Conference napalm::guitar

    
    Roland JC Series
    
    	JC120 120watts,dual channel,chorus, 2 12" Speakers
    	JC77   80watts. 2 10" speakers
    	JC55   50watts 
    	JC120h 120 watts,head only version(single channel)
    
    	All these are stereo amps as mentioned by Roland. As far as
    reliabilty is concerned,I'd have to ask around,but I'd suspect it
    would be better than a GK 250rl/ml series and probably more roadworthy.
    	I didn't care for the distortion either,which is probably it's
    biggest downfault.....
    
    
    								Rick
    

    I got the JC55 a couple of months ago and I like it.  I don't use
    it for gigs as it only has 8" speakers and 50 watts but it's a nice
    amp.  The distortion unit DOES leave much to be desired.  I don't
    use it.  The nice features of the amp include the "line out" on
    the back that lets you move the other side of the chorus to another
    amp for greater seperation and more sound.  I'm gonna try using
    it at some of the smaller clubs we play and see if it'll cut the
    gig.   
    
    Just for the record.... when .1 says that the JC120 is 120 watts,
    he means that there are two separate 60 watt amps in the head. 
    That's what give the amp its great chorus.  In the same way,
    my JC55 has two 25 watt amps, not one 50 watt.  All in all it's
    a nice amp, but if I was gonna spend the money again, I'd probably
    get the Peavey version instead.  Much less money and a much nicer
    sounding distortion unit. 
    
    Ted
    
    

    
    There is also a (discontinued) JC-50, which has one speaker (a 12"
    I think) with a mono 50 watt amp.
    
    The preamp output, however, is stereo (because of the chorus).
    
    Probably not of much interest to anyone  8^)  8^)  8^)
    
    The JC-120 combo unit has a preset chorus, BTW...the speed and depth
    controls only affect the vibrato.  The newer JC-55 and JC-77 speed
    and depth controls *do* control the chorus...not sure about JC-120
    heads.
    
    

    I have a JC-120.  I really like, but probably that's because it so well
    suits my own peculiar needs.
    
    I don't care about the distortion.  I use a two-amp setup.  The other
    amp is a Boogie and I use the Boogie when I want an overdrive sound.
    I use the JC as a clean amp.  One thing it does very well is that you
    can push the volume way up and still stays fairly clean.  Depending
    on how you intend to use it, that's either a blessing or a curse.
    
    I use it for:
    
    	o Clean sounds
    	o Effects (all reverb and DDL goes to the JC even if the
    	  direct sound is from the Boogie)
    	o the JC chorus sound
    
    AND....
    
    since I also play keyboards, it also functions as my keyboard
    amp.  Both channels have low and high inputs so I use the low for the
    guitar and the high for the keyboards and run both in stereo which
    I'm very big on (stereo).
    
    It also has a decent reverb, but I use my SRV-2000 for that most
    of the time.
    
    BTW, be warned that if you listen to the JC-120 in chorus mode you can
    really be "tricked" into getting it.  The stereo chorus on it really
    does sound heavenly, but if you haven't run things in stereo before you
    may not know that you can probably get that same kind of spacial
    effect using ANY stereo DDL and setup.  It's just nice that Roland
    put it all into one amp.
    
    Only reservations about it are: I have tapes of the two gigs I've
    played since getting it.  The Boogie always sounds great, it seems
    easy to mic.  The JC doesn't seem to mic very well.  It always sounds
    thin.   It's hard to believe that you couldn't find correct for that
    though if you like the basic sound.
    
    So, I'd say if you're gonna use the JC in conjunction with some other
    amp, it's the best!  However, if you're plugging right into the JC
    and are looking to it for tonal variety, forget it.
    
    	db

	I'll admit I'm not big on their guitars, but their amps are pretty 
    	decent. A friend of mine has a seven year old X100 self contained 
    	model that really screams. 
    
    	It has a single 12" Electro Voice speaker, and is housed in an oak
    	cabinet. The Carvin has two channels (foot-switchable), reverb,
    	and a 5 or 6 band equalizer. It's for sale, and it's never been
    	beat on. Send me mail if you want more info. 
    
    	Dan (FREEBE::POWELL)

    
    Re -2
    
    Larry, I was surprised to hear that your GK sounds harsh at high
    volumes.  My GK sounds better at higher volumes (no, really!)...
    a lot warmer than at a lower volume because the bass has kicked
    in.
    
    I've bee nshopping around for amps of late and I haven't found anything
    yet that has the quality of the GK. I heard but didn't try a new
    Fender twin and that sounded great, but it was the only one.
    
    wjb

    
    Re: .9
    
    LV,
    
    Oh yeah... just remembered:
    
    Yup, its the GK. Your analysis reminded me of the same sound I get
    sometimes. I usually turn the 8K knob to about 3 o clock. I crank
    the other 3 (2.5K, 500hz, and 120hz) all the way up. Then, I use
    a graphic eq and pull down the 4K area all the way and boost the
    area between the bass and lower midrange (200-1K, peaking at 800hz).
    
    This way I get a thick boogish sound.
    
    Sorry, I just take some things for granted at times! 
    

    
    Well, maybe the GK needs work (with that recent hum prob, or whatever
    happened at that gig), but moreso i was saying that yes, the amp
    is rather inherently bright sounding.  I forgot what the thing sounded
    like without the eq fix.
    
    an eq does help out a lot!
    
    good luck,
    wjb

    Wow!  Quite a surprise.  I got the impression from .6 that you had
    decided against the JC-120.
    
    How does your amp match with the review I gave?  (Be honest, I'm just
    interested in your impressions and won't be insulted if they're
    different from mine.)
    
    	db

    Larry,
    
    	Now all you need is a Roland GP8, and your in business. By the
    way, is the JC120 a stereo amp? Does it have 2 separate power amps?
    I noticed your note about speaker impedence. It sounds like you have
    decided to use the speakers in the JC120 for one channel, and the
    Marshall cab for the other channel, right ?
    
    Mark Jacques.

    RE: .3
    
    	Peavey has a version of the small (2-8" speakers) chorus amp.
    It seems to do a lot more than the JC-55, but doesn't sound quite
    as nice.  I've heard that this is because the JC has cleaner 
    speakers.  I dunno...  the PV has a good distortion sound with 
    their "saturation" effect.  It also comes with reverb, chorus,
    "thick" switch (mid boost), "presence" (Very high boost), "lead"
    (high boost) and channel switching capabilities.  I like it, especially
    when used with the JC for a stereo sound.   I don't know if the
    JC is considered a "true" stereo amp or not.  The PV has two 
    35 watt amps which is just what I need for playing small clubs.
    (also, the PV has a foot switch for channels, reverb, and chorus.
    The JC needs three separate switches.)  Good Luck,
    
    	Ted

    The Peavey amp refered to in .17 is the Peavey Studio Chorus 70.
    With 35w/side and 8" speakers it is probably no louder than the
    250ml, in fact, less powerful. Peavey also offers 2 more powerful
    versions of the studio chorus amp. I think they are the Studio Chorus
    120 with 60w/side and the Studio Chorus 400 with 200w/side. Could
    be wrong on the 120 but I know for sure they have the 200w version.
    
    I have looked at them, and for solid state amps, they aren't bad,
    but I am convinced that FOR MY PURPOSES, a tube amp is the only
    way to fly.
    
    Mark J.
    

    I had a religious experience last night playing thru a JC-120.
    The thing was ROCKIN!!  Whadda tone!  Took me back to me Rings
    worship days!  8^0
    
    Actually, I had the amp almost wide open (vol-9, treb-6, mid-8,
    bass-10), so it was giving some great edgy gain ... I forget, 
    the treble boost may have been on...the chorus was def. on.  I
    loved the sound...

    Geez man, a JC120 on nine??  You musta been killing insects and small
    animals within about a half mile radius.
    
    gh

    
    
      I remember seeing a JC-120 distortion mod advertised in the back
    pages of GP for quite some time (might still be). It supposed to take
    care of the (supposedly) wimpy stock distortion sound.
      Hearing Buckley rave about a Roland JC-120 sounds weird to me. Of
    course I never thought he'd be playing a Peavey either! Maybe this 
    JC-120 has the modification? No Ibanez Tube Screamer snuck in there,
    did it?
    
    							-B{}{}M-

    re: A JC-120 on 9.
    
    Last time I had my JC-120 anywhere near 9 was with "Deceptive
    Resolution" at a DECjam.  Onstage volume was kind of *LOUD* due
    to the "duel guitar threat" of Kevin McD and Buck.
    
    Anyway, I'm playing thru the amp (keyboards) and all of a sudden I hear
    this MASSIVE *** BOOMsssshhhhh *** and then I can't hear anything.
    
    I look back and see - NO AMP!!!!
    
    The air pressure coming out of that baby was enough to blow it off the
    BACK of the riser that it was on!   And being that it has a plate
    reverb, when that sucker hit the ground the boom was rather loud.
    
    	db

    Well, it was loud, but maybe I'm used to (or deaf) the 5150 and
    it's definition of LOUD?!?  Anyways, it was a great sound, nonetheless. 

   FYI, I seem to remember seeing JC-120s on the back pages of Musician's
   Friend and/or AMS catalogs recently, at reduced prices.  Still not "blow
   outs", and still pretty expensive, but they seem to be coming down in
   price.

   -- Sam
   

    If anyone sees these pups at a good price, lemme know,. ok?

Yeowie I'm a howling! Buck with a Roland!

thruthfully, it's probably a natural progression from the PV..

hee hee

db who thinks the clean/chorus on those  is pretty cool

   I saw in ad in an older Want Advertiser, someone selling a JC120-H
   
   It said it had a better distortion sound and was louder than the 
   regular JC120.  Maybe you were playing through one of these.

   JC120's do loud & clean very well, but not dirty too well

    The -H means it's a head only version.
    
    						Brian

    I'm still looking for a JC-120 amp!!
    
    Anyone with any clues on a good amp?  Dean Hamel, you still out there
    in notesland??