Feature:
Roland JC-90 -- super sweet clean sound -- can be clinky or trebley sounding with the reverb cranked.. Definitely a one or two trick pony here with this amp-- either super clean, or stereo chorused clean-- I never use the distortion-ever, and roland should just do away with it on this particular model- but I guess it is tradition to have it there..
It would be nice if this amp had a tremolo effect like the JC-120-- or possibly a phase effect(ditch the distortion already).
What is great about these JC amps is that they do a great job with stomp boxes/ effects pedals -- and that is how I get away with using this amp as a gigging amp for several different rock acts.
Quality:
Personally I don't like the plastic input jack screws- which have a tendency to crack. But for overall Reliability here lies some of the beauty of this puppy though-- it's toughness-- yeah it is kind of made of pressboard- but all the reinforced corners and sidetrim make this a tough little pissant.. no microphonic tubes, or temp. concerns. Really don't hav to baby this at all- like some of he boutique amps where you have to standby for 10 minutes-- on shutting on & off.. I gig without a backup and have had a good run of 3+ years gigging with it..
Value:
Awesome value, performance, and reliablility.
Desirability:
Classic design that hasn't changed over the years-- tough looking- with bullet or studded siding and tough plastic corners
Sound:
Never had any problems with hiss or hum.. A bit of operation type noise-- very small. Although solidstate, this amp has an intangible sound realm of it's own- that I feel other solid state amps miss.. This amp is great in that you can have a super clean chord sound- which I feel is very aesthetically rounded, pure and crisp-precise-- and then rely on pedals for crunch and lead sounds.. I usually run an armada of pedals in a BCB-60 case at gigs- including BOSS- turbo OD-2, BOSS dist/ OD, Blues driver- for chord crunch, digital delay-6 - depth on solos, analog delay, digital reverb..
One thing about the sound on the JC-90-- is that it is super directional-- there have been many nights where the bass player has to dodge the signal path -so to speak..
In closing, although I love the clean sound of this amp-- it does not quite have the breath of a tube amp, but it still has an awesome clean tone that is unmistakenly JC..
Ease of Use:
It is impotant to roll-off some of the tone on your guitar, or this amp to avoid sounding too bright..
Support:
N/A
Overall:
I have been playing for 26 years -- fun fun fun.. If my JC was lost, stolen, or destroyed by some angry biker at tomorrow nigt's gig--- I really would like to have a kickass new fender supersonic- or a mesa lonestar-- maybe even something from the fender hotrod series-- also I would have to consider a JC-120...
rock out-- rock on...
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