Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I recently picked up a used Roland Jazz Chorus (JC 77) and I was surprised by the warmth of this amplifier. The two tens provide great definition and the chorus effect is outstanding. But the very big surprise for me is the definition it gives to the each note I play on my Rickenbacker 12 string. I have had friends comment about the noisy aspect of the Roland amplifiers, but this one is whisper quite and the four band equalizer with the high treble provides great clarity and warmth at the same time. It is built like a tank as well. I have since learned that closing the back of these instruments improves the tone and the previous owner had done this. I would be interested in hearing what others have to say about their Rickenbackers through the Jazz Chorus 77 or any of its relatives.

Plus one on all points, glad you're enjoying it. I love 77s, 90s, and 120s. A popular favorite attribute of these amps is their ability to get very loud without breaking up. See if you can find the ice cream footswitch!

I've been using a JC-55 for 20 years now, so yeah, I'm pretty pleased with it. You can see it behind me in my avatar.
It can be a little noisy in some situations (clubs with low-hung flourescent lighting, for example) but I love the clean sound and the wide tonal range. It's also stunningly loud for it's size.
Nothing really prepared me for the first time I played my 12 string through it. It sounded like a grand piano.

Maybe I'll try enclosing it & see if gets even louder!

I've been using a JC-120 for 10 years plus now and I don't think I've ever turned it up past 4, it's super loud! It's also sounds amazing with my Rics. I gig fairly often and haven't had any problems with it. The built in distortion is pretty bad so I use pedals for those sounds, but you can't beat the clean and chorus settings.

When I visited Aitch in Australia in 2007 he was using a JC 120 (I believe that was the model number) for rhythm. My brother also used one for many years. In both cases I was really impressed with the sound of the clean channel with the on board chorus. I was not at all impressed with the over drive circuit.

Coincidentally after trying a variety of amps they both eventually migrated to Fender amps.

A guitarist in a band I once played in used a JC-120. I thought it was a great sounding versatile amp.

winston wrote:When I visited Aitch in Australia in 2007 he was using a JC 120 (I believe that was the model number) for rhythm. My brother also used one for many years. In both cases I was really impressed with the sound of the clean channel with the on board chorus. I was not at all impressed with the over drive circuit.

Coincidentally after trying a variety of amps they both eventually migrated to Fender amps.

True, Brian..... I did, but the JC-120 still gets a look in every now and then. It's in the back room (your bedroom) but will never find itself consigned to the 'overflow area' - being the garage!

The Cubes 60 and 80X remain in the lounge as the 'noodling' amps.

ozover50 wrote: True, Brian..... I did, but the JC-120 still gets a look in every now and then. It's in the back room (your bedroom) but will never find itself consigned to the 'overflow area' - being the garage!

Be honest, Howard - it's because JC-120s weigh about 400lbs. That's why it's staying put, isn't it...

In my college years I played a borrowed JC77 and then finally bought one years later. I played my '66 Rick 335 through it and it did 80s alt rock really well. I'd put the chorus on a low setting and the distortion barely on, and I'd be able to get a really good tone. Sold the one I bought because I started getting into a more aggressive sound that it didn't do too well. But man did I have fun with that thing!! If I were to get a Rick 12, the Roland JC77 would be back on my wish list -- and they aren't too expensive, either. Just make sure it's got casters!

eatswodo wrote:

ozover50 wrote: True, Brian..... I did, but the JC-120 still gets a look in every now and then. It's in the back room (your bedroom) but will never find itself consigned to the 'overflow area' - being the garage!

Be honest, Howard - it's because JC-120s weigh about 400lbs. That's why it's staying put, isn't it...

Ha!! Not quite, David. The JC-120 actually has casters and weighs less than my Hot Rod Deville 4x10. In theory it should be my first option!

Peter,

I don't own a Roland Jazz Chorus, but my main amp for the last twelve years has been a solid state Fender Princeton Chorus amp, which is the little brother of the Ultimate Chorus (which, I believe, is the approximate Fender equivalent of the amp you describe). The PC sounds incredible for any number of different applications. Using the patches I custom-designed on my Boss GT-3 multi-effects unit, I can get an almost infinite number of really good blues tones (from Fender-like clarity to Marshall-like crunch and sustain), and plugged directly into the clean channel of the amp with the reverb turned all the way down, my Guild X-170 jazz box sounds incredibly rich and full. But where I really agree with you is on the 12-string sound. I run my Rickenbacker 330/12 through a Janglebox and then directly into the amp (with the treble turned up to about 4) and the guitar rings and shimmers beautifully. I've heard so many good things about various tube amps, but I wouldn't dream of trading in my Princeton Chorus. All it needs are some casters to make it easier to transport.

Robert

I saw McGuinn use one in Chicago several years back. It's a great amp for that 60's Byrds tone.

I need another amp like a hole in the head, but I have one of them blue-grill stereo Vox cabs (hi Erik K.!) and would like to get the head-only version of a JC120 for it.

The JC-120 is one of my favorite amps. I love my 360/12 with toasters through it with a bit of the chorus-very lush and sweet. The onboard distortion is terrible, but a Radial Tonebone Classic tube pedal in front of it really brings it to life-IMHO anyways

I was lucky enough to pick up a JC-77 locally a year or so ago. It was my "play at home" amp till I had to take my fender in to get serviced.

Needless to say, the JC-77 more than adequately filled in and I was stunned at the clarity of it in a band setting (vs. a super reverb or bandmaster). I used to have a JC120H (very briefly) and the JC-77 just sounds so much better (probably due to some boneheaded speaker/cab choice with the JC120H). The chorus is lush, the reverb adequate, the distortion not so much. Note that you can use any old 1/4" latching footswitch for any of the effects. (Mine does have an apparent volume drop with the chorus on, though).

I finally understood the secret to the sound of so many mid-to-late 80s bands.

I think a JC-120 might be overkill nowadays, as is heavy, loud, and pretty big (we shared a space for a while with a guy who had a JC-160. Now that's a loud amp). I've used the JC-77 in medium-sized rooms on 4-5 and been asked to turn down.

Dollar for dollar, probably the best money I've ever spent on gear. (Disclosure: it was only $150, but I'd pay twice that in a heartbeat).