Silverwulf
Well-known member
After getting to spend some time with the JP-2C over the last few days, I'm comfortable enough to voice some thoughts and opinions on it. I'm always cautious about doing it too quickly or prematurely, so here's some initial thoughts and a brief review, current as of today (3/26/16). I'll update this post in the future with additional thoughts and addendums if I happen to have any. With that said, here we go.
For those that don't want to read my ramblings, I thought I'd start up front with some FAQ's that I've heard folks asking about over the last few weeks. After that, I'll go into some general thoughts...
Is the JP-2C the same as the Mark V on IIC+ mode?
No, it is certainly not. I had a first run Mark V when they were initially released (pre-ordered and had it shipped directly). I sold it after a while, and I picked up 2 more over the years to use. I have 2 (different) bandmates that have had Mark V's, one of which still has it today and uses it as his primary amp. I've extensively played the V's IIC+ mode, and the JP-2C is indeed different.
Does it sound exactly the same as an original IIC+?
This question is so subjective, it's impossible to answer. What exactly does an original IIC+ sound like to you? No two amps are going to sound exactly the same. I have 4 IIC+'s at the moment, and none of them sound exactly alike. Tubes, components, and countless other factors come into play so that a direct one-to-one comparison doesn't make much sense. Does it sound exactly like an original IIC+? No, but my original IIC+'s don't sound like one another either. What I can say is that they all certainly have the same inherent tonal basis at their core, JP-2C included.
Does it "feel" like a IIC+ when you play it? That's what makes the original IIC+ special!
Although it doesn't feel exactly like the original, I can say that it's the closest amp that I've played in terms of it, and that includes all the other Marks from the series, though I do have to give credit to my '85 Mark III (no stripe), which I honestly think some folks would plug into and mistake for a IIC+ if they didn't know better. The JP-2C has the type of give and (tight) sag that you get with the IIC+, but it's not exact in feel. HOWEVER, please keep in mind that the "Pull" knobs of the original are internally set and Volume 1 is a fixed value that isn't exactly how I dial in my IIC+'s. I think if I was able to edit those parameters on the JP-2C to the values I use on my IIC+'s, I'd get the rest of the way there. Petrucci's name is on the amp, not mine, so they're fixed to his preference. I attribute the fixed values to most of the difference. This is NOT a bad thing, just stating that it's impossible for me to try and dial them in identical to how I normally set my originals.
With some FAQs out of the way, it's on to the comments...
The Mesa JP-2C is a terrific amp. For folks wanting a more versatile and modernized IIC+, this certainly fits the bill, especially at the price point. For me, this amp has everything I wanted the Mark V to have - 2 lead channels, 2 graphic EQs, midi capability, etc. It's intended to be a multi-channel IIC+ for the 2016 guitarist (not a one-to-one reissue), and it achieves that goal.
One of the first things that I noticed was a lack of an overall master volume for the amp. I thought I'd miss it, but I don't. It's easy to dial in a balance among the channels, and I never wished I had one on it. In terms of volume, considering this is a 100W amp with a reverse engineered 105 PT, I assumed it be ridiculously loud. While it certainly can be when turned up, the volume taper is gradual enough to dial in lower volumes (unlike some amps that go from quiet to deafening with a touch of the dial), even when running at 100W. While this may surprise some, the amp shined at lower volume. It doesn't have to be earth shattering to get great tone, though turning up and opening up the power amp certainly adds to it. I would feel confident running at lower volumes in a smaller club and not worry about my tone suffering because of it.
Channel 1 is nice. It's clean with nice headroom and little to no breakup. You've got a wide range on the volume dial before it starts to get loud, so dialing in quieter cleans are no problem as well. The character of the clean reminds me of the old Mark cleans, but it's also got some modern vibe to it as well that hints at Mesa's recent clean tones. For those who need a really clean tone with no breakup, this is for you. Even with hotter pickups (EMG 81, Gibson 500T, etc), there's little risk of clipping it. If you need a clean tone on the edge of breakup, you're likely not going to get it without a pedal up front. It can be warm, or bright and urgent depending on how you have it set.
Channels 2 and 3 are classic IIC+ grind. It's the bright, forward, "clear" sounding drive you're used to hearing. It's tight, punchy, and articulate, surprisingly close to an original IIC+ drive sound. One concern that I had going in was whether the JP-2C would saturate enough for my liking due to the preset Volume 1 value. I typically run my originals Volume 1 control up around "9", and the manual notes that Channel 2 is preset around "6" (or "7.25" with the gain knob pulled) and Channel 3 around "7.5" (or "9" with the gain knob pulled). I find those values to be fairly accurate, though Channel 2 seems to have a hair more than anticipated.
The graphic EQs work as intended, though they seem a little more extreme than the originals. I'm not sure if the values have been tweaked from the originals, but I do feel as though I have to set the dials slightly differently to achieve the same results. Not an issue, as you should dial in tone with your ears anyway and not your eyes, but I wanted to make note of it. The pull knobs on the gain and presence work well and offer up a variety of sounds. When pulled, the presence knob acts like the presence knob on the original. Pushed in, it operates at a lower frequency. You can turn it up higher this way without it getting shrill, but I'm so used to the original that I leave it pulled on both channels. The gain knob when pulled helps if you need a little extra kick, and you can get the gain to around 3:00 without excess noise being added. With the gain knob pulled on Channel 2, Shred mode engaged, and the gain around 2:00-3:00, I think you'll not need more for heavy rhythm playing, though you can always defer to Channel 3. If you want a more classic heavy rhythm, you may not even want the knob pulled.
The "Shred" mode is a very welcome (and for me, necessary) addition to the amp. When engaged, it does exactly as it's intended - it juices the upper mids, saturates the signal a little more, and strips a little bit of the sub-lows to tighten things up. When engaged, this helps me with two things that could have been issue for me otherwise - the Volume 1 preset, and the "Pull Deep" function being permanently engaged. In the JP-2C, all of the original IIC+ pull knobs are internally set to be engaged (with the exception of "Pull Shift" on the Bass knob). This was a little problematic for me personally, as I never used the "Pull Deep". It was always too much low end for me. If you have the same issue, I would encourage you to engage the Shred mode. By removing some of the sub-lows, it gets the tone noticeably closer to when the "Pull Deep" is NOT engaged on the original. The Shred mode also kicks the gain up a hair (not a lot), but it's enough to help offset the Volume 1 control being internally set lower than I'm used to. For those reasons, I leave Shred on all the time for both channels, as it gets me closer to the IIC+ tone I'm used to. YMMV.
I've never been fond of the current production Mesa STR 440 6L6's, and though I like JJ's in some amps in general, I don't care for the ones that shipped with the JP-2C. After spending a brief time with the stock tubes, I pulled them, replaced them, and haven't looked back. I would encourage you to at least try the stock tubes before swapping, but if you have a favorite set or type you like in Marks, don't be afraid to try.
In all, this is a great amp that I'm happy I purchased. It's well worth the money and has more tonal options than a IIC+ would ever hope to have. Is it on par with an original? I'll still use my originals at home and to record, but the JP-2C is unparalleled in terms of versatility for live use, where I think it will shine for me. If you just play at home or record and want IIC+ tone, then buy an original. There's no substitute. You won't regret it. If you play with a band, need a versatile amp, and want classic Mark tones, get the JP-2C.
All opinions expressed here are exactly that - OPINIONS. They're neither right or wrong, just my perceptions, and YMMV. Use it as just one of many informational tools to help inform your buying decisions, but don't base it on my word alone. What I like, you may hate...and vice versa. Try one for yourself and make a decision that's right for you.
EDIT (3/28):
Quick iPhone clip of the JP-2C doing some basic chords and palm muting with a metal-ish tone. It's just my iPhone in the room, so it's not the greatest, but gives an idea at least. Listen on decent speakers if you expect to hear anything other than high end, haha:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeJm6AX5Mnw
For those that don't want to read my ramblings, I thought I'd start up front with some FAQ's that I've heard folks asking about over the last few weeks. After that, I'll go into some general thoughts...
Is the JP-2C the same as the Mark V on IIC+ mode?
No, it is certainly not. I had a first run Mark V when they were initially released (pre-ordered and had it shipped directly). I sold it after a while, and I picked up 2 more over the years to use. I have 2 (different) bandmates that have had Mark V's, one of which still has it today and uses it as his primary amp. I've extensively played the V's IIC+ mode, and the JP-2C is indeed different.
Does it sound exactly the same as an original IIC+?
This question is so subjective, it's impossible to answer. What exactly does an original IIC+ sound like to you? No two amps are going to sound exactly the same. I have 4 IIC+'s at the moment, and none of them sound exactly alike. Tubes, components, and countless other factors come into play so that a direct one-to-one comparison doesn't make much sense. Does it sound exactly like an original IIC+? No, but my original IIC+'s don't sound like one another either. What I can say is that they all certainly have the same inherent tonal basis at their core, JP-2C included.
Does it "feel" like a IIC+ when you play it? That's what makes the original IIC+ special!
Although it doesn't feel exactly like the original, I can say that it's the closest amp that I've played in terms of it, and that includes all the other Marks from the series, though I do have to give credit to my '85 Mark III (no stripe), which I honestly think some folks would plug into and mistake for a IIC+ if they didn't know better. The JP-2C has the type of give and (tight) sag that you get with the IIC+, but it's not exact in feel. HOWEVER, please keep in mind that the "Pull" knobs of the original are internally set and Volume 1 is a fixed value that isn't exactly how I dial in my IIC+'s. I think if I was able to edit those parameters on the JP-2C to the values I use on my IIC+'s, I'd get the rest of the way there. Petrucci's name is on the amp, not mine, so they're fixed to his preference. I attribute the fixed values to most of the difference. This is NOT a bad thing, just stating that it's impossible for me to try and dial them in identical to how I normally set my originals.
With some FAQs out of the way, it's on to the comments...
The Mesa JP-2C is a terrific amp. For folks wanting a more versatile and modernized IIC+, this certainly fits the bill, especially at the price point. For me, this amp has everything I wanted the Mark V to have - 2 lead channels, 2 graphic EQs, midi capability, etc. It's intended to be a multi-channel IIC+ for the 2016 guitarist (not a one-to-one reissue), and it achieves that goal.
One of the first things that I noticed was a lack of an overall master volume for the amp. I thought I'd miss it, but I don't. It's easy to dial in a balance among the channels, and I never wished I had one on it. In terms of volume, considering this is a 100W amp with a reverse engineered 105 PT, I assumed it be ridiculously loud. While it certainly can be when turned up, the volume taper is gradual enough to dial in lower volumes (unlike some amps that go from quiet to deafening with a touch of the dial), even when running at 100W. While this may surprise some, the amp shined at lower volume. It doesn't have to be earth shattering to get great tone, though turning up and opening up the power amp certainly adds to it. I would feel confident running at lower volumes in a smaller club and not worry about my tone suffering because of it.
Channel 1 is nice. It's clean with nice headroom and little to no breakup. You've got a wide range on the volume dial before it starts to get loud, so dialing in quieter cleans are no problem as well. The character of the clean reminds me of the old Mark cleans, but it's also got some modern vibe to it as well that hints at Mesa's recent clean tones. For those who need a really clean tone with no breakup, this is for you. Even with hotter pickups (EMG 81, Gibson 500T, etc), there's little risk of clipping it. If you need a clean tone on the edge of breakup, you're likely not going to get it without a pedal up front. It can be warm, or bright and urgent depending on how you have it set.
Channels 2 and 3 are classic IIC+ grind. It's the bright, forward, "clear" sounding drive you're used to hearing. It's tight, punchy, and articulate, surprisingly close to an original IIC+ drive sound. One concern that I had going in was whether the JP-2C would saturate enough for my liking due to the preset Volume 1 value. I typically run my originals Volume 1 control up around "9", and the manual notes that Channel 2 is preset around "6" (or "7.25" with the gain knob pulled) and Channel 3 around "7.5" (or "9" with the gain knob pulled). I find those values to be fairly accurate, though Channel 2 seems to have a hair more than anticipated.
The graphic EQs work as intended, though they seem a little more extreme than the originals. I'm not sure if the values have been tweaked from the originals, but I do feel as though I have to set the dials slightly differently to achieve the same results. Not an issue, as you should dial in tone with your ears anyway and not your eyes, but I wanted to make note of it. The pull knobs on the gain and presence work well and offer up a variety of sounds. When pulled, the presence knob acts like the presence knob on the original. Pushed in, it operates at a lower frequency. You can turn it up higher this way without it getting shrill, but I'm so used to the original that I leave it pulled on both channels. The gain knob when pulled helps if you need a little extra kick, and you can get the gain to around 3:00 without excess noise being added. With the gain knob pulled on Channel 2, Shred mode engaged, and the gain around 2:00-3:00, I think you'll not need more for heavy rhythm playing, though you can always defer to Channel 3. If you want a more classic heavy rhythm, you may not even want the knob pulled.
The "Shred" mode is a very welcome (and for me, necessary) addition to the amp. When engaged, it does exactly as it's intended - it juices the upper mids, saturates the signal a little more, and strips a little bit of the sub-lows to tighten things up. When engaged, this helps me with two things that could have been issue for me otherwise - the Volume 1 preset, and the "Pull Deep" function being permanently engaged. In the JP-2C, all of the original IIC+ pull knobs are internally set to be engaged (with the exception of "Pull Shift" on the Bass knob). This was a little problematic for me personally, as I never used the "Pull Deep". It was always too much low end for me. If you have the same issue, I would encourage you to engage the Shred mode. By removing some of the sub-lows, it gets the tone noticeably closer to when the "Pull Deep" is NOT engaged on the original. The Shred mode also kicks the gain up a hair (not a lot), but it's enough to help offset the Volume 1 control being internally set lower than I'm used to. For those reasons, I leave Shred on all the time for both channels, as it gets me closer to the IIC+ tone I'm used to. YMMV.
I've never been fond of the current production Mesa STR 440 6L6's, and though I like JJ's in some amps in general, I don't care for the ones that shipped with the JP-2C. After spending a brief time with the stock tubes, I pulled them, replaced them, and haven't looked back. I would encourage you to at least try the stock tubes before swapping, but if you have a favorite set or type you like in Marks, don't be afraid to try.
In all, this is a great amp that I'm happy I purchased. It's well worth the money and has more tonal options than a IIC+ would ever hope to have. Is it on par with an original? I'll still use my originals at home and to record, but the JP-2C is unparalleled in terms of versatility for live use, where I think it will shine for me. If you just play at home or record and want IIC+ tone, then buy an original. There's no substitute. You won't regret it. If you play with a band, need a versatile amp, and want classic Mark tones, get the JP-2C.
All opinions expressed here are exactly that - OPINIONS. They're neither right or wrong, just my perceptions, and YMMV. Use it as just one of many informational tools to help inform your buying decisions, but don't base it on my word alone. What I like, you may hate...and vice versa. Try one for yourself and make a decision that's right for you.
EDIT (3/28):
Quick iPhone clip of the JP-2C doing some basic chords and palm muting with a metal-ish tone. It's just my iPhone in the room, so it's not the greatest, but gives an idea at least. Listen on decent speakers if you expect to hear anything other than high end, haha:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeJm6AX5Mnw
