The New Ampeg Jet J-20

[tombm3]

The owner's manual shows a picture of the back panel.

Made in Vietnam.

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by Post Toastie

Is it USA made?

No, it's not. I thought I'd heard it was made in Vietnam, but the back panel picture looks like it has a label on it that says Made In Korea. It is hard to read in that picture though.

[ac15]

It's made in Korea. How else would anyone expect to get a brand new point-to-point amp so cheaply?

[Sterling Indigo]

Tempting. It sounds good on the demo, looks cool and the price seems too good for ptp. Doesn't Ampeg have QC issues though? I don't know. Seems like people were chiming in about that a few months ago when I was considering their mini stack bass amp.

[ac15]

Originally Posted by Sterling Indigo

Tempting. It sounds good on the demo, looks cool and the price seems too good for ptp. Doesn't Ampeg have QC issues though? I don't know. Seems like people were chiming in about that a few months ago when I was considering their mini stack bass amp.

Not sure about QC issues, but mine has none. Not only that, but it's an amp with the simplest circuit in the world and only a couple of knobs. There isn't much that can go wrong with it.

Funny how price affects perception of a product, and everyone is so suspicious about buying one now that it's been reduced. If it was still $800, no one would be suspicious at all (even though that would still be reasonable for this amp). If it was $2k everyone would say they "were gassing for one but it's out of my price range."

I got mine for $600 about 6 months ago and I thought I was getting a good deal. Wish I would have waited.

[Old Cane]

I'm on the line with them right now but it shows This Item is Not Available. I'll see what they have to say if I ever get through.

[Jeru]

Sold out.

Done.

Fin.

Drag.

J

[Old Cane]

I'm told they sold out this morning and have a waiting list of 20 and don't know if they are getting any more in.

[Sterling Indigo]

Originally Posted by ac15

Not sure about QC issues, but mine has none. Not only that, but it's an amp with the simplest circuit in the world and only a couple of knobs. There isn't much that can go wrong with it.

Funny how price affects perception of a product, and everyone is so suspicious about buying one now that it's been reduced. If it was still $800, no one would be suspicious at all (even though that would still be reasonable for this amp). If it was $2k everyone would say they "were gassing for one but it's out of my price range."

I got mine for $600 about 6 months ago and I thought I was getting a good deal. Wish I would have waited.

Well, what makes you think I'm suspicious? Just kidding. I'm no stranger to snatching good deals sight unseen (Gretch Americana's for $29). I'm not familiar with their guitar amps but understand they made great bass amps and heard they have QC issues nowadays. Is it a 5E3? I hear it being compared to the Deluxe. I wonder how much less Vox could be selling their overseas ptp amps for if retailers are backordering them for $299.

[tiktok]

The amp listed at $1100, and street price has been $800. With this price, I suspect that it's been discontinued, and Sam Ash wants to clear inventory on a slow-moving piece. $299's got to be at or below cost for Ash, who is eating it.

I've heard that it's more like the brownface Deluxe, not the tweed deluxe.

[fly135]

Go to your local Sam Ash. I got one last night local her ein Orlando. The guy told me they just got them in.

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by fly135

Go to your local Sam Ash. I got one last night local her ein Orlando. The guy told me they just got them in.

For $299?

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by tombm3

The owner's manual shows a picture of the back panel.

Made in Vietnam.

Maybe they used to make them there, but the one I just got says Korea on the back.

[nielsnielsniels]

How would this amp compare sound wise to all the Fender equivalents in the price range, i.e. Blues Junior, Deluxe/Princeton Reverb RI ?
The AlNiCo speaker seems like a nice ( expensive ) addition, tube rectifier and the design is retro. But with a street price of $800, there must be some catch, i have this feeling that somehow there must be something wrong. Or maybe Ampeg is just very kind with the pricing on these amps. It's got good reviews on HC.

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by nielsnielsniels

How would this amp compare sound wise to all the Fender equivalents in the price range, i.e. Blues Junior, Deluxe/Princeton Reverb RI ?

Those aren't really equivalents--they have more features and PCB construction. The J-20 is a PTP single channel amp with one volume, one tone control, speed and depth controls for the trem and a footswitch for the trem, and that's it. I believe it does have a pine cabinet though.

No reverb.
No master volume.
The only distortion is when you crank it up.

[Low4]

Mine showed up on Friday. I haven't really had much time to work it out, but I like what I'm getting out of it so far. It is a noisy little bugger, though. It develops a buzz or hum that stays constant even when nothing is plugged in, and it will pulsate with the trem channel. It dissapates when the amp is switched to standby. Microphonic preamp tube, maybe?

[eddie knuckles]

I repost my story from this past Friday in NJ:

I am in NJ this w/e and went to the local SA store in Paramus. Not only did they not have anymore (which was bad enough), but I had to watch the guy ahead of me walk out with the last one (floor model - a blue one) with a HUGE smile on his face... I did wish him well after I told him how bad it sucked to see him leaving with the "last one". The sales guy in the store helped me and found there were 3 in Edison, NJ (about 40 miles away). I called the store, yes they had 'em, and put one aside for me (God love GPS). I Garden State Parkway'ed it to the store, and there it was (insert theme music here). There was a guy who drove up from Maryland to pick one up on my way over there according to the sales/manager guy, and they had ONE LEFT as I left the store. On my way home, I kept thinking I should have bought that one as well.... Oh well.

The moral of the story - CALL THE STORES - They got shipments in ths last week - The Edison store didn't have any on display. CALL CALL CALL!!!!

I got a black one. It is very nice. Haven't really opened it up past 3 on the volume yet, but man, it does the R+B soul revue thing very, very nicely. Just wish it had reverb.

[eddie knuckles]

Okay, I've spent a few hours with mine now in several scenarios. No effects, just guitar to amp.
1- I wish this had reverb - probably the only bad thing I have to say.
2- there is a little hum - intermittantly - using a brand new cable.

2.5 - 4 on the volume is sweet, warm and tasty.
5-7 on the volume and you get a nice overdrive with the guitar volume up.

Probably the coolest thing about this amp is I used a semi-hollow, a strat, a tele, a lap steel and my nylon string guitar.

The character of each guitar came out warm, with nice sustain and audible attack of your played notes. When playing loud, you can really dig in and feel what you are doing, great low end sounds. I have not tried any pedals yet, but I have a board full, and will be moving on to that later tonight.

I did own a Fender Deluxe BF back in the 70's / 80's and have been chasing that sound ever since. I'm at a time in my life now where I could theoretically get one, but I am seriously thinking that I might actually like this just as much if not a little more.

Still honeymooning, however, and I'll keep that in check - I have a gig on Tuesday, and I'll see what happens...

Man this is a great amp.

[Poppatwang]

Notice how you get more grind as you dial the tone knob clockwise?

[eddie knuckles]

I'll try that. I've been staying at about 10 o'clock and using my guitar tone knob

[JamonHamon]

Once again these are great sounding amps

[ac15]

Originally Posted by nielsnielsniels

How would this amp compare sound wise to all the Fender equivalents in the price range, i.e. Blues Junior, Deluxe/Princeton Reverb RI ?
The AlNiCo speaker seems like a nice ( expensive ) addition, tube rectifier and the design is retro. But with a street price of $800, there must be some catch, i have this feeling that somehow there must be something wrong. Or maybe Ampeg is just very kind with the pricing on these amps. It's got good reviews on HC.

Soundwise, the amp is at least as good as or better than each of the amps you mentioned. Plus there's no printed circuit board and it's a very simple circuit. They're not $299 because they suck. They're selling them cheaply because they really didn't advertise them, so they didn't sell (I bought one though because I like Ampeg amps), and they need to move them. I use a reverb pedal with mine, because keep in mind that if you like reverb it doesn't have it.

[eddie knuckles]

Originally Posted by Poppatwang

Notice how you get more grind as you dial the tone knob clockwise?

OMFG!

The tone knob!!!!

I'm having seizures!!!!!! (in a good - if not the best of ways)

[ac15]

Originally Posted by eddie knuckles

I'll try that. I've been staying at about 10 o'clock and using my guitar tone knob

I keep mine about 3/4 of the way up and use my volume knob. That works great if you have a treble bleed mod on your guitar.

[Gee]

The amp is a Brown Deluxe 6G3 circuit with some slightly different PI values for more crunch and a bit less drive. Schematic can be found at http://www.prowessamplifiers.com/sch...J_20_Jet_.html