Roland JC-85

Made in the `90s in Italy, 2 x 10", 40+40W Rms, 4 band EQ, Distortion, Reverb and stereo chorus. Distortion, reverb and chorus are footswitchable. Mono efx loop, stereo line out.

If you need a clean tone, use it, youll be more than happy. 2x10 arent good for bass response (in comparison to 2x12's). The eq lets you dial in various tones, but i think needs more bass. I play mainly rock and blues, but since using pod pro and g force and g major, the preamp is not being the main pre in my setup. Its not noisy at all. Distortion sucks, reverb adds a little noise as expected, chorus is from another plante!(anyway, im not using it). This amp will never get distorted no matter if you use it at 10. Really the cleneast ive heard. I needed a clean sound cause im using pod pro, and dam yeah! i got it! Distorted is not so good as said, clena is top of the line, hence an 8

you can depend on it, BUT be aware of moving it around when its been on for a couple hours... solders in the interior can get loose. It happened once but its easily fixed, other than that... I use it ALL THE TIME w/o a backup. A great 9... and since no tubes in it even more reliability!!!!!

Contacted only once (www.roland.it), and even sent me the schematics. Nice people.

Been playing 13 years, owning many other amps, this one is main for home or live use. Actually the 40+40 w are more than enough power.Yes, i would buy it again without a doubt. But still would be thinking in a 2x12, the jc120 is too heavy but sounds... uff.
i wish it had stereo preamps like its big brother and better bass response.
If you play a thin sounding guitar, have to get an external EQ.
Ohter than that is great. Obviously, there are better amps out there. But this one is staying with me.

Built in the late 90th. Latest model of the 2 x 10" JC - combos avalilable in Europe (the JC-90 ist only sold in the US). Only one channel (other than the JC-120), 4 - band EQ, Distortion, Reverb and, of course, stereo-chorus. Two independend amplifiers with about 40 Watt each, 2 x 10 " speakers with aluminium dome, open back. Weight about 22 kilogramms. In lack of a second channel distortion, reverb and chorus are footswitchable. Effects loop, separate stereo line out.

For myself the amp has all the features I need. I'm an 54 year old guy who played Guitar and bass a long time ago in the sixties and early seventies and startet again three years ago. After buying, testing and selling several amps (Hughes & Kettner, Vox, other Rolands, some smaller Tube amps like an Electar Tube 10) I know that for me a superb clean sound and a good stereo-chorus are the most important feature of an amp by far. But: As mentioned in other reviews, the ability of the JC-85 for playing lead - guitar - solos is absolutely limited. It simply has no features for that (no second channel, no gain ...). If you want a singing dostortion coming out of your amp, you have to buy another. If you don't want to (or have a good pedal) it's a 10.

I use two De Armonds (M 75 T, Starfire Custom) and two Epiphones (Alleycat, Casino) with it. This guitars represent nearly the complete bandwidth of possible pickup - sounds. From the dark gibsonish humbucker sound of the Alleycat (1 NY-Mini-HB, 1-fifties- HB, think of a hollow Les Paul) to the twangy Tele - like singlecoil sound of the M 75 T (2 2K-Singlecoils like some Gretsch). The JC-85 manages it all in a way, that reinforces the typical sound of the guitar without beeing "Hifi". Some people think, that the Roland JCs are ablolutely linear. But fortunately they are not. I have a Gallien - Krueger ML-E also. If you hear that one, you know what Hifi is. Absolutely dry, linear and a bit steril (very good bass amp !). Other the JC-85. Compared with the GK it is much warmer and more lifely. In my opinion the the 10" - speakers are not to small. I never had an JC-120, but owned a JC-50 with one 12" - speaker. Compared to the JC-85 it was less clear in the mids and highs and got more muddy using a dark sounding guitar like the alleycat. With the JC-85 even the Alleycat is absolutely clear sounding, a precise and mellow jazzy tone. All in all it is suitable for any kind of clean sound like country, blues (which I try to play), and even cleaner rock. By the way: The built in distortion is absolutely not usable for high-gain sounds, but delivers a nice bluesy and resonsive crunch when you use it careful.

It works and ever will. On Ebay you can buy 30 year old JCs, that still work.

Nothing to mention about the JC-85. But some month ago I had to replace the spring reverb of a Roland GC 408 (discontinued). I wrote an eMail to Roland Europe and got the new Reverb within 48 hours.

Perfect clean amp for nearly any musical purpose. Not versatile, if you want a bandwidth of good distortion - sounds. In this regard an amp, which you can only love or hate. Loud enough for mid-size-gigs and more handy than the 30 kilogramm JC-120. Not cheap, but compared to other amps with perfect clean sound, even the JC-120, a good value.

Two inputs: high and low. Distortion. Chorus with rate and depth adjustments. Effect loop. Line out: mono or stereo. Possibility to use footswitch for channel switching. No headphone jack.

Very good clean sound. Chorus is excellent, best I've ever heard. I fell in love with this amp immediately when played the first note with it. I play mainly rock and pop and have played many guitars through this amp, mainly Fender Deluxe Super Strat and Tokai Les Paul. Clean sound is just great with both guitars (and others also). Distortion is poor and quite "muddy". If you're planning to play distorted, use an external pedal with it. Chorus is very easy to use and sound is perfect.

Built like a rock. Never had any problems with it. I would gig with it without a backup and wouldn't even hesitate.

Never dealt with them.

I have played guitar for seventeen years and have owned few other amps also. This amp was the best transistor amp I have ever played with. I'm quite sad, because I had to sold it when I was buying an tube amp (Fender Hot Rod Deluxe). I would like to buy another Roland Jazz Chorus in the future. If you like good clean sound with chorus, this amp really is worth considering. For playing with distortion there are better amps available, I wouldn't buy this amp for that usage.

Features:
Front:
- input high/low
- distortion knob (pretty useless, see below)
- volume
- 4 bands eq
- reverb knob
- 3 knobs for chorus (rate/depth/off.manual.fixed

The distortion is useless, the eq very good and the chorus also if you like it, therefore rating a 7

This amp is made for 1 thing by itself: clean sounds.

The distortion is really disgusting. How difficult would it have been to involve a TubeScreamer lay-out inside tis amp?

But a WARNING:
The clean sound is beautiful. BUT: as soon as you go out to play with a band it doesn't have that "punch" and your sound gets lost. But for home-use (as I use it for more than 5 years now) it's perfect although if you had to buy one, there might be amps that can do well in both situations (ever tried a Fender Twin reverb.....:-)

The chorus is also beautiful and in stereo (as there are two speakers in the cabinet) but it makes the sound even less "punchier" than it already is.

well, have it for more than 5 years now, also been out to jam-sessions and so far so good.

no experience in this (gladly)

I started playing electrical guitar because I heard this amp, so wonderful clean. I use it now with external distortion and it's perfect but, as said, in my opinion only for home-use. It can get loud enough but doesn't have that punch to make yourslf hearable in a band with an (also) loud drummer etc.

Good 4-Band EQ. One channel. Didn't look round the back, but it's a bloody good 2x10" combo with a clean as clean can be (in a good way) kind of sound that gives amazing tone with pedals too. Stereo Chorus that'll knock your socks off. Where's the Vibrato? The JC-50 has it.

Well the clean sound is to die for with almost any guitar. First fully transistor amp (other than the JC-120/JC-50) that makes totally clean a good thing. I play a limited bunch of styles - pop/rock/punk/little jazz, and it worked great for those. Using pedals like the MXR Distortion + and ProCo Rat and Big Muff worked great. A little noiser than the JC-50 but not that you'd notice at practice/gig levels, certainly much quieter than a tube amp. As expected, the distortion sucks. What solid state amp doesn't have a crap distortion?

In pristine condition. No problems with it's little brother the JC-50 yet. I've had no problems with Boss/Roland in general.

I've been playing 5 years and I'm a tone freak, never happy with what I've got. But whenever I use this, I love the clarity of tone and that stereo chorus that makes me go all fuzzy inside. It says "Anything you wish it had?" but I'd say "Anything you wish it doesn't have?" and remove that laughable distortion and I could take the amp more seriously.

Well, this beaut has been sitting in my local guitar store for two months now, and since I own a JC-50 I've been trying it out with everything I buy from there. If the bloke that owns it doesn't pay full price for it soon... let's just say he can have his deposit back, this ones mine! Great amp. I'll give it a 7 cos I haven't done gig level yet and it isn't mine, but hopefully that rating will go up to 9...

Warning! This is a FenderRhodes-oriented review...I don't play guitar [yet], so I might not cover all aspects you want to hear.

Featurwise..this is a simple amp. 1 channel. Hi Treble, Treble, Mid and Bass eq knobs. A spring reverb and the awesome chorus, with speed and depth settings. And the laughable overdrive.

The amp has two separate amplifiers, one for each speaker [10"], allowing wide stereo chorus. It has heaps of power, very loud amp.

As said, I use it for my Fender Rhodes Mk2 stage 73. For that it just works great. This is super super clean amp, and it will give your Rhodes a very distinctive transparent and 'woody' sound. Works great for me. I use it in funk, soul and jazz bands.

I think it is rather noisy, gives something of a hiss. Not important on stage, but at home it could bother you. There is no way that you are going to get this amp to distort, without overpowering the take-off of a Concorde. The distortion is..weird. I use a tubescreamer for that, which does provide a subtle drive.

Finally...the spring reverb sounds awesome! Better than the others I heard.

Has never failed, I have it for some months now. Sometimes something weird happens with the Chorus turned on...it starts to do some 2 second spaceship-take-off type of sound, and then it works perfectly again dor a month. Weird, but not problematic. I'm pretty sure it won't break down, it is built like a tank, beautiful knobs and riveted protectors.

I had a Roland synth once and they were friendly and helpful when that broke down. Never dealt with them for this amp.

I really like this amp and it won over a 50W all tube Fender [the other preferred Rhodes amp] hands down because this will give a clear and subtle sound, instead of the Fender's muddiness. There was also a Gibson L5 amp, which I really liked, that had more warmth [still a transistor amp], but almost fell apart.

It would be perfect with some tube preamp or, a modelling preamp, which is on my wishlist. The only thing I hate about it is the huge Roland logo on it that ruins my just acquired coolness [for the Rhodes] ;-) I would not be happy if it were stolen, because these are very rare. It is THE way to have that classic JC120 sound in a more affordable and portable box.

Well, the other guy described all its features, so...He forgot to say that there are no ext. speakers out, so you cannot attach other speakers...

Great. Great clean sounds. Great, but the distortion sucks big time.The chorus and reverb are phenomenal. It speaks loud also, for a transistor amp.

It`s totally reliable. It has pieces of metal on its edges, like a case. Mine came (second hand) without wheels. It`s made in Italy.

Never had to deal with them. I`ve own it for 2 years now.

I`ve been playing for 18 years, all kind of music, from heavy to jazz. As i own other amps (Marshall JCM-900 e Fender Hot Rod DeVille), off course I use the JAZZ chorus to play only jazz. None of the other amps has a clean sound as good as this babe. (maybe it`s the valves, i dunno...)I probably would buy another, if it was stolen.

In Spanish lenguage

dos entradas una alta y otra baja impedancia, distorsion, gaves, medios agudos y ajudos para alta impedancia, reverd a muelle y chorus velocidad y profundidad. dos altavoces, no se la marca , y 42 w por canal, estereo, por detras salida mesa en estereo y mono y control de pedal rever, distorsion y chorus. Hecho de menos una salida de cascos para ensaya en casa pero bueno tiene ruedas y es facil de transportar.
es de transistores

Este ampli a pesar de que la gente dice que es para Jazz, creo que es muy majo, tiene muchisima calidad para ser de transistores. el canal limpio es muy muy muy limpio tanto con guitarras tipo fender, gibson o gretsch suena como suena la guitarra ni mas ni menos no le da mas color o menos es magnifico. El chrous es el mejor que he escuchado tiene mucha calidad. lo peor es la distorsion muy poble pero bueno para eso hay otros amplis o le puedes conectar un pedal

no toco en conciertos pero parece muy duro y sin ningun problema

lo compre de segunda mano no puedo decir mas

tengo varios amplis vox ac30 bassman 70 t60 vox y este es especial por la calidad que tiene que es muchismas, muy poco ruido y para ser transistrores muchi cuerpo, en fin un gran ampli y merece la pena
toques jazz o pop o cualquier otra cosa.