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is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder
My trading feedback - I'm a good egg
Tried the old JCA50H (which has been sitting in the corner for two or three years now) in 4CM with the Helix tonight. Once I got a dodgy cable sorted out...ohhhhh lordy, did it sound fiiiiiine. I've found that the Helix can convincingly emulate all the sounds I get from other amps, but it just can't replicate the combined growl and zing that my trusty ol' Jet City pushes out.
Looks like I'm back in the JCA world again. Wow.
I was was running a Mesa rig which got shelved when I went helix for the function stuff. I picked up a custom 22 and that was it, it’s three weeks later I’ve picked up an Amelia and I’m after a combo to replace my mark v 35!
on a side note, the Amelia is well worth a look. I know it’s pricey for a jet city (I.e. costs more than a drive pedal) but for 400 squids they’re worth every penny
JCA22H: Dual-channel 20W head, with an effects loop (line-level, post-master-volume)
EDIT: The crunch channel is the one from the JCA20H, and the drive channel has even more gain.
JCA20HV: Single-channel 20W head, with the JCA22H's effects loop, and a more vintage-voiced feel.
Custom 22: Dual-channel 20W head, completely re-voiced to have a real clean channel and even more gain on the drive channel. Sensible post-MV effects loop, possibly instrument-level (I can't quite remember).
JCA50H: Dual-channel 50W head, with a slightly batty pre-tone-stack line-level effects loop. Slightly less gain than the JCA22H.
JCA100H: Same as the JCA50H, but with twice the power output.
JCA100HDM: Same as the JCA100H, but with a depth control and a 50W switch.
I'd go into the combos, but you can't get most of them any more.
EDIT: The JCA22H, JCA50H, JCA100H and JCA100HDM are effectively 20W/50W/100W versions of the Soldano Hot Rod+, made in China. That means they don't have a clean channel per se - it's crunch and drive, although rolling off the guitar volume does get you clean-ish (as will low output pickups).
The loop on the 100H and 50H is between the main gain stages and the tone stack. This has a few effects:
1 - Although the level is nominally "line level", the actual signal level depends heavily on the gain control setting (ie more gain = more volume through the loop).
2 - Time-based effects (reverb and delay) will actually have their repeats and trails distort and compress slightly, because there is a certain amount of clipping that happens in the tone stack in addition to in the main gain stages.
3 - You can't boost the level using the effects loop, because all you're doing is driving the tone stack harder instead of hitting the power amp directly.
It's not a complete disaster, mind - it just means that you have to take these things into account when you set up your rig.
I've had five or six JC amps over the years but I still have my favourite, my original 20h from years ago.
I bought it back from the guy I sold it to and I've bunged in a Metro fx loop and a bright switch.
All I can say really is “wow”. Can’t believe the sound that comes out of this amp.
I run it through a 2 x 12 Marshall open backed cab and the sound is huge. I’m so impressed and can’t believe the price that these things sell at.
I’m blown away to be honest.
If it wasn't for your info comparing the 22H and 50H I probably would have bought the 22H. I ended up going for the 100HDM instead. Great decision!
Seriously, though, glad you're happy with it. Even years on, these amps are still insanely priced. I just don't understand why they're not more popular.