Think I've had it with the JVM...

[yngzaklynch]

Other than getting used to the effects loop I never had any issues. I still think the JVM is a kick ass amp!

What's special about the effects loop?

I just had trouble getting either of my delays to sound there best through it.

 

[Zachman]

I'm using H30/Hellatones.

I LOVE my Hellatone G12-H-30's... ALL 12 of them, seem to be happy with whatever amp I use them with.

Thats because you own your equipment long enough to know what it is capable of and spend enough time tweaking and PLAYING it to know what it does and give an amp more then an hour before you say it sucks and are willing to try new tubes and rebias an amp before you call it a loser and change strings on your guitar BEFORE saying the pickups suck

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[ttosh]

I spent a couple of hours today at the local Music Store trying one of these out. It seemed like a pretty cool amp overall. Cannot speak of reliability since it did not break in the 2 hours I messed with it. However the one thing I have to say is the distortion sounded very solid state to me, all the way from the low volume to high. It was cool, but nowhere near the balls the Splawns I have heard. It was closer to the Engl Blackmore I just got rid of, but not quite as beefy overall to me. Just my .02

 

[PeteLaramee]

I'm convinced that the squeeling issues is from people having the preamp gain turned up too high. That amp has entirely too much gain on the OD1/OD2 Orange/Red modes. It would feedback like a monster at stage volumes if I didn't have it set just right.

I was at his place a few months ago while he was playing through it and that certainly was not the case. He doesn't use much gain at all. Having said that I use the gain at 7 on OD2/orange and 5 on OD2/Red w/out problems. I've had 2 JVMs and although I haven't had a squeeling problems the 2 sound and react a little differently.

 

[EightmanVT]

Hello Gents.... I'm over here in the UK this week...so have been unable to really get online ... Suprised to see this much interest in this thread. Mostly I was just vocalizing a little frustration - and curious to know if others find the amp to sound thin when sitting in a band mix. Let me see if I can respond to a couple of points made here.

I'm using H30/Hellatones.

Tempting to get a couple Heritage 30's for my other cab anyway...since I think I read the new 5150 cab has those.

I'm using H30/Hellatones.

I LOVE my Hellatone G12-H-30's... ALL 12 of them, seem to be happy with whatever amp I use them with.

Thats because you own your equipment long enough to know what it is capable of and spend enough time tweaking and PLAYING it to know what it does and give an amp more then an hour before you say it sucks and are willing to try new tubes and rebias an amp before you call it a loser and change strings on your guitar BEFORE saying the pickups suck

Frankly...I'm not certain this even deserves a response - because...if I think the amp sounds thin - I could give a shit if you think that opinion is valid or not. However, just to allay your apparent concerns All preamp tubes were swapped...V3 changed 3 times... I haven't rebiased... and I've given the amp almost 4 months. Your opinion has been noted... Appreciate you sharing the acceptable guidelines for amp judging and opinion rendering.

Out of all the ones I've sold only one developed an issue and it was just a couple bad preamp tubes. That could happen to any amp. As for squealing issues, the higher gain modes have a TON of gain, alot more than most amps. Adjust it accordingly...

I definitely agree that preamp tubes can go bad in any amp - although, perhaps coincidentally or perhaps not, this is the only amp that I've ever had one go bad on -much less 3, but who knows...that's probably just a contributing factor to my frustration... The fact that I've had the amp apart so oftn. My chief complaint with this amp...isn't the squeal. That can be an issue, but it improved with new preamp tubes...and even a slight backoff on the guitar volume...controls the squeal. I don't run any gain past noon...and most sit between 9 and 11. I think I have the gain at noon on ch1 only.

I spent a couple of hours today at the local Music Store trying one of these out. It seemed like a pretty cool amp overall. Cannot speak of reliability since it did not break in the 2 hours I messed with it. However the one thing I have to say is the distortion sounded very solid state to me, all the way from the low volume to high. It was cool, but nowhere near the balls the Splawns I have heard. It was closer to the Engl Blackmore I just got rid of, but not quite as beefy overall to me. Just my .02

I was surprised to find that I agree with you on this... and by that I mean...surprised to find that the Splawn was..."ballsier". I need to do some more side by side testing, but one night, after getting frustrated during a rehearsal with, what I perceived as a thin sound - much thinner than what I feel I'm getting when just playing the amp...stand alone...or with a backing track - I fired the Splawn up - and the difference was immediate and noticeable ...even to the drummer.


Bottom line - I'm looking forward to checking out the new 5150... Plan on tweaking the JVM some more...and trying some new speakers...as well as putting a couple other heads up against it..during practices. As a side note - the direct out is working great... running a feed to monitors for the singer and drummer....sounds pretty good.

 

[simbasa]

Both of the JVM I had were problem free...although I kept the second one 24 hours.
I never had the gain past noon on OD1 and OD2 orange and red...11 oclock on OD2 red was more than enough gain. I recall the designer -Santial- saying he designed the most usable gain to be between 9 oclock and 2 oclock.
The JVM will squeal with the gain at high-above 2- levels,even at low, low volumes and definitely with certain pups. At the settings I used, I never had any squeals.

 

[Greazygeo]

Out of all the ones I've sold only one developed an issue and it was just a couple bad preamp tubes. That could happen to any amp. As for squealing issues, the higher gain modes have a TON of gain, alot more than most amps. Adjust it accordingly...

I definitely agree that preamp tubes can go bad in any amp - although, perhaps coincidentally or perhaps not, this is the only amp that I've ever had one go bad on -much less 3, but who knows...that's probably just a contributing factor to my frustration... The fact that I've had the amp apart so oftn. My chief complaint with this amp...isn't the squeal. That can be an issue, but it improved with new preamp tubes...and even a slight backoff on the guitar volume...controls the squeal. I don't run any gain past noon...and most sit between 9 and 11. I think I have the gain at noon on ch1 only.

I see, that is weird that V3 kept going bad. Sounds like something was amiss there. If you changed preamp tubes to ones you know are good and it sounds thin, I'd definately check the bias. It could be way off if thats the case. With the gain below noon there really shouldnt be any squealing unless your pups are super hot or really microphonic.
Another thing to remember is there is no choke in the power supply, so it will feel different if you are used to amps with them. With the popularity of amps like 5150 and Engl without chokes, I can see why they might have designed the JVM without one. They do feel pretty similar.

 

[PeteLaramee]

I was at his place a few months ago while he was playing through it and that certainly was not the case. He doesn't use much gain at all. Having said that I use the gain at 7 on OD2/orange and 5 on OD2/Red w/out problems. I've had 2 JVMs and although I haven't had a squeeling problems the 2 sound and react a little differently.

I swear I didn't mean to direct that at anyone in particular (although it sounded like it.) You use the preamp gain on 7 and 5? At stage volumes or bedroom volumes? There's no way I could use that much at stage volumes! Not only would it feedback on me like crazy, but it would just be too much for me to get a clear rhythm tone.

I dunno... I think I just have different tastes than alot of folks.

That's at stage v. I admit I back the pups off the strings a tad more than most guys, but w/out the gain it's hard to dish out the beef.

Seriously though - I play a lot of 9ths/sus2 and minor 7th chords and it still doesn't get muddy. The chords/notes aren't quite as clear as my voodoo modded dsl using the same amount of gain, but no amp is that clear. However, playing in my new basement w/out finishing the carpeting and padding does cause it to feedback a little easier.

 

[Digital Jams]

I agree with Pete's assessment, I have had my JVM gunned with OD2 and fedback has not been an issue. I wonder if I am just lucky with mine because I have suffered none of the issues that others have had.

I just learned Interstate Love Song and that song can mud an amp up with the chords it has and the JVM handles it very well at good gain levels. During my legato practicing I also have the gain up there for a crutch