ROLAND JC-40 - Can It Be Your Only Amp?

[@johnmyszka2749]

Things I love about gigging with a JC 40 1) Even with a heavy hitting drummer, I never move past 4 on the volume dial. This thing will peel paint off the wall 2) You can be rough with it, spill beer on it and it never lets you down 3) Chorus and Vibrato are killer and in stereo with 2 speakers! 4) For gigging, the distortion is good enough 5) Takes all pedals like a champ - including overdrive 6) Pretty light in comparison to most valve amps 7) Digital reverb, but its killer 8) Stereo inputs It can be a bit spiky with the highs. I leave the treble on 2, boost the mids to 1pm and bass at 12pm. From there, plug in and enjoy!

[@joellebrodeur1015]

I have the JC22 version. I found out of all my amps, I use this one the most. I don't care it doesn't have a drive channel. Run pedals however you wish through it. It's loud enough for me, sounds good and reliable. There's a reason why these particular solid state amps are at the top of gear lists.

[@Lomoholga2]

I have the same model. I laugh everytime someone who clearly has no experience with it claim the bass response is poor given the 6.5 inch speakers The dual 6.5 speakers are GREAT

[@brysimm404]

I’m the same 👍 JC-22 is super nice for home use - and you can have whatever distortion you want by, duh, using whatever drive pedal you like! I never push mine past 3 or 4 max 😊

[@guitardrummer1]

I had a fender blues junior Tweed that was driving me crazy.. Too boxy.. Too compressed.. I don't Know.. I was hating it..when the jc40 entered my room, it was like a stormy day suddenly turned in a beautiful Summer and sunny day.. What a amp!! Simply beautiful!! Stereo, effects loop, gorgeus vibrato and chorus.. Dreamy clean tone.. Very good with pedals.. What else?.. I LOVE IT!! I use it in stereo with a orange tremlord, another beautiful amp, and they are a perfect pair... my room is now a relaxing hi-fi place where i enjoy a lot.. Thanks for your contribute in spreading the beauty of JC 40 🙂

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

I feel like this amp is a sleeper hit that not too many know about. Either that or they have preconceived notions they can’t get over.

[@guitardrummer1]

@@efxloopjaybyrne so true! Doesn't matter.. It will always be the secret treasure for fews😃

[@ghalston5641]

I was getting the same feeling from my BJ tweed iii, but then I hooked up it up in stereo with my old Super Champ XD, and together they sounded much more Fender-y clean, sparkly and room filling at low volume.

[@guitardrummer1]

@@ghalston5641 uh.. Funny.. I also have a superchamp x2.. But i never considered to put it in stereo with my blues junior tweed.. Maybe i was too focused on how to make blues junior sound good..!! I 'm sorry but blues junior really let Me down.. Not bad but not for me.. Maybe i had too many expectations for a real fender tone.. I thought it could sound at least a little close to a deluxe, twin, Princeton..

[@franciscolopez3229]

Those Roland JC series are one the best if not the best solid state amps ever made that are still in use to this day, may it be on stage or in the studio either with an electric guitar and others even use it as an acoustic guitar amp.

[@nazperalta1794]

Not a JC40 but a great recent example of the Jazz Chorus in action is Emily Kokal from Warpaint who has used a JC120 as her main stage amp for many years. There’s a Premier Guitar rig rundown video on KZbin

[@77zrod46]

I just purchased one today. I can't fricken wait when no one else is home!!!!!!!

[@south_of_nowhere]

I owned the JC120 around 4 years ago, and currently own the JC40. Previously I was a strictly Marshall guy, but this series made me a convert. The 40 is honestly a much better all around amp than the 120 imo. I've used it at gigs of over 200 people and had ZERO issues being heard. Plus I didn't have to break my back on load in/out!

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

It’s great to hear that my video actually helped out. Thanks. Honestly I think this jc40 is like a hidden gem. It’s such a useful tool. Of course there are those that don’t dig it but I feel that if a person is open to it and they spend some time with it they seem to come to the same conclusion.

[@plantagenant]

@Bittersweet...What do you use to get a decent overdriven sound from it?

[@CMQ01]

Once you said you were recording your sound to get the ‘in the room’ feel, i was subscribed. Only way i can somewhat tell what the amp sounds like by online videos. THanks for that and great video too

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

Thanks. I literally use the boom mic on top of the camera. I’m not the greatest at micing an amp. Never seems to sound as good. Good to know this is a plus.

[@stevebell4763]

Great review, you've helped me make my decision between 40 and 120 🙏

[@willmarshall4685]

Whoa! That chorus….found my amp. I’m a Johnny Marr guy…this is magical. I don’t care about high gain or huge crunch…

[@paulenglefield5618]

A really useful review that gives a great sense of its basic sound.

[@popocatfish]

greeting from japan JC is ultimately standard amp everywhere rentalstudio,highschool,college light music club,karaoke bar,even country side villege festival stages. every guitarist can be setting usable tone on themselves. if you have an opportunity to play in japan, don't worry JC is in there.

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

Greetings from the US. Cool info thanks.

[@AgressiveElevatorMusic]

I play steel guitar and this amp is perfect for gigs.

[@Simulera]

For the last five years I have been using a JC40 with just a Boss CP-1X compressor and a Boss Waza Blues Driver pedal (to keep it all in the Roland family or something?) in line with a simple old Dunlop volume pedal on the effects loop. It’s really so good. It can get very bright, but you can reel it in. A wonderful amplifier. Over the years I have lucked into and picked up a couple of nice classic Fender tube amps that I kept. I tried many tube and digital amps along the way that I have sold after a while. The JC 40 is different than anything else and is easily as special as my other two “storied” (and, ok, wonderful) tube amps. Anyway, I think I am done shopping and buying guitar amps. It only took 40 or so years to clear it all up. Everybody has their own thing with amps of course. Just saying the JC40 is really good.

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

I had to sell mine but i really miss it. I may buy another one even though I don’t need it. Lol.

[@slimturnpike]

How do you handle that distracting hiss?

[@Simulera]

@@slimturnpike it seems like the hiss is on the unloaded amp. Once there is a signal, there seems no hiss. But just sitting there it has one. I had a hissing Mesa tube amp and a couple of different Fender tube amps that hissed. I don’t understand why that seems ok, you’re right.

[@slimturnpike]

@@Simulera Yeah. None of my three tube amps hiss or hum except when maxed out or hit hard with fuzz or distro fx. Never when playing quiet and clean like in this video. I'd immediately return any amp that sounds like this

[@paralleldrive7770]

I think I’ve owned the my jc40 for a year and a half now, and man whenever I turn it on with the built in reverb dialed to about 4/5, it feels like home. A little sad that you have to buy the foot-switches separately for the vibrato/chorus tho. It’s a very loud amp so if you want to play this in your bedroom without annoying anyone, you’d have to turn the volume all the way down to 0.5 volume. Love the tone, good pick response. Only thing I would change is the quality of the distortion, I was a little disappointed with that effect.

[@berv9169]

What? It has built in chorus and vibrato Watchu talking about

[@paralleldrive7770]

@@berv9169 yeah but if you want to turn them on/off mid song you gotta buy the roland footswitches for the effects

[@berv9169]

@@paralleldrive7770oh yea Watchu expect

[@deaddoll1361]

@@paralleldrive7770 I'd be a little sad if I had to pay more for the amp which included a foot switch I already had or didn't need.

[@adrock889]

I’ve had a jc40 for like 3 years now and I’ve messed with the distortion knob like 3 times, I truly don’t think it’s meant to be touched. It’s definitely not why people like this amp lmao, I just got it bc I needed a loud clean amp for jamming

[@gregmock6808]

I gigged with a Roland JC77 for about 18 years and left it overseas with my bass player as a gift....thought about getting one of these but I'm playing a Fender 40 watt Hot rod deluxe that's been modified which is plenty loud, I just wanted to run them in stereo and see what that would sound like. they are great amps but my experience is they hate neon lights....buzz like crazy if you play a pub with lots of neon ...

[@dudehuh5491]

nice vid i been usin my jc 120 since the 80's was lucky enough to score the 4x12 cab love those roland red backs

[@worthmoremusic]

I just ordered a JC 22...it will be my only amp. I am pretty much only interested in clean sounds plus love the I/Os and FX Loop it offers. 30w is plenty for home/studio use. Roland Jazz Chorus is an iconic, classic amp !

[@Gibson1976uk]

I sold a Marshall amp to buy my JC-22 :) never had regrets!! I play on it all the time

[@TravisHyllPersonal]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

[@Protocol_17]

Back in the day I had a new JC-40. Calling it clean sounding would be an understatement. The chorus is legendary.

[@jorgesilva6454]

Nice (and honest) review Sir 🤜🏽✊🤛🏻 I’m definitely sold out by the JC (and it’s on my wish list) 👍

[@stephenericwalsh]

Thanks for that. You should also do DVD reviews.

[@savoirfaire8979]

I have a JC-40 exclusively for clean stereo effects. Distortion covered with tube amps.

[@karmicselling4252]

Back in the day I had a JC-120. A wonderful amp but I got tired of lugging it around. Not the easiest thing to put in the boot (trunk) of a car or to carry onto stage. A better solution was a stereo effects chain feeding two Roland Cube 60 amps. Much easier to carry around. And the ability to use a single amp if I wanted to. Also provided redundancy in the event that one amp failed at any point. But the biggest benefit was being able to create a wider stereo sound stage by positioning the two amps further away from each other.

[@cateyesofficialband]

Does the Roland JC-40 have a headphone jack? I cant find any pictures where I see a headphone jack

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

Yes it does on the back. It’s doesn’t sound the greatest but it gets the job done.

[@francispower1418]

I’ve got the baby one, the 22. It’s not my main amp, which is a tube 57 Tweed knock off (my partscaster thinline loves that one), and then there is a small studio Boogie 22 for a more AC30 sound (my 335 loves that one the best) but it is a really nice sounding small amplifier, great for clean tones, not upsetting the neighbors and I especially like the chorus on it. Personally I don’t bother with pedals these days, I’m a go directly into the amp guy, so the chorus can be a fun diversion. I mostly use it when I want to play quiet and the little Roland sounds especially good with my Duo Jet, so I guess they like Gretsch guitars! It’s also a perfect small amp for keyboards. The speakers are smaller in the 22, like old car radio speakers almost, so nowhere near as fuller sound as Jay’s 40. But its a lot of amplifier for a very fair price, especially when you get the feel of one and realize how good the build quality is. They are built pretty sturdy and they have held a special place in the classic inventory of amplifiers for a reason.

[@Gibson1976uk]

I guy the 22 and love it! I’ve decided to use Less tubes so I sold some stuff and kept lower powered amps that take less tubes! I notice how prices have gone up!!! I use to buy tubes that cost 25 pounds each! They are now 50 each

[@mightbeben7064]

thinking bout getting this for a indie and jam band sound, you think it can do that while being loud enough to play un micd bar and restaraunt gigs

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

Definitely it’s loud. Worst case you may need to put it on a stand or crate to project the sound but it excels at higher volumes.

[@topoftherock3628]

@@mightbeben7064 It can be loud and the nice thing is, everything stays defined when it's loud.

[@jamesnorton7601]

Sounds wonderful. Right pedals and eq'ing, leveling. You can do a lot with the amp, I'm sure

[@Owen_plays_music1049]

20:51 Nice that's exactly what i wanted to know, great review !

[@marcraygun6290]

Best guitar sound I ever heard was a guy in Japanese band the choosers, he had a 70s ex real kids rickenbacker 360 into jc120 using boss blues driver for drive , I myself use 70 vox escort lead 50 transistor amp orris HH 70s transistor amp with gretsch astrojet, gretsch anniversary ( both 64) and 62 jazzmaster and I love the sound , I stick a 70s Watkins copicat in front of the amp for echo and a bit of more drive

[@kentGrey]

Yes. It can be your "only amp" with some caveats. Roland was not kidding when they named this series the "Jazz Chorus". The (well deserved) nick name for this class amp is "The King of Clean". These amps are specifically designed to be played clean. The electronics that makes the chorus so lush and full will work against various "shredder" effects. Even it's own built in effects are only meant to be used as a "light seasoning". If you are not going to be focused on playing "clean" it has been recommended for years that you get some type of guitar processor pedal and run the amp from the connections in the back. This will avoid the Chorus circuitry allowing you to use your effects with more stability and "clarity".

[@cbailey089]

so essentially use it as a stand alone cab?

[@stevenbatke2475]

Love the amp. But I’m distracted by your Arrow video bluray collection ;)

[@ifax1245]

JC40... My favourite by a country mile!

[@claudelussier1678]

Excellente présentation! Bravo!

[@craigtodd8297]

Why is it not causing feedback through that hollowbody?

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

Luck I guess. It wasn’t too loud and I was off to the side so maybe that’s why.

[@dustyscrypt]

I have one, and love it! I also noticed you have the same NUX pedalboard. Oh, and great movie collection by the way. You have good taste!

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

Thanks man. I love that pedal board. Easily the best out there if you need a smaller compact one. If you look at the bottom of the channel you’ll see Roadkill Entertainment. That is the home of my indie films. I also did a podcast about horror films and reviewed discs. I enjoyed it but it never really went anywhere. But the episodes are archived there if your interested.

[@dustyscrypt]

@@efxloopjaybyrne I saw that channel, and I subscribed, but haven't watched them yet. I will do soon. Thanks!

[@steveparish9210]

It ain't my only amp but I love it!

[@tonydiorio3136]

I do a lot of smaller gigs (senior communities) where I don’t need that much volume. I’m playing a Taylor T5z guitar, would the JC22 be enough for these smaller rooms? I could always run a line out to my PA for big parties. Thanks, I’m subscribing!

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

Maybe. I think in your situation you would probably be ok. I may go with the 40 just because but I think the 22 would work. Maybe someone with a 22 will chime in.

[@BAND-MAID-USA]

22 will absolutely work.

[@topoftherock3628]

They can ace surf music and they pick up the woodiness of hollow/semi hollow electric guitars very well. P90 pickups sound great too. Tone is easy to control......and I don't know how many times I've heard good players say that they prefer the convenience of pedals through a clean platform.

[@cbailey089]

i am sold… i would really like to hear my Revstar with P90s through it

[@accentontheoff]

Hi, have you been able to try it out in a small band, small venue context. Thanks.

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

No unfortunately I never did however I have no doubt it would be fine. Worse case scenario you would need an amp stand but you may get away with it right on the floor. It gets loud.

[@accentontheoff]

@@efxloopjaybyrne Got it thanks.

[@alessandrogambazzi3192]

Ciao è lamplificatore che usa Steve Rotery dei Marillon ???? Sai se è lo stesso amplificatore ????

[@cerealkiller5688]

I may have missed it in the vid but are running distortion through the effects loop or through the front? I've been running a tube screamer through the front of my 22 but haven't messed with pedals on the 40 yet. I'm not loving the built in distortion on the 40.

[@westernrider100]

If you have an Orange Crush amp, and it has the News to the World speaker, swap out speakers. I've got a CR60 and swapped the original speaker with a V30 which made an incredible difference with the sound especially the clean channel.

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

Don’t have it anymore but I heard that works well. Orange and v30s seem to go well together.

[@aaron9142]

Fantastic video. Have you played the smaller JC 22? I've been thinking about getting it. Also, where can I buy your music? I listened to quite a few tracks you have posted here, but I don't want to keep listening because I want to actually pay for it. You make great music, man.

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

Thank you. You can go to Bandcamp.com Roadkill Records. The link should be on the description for the songs. It’s download only but you can download in multiple formats depending on what you prefer. Thanks again.

[@cerealkiller5688]

I've got the 40 and the 22 and they are both awesome... The 22 is the best sounding small amp I've ever heard. Worth every penny.

[@joellebrodeur1015]

@@cerealkiller5688 I got a JC22 off fb marketplace in July for $300 NIB. Out of all my amps, I grab this one for practice. Have not played out with it yet, but it gets loud. Been wanting a Jazz Chorus for a fee years because they're bulletproof.

[@cigdamagelungs]

To loud for home? Good review thinking of one ty

[@PlaneTShakeRo]

If you can hear your strings it's too quiet for your home

[@thomasfolkner4730]

Is there some kind of law that people NEVER OR RARELY EVER use the stereo chorus effect with distortion . That is THE sound. JOHNNY WINTER left his Boss Chorus ON all the time sitting on top of his amp.

[@spookyverb]

I regularly run heavy fuzz pedals into my JC40 with the stereo chorus on. Sounds so awesome. Haunting Mids in the loop to tweak a bit when needed.

[@doctolson67]

I have the Gretch chet Atkins, country gentleman... double cut version. I wouldn't part with it for the world. But M looking for a good amp, you got my attention.

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

I must say the Gretsch plays very well with both my amps the Fender twin and the jc40.

[@michaelmillican5592]

I'm getting one. I've heard it is one of the most used amplifier in studio music history.

[@Matt-op9fh]

I'm thinking this is gonna be my next amp! Is the vibe like a uni vibe or normal vibrato??

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

It’s like a normal vibrato.

[@Matt-op9fh]

Hey thanks for getting back to me! It's strange how there isn't a mode for vibe and chorus together

[@kagenotatsumaki]

Wow, I'm surprised by your comments on the Orange Super Crush, I had one and LOVED the clean channel but returned it because I hated the dirty channel... Lol

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

I just found it too dark. Didn’t love the gain channel much either. Lol. I wonder if I’d like the earlier ones but then I really don’t need it.

[@blindatthewheel4694]

Yes.

[@koengheldof5081]

I bought this too but am going to sell it. Incredible amount of noise, just plugged in without a cable and volume to zero!? In 2023?? Too bad because at high volume it sounds like the demos demonstrate.

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

Honestly the noise didn’t bother me so much but once I had the Katana and a Tone Master it felt redundant so I sold it for a guitar.

[@craigtodd8297]

@@efxloopjaybyrne I think i'd rather have the Jc over both of those... My katana has no soul. The tonemasters are computers. Guitars/computers dont mix.

[@slimturnpike]

The hiss would be unacceptable for me

[@kirtlamb4413]

No, not your only amp. It's a foot pedal with amp and speakers. Great for a dedicated sound. But you need an Orange tube amp for the gain and overdrive. No pedals needed

[@SoftOceanBreeze]

You can disagree with me, but I think there are certain pedals where the tone surpasses that of a natural gain regardless of the amp, like the Moth Effects P. Isabella for example, I've never heard a tone that sounds quite as glorious as that pedal, I am a pedal elitist after hearing it in person ((my friend has one)) everyone who plugs into his setup is like "wow I need one now" .... arguably the best green russian clone out there :)

[@michaelweinman9051]

😁🙃😊 nice vid. I played a Jc 120 in cover bands back around 1993 and 1994 with rack gear. Sold it all. Bought a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe in 1998. Played it till 2004 ish. No pedals. In 2006 Got a Kustom dfx 35 with Celestion 10 inch speaker. Used it for gigs and jam nights till 2019. Efx went out quickly. I just played it dry !! ha ha what a first! Just got a Peavey Chorus 20 at a yard sale. Love it.

[@Vertigo504]

Late to the party but pretty sure the newer JC-40s are all digital (amp and effects). Who cares though if it sounds good 👍 (although I don't know why they're so noisy despite being digital/solid state)

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

I know right. You’d think they’d work out the noise if it’s digital. Their are some analog components but Roland likes to keep its secret sauce quiet.

[@spookyverb]

Mine runs silently so I guess I'm just lucky. 🤷

[@gldnedge]

My Orange Super Crush 100 has gorgeous cleans. Far from garbage. You must have gotten a dud.

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

Honestly, I may have because I had a hard time working with the channels on that amp. It also depends on what kind of cleans your looking for. I tend to go for fender black face cleans as my reference and Orange doesn't really do that. It's great that you enjoy your amp though. That's the whole point right? \m/

[@odinskolnationragnar9528]

thanks brother, im buying jc 40, selling my evh

[@littlegoose9860]

Nice review! You can hear Dehd's guitarist playing a JC-40 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4jdd2NnrZhqgtE - When the distortion comes on in the first song (Flood) a few seconds in, I think it sounds really good! I'm pretty sure it's a Boss Blues Driver. I believe the guitarist usually plays a JC-77.

[@Jenvión]

Might be the only solid state amp i love besides blackface twins

[@Jazzzzer456]

Nice demo...always nice to have a solid state amp around for when the tube amp is in the shop, I might add.😊I have an old Roland cube 80xl and its never needed repair.😊😊I keep a small tube amp around, just cause I like to have that sparkly fender sound as well...no more fender twins in my older age.😊😊❤God bless

[@almostliterally593]

I don’t þink þe chorus on here is digital

[@aperezdeal]

I’d buy that for a dollar.

[@journeyquest1]

Worst guitar i ever bought. A Gretsch Jumbo Rancher. Big heavy with little sound unless plugged in. It was a looker but not a performer. Sold it.

[@ushnicyuvnikof2748]

No

[@ericgendell8874]

I own one and bought a JC120 which I returned because it was nowhere near as good as the JC 40, which is a great amp. I use it with a customized Fender Hotrod Deluxe and together, the tone is close to perfection.

[@efxloopjaybyrne]

Thanks for the tip on the 120. I’ve considered upgrading but it seems that the 40 is its own beast.

[@TheBlek77]

how about the breath when you aren't playing. looks like annoying

[@slimturnpike]

Agreed it's atrocious hiss

[@DerpRulesAll]

It's too clean. It would make a great studio preamp.

[@hansemannluchter643]

No such thing..

[@DerpRulesAll]

@@hansemannluchter643 ..and I'm not here to educate you.

[@hansemannluchter643]

@@DerpRulesAll It sure as shite sounded as if you where..

[@onefatstratcat]

Tubes?? We don't need no stinkin' tubes!

[@jaredray7001]

We definitely do.

[@richardj9016]

Ok Use valves instead. You can’t beat a nice valve amp.

[@franciscolopez3229]

Nothing beats the good old/new tube amp. The more it heats up, the better the sound. But in fareness to the JC series, it really made a name for itself.

[@g.koch.]

Couldn't care less if it sounds good, which both can.

[@jaredray7001]

I was just talkin shit really. I love my tube amps, but for the lions share of my gigging days I used a pair of Crate GXTs, a 212 and a 410, which were some of the early hybrid amps and I loved them. Plus, in all fairness, Dime didn't need no stinking tubes! (though he did use some briefly towards the tragic end)