Jade Quattro 4120C Power Amp

This is an update to my previous review - hence all is the same here as then...except that I now believe some in-built FX would have been appropriate.

Having now put this beast to the test I can say that I am not so pleased with it as in my last review. On its own, a given input (EG vocal, instrument) sounds OK, but when more than one are attempted, the sound degrades significantly. In addition, this unit has proven to be very prone to feedback - mainly through though the reverb unit which needs to be separately enclosed with some acoustic material within the box. In addition, the reverb tends to be tinny and lacking depth.

And herein lies the reason for this update. This unit started blowing fuses and frying components within on a regular basis - particularly in warm weather. It just doesn't seem to have the guts needed to hold up except in the most ideal of environments. In the end, I had to have my amp guru rip out the entire amp module and replace it with a JayCo unit that hasn't given me any trouble since. Since then, I've heard of at least one other owner who had the same problems and had to get the same fix installed.

I contacted the company and they sent out some paperwork and guides I'd never received when purchasing the unit, but the company is diversified and not everybody there seems to know what is happening. Their website has been "under construction" for yonks now.

See my last report below for an accounting of my experience.

Purchased new early in 2002 but I suspect it was manufactured in 2001. This all-in-one 120 watt RMS power mixer/amp/speaker cabinet fulfills a good preportion of my solo gig needs and all of my practice requirements. It has four inputs (6.3mm & XLR inputs, level, reverb & tone controls for each), in/out Fx Loop, line-out w/separate reverb control as well as an 8 ohm extension speaker outlet. There are master treble, bass and volume controls, signal and power LEDs, 1x12 + passive speaker system in a closed, carpeted cabinet on castors with an inbuilt, sliding handle system (down the side like airport luggage). It is solid state with a spring reverb system. I use this in-home for practice, especially when I'm jamming with others and mixing guitar and vocals. It's especially handy for plugging in a CD and playing along, as you have complete and separate control of volume, tone, reverb, etc for both the CD source and whatever else you plug in...well, I mean, of course you do...it IS a power mixer. I plan to use it soon as part of my solo gig work.

I play a variety of guitars through this, in a variety of music styles. My axesinclude an Ovation solidbody Viper (S/S), an Ovation solidbody Breadwinner (H/H), a Washburn G-8V (S/S/H), a Fender Squier Strat (S/S/S), and an Ovation Custom Legend acoustic/electric (pizzo/bridge). I've also miked through it, a few odd acoustics (folk and classical), as well as an old EKO F-hole. I use Shure mics for instrument miking and vocals. My music ranges from Peter, Paul and Mary to Jimi Hendrix, from Bob Dylan to Kurt Kobain, from the Ventures/Shadows to Dire Straits and Steely Dan, from Willy Nelson to Rye Cooder and Kasey Chambers, with a little Beatles, Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Cream, Australian Crawl and Men At Work thrown in for good measure. I've even been known to do the odd Bobby Darin, Johnny Burnett and Everly Brothers tune. In other words, just about anything this side of Eminem.

There is no in-built distortion. I use a SansAmp GT-2 in-line between my instrument and this unit for that. Any other effects I require are supplied by a Fostex VM04 4-channel FX mixer. The sound is full, clean and clear, right up the scale. Vocal volume, through the appropriate balanced, XLR inputs, is all you'll need for a crowded, medium-sized pub or club gig. If you want your guitar work to peal the paint off the walls however, you'll need the extra punch of a pre-amp (eg SansAmp, portable FX mixer, active pickups, etc) to get the job done, as this is basically a PA Mixing system.

I've had other Jade gear over the past 20 years and none of it has ever given me a lick of trouble.

The only time I've used this is before I took delivery of this unit and noticed the reverb wasn't working...they put it into the shop and three days later it came back with a broken wire fixed, ready for delivery and no questions asked.

I've been playing for about 30 years for fun, pleasure and profit (lots of the first, plenty of the second and precious little of the third). I have a day job but my alter ego keeps drawing me back to music.

I've listed most of my current gear above, aside from a Marshall VS65R, a couple of Peaveys (Rage 158 & Express 112), a little 10w Park and a Fender Champion 110.

If this amp were stolen I'd be out looking for the culprit (to implement a little "hands on councelling") and for another of the same to replace it. The bottom line is that I just love the all-in-one versatility that it provides; for my purposes, it quite literally takes the place of four, separate amps and a mixing panel - VERY handy!

I looked at the Yamaha, Kustom and Fender PA systems, but this one won me over for sake of price and my previous good experiences with Jade.

I would just like to say that the bagging of Jade gear I've seen around the ridges is usually done either by rank amateurs or impatient music veterans who didn't give it a fair go (EG "...I had it a week and it was crap and so I sold it..."). I have found Jade through the years to be full-featured, solid, reliable, value-for-money Australian-made (or at least assembled) gear, that has always met my needs and has never let me down.