Jazz Chorus 50 Review

This amp is a perfect match for pedal fans, because it will basically personify your effects through and excellently warm, however clean the sound might be.

Features:	7.5
Sound:	9
Reliability:	7
Impression:	9
Overall rating:	6.5
Reviewer rating:	8.1
Users rating:	4.8
Votes:	4

Reviewed by: unregistered, on december 15, 2011

Price paid: $ 220

Purchased from: Used

Features: This amp was built in the late seventies, in Japan. It's a pretty simple amp with two input jacks (high and low gain) and only one channel. There are also a number of effects - distortion, reverb, chorus, tremolo and a "bright" switch that can be pretty useful. It also comes with a footswitch that can be connected to two of the effects. // 8

Sound: This amp is the living definition of "clean", never ever distorting or making noises. The distortion is crap, but the cleans are lovely and it takes pedals really well (and I use quite a few). The built-in effects sound great, as you could expect from the mother company of Boss. // 10

Reliability & Durability: This amp is over 30 years old and still feels like new in every way. I don't think it'll ever break down, so I'd have no worries when it comes to gigging without a backup. The pots may require some cleaning after a couple of decades, but that's all there is to it. This is one solid amp. // 10

Impression: I play a lot of different styles ranging from alternative rock to black metal to blues and jazz, and this is the only amp I use nowadays, having moved on from a Carvin tube amp. If it was lost I'd replace it as soon as possible. I even think about buying another one already. This is ten out of ten, and beyond any doubt one of the best solid-state amplifiers ever made. // 10

Reviewed by: unregistered, on march 02, 2010

Features: Not sure of the year, but probably from the 80's or 90's. 50 watts of solid state power, 1x12 inch speaker, with the famous Roland Jazz chorus, reverb, tremolo, and a somewhat weak distortion. All of this is on one channel, with individual foot switch jacks for the effects, and a "headphone" jack. // 7

Sound: I use this with a 2001 Fender standard stratocaster, a Boss OS-2 and an original Dunlop Crybaby. I play mostly alternative/punk rock, with a little blues thrown in for fun, and the amp works very well for this. It is naturally very neutral, so pedals (at least what I've used with it) have a very natural and warm sound. The chorus is the legendary roland Jazz Chorus line standard, which sounds wonderful, the other effects are not bad, but certainly nothing to get worked up about. The distortion is weak, but a decent fuzz can remedy this quite well. By itself, the sound is warm, full, and sounds almost tube like, and this amp is rather loud for its size and specifications. // 8

Reliability & Durability: The example I use is a communal piece of band gear, so I don't know much about its past treatment, but it occasionally fades in and out and sometimes cuts off for short periods of time. I suspect this to be due to poor treatment by a former owner, and with a little wear and tear maintenance, It could be a very solid gig amp. // 4

Impression: This amp is a perfect match for pedal fans, because it will basically personify your effects through and excellently warm, however clean the sound might be. This is without a doubt one of my favorite amps, due to its size to volume ratio which is quite impressive, and the beautiful sound it can produce. I compare this amp mainly to a 1966 Fender SR 2100, the forgotten solid state version of a twin reverb, and this amp delivers a warmer and more defined sound than the larger more powerful Fender. All in all, a great little amp perfect for the club scene. // 8

Comments

[kjepetil]

My Jazz Chorus might not work the way it is supposed to, but in my opinion the amp doesn't fit the description. I play a 1984 standard US strat, which sounds great with most amps. But on the Roland JC the sound is lifeless, and it becomes very muddy when you play a bit fast, especially in the lower range.

[barden1069]

I'm surprised this amp god such a low user rating. BTBAM use it for their clean tones, and they are absolutely gorgeous.