Roland JC120 and Boss GT8

[jgcable]

Most of you probably know that the GT8 actually has an output feature for the JC120. The JC120 is a stereo combo. One of the best 2 x 12 clean combo's ever made. There are a lot of Boss sponsored video's on how the GT8/JC120 is a match made in heaven.
I have been using the GT8 since it first came out. Its an outstanding piece of technology. I have used it through standard effects loops in amps, tube and solid state, stereo tube or SS power amps, stereo cabinets, mono, direct.. etc...BUT I HAVE NEVER used one through the JC120.

I have an opportunity to buy a JC120. I have absolutely no need for it but I am interested in hearing how good it sounds with the GT8.
Has anybody here ever used this combination or heard it?

[Nightbat]

Sheesh JG
and here I was thinking Americans have the talent to create needs


Let me help:

I have an opportunity to buy a JC120. I have absolutely no need for it

I buy a JC120. I have absolutely no need for it

I buy a JC120. I need it

...Your welcome

[jgcable]

Sheesh JG
and here I was thinking Americans have the talent to create needs


Let me help:








...Your welcome

Thanks bro..

[Hellbat]

JC-120 is good to have on it's own just for the clean+chorus. No pedal or other amp can replicate that tone.

[rjohnstone]

Try it! You will be hooked.
My former lead guitar player had one and I plugged my GT-8 into it. Sweet Jesus it was awesome! So awesome that he bought a GT-8 to add to his rig.

I'm running my GT-8 through two Carvin 2x12 SS combos (affordable stereo option) and they suck compared to how the GT-8 sounds through a single JC120.
I just can't afford to buy anymore amps right now or I would own one. (Kids aren't cheap)

[roodyrocker]

JC-120 is good to have on it's own just for the clean+chorus. No pedal or other amp can replicate that tone.

Exactly this! I have a JC120H which is the head version of this amp. I also have 2 matching 4x12 Roland cabs. The cleans in stereo out of this amp are the best! I don't own a Boss GT8 but even if I did, I'd probably still use the built in chorus in the JC120H. Its hard to beat that.

[Catharpin]

I have the GT-8 JC-120 combo and love it. I bought another GT-8 to play other amps because the GT-8 thorough the JC-120 is so good I don't ever unhook it, it's all dialed in.
Mine is an MIJ model with stereo effects return. The stereo return is what really makes it shine when paired with the GT-8. My fav patch is Rectifier/5150 using both GT-8 preamps (one to each speaker) with 14ms delay between preamps.
For cleans and JC-120 chorus I use the loop and 4 cable with GT-8 just doing foot volume, etc. Sweet sounds.

[Bert]

I played one in the 80s, and it's a nice amp, probably everything you've heard. In the 90s when the clean/chorus thing went out of style, I ran a Marshall JMP-1 into it and it still sounded great. Not Marshall half-stack kick you in the chest great, but its own kind of thing. I eventually sold it and started running the JMP-1 into a rack-mount solid-state power amp into a Mesa cab, but honestly I think it sounded better into the JC-120.

[PowerTube]

Years ago before I bought my POD 2.3, I was comparing it against the Behringer V-Amp. The V-Amp was roughly half the price of the POD and it also included a carrying case, which was sold separately with the POD. So believe me, I really WANTED to like the V-Amp more.

I went to GC one day to try them both back to back, and guess what amp they had in the "small modelers" section? A Roland JC-60. I thought, "what idiots!" However, my opinion changed once I got the POD dialed in across it. It absolutely KILLED through that amp. Some might argue that it doesn't matter what amp you're running a POD across, but I disagree. It took me quite some time to find an acceptable sound from mine across my JCM 800 halfstack.

So if the JC-60 sounded that great, I figured that the JC-120, being stereo, would be even better.

One thing I'll mention, though: in the book "Amps: The Other Half of Rock and Roll," the author cautions that there are some pretty major tonal difference between different years of the JC-120. I've never owned one so I can't attest to this personally.

[markD]

I had a JC120 head in the early 90s. got it for 75 bucks! very nice clean sound - almost hi-fi. once I got my rivera S120 (pretty much an all tube JC120), I dumped the roland. sometimes I miss it, but then I plug into my rivera and smile....

but as far as a GT8 into a JC - nope never tried it, though it makes sense that it would be a killer rig considering it seems that roland voices the GT processors with the JC in mind...

[jgcable]

I am picking up a JC120 tonight. I can't wait to try this thing out with the GT-8. I searched around for reviews and every single one is absolutely stellar. Its like a match made in heaven. If not... no big deal.. the JC120 is something I wanted to add to my collection for a while now.
I am picking it up for $450.00
Its a first year model in excellent condition with a Voodoo 3 button custom switch.
REVIEW TO FOLLOW!!!!!

[roodyrocker]

I am picking up a JC120 tonight. I can't wait to try this thing out with the GT-8. I searched around for reviews and every single one is absolutely stellar. Its like a match made in heaven. If not... no big deal.. the JC120 is something I wanted to add to my collection for a while now.
I am picking it up for $450.00
Its a first year model in excellent condition with a Voodoo 3 button custom switch.
REVIEW TO FOLLOW!!!!!

What you need now John is a good A/B switch. Run the 5150 for distortion and the JC120 for cleans. Just click the switch and you have great tones at opposite ends of the spectrum. No more dealing with multi channel amps that sound great on one setting and like poop on another channel.

[jgcable]

OK, I got the JC120. Its a mint condition 1st year model. I think thats around 1976. I reset my GT-8 to factory settings and I plugged the left and right out on the GT-8 into the left and right Main IN's on the JC120. I set the GT-8 output to JC-120 RETURN. This turns the JC120 into a twin 60 watt stereo combo. Seriously.. I can't find a single FACTORY patch that doesn't sound amazing. Of course.. many of them have too much effects but it takes seconds to turn them off or dial them down.
The stereo amps along with the stereo effects make this combo sound so huge its almost impossible to tell where the sound is coming from. For instance.. I had the combo against a 17' long wall. We stood in front of the amp about 10' away. It sounded like the entire 17' long wall was lined with speakers. Its almost like surround sound. I never heard anything like this. Now I know what everybody was talking about. This is the perfect combination. This is a TON of fun. BTW.. the JC120 on its own sounds just incredible. Easily the loudest amp I have ever heard. On a volume level of 2 it almost hurts your ears. The chorus is amazing. The vibra is amazing. The reverb is amazing. The controls are very reactive. The distortion sucks of course but who didn't know that.
Anyway... jeez... I spent countless hours building my own patches on the GT-8 and all I really needed to do was get a JC120 for it.

[markD]

you gigging that instead of the vetta?

[jgcable]

you gigging that instead of the vetta?

Hell no. Now I have the Vetta II combo and longboard that sounds friggin fantastic and the Roland JC-120/GT-8 combo that sounds even better.
I just don't want to use modeling live. Maybe for some smaller shows but the next few we have coming up are pretty big.

Live I am using a brand new Marshall DSL100H through a Soldano 4 x 12 cab. Delay and an LPB-1 boost pedal in the loop and a Morley wah out in front. I am thinking about ditching the Morley switchless optical wah though and getting something good. I really liked the Zack Wylde Wah. A friend has a Budda that sounds amazing. The Morley Wah is pretty much generic and lifeless. I don't use it much though.. thankfully!

I am still tossed on using the Vetta Live. We will see tonight at a live and loud band rehearsal. I am going to A/B/C the Vetta, the Roland/Boss and the Marshall DSL100H half stack. I will say that the DSL through the Soldano really sounds pretty darn good.