Johnson Announces Smaller Combo Amp

The 105th AES Convention in San Francisco marks the worldwide launch of Johnson Amplification's JM60 combo, the first product offering in the company's new Marquis line of tube-integrated modeling amplifiers for the guitar.

Following the successes of the JM150 and JM250 Millennium series amplifiers, the Marquis JM60 is Johnson Amplification's smallest, lightest and most affordable guitar amplifier to date. The new JM60 combines a tube-driven preamp, fully-programmable digital effects processor and 12-inch, 100-watt speaker in a single compact package. But its diminutive size comes at no sacrifice to power. Rated at a hefty 60 watts RMS in mono, with the addition of an external speaker, the JM60 can provide an incredible 120 watts RMS in true stereo.

The outstanding tonal flexibility that made the JM150 and JM250 so popular can also be found in the JM60. The combo offers no less than 18 of the world's most popular amplifier tones, including Black Twin, Single Tweed, Rectified, Blues Combo, Boutique, High Gain, Class A Clean, Class A Dirt, High Wattage, Master Volume, Modern Gain, Hot Rod, Tube Clean, Tube Crunch, Tube High Gain, Fuzz, Overdrive and Saturated. Traditional amp controls--including Master Volume, Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble and Level-are all available on dedicated front-panel knobs for quick and user-friendly adjustment of standard amp functions. Furthermore, EQ points for each amp simulation are set up to accurately match those of their respective models for the most realistic emulation at every setting.

In addition to the amp modeling, the JM60 is equipped with a studio-quality effects processor (24-bit DSP, 20-bit A/D/A) offering Chorus, Flange, Phaser, Tremolo, Vibrato, Pitch, Delay and three Reverbs. Modulation/Pitch parameters are easily alterable on dedicated "Speed" and "Depth" pots. Delay parameters sport controls for "Delay" and "Feedback", while Reverb features its own rotary knob. A total of 27 factory presets are provided, as well as 27 locations for the user's custom-defined settings. Effects are all fully programmable, with up to three available at once.

The intuitive user interface makes the JM60 as easy to use as simply connecting a guitar and playing. With amp models and digital effects clearly labeled on the front panel and parameters quickly adjustable via dedicated knobs, there are no mind-boggling menus and sub-menus that are exhausting to learn and operate.

The Marquis JM60's preamp uses a high-voltage 12AX7 vacuum tube to deliver the unique warmth and richness necessary to duplicate the tones of the world's most popular amps. To date, Johnson Amplification is the only modeling amplifier manufacturer incorporating tubes in its preamps.

The rear panel of the JM60 features stereo effects send and return loop jacks in addition to a connector for an external speaker. An available headphone output can also double as a speaker-compensated direct out for recording applications, while a speaker on/off switch can disengage the unit's internal speaker for quiet headphone jams.

For maximum versatility on stage, the JM60 can be used in conjunction with Johnson's optional J3 footswitch or J6 controller.

Perhaps the JM60's most attractive feature is its price--a manufacturer's suggested U.S. list of only $899.00.