Roland JC-120 without the HUGE price tag!

[@craiglizt8074]

I loved these old Peaveys. Plus, they remind me of the ‘80s.

[@spiderman0863]

I had a Bandit 112 Scorpion. I foolishly sold it.😢

[@pohsibkcirrag6312]

Hartley Peavey gave our school this amp for our Jazz band. I played it in HS in the 90s. The amp is now in my possession.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

That’s so rad man! Did you go to school in Mississippi?

[@jasonjayalap]

And how long is the statute of limitations there?

[@Taylor-GTO]

Some of the 'true stereo chorus' guitar amplifiers from the late 80's - 90's are absolute gems! Our most coveted recording amps today are the Fender M-80 chorus and Ampeg VH-140C. Just amazing analog tone. 🤘

[@RickyReillyMusic]

I kinda want an M-80!

[@aussiecue]

@@RickyReillyMusic Only for its clean channel. I have the grey carpet combo and it is fantastic! Super loud and clear. It has a Jensen C12K that seems to sound good.

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

Teal stripe Peavey is every bit as good as a Roland. Let no one tell you different.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

This guy gets it!

[@FlipDahlenburg]

Nope! Roland sounds better in every way! I've played both.

[@rustyshackleford9557]

​@@FlipDahlenburgyep but the power amp section and speakers in the Peavey are fantastic. Simply use a different preamp going directly into the power amp in and you can bypass that heavey mid hump Peavey tone. Some folks love that thick midrange but I come from a world of twangy Fender Deluxe and Princeton tones. I have used a zillion of those Peaveys. In the day, they were in every backline and I am a nobody so I know better than complain. I carried an old MP1 and a POD and went right into the " power amp in" Great power amp, nice speakers.

[@geraldfriend256]

BetterThe. Roland clean is too hard sounding and the distortion is garbage

[@mr.timebombman2230]

​@@geraldfriend256 The Roland isn't meant for it's distortion. People use that model for it's clean channel and chorus.

[@Hugh_Manitee]

Ive got a teal stripe Stereo Chorus. It can do any music. Blues, Country, Classic Rock, Death Metal. The chorus and reverb/delay presets controls are pretty cool.

[@JimThompson-i3u]

Back in 1991 I used to have a Peavey Stereo Chorus 212. It was a great amp and one I wish I would have held on to. These old Blue Stripe amps are nearly indestructible.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

You know it man! They’re literally tanks.

[@thatampguy]

The teal stripe has an insane overdrive channel. This is my fav solid state amp of all time.

[@vashstampede5933]

I have two old Bandit 112s from this generation that I run slaved, in stereo with a Peavey Rockmaster tube preamp (2-1/2 channel Ultra series preamp basically) in front of a Digitech RP2000 for full stereo effects. This was a grand experiment I conducted about 25 years ago in messing with stereo effects for the first time, needless to say, it has remained as my secondary rig setup ever since. The awesome tone of the Rockmaster preamp in conjunction with the veritable kitchen sink of effects in stereo from the RP2000 with the Bandits in their own unique configuration, one open back with a Sheffield 1230, the other a closed back using a Scorpion speaker has forever blown my mind, it is INSANELY versatile now. I will NEVER get rid of this mini-stack, the stereo effects are incredible, namely the Panner speaker effect on the RP2000 akin to a rotating Leslie speaker. Great video man, I remember this amp well, another great old Peavey!

[@Thompsongs]

To this day, I still lust after a Rockmaster preamp. I bet that setup sounds killer.

[@TheSactoSmile]

I have the old studio chorus 70, with 8" speakers. Sounds incredible.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

I want one of those! They’re kinda rare.

[@Bettys_Eldest]

it was my first decent amp when I bought it used in 1994. Great cleans, but the distortion channel not so, but I used it with the MXR Distortion+ (that I bought with my first student grant cheque back in 1975) which kept me happy. I now have eight valve amps to choose from but the Peavey still gets plenty of use as I have never found a chorus pedal that works for me as well as this amp.

[@benjaminsnow7061]

Ah, yes, this brings back old memories. I had one of these back in my younger years. This thing hauled ass!! Nice and loud. I often used it to compete with PA systems both indoors and out, and it caught up with them. I only ever had all the channel gains up to 3. It also had one of the best digital reverbs around at the time, and the circuit board for the reverb was about the size of a cigarette packet. I am more of a bass player these days, and I sold it years ago. Now, I own a TKO-60 bass combo, which is nearly as old as I am. Ah yes, real old vintage gold!!

[@RickyReillyMusic]

Those old solid-state amps were pretty amazing.

[@benjaminsnow7061]

Yep, those things just keep on going and going!!

[@shadowsong1]

Everything you said is true. I'd just add that If you don't like this overdrive channel on the amp....that wonderful clean channel takes pedals perfectly.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

A very good point.

[@SteveHatzman]

That was the first amp I ever bought myself. Paid 450 with my high school graduation money in 1993. I miss that amp.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

You could get a new one for pretty cheap.

[@SteveHatzman]

@ I’m sorry. Mine was a stereo chorus but it looks like the same thing.

[@cassavamellin]

owned one. great amp, wish it didnt weigh a ton but it had great sounds. i even enjoyed the overdrive channel, better than most pedals. loud, clean chorus is superb.

[@garycoates4987]

Back in the 80s as a teenager I wanted a jc120 so I got the Peavey equivalent at the time the stereo chorus 400 ,which is very different it's set up in two amps like the Roland but has a lot more EQ controls and features, as well as what Peavey called at the time a dual clock chorus, basically two chorus that ran at the same time with four knobs , where on the Roland it was either chorus or vibrato and the chorus was fixed and can't be adjusted, today I still have that same Peavey but I finally got the Roland JC120, which does sound better, all the Peaveys have a kind of weird compression that happens on the high notes at high volume clean, I use the amps as a pedal platform so high gain does smooth that out, I have almost bought the same amp you're demoing a couple of times, they're really great , on the 400 I have another thing that happens is the gain amps up and volume increases when you kick in the chorus, I like using my Roland and Peavey together with a high gain distorted sound from a multifex makes a loud aggressive 80s goth/metal sound with all the chorus , sounds 20 foot tall and louder than a wall of stacks, plus running clean sounds full and rich and warm , sounds 80s but still modern

[@RickyReillyMusic]

I bet that setup sounds monstrously huge!

[@CramwellJr]

Had a Chorus 400 for 30 years plus. Loudest production amp of its era.

[@garycoates4987]

@CramwellJr yep ridiculously loud I had a proco rat in the 80s and when I would jam with people it was louder than some 1/2 stacks lol

[@zenncatt]

I had a Classic Chorus and currently play through a Stereo Chorus. I've owned two Roland JC120s. The Peavey has all the Roland JC120 offers plus a killer lead/gain channel. My band covers Classic Soul/Funk/RnB/Pop. I also use it for Rock/Blues Rock. I'm very content with the Peavey. It's heavy, but the casters help.

[@mcpribs]

My best friend had this amp, and I borrowed it for a few months. Always loved it way more than the JC…those Scorpions can definitely fart out though.

[@mistermojo1969]

My last band was using a borrowed shop space for rehearsal. The owner also had a band, and he let me use the second Classic Chorus so I didn’t need an amp there. The chorus and reverb knobs were busted off, and I don’t think the lead channel worked. So I just used a Line 6 M13 for distortion and effects for that project. The music was 60s and 70s, so I mostly just used the clean channel with no effects. It worked great! After that project blew up, it caused me to go down the whole Peavey rabbit hole. I sold off my Line 6 Spider II that I had for way too long…that was the only “big” amp I owned. And these days I have a red stripe Envoy and Bandit. Great amps!

[@RickyReillyMusic]

I love the red stripe era!

[@markinthemix6055]

Loved this amp. Used it when l was in college. I really liked it when people said you sound like Tony Macalpine 😊

[@RickyReillyMusic]

Haha right on

[@charlesb7831]

I have a Peavey stereo chorus 2x12 and the Peavey Bandit teal stripe, amazing amps. I run a Radial JD7 Injector rack unit, so I run those 2 amps with a Carvin X-50B head and 4x12 cab with a Marshall JCM800 simultaneously, such an incredible sound, full frequency spread lol. Pretty freaking loud too !

[@JoeMasse-e4b]

Those old Peavey amps, when I first started gigging late 70s early 80s, I had my Duece, my Musician, good reliable amps, that if you tweaked right, sounded very good, I use mostly Vox, these days, but I have a soft spot for older Peavey's.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

I love vox! Probably my favorite British sound.

[@gcvrsa]

The first amp I ever used live was a Peavey Stereo Chorus 212 borrowed from a friend. I eventually bought myself an Ampeg VH-140C, another great amp of that type.

[@Ian_KH]

I have a friend who has a JC-160 in a quad 10" cabinet. He got when we were kids back in about '79/'80 and it's still in perfect condition. It's massive and on casters. We use to use it as a pa for vocals back the garage days.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

How much do you think that thing weighs?

[@Bettys_Eldest]

I bought a used Studio Stereo Chorus 70 back in 1994. Two eight inch speakers pushing 35 watts through each of the stereo channels. A really nice clean sound though the lead channel was not great, but an MXR Distortion+ did the job on the few occasions I needed it. For about ten years it was my main amp. Thirty years on I have eight valve amps, no new solid state amps, but the Peavey still gets used. I love the clean channel, the compact light weight and the chorus which I have never replicated with pedals. Back in the day I would have loved the 212, but now appreciate the smaller package. Twenty years ago someone stepped on the footswitch DIN plug and broke it. They replaced the plug, but messed up the wiring, reverb and chorus still switch, but not the channel. For my use that's not an issue. Other than that there have been no problems in my thirty years of use.

[@tonyvermeer7409]

Peavey's were my first amps. Studio Chorus 70 was my first then I replaced it with the Peavey 2x10 version. When I started playing live, I bought some old, heavy, solid state Peavey head with a distortion pedal in front. My last Peavey was a Classic Tube 50/50 power amp in a live rack and a Peavey 5150 slant 4x12. I still play a modded Peavey Rockmaster preamp in a rack.

[@randygeren]

All the country guys used to use Peavey amps what happened there still good why did they stop.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

I dunno man. They were great!

[@demonicsweaters]

So many people had this or a variation of some solid state Peavy with chorus in the late 80s, 90s. As soon as you struck that first chord I was like, yep, that's the sound I remember.

[@Lu_Woods]

Crate made a great 2x8 with super lush chorus. The G40C. usually priced around 200.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

Great amp. They also brought out a version with a phaser. I had one of the first Peavey Bandits, which also had the Scorpion speaker. One of the best guitar speakers ever imho. If you jumped on a wooden stage, the reverb tank would go off like thunder. Still one of the best amp reverbs.

[@rgbplumbinghilton]

I still gig a 91 classic chorus. I think I paid £40 for it. Changed the speakers, Eminence legend and Sheffield. The cleans are fat but not spikey. Chorus is amazing and reverb it very nice. Drive channel is not bad. I have a soft spot for Peavey and own loads of different models. The Backstage 208 chorus is a sleeper. Don't see many for sale as most are in collections .

[@RickyReillyMusic]

I’ve been trying to get my hands on one of the 2x10 chorus models for my collection.

[@rgbplumbinghilton]

@@RickyReillyMusic the 2 x 8 is great for the studio. Very warm sounding for 8" speakers. I traded a 2x10 chorus for the 2x8

[@ronpatterson5483]

Great review,!thanks

[@RickyReillyMusic]

Glad you liked it!

[@Dan79istheman]

Hi Ricky, I have one of the beasts too, albeit, not in as nice condition as yours. Nice demo too. Cheers, Dan

[@RickyReillyMusic]

Thanks Dan! This one was pretty gross before I took it apart and cleaned it up. It had good bones though haha.

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

I had one of these for a short while. Maybe a slightly different model, because I think it had digital reverb. It was old when I got it, and the speakers were faulty. I took the backs off and cleaned them, which helped, but the amp was past its best, so I moved it on. It was also stupidly heavy. More recently, I've bought a 1989 Bandit. It too needed a new speaker, and fortunately I had a Celestion Sidewinder available, so that's now in the amp. It is fantastic, but anyone looking to buy an old amp shouldn't be surprised if they have to spend money fixing it.

[@slowfinger2]

Was looking at these last summer. I've seen a few and they want up to $800 Can. Cheapest one, at $450, and it was a rugged looking 30 yrs old. For that money, not worth a ticking time bomb of dried up capacitors and repairs. Not needing that kind of volume, I ended up with a pristine condition, Peavey Tone King (tube) for $400, very lightly used. Ten years old, stored alone in a closet as an extra amp in a vacation apt. Used for ten hours. Only downside is that the smaller reverb tank sounds horrible above 3-4.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

Yea those smaller tanks aren’t as good imo

[@keyboardkingpin]

Great demo i had to hit you with a sub the reverb and chours sound great.

[@ohioridercinci2495]

Had the Deuce, giged in germany while in the army, great amp. I used to remove 2 output tubes for 50 watt in smaller clubs, all 100 watts with added 4x4 cab for larger ones. VERY HEAVY AMP tho!

[@GCKelloch]

The Scorpion speakers have a nice velvety sound that's great with the signature Peavey SS gain sound, but very different than the JC-120 speakers. I had the Scorpions in my VTX Heritage 2x12 in the 80s. A bit underrated for a 120W amp, but I ran mine with only two 6L6GC's and at the triode setting for only 30W. The Peavey Black Widow speakers were much more like the JC-120 speakers, and like the JBL D120.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

Thanks for the info!

[@GCKelloch]

@@RickyReillyMusic BTW, I'm referring to the original BW speakers with the Aluminum dust cover. I don't think the new ones have nearly the high-end extension. Weber makes some decent EV12L style speakers called the "Chicago" if interested. The Ceramic powered ones are more affordable, but a bit harder on the ears. Could use some type of transient limiter in the FX loop to soften the blow like AlNiCo compression does, but at any volume you want. A variable mu limiter would be a good choice for that.

[@robertm8552]

I was pretty surprised by the dirty sound. Is it a JCM? No. But it definitely has a good character!

[@RickyReillyMusic]

It’s solid, and you could probably dial it in more to your taste. In the room it sounds awesome.

[@peachmelba1000]

I had this amp way back. I always disliked it, but I was young and very stupid 😅 Today I run a Marshall Regenerator on the chorus mode as a transparent filter on all of my sounds. I set the rate to 1 and the depth to max, and it brings everything up a notch.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

Nice dude!

[@niasboiii]

That distortion sound and riff remind me of GTA. "I don't wanna loose your love tonight".

[@whssy]

I have a JC120 and quite honestly my Marshall 8240 stereo chorus will do pretty much the same and a bit more too - just with less volume. It also has a stereo effects return (which this Peavey lacks). They are very underrated amps and go for peanuts, the weak link being that the pots often need a bit of cleaning work.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

You’re right. I had to clean these pots out.

[@pennhill5459]

I had a peavey in the 80s that looked like this and I swear it was so heavy twice the weight of my Fender deluxe reverb

[@RickyReillyMusic]

They’re soooo heavy haha

[@ThunderFalcon333]

Fender princeton chorus is another and older ones were made in USA has LO in serial number for Lake Oswego and has s made in USA under Fender on grill

[@RickyReillyMusic]

I’ve got one of the red knob ones. Love it! It as loud, but great chorus.

[@Cmunic8]

@@RickyReillyMusicI got one for Christmas…it’s great 👍🤘

[@jasonjayalap]

Are these kind amps enough for getting into more stereo effects, or is better to get two amps? Like, are the two speakers far apart enough for more than chorus?

[@timothy5974]

I still use this every day, great amp. I like the power amp inputs in back which I use with a few amp sim pedal boards. The chorus is a bit noisy but great amp. The only issue with mine is the high gain input is funky so I use the low input. It is heavy beast.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

I bet you could get the noise tamed with a filter cap replacement. They are pretty old. Probably a little dried out.

[@timothy5974]

@@RickyReillyMusic I don’t know much about the caps. It has never left the house.

[@MichaelLapan-e9r]

Love the sound, but the thing is 80lbs!

[@RickyReillyMusic]

Haha you’re not wrong. That’s the one down side.

[@paulsimmons5726]

I played bass and my Peavey MkIV was the best amp I’ve ever played. I’d love to find one NIB that had been sitting on a shelf for 40yrs… Great amp! I think the new Peavey amps are made in China or somewhere English isn’t spoken! Great USA amp, well, at least it used to be… 😕

[@peepkindoesstuff4066]

You should check out a peavey chorus 210 !! It’s almost the same as the peavey 212 but it’s much more compact and big sounding, I have one and man does the chorus sound huge for a 2x10.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

I haven't played a peavey 210 but I've heard good things! I’d love to get my hands on one.

[@timtompkins6752]

I’ve got a 210…it’s kinda like the Deluxe Reverb vs the Twin Reverb (212 Chorus). Much lighter and a little smaller, but is awesome with its 35w x 2 channels and that Waddy Wachtel 2x10 honk. I have many vintage tube Fender amps…and my favorites are my old Peavey SS amps. Hartley Peavey should run for President.

[@Jobotubular]

no shift and gain switches. Which don't seem to matter that much, and honestly I prefer 10s, so thanks for the reco :)

[@stillpist]

Old Peavey teal/red stripe amps are great amps that have been overlooked until perhaps recently, but they're also overrated. People want to sell them as alternatives to some classic high end and mid tier amps and they just arent. They can make good pedal platforms, but the cleans amd od sounds are anything but desirable. I own a teal stripe bandit and while i love it for what it is, I have no illusions about what it can do.

[@maxbialystock254]

Wheels Back brace Dolly F150 These are the support items for that great sounding yet godawful heavy amp. Dragged one around for 5 years at one point. Miss it sometimes. Made my Special 130 feel normal

[@sboy1955]

Yep the gain way more natural than a JC. Pretty good actually!

[@ServingMyJesus]

Are Peavey still making this amp?

[@RickyReillyMusic]

Nope. You’re gotta get them used.

[@CrazedFandango]

I used to have one of these. It was crazy loud but always sounded very compressed and no sparkle in the high end.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

Interesting. I feel like when I crank mine I have to tame a bit of the sparkle because it can get a bit too much. 🤷‍♂️

[@rustyshackleford9557]

Agreed, pretty thick tone if you are a country picker used to Silver faced deluxe or Princton. Peavey gave em to everyone so they were on dang near every backline. I am a nobody and I know not to complain. I always just bypassed the front end and used an MP1 or a POD plugged into the " power amp in" It can sound like a sparkly Fender if you simply bypass that rather thick voiced preamp/EQ section. I like those Scorpion speakers.

[@iplaymytele]

This amplifier is way more versatile than the Roland jazz chorus…!! I know I used both of them on the road …🎶👍🏻🎶🎸

[@jeffmancuso2715]

I’ve owned lots of Peavey amps over many years, loved all of them. I never saw the value in the JC, the dirt channel wasn’t good.

[@rustyshackleford9557]

Those Peaveys are great but they sure don't sound like a JC120. I have owned and used both. The Peavey has that Peavey mid range hump and you can't change that by scooping the mids. That might be great for a guy using a bit of overdrive but not a guy expected to sound twangy in a country act. Solution: Often those were the backline amp on tour and they have a great " Power Amp In" that bypasses that front end Peavey preamp/EQ. I'd carry a Line 6 POD or an old MP1 and go direct into the " power amp in" Man! It is a beautiful power amp! And the speakers are way nicer than those in a JC120.

[@DMSProduktions]

Sounded great! \m/

[@RickyReillyMusic]

Thanks! I agree, great amp.

[@Thompsongs]

Roland who?? Wow, the clean/chorus is fantastic, and even the distortion sounds good.

[@mikkywhalan]

That lead channel at 7:25 sounds killer

[@RickyReillyMusic]

I really love it. It’s definitely kind of retro, but it’s such a nice tone.

[@mikkywhalan]

@ Absolutely. Love the old peavey stuff.

[@66falcon99]

Don't believe it. I've had many Roland JC series amps, including multiple JC-120 amps. I also have had many Peavey amps, including the Chorus amp featured here. I have A/Bed them, and I can tell you, in person, there is a very significant difference in sound. The Roland is just far better. The Peavy isn't bad, but it sounds average, while the Roland sounds exquisite. and, no matter how I tried, I could not get the Peavy to sound like the Roland. BTW, if you get a JC-120, look for a mid-eights one. They had many iterations, and IMO, the mid-eighties are the best ones.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

I’ll definitely look for a mid 80s model. I’d like to own one eventually.

[@JasonMcGuffin]

Had this amp in late 90's and 2000's. Sold it, got it back, traded it again... sigh.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

This is why I hardly ever sell man!

[@Ducky-face]

I generally don't think of the Roland Jazz Chorus as an "expensive" amplifier; when I purchased my Jazz Chorus 120 from Terminal Music on 48th street in NYC it was $625 - but that was in 1980. But still; compared to, say, a Fender twin it's still a bargain. Ironically I was replacing a Peavy Classic when I bought it - I hated that amp so much I still won't buy anything with a Peavy badge on it to this day.

[@zeusapollo8688]

Is the chorus on one speaker

[@RickyReillyMusic]

It’s a stereo chorus. Both speakers.

[@zeusapollo8688]

@RickyReillyMusic jc 120 is chorus on one side if I remember

[@BillDerBerg]

Nice

[@Music-wt8ml]

😅😊🎉❤

[@RickyReillyMusic]

😜🧙‍♂️😜

[@masonsmith5726]

Easily better than a brand new JC.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

My man!

[@sarahcobetto5613]

The chorus sounds you grimmaced about,play Led Zeppellin Down by the Seaside!

[@RickyReillyMusic]

ok I’ll give it a try.

[@Napalmdog]

If you're researching for the platform, this is not a true stereo amp with two *separate* channels. If you're wanting to use stereo effects, this won't do what a JC can do.

[@JackB-v2z]

A salesman said Peveys are a good amp . Nobody wants a Pevvey T - shirt ..

[@onefatstratcat]

That's a Peavey

[@MrGarydry]

it is better the distortion on the jc is shat

[@RickyReillyMusic]

It’s the one big downside of that amp for sure.

[@zeusapollo8688]

I got some good sound out of one in a studio

[@Barry101er]

Bargain!

[@RickyReillyMusic]

It absolutely is!

[@dudleydeee]

The Stereo Chorus 400 is better.

[@ElephantTusks]

A poor man’s Roland, perhaps? However that’s like saying a Squier is the same as Fender USA. This is like Sam’s Choice Cola in comparison with Coke or Pepsi. It might appear similar but it is anything but close. FYI: I bought my used 80s JC-120 in mint condition for $500 and my JC-77 for $300. Money that was very well spent and I personally avoid Peavey like the plague. Had many bad experiences with this brand of amps as a youth in both the guitar and bass guitar world.

[@RickyReillyMusic]

That’s a bummer man. I’ve only had good experiences with Peavey.

[@motokev2727]

It's old and will die soon

[@wardharrison]

Gross