Koch Jupiter 1 x 12 Combo

122 Guitarist August 2012
122
Guitarist
August 2012
KOCH JUPITER 1 X 12 COMBO £610
ACOUSTIC
Using a Strat, the Cool
channel was actually quite
warm thanks to the pair of
12AX7s, but stayed really clean,
even with the gain control
maxed out. A touch more gain
to add a subtle edge of overdrive
would have improved this
channel’s versatility, but even
without it the Cool channel is
still a thing of beauty – a perfect
fit for country, jazz and blues.
The Hot channel is equally
impressive; the valve preamp
adds plenty of harmonic depth
and a smooth overdrive that
can growl when needed just by
digging in a little harder.
Fans of Robben Ford, Larry
Carlton and John Mayer will
instantly get where the
Jupiter’s coming from: it’s no
Dumble clone, but the Koch’s
open and airy feel is firmly
centred in that sonic genre and
its wide dynamic range benefits
players who like to work the
amp from their fingers. This is
enhanced by the Dimmer
control, which adds a subtle
compression effect when
brought into play and balanced
with the channel volumes.
The contour control adds a
little more mid-range grunt. It’s
a subtle change; a great tweak
for single-coils, though we’d
like to hear more of it.
We’re impressed with the
Koch custom Sica loudspeaker
too, which retains plenty of
definition at high volume.
Similarly, the Belton reverb
module lets the amp breathe,
adding a warm decay that
flatters the Jupiter’s tone, even
if it’s not ultimately as lovable as
a full-on, valve-driven, long-
tank spring reverb. Still – and
perhaps more important – as a
whole package, plenty of people
who heard it assumed the
Jupiter was an all-valve design.
Verdict
If you need a portable combo
that doesn’t sacrifice great tone
through a lack of power valves,
then the Koch Jupiter is a very
strong contender indeed. It’s
equally well suited to dedicated
amateurs and pros, and while it
doesn’t have the versatility of
some rivals, within its chosen
sonic boundaries it really
delivers the goods. Consistency
of tone is a strong argument for
an amp that doesn’t have a
valve power stage – as valves
wear out, the bias drifts and
the sound they deliver varies
imperceptibly. Most players
accept this, but for some it’s a
source of frustration. The
Jupiter produces the same
sonic magic night after night
with little or no tweaking
needed, and should continue
to do so for the foreseeable.
Perhaps it’s a little pricey and
other amplifiers offer more
features, but there’s no denying
the quality of tone, which puts
the Jupiter very much in a
league of its own for hybrid
designs. It’s good to see Koch
return to the UK with an amp
like this: one to check out.
The Bottom Line
We like: Excellent build
quality; instant sonic
gratification and cool
vintage looks
We dislike: It’s a little
expensive for a hybrid;
we’d like a little more heat
on that Cool channel and
more effect from the
Contour switch
Guitarist says: A superb
grab-and-go club amp,
perfect for the working
musician and tonally in a
class of its own
Koch Jupiter
1 x 12 Combo
PRICE: £610
ORIGIN: Netherlands
TYPE: Hybrid, two-channel head
with valve preamp and solid-state
output stage
OUTPUT: Nominal 50 watts RMS
VALVES: 2 x ECC83/12AX7 preamp
DIMENSIONS: 460 (h) x 540 (w)
260mm (d)
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 16.5/36
CABINET: 15mm ply
CHANNELS: Two
CONTROLS: Channel gain, volume
x 2, bass, mid, treble, master reverb
and dimmer control
FOOTSWITCH: Two-button switch
toggles channels, second button
switchable between reverb and
gain boost
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Contour
switch, footswitchable gain boost,
series effects loop, speaker-emulated
recording out
OPTIONS: None
RANGE OPTIONS: None
Koch
[phone]
www.koch-amps.com
Test results
Build quality
Features
Sound
Value for money
GUITARIST RATING
The Jupiter’s Cool channel is a great fit for clean jazz, blues and country styles
While it doesn’t have the versatility
of some rivals, within its chosen sonic
boundaries it really delivers the goods
http://vault.guitarist.co.uk
GIT357.rev_koch.indd 122 6/12/12 3:15 PM