Lately i´ve done some comparing between the standard and Satriani JVM. I think the gain levels on the HJS is better but there is something in the tone especially when playing chords that doesn´t sound so good to my ears. It´s like some low mid boost in the tone. It makes the distortion sound not so good on the low strings. It´s like there is too little treble going in the circuit before distortion. It lacks bite and feels a bit stiff. The notes doesn´t jump out like on most Marshalls. I thuink the HJS feels more compressed than the standard JVM. Also even though i seldom use reverb i miss it on the HJS. I´m no noise gate user. The HJS isn´t so noisy as the standard one so you don´t need the noise gate on the HJS if you don´t use very much overdrive. Satriani is mostly a single string player and he likes the 6100 clean with a distortion pedal. That must say something where his tone preferences are.
This is just my opinion. I´ve had two JVM HJS. But if i were to buy a JVM i think i´d go with the standard one. It´s got more of the classic Marshall tone.