Jet City JCA50H vs. Marshall JVM 205 vs. EVH 5150 III 50 Watt

[GuitarIv]

Cheers guys,

so since my financial situation as a student seems to be improving, I started thinking about a new amp, in fact I've done so for quite a while now but finally narrowed my options down to 2 heads. It's going to be either the Marshall JVM 205 or the 50 Watt Version of the EVH 5150 III.

Now I have some criteria regarding the amp: 50 watts, 2 channels (I like straight Clean/Distortion Heads), nothing uber expensive, something I can use in a band context but play at home as well, mids for the cut and something that can give me old school Thrash sounds when required.
From the huge amount of videos and samples I found online I lean more towards the JVM, however I never played the amp. I tested the 5150 III before and quite liked it although I found it to have a little bit too much gain for my tastes, but that may be due to the fact that I'm currently playing a Micro Terror boosted with a Digitech Bad Monkey at home and that combination has just enough distortion to let me play metal.

I will be getting a new cab as well and it's going to be a V30 equipped 4*12, the decision's down between the Marshall MR1960AV and the Orange PPC412.

I know I should test the JVM before I throw it into the equation, however as always it might not hurt to search for some additional opinions ^^

Now my main question regarding the JVM is: how much does it have in common with the infamous JCM 800? How is the quality of those newer Marshalls and does it still have that high mid cutting character and typical sound one associates with the brand? I'm no expert on amps, so someone who has some insight on building them could be very helpful.

The guitars I'm mainly going to use with the setup are going to be my Custom Strat with a Miracle Man/Sinner set that sounds quite transparent, cutting in the highs and mids and my Jackson DK2M with a Holydiver/Emerald set that has a warm, fat and huge sound. Right now I have the problem that my Peavey Valveking with the Laney GS412LA I use has waaaaaay too much highs, it's so overbearing at times it hurts in the ears. This is mainly due to the nature of the cab in combination with the Celestion Seventy 80s that are very scooped and treble heavy and the new tubes my VK got, they sound trebly, harsh and very unpleasing.

I know people might tell me I should just change tubes or get a new cab, but I'm about to make the next step towards getting my first "high quality" tube head, so I'm not willing to toy around with the VK (yet).

I don't know how much info I missed, this is quite a wall of text already, so sorry for that, hope someone can help me :)

Cheers!

[JDC]

Left of field suggestion but if you've got an eye for a 5150 III I'd check out the Laney Ironheart, seemed to be a lot of amp for the cash if memory serves me well

[Telerocker]

I would look at a (used) Orange Rockerverb too. Out of those two: EVH!

[Dave Sloven]

The Orange PPC412 is a great cabinet but with V30s in general brace yourself for the mid spike!  Also it doesn't have wheels, which can be a good thing sometimes, in terms of its connection with the floor (extra resonance) but at 50kg you'd better have good friends who can help you both ends of your journey to jams and gigs. One of my mates suggested stealing a shopping trolley from the supermarket carpark and using the wheels from that on a board dolly, and then sitting the cab on that, or alternatively bolting them to the cab permanently.  Every time I think of this suggestion I laugh because I see Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys in my head.  Apparently though if I did it I would not be the first ...

I'm quite happy with my Peavey 6534+ now.  It's a monster though at 120W (so you almost never get the chance to get it out of that fizzy 0-1 range playing at home) and it takes some time to get used to the resonance and presence controls.  With the Peavey 6505 cab you can get away with diming both if yiou are playing Slayer etc bit with the Orange PPC412 you need to back off on the presence definitely and with the resonance too if it is sitting directly on the floor on those skids without any wheels.

The other amp I considered was the EVH 5150 III.  I've heard great things about, very few bad things.  I've heard great things about the JVM too, but I've also read a few complaints about it.

I think there might be an issue with the effects loop on the JVM, I'm not sure, maybe google it.  Maybe it was with the loop causing issues with ISP Decimators, because I was looking for info on those at one point and found a lot about in on the Marshall site.  It might be to do with the adjustment level on the loop.  Anyway if you do get one make sure you understand how that works.

I also considered the Laney Ironheart, back when I was seriously considering the new Laney Iommi (but prices on that here make it a pipe-dream), and I read a lot of good about the Ironheart
 

[Nadz1lla]

I would go with the JVM without a second thought. In my opinion it's a much more versatile amp, plus I have tried both amps and the EVH took loads of tweaking to get "my" sound, but the JVM took me less than twenty seconds to dial in a great tone. Also with the JVM, you can get a rather nice sound at lower volumes, too.

I won't suggest any other amps, as I'm a little biased towards Jet City myself (which, by the way, are GREAT budget amps, in my opinion), and you've already narrowed it down to between two, heh. 

But just in case curiosity takes you down that route:
http://www.jetcityamplificationstore.co.uk/

[GuitarIv]

Regarding the EVH it is indeed an amazing amp, but it just seemed a bit too modern for my application or rather over the top. I already ruled out the Rockerverb and the Ironheart as Orange is a bit too mushy at times and the Ironheart isn't really the kind of thing I'm looking for.

I'm pretty much torn as I know if I get the EVH I will be on the safe side since I played it already, really liked it and know what to expect, but the Marshall seems to be easier to dial in (I like simple amps) and has the EL34 sound that get's you that amazing classic sound we all know and love when you plug in your Strat. I guess I will only know for sure once I find a store that has the JVM stock so I can try it out in real life :P

Nad: I heard great things about the Jet City range, might give them a go :)

AO: Yeah I know it can be a pain in the ass but if they sound good I'm willing to break my back hahaha

[JDC]

I really like the sound of Jet City amps too

ps When did orange cabs get so expensive?!!! Personally I'd get a Zilla

[Dave Sloven]

I got my PPC412 for $1200 local currency, which was only $100 more than the best price I had on a Marshall 1960AV at the time (end of financial year sale a few months ago).  A friend of mine got a Krank Revolution 1 (a company that no longer exists and hence the warranty is useless) for half price a month ago and that was $1000, so the Orange cabs can be had for better prices than those, and certainly cheaper than an Engl Pro 412 V30 cab (although those are stereo).

[Alex]

Both very good amps, but a somewhat different midrange and treble tonality. The Marshall is a bit harder and edgier, which I kind of like, the EVH a bit smoother.

[Telerocker]

I would look at the Laney Ironheart 60 too. Good tone, lots of features and quite affordable.

[GuitarIv]

Right now I'm really tending more and more towards the Marshall, particularly since my favourite guitar player, Josh Middleton from Sylosis uses a modded JCM 800 and the band playing in E-Standard is a perfect example that you don't need the ultra modern sound and low tunings to sound heavy. I guess I will only find out by playing through a JVM. Thanks for all the opinions so far, cheers!  :D

[Dave Sloven]

Satchel from Steel Panther uses the EVH 5150 III  :D

Rig Rundown - Satchel - Steel Panther Gear

[Dr.Pain]

I found this a while ago and I hope it helps.  I'd go the JVM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipEInOh0Phw

[Dave Sloven]

On that video the EVH sounds very muffled.

I would want to A/B them through the same cabinet before choosing (if possible).  I don't put a lot of faith in youtube videos, especially through my computer speakers

[fhn_lopes]

Everything I ever heard (live or video) from the JVM sounded like the most pure absolute shiteE! Compressed, no dynamics, fizzy (think of a cr@ppy distortion pedal).

BTW since the JCM800 2203 marshal haven't done anything usefull IMO... maybe that's why 80% of their actual production are reissues or other "signature" amps based in reissues... gosh...

If you are stuck between these two I"d say go for the EVH even though I think a cab loaded with greenbacks or G12h30s would sound way better with it than V30s, but that's my taste.

Now if you want to expand, check out the new Randall RD50 head by Mike Fortin... Man, that sounds amazing in the videos and it's for the cheap (in the US it's cheaper than the 5153 50w).