Good high school jazz band amp?

**SIXSTRINGCAL** · 10-05-2015, 12:22 AM

Hi, I'm a junior in high school and taking jazz band. We had last year a broken fender reverb amp we tried using and it never worked because of tube problems. We replaced the tubes and it didn't do a thing. The jazz instructor doesn't want to bother with it anymore and has decided he is going to use some of the money from a fundraiser to buy a new amp. The only problem is that he has been saying the same thing for almost a year now. It's almost like he expects me to find one for him. So that's what I'm trying to do because it needs to get done. Anyways, he had mentioned orange and later made it seem like its out of his price range (I don't have numbers in what his price range is). We have two guitarists this year so it would be preferable to have 2 inputs, although we don't play at the same time because of festival rules. We have been playing out of a keyboard amp instead and I'm tired of it. It would be nice if it were light because we have to bring it to festivals, but it needs to be loud enough to hear on top of 5 trumpets, one drumset, 7 saxaphones, 3 trombones, and one pianist. A combo amp would be nice because there isn't a head to also carry, but any is fine. In case the guitars we are using matter enough, I use an epiohone es-339 pro and will be getting a Gibson explorer soon (I know its not really a jazz guitar) and the other guy uses an ibanez art semi hollow. Thanks in advance!

**drbhrb** · 10-05-2015, 11:26 AM

Orange would be a weird choice for a jazz amp.

Roland Cube 80gx would fit the bill. Or if you want tubes a fender blues jr.

**KirkP** · 10-05-2015, 11:51 AM

While you are waiting for a guitar amp, you might try try to improve the sound of that keyboard amp by putting a cheap guitar amp simulator pedal in front of it. The Joyo JF-14 American Sound was getting a lot of positive comments around here and is only $40. It's designed to drive an amplifier with a fairly flat response, such as a PA, so might sound good with a keyboard amp set flat. If your school happens to have a spare powered monitor, try it with that too. It's not ideal, but might make life bearable.

**Sandy Renda Wannabe** · 10-05-2015, 12:39 PM

Guitar center used. 100 lb amp or 20 about $18 to ship. 30 day 100 % money back guarantee if it does not work. You eat the shipping if you don't like it and want to return before 30 days. Tons SS amps for sale.

Peavey SS amps are clean, inexpensive, and loud

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Sol....gc?Ntt=peavey

**mr. beaumont** · 10-05-2015, 01:07 PM

Yeah, Peavey Bandit, Roland Cube 80, ZT Club, Henriksen if you can go higher in budget.

Toland JC's are a band room standby, but the best and loudest, the 120, is big and heavy.

A tube amp in a high school band room is like...well...actually, that is the metaphor.

"How did your date go?"

"Man, it was like a tube amp in a high school band room."

**SIXSTRINGCAL** · 10-05-2015, 01:16 PM

I guess I should have clarified an estimate of his price range. I'm pretty sure he said orange was too expensive. Because the local guitar store he went to puts the $3000 heads in the front and I think that his price range is probably $500-600. Just a guess though. So the used $40 amps are pretty low. I'm pretty sure that with size, he would want something about the size of the fender reverb amp (I would prefer slightly smaller because I hate moving the amp). But I'm pretty sure he wants something larger (even though that kind of messes with portability, but knowing him, he would want something larger. Thanks for the recommendations so far though.

**Jazzman301** · 10-05-2015, 01:51 PM

I'd buy a roland cube and call it a day. Its a solid amp and can stand the abuse of a school setting. Its got a nice jazz tone, some neat modeling things if you wanted to use it for other styles, its a solid state amp, 12" speaker. Its a tank and not super heavy. No tubes to kill...These can be had well within your price range as well.

'Moe

**Woody Sound** · 10-05-2015, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by mr. Beaumont

"how did your date go?"

"man, it was like a tube amp in a high school band room."

lol

**Woody Sound** · 10-05-2015, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Jazzman301

I'd buy a roland cube and call it a day. Its a solid amp and can stand the abuse of a school setting. Its got a nice jazz tone, some neat modeling things if you wanted to use it for other styles, its a solid state amp, 12" speaker. Its a tank and not super heavy. No tubes to kill...These can be had well within your price range as well.

'Moe

Or, maybe one of the smaller Roland JC's would fit the bill better than a cube. (Since the teacher wants bigger.) But I don't know what they cost.

**drbhrb** · 10-05-2015, 02:36 PM

Roland only makes the jc-120 and jc-40 now. 40 would be too weak I think. Cube is 80 watts.

**fep** · 10-05-2015, 02:46 PM

+1 for the Roland Cube. It seems perfect for a high-school band, good jazz sound, inexpensive and durable.

**Greentone** · 10-05-2015, 02:46 PM

For a high school environment, I would recommend a Roland Cube amp. The 60 or 80 would be fine.

When I was in high school in the last ice age, the school amp was an Ampeg SB12, that could be used for either guitar or bass. Low power, no frills, virtually indestructible in its day. I wonder what ever happened to that amp? It was quite good...except that everybody complained that it didn't have reverb. Tsk.

**Sandy Renda Wannabe** · 10-05-2015, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by Jazzman301

I'd buy a roland cube and call it a day. Its a solid amp and can stand the abuse of a school setting. Its got a nice jazz tone, some neat modeling things if you wanted to use it for other styles, its a solid state amp, 12" speaker. Its a tank and not super heavy. No tubes to kill...These can be had well within your price range as well.

'Moe

The Cubes are solid and great for clean tones. IMO the newer Roland cubes are useless compared to the model before for one reason. The ext speaker jack is gone. Unless you are a carpenter you can not upgrade the speaker in the Cube to improve on the nasally OD tones. The issue is because of the depth and every OD amp model sounds like crap IMO. Even running pedals through the JC clean is horrible. The older Cubes allow you to use an external cab if you want a decent OD sound via a pedal. The clean is just as awesome on both.

I would try the Fender Champion 100 for $75 less. 2/12's 2 channels both w FX and you can bypass the modeling circuit by using the clean channel. It takes pedals well and the drive channel is way better than the Roland too in case these young students want to play rock. Did I mention 5 yr warranty too.

**Greentone** · 10-05-2015, 03:39 PM

SRW raises a good point. Roland distortion voices have always, IMO, been "meh." (As compared with Polytone distortion, which is simply awful.) The Fender amp is pretty solid, reliable, and does take pedals well. Not a bad choice. Young people will want to offer up something other than just Jimmy Raney tones.

**MaxTwang** · 10-05-2015, 05:07 PM

How about a Fender Mustang III ? 100 watts, 1x12, 36 lbs, pretty good modeling (including tweed and blackface Deluxe and Twin) all for about $329.

Only problem is 1 input and the OP would like 2 inputs. The 2 input requirement could be tough to meet on many amps these days (unlike the good old days when any decent amp had a guitar and an accordion input!).

**Longways to Go** · 10-05-2015, 06:04 PM

Fender Champion 100 or older Frontman 100 would be fine. Roland Cube 80 would also be fine.

**campusfive** · 10-05-2015, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by SIXSTRINGCAL

Hi, I'm a junior in high school and taking jazz band. We had last year a broken fender reverb amp we tried using and it never worked because of tube problems. We replaced the tubes and it didn't do a thing. The jazz instructor doesn't want to bother with it anymore and has decided he is going to use some of the money from a fundraiser to buy a new amp.

Um... I'm all for fun new gear, but perhaps you might look at just repairing the old amp. And I don't mean haphazardly throwing new tubes in, but rather taking it to a professional.

A fender tube amp isn't exactly bulletproof, but it's not really fragile either. So, what model is it exactly?

**SIXSTRINGCAL** · 10-05-2015, 06:42 PM

I only know that it is a fender reverb and we did take it to professionals and it didn't help.

**Woody Sound** · 10-05-2015, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by SIXSTRINGCAL

I only know that it is a fender reverb and we did take it to professionals and it didn't help.

Not to be cynical, but for years I've known music programs/teachers who didn't know squat who relied on "professionals" who didn't know squat.

**SIXSTRINGCAL** · 10-05-2015, 07:30 PM

He took it to a local guitar shop and the people there I would consider professionals. All that was done though was replace the tubes.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 10-06-2015, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

"How did your date go?"

"Man, it was like a tube amp in a high school band room."

When I finally reached the sweet spot it was loud enough to wake the neighbours?

**campusfive** · 10-06-2015, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by SIXSTRINGCAL

He took it to a local guitar shop and the people there I would consider professionals. All that was done though was replace the tubes.

Well, if it didn't work after he brought it to the shop, then those are what we call "salesmen", not "professional amp repair guys." It's like the band director brought a sax that has a problem with the valves brought it to a shop and all they did was to tell him to try new reeds. Tell us where you are, and I'm sure there's some member that might be able to recommend a real repair shop that'll do more than blindly guess it's the tubes, and send the guy home with out even trying it first.

Also, there's a least another word in the title of that amp. And depending on that word, the amp could be worth something significant for resale. Even if he does go with something solid state, you might be able to sell the Fender for a couple bucks and put that towards an even better amp.

**KirkP** · 10-06-2015, 07:36 PM

I'll jump on the bandwagen. I agree with others it's worth the trouble to determine what model that Fender amp is. If it's a decent model a competent tube amp repair tech should have a look at it. A competent tech wouldn't replace all the tubes without first diagnosing the problem with proper equipment.

There's a good chance that Fender might sound amazing once repaired. If the amp is quite old, the power supply filter caps are suspect. They are easy for a competent tech to replace. Other caps and resisters can fail too of course. As long as the transformers are good, that amp is probably worth fixing.

**MaxTwang** · 10-07-2015, 02:52 AM

I agree with KIRKP, if it is a 'Fender Reverb' and not a reissue then filter caps, and all electrolytic caps, could be suspect. Also a bad or failing power tube could have fried a screen grid resistor.

To the OP: please post the full name of the amp and if possible pics of the front and back and we'll see if we can help identify the amp and based on your location maybe recommend a good tech. Even if you don't want to use the amp it might be worth selling to help finance a newer amp.

Also to the OP: Jazz Band was a blast when I was in high school. The festivals are fun and we were invited to a festival in Hawaii (I tied for 5th out of 5,000 students). But the best was opening for Buddy Rich at a jazz festival. Enjoy this opportunity and have fun this is a great time to learn! Keep us posted on your bands activities.