You all might think Iam crazy,but Iam getting rid of my JC120

[gary mitchell]

I know I have braged about my JC 120 alot on here,and how I wouldnt trade it for the world. Well Iam turning 59yrs old this year and Iam tired of lugging it around. So Iam thinking about buying a roland cube 80, Ive only heard them on the internet so far and read good stuff on them. I have to drive quite aways to hear one What do you guys think about this amp and has anyone in here use one, do you think Iam nuts If I can swing it I might just buy one and retire by JC 120 to my music room.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

So you're not getting rid of it, just retiring it? I thought you had gone crazy, for a second! My take on the Cube 80x is that it's alright, but it's no Jazz Chorus. If you like the sound, you might try some of the smaller versions, like the 1x12 JC-60 or the 2x10 JC-77 and JC-90. And there is a short list of clean SS amps that lots of jazzers like (and none are as heavy as the JC-120). I say: have fun trying out some new amps!

[randyc]

Gary, I sympathize.

I can't bring myself to give up my Sunn even though I can hardly move it from room to room, LOL. Heck, can't give up my Twin or Bassman, either. Or the Ampeg or the .... well, you get the idea. I've purchased a number of smaller amplifiers in the past fifteen years, each one was an individual, heartfelt apology to my spine. It's not so hard to put myself in your current position.

FWIW, before making your decision about a compact amplifier, you may want to wait and read the forum ZT "Club" evaluation (will start tomorrow - duration of testing estimated at two months). No hints offered here except that it's VERY light

cheers,
randyc

[Jazzophobe]

I've got a JC 77. Smaller than the JC 120 and easier to manage, but still "a bit" big. I've got casters on mine which makes it fairly easy to move around. Smaller yet, I've seen a JC 55 (I think) that looked kind of cool, but the seller was asking (what I thought was) way too much...I think I bought my JC 77 for cheaper. These are all great jazz amps. I also use a Fender Blues Junior for bluesier, rock stuff...very nice amp too.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I was just looking at some SS amps to see how light they are:

JazzKat TwinKat (2x10): 28lbs
Acoustic Image Ten2 (2x10): 28lbs
Evans RE200 (1x10"): 25lbs
JazzAmp 110 (1x10"): 23lbs
Phil Jones AG-300 (6x5"): 27lbs
MiniBrute II (1x12"): 28lbs
ZT Club (1x12"): 22lbs

[derek]

I don't think you are crazy at all. I had one in the late 80's, and between the incessant hiss and weight, I ditched it. However, I wasn't playing jazz at the time.

[lpdeluxe]

A couple of years ago, I seriously downsized: out went the nearly-100 lb B15N, replaced by a 65 lb B100R; away with the Carvin oak X-amp, 91 lb replaced eventually with several small Fenders; no more 144 lb Music Man HD-130 Reverb head + 2-12 cab, nor the 88 lb Hartke 4-10 I used with it as a bass amp in our practice space.

Lightest, and in many ways best (for guitar -- I ended up with a Mesa/Boogie bass amp that's just on the edge of manageable) is a Fender Jazzmaster Ultralight. Twenty-six lb, 250 watts, 1-12, reverb, delay, chorus, great Fender tone.

Second place in lightness is a Fender Blues Jr NOS at 31 lb, but not much jazz tone there.

[gary mitchell]

I wish I could find some one around here who sold the ZT amps. I would really like to try out one of their new club amps. anyone out ever used one. I like it cause it uses a 12 instead of a 10in speaker.

[whiskywheels]

I expect you've checked out the reviews on the Cube 80. I think the 80 is amazing, I've also got a 60, and they produce a very pleasing sound which seems warmer than my valve combo. There is a wide range of adjustment, but also many features which I don't really want, but apart from that...... It also complies with my persistant delusion that a guitar amp must have at least a 12" speaker!

[gary mitchell]

A friend and I went to a Guitar Center in Killeen Tx, we never been and behold they had a ZT Lunch Box. We both played it for quite a while with a bunch of different guitars, and after a couple hours with it, we both didnt care for it at all. I guess my JC 120 has spoiled me. Why we were in the amp room and was getting ready to leave there was a guy playing jazz on a Peavey Delta Blues with a 15 in it he had it sounding good. He said he uses one for gigs but replace the speaker with an eminence speaker that copys the old JBL 15s I believe 1230s anyway fender uses it in the custom twin 15. Next trip Iam trying out and the Fender Blues JR. I played a cube 80 okay and the JC clean is not my JC, I dont care for all the effects and stuff I dont even use the chorus in my JC only sometime in church but Iam not playing Jazz in church. I just use a little reverb.

[gary mitchell]

You must remember Ive been playing a JC 120 since they come out all most Iam on my third one now. The one I have now is a 2004 model. I do have a couple tube amps but I use them for Rock and Blues. Ive bought and traded tube amps but Ive always kept a JC 120 around. When I was a little younger playing christain rock I use a Boogie Mark III head and 2 412cabs but I use a a/b switch and switch to a JC120 for clean.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I love 15"ers. The Peavey Delta Blues is the most affordable new tube 1x15" combo; and there's the 1x15 version of the TRRI (The '65 Twin Custom 15 - how can a single speaker be called a twin LOL).

If you like SS clean, there's always 15" Mini Brutes and (much pricier) the Evans SE200. If you poke around, you might find the SS Fender Jazz King, but it's heavier than the previous two.

Steel guitarist love the SS+15" combination; the classic steel guitar amp is the Peavey Session 500, but it weighs almost 100lbs! They call it the Hernia 500.

[lpdeluxe]

I wanted a Jazz King, and -- of course -- I started looking right after they were discontinued. The Twin Custom 15 is too powerful. The Delta Blues 15 has been discontinued, as well.

My solution was the Fender Band-Master VM head and a Weber California Ceramic 15 in a Weber cabinet. Every time I plug my 335 into it, I fall in love all over. Good reverb, 40 watts, 26 lb (head -- I haven't weighed the cab), warm, rich and full. It'll also snap when you need it to, with a velvety top.

If it were as small as my others, it'd be my only amp -- but any of the Fenders I own (the other one is a Deluxe Reverb reissue) would fit inside the 1x15 speaker box.

[gary mitchell]

I have played the fender Twin Custom 15, and man I got to tell you I loved it. But cant afford it right now. I did find a place, cant remember the name but could find it again, where you can get them new for $1300.00 bucks. Thats as cheap as Ive found them but they are not light to carry around either. Why did they quit making the Jazz King they wasnt out long were they.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Originally Posted by lpdeluxe

The Delta Blues 15 has been discontinued, as well.

Are you sure? Peavey.com One thing that Peavey no longer makes is any big (15") steel guitar amp.

The biggest music store in my town has had a Jazz King sitting in their showroom for years. They're a Marshall stack kind of store, and I bet I'm the only one who plays the Jazz King! I've thought about low-balling them on the price, but I simply don't need an amp that loud. The tone is nice, though. They also have a Steel King, which is the JK's big brother.

[lpdeluxe]

Yeah, the Jazz King obviously didn't do anything for the unwashed masses.

Here's what I'm going by re: the Delta Blues: Buy Peavey Delta Blues Combo Amp | Tube Combo Amps | Musician's Friend

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Try this page: Buy Peavey Delta Blues 115 Tube Combo Amp | Tube Combo Amps | Musician's Friend

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Originally Posted by lpdeluxe

Yeah, the Jazz King obviously didn't do anything for the unwashed masses.

It's funny. On the Tele discussion forum there are folks who are open-minded, but most start frothing at the mouth with their distaste for SS amps.

[lpdeluxe]

Hah. So whaddayaknow.

Still, all these alternatives are big and heavy. I've got my Blues Jr NOS and my Jazzmaster set up in the living room. Guess I'll go see if I can possibly get a decent sound out of either of them.

[dmort]

My jazz teacher uses a gaillen krueger 206, light, loud, built in reverb, chorus and OD. seems like a good choice. How about the fender jazzmaster?

[Jazzophobe]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

It's funny. On the Tele discussion forum there are folks who are open-minded, but most start frothing at the mouth with their distaste for SS amps.

It's funny...I seem to be getting a lot of comments coming from the Tele forum (are Tele players the consumate experts? Maybe I should join, I have a '69 Telecaster).... Solid State does suck if you are looking for anything other than clean with a little chorus, though I'm seeing that a lot of metal players are opting for solid state (don't know why, as, I'm not into metal). I have both (Blues Jr. and JC 77) and I think both of my amps smoke, but I use them for different applications.

[Jazzophobe]

Originally Posted by Jazzophobe

It's funny...I seem to be getting a lot of comments coming from the Tele forum (are Tele players the consumate experts? Maybe I should join, I have a '69 Telecaster).... Solid State does suck if you are looking for anything other than clean with a little chorus, though I'm seeing that a lot of metal players are opting for solid state (don't know why, as, I'm not into metal). I have both (Blues Jr. and JC 77) and I think both of my amps smoke, but I use them for different applications.

I will add that, at least when it comes to Roland JC series amps, solid state works well with external effects/ pedal boards. I go back and forth between a pedal board and my Lexicon (pedals for rock and blues), rack effects for jazz.

[lpdeluxe]

Originally Posted by Jazzophobe

It's funny...I seem to be getting a lot of comments coming from the Tele forum (are Tele players the consumate experts? Maybe I should join, I have a '69 Telecaster).... Solid State does suck if you are looking for anything other than clean with a little chorus, though I'm seeing that a lot of metal players are opting for solid state (don't know why, as, I'm not into metal). I have both (Blues Jr. and JC 77) and I think both of my amps smoke, but I use them for different applications.

As noted I have tube, solid state, and hybrid, and I get really good sounds out of all of them. A lot of the Tele owners (and those on other forums as well) take "tubes" as necessarily golden, mostly because they have been made to feel inferior in the past by suggesting otherwise. It's one of those "kewl" things that depend on conformity rather than thinking for oneself.

This afternoon I took the BJ to a friend's house where I could crank it up a little -- every time I do that I fall in love all over again.

Of course, I could say the same for the JM, or the BM/Weber, or the DRRI -- I love each of them, even though no two are alike. That's why I have four Fenders!

[Jake Hanlon]

if You're really in love with your 120 you might be best served to take a look into the similar models that are out there, yet smaller then the 120. I think you'll be sorely disappointed with any new Digital amplifier out there as they are, for the most part utter crap.

However, within the Uttercrap you'll find the things not so crappy. The Roland Cubes are for the money the best digital amp you can buy just imo but I still wouldn't take one to the studio and would only use one on a gig if it was the sort of gig that something could go drastically wrong (say a Wedding outdoors ie; rain etc) and if something happened to the amp then I wouldn't loose any sleep over :-)

I like the little Roland JC line amps personally, I think they're pretty cool and sound good for the most part. Of course with older amps it's always YMMV

[gary mitchell]

Iam thinking Peavey Delta Blues 15, but has anyone tried the Carvin SX S.S. amps

[randyc]

I've noted at least five or six opinions regarding Carvin products on the forum over a similar number of months. I'm not sure if the solid-state amplifiers were among them but the reviews were all positive, as I recall. That's in accord with my personal experience of "one" Carvin guitar (purchased in 1978, IIRC, and still proudly possessed).

Good luck Gary !

PS: We're still working on the ZT "Club" review - I'm done and it's in Texas now for the next evaluation.

[Big Ron]

I would suggest that you find a Roland Cube 60 to try before settling on the Cube 80. The 60 to most people who try it, has a far better tone than the Cube 80. Don't skip the new Club that Randy is dissecting either.

Big Ron

[Jazzophobe]

Originally Posted by randyc

I've noted at least five or six opinions regarding Carvin products on the forum over a similar number of months. I'm not sure if the solid-state amplifiers were among them but the reviews were all positive, as I recall. That's in accord with my personal experience of "one" Carvin guitar (purchased in 1978, IIRC, and still proudly possessed).


Good luck Gary !

PS: We're still working on the ZT "Club" review - I'm done and it's in Texas now for the next evaluation.

I've read that the Carvin Nomad is right up there with the JC's and Polytone's for good jazz amps...

[cosmic gumbo]

I got rid of my JC 120 when I had to lug it up a flight of stairs and found my nuts hanging down to my knees. OUCH!