Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

rbc

New member
I was kind of curious. The old Roland JC-120 built-in distortion had a pretty bad reputation. It looks like the JC-120 was updated with the release of the JC-40 and JC-22. Did Roland update the distortion in the JC-120 when they re-released it?
 
Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

Yes.... the old JC's had THE MOST OBNOXIOUS fuzz ever heard (Adrian Belew made it work). The new stuff is TONS better, and much more usable and listenable.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

Adrian could make any obnoxious sound work, and you'd be humming that part by the end of the song. But yeah, the original JC-120 had a terrible distortion...I wonder how that even left the planning stages.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

Adrian could make any obnoxious sound work, and you'd be humming that part by the end of the song. But yeah, the original JC-120 had a terrible distortion...I wonder how that even left the planning stages.

I think that even then, the JC120 was not an amp players looked to for anything but modern hyper cleans and that stereo chorus. I do agree that if it'd had better OD it might've achieved wider popularity. Given its hi-fi character I'm a bit surprised that it hasn't been reissued with a modeling preamp.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

Yes.... the old JC's had THE MOST OBNOXIOUS fuzz ever heard.

But yeah, the original JC-120 had a terrible distortion...I wonder how that even left the planning stages.

The more I use the distortion in my vintage JC120 the more I like it. Like anything it is all about how you dial it in. When I had the same amp in the 80's I hated the distortion now I am really digging it.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

Given its hi-fi character I'm a bit surprised that it hasn't been reissued with a modeling preamp.

IIRC, BIAS has the JC-120 - but I haven't futzed with it.

I should and see if it has the chorus, and if so, see just how well it models the chorus from what I remember noodling on a new (real) JC-120
back in the late 80s at the guitar store (the chorus was mind-blowing).
 
Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

That little JC-22 is pretty cute. Its only effects are chorus and reverb, but it has a stereo preamp and effects loop:

 
Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

The more I use the distortion in my vintage JC120 the more I like it. Like anything it is all about how you dial it in. When I had the same amp in the 80's I hated the distortion now I am really digging it.

yours is a head right? wonder if the combo's speakers have a lot to do with it. i always remembered the distortion being pretty harsh and nasty and not in an enjoyable way
 
Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

yours is a head right? wonder if the combo's speakers have a lot to do with it. i always remembered the distortion being pretty harsh and nasty and not in an enjoyable way
Perfect for late 80's thrash/death metal.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

Perfect for late 80's thrash/death metal.

That's what I used it for, 80's thrash. The Candler Tube Driver with the JC120, it had a great Marshall sound with killer cleans and amazing touch response.

yours is a head right? wonder if the combo's speakers have a lot to do with it. i always remembered the distortion being pretty harsh and nasty and not in an enjoyable way

True, I have the head. I have Eminence Wheel House 150 12" speakers in my cab and it is a closed back vs. the open back combo. I would imagine the characteristics of the distortion are very different from the combo I had in the 80's. It sounds very nice.

Here is the old setup vs. the new one.

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C61Gg8TUwAAMOY3.jpg:large
 
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Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

BIAS has the JC-120 amp, but no modeled built-in chorus.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

Given its hi-fi character I'm a bit surprised that it hasn't been reissued with a modeling preamp.

It would have no point really as going straight into the mixing console / flat mic preamp or DI does the job nicely.

No I'm not joking.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

BIAS has the JC-120 amp, but no modeled built-in chorus.

You should email BIAS and ask them if they understand what the "C" in JC-120 indicates. Does their Twin Reverb model have reverb?
 
Re: Roland JC-120 Distortion in the Updated JC-120

You should email BIAS and ask them if they understand what the "C" in JC-120 indicates. Does their Twin Reverb model have reverb?

The good news is it turns out that the chorus found in the amp (introduced in 1975) was used for the BOSS CE-1 Chorus Ensemble (introduced in 1976), the world's first commercial Chorus pedal.

BIAS FX (the amp + effects package) includes an emulation of the BOSS CE-1, so problem solved.

teaserbox_40979252.jpg

Although I haven't perused every single amp, it's a safe bet to say any reverb, "vibrato", chorus or other built-in amp FX are not part of the amp model itself in BIAS.
 
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