Help deciding on a solid state guitar amp

[manu68]

The cube 30X is a very nice amp.
Very quiet.

With the simulation JC-120 at 50%, it is always about to loud to stay in a bedroom.
Also, i think it should be possible to play with a "normal" jazz drummer.

I would be you, i will give it a try for sure.

[mr. beaumont]

nope. I played one next to a princeton and until you get it to the point where the white noise is unbearable it's not any louder than the princeton. You can get more volume out of it but it's not very pleasant sounding.

I own a lunchbox...It's a fine backup amp--I don't use it as a main amp or for recording, there's a good amount of hiss.

Putting the gain up about halfway instead of raising the volume cuts the signal to noise ratio a good deal. This is still completely clean with most guitars.

In my experience, the lunchbox can do clean louder than my princeton (non-reverb model)--but the non-reverb princeton is not a loud amp. The lunchbox is pretty darn loud for it's size, definitely loud enough for any small gig. I don't like it for solo/dup work because it doesn't ave much low end with that little speaker.

JC's most definitely hiss. Not an issue on stage, as that hiss just fades away into background noise. Wouldn't want to use one in a venue where I was mic'd or for recording.

Many of the modeling amps mentioned are a good choice if you plan on doing things other than jazz. Otherwise, I'd think about going with a used Bandit (although I like the older models better) or saving up another hundred bones and snagging one of the many polytones on ebay that regularly go for around $300.


Will the amp be for performance or primarily practice?

[jzucker]

by the way, the HotClubBrampton gig that was posted was with a fairly quiet drummer and with acoustic bass (no amp i'm guessing).

Playing a lunchbox with electric bass and electric keys and a saxophone wouldn't work. I'm sure it's a fine amp for small gigs but my newly aquired evans ah200 head weighs 3lbs and my raezers edge NY8 weighs about 12lbs and I can cut through a screaming big band with an amplified rhythm section and mic'd horns.

[HotClubBrampton]

by the way, the HotClubBrampton gig that was posted was with a fairly quiet drummer and with acoustic bass (no amp i'm guessing).

Playing a lunchbox with electric bass and electric keys and a saxophone wouldn't work. I'm sure it's a fine amp for small gigs but my newly aquired evans ah200 head weighs 3lbs and my raezers edge NY8 weighs about 12lbs and I can cut through a screaming big band with an amplified rhythm section and mic'd horns.

me again, last time, I promise

I played in these gigs, we had a crazy loud drummer and electric bass w/amp on the theatre, with a full blown sax, trumpet, trombone sections, drums, percussion and keyboard too. The recordings of the gig, show the Lbox cutting through like a charm
On the other video/gig, there is no drummer and the stick bass is amplified. The other player has a Henriksen jazzamp 110; Granted, it is a wallpaper music gig

Guys, I know it's hard to believe, and everyone is protecting their investments, but true...this thing is incredibly loud! I am sure you know the company's slogan: 'the loudest little amps in the world'. All the other amp manufactures would have legally shut down this statement if it would not hold true.

There is a way to use it (for those ones who still say it was quiet), the gain needs to be past 12, and the volume controls...the volume... ( the manual is pretty explicit on this combination). The technology is not the traditional one.

Other thing, on the rock band ( 2 guitars/bass/drums/singer) they told me it was too loud, although for me it was sounding fine. it seems that the amp is very directional and it might be quiet on your side ( head over the amp), but the guy in the next block might be covering his ears...be aware of this

Not affiliated with ZT or anything...just indicating I am a happy customer with this, it holds for all my (hectic) gig needs...

no more comments on my side, enjoy your playing!

[va3ux]

I agree but I heard from a buddy that some of the transistors are no longer made so it may be hard/impossible to repair.

The best amp that fits the OP's description is the peavey transtube bandit IMO...

Speaker change recommended for jazz for the Bandit, Jack ?

[jzucker]

Speaker change recommended for jazz for the Bandit, Jack ?

Warehouse ET65, Emi Tonker or RW&B.

[va3ux]

Thanks Jack.

When both Joey G AND you say similar things about the Bandit, people should take notice. It doesn't match a boutique amp but it seems to get about 90% of the way there. And for $150 - $200, you can't beat that.

[lpdeluxe]

This is out of the OP price range, but someone else may be interested:
Fender Jazzmaster Ultralight Head and 112 speaker cab. | eBay
I'd jump on it, if I didn't already have one. This is the only head + cab I've seen on eBay.

[Timbell]

hands down if you are looking for a good ss for jazz look for a used roland JC 77 or jc 120, or a polytone combo. I know if I had the money to spend on a new ss these would be about the only amps I would look into.

[jzucker]

hands down if you are looking for a good ss for jazz look for a used roland JC 77 or jc 120, or a polytone combo. I know if I had the money to spend on a new ss these would be about the only amps I would look into.

I wouldn't. The Roland JC amps are hissy and sterile

[nado64]

sterile ? I don't say that. It has a particular sound.
But a lot of jazzers use it.

I had it during one years, but I'm not fan about it, not very smoky.
I had the polytone, and I prefer it.

You can use, too, a preamp (modelisation or not) to route to power amp.

[jzucker]

sterile ? I don't say that. It has a particular sound.
But a lot of jazzers use it.

None that I know of. It's a pretty reliable amp though so when traveling, many guitarists will specify that over a twin which can sometimes be flakey.

The hiss is a big problem though. That's why most guitarists I know don't like them.

[whiskey02]

The Roland Cubes are great amps; the stock speakers that they use in then are not however. Simply replacing the stocker with a nice Eminence or what have you will make a very noticable improvement.