Please help tighten up my Jet City 22h

[matzkeb]

I have been playing with the jca22h and 2x12 cabinet for a few months now. I love the way this thing opens up and has just thick thick tone. My problem is the low end and chugs sound so muddy and flabby. I do LOTS of chugging and palm muting riffs and cant seem to find the tightness or smoothness to this amp. Do I need a od pedal...this head has sooo much gain already. Do I need a eq pedal...I hope not.

My guitar is a tele with sh-6 duncan distortion in the bridge.

 

[duesentrieb]

- fresh set of JJ EL84
- rebias
- swap the bottom end heavy SH6 for something else (you need to experiment)
- rethink the speakers in your cabinet
- probably let a tech install a depth - even if that seems contradictory to the pickup swap, the frequ. are different here

 

[Blix]

You need a new amp. A 20 watt amp just don't have the headroom to pull off decent lows, simple as that.

 

[racerevlon]

If you have the JCA24S you may want to change terms speakers in the cab. The stock Eminence speakers are extremely dark and loose. Try other speakers more suited to what you want.

 

[Drill]

Do you want a tighter sound? Or more low end?
For low end try a les paul...
Tighter sound maybe a compressor or ts (pr maybe a pick up change).

 

[PeteLaramee]

I recently just boght a BFG modded jca22h and it's very tight and plenty loud. I bought it used so I have no idea of the cost of the mod.

 

[matzkeb]

Do you want a tighter sound? Or more low end?
For low end try a les paul...
Tighter sound maybe a compressor or ts (pr maybe a pick up change).

Do you want a tighter sound? Or more low end?
For low end try a les paul...
Tighter sound maybe a compressor or ts (pr maybe a pick up change).

It has plenty of low end, it just sound flabby. I want to be able to have very precise chugging patterns. Some how tighten everything up. Maybe this just is not the amp for me...

 

[gibson08]

Thats a pretty hot pickup for that guitar thru that amp, if the pickup is adjustable move it as far away from the strings as you can and start there, if its not adjustable try a colder pickup. New power tubes was also a great suggestion. What speakers are you running anyway?

 

[matzkeb]

Thats a pretty hot pickup for that guitar thru that amp, if the pickup is adjustable move it as far away from the strings as you can and start there, if its not adjustable try a colder pickup. New power tubes was also a great suggestion. What speakers are you running anyway?

I can try moving the pickup never thought about it though. Just have the stock eminence in the jetcity cabinet.

 

[gibson08]

Thats a pretty hot pickup for that guitar thru that amp, if the pickup is adjustable move it as far away from the strings as you can and start there, if its not adjustable try a colder pickup. New power tubes was also a great suggestion. What speakers are you running anyway?

I can try moving the pickup never thought about it though. Just have the stock eminence in the jetcity cabinet.

Humm, Sounds like Race is probably right about the speakers, try thru a diff cab as well.

 

[millhouse]

You need a new amp. A 20 watt amp just don't have the headroom to pull off decent lows, simple as that.

I disagree. I have the same amp, and the lows can be plenty, and tight. Wattage has nothing to do with the lows, just how loud they are, and they are relevant to the rest of the sound spectrum the amp is putting out. I am playing the head through a EVM12L in a Thiele cab, and there are more than enough lows, and they are tight.

To the OP, the first thing I would look at is your speakers, based on my experience. The amp can do what you are asking of it.

Jason

 

[dwizted]

I have a bfg moded jca 22h with depth mod and it tight with plenty low end. Try boosting it with an overdrive and it will tighten up.

 

[JimmyDoomsday]

-have BFG mod the amp (search for youtube videos of 'bfg modded 22h')
-swap out your current bridge pickup for a bareknuckle ceramic warpig
-swap out your current speakers for celestion v-30's

do one or all of these things and enjoy your new awesome tone.

 

[matzkeb]

I did some looking around at my local music stores and tested alot of different stuff with MY RIG.

Here's what I found...

1. Roll the gain back a bit for more clarity and punch.

2. An OD pedal of some sort is the way to go. I will be leaving the gain on the pedal at zero.

3. Maybe a Duncan JB instead of the Duncan Distortion.

3. Probably some Vintage 30s would help

 

[dwizted]

An od in front for sure. If you ever get the coin give brian at BFG a call. He is a supper nice guy and awesome at his craft. Talk to him a bit and he can voice your amp to what you are really looking for. Worth every penny of the mod and great price to boot...

 

[D-Rock]

I did some looking around at my local music stores and tested alot of different stuff with MY RIG.

Here's what I found...

1. Roll the gain back a bit for more clarity and punch.

2. An OD pedal of some sort is the way to go. I will be leaving the gain on the pedal at zero.

3. Maybe a Duncan JB instead of the Duncan Distortion.

3. Probably some Vintage 30s would help

I think you are on the right track.
The JB is still a really hot pickup, so maybe look at a SD Custom, Custom Custom, or Custom5.
V30's are usually always a safe bet for modern metal tones, just be sure you like them with your amp first. Also look at Greenbacks since you are running a low watt head.

An OD pedal will tighten, compress and smooth out the gain and lowend for sure. It will also add noise to the input signal though. A boost pedal purchase often leads to a Noise Gate purchase as well. Just keep that in mind bro.

Your comment on reducing the gain for more punch is spot on too. It will also allow you to use a more aggressive pick attack which will also tighten up the sound. Rule of thumb is the more volume you add, the less gain you actually need.

 

[DoomBuggi]

If you are going to go with a OD pedal, I recommend this; http://protonepedals.com/?dt_portfolio=dead-horse-boutique-overdrive-pedal There is a video demo on this page for it. Its basically a modded type Tubescreamer. Tightens your bass response, yet leaves the low end.

 

[D-Rock]

If you are going to go with a OD pedal, I recommend this; http://protonepedals.com/?dt_portfolio=dead-horse-boutique-overdrive-pedal There is a video demo on this page for it. Its basically a modded type Tubescreamer. Tightens your bass response, yet leaves the low end.

In the same vein, I also recommend the Visual Sound Route 808 and Way Huge Green Rhino. Great pedals that have controls that allow the lowend to be retained and adjusted.

 

[matzkeb]

thanks for the advice! I used to have the krankshaft od but are there better ones for tightness?

 

[matzkeb]

That dead horse is a pretty slick pedal! not too expensive either.