JC-40

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HarlowTheFish
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JC-40

Post by HarlowTheFish » Fri Jun 25, 2021 12:12 pm

Is it any good? I wanna go stereo with something that's workable for small gigs (though recording is the real priority) and this seems basically perfect for that.

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MC5tooge
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Re: JC-40

Post by MC5tooge » Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:14 am

Well I'd buy one...
I have an old JC120 but it doesn't do stereo the same way as the new ones and has no effect loop. If stereo is your thing it's your best bet as a combo amp.

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jorri
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Re: JC-40

Post by jorri » Tue Jul 27, 2021 8:01 am

I have used one and seemed special enough. A certain 3d-ness even without any stereo chorus, just from the tone of it. Could have enough volume (engineers miccing and telling you to turn down then definately)

What it might be is overpriced... Looking at the next best things are a Peavey Stereo Chorus or Ampeg SS-140c but those are the high watts for perhaps quarter to half the price of even the smallest jazz chorus. Good if you can find em (and i think there might be a lower power ampeg, like 70w but off the top of my head i dont know.)

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Re: JC-40

Post by eggwheat » Tue Jul 27, 2021 11:11 am

HarlowTheFish wrote:
Fri Jun 25, 2021 12:12 pm
Is it any good? I wanna go stereo with something that's workable for small gigs (though recording is the real priority) and this seems basically perfect for that.
I bought one new when they came out and no, I think its crap. Next to no headroom(20 watt transistor) and sounds nothing like a JC. The classic analogue JC chorus is replaced with some sort of DSP version that sounds like a completely different chorus type. The mechanical spring reverb is again replaced with a DSP version that is some kind of hall reverb.

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Re: JC-40

Post by sunburster » Tue Jul 27, 2021 12:16 pm

I love my JC-40. It's the only amp I have left now, because it does all I want. It has stereo inputs for my effects pedals, headphone output so I can play at night, and just sounds awesome over all. The built-in chorus and vibrato are superb. Highly recommended.

And it has ample headroom (more than I need).

I used to play through a JC-120 years ago, and the JC-40 has the same core sound. The JC-22 is really good too if you want a smaller version, but I greatly prefer the 40. I would like to buy a 120 again someday and run it in stereo with the 40, but at the moment that is a bit excessive for my needs.

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Re: JC-40

Post by eggwheat » Wed Jul 28, 2021 10:14 am

Happy to see someone enjoy the amp and purposely refute every point I made :D..But I have to stress they really don't sound like an original JC120/160 at all.. The chorus is completely different, It's not an emulation, it's just a different chorus type, just like the on- board reverb is not an emulation of the JC spring reverb...its a completely different Reverb..its a digital hall reverb. All the FX are on a tiny DSP board.

And I actually wouldn't care, if it sounded good....but it didn't. It paled in comparison side by side to my JC160 and JC77.

Harlow: I would look for a JC-77, 85 or 90 if you want a proper 2x10 JC that is small. Double the power and sounds 10x better.

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Re: JC-40

Post by cestlamort » Wed Jul 28, 2021 9:55 pm

Keep in mind that although it is stereo, running stereo effects into it won’t have a huge spread, since the speakers are fairly close together. Kind of like how a boom box can be stereo but still effectively mono at 10 ft away.

That said, the stereo chorus on the JC77 and JC90 seem to work great. (Ping pong delays just sound like multi tap delays however).

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Re: JC-40

Post by sunburster » Thu Jul 29, 2021 7:47 pm

@eggwheat

I get that didn't like the one you've played. But I and a lot of other people really love the JC-40. Just providing a different opinion/perspective. :)

Yes the Hall reverb is rather mediocre, but the distortion (while still mediocre) is a hell of a lot better than the 120's. But I don't use the reverb (or 'distortion') on any amp, and I think most people will run their own reverb and distortion pedals these days.

@cestlamort

In my experience stereo effects through the JC-40 sound a lot better than mono effects through a mono-input JC- (120, etc.). I had a Twin Reverb next to the JC-40 for awhile, and of course that sounded GLORIOUS when I ran both together, but reducing down to just the JC-40 was still 'good enough' for me, and again, a lot better than a mono 2x10 or 2x12 amp. I mean, the JC-40 with my stereo pedalboard sounded better than the Twin Reverb with the same pedalboard in mono (which is one of a few reasons why I sold the Twin). And if you play in headphones through the stereo inputs with a stereo pedalboard it sounds amazing!

The JC-40 is also a great recording amp because you can use the line outs instead of using a mic (and record silently through headphones -- perfect for late-night recordings).

If they released a JC-120 "Stereo Recording" model with all the features I love about the 40 (stereo inputs, headphone output, etc.), I'd of course buy one just to have the larger speakers, but until then, the 40 is the best overall JC, IMO.

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Re: JC-40

Post by cestlamort » Fri Jul 30, 2021 8:06 am

I'm basing my evaluation on a JC90 I recently picked up. I was excited to have the stereo effects loop, hoping to carry fewer amps, but it was just okay, falling short of the glorious stereo of two separate amps (JC77 + Super reverb, for example)

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Re: JC-40

Post by eggwheat » Sat Jul 31, 2021 2:40 am

cestlamort wrote:
Fri Jul 30, 2021 8:06 am
I'm basing my evaluation on a JC90 I recently picked up. I was excited to have the stereo effects loop, hoping to carry fewer amps, but it was just okay, falling short of the glorious stereo of two separate amps (JC77 + Super reverb, for example)
Ahh yeh you'll never beat the sound and stereo spread of those two amps with the one stereo JC.

I can only think doing what I did and pairing with a vibrolux to lessen the size and weight of your rig.

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Re: JC-40

Post by jorri » Mon Aug 02, 2021 6:16 am

eggwheat wrote:
Sat Jul 31, 2021 2:40 am
cestlamort wrote:
Fri Jul 30, 2021 8:06 am
I'm basing my evaluation on a JC90 I recently picked up. I was excited to have the stereo effects loop, hoping to carry fewer amps, but it was just okay, falling short of the glorious stereo of two separate amps (JC77 + Super reverb, for example)
Ahh yeh you'll never beat the sound and stereo spread of those two amps with the one stereo JC.

I can only think doing what I did and pairing with a vibrolux to lessen the size and weight of your rig.
Just a question about that: do they have external speaker jacks for use of the stereo channel with another cab? Two power amps right? Id consider that being more convenient than two full amps if it could be tapped.

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