Dull?! It’s arguably one of the greatest cleans ever created. The only REAL problem with this amp is the distortion is not that great, but it also takes pedals well and that’s how I get my overdrive anyway through it. The cleans and the chorus are why this thing is so great.
Distortion.. Bright switch off, treble down. It can get into that Proco Rat territory almost a creamy fuzzy tone. I used to run a tube amp in combo with a JC way back in the day for blues, I could and did get that Leslie tone but if you throw a small tube combo with it. You get all the goodness of both.
GREAT AMP FOR WHO NEEDS THE jazz sound...FORGET THE DISTORTION ....I'll use my Marshall for that.....keep on Rockin!....I love it ...I will buy one....
@@wrektum can't beat that Alex lifeson chorus tone! Or is it an electric mistress flanger he uses like Andy summers...can't really tell because you can set them to sound like chorus
I find Roland amplification to reproduce the sound of the guitar. If the amp is "too trebly" dial back the tone. That's exactly what I have to do to tame my Charvel
To be honest a lot of amps and guitars are very very "dark" or muddy sounding to my ears... So a bit more "balanced" and higher end makes my ears happy, at least for my style of jazz and funk playing.
No pedals to test? I love my JC40. I have a 120 as well, but the 40 is so much lighter!! and still quite loud. It's worth noting that the JC40 is also lighter than a comparably sized tube amp, and because it's solid state the sound is basically the same at all volumes (with the possible exception of really low volumes where you don't get that fullness, but that's true of any amp) The distortion on the 40 is really decent, totally usable, just depending on your preference for distortion style. It reminds me of a "bigger" sounding Boss DS-1, which is a good thing because I've always found the DS-1 to be too buzzy and compressed. I stick a Boss Super Overdrive in front of it and can't go wrong. Thanks for the review!
Nope no pedals. I wanted just the amp. By the way the JC-40 handles pedals just fine. I use the Zoom G5n on it all the time. Solid state is the way to go!!
I feel like once a gig gets to a certain size, there will be sound reinforcement (i.e. miking of all amps regardless of their size to ensure parity in the mix). So, whether you drag a 120 or 40 to this kind of show, it won't really matter. Having said that, I just played an outdoor show on Saturday and my JC-40 volume was at just over 3. I play with another guitarist (Fender Hot Rod Deville 2x12), bass, and a fairly loud drummer. Only a PA for the vocals. Sounded great.
Hi i play in a spanish band and instrument called “bajosexto” we play with live sound at house parties and nightclubs, just wondering will 40 watts be enough or should i go for the 120?
The JC-40 is plenty loud for gigs like house parties and nightclubs. With the volume at about 4 it starts getting loud. I think you will really enjoy this amp and it takes pedals well.
I actually recently returned a fender deluxe tone master and copped the JC40- never been happier. My main gripe w the DRTM was that the bright cap make all my dirt pedals sound super fizzy and harsh. But apparently the new firmware update lets you turn off the bright cap and the newly released blonde DRTM has a switch for the bright cap.
For sure! It gets loud. Well suited for bars and church. Great big night clubs with a loud drummer you may want to look at a JC-120. It's not much more and I have a link to them on my channel. Let us know what you decide.
Hi, The JC 40 and 120 sound almost identical. The difference is the distortion (even though I don't care for it) sounds better on the JC 40. Short answer is: no I cannot tell the difference
wrektum I'm thinking of Buying a 120 or a 40. Just wondering in your opinion is the 12 inch speakers much better. Or not much different. Do you think the 120 is worth the extra money.?
That depends on what you will use the amp for. Is it just recording? Then, yes the 40 is plenty. Are you playing bars? Again, yes the 40 is plenty. Will you be playing large outdoor venues? You might need the 120 in that case.
Does the JC40 sound 'boxy'? I have the Roland Cube, so the same 1x12 size, I dont know if its just because its a cheap amp, but there is way too much bass, even with it completely dialed off on the amp, its awful. I might have to get this if it doesnt turn your guitar into a muddy mess!
Dude, i have just watch this, that sound on the dry channel is awful. I play a USA Epi Casino, my dry channel is really warm using just a touch of reverb. It sounds like a like a Fender valve amp
The two ten inch speakers are driven by two separate power amps and the sound is almost identical. The big difference is the updated effects, stereo inputs, headphone jack, digital reverb, and so on. If you need a smaller amp with the legendary JC-120 performance look no further than the JC-40
Dull?! It’s arguably one of the greatest cleans ever created. The only REAL problem with this amp is the distortion is not that great, but it also takes pedals well and that’s how I get my overdrive anyway through it.
The cleans and the chorus are why this thing is so great.
That's the thing. It makes a good clean base, so you can add your stuff onto that.
Can you get a metal (thrash, groove, "djenty") tone through distortion pedals through this thing?
Nobody would buy a JC-40 for its distortion. It’s a *great* effects platform, so to speak.
I do actually REALLY LOVE the onboard distortion. It's ultra modern 80's style and "B-Movie" tones all the way.
@@squirelova1815 it's horrible. I have yet to hear it in a mix, but by itself, yeah.. garbage.
The "distortion" gets better if you lower the treble control - lower the better!
Distortion.. Bright switch off, treble down. It can get into that Proco Rat territory almost a creamy fuzzy tone. I used to run a tube amp in combo with a JC way back in the day for blues, I could and did get that Leslie tone but if you throw a small tube combo with it. You get all the goodness of both.
GREAT AMP FOR WHO NEEDS THE jazz sound...FORGET THE DISTORTION ....I'll use my Marshall for that.....keep on Rockin!....I love it ...I will buy one....
Bi amp with the Marshall as well - you will love the sound!
Nice 80s sound amp.
Thanks for the video, you helped me make my decision.
What was your decision? Did you buy a Roland?
@@wrektum I sure did. I play it in stereo with my AC30 and Rickenbacker 360. Sounds great!
Red barchetta is definitely the best song to showcase this amp
Thanks! I wish I spent more time on the song but I probably couldn't do it justice. Red Barchetta definitely puts the JC through its paces.
@@wrektum can't beat that Alex lifeson chorus tone! Or is it an electric mistress flanger he uses like Andy summers...can't really tell because you can set them to sound like chorus
Great amp.
I’ve seen people say the amp is “too trebly” sounding.
Thoughts?
I find Roland amplification to reproduce the sound of the guitar. If the amp is "too trebly" dial back the tone. That's exactly what I have to do to tame my Charvel
To be honest a lot of amps and guitars are very very "dark" or muddy sounding to my ears... So a bit more "balanced" and higher end makes my ears happy, at least for my style of jazz and funk playing.
it has a broad range, more than a normal tube amp, so you just need to dial back a little bit the treble or tone in your pedals.
Nice review, I think I‘m gonna buy one. Especially because I own a hx stomp and want to do some stereo action on stage :D (after covid)
Thanks for the compliment. You cannot go wrong with a Roland
No pedals to test? I love my JC40. I have a 120 as well, but the 40 is so much lighter!! and still quite loud. It's worth noting that the JC40 is also lighter than a comparably sized tube amp, and because it's solid state the sound is basically the same at all volumes (with the possible exception of really low volumes where you don't get that fullness, but that's true of any amp) The distortion on the 40 is really decent, totally usable, just depending on your preference for distortion style. It reminds me of a "bigger" sounding Boss DS-1, which is a good thing because I've always found the DS-1 to be too buzzy and compressed. I stick a Boss Super Overdrive in front of it and can't go wrong. Thanks for the review!
Nope no pedals. I wanted just the amp. By the way the JC-40 handles pedals just fine. I use the Zoom G5n on it all the time. Solid state is the way to go!!
How well does it take distortion pedals? I have the Roland Cube and you cant play scales with distortion, it messes with the alogorithm or something.
All JCs are great pedal platforms. I've never played a Cube, but aren't they more for modeling? You really can't go wrong with a JC.
kevin loud enough for a gig? semi big gig situation?
I feel like once a gig gets to a certain size, there will be sound reinforcement (i.e. miking of all amps regardless of their size to ensure parity in the mix). So, whether you drag a 120 or 40 to this kind of show, it won't really matter. Having said that, I just played an outdoor show on Saturday and my JC-40 volume was at just over 3. I play with another guitarist (Fender Hot Rod Deville 2x12), bass, and a fairly loud drummer. Only a PA for the vocals. Sounded great.
Great review.
Thanks!
Thx for this nice review!
Thank you for the nice comment
Buddy, that hiss is your cable and/or guitar pickups.
Pal, tell us what cable eliminates the hiss that many Roland users experience
@@wrektum I have a JC-40 and have no hiss. I have tried single coil and humbucker guitars, still no hiss. Maybe I'm a lucky one....
Hi i play in a spanish band and instrument called “bajosexto” we play with live sound at house parties and nightclubs, just wondering will 40 watts be enough or should i go for the 120?
The JC-40 is plenty loud for gigs like house parties and nightclubs. With the volume at about 4 it starts getting loud. I think you will really enjoy this amp and it takes pedals well.
Hi thanks for the review. Really enjoyed it. In your opinino what OD and Distortion pedals suits best this amp? I play with a CV Strat...
Trying to decide between this and a new fender tone master modeler, any thoughts?
Not a big fan of modelers. Go with pedals and a super solid amp like the JC-40
I actually recently returned a fender deluxe tone master and copped the JC40- never been happier. My main gripe w the DRTM was that the bright cap make all my dirt pedals sound super fizzy and harsh.
But apparently the new firmware update lets you turn off the bright cap and the newly released blonde DRTM has a switch for the bright cap.
Should demo it will effect board
I'd hazard a guess that the hum is from the pickups not the amp.
or a ground buzz
That's gotta be some of that good ol' 60 cycle hum coming from those single coil pickups.
Transistor hiss. All solid state amps have it. No big deal.
Do you think you could gig with this amp?
For sure! It gets loud. Well suited for bars and church. Great big night clubs with a loud drummer you may want to look at a JC-120. It's not much more and I have a link to them on my channel. Let us know what you decide.
maybe you should re review now...... this is a really great amp.... just saying
I plug in my guitar in stereo..it sounds better
Adding reverb doesn't change the amp, it covers up your not so precise playing... That is what happens with reverb and delay
Hi. I was wondering if the jc 40 wolud be as good as the 120 for recording. Could you tell the difference between the two when recorded?
Hi,
The JC 40 and 120 sound almost identical. The difference is the distortion (even though I don't care for it) sounds better on the JC 40.
Short answer is: no I cannot tell the difference
wrektum I'm thinking of Buying a 120 or a 40. Just wondering in your opinion is the 12 inch speakers much better. Or not much different. Do you think the 120 is worth the extra money.?
That depends on what you will use the amp for. Is it just recording? Then, yes the 40 is plenty. Are you playing bars? Again, yes the 40 is plenty. Will you be playing large outdoor venues? You might need the 120 in that case.
wrektum thanks very much. For your help.
Does the JC40 sound 'boxy'? I have the Roland Cube, so the same 1x12 size, I dont know if its just because its a cheap amp, but there is way too much bass, even with it completely dialed off on the amp, its awful. I might have to get this if it doesnt turn your guitar into a muddy mess!
Dude, i have just watch this, that sound on the dry channel is awful. I play a USA Epi Casino, my dry channel is really warm using just a touch of reverb. It sounds like a like a Fender valve amp
@@marccarter1350 the Roland JC series is known for having a super plain tone.
Hi friend can you tell me if the chorus Of the jc-40 is the same Of the vintage chorus jc-120 japanese???
The two ten inch speakers are driven by two separate power amps and the sound is almost identical. The big difference is the updated effects, stereo inputs, headphone jack, digital reverb, and so on. If you need a smaller amp with the legendary JC-120 performance look no further than the JC-40
120 has a analog chorus, but 40 has digital...
These are terrific amps - but pricey!!
Agreed. However, it will last a long time.
these arecheap