Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus

The Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus is a solid-state combo amplifier from the mid-1970s. With built-in chorus and two 12" speakers.

Andy Summers' Roland JC-120
Andy Summers was best known for his longtime association with the Roland JC-120. He first worked with the JC-120 on Zenyatta Mondatta album in 1980. He continued to use the JC-120 as a go-to studio amp, especially on the last two albums with The Police (Ghost In The Machine and Synchronicity) and collaborations with Robert Fripp (I Advanced Masked and Bewitched).

The Roland JC-120 was used to produce the distinctive stereo chorused guitar sounds. As Hugh Padgham remembers, one speaker of the JC-120 would be chorused while the other had a straight signal creating a widespread stereo sound - on the Police albums, Hugh miked both speakers with a Shure SM57 each (or Sennheiser MD421's).

With The Police, the chorus from the JC-120 was likely reproduced live with the aid of a Roland SDD-320 Dimension D. Sometimes an Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress might have been used as well.

Andy Summers on the Roland JC-120: "'The Roland JC-120 has been a staple in my collection of amplifiers for as long as I can remember — probably from the day it came out! I have used it on many recordings for its distinctive clarity of sound and always-superior chorus. If I am playing away from home and amps have to be supplied, my first choice is always the JC 120. It is a no-fail amp in just about every situation.' (Roland - JC Artist - Andy Summers)"

Stewart Copeland
Stewart Copeland owns a Roland JC-120 at his Sacred Grove studio. It probably replaced the JC-60