[Searcy]

I'm heading out today to see if I can buy an amp I looked at last night. It's a Roland VGA-7 which is sort of a JC-120 with a built in synth system and some amp modeling. I've been looking for a JC-120 for a long time but I'm thinking this will fit the bill. Gonna trade the Fender Champ against it if they want it.

I'll update later.

[stein]

Is that a JC-120 with ADDED capability to use modeling? Or is it a modeling only amp?

I ask because the JC-120, to spite being a SS amp, IS a classic and a great amp. It has it's own thing, and if that is what you are looking for, I wouldn't think there is a substitute. You CAN'T "model" that amp and get the same result. It's actually a very good amp.

[Searcy]

stein, on 16 November 2012 - 08:35 AM, said:

Is that a JC-120 with ADDED capability to use modeling? Or is it a modeling only amp?

I ask because the JC-120, to spite being a SS amp, IS a classic and a great amp. It has it's own thing, and if that is what you are looking for, I wouldn't think there is a substitute. You CAN'T "model" that amp and get the same result. It's actually a very good amp.

I played the VGA last night and loved the sound of it. I don't know if the JC120 is modeled or real but it's very good. One thing I really like about it is that you can jack into the stereo power amp section so my Line 6 pod is doing to sound great on that. I've got 3 solid state amps right now but I've been after a stereo Roland for a long time. For $200 I can pass this one up.

[stein]

Searcy, on 16 November 2012 - 08:48 AM, said:

I played the VGA last night and loved the sound of it. I don't know if the JC120 is modeled or real but it's very good. One thing I really like about it is that you can jack into the stereo power amp section so my Line 6 pod is doing to sound great on that. I've got 3 solid state amps right now but I've been after a stereo Roland for a long time. For $200 I can pass this one up.

No, you can't. And you can't touch a good JC for that.

You can barely get a good pair of speakers for that. Or a good pair of pups.

Used to be able to buy a GOOD Strat copy for about too-fiddy. Just sayin'.

[Searcy]

Why don't you give me that Paisley so I can put some good pickups in it?

[stein]

Searcy, on 16 November 2012 - 09:00 AM, said:

Why don't you give me that Paisley so I can put some good pickups in it?

Lol...Actually, I am only selling because I owe others money, and don't feel right having stuff I don't need when I could be paying some of it back. Otherwise, I wouldn't sell.

This happens to be worth currently about anywhere from 450 to 1200 bucks, according to blue-book values and info on the net. Kinda surprising, but not really.

Honestly, it LOOKS extremely cool, but it is NOT what I would call a "good" sounding Strat. I wouldn't recommend youy actually buy it, unless you just needed it for cool factor. If you need a Strat for sound, (or "Strat-ness") this ain't it.

Besides, it's much cheaper to ship pups to me than have me ship this to you.

[Dub-T-123]

That sounds dope.

Don't the old JC-120s have the same chorus circuit as the Boss/Roland CE-1? It's kinda like you get a really nice clean sounding amp and also one of the best chorus circuits ever made from my understanding

[stein]

Dub-T-123, on 16 November 2012 - 07:41 PM, said:

That sounds dope.

Don't the old JC-120s have the same chorus circuit as the Boss/Roland CE-1? It's kinda like you get a really nice clean sounding amp and also one of the best chorus circuits ever made from my understanding

Yea, it's based on it, but it is like a literal life size version of it.

It uses 2 60 watt power amps. The chorus effect is not through the whole amp, but rather uses the two power amps to produce it.

It's an amazing sound, and at times, sounds incredibly rich, but you don't notice it as chorus. But then again, it's "chorusy" to the max. (Actually, I just decribed 'chorus' didn't I?).

Besides that, without the chorus on, it is still an incredible amp in a lot of ways.

[Searcy]

Got it. I'm in the middle of a p-90 order and haven't had time to do any video of it. What little noodling I have done on it has been impressive.

Here's some guys doing some clean stuff with it.

[retrosurfer1959]

Congrats hope you enjoy it. It's got a whole lot more knobs and switches on it than my JC-120 has on it. And I thought it had more knobs than any amp would ever need.

if you got it at 200 it was a hell of a deal since they listed for 1500 when they were making them.

[ZenKen]

Enjoy the world of modeling technologies Clint. Give us your take on it after you have a chance to explore.

[bonzoboy]

A couple of my really good buddies have original Roland JC-120s and there still isn't anything made that can come close to them for that beautifully lush chorus sound.

[kaleb]

With a JC-120, add reverb and you have the old-school Alex Lifeson clean tone.

They're the ultimate clean amp for sure.

[Searcy]

It does do the chorus effect by running half the signal out through each of the 65W power amp sections. It sounds good. I'll try to do a little demo this week sometime.

Here's what all the knobs and buttons are.

[Searcy]

So I picked up a Roland GK3 and installed it on the SG to see how those virtual guitar sounds on the VAG sounded. Here's a rough first impression. I'll add a few more sound clips later.



This is a 12 string sim.

https://soundcloud.com/searcy/srvdrop

[daveinspain]

Cool blues progression but it sounded like the guitar had buzzing frets... Can that be adjusted out?

[Searcy]

No no no! Clunky buzzy 12 string sim needs to be both clunky and buzzy!

I'll toss up a few more short demos I did later.

[Searcy]

Nylon string Sim on the SG
My link

And a little funk John Lords
My link