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Re: Solid state guitar amps
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2023 7:12 am
by penningtron
A friend has a JC-77 with an Eminence Legend replacement speaker which makes a HUGE difference, especially for rock tones. Cool mid sized amp.
Re: Solid state guitar amps
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2023 7:18 am
by Nate Dort
Nico Adie wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 3:10 am
I’m assuming they’re not common stateside but HH amps are excellent, especially the IC and VS models. Swore by them for years.
They aren't at all. I've been searching for an HH IC100-S stateside for years without luck.
Re: Solid state guitar amps
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2023 8:37 am
by Garth
Did sound for a band last week that had a brand new JC-120. They're still just as great as ever. Probably the most WYSIWYG amp of all time.
They were doing a shoegazey thing w/ a lot of "clean" (clean in this case meaning not super distorted, they were super affected though) guitar parts and it was perfect, even w/ the original speakers. I didn't detect any of the brittleness, stiffness, or harshness that I often read about them.
Re: Solid state guitar amps
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2023 9:02 am
by penningtron
Garth wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 8:37 am
Did sound for a band last week that had a brand new JC-120. They're still just as great as ever. Probably the most WYSIWYG amp of all time.
They were doing a shoegazey thing w/ a lot of "clean" (clean in this case meaning not super distorted, they were super affected though) guitar parts and it was perfect, even w/ the original speakers. I didn't detect any of the brittleness, stiffness, or harshness that I often read about them.
Yeah, that's what those speakers are designed for: shimmery modulation. Distortion and fuzz can get ugly really fast though, why something dark and inefficient like the Legend fit in nicely.
It would be fun to swap out and experiment with JC-120 speakers, but for what that would cost (even used) you could buy 2 Traynors.
Re: Solid state guitar amps
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2023 9:56 am
by Garth
penningtron wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 9:02 am
Garth wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 8:37 am
Did sound for a band last week that had a brand new JC-120. They're still just as great as ever. Probably the most WYSIWYG amp of all time.
They were doing a shoegazey thing w/ a lot of "clean" (clean in this case meaning not super distorted, they were super affected though) guitar parts and it was perfect, even w/ the original speakers. I didn't detect any of the brittleness, stiffness, or harshness that I often read about them.
Yeah, that's what those speakers are designed for: shimmery modulation. Distortion and fuzz can get ugly really fast though, why something dark and inefficient like the Legend fit in nicely.
It would be fun to swap out and experiment with JC-120 speakers, but for what that would cost (even used) you could buy 2 Traynors.
You're hitting on a good secondary point here, a couple of the key factors that drives a lot of folks to solid state amps is A.) weight-savings B.) cost-savings and C.) reliability. I can't speak to the 3rd point but the JC-120 does neither A nor B.
Re: Solid state guitar amps
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2023 10:33 am
by Krev
Garth wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 6:09 pm
Krev wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 5:02 pm
Garth wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 3:08 pm
but does it tub
...like you read. I don't really play anymore, but am reluctant to sell it due to rarity.
This is the first nice thing I think I've read about them (beyond the faceplate looking monolithic and rad as hell). I confess I've never heard one though at least not to my knowledge.
Makes me wonder if back in the day Ampeg was really trying to voice it to respond more like a tub amp and that's why it will do the dark throb thing...and then folks 20-30 years later were expecting it to sound more "solid-statey" so they chalked it up as being "one of the shitty ones."
Not having an "ultra lo" switch on it though...that's a concern. Maybe doesn't need it?
The front end is similar to a V series. It does have the two EQ switches. It's fine for bass or (really loud) guitar.
Mine was blown up when I got it, but was lucky to find a tech who specialized in old solid state. It had all 12 transistors, the caps, and the IC chip replaced.