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Non ADA Gear => Amps => Topic started by: Soloist on August 07, 2017, 09:38:47 AM

Title: Jackson JX3
Post by: Soloist on August 07, 2017, 09:38:47 AM
Jackson JX3 preamp, anyone here ever tried one of these?
From what I can tell they were made for Jackson by Laney, 2 channel non midi controllable. However I can use the relay in my G major 2 for changing channels and activating the boost function. Picked one up real cheap, should have it in a day or so. Was wondering if anyone had any experience with one.
Title: Re: Jackson JX3
Post by: rnolan on August 08, 2017, 12:11:07 AM
Hey Soloist, never came across them myself, seems ok from the couple of youtube clips I watched.  Be interesting to hear what you think when you get it up and going.
Title: Re: Jackson JX3
Post by: Soloist on August 10, 2017, 12:01:27 AM
Ok Richard, I picked up the Jackson preamp today and ran it through my rig for a couple hours.  :headbanger:

First a little description:
2 channel each with independent tone controls and levels.
Stereo master line outs and stereo cab sim line outs.
Fx loop, mono in stereo out.
Bright switch and a boost switch they call a shred switch, with a second gain knob.
Dual 12ax7 tubes.
2 additional rear jacks, one for channel switching the other to engage the boost function.

 Preliminary findings:
The clean channel (channel A) is a very nice clean channel.
Can get a nice low gain tone ala David Gilmour by pushing it with either a Boss SD1 or an Ibanez Tube Screammer.
Channel B is your typical 80's metal tone ala Glenn Tipton. Good bite to it, really makes pinch harmonics jump out at you.
Distortion isn't really that adjustable. No real difference from 6 to 10. The shred button also has a gain knob. To me it doesn't really add more gain but it adds some more saturation to it, plus about a 5db boost.
So far it seems like a decent preamp especially for $50. It was well taken care of, clean as a whistle with 2 new Stovek tubes in it.Do I like it better than my Mp1...no. Do I like it better than my Mp2....no. I would say it's as good as my JMP1.

Short comings:
Tone controls are kinda limited imo. I would like more adjustment but an eq helps get what I want.
Not impressed with the fx loop. Luckily I don't need it fx run through the loop in my rack mixer.
Kind of a 2 trick pony due to the lack of super high gain.
With bright switch off to me it's too dark on either channel.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 7. :thumb-up:
Title: Re: Jackson JX3
Post by: rnolan on August 10, 2017, 01:10:23 AM
Hey Soloist, good to know  :wave: .  Listening to a couple YT clips demoing it I had some similar reactions (not that they were very thorough)  but as you say, not a bad score for $50 (which is close to what 2 Sovtecs would cost LoL). One clip I listened to played a little clean stuff which I thought was quite a decent clean sound.  And the pinch squeals were nice and prominent (as you say, jump out at you) particularly on the other clip.

Thanks for the heads up  :thumb-up:
Title: Re: Jackson JX3
Post by: MarshallJMP on August 10, 2017, 02:39:08 AM
Nice I always thought these where solid state preamps?
Title: Re: Jackson JX3
Post by: Soloist on August 10, 2017, 07:09:24 AM
Nice I always thought these where solid state preamps?
I belive it mostly is,  the same way the JMP1 is. Tubes add some sizzle and warmth to it. However I think the JMP is more flexible.
Title: Re: Jackson JX3
Post by: rabidgerry on March 18, 2018, 08:35:38 AM
@ Soloist

I could get a good deal on one of these at the moment, is it recommended man or what?
Title: Re: Jackson JX3
Post by: Soloist on March 18, 2018, 02:16:43 PM
Yes that is the one that I have/had. It's not a high gain preamp and a bit too muddy for me. More like a mid gain. I can get heavier tones with my stock MP1. I ended up selling it and picking up a radial engineering tone bone hot british.  Amp in a pedal, classic 80's metal tone. I now use that to boost my MP1 into mega saturation.
I know the tones you like, unfortunately that jackson pre won't cut it. Your rock master and Mp1 will do a far better job. I would say save your coin for something better. Just my 2 cents.
BTW, when I used it, it was with my MT200 power amp, didn't get a chance to try it with my Mesa boogie 50/50. So it might have more growl with a tube power amp. To me it sounded more pop 80's than metal 80's.
Title: Re: Jackson JX3
Post by: rabidgerry on March 18, 2018, 03:42:06 PM
Thanks man, you saved me some cash  8)

I thought that thing had metal written all over it.......................I guess not.  That's shred button is very misleading.

Ok so more gain with stock MP1, no prob's I'll leave it then.  I love my MP1s.  Back using a Rockmaster though in my home studio currently.  I chop and change, you know how it is  :thumb-up: