Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Reviews

4.8/5.0 based on 10 customer reviews

Sweetwater Advice

Robert Williams

Not having a JC-120 is like missing a food group, its solid state clean sound is that fundamental. It's a long standing workhorse useful with bass and guitar synth as well as electric guitar. The chorus and vibrato effects are classics heard on countless recordings.

Carson McClain

I have many customers that are unsure of which amp to buy after they buy a Boss multi-FX pedal from me. Many customers want to utilize the COSM features of their new pedal and get the clearest, cleanest amplification of that pedal and I always recommend the JC-120. There is no coloration, just pure reproduction of your amp modeling. This is not just an amp for jazz guys, this is an amp for people who love modeling with their pedals. Hook up any GT series Boss pedal and you will hear what I'm talking about.

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Customer Reviews

Art
from Chicago, IL
May 10, 2013Music Background:
Musician

Only got better!

I used to own a JC-120 back in the 1980s that was commondeered by my son when he started playing guitar in the 1990s, never to be seen again. So, recently, while reforming a band with several great musicians I had the pleasure of playing with in the past, I realized that I needed a smaller and more portable, yet powerful, amp for gigging in smaller venues (my Marshall 1/2 stack is just too big and cumbersome to use in smaller venues), I immediately looked for this amp. I have to say Roland has really improved the quality of this amplifier since the 1980s! I'd give it 10 stars if I could!

NickyBoy
from San Francisco
April 13, 2012Music Background:
Audio Pro

Brilliant ...

I heard a lot of good things about this amp and they are all true... Clarity, power and an amazing sounding chorus.

The distortion doesn't always get good reviews but I find it useful for getting a 'bite' to my sound without totally changing its character.

Downside... It takes more than one person to move it!!!

Joe Kimmell
from Indiana
March 17, 2011Music Background:
folkie, live sound, semi-pro

Rockin' my musical world!

I'm not sure of the vintage of the JC120 I purchased from a friend a few weeks ago, but it's killer.....I'm kind of a balladeer singer/songwriter type, and honestly it's been a long time since I even had an axe amp.....always just mic'd my Yairi. But also in the deal I got a Lane Poor in hole pickup, and the marriage of axe, amp, and pickup is nothing short of amazing. Puts ne wind in my sails!

Ross J
from Sussex, NJ
May 25, 2010Music Background:
Gigging Musician

Most Versatile Amp Ever Made

I have owned a JC-120 since 1987. This amp will positively give you the best clean tone that you have ever heard. The on-board chorus/tremolo and reverb are phenomenal and enhance the sound. Currently I run and Boss ME-70 pedal through it for distortion and other effects and even live, the sound is studio quality. This amp is extremely versatile and worth every penny you will pay for it.

Bruce
from Southern Indiana
November 9, 2007Music Background:
Retired pro

Owned for over 20 years and never wanted another amp!

I bought my JC-120 in 1986 to replace a Musicman amp. I've never wanted another amp since. Best clean sound around, best chorus ever and works well with modern effects processors such as the Boss GT-8 Pro and also as a guitar synth amp. Plenty of volume for just about any venue. If you are considering the JC-120, you're definitely on the right path.

Michael Wilson
from St. Maarten. Netherlands Antilles
August 9, 2007Music Background:
Pro Musician

JC-120 the best amp

i have never owned it..but i have playing on the them since 2003...this is the best amp for any style especially if u use stompoxes. it projects so well..and the power is amazing...i can never pass 2 on the volume..i might be def in a few minutes.lol
but overall a good..can adapt to any setup u have..and stereo channels is a plus since most multi-effect pedals work better in stereo..
i am trying to get one soon for my own..despite the weight..i think they discontinued the JC-90 and 70.

machu
from harrisburg, pa usa
November 21, 2012Music Background:
guitar vocal, production, other studio instrument performance composition, song writing

jc 120 + great strings = :))

great amp. i remember "spinal tap" saying about the knob that "goes to 11". well you dont need that with this because at 1 or 1-1/2 it is loud enough to as bob would say "disturb my neighbors". used by some remarkable guitarists on countless albums throughout the past decades. I really like it even with my mid to lower line ibanez strung up with heavy gauge george benson jazz strings. the amp's chorus vibrato with small amounts of it's reverb and distortion sounds super with delay. i like how it works for slide pickin. only wish is that channel one had some tubes on-board.

Eric Palmer
from Orlando
July 31, 2006

Dont miss this one

I was amp shopping, and happend to give this amp a try, next to a marshall. I was amazed at the clarity and high fi that came out of this amp. And not that fake tiny sound you hear from most solid state amps trying to be bright. this is the real deal. the marshall tube amp had bite, but it could not hold a candle to the fidelity of this amp. its like a vail has been removed from my guitar sound. I use outboard distortion pedal and fx, and they still sound great through this, every detail is noticed. a great purchase

mike
from massachusetts
February 25, 2013Music Background:
hobbyist

roland jc-120

i bought this amp for the legendary clean sound and was not let down. it has an amazing full clean chorus. this amp does have a slight hiss to it that cannot be removed even with best noise gates.if you research this issue online you will find out this is common for this amp. i gave this a 4 out of 5 because of the hiss and the pricey tag on this combo.

Phil Jackson
from Spokane,Wa USA
October 1, 2004

reviewing the JC 120

I've been using tube amps since 1962.Everytime I tried a solid state,whether it be a "valvestate" or whatever title the amp companies used to fool the "tube playing" public.Not an easy group to be swayed for sure.I wasn't!Peavy came out with "transtube" and I have to admit the feel of tube response is there with these amps but the tone isn't really 100% there.Sorry Peavy.

The JC 120,doesn't try to emulate the tube sound.Although I find the distortion mode useful it is not a tube sound nor does it claim to be.The biggest asset the JC 120 has to offer is pure clean sound(no faking it with this box).If you play a Les Paul through

the clean channel you are going to get the pure sound of of your prized Les Paul! Unobstructed by distortion .There's none. I for one love it and without the aid of distortion I have grown to be a much better and more accurate player.I owe this to JC 120.I know it is not only fun but needed on sone tunes to use a "brown sound" tone. This makes the JC perfect again!Because it is so clean if used in conjuction with a stomp box,you will be pleasantly surprised.You will hear the stompbox,your guitar and your fingers (or style),With out the noisy high gain buzz from your tube amp.As for playing Jazz or Comping chords,the tones are almost aural excited,with a smimmer even a Twin or AC30 cannot emulate."PLAY CLEAN AND YOU WILL BE MEAN". If there is a better(lighter) amp let me know at philviss@hotmail.com Oh yeah the 1 criticism I have is(small potatos) is it weights too much.And I didn't even mention the lush chorus.Although it is nonadjustable,I don't know-its sounds so pretty-if I would adjust it if I could.The best chorus by far and its in stereo as is the vibrato.This effect I don't use as often. But if adjusted intellegently it too sounds killer.Maybe not like a surf sound but closer to an Abby Road "White Album" kinda sound,lovely.Sorry I've babbled on for ever.If anyone disagrees or has bad experiences with this fab amp email me at philviss@hotmail.com