Roland JC-120

'98/'99 model? Bought it new in '99 form Mars Music (sad to see them go last year). For me, some of the features are usable, some are not. The chorus is legendary and after hearing you know why...beautiful, but not adjustable. Nice reverb. True stereo amplification, multi-faceted equalization, detachable casters(yeah, the big dog is heavy), twin 12's, extensive panel of jacks for all sorts of uses in the back...all NICE. Unfortunately, there are a couple of sour notes...the distortion reminds me of what a Brachiosaur strung out of Zanax would sound like in mid roar). Tremolo/vibrato? Please...go listen to the tremolo on Fender tube amps. THAT'S tremolo. Channel switching? No. BUT, I did call and get through to an engineer and asked about switching between the two channels via an A/B box and he said no danger there, so that is how I switch channels on mine, via an inexpensive DOD A/B box.

Oh, man...you have not heard clean until you sit down in front of one of these! THAT'S NOT ALL, though. Amazingly, and I heard something like this from someone's review below, it sounds almost tubish in some applications. When I stomp on my B.K. Butler real tube it comes alive. TS-9 does good for lighter overdrive apps. But it's amazing that with one little 12AX7 in a box, the whole JC120 thinks it is a full blown tube amp! Sweet!
I have had no problem with the hiss listed in some reviews below. You will have trouble trying to get this amp to break up at high volumes. It stays clean, pure, and sweet (almost) all the way up to 11, unless you're effecting the signal. And power? Oh, man...this thing IS power. You will never be hungry for volume.
Styles are rock (Led Zep, old Heart, Stones) and bluesy stuff (old ZZ Top, SRV, Koko Taylor).

Absolutely zero problems since day one in '99.

I called a rep when I first bought it about the A/B channel switching idea to make sure I wouldn't damage it. I think I got right through. Either that or he returned my call...either way, it was a positive experience.

Playing 20 years or so. I own a LP Standard, Am.Std.Tele, Jackson Custom Soloist, Marshall JCM800 half stack, bunch of cool stomp boxes...MXR, Maxon RI, Teese wah(awesome!), etc. I compared it to Mesas, Fender Twin Reverb RI, JC-90...when the cards landed, JC-120 was the one for me.

This amp was made in 1993. Pretty basic features, 2 channels, efx loop for each one (like this much better than an efx loop for whole amp) solid state, footswitch jacks. they could have included a fs. jack for switching channels, but when you switch chorus on/off, that basically does it. all the features you're gonna need.

I'm using this with a yamaha dual humbucking guitar. alot like an ibanez rg. my music style is mainly rock. I use this for the clean sounds (hey there's a surprise) there is a slight hiss but this may be the environment, or outlet, or something other than the amp itself. the amp is clean. very clean. as clean as it can get. I can't get it to distort. The chorus is heavenly. its just really nice. vibrato is cool too. with none of that on, it sounds great also. the distortion, if you are looking for some sort of metal, look somewhere else. the distortion was made to be very light sounding.

This amp is built to last. Its been around ten years, and I'm guessing it'll be around many more. I would use it at a gig without a backup. I have a pretty tight budget, so I probably wouldn't afford a backup.

I doubt I will ever need assistance

I'm 15 years old and have been playing for 3-4 years. I own a fender stratocaster(blaah), a hughes & kettner warp 7 half stack, a digitech gsp 21, a plus ebow, various pedals, an acoustic, a yamaha electric, and a samick electric. Oh, yeah and a fender mini twin. the rig I usually use is one of the electrics into an aby box, a out to jc120, b to warp 7, and that is the basic thing, sometimes I hook up the efx.

I'm not sure of the year of manufacture - probably mid- to late eighties, judging by the construction and features: plywood and reinforced cab at the stress points(not particle board like the newer ones); real spring reverb tank - not a computer chip; no effects loop; "mains in" jacks, line out, two extension cab jacks, toggle switch to reverse polarity(i.e. the on/off/on switch); also a toggle for chorus/vibrato on/off; metal input jacks with plastic nuts to lock them in --------- other than that, the same controls for eq etc as they've always had: 2 channels, etc. After having tried to purchase a new one through mail order and opening the box to find pieces of particle board from the broken cabinet caused by UPS, I decide to buy an older, better built model for about half the price. Anyway, I like the features of the older models - I've never used effects loops with any success on other amps, so I don't miss it. I wish I had the three button foot switch to be able to select distortion, chorus, reverb at will, but Roland doesn't make them any more. But you can get individual FS-1's for about $15.
I use this amp mostly at home as I use a Roland Blues Cube 60 1x12 to gig with(KILLER AMP! - read the reviews on it here, they're telling it straight). But I have had this thing cranked and it is loud!! Power galore! I'll probably use the JC120 for some outdoor gigs we'll have during the summer. I usually use an amp as a clean base to run my effects through - I play clean a lot and, like another reviewer stated this is the Queen of Clean - lovely, just lovely, sound.

I use a Strat and a Burns Steer through it and have played a 335 through it also and they all sound *superb*. You barely have to adjust the eq when switching - maybe a little treble and bass is all. One thing I've noticed though is that the louder it gets, the more the mid-range dominates. So you just have to cut back on it as you get louder, My typical settings are
Volume: 1-2(this is still pretty d@^%$d loud- plenty loud for smaller gigs etc); treble: 2-3, mid: 3-5; bass: 2.5-3.5. I don't use the bright as that converts the nice, warm, rich tone into an ice pick. The chorus is an industry standard: stereo and not too thick. The vibrato is pretty cool too, but not used much - kind of spacey and tripped-out. The distortion: well...I like to just turn it on but not up, this adds a nice low-mid boost that's great for fattening up single note leads and also adds a mild break up when you dig into partial chords etc. I actually like it for this purpose. For heavier styles I use a digital multi-effect pedal and this amp can turn into a fire breathing monster with the right box(es) in front of it - and I mean it can sound like a raging tube amp -thick, fat and heavey or grindy; it's up to you and the quality of your effects unit(I use a Korg which has some killer distortion tones (not to mention the time based and modulation effects - out of this world; but, hey! that's another review).

I'm not gigging it hard right now, but the thing sounds great. I picked it up used on E-Bay so who knows what it's been through? I assume it saw a lot of club action though as the grill cloth is more brown than silver - probably from smoke. I cleaned the pots and it's sounded and responded great. These amps have a great rep. for being reliable and mine seems to bear that out.

Never dealt with Roland before

I've played on and off for the past thirty years, the last seven seriously again - have owned great tube amps: Marshall, Fender, Trace Elliot custom shop model, Reverend; have had a beavey of guitars - Gretsch, Heritage, Fender, Taylor, etc. This amp let's the sound of the guitar come through and your interaction with it(If you screw up, it's heard loud and clear). Be that as it may, all amps color the sound of the signal they amplify - that's what they're designed to do; when they do it well, we love 'em. The JC is rich and warm and allows the flexibilty I need - and sounds great doing it.

Made in Japan. No idea when. It's the one with 2 knobs for adjusting Vibrato. I saw another version. It had 3 knobs. See other reviews for the rest.

Clean. What can i say. It's a classic for a reason. The chorus is awesome. I used to setup 2 amps through a Boss CE5 chorus. That was good, but this is better. The one button i don't get, is the distortion. It's not. It's more like a clean boost. Which is very handy and not available on most amps. After 5 it breaks up just a tiny bit. Good for a more or less clean solo.
I found it hard to get a decent overdrive pedal to go along with this amp. Tried the Rat, SD1, DS1 and a few more. Awefull! I ended up using a OD 3, which gives a decent overdrive. The other ones were either too harsh, too thin, too whatever is bad in a OD/Dist. I'm happy with the OD3 though. Somebody else mentioned a SansAmp. It's probably a good idea to use one of those. It wasn't available when i needed it, but i think i will try one in the future.
Oh, before i forget. The hiss . . . . It's there and it's loud! The 10 i'm giving here is given the fact that i think someone will fix this hiss for me.

Think abram-tank.

I play a Santana SE through it. Nice combo.

This is a USA made amp, black corners and roland speakers and plywood cabinet, probably 80's amp. has 2 channels, one for clean and no effects like reverb, vib. or chorus and channel 2 that has all the effects. i like that it has two seperate channels, one dry one not.
the vib. and chorus are stereo, VERY AMBIENT !!! for its time, i'd say it had great options, thus give it a nine.

Well, this is a interesting story. i bot a yamaha G100 at the local pawn. its very similar to the Roland JC. I really love the G100, so started to read all the good stuff on the JC. so, i had a mission to go and look for a JC at the local used guitar shops. well, i found one. I must say, this amp is unbelivable !! i've never herd a solid state sound so good. The chorus is very very unbelievable !!! it sounds like your playen in a F church with a choir. I have never herd a better chorus !. The vib. sounds good also. Stereo really adds to this amp. The distorsion is only good if u use a little teeeny bit.
I like this amp, and i wood say its the best sounding solid state ever !!, no question about it !. I think the amp works well with effect units also. my Digitech works great with it. I give this amp a 10 for being the best sounding solid state amp, ever.

its a 80's amp and still ticking.
because of this, i give it a 10

don't no

i like this amp. i've had many many amps, this is the best sounding solid state. I have a fender hot rod currently, but have had other tube amps. i like tube amps for the feel they give vs solid state. but, they don't work well with effect units. its nice to have a tube and solid state amp. i think every one shood have a tube and solid. i'm very happy with the hot rod and roland. i think they're the best of thier world.

the jazz chorus has changed very little, so what difference does it make what year it is? i am sure there are little differences, but it aseems to be the same beast (which is wonderful). i have owned three, from three different decades, and have loved every one.

the chorus is THE CHORUS. everyone knows the distortion is useless, but that is very obviously not what it was made to do. the vibrato is cool but subtle. the tone is so clean it is psychadelic. stereo too. this amp hass all of the features it needs. if you want to play punk death thrash stuff, buy something else. if you want to cleanly and accurate reproduce the sound of your instrument, this is the one.

if you see music as having "layers" and "motion", then this is it. lush, my bloody valentine, worms union, ride, slowdive, curve, etc. psychadelic.

i have used an epiphone casino and sheraton, several greek instruments (bouzouki, tzouras, and baglamades), and even sitars. this will make everything smooth and textured. handles distortion just fine from a pedal. again, theamp's own distortion is a joke. if you want to shout at the devil and such, buy a marshall or whatever. the fender tube amps are cool like the jazz chorus, but the eq on the jc is way better than the fender (which is prone to get that all dreaded tinny midrange). the jc drips with tone.

i have never had a problem whith any of the 3 i have had. i have never serviced them in any way. good luck?

never checked. i like to pretend they are in weird space costumes in bright white rooms experimenting on sound with aliens. but that's just me.

this is the best thing ever for the shoe gazing set. period. you know who you are. zakk wylde probably hates this amp. publicly anyway.

ARound the 80s...not too versatile, 2 channels, 1 for pure clean, 1 for pure clean with chorus OR vibrato, reverb and distortion. It's a HUGE 2x12, heavy, solidstate.

I'm currenly using an ESP LTD ec-1000 with emg 60/81 installed. Emgs are known to distort on clean but with this amp it sounds like heaven, the 60 is almost acoustic and the 81 can sound like a classical guitar it's amazing! I only use this amp for cleans by the way, the distortion isn't so great, it's just pure fuzz.

Dropped it twice carrying it to my room heard pieces fall off, but it was only the casters because they were put at the back of the amp.

I've been playing for 3 years now here's my current rig, it might stay like this for a while (ampwise) Laney GH100L A/B-->ROland JC120 with an ESP LTD ec-1000 with emg 60/81 and ESP LTD ex-351D with EMG 60/81. I might get an RR soon with some duncans. This amp is truly the amp for clean sounds! It gives everything a clean side, even those mean EMGs!

I'm guessing this is a mid to late 80's model- made in USA. Bought it used off of E-Bay. Same features as all the others from this vintage and they are plenty. I use a muli-effecter in front and have all the sounds I need. Enough power? Jeeez! This thing is super loud!!

I use mexi-strat with fat 50's pups into a Korg AX-1000g floor pedal. This thing is sweet! It is full, rich, and very clean! It is warmer than my all-tube Reverend Hellhound 1X12! I use my amps as a platform for pedals b/c I have to switch to different settings rapidly and I always want to be able to get back to a pristine clean sound - of course this baby delivers. I always thought that the Korg needed to be run through a tube amp to get the best sound, but it sounds just as good through the JC as it does through any tube amp I've run it through. This makes me happy. As far as the amps own effects go: CHORUS: Sounds really good but I wish the speed and depth knobs were dual assigned to this and the vibrato. This VIBRATO: is one cool effect! It's unique and I dig it as a "once in a blue-moon" type effect. O.k., now...the DISTORTION: Are you ready?
I LIKE IT!!! So There! At least for what it was designed to do: "provide a mild break up". Seriously, I've always been a tube freak and my Hellhound will stomp all over this thing for rich OD and distortion, but that doesn't mean the JC's sucks - it's just different - and not in a bad sort of way. Its best function is as a boost. It bumps the mids and adds just a hint of hair so the notes aren't quite as pristine as with the dist. off - good for double stops etc. I actually like the sound of BB King, Albert King and Little Milton and they all use(d) solid state amps with this same kind of distortion. Anyway, the distortion is debatable but this amp has become the industry standard for clean and so it gets a ten - Oh, I forgot about fender twins - I like the sound of the JC better - the Twins(at least the reissues), have sounded far more boxey and sterile to me.

This amp is a veri clean specimen, it was advertised as a 9 out of 10 as far as condition goes, and on a very picky scale, I'd say it was accurate. The only thing I had to do was clean the pots. It took about a half hour and it sounds great! I guess after 15+ years and who knows how much use, it seems pretty reliable. I've not had it that long, so I can't say how long it will last. One thing I DO know for sure is that these older ones are a hell of a lot better built than the newer, particle board, break in UPS shipping, pieces of crap!
Also this has a SPRING reverb, not a computer chip. I would never buy a new JC 120, maybe the JC 90 - the reverb is still a tank and is wet enough to do surf. Plus it has a high treble and a treble tone knob which is great for balancing out a guitar.

Been playing for 20+ years. I've owned a lot of gear and I am a tone freak. Actually this one sounds better than the new ones I've played. Maybe it's b/c it's broken in. Anyway, I'm not intending to sell it ever.

Same as all above

Absolutely fantastic clean at all volumes, and beyond words, warm and throaty, with a Tubescreamer. Jeez. I bought this thing, which is pretty beat -- five of the knobs completely broken off, ground prong gone, lower back busted off, speaker holes cutting through the cloth -- for freakin' $75 bucks! Bets money I ever spent. Everyone who hears it just flips, including me.

Guess it's great, BC it looks like it's been to war (which it also looks like it was designed for)., and it sounds incredible.

Dunno.

I purchased this amp from the north attleboro, ma. guitar center for $459 used.......it was probably the best purchase i have ever made.....great clean amp to split w/an ab box along side what ever you use for high gain amp

this amp is possibly the best contender to the mighty fender twin i have ever played through or owned......its so clear and prestine and wonderfull sounding .....the problem isd i had to give it to my landlord at the studios were i practice for rent that i owed because i got stiffed from a few other people in the same room as me .....i will get one again .....nothing made before 90 though

built likea tank

never needed them

i will owne one again very soon i miss that amp to much to not get another one...its finding a good year thats presenting a problem