The Watering Hole

Over time I've decided my Vypyr Tube 60 has just too much 'snarl' in JSX red mode. It is overly grainy. JSX green sounds great, but doesn't go where I need it to regarding gain.
After about a month of trying tones, models, and settings between the Vypyr and the Digitech RP500, I've landed a nice rich, thick, and meaty tone Using the Vypyr's green JSX model and the pedal's 'Redline' stomp.
Oddly...I had no idea what the Redline stomp was. So I Googled it, and this is what I found:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBuDuK4qjAU

Really nothing to write home about. Average tone. But with the ability to control the lows on it to a ridiculous extent, it works really well with the Vypyr JSX green mode. I have my main JSX green patch on the Vypyr set at about 10 o'clock on the gain. I have the Redline set at 50% overall and 20 (pretty low) on the gain.
What I am getting is the overall tone of a JSX at lower gain, mixed with the meaty-ness of the Redline pedal. And I use the gain knob of the amp to go from Tom Petty to Dream theater. All while maintaining tone and clarity...no matter what gain I am dialing in.

I've owned a JSX, and loved it. But it wasn't as 'thick' as what I'm getting now.

I know this combo isn't pricey and fancy. It is not boutique. And it will not wield wet dreams from you blues guitarists.

But for the guys who are stuck in the 80's hair stuff like me, it OWNS. Crunch with tone

Of the best amps I've owned, here are my top three:
1) Mesa Roadster
2) Peavey Vypyr with Digitech RP500
3) JSX

Johnny — Nov 10, 2013
Of the best amps I've owned, here are my top three:
1) Mesa Roadster
2) Peavey Vypyr with Digitech RP500
3) JSX

My top 3

1) Modded Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (Pre version 3) with tube distortion stomps in front.

2) Fender 30 from the Rivera Era.

3) Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 power amp and Quad Preamp Basically a Mark II C and a Mark 3 preamp setup into a 200 watt per side power amp.

Johnny.

There's no such thing as "too much snarl!"    ;D  

I still haven't played one of the Tube Vypyr's.   Seriously better than the JSX?  That is supposed to be a pretty good high gain amp.  

The Vypyr is not better than a JSX on it's own. Not even close.

But I found a 'sweet spot' on the Vypyr's green JSX model combined with the EQ and Redline pedal on the RP500. Took a hell of a lot of tweaking to find it. The overall tone of a JSX is certainly still better to most ears. But the combo I have is meatier in the lower mids. It is really thick. Which is something I really like in my solo tones. The JSX I had seemed a bit thin to me in solo mode. The pinch harmonics were thin....esp when compared to the Mesa Roadster I had before it.

My end game is to get another JSX or a Mesa Stiletto (I really like the Brit tones it has). Now that I know how to use the RP500 to enhance whatever amp I get (EQ, compression, etc.), I just need to decide. And then decide which child to sacrifice to afford it......