tell me about the peavey jsx

[motogrinder]

I'm looking at this or the 6534+,can the jsx get a wicked metal tone or should I just go for the 6534+? I like the idea of having a usable clean channel. I can get either one used at a pretty good price. Thoughts anyone?

 

[chumbucket]

The 6534+ will sound more aggressive and has more low mids. The JSX is smoother and not as metal.

 

[motogrinder]

I figured as much,I thought I'd just put it out there to see what everyone had to say about the jsx.

 

[jayd41]

I adore my JSX. I missed it everyday after I sold it until I finally bought another one.
The 6534 will do the standard metal tone better, but I think the JSX is just as good for metal, just in a different way. It's tighter and clearer. I think a quad of KT77s does wonders for this amps aggression.
The crunch channel sounds killer with a boost if the ultra channel doesn't do it for you. Both gain channels have 'fat' switches to add more low mids if needed. There is a built in noise gate.
And you can always plug in to the low gain input and roll the gain down and you've got an amp that can cover most genres very well.

 

[Tone Zone]

I adore my JSX. I missed it everyday after I sold it until I finally bought another one.

Me too! It's my main go-to practice amp.

 

[motogrinder]

damn I'm torn between these amps, I've got to pull the trigger tonight on one or the other,any 6534 owners out there?

 

[chunktone]

I'm looking at this or the 6534+,can the jsx get a wicked metal tone or should I just go for the 6534+? I like the idea of having a usable clean channel. I can get either one used at a pretty good price. Thoughts anyone?

IMO Joe Satriani started with a XXX and made changes that make it a bit less metal. I have had a XXX for years and it's a great amp that can be had pretty cheap! I like them better than the 6505+. the other guitarist in my old band had one and the XXX killed it imo.

 

[Revson]

The JSX can easily get metal, although it's not quite as aggressive sounding as the 6505. It's very, very tight, though. The clean channel is pretty fantastic, but doesn't do grit well. The weakest channel is the second, in my opinion. It just doesn't do lower gain sounds very well.

If you're just after a metal sound, then the 65xx series all the way. If you want some versatility, then JSX.

 

[greatmutah]

The big differences are gonna be the EQ types and voicing. The JSX was based off the XXX with more refinements and an actual crunch channel (the XXX didn't have much difference between Crunch and Ultra. Both have ass tons of gain). Most came stock with EL34s but can also run 6L6s. The EQ is active on the drive channels, so 12 o'clock is your detente point and you can cut or add frequencies. The 6534 will be passive. Some people prefer the added versatility of the active EQ. Having played both, I prefer the passive EQ. I've played a couple JSXs and the XXX II (basically the JSX rebadged after Satriani left) and even the XXX and while enjoyed them, always preferred the 5150/6505 series more. The JSX is definitely more versatile by far. But for the one trick pony that the 65xx amps are, they do that trick VERY, VERY well.

 

[155]

the jsx is a great amp..it will do metal no prob..the crunch is what I like... if you are looking for one Im probably selling mine to fund a new axe....either way I recommend it..

 

[skoora]

The JSX is pretty good. A ton of gain on the crunch channel. So much that it doesn't really do a crunch at all. I thought that was it's weak point that it couldn't do classic rock gain. It was almost as saturated as the Ultra/lead channel. Very strong EQ, so getting a big wallop in the low end was pretty easy. I would still want a 5150 because it can do a better crunch but I was never impressed with the 6534. I think that amp needs those 5881's to do it's thing.

If you can play both hopefully your ears will tell you.

 

[motogrinder]

I went for the metal,6534 it is! Wish me luck