Solid State GAS (now NAD (by proxy))

jhalliday89

So I recently purchased an old red knob Princeton Chorus and I absolutely love it.
I know you're all going to grumble at this - but, FOR ME and the music I play it has outclassed every tube amp I currently and I think have previously owned in terms of clean tone and ability to take pedals.
Now I've discovered this old solid state wizardry I want more, specifically in the forms of Roland or Fender.
I know there is a guy on here selling a JC120 at a ridiculous price but he's at the other end of the country otherwise I'd go for it. There is a local guy selling a JC77 that has caught my eye, and there is also another localish guy selling a Fender Ultra Chorus.

I guess my question is - Am I going to see a significant improvement over the Princeton Chorus with either of these amps, I love the idea of having a JC and the 77 seems a little more manageable than a JC120 but It's going to cost considerably more than the bargain bucket Fender I currently use.

ICBM

The JC77 is the pick of the range - it's got almost the same spaciousness of sound as the JC120, but at about half the size and weight (not literally, but it feels like it when you lift them).

Whether it's "better" than the Princeton is something only you can answer really - it does have an iconic sound, but I find it more limited than the Fender especially when it comes to taking pedals.

The Ultra Chorus is very much just like a bigger Princeton Chorus - it's not going to be a lot better, or even a lot different, unless you just need more power and bottom end.

jhalliday89

ICBM said:

The JC77 is the pick of the range - it's got almost the same spaciousness of sound as the JC120, but at about half the size and weight (not literally, but it feels like it when you lift them).

Whether it's "better" than the Princeton is something only you can answer really - it does have an iconic sound, but I find it more limited than the Fender especially when it comes to taking pedals.

The Ultra Chorus is very much just like a bigger Princeton Chorus - it's not going to be a lot better, or even a lot different, unless you just need more power and bottom end.

Yeah - Looking at the ultra Chorus in more depth, I'm not actually a huge fan of 12" speakers. Hence loving the Princeton chorus and being drawn to the JC77.
There's also the new JC40 - which I can pick up for about 100 quid more than a second hand JC77..... I have seen some utterly stonking reviews of the JC40

BintyTwanger77

jhalliday89 said:

ICBM said:

The JC77 is the pick of the range - it's got almost the same spaciousness of sound as the JC120, but at about half the size and weight (not literally, but it feels like it when you lift them).

Whether it's "better" than the Princeton is something only you can answer really - it does have an iconic sound, but I find it more limited than the Fender especially when it comes to taking pedals.

The Ultra Chorus is very much just like a bigger Princeton Chorus - it's not going to be a lot better, or even a lot different, unless you just need more power and bottom end.

Yeah - Looking at the ultra Chorus in more depth, I'm not actually a huge fan of 12" speakers. Hence loving the Princeton chorus and being drawn to the JC77.
There's also the new JC40 - which I can pick up for about 100 quid more than a second hand JC77..... I have seen some utterly stonking reviews of the JC40

Seconded on the JC40, absolute belter of an amp. Add a Fairfield compressor in front of it and the cleans get even better and the distortion at lower gain settings becomes more than usable. Lovely amp... and I want one now!

jhalliday89

BintyTwanger77 said:

Seconded on the JC40, absolute belter of an amp. Add a Fairfield compressor in front of it and the cleans get even better and the distortion at lower gain settings becomes more than usable. Lovely amp... and I want one now!

Looks like PMT Manchester have some in stock.. that's my Sunday morning sorted.
Princeton Chorus and a JC40 could be a very interesting stereo set up.

ICBM

jhalliday89 said:

Princeton Chorus and a JC40 could be a very interesting quadrophonic set up.

FTFY

HAL9000

Not sure if the Roland Blues Cubes (Stage or Artist) are of any interest to you. Cleans aren’t quite as pristine as a JC, but it does do those Fendery Bassman type cleans very well indeed and also  takes pedals rather well. A very sweet sounding amp indeed.

Schmo

Have you considered a Musician HD130 ? I do have such an old head that I'm looking to sell...apologies for the shameless plug !!

jhalliday89

Schmo said:

Have you considered a Musician HD130 ? I do have such an old head that I'm looking to sell...apologies for the shameless plug !!

I have now I've listened to some sound clips.... Lovely sounding amp, think it's possibly out of my price range at the moment though

Schmo

jhalliday89 said:

Schmo said:

Have you considered a Musician HD130 ? I do have such an old head that I'm looking to sell...apologies for the shameless plug !!

I have now I've listened to some sound clips.... Lovely sounding amp, think it's possibly out of my price range at the moment though

If you want to discuss via PM maybe we could explore?

AndyJP

@jhalliday89 what sort of music do you play?

jhalliday89

AndyJP said:

@jhalliday89 what sort of music do you play?

Mostly very effect laden noise - Sonic youth, Tera melos, Pile... That sort of stuff, although I am in no way as talented as any of the players in the afore mentioned bands. 

Also lots of country. 

AndyJP

Have you seen the DV mark Eric Gales amp?

Stuckfast

There are some great Peavey solid-state amps that can be picked up for naff all too.

Stuckfast

Also I am not-too-reliably informed that the next big vintage boom will be in old British SS models, especially HH amps.

ICBM

Stuckfast said:

Also I am not-too-reliably informed that the next big vintage boom will be in old British SS models, especially HH amps.

Much as I like them, I doubt it.

Then again I thought the same about late-70s Fender guitars, and people pay silly money for those now.

DrCornelius

jhalliday89 said:

So I recently purchased an old red knob Princeton Chorus and I absolutely love it.
I know you're all going to grumble at this - but, FOR ME and the music I play it has outclassed every tube amp I currently and I think have previously owned in terms of clean tone and ability to take pedals.
Now I've discovered this old solid state wizardry I want more, specifically in the forms of Roland or Fender.
I know there is a guy on here selling a JC120 at a ridiculous price but he's at the other end of the country otherwise I'd go for it. There is a local guy selling a JC77 that has caught my eye, and there is also another localish guy selling a Fender Ultra Chorus.

I guess my question is - Am I going to see a significant improvement over the Princeton Chorus with either of these amps, I love the idea of having a JC and the 77 seems a little more manageable than a JC120 but It's going to cost considerably more than the bargain bucket Fender I currently use.

Even more of a ridiculous price now - £400 with upgraded speakers....... almost worth a drive down here to Dorset for the day !

Danny1969

I had the 2 x 10" Princeton Chorus combo in the eighties as did the other guitarist in my band at the time. We did hundreds of gigs with them but we used them into two 4 x 12" cabs each. Then we crossed the cabs over so behind me I came out the top 4 X 12" and he came out the bottom one behind me. Then behind him he came out the top one and I was in the bottom one. 

We discovered something with those amps that just turns them into the ultimate eighties hair metal amp. If you short the 2 grounds of the speaker wires together and turn on the chorus then the whole amp becomes a totally different beast with more gain, a much wider chorus sound and much fatter lower mids. Once we discovered this that's how those amps were used all the time

I've repaired a few Princeton Chorus amps .... they use use a pair of TDA power IC's to drive 25 watts into each speaker. The pre amp and tone are all bog standard TLO72 opamps. Very simple design and easy to repair 

Lesgrandepotato

I’ve got a Vox venue floating about. Probably should get on and repair it. I remember it being a decent bit of kit. 

YellowLedBetterMan

There's a SS Princeton 112+ going near me for £60. Very tempted.

ICBM

DrCornelius said:

Even more of a ridiculous price now - £400 with upgraded speakers....... almost worth a drive down here to Dorset for the day !

£400 is not that cheap for a JC120 now - a little, but not worth a long drive for. They’re no longer that sought-after due to the size and weight, and older ones can have issues.