JVM 410C??

[Cousin Muely]

A few days ago i had posted that i was shopping for an amp to gig with when i come out of 'retirement'. Whenever that time comes. I had looked at the Handwired Series but i talked myself out of those. That pretty much left either a Vintage Modern or a JVM Model. The effects loop feature on these are a selling point also along with there great tone. I like Delay. There is hardly no doubt in my mind that i would like the VM but in it's case i would rather have the Head and matching 4x12. Especially with the noise issues the combos have had. But, honestly I just think that for my playing environments a 4x12 is just too much cab and i would think this amp needs to be turned up somewhat to get "there". Plus, i drive a Jeep Rubicon. I don't think i want to try and load a 4x12 in it. Hell, my Flying V Case eats up a lot of room in it. That Brings me back to the JVM. I could be tempted with the 50 watt combo but the JVM410C has all the channels. For the type music i would be looking to play i would probably not use the OD channels a whole lot but they would be there if needed. With the available gain on it i could see not needing my drive pedals for a more guitar-cord-amp setup. Midi capabilities. A couple of loops. This model seems to have a lot going on. I am still a single channel guitar volume/tone kind of player which seems to fit the VM but the JVM seems hard to ignore. Either way, i am about to pull the trigger on this maybe this week. With all the new members (and old) coming in maybe someone has some experience with gigging this amp.

[drgordonfreeman]

I have played exactly two gigs with my JVM, neither of which I was paid for, so I am not an authority by any means.

I use a JVM410 with an Avatar 2x12 that has Celestion G12k-100s in it. I crank the volume to 4.5, which is where I think the sweet spot is on the amp. I've noticed that you really want to avoid too much power tube distortion with this amp, as it muddies the sound. I think this can be said of any modern amp. Nonetheless, the volume at 4.5 seems to be the sweet spot -- to me anyway -- where the power tubes are being pushed hard without skewing the sound.

The JVM has just about every sound in it you want. There are 6 different modes to choose from between the Clean and Crunch channels, so you should definitely be able to find "the sound" you're after. There are 6 more between the two OD channels, in case you decide you want to use those channels. You're almost assured that "your sound" is somewhere in there.

For both gigs, I rode with the other guitar player. He drives a two-door 2010 Honda Civic. We loaded two JVM 410s, two 2x12s, and two guitar cases into that car. It wasn't an issue, really, so I can't imagine that you wouldn't be able to fit your gear in your Jeep. A JVM410C is about the same weight as a JVM410 and a 2x12 when stacked. If I were you, I'd chose the head and 2x12 option, rather than the combo. I don't like combos very much for gigging, as I don't think they offer much over a head and a 2x12. There's not really any weight savings, there's not really any size savings, and the combo has less versatility than a stacked head and a 2x12.

Between the 100 watt and 50 watt, I went with the 100 watt, because I like the additional head room for cleans.

If you're able to get in front of the amp to play it before you buy it, I'd suggest you make the effort. Honestly, I think for straight classic rock, the VM might be a better option; however, as I said before, you can squeeze just about any sound out of the JVM. It just may take some tweaking.

[Cousin Muely]

Appreciate the response there DrGF. Some good points. Yeah, from what I have gathered the JVM gets more out of it's Pre Amp section. My heart tells me VM though. I'm going to make a decision on either of these by tomorrow. I have kind of debated this with myself long enough.

Say, you wouldn't happen to have the rest of the video in your avatar would you? I'd like to see how that flick ends.

[drgordonfreeman]

Honestly, if you don't plan on using the JVM OD channels AND the VM has plenty of gain for you, then, while I'd hate to turn someone away from a JVM, I think that the VM is probably your best bet. I'd get the head with a 2x12 cab.

Say, you wouldn't happen to have the rest of the video in your avatar would you? I'd like to see how that flick ends.

Unfortunately, I don't! Now, I have seen the entire video, and it ends just as you'd expect it to ; however, this gif was made by someone else, and it's right on the line between risque and porn for this forum. Ha. Hopefully, it doesn't upset Surf or Long.

[Split-Finger-FB]

I love the Vintage Modern amps (heads, combos, 425 cabs). The VM amps have a very unique sonic character-a very vintage-voiced sound. These amps sound great with jazz, blues, classic rock, hard rock, metal, pop. If you like, you can hit it with a overdrive/distortion pedal to get a little more gain, but I wouldn't say they lack gain. If you go with the VM, I'd suggest a combo (2266C) because it is 50 watts and has built-in speakers (and those G12C speakers are amazing.

The JVM 410C is pretty amazing, and it, too, is voiced in a rather unique way. The It's tough to say if you will get around to using all the 410C has to offer. I have used at least every feature on my 410H more than once, but what features get used depends on situation. If I am doing some free-style kinda jamming, then I use the JVM's 6-button footswitch and a couple of pedals through the loop, thus keeping it very simple. When I was playing in a band, I used a multi-effects system for effects and to control the JVM via MIDI (the multi-FX unit had MIDI capability); this setup allowed me to coordinate a complete sound between the multi-FX unit and 410H that could be called up at the touch of a single button-an approach that worked well for live sounds as well as recording. For me, I sometimes needed to go to opposite sonic extremes within the same song, so I found it much easier to do those things on a 410H. For me, it wasn't simple a cas of which is the better amp, but which was the better amp for my purposes.

If you're not going to get too involved with multi-effects or rack systems, MIDI, and (probably most importantly) using a variety of tones within a song, then the VM is probably the better buy.

Good luck on your decision.

[Cousin Muely]

Thanks guys. Yeah, i have pretty much made up my mind on the 2466 and 425 cab. That was my first choice and the tones it produces is where i am at now. The JVMs arent going anywhere for a while so i can pick one of those up later. With the way i have swayed from the Hardwired Series, VM, JVM, and all the others i have considered maybe a lot of "choices" a la the 410 is not in my best interest right now. I have debated this with myself a little too much but then again i do that with anything i buy. The JVMs have a lot to explore with the MIDI capabilities and the multiple channels. Would be a lot of fun but really all i want is a little Slap Back Delay in the loop, some Wah and Phase 90 and a solid Les Paul tone. I am quite sure the VM will get me there. I am ordering everything tomorrow to time it for a first of next week delivery. My wife is going on a cruise with some girlfriends of hers for the week. Should be a fun week for me. Maybe i wont blow out any windows.

[drgordonfreeman]

If you're not going to get too involved with multi-effects or rack systems, MIDI, and (probably most importantly) using a variety of tones within a song, then the VM is probably the better buy.

Definitely, sometimes the JVM can be overwhelming. Truth be told, I only actually use two modes out of the entire amp. I use the red mode on the OD1 channel and green mode on the clean channel. Ha! I like the fact that there's more there if I ever need, but often times I wonder to myself, when the hell am I ever going to need this much?

Thanks guys. Yeah, i have pretty much made up my mind on the 2466 and 425 cab.

I think you made a good choice here. It'll be really hard to go wrong with this set-up. In the spirit of full disclosure, this thread has really made me wonder if I should buy a VM. The more I check it out, the more I'm GASing!

[Cousin Muely]

Haha.....it's contagious here. I had said I was only going to get the first 3 1 watts since those were my eras. Well, you see what happened.

[drgordonfreeman]

LOL, well, I empathize! I said I would only own one amp. Why would I ever need more? Well, now I own two, and that number is set to increase in the very near future.

So you own all the 1 watters? I'm sure you have a thread about it, but do you happen to have any pics off-hand?

[Cousin Muely]

Here you go man