1 watt or 20 watts?

The Tone Ranger

The Tone Ranger

New member
Here's the deal...

I'm trying to decide between the Blackstar HT-1 and the Jet City JCA20. Not sure if going with heads/cabs or combos at this point. I've looked at dozens of amps and narrowed down to these 2 based on tone, features, and price.

Blackstar:
Pros - you can crank 1 watt for tubey deliciousness and still not wake the dead. It has line out for going into soundboard. Less expensive. Sounds great. 2 channels. The ISF control is cool. Easily portable.
Cons - such low wattage prevents jamming with band. Not that I do that really at all now, but I'd love to and trying to think ahead. Unless mic'd, it won't do it. And all the drummers I've jammed with don't have PA systems ;) Lastly, it is a bit pricey for 1 watt. The next jump would be the 5-watt which has all the same features, but more expensive. Not sure if 5 watts could keep up with drummer either.

Jet City:
Pros - single channel amp that sounds fantastic. 20 watts will easily hold up to drummer. Right now, MF has 20% off any item over $199...so that's over $50 off an amp that's less than $350. So I could get this for under $300. Gets that overdriven Marshall tone, which is my fav.
Cons - 20 watts prevents this from being an ideal bedroom amp. You would have to keep the volume really low, which would prevent getting the tubes cooking for ideal tone. Only the combo has reverb (not sure that's a big deal tho). No line out for recording or going into soundboard at church. I would need to either mic cab or purchase the jet city direct box (unless I can go into any direct box at church).

Right now my main gig is church and I go direct using a Line 6 POD XT Live. It works fine, but I'd prefer tubes :) The thing is I do go down to the homeless shelter we work with and jam there. For that, I need an amp. Right now I plug the POD into a little Fender solid state, but it just doesn't cut it over the drummer...just can't hear myself.

So...can you help me decide? Whatever amp...I plan on using the POD as a pedalboard for effects and turn the amp sim off. At least until I can afford some nice pedals. Again, haven't decided if go with combo or heads and separate cabs. The head is easier to carry around. I like that Blackstar 4x8 cab, but that's another $250. Right now, the JCA head is $333, but the head and 1x12 cab is only $349. I like the sound of the 4x8 vs the 1x12 tho. Oh well...decisions, decisions.

Thanks! And if you have any other advice or things I need to consider that I haven't thought of...please do tell.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

If you play with a drummer at all, get the 20. If not, then get whichever you want. If you're jamming at all and have no other amps, that 1 watter would be a waste of money.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

Thanks Jay 77!

I am leaning towards the Jet City for those reasons, but don't like the idea of not being able to CRANK it without some kind of power attenuator...which are expensive.

I am also wondering if I can run the Jet City into sound board with any direct box (to eliminate the speaker cab) or would I need the Jet City Direct pedal/box? We use Aviom's at church. Not sure if micing the speaker cab would disrupt the mix (singers are right in front of me...not a huge stage). I guess I could point the speaker cab back at myself...or eliminate it altogether and just run the head into the soundboard somehow. I'm no tech.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

Don't know the amp specs specifically but I doubt you could bypass the speaker altogether. Might want to look at the Radial JDX box. Seems like it could do the trick.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

It's the same thing.

I guess it all boils down to your needs, and those of the "gig". If a 20w amp with a 1x12 is too much, then so be it. If you play with a full band, yet the church setting doesn't allow for much volume, then why have a band at all? The more I stew on this situation, the more it seems like you should just run your POD into the board and use a monitor. No sense in making things more complicated than they need to be.

As for the shelter jam, is that a full band setting? If not, the 1w is probably just fine.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

I hear ya.

I guess I'm just looking to get a tube amp :) I sold a 5150 combo as it was too loud and too heavy for home or lugging to...anywhere. I miss the sound of real tubes though.

The POD for church does work fine and is easy to carry with my guitar. However, it depends on who's running the sound. Some just don't like "dirty" guitar and most times the electric really has a hard time being heard. Some days I get comments like "I could hear you today". There are other guys who bring their amps on stage (I don't play every week). The thing is I've never brought an amp up on stage. The singers stand pretty much in front of me. In front of them are a couple of monitors. I was worried that if I had an amp/cab or combo next to me that it may overpower what they hear over the monitors. Maybe it wouldn't be an issue at all...dunno. Having to carry my guitar, pedalboard...and then an amp or amp head and cab would make it a bit more cumbersome, but if it paid off in terms of tone...then I wouldn't mind.

The POD for home use is kinda a drag. Again, to be heard I need to plug it into something and it just doesn't sound that great. I'd like to be able to plug into a tube amp...plug in and go kinda thing as I don't have a ton of time to play at home. This is where the 1-watt would be ideal. That said...

I think ahead to things I'd like to do - like jam with a drummer or eventually do weekend warrior bar gigs or something. Maybe I'm just dreaming, but like you said...the 1-watt would then be a waste of money as I'd need to purchase a separate amp for those situations.

The homeless shelter is generally keyboard, singers, and drummer (real drums). Last time I could barely hear myself over the drums. The only PA are for the mics for the singers...can't mic up the amps. We also do a Fall Festival at church where we play outside. Last time I had to use a random amp as my little Fender wouldn't cut it. So this is also where the Jet City would come in handy.

Heck...maybe I give it a try at church and if it doesn't work, just continue to use the POD. Then I'll just keep the Jet City as my amp - for home use, jams, homeless shelter jam, Fall Festival, etc. However, if that JetDirect is inexpensive...it would solve any disturbance issues with the singers' monitors.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

JCA20 and mod it for triode/pentode operation?

Seriously though, if you NEED to crank the amp to get your tones, then maybe the 1 HT1 will be your thing. It has all the stuff you need for the church gigs, too. But, the JCA20, to me looks like a really cool amp. Im thinking about picking one up or building something similar. PLUS there is a lot you can do as far as mods go if you want to play around with it. 20 watts and a 1x12 should get up to volume nicely and still get you some power tube saturation, but be docile enough for bedroom jamming.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

No one's brought up the lack of a real tonestack on the HT-1? I'd put my list on the HT-5 or JCA20. And it all boils down to what you want in the amp. Are two channels necessary? Is reverb necessary? Is an effects loop necessary? Is headroom necessary? I can definitely compare these two amps, since I own them both, but I need a little more information.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

I'd do the Jet City.
it's much more fun to have an amp that CAN go loud when you want it to... aside from gigs, there will always be friends to jam with and you'll be glad when you can take your amp out to places and crank it. It is so satisfying.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

dont get too excited about the semi mythical "power tube distortion". A higher wattage amp gives more bass response than low frequencies, period.
All the great recordings that have cranked tweed deluxes, bassmans, marshal plexis etc are well and good, but obviously thats not always and cant afford to have big amps wailing.
IN the real world, an amp needs to be able to go both loud enough and soft enough for the need at hand, but more than that, it has to provide a satisfying tone.
1 watts is just not gonna do that. Sure it will get dirty, but it cant give any bottom end.
Go the 20 watter. If its too clean, there is always pedals.
There is too much mojo and mysticsm tied up with power tube distortion. Play good and the rest will fall into place.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

The Tone Ranger said:
Blackstar:
Pros - you can crank 1 watt for tubey deliciousness and still not wake the dead...
Click to expand...

You sure? I tried one of those and I thought it was too loud for bedroom practice.

That's the one with the 6 inch speaker, right?

It wasn't a very good sound either IMO. Not until I plugged it into a 4x12.
That was... different. In a really good way. :eyecrazy:
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

Thanks everyone. Lots of good advice. I'll end up going the JCA20 route.

Now...the head/cab or the combo...hmm... ;)

This is a great forum. Now to switch out the Duncan Designed in my Schecter Solo 6 Std for the Hot Rodded Humbucker set :)
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

The Tone Ranger said:
This is a great forum. Now to switch out the Duncan Designed in my Schecter Solo 6 Std for the Hot Rodded Humbucker set :)
Click to expand...

That may or may not be the right fit. Have you posted in the Pickup Lounge describing what you're looking for tonally? That's a mahogany guitar, right? Sometimes the JB doesn't work so well with those. It certainly won't hurt to ask.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

FuseG4 said:
I'd do the Jet City.
it's much more fun to have an amp that CAN go loud when you want it to... aside from gigs, there will always be friends to jam with and you'll be glad when you can take your amp out to places and crank it. It is so satisfying.
Click to expand...

+1. Best to have the extra power there when you need it.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

See if you can get a used Vox Night Train 15W. Great cleans and dirt for what you need. Along with triode/pentode switching, bedroom levels, and church-gig volumes.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

What about the Blackheart Killer Ant BH1H 1 watter? I haven't tried it but it gets good reviews.
 
Re: 1 watt or 20 watts?

I have a JCA100H and I love this amp. I've never played the Blackstar but even though I have a JCA already, I'm looking to get a JCA20h to play with. Maybe do my own brown mod. These things go for $200 bucks all day on GC. why wouldn't you pick one up for that?
 
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