Roland Amps

The Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus was introduced in 1975 as a deliberate counterargument: while every major amp manufacturer was trying to convince guitarists that solid-state was the future, Roland built a solid-state amp that was actually worth playing. At the time of its release, chorus as a standalone effect didn't exist. The JC-120's built-in Dimensional Space Chorus — derived from two independent power amps driving two speakers, one producing a straight signal and one modulated — was so immediately popular that Roland released it separately as the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble, the first Boss pedal ever made and the first chorus pedal in existence.

The connection to Rickenbacker runs through several specific players. Roger McGuinn uses the JC-120, as does John McNally of the Searchers — who uses it with his Rickenbacker 620/12 specifically. Johnny Marr ran his Rickenbacker 330 through a JC-120 to create the sounds on The Smiths' debut album. The pattern is consistent: the JC-120's articulate clean headroom and built-in stereo chorus suit the natural character of a Rickenbacker in a way that overdriven tube amps don't.

The first JC-120 prototype was built for Joni Mitchell around 1976 during the Hejira sessions. The amp has been in continuous production ever since — Roland's longest-running product. A 50th anniversary limited edition was released in 2025, 350 units with a cherry wood finish.