Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Make it loud here.
User avatar
Gswearengin
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Aug 25, 2013 10:36 pm

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by Gswearengin » Sun May 19, 2019 5:56 am

Any quick thoughts on the JC-55? One has come up not too far away from me and at a decent price. It’s the JC-77 I want and I should probably hold out, but they don’t come up too often and it would be nice to just go pick it up.

Thanks,

Gary

eggwheat
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 5151
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:30 am

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by eggwheat » Sun May 19, 2019 7:52 am

Depends..it’s small; 2x8 inch speakers..so it sounds smaller and more boxy than a 77.

User avatar
Gswearengin
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Aug 25, 2013 10:36 pm

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by Gswearengin » Sun May 19, 2019 8:27 am

Yup, and I’m pretty prejudiced against 8’s, whether it’s fair or deserved or not. But it does still pretty much have “the sound,” right?

I only play in the basement, by the way, so I definitely don’t need the extra volume, although I expect that the 10’s would have a fuller, warmer sound. I do feel like the 77 is probably the best all-around compromise/decision.

Thanks,

Gary

eggwheat
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 5151
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:30 am

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by eggwheat » Sun May 19, 2019 8:41 am

Yeh the chorus circuit is the same design as the 77. The distortion sounds pretty good on it too, better than the 77 iirc.

User avatar
Gswearengin
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Aug 25, 2013 10:36 pm

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by Gswearengin » Sun May 26, 2019 12:59 am

Eggwheat, please tell me it would be a terrible idea to try to acquire the early (no bright switch, green “musical” speakers) JC-160 I’ve seen listed for a while, just to play in my basement? :fp:

It’s twice the amp I want at twice the price, but other than that it’s exactly what I’m after. Good news is it’s far away and the dude says he won’t ship it...that’s keeping me from doing anything stupid.

Oddly enough, I have two JC-160’s to choose from, but can’t find a JC-77 at the moment. Must be patient...

Thanks,

Gary

User avatar
cestlamort
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 5175
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:01 am
Location: Seattle
Contact:

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by cestlamort » Sun May 26, 2019 12:45 pm

Tangential, but an interesting read:
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques ... e-a-forest

User avatar
Gswearengin
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Aug 25, 2013 10:36 pm

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by Gswearengin » Sun May 26, 2019 1:23 pm

Many times...love that article! Hedges says it was a JC-120, but it was a very long time ago, and I can only imagine that the vast majority of the projects he worked on back then involved a JC-something.

eggwheat
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 5151
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:30 am

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by eggwheat » Sun May 26, 2019 3:05 pm

The 160 sounds way better than a 120. The early non bright switch one is the one to get. I prefer the 77 over the 120 too.. it’s probably the 10 inch speakers.

Yeh smith had his JC160 prior to 17 seconds so seems doubtful they hired in a 120 when he had his own 160.

User avatar
Gswearengin
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Aug 25, 2013 10:36 pm

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by Gswearengin » Mon May 27, 2019 1:56 am

Yup, I’m just assuming the 160 doesn’t do moderate basement-level volume very well. Right?

(Dumb questions: Is it 2x80 Watts or 4x40 watts, and is the chorus left-right, up-down, or some crazy complex X pattern?)

There’s also an equally old JC-120 at a fair price not far from here. So, maybe after I’ve sold my AC15C1 that isn’t even for sale yet, I’ll check in if it’s still available.

Thanks,

Gary

User avatar
Dollywitch
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 574
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:35 pm

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by Dollywitch » Fri May 31, 2019 4:15 pm

idk, it's a very "solid state" amp so does volume matter that much? though i guess for a really "big" clean tone you do need to push air unless you're using a modelling amp that factors that in.

Chip Korea
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 130
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2008 2:18 am
Location: London, England

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by Chip Korea » Tue Jun 11, 2019 12:40 pm

Not the most exciting tale going but I've literally just picked up a JC-60 60W 1x12, which they started making right in year dot ('75).

I need to double check the year, but the seller reckons he bought it in 1980 second hand. Very tidy with one cm long nick in the tolex, but other than that pretty clean with footswitch (barely looks used) and the original cover. It's got vibrato and chorus and it's got a bright switch.

User avatar
601210
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1021
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:55 am

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by 601210 » Wed Jun 12, 2019 5:27 am

Dollywitch wrote:
Fri May 31, 2019 4:15 pm
idk, it's a very "solid state" amp so does volume matter that much? though i guess for a really "big" clean tone you do need to push air unless you're using a modelling amp that factors that in.
In my experience when you're using big solid state amps, the limiting factor for low volume is the range of the volume knob. Even on my Princeton Chorus you can only get like a 20 degree turn before you start rattling the windows.

User avatar
Gswearengin
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Aug 25, 2013 10:36 pm

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by Gswearengin » Tue Jun 25, 2019 7:45 am

Potential decision time for me...a ‘76 JC-120 has popped up locally for a reasonable price. I’m in no real hurry , but I’m getting a little tired of waiting for a JC-77 to show up, and I’m very intrigued that this is such an early one.

So, just soliciting feedback once again on a couple topics...the suitability of an early JC-120 for:
  • Playing at home. I don’t need to be particularly quiet, but I play in a small room and don’t want to go deaf...
  • ... and how well it could do early cure tones specifically, but also later ‘80s cure stuff, the smiths, tears for fears, echo and the bunnymen, the police, cocteau twins, etc. etc. etc.
I would also appreciate it if anyone has any insight into the earlier versions sounding better and maybe even having less hiss. I can check it out in person, but don’t want to waste either of our time if it’s going to be way too loud.

Thanks,

Gary

User avatar
Gswearengin
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Aug 25, 2013 10:36 pm

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by Gswearengin » Wed Jun 26, 2019 8:18 am

Vintage Robert using a JC-120 (with Siouxsie and the Banshees):

Image

From this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s-5mVUb1gqM

Still thinking about that 120...resistance is weakening...

Gary

eggwheat
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 5151
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:30 am

Re: Did Robert Smith ever actually use a JC-120? (Or...JC-160 vs. 120 vs. 77)

Post by eggwheat » Wed Jun 26, 2019 9:27 am

Gswearengin wrote:
Wed Jun 26, 2019 8:18 am
Vintage Robert using a JC-120 (with Siouxsie and the Banshees):
Yehl..he's using John McGeoch's backline there..Marshall/JC120 combo.

Post Reply