Fender Jazz King

**GNAPPI** · 04-26-2013, 12:46 PM

There's a guy locally with a used Jazz King for sale and he's looking for $500. It sounds great but for a little SS amp it sounds like an awfully high price. Are these little amps really worth it?

**DC Ron** · 04-26-2013, 12:59 PM

The Fender Jazz King comes in at 55 lbs, so might not be as little as you think.

When I've seen these used, which isn't often, it's usually in the $300-400 range. But one just sold on eBay for $570 shipped, so...

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 04-26-2013, 01:09 PM

They're not that common, so you have to ask yourself how much you want it. Have you made a counteroffer?

I agree about the weight. I tried one out at a music store. They hadn't installed its casters and I made *them* carry it to the testing booth!

Still, 15" combo goodness!

**SamBooka** · 04-26-2013, 01:20 PM

50 lbs. too heavy

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 04-26-2013, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

That's the Steel King. The Jazz King has a 12" speaker. Edit: Ugh! I am wrong. I'm leaving it here on my Knucklehead Wall of Shame.

Yes, the Steel King has more watts and ... a higher rated speaker if I recall correctly.

I wonder where all that weight is coming from. The cabinet wood itself?

**fumblefingers** · 04-26-2013, 09:01 PM

mine sure doesn't feel like 50 lbs. i'm not crazy about it's sound but i suppose that's alterable. i bought mine new for $700 so i think that $500 is too much for used. and it's discontinued. i wonder why.

how about $350.00

**Chimera1to1** · 04-28-2013, 09:23 AM

I've got one but don't use it anymore. I hope it appreciates in value

. its a good amp but it is very heavy, the reverb is OTT.

If you gig, there are better options. If you don't the Fender cleans on a POD HD sound great and would no doubt be cheaper

**muddylips** · 04-28-2013, 09:13 PM

I own and use a jazz king on the majority of my gigs (90%). I play an early Gibson es-165 and it sounds great through the jazz king. I suppose that the best answer you can get is this; if mine were to disappear, I think highly enough of that amp that I would be willing to pay $500 for one used (but not abused).

I don't know how much you know about this amp, but if Fender ever made an amp that was dedicated to one type guitar (the arch top) then the jazz king is it. I play solo finger style jazz covering mostly standards. It could be said (and has been) that the jazz king is pretty much a 'one trick pony'. Don't expect to 'rock out' on it. It's forte is amplifying arch top guitars being used to play jazz. That is what it was designed to do and that's what it does very well.

ps
I realize (trust me) that there are lighter amps around. The jazz king weighs around 50 pounds which isn't the heaviest amp but it isn't light either. Perhaps the best comment is this; I'm nearly 60 years old and use a cart to move mine from the car to where ever I'm supposed to set up to perform. If I can handle the jazz king at my age then maybe it really isn't so bad...

**Doctor Jeff** · 04-29-2013, 08:55 AM

I use the JazzKing setting on the Fender SCXD, and it's my favorite voice for practice and comping with a small group. It does seem to cut out a lot of the treble compared to other settings, so sometimes for soloing I will switch to the clean channel to cut through. Nevertheless, if you like the Wes and Kenny sound it nails it IMO.

I am curious how the model sounds compared to the real thing. Has anyone played both? I would love a real JK but the size alone makes it unsuitable for the kind of gigs I play.

**eddy b.** · 04-29-2013, 11:33 AM

I have a Jazz King love the tone it's a little heavy and mine has had issues from the start with poor solder etc. all repaired under warranty. That being said I like the amp alot but will admit I am looking to the Ibanez Whole tone to replace it with. I'd offer 350 and go to 400. For 500 you can get a new Wholetone and a bunch of strings and picks.

**Chimera1to1** · 04-29-2013, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff

I use the JazzKing setting on the Fender SCXD, and it's my favorite voice for practice and comping with a small group. It does seem to cut out a lot of the treble compared to other settings, so sometimes for soloing I will switch to the clean channel to cut through. Nevertheless, if you like the Wes and Kenny sound it nails it IMO.

I am curious how the model sounds compared to the real thing. Has anyone played both? I would love a real JK but the size alone makes it unsuitable for the kind of gigs I play.

I took an arch top down to a store and tried various amps and the one that I liked the most was in fact the SCXD. It wasn't till I read the spec on the internet that I realised it was based on the Jazzking. Clearly cos I had a jazz king already I was glad I hadn't bought it. Nice amp though.

The jazzking sounds good to my ears, the eq doesn't seem to set off feedback on carved tops too bad but I still think a modelled clean Fender with a ducking stereo reverb is heaven.

**TieDyedDevil** · 05-06-2013, 05:58 PM

I liked the Jazz King for its flexible EQ and its reverb. It's a lot of amp, though; too much for my needs.

**AlsoRan** · 05-06-2013, 08:52 PM

I can't believe there are no Fender Jazz King videos on Youtube!

And I can only find one on the Fender Jazzmaster Ultralight.

Are we that much out of touch?