Roland JC-120

Early model from the eighties I believe. 2 Roland 12" speakers, reverb, 2 channels, chorus and as much clean head room as anyone could ask for. This is one of the few solid state amps that are far under valued. You can pick up one of these for a lot less than a high end tube amp that plays clean only up to 3. I know that not every body wants clean, but not many amps have that option. The only negitive is that Roland amps are heavy. Not for those with bad backs.

I favor a rockabilly, jazz and blues sound. I play a hand made Twibble Tele type guitar and a Gretsch 6120. The sound is full, thick, punchy and loud. So loud in fact that in our large church I start at 3 and control the volume on the guitar. I warn the sound man that if he mikes it to be on his toes in case I turn it up on stage.
The chorus is the best and the distortion sounds like an old 45 record player turned up to high. (Sucks badly) But I will use a pedal if I want distortion. There is no better clean amp than this that I am aware of.
There is some channel noise, but its ok considering how great this amp sounds.

Built like a rock! Weighs a ton. Cleaned the pots once and thats about it.

Don't know. Never contacted them.

I know its not whats popular right now with all these low watt break up amps on the market, ( I'm looking for one now ) But it does what it's supposed to do and then some.

this model has been dated before 1984. i recently got it up and running. the speakers have been replaced with weber cermaic california customs, which are very comparable in sound to other JC120s i've heard.

the distortion on this unit is also a little better than i've heard on other JC's. its a mild overdrive which works wonders when i put my boss SD1 or ibanez TS808 in front of it. it works as a pretty good lead boost if i run (of all peals) a fuzz face in front if it. the chorus is pretty cool too. the tremolo rocks but i never use it. the bright switch is handy, but not when its on the distortion channel. i wish there was a way to run it so i could turn it off on the distortion channel without an AB box.

plenty of power. i will probably use it simply as a clean amp. i also have a kustom quad 200. i will more than likely A/B the two if i use it live.

right now i am playing with an ESP MH 1000, and the EMGs in it are simply too hot. i'm looking for an SG or a flying v to play through this amp with.

actually, its a rockin little amp. i was very pleasantly surprised by its tonal versatility because it is billed as no more than a 'clean amp.' although the cleans are tremendous, the distortion was a pleasant surprise. i play rock/hard rock exclusively through this amp. i'm scared to throw my metal zone on it.

i don't know yet; i bought it roughly five years ago from a pawn shop. it crapped out right away, so i just let it sit since i didn't realize how old it was. my amp guy went through it recently and gave me several reasons why it didn't work.

for starters, whoever owned in before replaced the speakers with ones that were half the wattage. for two, they soldered something to the reverb tank which messed up the reverb and a transformer of some sort. lastly, the distortion potentiometer needed to be cleaned, although i will probably replace all of the pots fairly soon. he used his superior knowledge to date the amp pre-1984. since roland doesn't offer e-mail support, i'm waiting to contact them directly about looking up the serial number.

i've never had to deal with roland. i'm taking that as a good sign.

i've been playing for just under nine years. of all the amps i've owned, this is by far the cleanest and most versatile. my kustom quad 200 is actually surprisingly clean, but this totally blows it out of the water. i was orignally going to fix it and sell it, but i CAN'T part with it now. if it were stolen, i'd seek a vintage one. i'd buy a newer one as a last resort. the only thing i can think of that would be cooler about it other than what i've mentioned in the review already would be if you could run the tremolo and the chorus simultaneously.

My JC120 was made in April 1987, I checked the manufacture date with Roland service in UK, they are very helpful. This was ma first "big" amp and I was really impressed by the sound and size and weight too! I used it for free jazz - style improvised stuff which I still play. The features of JC120 were already described a few times too many, so I won`t do that again. When I had it, the amp was loud enough to play anything with a loud band and I didn`t go much over half of the volume as I can recall. Features are just enough for playing jazz, and with a pedal distortion almost anything alse.

Used it with a cheap M100 Cort guitar, with crappy stock pickups. Despite that, the sound was great. This proves my personal theory that not the guitar matters that much but the amp. Amp is 50, or even 70% of your sound. I still can see that type of guys arond me with 1000-2000 guitars plugged into cheap-shit amps and wondering "why my sound is not that good, I have a good guitar!?" If you are young, inexperienced, and thinking what to upgrade first in your rig start with a good amp, that`s my advice!

The great thing about JC120 was the famous chorus and vibrato, all it true stereo, nothing can beat that sound. One of a kind. With that you get the 80`s Crimson sound, Scofield, and others as well. When using at home, I didn`t go over 2 on the volume, didn`t want to have trouble with elderly neighours.

It`s got a jazzman`s dream sounds. Distortion can irritate some people, but some might like that. Anyway, it`s original;)

Heavy-weight, solid state, bullet-proof. Nothing there to break down, maybe the speakers could blow after 10 years of continuous thrashing at max settings, but who could do that all the time? 100% reliable.

I`m from Warsaw, Poland. The local Roland representative is lazy, not easy to ask anything for, unkind and unhelpful. Getting the manufacture date from serial no. is too big a trouble for them. I don`t even want to think what it would be like if I have something to fix there.

Unlike the Roland in UK - all the opposite, very kind and willing to help.

Been playing for 15 years or so. Nothing pro though, just for myself, and I guess it will stay that way. I also have a Fender Twin Reverb II (Rivera era), other must-have for a jazzer. Different in sound and touch than a JC120, but each has its own character and can`t be replaced by other. I sold my JC120 just after a few months from purchasing it used. Sold it at nearly double profit, that was the only reason I did it. I was very surprised with the guy who just came (I put the amp on the Polish equivalent of E-Bay), put the amount I wanted on the table, no questions asked, and left with the amp. Though I got the money, I was a bit sorry for getting rid of my JC120 so fast... it was like an accident;) Shortly afterwards I bought the Fender Twin II, and just a few days ago, a Roland JC80.

I bought this used amp a year ago (2004) from a well known world-touring-big-shot guitarist. According to him it would date back early 1980s, but man it still rocks as the day it was born ! I play essentially brit-pop and vintage rock compositions (the band is LaChambre) and it suits me more than I could ask for. I knew the product for I also have a JC77 and now use both amps in stereo. The JC120 (which is slightly different than its little sister) has two separate channels, but I use only the second one - the one with that MAGIC CHORUS SOUND ! It also has a distortion which is pretty useless and a Vibrato which is a cool asset. The amp's got a whopping 120 watt output (60w. in each speakers hooked in stereo) and is all solidstate.

I own numerous amps (both solidstate and tube ones) and this one is by far the best sounding and reliable amp I have. It is a very versatile amp for you can play blues, jazz, indie, hard rock, hardcore... and it will always suit you (The Police's Andy Summer, Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro and Limp Bizkit's Wes Borlan all play JC120s) ! And the chorus, man what a chorus ! You can't get that sound with NO other amps nor effects, believe me ! It's such a good sounding chorus that you can't tweek it or set it yourself, it's a 'fixed' effect. It's a very rich sounding machine with lots of headroom. The stock Roland speakers are also very good sounding, I wouldn't see why I'd replace them for they are absolutely perfect with lots of bottom and loads of treble. You can get virtually any palette of sound for any style (I personally use a Boss DM-1 in it to get some freaky delay or reverb sounds, I also use a Tech-21 American Woman Fuzzbox, a Boss Phase-Shifter and a Dunlop Wha).

It's solidstate so it's a tough machine ! It made a statement in solidity: I dropped it once off its roadcase, it fell right on its face. My heart stopped for a moment. Than I plugged it back and... it still has no problem at all ! It also toured the world for a few years (with its previous owner) and I now use it to tour with my band LaChambre; I still didn't manage to get it serviced. I don't use back up amps with this one and don't think I will for a few more years.

I really don't know, it never broke down (neither does my Roland JC77) !

I've been playing for 15 years about 2 hours a day whether live, with my band or just for myself. I own Gibsons, Fenders, two ErnieBall/MusicMan, a 60's Teisco, a rare Jaguar Les Paul; as for the amps, I have this Roland JC120, a JC77, two Fenders, a 1964 Regal and a Vox. And if I would have to choose only one amp to keep, the JC120 would be the one ! If it was stolen, I would get another one right away (I would prefer the original old one like mine). I strongly recommand the Roland JC120 (or and smaller JazzChorus amps) for its sound, its looks and its sturdiness; and for the fact that it doesn't look 'cliche' on a stage like Marshalls and Fenders !

New model right out of the box so I would guess 2004 or 2005. It works for me. I play jazz in a 5 piece group and mess with the blues, 60's rock and psychedelic. I usually run a GT-6 into the effect return loop. So it is guitar - GT6 - JC120. I wanted a clean amp with lots of headroom - thats why I bought this amp.
For what it is designed for it works great - so hard to use this rating system it is designed to one thing really good and it does that. It takes pedals, processors or other things to add versitility. For me its a fit.
One thing to note is that the tremelo, reverb and chours are post effects loop!! Be sure to turn these off when using a processor!

I use three different guitars with this amp. Parker Fly, Epi Dot and Blade R4 (old model). This amp really shows the difference in these guitars. When going directly in the amp (no processor) the Blade with its VSC is amazing - the Epi Dot is good - and the Parker is a bit harder to dial in. Granted these are not your typical jazz guitars but they work for me and the sounds I am trying to get.
For a great sound try GT6 (twin emulation) into the return of the JC120.
The distortion is not as bad as I have read - granted it is light but it may have some limited uses. The main thing for me is when the distortion is on there is a very notciable volume boost - way too much to be useful with out messing with the volume control on your guitar!

So far so good only a few weeks of ownership. Has good rep for reliability.

no data

I have been playing for over 40 years. I have a Tech 21 Trademark 60 and a Roland Cube 30. Both are good but not loud enough for outdoor festivals and other outdoor places we play - we do not have a PA system.
Lost or stolen I would consider running Cube 60's in tandem.
Hate the weight - thought it would not be too bad until I had to haul it around a bit, less than a good clean tube amp of the same power.
Great canvas for you to start with to get to your own sound.
Hope it sounds as well with the GR33 (next purchase) as it does with my GT6.

After I gave up schlepping around a Fender Twin with JBL's, (just too heavy, although it had the best sound I ever heard), I spent 19 Years looking for a suitable replacement. The closest I got was a Fender Blues DeVille 212. It was lost in a flood & the replacement Hot Rod DeVille just isn't clean. I lucked out at Long & McQuade (largest musical dealer in Canada.), and found a used JC120 for $350.oo Cdn !!! It is the cleanest, best sounding, easiest to operate amp I've played through. Twin stereo channels give incredible sound, especially when the guitar is inputted via a Boss Chorus & Boss DD6 delay. The boss Chorus makes the sound into stereo. It has built in Reverb or Chorus, Chorus & Distortion.(The salesman told me that the ampo had sat in the store from Feb/05 until June/05. He asked me why I thought it had been there so long & I told him that oviously the people that looked at it just didn't know what they wee seeing. The current list is $1250.oo US.

*1993 Fender Telecaster Plus, 2005 Fender Strat 50th Anniversdary & a funky little Squier '51, Epiphone FT250 Flat Top.
*Suits me perfectly, (Ctry, Ctry Rock, Blues, R & B, Classiv & Grafitti Rock
*Quiet wherever it is set
*All pedal controlled Chorus or Vibrato, Reverb & Distortion, endless variety with these
*No, No, No
*Distortion is fairly soft & gets stronger as you crank it.
Heavy Metals types would probably add another pedal

Had it for 2 months & don't need a backup.
Never acted up, but Roland/Boss products DON'T BREAK !!

Roland did surgery on my Boss DR5 drum machine. Pro service at a reasonable price.

*I've played 35 years, (23 years pro)
*Boss pedals, (TU2 Tuner, Gr7 Eq, PH3 Phaser, OD2 Turbo Overdrive, CE3 Chorus, DD6 Delay, Samson Wireless,
Tele Plus, STrat 50th Anniversary, Squier '51, Epiphone FT250 Flat Top
*If lost, I would try like hell to replace it.
*I tested amps for 19 #@&!! YEARS, trying to find it. Too many amps to list.
*It's pretty much on the money
* I love it, I love it, I love it !!!

New Roland JC 120 (2003 modell)

I use it on my Rhodes MK1 73 and clavinet D6. Play funk, jazz etc.

I use it live and in studio.

2 channels - and a nice footpedal.

Sounds great on clean sound. Distortion is not that great.

Great chorus and tremolo. The reverb is ok.

There is a hiss sound, a noise... Probably becourse its no master volum.

It's a tank!

It's one of two classic amps to use with a Rhodes. (This and the Fender twin). To very different amps. They both have two 12" speakers, but it stops there. If you are a real Rhodes fanatic, you should have them both.

I don't know the year of this amp but it's the old version.

I'm sure the features have been covered plenty in the other reviews but I'll add that on the old version which I have there is no FX loop which I would have liked. There's also no headphone jack which I would also have liked and the Lineout doens't seem to work though I've heard you have to crank the amp right up which I can't do when I want to record onto the comp in my house.

The features were excellant for when this amp first came out though.

The amp on it's own sounds excellant for clean tones.

I play mostly heavy rock and metal and being a super clean amp you may think it a strange choice but it's because I'm using FX machines with it. Afterall, if you want to play pedals through an amp you may aswell start with a great clean sound to begin with.

I'm using a boss gt8 with this amp and it sounds fantastic.

I haven't had this amp all that long but I bought it used and it's gotta be over a decade old so I'd say it's pretty damn reliable and I would not need a backup amp to gig with (maybe some backup pedals).

I find Roland and especially Boss to be pretty lacking in customer support. There is no manual anywhere for the old version.

I've been playing on and off for 6 years. I've owned Marshalls and one Fender until now and had never been remotely satisfied so I have always used pedals through them.

I'd defintely be upset if this got lost or stolen but if it were I'd probably go the route of active speakers rather than get another one of these.

I love the excellant clean of this amp and the way it brings my GT8 to life. The instant I plugged into this amp it was a whole new world compared to the crappy overrated pile of crap Marshalls that I'd been using.

I chose this amp as I wasn't happy with the sound I was getting with the GT8 through my Marshall and have come to realise that it's the Marshall that is at fault so seeing asthough Boss used the JC120 when making the GT8 and have specific outputs for it then it seemed the wise choice to go with it and I have no regrets whatsover, it's the first time I've purchased guitar related gear and haven't been dissapointed.

It's the same as everyone else's. When I got mine, the input jacks for the main section (effects side) were in bad shape due to having been played for 20 or more years. This is the sound I've been looking for! The features are pretty basic, but work well.

I play everything from jazz and r&b to funk and rock. I use an acoustic, a Les Paul, a Strat, a custom shredder and Fender Rhodes keyboard through this and they all sound amazing. The distortion is gross, but I either run a dynacomp in front of a pair of modded tubescreamers, or A/B with my Mesa Boogie Mark IIB for my lead sounds. The stereo sound on this blows me away!

I got this thing at a garage sale for $40!!! No joke! It looked used, but with some TLC it now both looks and sounds amazing. I'm assuming that I'll likely never have to have this thing serviced (according to what everyone else says).

Never had to.

I've only had it a couple of weeks, but boy it sounds great!

if you've read any other reviews, you know what this amp's feautures are.

i play a 1978 gibson les paul standard with the original humbucker pickups and a 78(?) Gibson SG 2 with its original single coil pickups(it sounds like a telecaster pretty much).

I play a broad range of music from lo-fi acoustic stuff i do on four tracks to heavy stonger/sludge metal as well as many different punk styles in between.

it's only real set back is this hiss. some people get it, some people don't. it's weird. i have played through ones from my same era(Mid eighties) and they did not have the same hissing problem mine did. it only becomes odd when i record clean stuff on four track tape recorders b/c the tape hiss and the amp hiss kind of combine themselves. However, this hissing is usually buried when you play at lower levels and most certainly is gone at higher levels. it's just that it's a pain when you're not playing for a part of a song and recording that song. just more to edit out. however, live this problem is not a problem at all.

the amp's effects as you know are amazing for the most part, with the obvious exception of the distortion. i always think any distortion, no matter how bad it is can be used for SOMETHING. i have still not figured out a way to use it for anything, not even a joke. it really is that bad. this amp is exactly what you know it is, the best clean amp around.

the clean channel stays crystal clear at high volumes, it's unbelievable.

i would give it a ten but the hiss should not be there.

you have no idea how much shit i've put this amp through. it has seen numerous tours and plenty of misuse. this shit is way tougher than anything i've ever seen or owned. i've never onced had to bring it in. i've owned for like five years and it's never once failed on me in anyway. this amp seriously could survive a nuclear hollocaust i think. the only things left would be cockroaches and jc 120s.

i've never had to deal wit them b/c the amp has never needed fixing.

i've been playing for about twelve years. i own a sunn cab(4X12 size but with a fifteen in it) and a jackson cab(DONT KNOCK THIS THING, it's brutal). when i play for heavier bands i rig this guy up with a mesa .50 caliber head and it's one of the most abrassive things you've ever heard. i only play through gibson guitars. i already listed my current ones.

if it were stolen id buy it again, but would be sad b/c this one has gone through a lot of things.

this hiss is annoying. that's it really. it is one of the top five best amps ever made.

i've compared it to some fender amps, but they just had too much color for me. i would like to use a fender amp for somethings, but the roland does what a fender could do and it can also avoid what a fender does.