NAD: Mesa JP2C

[Wizard of Ozz]

Damn, I'm torn between a JP2C and a 20th Shiva and was leaning Shiva...now I'm back to being completely unsure. The correct answer must be...both.

I was never much a fan of the Shiva... even the 20th Ann. I like the Uber's way more. The JP2C will be more versatile and get more evil if needed.

 

[NewWorldMan]

How is the Triaxis with the 2:90? Or is the Strategy 400 simply that much better? I'd like to get one... but don't have much use for a stereo power amp... unless I want to do the wet-dry thing with 2 4X12s. Slightly overkill for me.

I've used the Triaxis with a 2:90 quite a few times as well. I think I had my first Triaxis/2:90 pair back around 2001 or so. I like it as well. The "Modern" mode on it helps if you're looking to do that Recto sound (assuming you have a V2 w/TX4 board), but I never used the "Deep" and "Half Power" functions. I think it sounds good without any of the 2:90 modes.

The Strategy 400 is a little "bigger", more transparent, etc. The 2:90 has it's own color, but it's voiced well for the Triaxis. I keep the Strategy 400 for a stationary home studio rack, and the Mesa 50/50 is the portable power amp when I want to take the Triaxis somewhere, or possibly use it to do the W/D/W thing. It can hold it's own against the big boys.

 

[SpiderWars]

Damn, I'm torn between a JP2C and a 20th Shiva and was leaning Shiva...now I'm back to being completely unsure. The correct answer must be...both.

I Feel your pain....I love the tone of both amps but for what I play, neither of them makes sense for me to purchase right now. Even owning an Avenger is really more than I need for my life/playing since I don't play out any longer.

LOL, I spare no expense for Madison Square Living Room. I'm lucky to be in a band that rehearses a lot but doesn't (and doesn't want to) gig much. So I still feel I need a decent rig.

I was never much a fan of the Shiva... even the 20th Ann. I like the Uber's way more. The JP2C will be more versatile and get more evil if needed.

I just need to play them and I never see one around here, not for long anyway. My concern is more with the medium gain plexi/Vox tones. I know that's not their thing but I need it to be reasonably good there.

 

[Racerxrated]

Damn, I'm torn between a JP2C and a 20th Shiva and was leaning Shiva...now I'm back to being completely unsure. The correct answer must be...both.

I Feel your pain....I love the tone of both amps but for what I play, neither of them makes sense for me to purchase right now. Even owning an Avenger is really more than I need for my life/playing since I don't play out any longer.

LOL, I spare no expense for Madison Square Living Room. I'm lucky to be in a band that rehearses a lot but doesn't (and doesn't want to) gig much. So I still feel I need a decent rig.

I was never much a fan of the Shiva... even the 20th Ann. I like the Uber's way more. The JP2C will be more versatile and get more evil if needed.

I just need to play them and I never see one around here, not for long anyway. My concern is more with the medium gain plexi/Vox tones. I know that's not their thing but I need it to be reasonably good there.

Tell ya what, I got a pretty voxy tone outta my vintage C+ by boosting my clean channel. That amp had the best clean I've ever heard in a high gain amp. The JP2C I'm sure is right there with it.

 

[LunatiBSW]

score!
The one mark I've yet to play and want to. I feel one in my future

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I was never much a fan of the Shiva... even the 20th Ann. I like the Uber's way more. The JP2C will be more versatile and get more evil if needed.

I just need to play them and I never see one around here, not for long anyway. My concern is more with the medium gain plexi/Vox tones. I know that's not their thing but I need it to be reasonably good there.

I hear ya... it's hard to walk in to any guitar shop outside of LA or NYC nowadays and find a decent selection of amps to try anymore. You almost have to buy to try now... mainly due to the slow and declining guitar/musical instrument industry as a whole. Way different scene from say 10 years ago.

Anywho... it can do some decent classic rock tones... Not really a dead ringer for a Marshall or Vox AC30TB... but decent. For those tones, I stick with my 67SLP. I'll say it's better than any of the other Mark series amps I've tried if that helps. But I'm no expert on these. You might also consider the MKV as well for sheer versatility.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

score!
The one mark I've yet to play and want to. I feel one in my future

Thanks bud. I have a feeling you'd dig this thing. Plenty tight, heavy, and very chug-worthy.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

How is the Triaxis with the 2:90? Or is the Strategy 400 simply that much better? I'd like to get one... but don't have much use for a stereo power amp... unless I want to do the wet-dry thing with 2 4X12s. Slightly overkill for me.

I've used the Triaxis with a 2:90 quite a few times as well. I think I had my first Triaxis/2:90 pair back around 2001 or so. I like it as well. The "Modern" mode on it helps if you're looking to do that Recto sound (assuming you have a V2 w/TX4 board), but I never used the "Deep" and "Half Power" functions. I think it sounds good without any of the 2:90 modes.

The Strategy 400 is a little "bigger", more transparent, etc. The 2:90 has it's own color, but it's voiced well for the Triaxis. I keep the Strategy 400 for a stationary home studio rack, and the Mesa 50/50 is the portable power amp when I want to take the Triaxis somewhere, or possibly use it to do the W/D/W thing. It can hold it's own against the big boys.

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated. I keep hearing the actual amps MKIIC+, MKIV, Recto obviously sound better as they are all in one units, shorter signal path to travel, specialized/more analog dedicated circuits, blah, blah, blah... but I still might go for a Triaxis for shnits & giggles as long as they sound somewhat close. The v2.0 version sans phat mod seems to be the pick of the litter. Any other quirks to be wary of with them?

 

[NewWorldMan]

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated. I keep hearing the actual amps MKIIC+, MKIV, Recto obviously sound better as they are all in one units, shorter signal path to travel, specialized/more analog dedicated circuits, blah, blah, blah... but I still might go for a Triaxis for shnits & giggles as long as they sound somewhat close. The v2.0 version sans phat mod seems to be the pick of the litter. Any other quirks to be wary of with them?

I actually own everything you just mentioned... I really like all 3 of the Lead 2 modes. The Mark IV and IIC+ modes do sound different and akin to those respective amps, but as expected, the power amp does play a large role. LD 2 Red is the basic tone of those amps with a more searing top end and upper mids to it. Basically a different flavor of those modes.

LD 1 Red (Recto) is probably my favorite mode on the Triaxis. It's based off of the Recto Vintage mode, but I think it has a little more top end available and the mids are a little different. The funniest part is I feel like it's more of this Recto/Mark hybrid mode. If you ever wanted a Recto to be a little tighter like a Mark, that mode is for you. If you wanted your Mark to have a little more girth like Recto, that mode is for you. I've had both the Fat and non-Fat versions. I prefer the non-Fat, but I know some that prefer the other. It's a quick and easy swap from Fat to non-Fat or vice versa.

The modes are close enough that you know the amps they're shooting for, but it has it's own thing happening too. To get the most out of it, I'd recommend an external EQ, as the DV control is limited and goes from super subtle to super scooped and boomy in a hurry. But, I would have no problem using it with a band straight in as-is and using very subtle settings on the DV.

 

[Tone Monster]

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated. I keep hearing the actual amps MKIIC+, MKIV, Recto obviously sound better as they are all in one units, shorter signal path to travel, specialized/more analog dedicated circuits, blah, blah, blah... but I still might go for a Triaxis for shnits & giggles as long as they sound somewhat close. The v2.0 version sans phat mod seems to be the pick of the litter. Any other quirks to be wary of with them?

I actually own everything you just mentioned... I really like all 3 of the Lead 2 modes. The Mark IV and IIC+ modes do sound different and akin to those respective amps, but as expected, the power amp does play a large role. LD 2 Red is the basic tone of those amps with a more searing top end and upper mids to it. Basically a different flavor of those modes.

LD 1 Red (Recto) is probably my favorite mode on the Triaxis. It's based off of the Recto Vintage mode, but I think it has a little more top end available and the mids are a little different. The funniest part is I feel like it's more of this Recto/Mark hybrid mode. If you ever wanted a Recto to be a little tighter like a Mark, that mode is for you. If you wanted your Mark to have a little more girth like Recto, that mode is for you. I've had both the Fat and non-Fat versions. I prefer the non-Fat, but I know some that prefer the other. It's a quick and easy swap from Fat to non-Fat or vice versa.

The modes are close enough that you know the amps they're shooting for, but it has it's own thing happening too. To get the most out of it, I'd recommend an external EQ, as the DV control is limited and goes from super subtle to super scooped and boomy in a hurry. But, I would have no problem using it with a band straight in as-is and using very subtle settings on the DV.

This is a perfect post. Agree 100%. For me NON phat mod is critical.

 

[shredi knight]

Congrats man, nothing like a new amp day.

Here's another vid of the amp, with Petrucci going over the channels/ features (though he never mentions the Shred Mode ). This is the best sounding demo of the amp I have heard (clean tones start at 52:31, crunch at 1:11:04 & lead at 1:30:24

 

[bubbastain]

I played the JP2C for about 15 minutes a while ago and it was awesome. There are lots of amps I like and there are a very small few that Wow me. In the top 3 for best amps I have ever played. I own the other two. (Hermansson and Fortin). If for some reason I ever sold the Hermansson and later needed a multi channel amp, I would totally get the JP2C.

 

[squank]

Congrats!

I owned a Mark V combo in the past and didn't connect with it. I recently got another one, but this time with a different speaker, and it made all the difference. It sounds awesome now and it's not going anywhere.

 

[DragonCrestPC]

Congrats!

I owned a Mark V combo in the past and didn't connect with it. I recently got another one, but this time with a different speaker, and it made all the difference. It sounds awesome now and it's not going anywhere.

What speakers did you try before and now? I love the way Mark series amps sound with UK V30's and K-100's

 

[JTyson]

One of the few amps out there I'm gassin for. I gigged with MKIII's for years, then went to Dual Recs, then back to my Marshalls, plus a Vox AC15, but a JP2C would be a killer addition for recording.

 

[PBGas]

This is an absolutely killer amp! Totally love mine! Every time I hit that standby switch to on it is pure joy! I pair mine up via 4CM with my Helix rack and it works flawlessly!

 

[squank]

Congrats!

I owned a Mark V combo in the past and didn't connect with it. I recently got another one, but this time with a different speaker, and it made all the difference. It sounds awesome now and it's not going anywhere.

What speakers did you try before and now? I love the way Mark series amps sound with UK V30's and K-100's

The first one had the stock MC-90. I'm sure it records well, but in the room, it lacked some warmth. The one I have now is the Eminence Governor, similar to the V30. I really like how it sounds with this speaker.

 

[copilot]

Just played mine about an hour, making adjustments. I still don't have alot of time w/ the amp yet. First Mesa amp I ever owned where I don't really need the EQ. I set it to one of the EQ settings I saw on the Brad Gillis Star Licks DVD. Gets that Live Speak Of The Devil tone, in spades, and again, still gets it even without the EQ.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

This is an absolutely killer amp! Totally love mine! Every time I hit that standby switch to on it is pure joy! I pair mine up via 4CM with my Helix rack and it works flawlessly!

This. And thanks for the buying advice.

I haven't messed with the fx loop much yet... but it seems good. Really straightforward and no surprises.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Just played mine about an hour, making adjustments. I still don't have alot of time w/ the amp yet. First Mesa amp I ever owned where I don't really need the EQ. I set it to one of the EQ settings I saw on the Brad Gillis Star Licks DVD. Gets that Live Speak Of The Devil tone, in spades, and again, still gets it even without the EQ.

Yep. It does sound decent w/o the EQ... which is pretty shocking. Wonder why? I do greatly prefer it with the EQ on in the classic "V" for that extra push of evil tone... but I see what you mean. The MKV definitely did not sound as good w/o the EQ on. This will definitely do all the smooth, liquid '80s gained-out studio tones... Luke/Landau/Huff.