Roland JC-120 any good for steel?

Ricky0ne1 · Post by **Ricky0ne1** » 1 Mar 2001 11:36 am

I saw a swell deal on a Roland JC-120 on Ebay... just wondered if anyone can give me a review of Roland + Steel.. Thanks

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Rick Summers

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 1 Mar 2001 2:13 pm

I had one in for repair last year. After
I was done, I gave it try with the steel
& it stayed fairly clean at a fairly high
volume, but lacked low end. I wasn't
too thrilled overall. Not as good as
a either a Fender Twin Reverb or one of
the usual steel amps. As a rule, the used
JC-120's don't usually sell for that much anyway.
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Ricky0ne1 · Post by **Ricky0ne1** » 1 Mar 2001 3:00 pm

Thanks for the info Jay! I was leaning really hard towards the twin reverb anyways. Just have to wait a bit to pay the price.
Thought I saw a few JC's goin for cheap.. wondered what was up. cheers

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Rick Summers

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 2 Mar 2001 9:28 am

Every JC 120 I've played thru has had problems with the pots.I would stay away from it.

Bob Mainwaring · Post by **Bob Mainwaring** » 2 Mar 2001 5:06 pm

Hi there Rick,
I had bought a new one last year and was pleased with the overall sound `till I started getting in the thick of things on stage.
With the volume turned on in the heat of things it went progressively quieter, like no bottom end punch - like riding a Harley with a lawnmower motor.
After saying that it`s a great amp for regular guitar, one of the best chorus effects I`ve heard.
I`d always go with Peavey now my lesson has been learned.........

Bob Mainwaring. Z.Bs. and other weird things.

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Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 2 Mar 2001 6:06 pm

The problem w/that amp for steel is the same problem w/Fender Twins-the EQ section.Not enough control-especially in the mids.The stock speakers on the JC120 are also wimpy(for steel).With an outboard EQ and a Black Widow 15" it might sound pretty good,although 120 watts is only slightly above bare minimum powerwise for steel.Unless it was dirt cheap I would just get a Peavey.

Ricky0ne1 · Post by **Ricky0ne1** » 3 Mar 2001 3:22 am

Know what.... think I'm gonna sell the friggen boat and buy an Evans... yup...
just what I should do
better investment, fer sure.. LOL

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Rick Summers

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 3 Mar 2001 8:49 am

Rick, I tried a JC-120 on a New Year's gig this year and it was OK, just OK. I like the chorus effect but everything the guys have said about it is true, not enough headroom or EQ. I've owned an older Evans and it was a much superior amp. I would go the extra bucks for it.
Ironically, I use the JC-120 amp model in my VS-1680 and in my rack. Mind you, that's the cleanest one for steel. <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by John Lacey on 03 March 2001 at 08:53 AM.]</p></FONT>

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 3 Mar 2001 10:38 pm

I tell you what-for a pretty good steel amp for cheap,try a Lab Series L-5 or L-9.They were built by Norlin/Moog and distributed by Gibson in the 70s and 80s.The amps are the size of a Twin and have 2-12s or 1-15 respectively.They have a very simple circuit, 100 clean watts,a lot of EQ(a parametric mid like a Peavey)good sounding reverb and a built-in compressor that you can turn up,down or off.I had an L-5 w/2-12s which I bought for $200 in 1982 and put in EV speakers and played my 'Bud,ZB and MSA thru for 10 years of 5 nighters and it sounded mighty fine and never really seemed underpowered(and NEVER blew up)You still see 'em around for $100-$200 and you gotta put in a better speaker(s) - but every bit as good sounding as any 400 series Peavey - just not quite as much power. -MJ-

Marty Holmes · Post by **Marty Holmes** » 5 Mar 2001 5:54 pm

I bought a new Ultimate chorus by Fender a couple of years back it has beautiful tone just like the Jazz Chorus 120 But neither one of them have the,excuse me for saying this everyone,"balls" that the Peavey 15 inch Black Widow speakers have.When you need the volume in a loud band the tone goes to crap and the whole amp starts to rattle. "uuuuggggggggg"

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 5 Mar 2001 9:26 pm

About the Lab 5 series: This is BB Kings favorite amp, he has been using them on stage for about 20 years now.

I gotta try one.

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www.tyacktunes.com