Ampeg Jet J-20 - Point to Point Nirvana

[fatherjones]

I'm new here, and I've just become a convert to Esquire-hood -- loving my new 50's Esquire. (Which sounded so surprisingly good, and just felt so right that I had to snap it up and bought it in a decision making process that took less than five seconds. I picked it up said, "What's this stupid one-pickup guitar? Hmm... looks like a Tele...nice ash grain...oooh nice feeling neck....HOLY MOLY what TWANG! Ring it up.)

Anyway, I see nobody has discovered the Ampeg Jet J-20 which has been out for over a year now. I don't know why nobody seems to know about them, except that one is never advertised anywhere. These are blue diamond tolex covered 'retro' amps being newly manufactured in Korea for Ampeg.

Ho-hum, you might say.

Except -- these are point to point (eyelet board), tube pre, power and rectifier, alnico 12" speaker, solid pine box, bias tremolo (best kind), and one volume, one tone. They're cheap too at $799.

Now, as with my Esquire, I've found yet another example of less being so much more.

The Jet J-20 has top quality components (o.k. so it doesn't have Mercury transformers or Weber speakers). It is made the old fashioned way by human beings with wire and soldering irons. It has four knobs, and you only really use two of them. The volume and tone knobs actually offer a range of tones. The thing actually sounds SHOCKINGLY good.

It is now the best amp I have ever owned. And allow me to list that group:

- 1972 Champ
- 1967 Bandmaster
- 1964 Blackface (White knob) Princeton (Awesome)
- Boogie Subway Rocket Reverb (Awesome)
- Boogie .22 Studio+
- Fender Supersonic
- Deluxe Reverb Reissue ('65)
- Traynor Y2A Bass Mate (66?) (Awesome)
- Port City 12 (Awesome)

Yes -- this sucker sounds so good I can't believe it.

So, though I've spent thousands and owned most major types of high end guitars and some very cherry amps -- allow me to describe my current set up:

Esquire (MIM, 50's, Blonde Ash, stock pickup), Xotic AC Boost, Holy Grail Plus Reverb, Ampeg Jet J-20.

[RocksOff]

I know a dude who has one and it sounds oh so sweet! Grats!

[fatherjones]

I wonder how many of these have sold with the virtual absence of marketing or advertising? Why bother? Seems like the retro Blue Diamond Series of Ampeg are forgotten stepchildren.

[JamonHamon]

How are they voiced
do they sound like a Deluxe reverb but with no reverb

[fatherjones]

Voicing is a tough question. My last DRRI sound pretty good at first -- but then I found it to have a shrillness to it that became unbearable. Even with a speaker change I quickly fell out of love with my Deluxe Reverb Reissue. Have never played an old Deluxe Reverb that I didn't like, of course.

I think the DR's are rounder and cleaner on the whole.

This one has a nice clean, round tone up till about 4 -- then a bit of bite -- then some real nice crunch. The volume and tone controls (only two knobs) really do work together to create some different sounds.

This sucker is surprisingly loud I will say.

It doesn't have shrillness or crappy tones like so many reissue pseudo-vintage amps.

The lack of reverb is a bummer -- but -- the Holy Grail Plus is so very good, that it kind of takes that problem away. And, yes, it's digital, but with its blend feature that is an issue which doesn't really present itself. (Digital tones can be weird as well of course.)

[tjalla]

Do you know who sells em online?

[JamonHamon]

musician friend

[JamonHamon]

I found a reveiw of the Ampeg Jet J-20
http://www.guitargearheads.com/modul...hp?storyid=283

[JamonHamon]

I forgot to add theres photos of the point to point wiring just scroll down

Help!!!...If some one would put up photos for me it would be nice
http://www.guitargearheads.com/modul...hp?storyid=283

[nasonm]

Here ya go Jamon

[ac15]

Thanks for the tip, didn't know about these. But I do have 2 Ampegs from the 1950's that I love (Jet and Rocket). They sound great and can usually be found a bit cheaper than the new one you mention. But I'm certainly intrigued by this one.