Any Roland Jazz Chorus fans out there?

[spellcaster]

I've been reading a lot of threads about solid state amps lately, and one thing that stands out is the stream of positive comments about the old Roland Jazz Chorus JC120 amps. I found it a bit surprising at first.....You don't often hear anything nice about SS amps.....But it's got me intrigued.

A number of years ago, I rented a room to a friend who owned a 69 LP Goldtop and a SF Twin Reverb. We amp-shopped in Victoria one day and he came home with a JC120. After a couple of days, he decided he still liked the Twin better and took the Jazz Chorus back. Even after all these years, I still remember it sounding exceptionally smooth with the most lush-sounding chorus I'd ever heard.

Anybody else a fan?

[die Bullen]

Zontar, don't you have a Roland JC?

I personally don't like them. Friend of mine has one and I found the tone to be very flat for my purposes. It is the best and worst thing about the amp depending on who you are. What you get is non-distorted sound regardless of where you are- very pure sound. Bad side is if you like the little harmonic distortion that you get out of tubes you won't like the sound. My AVRI tele sounded awful to me through the JC120.

I'm not knocking the amps- they are quality but not the sounds I am looking for.

[zontar]

I have a JC-60.

But the pinnacle for the chorus was the 120--with the two speakers you got a lush fake stereo chorus.

Even with the single speaker, the chorus sounds great on my JC-60.

It takes pedals well.

More than once I showed up to jam with the JC-60 and got weird looks and disparaging comments about it, but afterwards, while my playing may not have wowed them, they loved the sound I got out of them.

But hey--not every amp is going to work for everybody or in every situation.

I once considered selling or trading my JC-60 when a Legend 50 watt amp came up for sale used at one store--but it was gone before I could swing a deal.
So I still have the Roland.

But if you offered me a swap-straight across--for a Legend 50--and it worked--I would do it.

[spellcaster]

There's a JC120 for sale in Victoria right now with a 500.00 ask. If I thought there was the slightest chance I could get it in the trunk of my Cavalier I'd be tempted to drive down there to take a look.

[zontar]

A 120 would be too big for me now--but they are cool amps...

[die Bullen]

SC you'll love it or hate it do definitely spend time playing it if you decide to go down there.

One caveat though- it is not a light amp.

[spellcaster]

I just checked the dimensions...No way I'd get it in my Cavalier. You're right about the weight too. I used to have a SuperTwin Reverb (that fit in my Sprint convertible with the passenger seat unbolted and removed) and it was a bear going up and down 18 steps twice a week to band practice.

[HughWalterJennings]

I love them and want one, but I've been patiently waiting for a clean used one to pop up locally.

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter used a JC on many Steely Dan songs.

you can see one at the 2:20 mark here ... and of course hear it throughout
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsrI_mIT6PQ

[zontar]

Good to see more references to them, and of course we recently saw a picture on another thread of Bo Diddley playing one.

[spellcaster]

When I went into a Nanaimo pawnshop that's next to Long and McQuade this morning, they had a really mint older Roland amp for sale....looked smaller than a JC120 - maybe a single speaker model.....but my eyes weren't up to reading the price tag in the dim lighting. Probably just as well, lol. My curiosity about the older Rolands is definitely peaking.

[die Bullen]

maybe that is the 50 watt version?

[zontar]

maybe that is the 50 watt version?

The JC 60 had one speaker--if it had two speakers--there was a JC 77, and they had some other models at various ties with other wattage designations and sizes.
Most likely if it was one speaker it was a JC-60 & if two speakers a JC-77, but there are other possibilities.

[AllroyPA]

I had the JC-60 it is as you described. I also got to plug into one again recently at a Sam Ash store where they have a used one selling for $299.99. Mine was needing service and I unloaded it for 100 bucks at the time.