Picking an amp

[BrentSSL]

So I've recently come across several amps I really like the tone of. They are only about 4 to 500$ second hand and I'm having trouble deciding. It's between the Carvin V3 100watt, the Blackstar HT 50 club, Peavey Ultra plus or the peavey JSX. To me the Blackstar seems to be like a new crate stealth and has a splawn nitro or 5150 3 vibe to it. The V3 is basically a poor man's rectifier with a few more bells and whistles which are cool but I never used all the features on the rectifiers I had so I doubt I will on the V3. The Peavey Ultra is basically the jsx but I feel like with a more raw tone. I've always liked the jsx so I think I'd choose that over the ultra unless the jsx isn't available for the 4 or 500$ price range. Any way what do you guys think build quality wise I'm new to Blackstar but so far that's my favorite.

 

[CrazyNutz]

Never played one, but I've heard the Carvin V3's live a few times, and was pretty impressed with the tone each time.

 

[VH4_BigRig]

I've owned the Blackstar DISTX and Dual pedals, and both have sounded great, just what I was looking for. However, the catch is that they do not seem to be well made; I had issues with the pots on the DISTX and footswitch issues with the Dual. Not sure if the same goes for the heads or not? I know a lot of people here used the low watt heads when they first came out, maybe someone else could chime in? Either way it's made me wary of anything Blackstar now...

What style do you play? If i had to pick one on your list it would be the JSX, but depends on what kind of stuff you play!

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Of those I also like the JSX best.

 

[mchn13]

Ultra plus. It’s been years since I messed with it, but a friend in another band here has one, and we dialed it in really really close to my old markIII red stripe. Like I don’t know if I coulda picked which one if it was a blind test. Reminds me I need to see if he wants to sell that bitch. He’s held onto it for years, and bought it at a pawn shop for maybe $300.

 

[napalmdeath]

Of those I also like the JSX best.

Yep, me too. Owned one 3 times, one of my favorite amps ever.

 

[D-Rock]

Bought a JSX new in 2004 and I still have it. One of my all time favs.

 

[BrentSSL]

I play hard rock and heavy metal I might buy a jsx and see what I prefer the 2

 

[napalmdeath]

I play hard rock and heavy metal I might buy a jsx and see what I prefer the 2

It excels at both. Excellent amp. Good choice, I bought a Triple XXX a month ago, and it's a beast. No gas for me.

 

[Mailman1971]

Ya the XXX and JSX are great great Amps!!

 

[BrentSSL]

Lol thank you for the advice but I meant out of the Blackstar HT 50 club and the JSX I really like the Blackstar

 

[napalmdeath]

Lol thank you for the advice but I meant out of the Blackstar HT 50 club and the JSX I really like the Blackstar

Blackstars are generic and stale sounding. Yeah, might sound good at first, but after a week, you'll want to unload it. Been there, (with an HT-50). Bought it on closeout for $499 at Sweetwater, and returned it in a week. The JSX shits all over it.

The JSX is a real beast, with good tubes and bias. If I hadn't found my XXX so cheap, I'd have another JSX. There's no better amp, bang for buck, under $500 used, IMO, (except maybe a DSL50, or Laney GH50L), but they're still not as beastly.

 

[BrentSSL]

Does the Blackstar have the same problem the 5153 does where it doesn't protect sound very well with a drummer it just sounds good on its own?

 

[napalmdeath]

Does the Blackstar have the same problem the 5153 does where it doesn't protect sound very well with a drummer it just sounds good on its own?

Can't answer that, but will say, it's not on the same tonal level as the JSX. It'll slice through a drummer like nobody's business, and will cut through a mix with ease with brute force that is on another level. I'd take it over an EVH as well, and have. It's a very raw, in your face, aggressive tone.

 

[Mudder]

I own an ultra and probably always will. Great amps.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Owned a Triple XXXII which was supposed to be a slightly tweaked re-badged jsx and couldn't jive with it. Had it for two years and tried all kinds of power tubes and preamp tubes as well as a couple different cabs/speakers. Wanted to like it, but it just wasn't for me I guess.

 

[napalmdeath]

Owned a Triple XXXII which was supposed to be a slightly tweaked re-badged jsx and couldn't jive with it. Had it for two years and tried all kinds of power tubes and preamp tubes as well as a couple different cabs/speakers. Wanted to like it, but it just wasn't for me I guess.

Some people don't bond with it's aggressive mids. The active EQ can be tricky to some as well. Subtle changes go a long way, like some Mesas. My Mark V 25 drove me bat shit crazy too. Something as simple as changing guitars took 10 minutes of adjusting. Loved the amp, hated the drastic EQ.

My Triple XXX has been a set it, and forget it. If I need a slight tweak as the volume goes up, I tend to use my 10-band in the loop, and its usually a slight cut in the highs. If it gets boomy, a minuscule move with the bass on the amp tightens it right up. I love it!

 

[mchn13]

Does the Blackstar have the same problem the 5153 does where it doesn't protect sound very well with a drummer it just sounds good on its own?

Bro I really don’t mean to be snarky here; but, if the Evh wasn’t cutting it in a band mix, something else was wrong. I’ve had my little 50 watt in a room with my old Vht, a pair of 6505+’s, a Mesa, a jmp, etc...., and it wasn’t lacking at all. I’ve surprised a couple folks with it now, and can run you out of a room with it.
I’m never gonna say the tone kills these other amps, and to be fair if my deliverance was the size and weight of the Evh, I never woulda got rid of it, but it has never lacked in punch or volume, and I can get hella different tones with it.
IMO

 

[Exo-metal]

Get a MKIII and mod the piss out of it and it will crush every amp u mentioned, like mine lol

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Owned a Triple XXXII which was supposed to be a slightly tweaked re-badged jsx and couldn't jive with it. Had it for two years and tried all kinds of power tubes and preamp tubes as well as a couple different cabs/speakers. Wanted to like it, but it just wasn't for me I guess.

Some people don't bond with it's aggressive mids. The active EQ can be tricky to some as well. Subtle changes go a long way, like some Mesas. My Mark V 25 drove me bat shit crazy too. Something as simple as changing guitars took 10 minutes of adjusting. Loved the amp, hated the drastic EQ.

My Triple XXX has been a set it, and forget it. If I need a slight tweak as the volume goes up, I tend to use my 10-band in the loop, and its usually a slight cut in the highs. If it gets boomy, a minuscule move with the bass on the amp tightens it right up. I love it!

I love aggressive mids, but there was just a harness to that amp (To my ears) that I hated. I probably would have been much better off with the Triple XXX.