NAD: Juke Coda with Initial Review.........

[terrapin]

FedEx just delivered my Juke Coda!!! It is 5881 powered giving 20 watts in pentode and 7 watts triode, cathode biased. Loaded with a 12" Jensen Neo 100 (I LOVE these Neo's). I traded my Juke 112 back to Gary in order to get this. I wanted the Coda for the less power, and Gary's upgraded tone stack, reverb and tremelo/vibrato. If you have not experienced Gary's amps you owe it to yourself!

As Gary says...Ampeg+Fender+Gibson+Magnatone+Valco=JUKE!!! !!

Here are some poor pics of the amp sitting on a table in a pediatric treatment room in my clinic...........Can't wait to get it home...............

See below for Initial Review.....................................

[remocity]

I thought the Coda was 30 watts?

20 watts with the 5881's and 30 with the 6L6's........is that what it is?

[terrapin]

Originally Posted by remocity

I thought the Coda was 30 watts?

20 watts with the 5881's and 30 with the 6L6's........is that what it is?

Class A, Fixed bias it is 30/10. Class AB Cathode Bias it is listed at 18/6, but Gary said I would get 20/8. I really wanted an 18-20 watter with the triode option.

[remocity]

Are you sure you didn't mean Class A cathode bias and class a/b fixed bias?

[terrapin]

Originally Posted by remocity

Are you sure you didn't mean Class A cathode bias and class a/b fixed bias?

WOOPS, your right I shoal proofread my posts............

[vortexxxx]

I love my Juke 212! Gary's great to work with. I got him to customize mine.

[terrapin]

OK..........My initial review... I had about 3 hours last night to spend with the Coda. This won't be nearly as comprehensive as this one by Leon Chalnick...BUT..

http://www.tgpwebzine.com/?page_id=2277

My amp is very similar to the one Leon reviewed. 5881 power tubes. But mine has a Jensen Neo instead of the Jensen Tornado and mine is cathode biased while Leon's was fixed bias.

I spent the evening playing the Coda in Triode mode to test its bedroom skills. It shined in all respects. I immediately found that the settings I had used previously on my Juke 112 did not get the Coda to the sweet spot. I attribute that to the changes Gary has made to the tone stack and the reverb and tremelo/vibrato. The new design seems much more responsive and the controls even more interactive.

First I played using my American Standard Strat loaded with Klein S-5 Mid-scooped pickups. Using the setting Leon used as far as tone stack I found that the Contour (mids) setting needed to be boosted a bit most likely because I was already using mid-scooped pickups. Treble and Bass on 11:00 and Contour on 11:00 took me to the sweet spot (IMO). My Strat has never sounded as good! With the Level (preamp gain) on 11:00 and the Volume (Master) on 11:00 I got the richest clean sound!! Very balanced across the tonal spectrum and rich, rich, rich. I think Gary tries to open up the speakers he puts in his amps prior to shipping. It sure sounded that way. The new design for the Reverb and Trem/Vibrato offers much more variety and possibility. This amp can get REAL Swampy!!!

I then got out my partscaster Tele with a Rutter's bridge system with brass saddles and loaded with Lollar Special T's. I needed to make a few minor adjustments to the tone stack. Mainly turning the Contour down a bit to get back to a more mid-scooped sound which is what I prefer. Once again, the guitar had never sounded so good. I had a ton of fun playing Swamp-Rock.


One thing about this amp that Leon mentions and Gary talks about in the manual is to keep your guitars volume and tone controls turned down a bit and adjusting the amp accordingly. This offers the ability to get significant changes in sound by using the volume and tone on the guitar.

I only tried one pedal with the amp and it was my Wampler Ego Compressor which was way cool.

I did not even really try to get the amp to a "dirty" place as I was having so much fun with the clean sound............Dirt comes tonite....

I am so impressed with this amp. As much as I loved my Juke 112 I have no regrets about trading it back to Gary to get the Coda. I know I say this alot, but if you have NOT tried a Juke amp you owe it to yourself!!!

[hawkeyeinexile]

dirt's easy. just crank Volume down & Level up - very diffrnt from my old (& prized) 1210




[added: o.y. (oh yeah -) then plug in your Timmy pedal & do the same. yikes]

[GTRJohnny]

I've had a few people recommend the Coda to me, as I like mid-level volume and trem and verb in amps. I'm looking at the Goodsell S17 now. Have any of you guys had a chance to compare them? I dig swampy sounding trems, so this has me interested. Really nice color, BTW...

[terrapin]

Originally Posted by GTRJohnny

I've had a few people recommend the Coda to me, as I like mid-level volume and trem and verb in amps. I'm looking at the Goodsell S17 now. Have any of you guys had a chance to compare them? I dig swampy sounding trems, so this has me interested. Really nice color, BTW...

If you dig "swamp" Juke amps will get you right there!!! The color is Garnet Red...........

[hawkeyeinexile]

Originally Posted by terrapin

If you dig "swamp" Juke amps will get you right there!!! The color is Garnet Red...........

yeahman. Fogerty used a 1210 for quite a while. but he's a gearhoneybee hopping from blossom to blossom

how's the dirt?

[terrapin]

Originally Posted by hawkeyeinexile

yeahman. Fogerty used a 1210 for quite a while. but he's a gearhoneybee hopping from blossom to blossom

how's the dirt?

So Far...............This nicest pedal free dirt I have ever played around in. And by the way the sustain this amp gets is to die for!

[remocity]

I'd like to hear peoples opinions on the Neo vs the Tornado in the Coda.

Anybody have any info on this?

[hawkeyeinexile]

Originally Posted by terrapin

So Far...............This nicest pedal free dirt I have ever played around in. And by the way the sustain this amp gets is to die for!

yeahman - works for me, too. w/humbuckers & all manner of single-coils (fender-y, p90-ish, Charlie Christian, so forth)...

[hawkeyeinexile]

Originally Posted by remocity

I'd like to hear peoples opinions on the Neo vs the Tornado in the Coda.

Anybody have any info on this?

they're pretty similar. i have both (the regular Neo (12-100) is in a little otherwise-empty combo cab) & will look for some time to post a comparison clip...