Ampeg Jet J-20 - Point to Point Nirvana

fatherjones · March 2nd, 2008, 09:51 PM

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 · March 2nd, 2008, 10:15 PM

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

fatherjones · March 3rd, 2008, 11:34 AM

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 · March 3rd, 2008, 08:13 PM

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

fatherjones · March 4th, 2008, 03:28 PM

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 · March 4th, 2008, 09:34 PM

Do you know who sells em online?

JamonHamon · March 4th, 2008, 10:16 PM

musician friend

JamonHamon · March 8th, 2008, 11:07 PM

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

JamonHamon · March 9th, 2008, 02:07 PM

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 · March 9th, 2008, 02:23 PM

Here ya go Jamon

ac15 · March 9th, 2008, 04:38 PM

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 are cheaper than the new one you mention.

March 2nd, 2008, 09:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
fatherjones NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Raleigh Age: 39 Posts: 9	Ampeg Jet J-20 - Point to Point Nirvana 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.

March 2nd, 2008, 10:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
RocksOff Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Joplin, MO Posts: 130	Nodnod I know a dude who has one and it sounds oh so sweet! Grats! __________________ It's only rock 'n roll, but i like it...like it... yes, i do.

March 9th, 2008, 02:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
nasonm Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bangor, Maine Age: 30 Posts: 1,532 16 Photos	Here ya go Jamon __________________ "i have learned to just grit my teeth, change the subject, consider their deep total ignorance, fondle the thumb picks in my pocket and go on my way" - bender-freak It's been lonely in the saddle since my horse died

March 3rd, 2008, 11:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
fatherjones NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Raleigh Age: 39 Posts: 9	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.

March 3rd, 2008, 08:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
JamonHamon Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,231	How are they voiced do they sound like a Deluxe reverb but with no reverb

March 4th, 2008, 03:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
fatherjones NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Raleigh Age: 39 Posts: 9	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.)

March 4th, 2008, 09:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
tjalla Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,487 7 Photos	Do you know who sells em online?

March 4th, 2008, 10:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
JamonHamon Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,231	musician friend

March 8th, 2008, 11:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
JamonHamon Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,231	I found a reveiw of the Ampeg Jet J-20 http://www.guitargearheads.com/modul...hp?storyid=283

March 9th, 2008, 02:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
JamonHamon Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,231	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

March 9th, 2008, 04:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
ac15 Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2005 Location: CHICAGO, IL. Posts: 456	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 are cheaper than the new one you mention.