What do you think about the Roland JC120?

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

If you want a JC-120 sound only a JC-120 will do it but thats really all they do.

IMHO they are not pedal friendly amps, that clip you posted is proof in my mind because frankly that sounded like crap however, if you liked it then by all means go for it...

 

[TwofacePimp]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

There are JC120s in the backlines for a lot of clubs, but I imagine that has more to do with owners trying to buy something that's loud and low-maintenance (as opposed to keeping a tube amp for guitarists to use). Personally, I hate those things. They are loud, but are no fun.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

the amp was sold. I was interested because it was $300. if im going to pay +$1,000 for an amp, it will be Marshall or Vox.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

fwiw astro...ss amps are not really any more reliable than tube amps. My JC crapped out and i cost a lot at the tech to get it running again. OH yeah, so did the roland speaker. And the chorus never got working again. lol!

ill bet you you have fried a screen resistor in you HRD. CHeap and easy to replace (and upgrade) so it wont happen again. After that, just carry a spare set of tubes to gigs, and a couple of fuses. It will be as reliable as you can get.

 

[JeffB]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

fwiw astro...ss amps are not really any more reliable than tube amps. My JC crapped out and i cost a lot at the tech to get it running again. OH yeah, so did the roland speaker. And the chorus never got working again. lol!

Don't know how old yours was but the JC models historically have been super reliable/solid amps. That may have changed ?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

mine was old to be fair. 80s vintage.

 

[uOpt]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

I used one of those a lot during the 80ties. It is a great amp when there is no PA. The 3D chorus effect really transports into the (small) audience.

IMHO it should have a compressor built in, you'll need one anyway.

If I owned one I would try a speaker change to make it a little more agreeable to non-cleans. I don't think it would ruin the cleans.

 

[Aceman]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

It IS one of the sounds of the 80's - synth-pop, new wave, etc....

I dig it, as was mentioned, for that sound.

 

[TeleLubber]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

My keyboard player used one in the 80's.. I played thru it once.. and only once. Wasn't my thing. I would invest in getting your tube amp fixed.

 

[SamusChief]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

All Metallica clean sounds are typically recorded on one. I know for sure of this up through the Black Album. Not so sure later on though.

If I had the option of running a dual amp rig, I wouldn't use one for cleans. Not tube enough for me.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

Definitely try before you buy. It's one of my favorite clean amps, but I can understand why it's so polarizing to people. For the kind of music you play, you may find you want a more pedal friendly platform.

 

[JeffB]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

I've seen this before :haha:

I guess it IS the worlds greatest amp for stompboxes....

....If you want spend hours in the studio working on mic placement and get the the most awesomest fake gain sounds on the planet with your DS2/OD2/Metal Zone and JC 120.

:headbang:

 

[wickenspoet]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

I love the JC-120 and JC-77's. They've always worked great with my pedals. I'm actually surprised that some of you think it doesn't handle pedals well. I get lots of compliments about my setup and tone. (my playing is another story, lol)

Oh, but the physical weight of the JC-120 is backbreakingly heavy, btw.

For all of you people who don't like the sound of this amp, what would you consider to be its superior tube amp equivalent, in a similar price range?


.

 

[philthis]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

OMG its Vince Neil!


I checked out this amp too. For Jazz its cool. It clean as clean so some say it lacks charictor. My Brian Setzer sounded good thru it but that was plunking jazz tones and some ol Scotty Moor Elvis type stuff just messing with it alittle. Chorus and Reverb and cleans together. Its a nice combo. If you happened on two of them and ran them in stereo? some cool ideas would probably pop out at you but I think a clean amp with tubes allways wins becouse the tubes are warmer sounding. Its a cool amp, for 300 if its in good condition its a great buy. would I take it over a nice fender? no, but if I had a problem you could easily get by with it till you got the Fender fixed

 

[CTN]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

Man...they demo'd everything but the amp!

 

[baritone]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

I like the JC120, but it's really loud. I can't really enjoy this amp at bedroom volumes. Is still want one.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

Man...they demo'd everything but the amp!

and that dude said "the world's greatest amp for stomp boxes, multi-fx, and amazing clean tones".

there's no way anyone would make that claim if it weren't true, right?
Buy it, it's the greatest.
/thread

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

Well, truth be told, it is one of the most well known clean tones of all time. People can say "tube this and tube that" is so much better, but nothing is more of a definitive clean tone than the JC120. I'm all about tubes (don't get me wrong), but people on this forum are treating it like it's a garbage amp and it's a classic amplifier for a reason.

 

[JeffB]

Re: What do you think about the Roland JC120?

I don't know who said it was garbage, but I certainly don't feel that way. I absolutely love it for it's signature chorused clean tone, and I'd love to have another just for that tone.

But it's no secret the built in distortion channel is awful. Unless you like hard clipping grainy brittle solid state distortion. And in that case a Randall RG, Peavey TT, or Marshall MG does that a helluva lot better.. heck..a Pignose does that better!

I also found it awful for taking gain pedals as a sole means of distortion. the only grabage in the thread is that video from Roland **


**What is it with Roland? they hire these great guitar players who also happen to have awful hair, and are these weird un-naturally physically animated cheeseballs. Johnny always sounds like he'd be better off doing voice overs for Barney or Fairy Tale books on tape.



and now we have this guy who when he's not bopping up and down like an idiot seems to be molesting the audience members in his mind when he's talking to the camera