amp.

And don't get me wrong, I LOVE MY JSX, and as of it, it's my favorite amp. I've added a choke and that made a world of a difference, it just brought it even more alive. I switched out the EL34s to KT77s, and WOW another huge difference. Next on the list is most of the mods MYLILSS sent me and a Mercury Magnetics Transformer, and I should be done.

I've been hearing some of the ice-picky notes coming through lately, but that was with the EL34s, tonight will be the first night with the KT77s... so we'll see. I love mids in my tone, I don't play scooped whatsoever. And I think maybe I've been focusing on all mid heavy equipment, and set up... that I may have been causing some of the tone issues I've had in the past vs helping myself lol. So I've EQ'd everything a little different, and using the volume and master volumes a little better for now to ease of the nasally top end. I just feel it could just be a tad better in that department. I don't ever seem to use the Ultra channel because of it. I love the crunch channel, one of my all time favorite tones, and the clean doesn't break up at all. This amp loves pedals! That's been a huge bonus.
 
That amp needs 6l6gcs to sound its best. If you've only used el34s or kt77s I can understand the mods.
 
I don't think you cut through with 6l6's with the JSX. Yes I agree there will probably be more "balls" but I love mids in my tone and don't want a scooped effect, which 6l6's will give me. I love that the kt77 is like a happy medium. Really well rounded with Lows, Mids, and Highs. They definitely (kt77) have smoother highs. Tonight at practice I'll find out if I still cut through the mix as I did with the el34s.
 
supes0328":3tm0qws8 said:
I don't think you cut through with 6l6's with the JSX. Yes I agree there will probably be more "balls" but I love mids in my tone and don't want a scooped effect, which 6l6's will give me. I love that the kt77 is like a happy medium. Really well rounded with Lows, Mids, and Highs. They definitely (kt77) have smoother highs. Tonight at practice I'll find out if I still cut through the mix as I did with the el34s.

I played well over 100 shows with a 6l6gc loaded JSX and cut thru like a knife every single night it two guitar bands and when I was the only guitarist. The Peavey's have a very pronounced mid character in the first place and unless you try and scoop the mids you can't get rid of them so they always cut. Plus if you boost if with a tube screamer with the 6l6gc's it adds some of that ripping mids back and takes away the ice pick effect the el34\kt77's do to that amp.
 
Those mods from Mike started from me as suggestions of things to try. I'm not sure what all he did/kept in the end.

I can help more if you like. In fact, maybe we already talked a bit? I'm incredibly behind in general email as I'm very busy. If I owe you a message, I'm sorry! :)
 
protoplasma":152vmgm3 said:
Those mods from Mike started from me as suggestions of things to try. I'm not sure what all he did/kept in the end.

I can help more if you like. In fact, maybe we already talked a bit? I'm incredibly behind in general email as I'm very busy. If I owe you a message, I'm sorry! :)


YEP :thumbsup: ... this is the guy that started it all. he gave me some ideas, and i used quite a few of them and then made a couple other changes based off other info i found when researching. the basis for what i did was to remove that cocked wah sound from the amps mid/upper frequency's, and to make the low end a bit tighter and more punchy, and somehow it all ended up making the tone a lot clearer even with the gain on 10 :rock:
 
Dunno....never had the urge to mod mine and I've owned it for nearly 7 years.
I stick with EL34s and the amp has more lowend any of my other amps. It's tighter than my 6505 and also has more midrange grind. I keep the mids at 4/10 and run the amp through six V30's. No cocked wah, no ice pick. That's the key, outsource your mids and use the onboard ones conservatively.
 
D-Rock":2zfcsnzd said:
Dunno....never had the urge to mod mine and I've owned it for nearly 7 years.
I stick with EL34s and the amp has more lowend any of my other amps. It's tighter than my 6505 and also has more midrange grind. I keep the mids at 4/10 and run the amp through six V30's. No cocked wah, no ice pick. That's the key, outsource your mids and use the onboard ones conservatively.

Yeah, I've never had enough urge to mod mine either, although I did look into it a bit one time after hearing so many people having it done. Still got EL34's in mine and it does the job good enough. Although, I have heard so many say that it sounds so much better with 6L6's, which is something I'll try eventually.
 
i think the JSX is a great base for an amp. not much really needs done to it. i played it at practice and have missed it the past 2 weeks while getting retubed (i have a valveking i use as a backup). let me tell you it was 100% missed considering the VK100 has no balls. the jsx just blows that thing out of the water. literally.

but i'm excited to start ordering parts for the mod and start getting in there and doing some work. i like tweaking with things, and building my own equipment when possible. so this should be fun!
 
I had tried el34's and 6l6's. I eventually settled on 6550's. They seemed to be the best tube for the amp to my ears
 
D-Rock":1pwvuzt8 said:
Dunno....never had the urge to mod mine and I've owned it for nearly 7 years.
I stick with EL34s and the amp has more lowend any of my other amps. It's tighter than my 6505 and also has more midrange grind. I keep the mids at 4/10 and run the amp through six V30's. No cocked wah, no ice pick. That's the key, outsource your mids and use the onboard ones conservatively.

For whatever reason the 6l6gc's (to my ears) just make the thing sound a lot warmer and just sound right. Don't get me wrong it sounds wonderful with el34's as well I just much preferred it with the 6l6gc's. I have heard good things about the 6550's as well. Man this thread is making me wish I hadn't sold my JSX but I am super happy with my current amps.
 
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