Epiphone ES335 and Roland JC-22 Boxy and Thin

[BobD]

I'm basically a beginner guitarist. I have always had a guitar around the house and have some facility on it but don't know what I'm doing really. Anyway I bought the Epi and Roland last week and I hear two things I don't like. One is, it sounds very boxy or shouty. When I turn on the bright switch it takes it away a bit but then it's too bright and thin. That leads to the other issue which is I cannot get a fat sound out of the G/B/E strings no matter how I adjust the treble/mid/bass. They basically sound like an acoustic guitar. Oh, and I'm using a Dunlop Jazz III pick.

Can anything be done about the boxy sound or is that just how this amp sounds? If so any recommendations for a different similar priced amp?

Also, would different strings help with getting a less thin sound on the G/B/E strings?

[rpjazzguitar]

Other Roland JC series amps have been described as icy sounding.

First, I'd suggest plugging the guitar into a different amp and plugging a different guitar into your amp. Try to figure out if it's the guitar or the amp or both.

Simple adjustments include lowering the pickup of the guitar. It then senses more of the string, thereby fewer higher harmonics, which will sound less trebly.

Some will suggest thicker strings, although I'm not sure that will help much. Maybe if you're playing 9s.

Then it's EQ, which you've probably already tried.

Pick close to the neck, if you're not doing that. It changes the sound, but you might not want to play that way.

For some amps, how they couple to the floor matters. Typically, flat on the floor is bassiest. Sitting on a stand, least bassy. If it's an open back amp, get it away from the wall.

[entresz]

In my experience the smaller JC amps tend to sound boxy and thin. The 2x10'' models sound better but still are a bit boxy. I really like the JC-120 (especially the older versions) but my personal favourite is the more uncommon 1x15'' JC-80.

I'd try knocking back some highs to tame shrillness, and mids if the amp is still boxy sounding. If no luck, it might be worth trying a graphic EQ pedal (cheaper than a whole new amp). Whenever I gig and a backline is provided I bring along a graphic EQ - I use a Boss - but there's heaps of others out there.... it means I can get a decent sound out of pretty much any amp.

[BobD]

I had a CUBE 30 years ago that was not boxy at all. I don't think I can live with the JC22. I'm leaning towards a return.

Any suggestions for a good practice amp at the same price($550)? Since I really just want clean tones would an acoustic guitar amp like the Fishman Loudbox mini work? It has Reverb and Chorus just like the JC22.

[rpjazzguitar]

I practice with an old Crate GFX15. Sounds great. Has reverb and chorus. Sells for under $50 used.

[entresz]

If you're after another small amp that definitely doesn't sound boxy or thin, the DV Mark Little Jazz would be my choice. I used to have a Cube 30 and the DV Mark way better - the cube sounded positively shrill compared.

[pingu]

a good clean not boxy
or shrill sounding really cheap
amplifier ?

Fender Champion 20 8” speaker
or Champion 40 with 12” speaker

https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-an...with%20Effects

[BobD]

I've been reading good reviews of the Fender Champion 20/40 amps so am leaning towards those. I can order one from Amazon and then do an A/B comparison with the Roland.

The other amp that seems to have a following is the Peavey Bandit 112. They are listed as discontinued on most online stores but on the Peavey website it says they are coming Nov of 2023. Wondering if that's just been there for a while and really not going to happen. I posted the url but for some some reason it shows as "just a moment".

Just a moment...

Any thoughts on the Peavey?

[BobD]

Also, I found a used Quilter Aviator Cub that I might consider.

[jorgemg1984]

A cheap multi-fx pedal will generally give you a stereo reverb and a graphic eq. You can take advantage of the jc22 stereo inputs and if you know how to use a graphic eq it will probably fix your problem... I doubt the JC22 will still sound boxy in stereo, but I never played one - just the regular JC-120, which I found sterile, uninspiring and noisy but not boxy.

Also, considering the sentence "I'm basically a beginner guitarist.", it may not be the amp's fault. Most beggining guitar players, when they start, they start with something a lot worse than a jc-22. I know I did.

[caue amaral]

I would try to connect the guitar to another amp...I played some epi es335 and I have one...
a lot of variation between them and a real inclination towards the treble in the first strings! I adjusted the strings, pickups and also turned the tone and volume knobs a lot!

[BobD]

Caue,

That's another great sound out of that epi 335. Can you please elaborate on the adjustments you made to the strings, pickups and the vol and tone knobs?

[caue amaral]

Caue,

That's another great sound out of that epi 335. Can you please elaborate on the adjustments you made to the strings, pickups and the vol and tone knobs?

The guitar comes from the factory with 010 strings...I used a 011 set and added a 012 and 016 to the first ones. I also made an adjustment to the pickup poles, seeking greater balance. The volume knob is usually at 90% and the tone knob at 50 or 60%. The amp is a tube amp similar to the blues jr, different from the jazz chorus, it has a slightly more "creamy" or "hot" clean. Of course, every adjustment must vary depending on the guitar, even between identical models!

[BobD]

Welp, I sent the JC22 back to Sweetwater. Going to go for the Quilter Aviator Cub. This guy sounds great on it.

[BobD]

Picked up a used Quilter Aviator Cub yesterday. Fantastic amp. So much fuller sounding than the JC22 and no more boxy sound. Love it! Also got a Boss DM-2w delay pedal. That sounds awesome as well. Having fun messing around with it seeing what it can do.