Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

SirJackdeFuzz

SirJackdeFuzz

New member
All you SS amp lovers, step closer.

We all know a Jazz Chorus is GREAT for cleans . . .

. . . but how good will it perform next to a 50W all valve/tube amp in a (((stereo))) rig ?

I am using two amps.
One for dirt, and one for almost 100% clean tone (running both at the same time) for a bigger/fuller sound.

Is this the amp to do it with, or should i just use another all valve/tube amp, set wide open on it's clean channel ?


PS : sadly, i do NOT have the funds for a Fender Twin Reverb. :disappoin
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

May I suggest the course of action I'm shooting for? Fender Mustang V head.

Just listen ffs...

Its got clean and low gain Fender sounds down very well, and its got stereo effects loop in and back into the power amp...which pushes 75w a side. The head sells for 175 used at GC.

off u see did MRSAge, I m on tapa talk and auto correct is hating on me
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

A popular rig setup back in the 70's/80's was a 100W marshal and a jazz chorus 120 , A/B'd - split. It was a good setup back then and it would still work now but of course , it's loud.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

Peavey Stereo Chorus 212, look into it a bit. Those were Peavey's answer to the JC120 & might be able to be had for much less $ used than the JC.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

Hmmm... I would think that the attack & presence would be different. The JC-120 is a real "neat" amp where everything is really tidy and useful sounding.

It has what Polytones have... a beautiful "crystalline" sound. That crystalline sound with the highs rolled off is nuthin' but butter. The bass is big and thick without being boomy.

Very balanced response that has a lot of clean headroom.

What it doesn't have is a tube-like attack and presence... the JC-120 is very harmonically subdued with a strong fundamental and a wide frequency response for a guitar amp.

Most tube amps are harmonically pretty rich and don't have the headroom that the JC-120 has... hence the Twin Reverb is used precisely because it has that massive headroom (and less attack and presence).

Country guys like the Twin Reverb because when the spank the notes, the amp doesn't break up much.

Jazz guys like the Polytones and JC-120 because of the strong fundamental... they need an amp that won't interfere with extended harmony and the dissonant voicing of many the chords they employ.

If it's arpeggiated chords, triads, strumming and some occasional lead licks, you are better off with the Mustang.

The JC-120 would be more useful if you are playing harmonically complex material or desire a smoother and more subdued attack and a crystalline high end. The Mustang will sit better in the mix if the clean playing is in a complex arrangement though.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

The Jazz Chorus 120 was set up for stereo itself, since the power amp section pushed each speaker with the left/right split off the chorus.
For the life of me, I don't know why they didn't go all the way and make it full stereo. No aux spkr out, no FX out.

As for the question, the amp is retailing online (Sweetwater link) for about $1200 US.
If you got the cheddar, go ahead and pull the trigger. It's one of the cleanest transistor amps I've ever heard.
Just don't turn on the distortion...:earl:
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

Hank- said:
Peavey Stereo Chorus 212, look into it a bit. Those were Peavey's answer to the JC120 & might be able to be had for much less $ used than the JC.
Click to expand...

MMmmm, thanks, never heard of those before.

There is a utter MINT cond. JC-120 over here, for $650.00.
But if i add a few hundred more, i can walk away with a Marshall Vintage Modern 50W head.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

If you've got a line on one and can pay, get it.

The peavey chorus is a good analog of it. Massive output, USA made, sought after scorpion speakers. Its ugly, but they'll get 200w for around 200 bucks. Much like every other peavey I'm pretty sure the tone will be shelved into a less HiFi sound though. The choruses aren't stereo fx though.

off u see did MRSAge, I m on tapa talk and auto correct is hating on me
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

Hank- said:
Peavey Stereo Chorus 212, look into it a bit. Those were Peavey's answer to the JC120 & might be able to be had for much less $ used than the JC.
Click to expand...
The only disadvantage would be finding a foot switch; one of those 7-pin DIN plug jobs with LEDs.

ggszwyhm8xyarp0tjp2d.jpg
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

We just had a DIY build thread, didn't we? On the switch, I mean. Surgeon descried it.

off u see did MRSAge, I m on tapa talk and auto correct is hating on me
 
Last edited:
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

The JC amps are very loud for clean solid-state. But when they clip they get really ugly really fast (mainly because the aluminium cone speakers don't cut off like speaker intended for dirt do), and the solid-state clip can damage the speakers in the open-back enclosure.

So, yes it will work to a certain point. But when it stops working, stop trying :)

Also, the thing is a bit directional due to the dual aluminium cone speakers. If you have it on stage at your feet beaming horizontally straight at the first row they might notice clipping before you. Watch their faces. If their ears bleed, ease off.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

uOpt said:
The JC amps are very loud for clean solid-state. But when they clip they get really ugly really fast (mainly because the aluminium cone speakers don't cut off like speaker intended for dirt do), and the solid-state clip can damage the speakers in the open-back enclosure.

So, yes it will work to a certain point. But when it stops working, stop trying :)

Also, the thing is a bit directional due to the dual aluminium cone speakers. If you have it on stage at your feet beaming horizontally straight at the first row they might notice clipping before you. Watch their faces. If their ears bleed, ease off.
Click to expand...
seems a bit odd that its so directional since its a stereo amp.

off u see did MRSAge, I m on tapa talk and auto correct is hating on me
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

JC + Whatever should sound epically huge.

Good call. JC is probably most of your favorite cleans sounds that are not Fen=der twin from ~1980 on….
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

ya know
a few months ago I got a Morley ABY pedal to do exactly the same thing
with my Laney and Belair amps
I wanted to mix the Belair Tube Cleans with
the Solid state British Grind of the Laney

I gotta drag the Belair out this weekend
Dangit
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

I have a twin and I have played the jc120 numerous times. To be honest the jc120 sounded better then many twins I have played which sounded loud and sterile with not much sweetness or chime. The JC120 sounds amazing with a gretsch or gibson and not bad with a strat. A sweet twin rules with a strat and sounds sweet with a nice jazz box. The twin I got now is a Fender 68 custom twin with a twin on one side and the bassman circuit on the other side. It really is a sweet box. It's also $1300 on sale. For the money get the Jc120. It's a heavy beast but bang for the buck you can't go wrong for cleans for that price. It's a one trick pony but the one trick it does it does excellently. But get it only for cleans. That's what it's for and that rounded clean tone is where it really shines.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

I have a Mustang 5 head. It's not bad for what it is. If your really short on cash then get it. It's cleans are ok too. It's even a better bang for the buck amp but in my opinion it's cleans wile more versatile are not as good as the JC120 cleans. Again though if your not playing jazz all the time do you really care?
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

I used to run a JC-120 with a JCM800 half stack in a stereo rig.

The JC-120 was doing a sort of poor man's synth where I split my signal via a digital rack reverb (plate) and sent the wet to the JC-120 and used modulation and delay to simulate a keyboard pad. It sounded really cool BTW.

I also used it conventionally and it never let me down and I never even came close to distorting the input or output stages. Keeping the treble down makes the amp sound thicker and smoother.
 
Re: Roland JC-120 - good for (((stereo))) cleans ?

I always wondered how a JC-120 will do as a backend for a modeler if you put in real guitar speakers so that distortion has a chance to sound good. It has a lot of power for the price.

However, the lack of a clipping LED might put a stop to that plan.
 
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