My favorite feature of these amps is the ability to switch between CH1 and CH2 or add CH2 on top of CH1 Plus CH2 has a boost. Everything is foot switchable including the spring reverb and the stereo chorus. The clean channel is beautiful the CH2 distortion is not great but I love turning the gain down so just to slightly break up and layer over CH1 That is the perfect pedal platform. And then you have CH1 as the best clean and chorus. A very under appreciated amp. I own two of them.
Just snagged one of these a few days ago. Has a couple of scratchy pots, but otherwise in very good shape. At some point, a previous owner swapped the original speakers out with G12t-75 's. Now, I don't how it sounded originally, but so far, this thing is absolutely BRUTAL in the best and every possible way!
Bought one of these new in 1994. Very little use on it for a variety of reasons but I always liked the sound. My situation is changing and I will be digging it out again soon and spending time with it again. Thanks for the video and I look to spend time with an old friend. :)
Those and the princeton chorus amps are absolute solid state gems that fender put out back in the day. Beautiful clean tone ans absolutely lush warm incredible chrous. No better chorus sound in my opinion.
I really enjoyed your review. I also have one of these and I love it. It's nice to hear how it compares to other chorus pedals and amps. I had seen comments that the overdrive wasn't particularly good, but I downloaded the owner's manual and used the recommended settings for overdrive and I love the sound, especially when combined with the chorus effect. You've prompted me to go back and explore clean chorus sounds more, especially since I now have a variety of guitars to try it with. I look forward to more videos from you as you modify and explore the amp! :)
Very nice. I have a Roland JC120 that I find heavy to move and someone gave me a Fender Ultimate Chorus that I really like. It's the same cabinet size as my old '65 Twin but not nearly as heavy. Wonderful chorus...clean 2 X 12 that takes pedals really well and the overdrive channel is impressive. 👍
@@steffenbrix I agree....My JC 120 seems a bit colder in the tone. Very sterile without a chorus depth adjust. My Fender Ultimate is much warmer and has chorus rate and depth adjustments which is invaluable to tonal values. End result is the Fender gets used almost exclusively. ENJOY!
I have this and I had a jc120… I liked the jc but it was too huge.. and don't get me wrong the jc120 is superb but I ended up getting rid of it. The power chorus is really good at it's clean ch. Distortion not so much. I have noticed however some of the transistors and caps get really hot and crack and foam up .. I had to get it serviced 2x .. it's extremely load if you have a fully functional one I have a deluxe and musician 2x12 hybrid as well but I use this the most as a practice amp and I have gigged with it as well. Thanks for the review. I haven't used the stereo loops however but I have heard not sure that you can get a real stereo effect if you use it.
You mean black knobs? The red knobs was an era in the 80s...these amps go a little deeper in bass frequency for one thing. But there are several small differences
@@steffenbrix Thanks for the recommendation I'm going to go grab it and have the old guy down the street who has worked on guitars and amps for 45 years go through it
My favorite feature of these amps is the ability to switch between CH1 and CH2 or add CH2 on top of CH1 Plus CH2 has a boost. Everything is foot switchable including the spring reverb and the stereo chorus. The clean channel is beautiful the CH2 distortion is not great but I love turning the gain down so just to slightly break up and layer over CH1 That is the perfect pedal platform. And then you have CH1 as the best clean and chorus. A very under appreciated amp. I own two of them.
Just snagged one of these a few days ago. Has a couple of scratchy pots, but otherwise in very good shape. At some point, a previous owner swapped the original speakers out with G12t-75 's. Now, I don't how it sounded originally, but so far, this thing is absolutely BRUTAL in the best and every possible way!
Bought one of these new in 1994. Very little use on it for a variety of reasons but I always liked the sound. My situation is changing and I will be digging it out again soon and spending time with it again. Thanks for the video and I look to spend time with an old friend. :)
Depending on storage conditions...maybe it needs a recap 😊
Those and the princeton chorus amps are absolute solid state gems that fender put out back in the day. Beautiful clean tone ans absolutely lush warm incredible chrous. No better chorus sound in my opinion.
Your kitty cat loves that amp also.
You play very beautiful!
I really enjoyed your review. I also have one of these and I love it. It's nice to hear how it compares to other chorus pedals and amps. I had seen comments that the overdrive wasn't particularly good, but I downloaded the owner's manual and used the recommended settings for overdrive and I love the sound, especially when combined with the chorus effect. You've prompted me to go back and explore clean chorus sounds more, especially since I now have a variety of guitars to try it with.
I look forward to more videos from you as you modify and explore the amp! :)
Very nice. I have a Roland JC120 that I find heavy to move and someone gave me a Fender Ultimate Chorus that I really like. It's the same cabinet size as my old '65 Twin but not nearly as heavy.
Wonderful chorus...clean 2 X 12 that takes pedals really well and the overdrive channel is impressive. 👍
The JC-120 is cool...but I like this one MUCH more 👍
@@steffenbrix I agree....My JC 120 seems a bit colder in the tone. Very sterile without a chorus depth adjust. My Fender Ultimate is much warmer and has chorus rate and depth adjustments which is invaluable to tonal values. End result is the Fender gets used almost exclusively.
ENJOY!
@@rickroberts9182 exactly 👍
Beautiful playing
I have this and I had a jc120… I liked the jc but it was too huge.. and don't get me wrong the jc120 is superb but I ended up getting rid of it. The power chorus is really good at it's clean ch. Distortion not so much. I have noticed however some of the transistors and caps get really hot and crack and foam up .. I had to get it serviced 2x .. it's extremely load if you have a fully functional one I have a deluxe and musician 2x12 hybrid as well but I use this the most as a practice amp and I have gigged with it as well. Thanks for the review. I haven't used the stereo loops however but I have heard not sure that you can get a real stereo effect if you use it.
It sounds like a tube amp.
Fender's direct competitor to the JC 120.
I might get myself one of these (or the ultra chorus), seen quite a few go for just around $150 or even cheaper
I have a power chorus with a volume control problem, I have to keep the volume way under 1 to keep it normal?
How does the amp take pedals? Thank you
WhAts the difference between the red and white knobs
You mean black knobs? The red knobs was an era in the 80s...these amps go a little deeper in bass frequency for one thing. But there are several small differences
Yes
@@steffenbrix which one is more expensive
Red knob ow white and which one would you want
Red Knobs mean it was built and assembled in the USA and the Black knobs mean it was built in Mexico.
I have a guy selling one for $20 he said it's been sitting for 24 years and doesn't work do you think it's worth taking a chance on?
$20?? Yes! Here in Denmark I paid about $700 for it.... after service....but still
@@steffenbrix Thanks for the recommendation I'm going to go grab it and have the old guy down the street who has worked on guitars and amps for 45 years go through it
@@chuckydall9250 I would do the same 👍 good luck
@@steffenbrix I have a guy selling one for 120 used, still worth it?
@@lzasyr yes! I paid $700 for mine....
How heavy is it?
This sounds better than the Roland Jazz Chorus amps but I don't trust Fender amps to be durable.
There's no difference between red and black knobbed. I own 5.