Hello all - probably me being stupid so apologies
I was in Dawsons in Liverpool today.
For a while I've been thinking about getting SS amp. I have a bad back and play almost exclusively clean in a ska band, also I often record at home at night time (so an SS amp can go straight into my audio interface instead of having to mic my tube amp)
So I've been thinking about the Jazz Chorus amps - they have a long history of use in reggae/ska.
The 120 is HUGE and probably heavier than my Blues Deluxe (though the clean did sound absolutely gorgeous). So I was having a look at the 40. I wasn't convinced in the shop that it'd be loud enough to cope with a 9 piece band. The sales people said I couldn't get a refund (If I bought it and tried it at rehearsal)...
Then one of the staff in the shop said the 40 would be fine with the volume right up but then said there might not be enough head room and said the sound would start breaking up...
This confused me - I thought that didn't happen in none tube amps?
(I did buy a BOSS re 20 which is brilliant and have a digitech Freqout coming in the post too!)
Comments
With a solid-state amp, you're unlikely to like the result either.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I thought it was only tubes that broke up.
Appreciate your help @ICBM - could's saved me a lot of trouble and money there.
The irony is that when I started out gigging as a guitar player it was with a champion 100 - great amp - I sold it for £50!!!!
But yeah - its a fair point @richardhomer as the JC 120 is no lighter than five Blues Deluxe's it may well be that I'll have a look at some of the other 'new' SS amps - Ive heard the Katana is good and the Blues Cube series.
I'd be able to get some light and 80w(ish) to cover the volume and the weight issue.
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youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
In terms of appearance its an amp on its mother could love lol - so its not a consideration for me (not that I am above that sort of thing!)
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
Not a chance, not even close.
You can easily try one - buy it online, and if it’s not then you can return it for a refund within 14 days. Even from Dawsons.
If it’s not loud enough and the weight of a JC-120 is still a problem, you probably need something like Quilter Aviator and the lightest cab you can find, with neodymium speakers.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The DV Mark Jazz combos are more affordable and very light, can’t see them having any more headroom than the JC though. Maybe two Jazz 12s as a stereo set up with the RE20!
The Matrix VB800 and the matching cab is another lightweight SS idea. Marshall type voicing though might be going in the wrong direction. Made in the lovely West Midlands.
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Using the clean channel as a loud, clean platform (which is what the OP is talking about) then the Katana 100 is easily louder and cleaner than a Blues Deluxe (his current amp). You've said you prefer to use a driven base tone and get your clean from the guitar volume knob, which is why you've struggled with volume (if I read your previous comments correctly). That's a perfectly valid approach, but worlds apart from what the OP is talking about.
I can't comment on how similar the Katana clean channel is to a real JC amp, never having played one. Would be a worthwhile comparison to do, and I'd be interested in the results (I admit to having a bit of a hankering for a JC-40 too)
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To say it's "not even close" to being usable in a 9 piece ska band context, as unequivocal fact, is misleading if you ask me.
Anyway, the OP should have no trouble locating a Katana to test alongside a JC40 if he wants to compare. I'd love to hear how they both stack up to each other and the Blues Deluxe.
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