From moskowi–(at)–anix.com Thu Jul 6 16:10:58 CDT 1995
Article: 2112 of alt.guitar.amps
Path: geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!panix!not-for-mail
From: moskowi–(at)–anix.com (Len Moskowitz)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.amps
Subject: Ampeg Reverbo-Jet Re-Issue
Date: 6 Jul 1995 14:58:07 -0400
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I had a chance to try out the new Ampeg J-12T (Jet) re-issue. At first
glance it appears to really look like the old Reverbo-Jet. It has that
great old style. Then the details sink in. The blue-checked Tolex is
wrinkled around the lower right corner guard. The Ampeg logo is
plastic. The hardware looks cheap. The two input jacks, one cutely
labelled “accordion,” are plastic. The jewel on the pilot light isn’t a
glass jewel. The grill cloth is slightly cock-eyed.

Then I looked inside. Instead of the vintage 7591 or 6V6 power tubes, it
uses EL-84s (with tube retainers). Instead of the older pre-amp tubes
(6SL7GTs) it uses 12AX7/7025s. And instead of a Jensen Concert speaker
it uses an Ampeg-branded driver, though with a ceramic magnet much like
the old Jensen C12-R. It’s rated at 15 Watts.

So how does it sound? It sounds great. Considering that it has just
one tone control it has a very broad range of tones. The one-knob
reverb is pretty good, considering it uses a short spring tank, though
not as full as the old Reverbo-Jet. And the two-control tremolo gives a
very deep and satisfying effect. The amp was quiet — not much noise, not
much hum.

The dealer, who is generally a little high on price, wanted $275 for it.
This puts it in almost the same range as the Peavey Classic 30, commonly
priced at around $325. In my opinion the Peavey is a great amp,
unmatched at its price point. It has a much wider range of tones
controls than the Ampeg, provides a Master Volume control and many other
features. In comparison, the Ampeg is a bare-bones unit. If I had to
choose, I’d pick the Peavey.

If you can get this for around $225, it’s good competition for the
Peavey Classic 20 and the Fender Pro Jr. I’d take it over the Fender
but I’d probably prefer the little Peavey thanks to its flexible tone
controls and headphone jack.

Len Moskowitz
Core Sound
moskowi–(at)–anix.com

 

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