Is the Jet City JC100HDM right for me?

[Tawlks]

I've been playing a 5150 II for a year now and after a few reliability issues, I've decided to fix it, sell it and buy a new amp.

As much as I love the 5150 II, my playing has become so mcuh more versetile and moved more towards prog rock, jazz and fusion and away from metal, I still love metal, so I'd need an amp that can handle 'The br00tzZz'.

I set the gain at about 4.5 on my 5150 II, so there's an idea of the amount of gain I'd need in an amp. I'd like an amp to handle pedals well but this isn't a nessecity as I only use an SD-1, a noise gate and an EQ at the moment. I'll move into other effects later on.

I want an amp with fat but articulate cleans, that sound smooth and silky but get crunchy at higher gain levels, headroom is also apreciated as I want my cleans to stay clean.

The depth switch is a nice feature but the 1/2 power switch and the cosmetics seem to draw me more to the HDM than the actual Depth Mod. Plus, if using an EQ pedal, I'm not sure the Depth knob will be all that useful.

What do you guys think/reccomend?

EDIT: for $29.99 I could buy a replacement perforated metal baffle so that clears up the cosmetic concern.

 

[Tawlks]

Anyone?

 

[Blackie08]

Just have a listen to FRPC's youtube vids..... that should tell ya if they would be for you...

 

[Tawlks]

Just have a listen to FRPC's youtube vids..... that should tell ya if they would be for you...

Have done. Great player with great tone. I was just about to facebook you, Dustin. How have you been lately?

 

[Blackie08]

Just have a listen to FRPC's youtube vids..... that should tell ya if they would be for you...

Have done. Great player with great tone. I was just about to facebook you, Dustin. How have you been lately?

Working like a mofo lol.... trying to decide on a new amp. Splawn QR/Baron B60/100, Voodoo V-Rock.......

 

[HeimBrent]

I wouldn't let the 50/100 watt-switch be the reason to buy one over the other. It's really not that big a difference, in my opinion. I remember a discussion about 50 watts vs. 100 watts where someone said something along the lines of "50 watts at 10 equals 100 watts at 8". Haven't tried the Jet City, though... So I don't have anything useful to bring to the table as far as tone goes.

What other amps are you contemplating to buy?

 

[Tawlks]

Just have a listen to FRPC's youtube vids..... that should tell ya if they would be for you...

Have done. Great player with great tone. I was just about to facebook you, Dustin. How have you been lately?

Working like a mofo lol.... trying to decide on a new amp. Splawn QR/Baron B60/100, Voodoo V-Rock.......

Well, I've never played any of them but the Quickrod seems to be the best production run 'modded Marshall' head out there. Baron's sound great and are some of the coolest looking amps I've seen. I know nothing about the Voodoo.

 

[Tawlks]

I wouldn't let the 50/100 watt-switch be the reason to buy one over the other. It's really not that big a difference, in my opinion. I remember a discussion about 50 watts vs. 100 watts where someone said something along the lines of "50 watts at 10 equals 100 watts at 8". Haven't tried the Jet City, though... So I don't have anything useful to bring to the table as far as tone goes.

What other amps are you contemplating to buy?

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure why but I love the idea of a half power switch, I guess it's because everyone raves about power amp dist.

I've been looking at...

Jet City 100 watt
Jet City 100 watt HDM
Blackstar Series 1 100 watt.
Laney Vh100r
Laney GH50L
Another 5150/6505
Peavey Ultra
Marshall DSL
Marshall JVM

I'm looking for something with at least 2 channels and a load of versetillity, clean cleans and agressive, raunchy, mean modern metal capabilities (think 5150) Mostly for use in a prog rock band where various levels of agression will be needed from all ends of the spectrum.

I don't mind EL34 or 6L6 though considering that I have 3 quads of 6L6s at home I'd rather it was a 6L6 amp.

I have no issues buying used but the last (and only) time I did, I had a load of problems. My budget excludes Mesa, modded Marshalls, ENGLs etc etc.

 

[Blackie08]

Just have a listen to FRPC's youtube vids..... that should tell ya if they would be for you...

Have done. Great player with great tone. I was just about to facebook you, Dustin. How have you been lately?

Working like a mofo lol.... trying to decide on a new amp. Splawn QR/Baron B60/100, Voodoo V-Rock.......

Well, I've never played any of them but the Quickrod seems to be the best production run 'modded Marshall' head out there. Baron's sound great and are some of the coolest looking amps I've seen. I know nothing about the Voodoo.

Ya i'm leaning toward the QR or Baron.... Both are cool as hell but the Baron is more versatile (better clean channel, fx loop, footswitchable vols/gains for 2 gain modes). You might like the JCA100HDM. I like the lil 20watter I won... just not enough gain for me and the low end is flubby(el84's) and its a lil dark for my tastes. But the 100HDM has gain for days and a nice clean channel that gets crunchy or clean depending on what you want. Drew should be able to tell ya more than me.

 

[Blackie08]

I wouldn't let the 50/100 watt-switch be the reason to buy one over the other. It's really not that big a difference, in my opinion. I remember a discussion about 50 watts vs. 100 watts where someone said something along the lines of "50 watts at 10 equals 100 watts at 8". Haven't tried the Jet City, though... So I don't have anything useful to bring to the table as far as tone goes.

What other amps are you contemplating to buy?

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure why but I love the idea of a half power switch, I guess it's because everyone raves about power amp dist.

I've been looking at...

Jet City 100 watt
Jet City 100 watt HDM
Blackstar Series 1 100 watt.
Laney Vh100r
Laney GH50L
Another 5150/6505
Peavey Ultra
Marshall DSL
Marshall JVM

I'm looking for something with at least 2 channels and a load of versetillity, clean cleans and agressive, raunchy, mean modern metal capabilities (think 5150) Mostly for use in a prog rock band where various levels of agression will be needed from all ends of the spectrum.

I don't mind EL34 or 6L6 though considering that I have 3 quads of 6L6s at home I'd rather it was a 6L6 amp.

I have no issues buying used but the last (and only) time I did, I had a load of problems. My budget excludes Mesa, modded Marshalls, ENGLs etc etc.

Have you thought of a Baron???
http://baroncustomamps.com/

Really versatile, great clean channel and fx loops, insane gain channels.... classic rock to 80's metal to br00talZ

 

[glassjaw7]

I don't know what it is about those amps, but I just can't get into the sound. I've played SLOs before with mixed results. Hated the first one I played and loved the second (had several of the standard mods)

If the JC circuit is based on the SLO I can't hear it. Hard to explain, but it just doesn't sound right to me. Sounds "disconnected" from the player if that makes any sense.

 

[Tawlks]

I don't know what it is about those amps, but I just can't get into the sound. I've played SLOs before with mixed results. Hated the first one I played and loved the second (had several of the standard mods)

If the JC circuit is based on the SLO I can't hear it. Hard to explain, but it just doesn't sound right to me. Sounds "disconnected" from the player if that makes any sense.

Ah. =/ That sucks, I use alot of dynamics and I want it to be very responsive, not like I'm fighting the amp.

 

[FastRedPonyCar]

The JCA100 circuit is based on the soldano hotrod not the SLO. A few parts can get a JCA100 alarmingly close to the Hotrod as well.

Anyways, the half power switch is pretty much useless as you don't get a whole lot more power section compression. Biasing it can do that though. The depth knob is a lower midrange control rather than an actual power section or FEEL knob that alters the way the amp feels. An EQ in the loop of a non HDM can achieve the same thing and much more for that same $100 price difference that the two JCA's have.

For brootz, yeah it CAN but it's not the amp's primary vocal range. It thrives in the moderate gain rock stuff like foo fighters and insert any other cliche'd modern rock band on the radio now. The bottom end of the sound is too smooth IMO to pull of the really tight percussive palm mute brootz stuff. A clean boost up front helps though.

The best sound I like from the amp is taking the clean channel and pushing it's preamp gain to around 2 or 3 o'clock and then using the guitar's volume knob to clean it up and an overdrive boost pedal to add more gain. It seems to have a bit more upper end crunch to help define the sound a bit more than the lead channel. The lead channel is much smoother and thicker with more saturation. (good for smooth/singing (carvin legacy~ish sounding) lead work.. a nice fusion'y sound.

Anyways, it's hard to beat for the money. It, the egnater stuff, the bogner alchemist, blackstar, peavey, some marshalls and used mesa stuff all sort of fall into that $700~$900 price range so you've got a lot of options.


a lot depends on where you're going to be using the amp. The JCA stuff records very well because it gets a nice smooth sound at a relatively low volume (though obviously sounds better once that volume knob is about at 11 or 12 o'clock) but it doesn't HAVE to be cranked to sound good. So bedroom jamming and lower volume recording is something the JCA is very very good at. Dare I say on par with my Splawn Nitro when doing lead work recording.


If you need a NEW amp, the JC stuff is hard to beat but there's a lot of good gear on the used market that can also do what you're wanting but it's more or less going to be a personal preference I believe.

My standard JCA100 is for sale if you want to give it a shot. You certainly wouldn't be out any $$ if you decide it's not for you and want to sell it. It's got the black metal perforated HDM face plate. If you are PM me.

 

[glassjaw7]

I wouldn't let the 50/100 watt-switch be the reason to buy one over the other. It's really not that big a difference, in my opinion. I remember a discussion about 50 watts vs. 100 watts where someone said something along the lines of "50 watts at 10 equals 100 watts at 8". Haven't tried the Jet City, though... So I don't have anything useful to bring to the table as far as tone goes.

What other amps are you contemplating to buy?

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure why but I love the idea of a half power switch, I guess it's because everyone raves about power amp dist.

I've been looking at...

Jet City 100 watt
Jet City 100 watt HDM
Blackstar Series 1 100 watt.
Laney Vh100r
Laney GH50L
Another 5150/6505
Peavey Ultra
Marshall DSL
Marshall JVM

I'm looking for something with at least 2 channels and a load of versetillity, clean cleans and agressive, raunchy, mean modern metal capabilities (think 5150) Mostly for use in a prog rock band where various levels of agression will be needed from all ends of the spectrum.

I don't mind EL34 or 6L6 though considering that I have 3 quads of 6L6s at home I'd rather it was a 6L6 amp.

I have no issues buying used but the last (and only) time I did, I had a load of problems. My budget excludes Mesa, modded Marshalls, ENGLs etc etc.

Have you thought of a Baron???
http://baroncustomamps.com/

Really versatile, great clean channel and fx loops, insane gain channels.... classic rock to 80's metal to br00talZ

This^ Also, the Egnater Renegade is a great amp and affordable.

 

[Tawlks]

I wouldn't let the 50/100 watt-switch be the reason to buy one over the other. It's really not that big a difference, in my opinion. I remember a discussion about 50 watts vs. 100 watts where someone said something along the lines of "50 watts at 10 equals 100 watts at 8". Haven't tried the Jet City, though... So I don't have anything useful to bring to the table as far as tone goes.

What other amps are you contemplating to buy?

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure why but I love the idea of a half power switch, I guess it's because everyone raves about power amp dist.

I've been looking at...

Jet City 100 watt
Jet City 100 watt HDM
Blackstar Series 1 100 watt.
Laney Vh100r
Laney GH50L
Another 5150/6505
Peavey Ultra
Marshall DSL
Marshall JVM

I'm looking for something with at least 2 channels and a load of versetillity, clean cleans and agressive, raunchy, mean modern metal capabilities (think 5150) Mostly for use in a prog rock band where various levels of agression will be needed from all ends of the spectrum.

I don't mind EL34 or 6L6 though considering that I have 3 quads of 6L6s at home I'd rather it was a 6L6 amp.

I have no issues buying used but the last (and only) time I did, I had a load of problems. My budget excludes Mesa, modded Marshalls, ENGLs etc etc.

Have you thought of a Baron???
http://baroncustomamps.com/

Really versatile, great clean channel and fx loops, insane gain channels.... classic rock to 80's metal to br00talZ

This^ Also, the Egnater Renegade is a great amp and affordable.

I love the clips I've heard, I never see them around England though, I'll have to do some research, I'd like to buy a used amp also, I've never seen a used Egnater, or atleast not as far as I can remember.

 

[PaulyPanacea]

I put some KT88s in my Jet City JCA100HDM & it woke the amp up. It can do the brootz no problem now. i prefer these to the 6L6s for a thicker tone IMHO.

 

[Tawlks]

I put some KT88s in my Jet City JCA100HDM & it woke the amp up. It can do the brootz no problem now. i prefer these to the 6L6s for a thicker tone IMHO.

Ahh awesome man, I'm really tempted to try KT88s if I buy one, love the idea, according to Drew (FRPC) it's safe too. Are you saying that it can't do brootz with 6L6s?

 

[FastRedPonyCar]

it CAN do brootz but KT88's have a much more percussive sound. Biased right, the 6L6's can tighten up but still not enough to get super tight. Even with the 88's, I think it needs a boost to tighten up enough to do metal.

 

[roythefish]

Hello all, It is looking ever increasingly likely that I will be buying one of these in the near future. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Whilst I appreciate that for £400.00 I am not buying a Hot Rod + I am interested in what mods/component changes you guys have done or think may be beneficial to get the best out of this amp.

Many thanks

 

[sahlomonic]

Hello all, It is looking ever increasingly likely that I will be buying one of these in the near future. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Whilst I appreciate that for £400.00 I am not buying a Hot Rod + I am interested in what mods/component changes you guys have done or think may be beneficial to get the best out of this amp.

Many thanks

If you are handy with soldering and have *experience working on amps/voltages that CAN KILL YOU, I recommend looking into what is referred to as the "SLO" mod. With that mod you are basically putting the component values equal to what the SLO has on the Overdrive preamp. IIRC 3 resistors, 6 caps, and the 2 gain pots. Adding the Depth control is very easy too.

From my experience it makes the amp more open and a little more aggressive. Doesn't give it any more gain but it makes the gain it has more usable and more clear. Roughly $20-$30 in parts and about an hour's time if you do it yourself.

V30s seem to be the go-to speakers for this amp as well. Greenbacks are nice, but you get the best out of it with V30s in my opinion.