Getting a new amp; the Juke 1210 vs Carr Rambler vs TK Meteor II ?

[threm]

Hi, good folks,
I'm planning a new amp in a couple of months.
Looking for a big and bold clean/semi-clean tone with depth/3-D qualities. Don't need a separate drive channel.
I love a good blackface sound but it doesn't have to be a blackface replica. The possibility of a little more mids (towards tweed) blended in wouldn't matter.

I haven't heard any of the three amps in real life. Sounding good at lower volume levels is a musst.
My intuiton is towards the Juke 1210, partly because of the features as;

EL34's or 6L6's / Class AB / Fixed Bias
45W Pentode / 40W Ultra Linear / 20W Triode
'Golden Voice' Pitch Shifting Vibrato
Bias Modulated Tremolo
'Concert Hall' Spring Sideband Type C Reverb
Footswitchable boost and vibrato/trem.

http://www.dinosguitars.com/review1210.htm
http://www.jukeamps.com/models.htm#VTS

I've read som earlier threads regarding the Juke 1210;
Jamnad, Hawkeyeinexile, Gerry and Mouldynudger;
Do you still have the Juke?
Can the amp be EQ'ed towards a blackface or tweed sound?
How is the sound at lower volumes?
If possible, would a 15" spk (+ the 2x10") be a good idea replacing the 12"?
Are the standard speakers optimal or would a Celestion Blue 12" be an improvement?
I love dead quiet amps when recording, how's that?
Any comparisons to the other two amps mentioned?

Thanks for any opinions and comments!!!

And Drbob1 wasn't much impressed.

 

[trisonic]

Another one to look at seriously is Jimmy Somma's "Roaring 20".

See www.sommatone.com

Good luck.

Best, Pete.

 

[threm]

Thanks, Trisonic. I'll check it out.

 

[DamianP]

Hi Threm,
Not sure I can answer all your questions but here goes.

I`ve never played either a blackface or a tweed amp so not sure about comparisons but the eq is pretty wide ranging and flexible so it`s not hard to dial in or out particular frequencies to suit.

The low volume sound is superb to my ears. I use the triode setting and tweak the tone settings slightly and I`m all set. It is very clean at low volumes but that suits me just fine.

My amp has the stock Weber speakers and I have no complaints. Although I haven`t tried any others.

Very quiet amp indeed. I don`t do any recording myself but I couldn`t see any problems with noise at all.

I haven`t played any of the other amps you mention although the clips of the Sommatone amp are very persuasive, it sounds to have a fair bit more gain than the Juke however.

I bought my 1210 without hearing one too but have to say It was a risk that was well worth taking

P.S Completely off topic but my brother lives in Oslo, I may be visiting him later this year although a 1210 is a bit heavy for hand luggage or you`d be welcome to try it.

 

[trisonic]

mouldynudger, Bloody hell, you really are a hero!
I haven't tried the Juke but would like to - bring it over!

The thing about the "Roaring Twenty" I like (actually there's lots) is that the gain has a wide spread (as I suspect does the Juke). It has a Bright gain and a Darker gain and much can be gained from mixing them together. It's like a JMP but permanently linked. The back end is a bit like a AC15.
Usually I prefer amps that do one thing really well but this is quite versatile indeed. An ideal "grab and go" amp capable of performing at many sessions. Jimmy tells me that Earl Slick has one on order - Earl can play almost anything!
That says a lot about the amp. It doesn't have Trem but they are fully customizable by Jimmy so just about anything is possible. The Reverb is sublime even when the amp is overdriven - there is a technical reason for this that Jimmy explained to me but it went in one ear and out the other,,,,

Best, Pete.

 

[threm]

Thanks a lot for the update, Mouldynudger!
Very usefull info to me; amp being quiet, good at low volumes etc.

Just too many great amps being built these days.

I have a couple of amps that have good dist channels, now I'm mainly looking for an amp that has one great channel. The Juke seems to a made for this.
I can always use a pedal or three for adding some more gain, as far as the amp takes pedals favourably (?).

I've never had gtr combos shipped from the US but quite a bit of other stuff; rec gear etc. Mainly without problems, though one time some tubes in a compressor got smashed.
Did the shipping go smoothly?

Your brother in Oslo? Bet he likes it here, despite us norwegians being some cold polar bears. Sometimes.

 

[Rig James]

I Honestly love this amp for everything it has and everything it doesnt. It has 4 tone controls and a presence control, with that kind of equalization I dont think theres much you cant do with this amp( with an overdrive pedal for the higher gain stuff, which I dont do much of ). All of your questions would be easily answered by Gary if you give him a call it would be very worthwhile as he knows everything about tube amps and speakers and tone.
Youre looking for a big and bold, clean to semi clean amp with depth and 3D sound qualities: JUKE, thats an exact description for the 1210.
With that type of tonal criteria you will be in love with this amp from the first chord, its that good. I bought 2 and am planning to buy a third.
I cant say enough about these amps I just love them, every single time I turn them on Im amazed.

James

 

[threm]

James,
This sounds exactly like what the doctor prescribed for my future well being. Couldn't be better, I'm sure he would say.

Thanks!

 

[pfrischmann]

I've played all three amps. They are quite different.

The Rambler is a great amp in a BF/tweed kinda way. Steve Carrs stuff feels really good too.

The Meteor is more of a BF and a tweed in a box. It can get quite marshally too. This is a very versatile amp.


The Juke is something different. It has more midrange than the other two and much more of a supro vibe. It can get to black face convincingly, but not as well as the other two. If you like the rolling stones sound, that sort of slight beak uo blues rock sound. The juke does it really well. Bottom like, the juke sounds farmiliar enough to let you feel comfortable playing it but different enough to keep it interesting. The verb is much more subdued than a BF fender, no surf in here. The tremolo may be the best I've heard.

The amp has major mojo..

FWIW, IMHO.

 

[threm]

Pfrischmann, very nice to hear from one who has played all three amps. Thanks!!

I think I've settled on the 1210. I don't have any spesific preferences soundwise, but I like the way D. Lanois uses amps on some stuff; a good vintagey core sound that's flexible as a basis for soundscaping using effects.
In the studio he uses all kinds of amps, often smaller vintage amps; Fender Champ, tweed Deluxe, Gibsons but also AC30 (main live amp, inspired by Edge, even the SDD3000) and tweed Bassman.
And recording with ribbon mikes, also the fact that he hasn't changed strings on some guitars for years.

A great tremolo is a good thing. How is the Vibrato?
The reverb gets some glowing reviews on Harmony Central.
I don't need a very prominent surf delay, but some deep spaciousness can usefull.

 

[S. Hawk Ltd.]

Originally posted by threm
I think I've settled on the 1210.
A great tremolo is a good thing. How is the Vibrato?
The reverb gets some glowing reviews on Harmony Central.
I don't need a very prominent surf delay, but some deep spaciousness can usefull.

Threm, You will not be sorry if you get that Juke 1210... If you contact Gary see if you can get the "C" option ie "1210 C"...
The C stands for custom... That is the three button foot switch for the reverb, tremelo, AND 5 % gain switching...
The tremelo / vibrato is actually just that! TWO features and can be mixed to a certain degree... The reverb is definitely not surf style... It is ambiance all the way! Croteau made sure of that!!!
A work of art, man! The speakers mine came with are the Weber Vintage Classics of Croteau's proprietary design which I would like have copies built in a bad way, but Weber is sticking true and won't give out that recipe... THEY ARE THAT NICE of speakers!!!
One more time... Like I tell everybody, fu(#in' excellent choice if you get a Juke!!!! And again... I've been around a good while to know that this IS THE BEST amp of it's kind on the planet!!!

 

[TaronKeim]

Originally posted by S. Hawk Ltd.
Threm, You will not be sorry if you get that Juke 1210... If you contact Gary see if you can get the "C" option ie "1210 C"...
The C stands for custom... That is the three button foot switch for the reverb, tremelo, AND 5 % gain switching...
The tremelo / vibrato is actually just that! TWO features and can be mixed to a certain degree... The reverb is definitely not surf style... It is ambiance all the way! Croteau made sure of that!!!
A work of art, man! The speakers mine came with are the Weber Vintage Classics of Croteau's proprietary design which I would like have copies built in a bad way, but Weber is sticking true and won't give out that recipe... THEY ARE THAT NICE of speakers!!!
One more time... Like I tell everybody, fu(#in' excellent choice if you get a Juke!!!! And again... I've been around a good while to know that this IS THE BEST amp of it's kind on the planet!!!

I talked to Gary about 4 months ago and he said he is no longer offering the "C" option for the gain boost, he just doesn't do it anymore.

-TJK

 

[threm]

S. Hawk, thanks for yet another great report!
No way back now, I guess. You guys are a great bunch of ampoholics.

The "C" option, " three button foot switch for the reverb, tremelo, AND 5 % gain switching..." sounds absolutely like a musst!

I haven't talked to Gary yet. How can I convince him to make me one?
Offer ny name for a new model, maybe; The Juke Thremovibe.

 

[trisonic]

Anyone point me in the direction of Juke clips or recordings?
I'd like to hear this thing.

Best, Pete.

 

[TaronKeim]

Originally posted by threm
S. Hawk, thanks for yet another great report!
No way back now, I guess. You guys are a great bunch of ampoholics.

The "C" option, " three button foot switch for the reverb, tremelo, AND 5 % gain switching..." sounds absolutely like a musst!

I haven't talked to Gary yet. How can I convince him to make me one?
Offer ny name for a new model, maybe; The Juke Thremovibe.

Gary is a great guy, and very informative, but HATES e-mails so you won't get any for sure answers that way, as for getting him to build you anything besides what production is, I have no idea, because people have been trying to get him to do a head cabinet set up for years and he won't do it, the Juke is meant to be a combo. And a few others have tried to get the 3 button set up for the footswitch as well (which would require a tweak of the amp to allow for the gain boost as well) and he wouldn't do that either. He is an older gent and very firm in his ways because he knows what he is doing... so you can try... but many others have failed

-TJK

 

[KLB]

"Big and bold clean/semi-clean tone with depth/3-D qualities"

I haven't heard the Juke, but I have had the Tone King Meteor II 1x12 and Carr Rambler combos in my music room.

The Tone King will eat the Rambler for lunch!

Good luck in your tone quest.

(Hello Paul.)

 

[hawkeyeinexile]

Originally posted by threm
...
I've read som earlier threads regarding the Juke 1210;
Jamnad, Hawkeyeinexile, Gerry and Mouldynudger;
Do you still have the Juke?

yes, got it 1/03

Can the amp be EQ'ed towards a blackface or tweed sound?

i've got a '59 Tremolux and a '65 BFSR and believe i can EQ something close to each - but the Juke remains a Juke

How is the sound at lower volumes?

rich

If possible, would a 15" spk (+ the 2x10") be a good idea replacing the 12"?

i doubt it would fit.

i've considered what i'd change about it - or order custom, if i could. a Juke 115 is one thought (another is a head-only, another is non-master-vol. version, another is...)

Are the standard speakers optimal or would a Celestion Blue 12" be an improvement?

that's strictly subjective. i love the new Emis i've heard. put a Private Jack in my '61 Ampeg Reverberocket and thought it a huge improvement over the original Jensen Concert 12.

but, yeah, i think the standard (custom Weber-Juke) speakers are a benchmark

I love dead quiet amps when recording, how's that?

i love quiet amps (my Ampeg is pretty noisy, BFSR is pretty quiet) and the Juke is the quietest. great signal-to-noise ratio. as quiet as my Komet in "gradual" mode, quieter than Komet in "fast" mode.

Any comparisons to the other two amps mentioned?

no experience here.

Thanks for any opinions and comments!!!

And Drbob1 wasn't much impressed.

that's why there are so many amps&options out there. i was pretty pleased with my Juke when i first got it, but thought the reverb not deep enough and the vibrato not wobbly enough. after some use, though, and very much like a Komet, it got deeper, richer, more responsive. the vibrato even got wobblier, etc. the Jimmy Smith comparison above is quite apt.

thanks for the Dino's pointer. nice to read a new take on the amp. i take it they're in Italy?...

anyway, a forum bro's stopping by Sunday to give mine a whirl. you're welcome to stop by, too, anytime

 

[threm]

Hawkeyeinexile, thanks for a gas inducing post!

i've got a '59 Tremolux and a '65 BFSR and believe i can EQ something close to each - but the Juke remains a Juke

Close is close enough. I'm not a hardcore blackface man. Got a Concert I can use for those spesific sounds.

Quiet and rich at lower volumes is so nice to hear. Got a great rec studio here but I can't play very loud (part of an apartement).
A good friend of mine thought 45w was too much, but I've gotten great sounds from 50w amps before at relatively low volumes.

I'll forget about the 15". My friend mentioned above has a Budda Dual Stage head w/ a 2x10" + 2x12" cab. Great thing about it is that he can choose to go either 10's or 12's separately by footswitch.
A similar switching option on the 1210 could be a nice thing.

Good luck in your tone quest.

Looks like I'm on my way here, KLB.


Taron,
thinking about it I can live without the boost option.
I'm waiting on a Rodenberg stereo Flex-loop. The Flex-loop ( a dumbleator idea) will stay between pedals and a stereo combo setup. In the loops of the Flex-loop I'll have a couple of Gibson Echoplex loopers.
The Flex-loop has been recently upgraded with new trafos and Ulrich has been kind in customizing it. I wanted som extra inputs and outputs and some of the rear side stuff moved to the front side. He had to go with a 2u box, and there's a foot switch customized with Loops on/off and Boost 1 and 2 on/off.

For those interested here's a 1u version, also mono ones available;

http://flexamp.com/newsite_eng/index.htm

 

[hawkeyeinexile]

Originally posted by threm
Hawkeyeinexile, thanks for a gas inducing post!


Close is close enough. I'm not a hardcore blackface man. Got a Concert I can use for those spesific sounds.

i've had access to a Dr. Z Maz 38 Sr. combo that some folks compare to a BFSR. since i have a BFSR and could compare them, i did. yeah, you can get some of that. the Juke is like that. but it's more fun to just it be itself (& you be yourself ) - your friends will say, "hey, what the heck is that?" when they hear it.

Quiet and rich at lower volumes is so nice to hear. Got a great rec studio here but I can't play very loud (part of an apartement).
A good friend of mine thought 45w was too much, but I've gotten great sounds from 50w amps before at relatively low volumes.

well i've never tried mine with an attenuator (don't need to - it sound great at low levels, too).

hey, that Flex-loop thingie looks really cool

enjoy

 

[cold_fusion]

Well, I'd never heard of the Juke amps until this thread and after doing some research on it...it sounds like one awesome amp!! I have a vintage '71 bandmaster reverb as my main amp right now and like it alot but I know there are some newer boutique jobbies out there that will do the vintage fender bf tone better than the originals.. and I'm eventually going to get one....now I have to add the Juke 1210 to the list of candidates to weed thru and choose between....
The other at the top of my list are the Meteor II as well as the Rambler but have been leaning more towards the Meteor II of late..I've talked to Mark a couple of times via email and I'm very high on his new creation...
I've also considered the Bruno UG30/Cowtipper and the Fargen Blackbird but neither of them have on board trem/vib which is a must have item for me to be true to the bf genre and I actually love the effect it adds and use it quite a bit...and it sounds like the Juke has the defacto best trem/vib of anything ever created? I'm a little concered about the sideband reverb though..it sounds like a unique design that is very well thought out but it might be nice to be able to switch it from the sideband to a regular type if one so desired but it does sound like one of the best designed on board reverbs as well.
Sure would be nice to hear some clips of this puppy as well a more from the Meteor II camp..Mark's had that one soso clip up there forever now and hasn't added any more albeit he has the tba in there...some of you guys with good chops ought to make some trade out offers of clips for amps type deals...