DetroitBlues Posted September 2, 2015 Posted September 2, 2015 4 months ago, Musicians Friends offered this Jet City 20 Watt Tube head for $100 less then they were selling used. Had to pull the trigger. Jet City JCA 20HV. This is my 3rd Jet City Amp. What seperates this one from the rest I've had (which is why I sold them) is the clean(er) headroom. The original 20 watt head was a high gain Soldano designed beast. But when you turned up the volume, the gain was too much to stay clean. I returned the first one I had because its spring reverb barely functioned. Still loved the overdriven tones. Early last year, I bought a JCA 22H which is a two channel version of their popular 20 watt head. However, it still was not designed to have a clean and overdrive channel; instead it was labeled Crunch and Overdrive. Basically, the same channel used twice for different gain levels. What I liked about that amp over the 20H was the effects loop. The two channels seemed a bit useless to me and to have it modified to be a true clean/overdrive channels, it would of cost nearly as much as the amp cost new. So I sold it. When the new Vintage 20 Watt tube amp came out, it added all the features I wanted including more clean headroom. The amp itself is much fuller than my Peavey Valveking and certainly louder. Completely re-voiced, it's a bit cleaner, a bit darker (think Fender Bassman), and the power section has been opened up. In addition to the Presence control, Jet City has also added a depth switch based on Soldano's famous Depth control. They've also included a post-master effects loop. When I use my Mr. Black Deluxe Plus, this amp just kills it. I can play really quiet or shake the walls. You'd think I had a 100 Marshall blasting through the basement the way this thing gets. At the moment, I'm still in a honeymoon phase, but for those of us on a budget, this amp head is perfect for versitle music styles. When this came up on the Stupid Deal of the day, I couldn't refuse it. Just had to have it. Unfortunately, I must of pressed the buy now at the same time the last one sold. Good news was I got it nearly half of what it costs new; bad news I had to wait until last week to finally get it.
ridethatbike Posted September 2, 2015 Posted September 2, 2015 I had my eye on those for awhile too. Those looked like great amps, and it would seem they didn't make that many of them for whatever reason.
DetroitBlues Posted September 2, 2015 Author Posted September 2, 2015 I'd love to get the matching 2x12 verticle slant cab. It's a loaded with Celestion v30's.
Steiner Posted September 2, 2015 Posted September 2, 2015 The JCA 22H sounds like it was based off the Soldano SLO. Mike's designed a Blues 20W Soldano that sounds a lot like yours. We should open it up over the pond, a wee dram and cigar sometime Nice snatch!
DetroitBlues Posted September 3, 2015 Author Posted September 3, 2015 The JCA 22H sounds like it was based off the Soldano SLO. Mike's designed a Blues 20W Soldano that sounds a lot like yours. We should open it up over the pond, a wee dram and cigar sometime Nice snatch! Ay, that we should! Maybe sometime soon before it gets a wee bit to cold out..
CJTopes Posted September 3, 2015 Posted September 3, 2015 I came very close to pulling the trigger on a JCA 20 combo. But as you mentioned there wasn't enough clean headroom. I saved up and got a Rivera 20W Pubster head. ( love it) But I could see myself owning JCA 20HV somewhere down the road.
Steiner Posted September 3, 2015 Posted September 3, 2015 Ay, that we should! Maybe sometime soon before it gets a wee bit to cold out.. Capitol Idea!
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