Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

[AniML]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

I mean that it should have sounded good, but it clearly doesn't! Jeez!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgsEQHvESEk&NR=1

I want a small versatile combo, and may go for the Bogner Alchemist combo. The idea of built in digital effects doesn't turn me off either, since they're bypassable.

yeah and look where that guy's got the settings much of the video:

GAIN / VOL 6.5
bass / treb midway
MIDS dimed

then he goes for "maximum headroom"
Gain 3
Volume and all tone Dimed

sounds trashy

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

Ah, the low-wattage-tube-amp fad.

I bought a Blackheart, thinking it would sound great, because hell, everyone on the internet said it would!

I tried for a year to love it, even like it, and I straight up had no luck doing so.

I am not speaking against Blackheart.

The problem is the low wattage fad.

Folks are buying them, which is keeping the fad alive, and the early adopters like me are trickling them down to people who "hafta get a tube amp because the internet said so" or guys with kids who don't yet understand that a higher wattage amp on 1 still sounds way better than a low wattage amp on 7.

Pedals.

I bought it (Blackheart BH5h) thinking I would like the all-power-tube distortion, but it was not pleasing to me. I had JJ's in it and a top dollar cab and speaker.

Cliffs: Low wattage tube amps, while they are selling like an m'er-f'er right now, will eventually reach a saturation point and everyone will realize, "hey, none of these truly sound like I hoped they would," and the fad will end.

Or, it could just be that they're "not for me."

 

[AniML]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

This is just the next "Blackheart fad."

I bought a Blackheart, thinking it would sound great, because hell, everyone on the internet said it would!

I tried for a year to love it, even like it, and I straight up had no luck doing so.

I am not speaking against Blackheart at all.

I think the problem is the low wattage fad. Folks are buying them, which is keeping the fad alive, and the early adopters like me are trickling them down to people who "hafta get a tube amp because the internet said so" or guys with kids who don't yet understand that a higher wattage amp on 1 still sounds way better than a low wattage amp on 7.

I bought it thinking I would like the all power tube distortion, but it was not pleasing to me.

Cliffs: Low wattage tube amps, while they are selling like an m'er-f'er right now, will eventually reach a saturation point and everyone will realize, "hey, none of these truly sound like I hoped they would," and the fad will end.

Or, it could just be that they're "not for me."

Well.... Therer are some winners in this class:

The SCXD is a great little amp for modest $
The Egnater Rebel 20 is said to be a great bang for thre buck
And there are some gems in the Fender HR line
And there are the BlackStar The Blackstar 15 (or 20 whatever it is ) seems promising on paper & which I might try when the 15 or 20w are is released

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

That's exactly what I'm rebelling against - internet hearsay and "on paper, it should sound good."

I am with a '96 Hot Rod DeVille 212 now, for anyone curious.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

Part of the problem with the low wattage amps isn't always the amps, but the speakers they put in them or the matching cabs. Take one of those little monsters and run it through a better cab with better speakers and I can just about guarantee you that it'll sound tons better.

I'll be borrowing my bandmate's Blackheart BH15 head next week and plan on running it through my Avatar 2x12 with Celestion Classic Lead 80's. In theory, the thing should sound HUGE. I'll find out for sure.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM5UPVsrH18&feature=related

Doesn't sound terrible? Not my style but I don't think it's too bad.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM5UPVsrH18&feature=related

Doesn't sound terrible? Not my style but I don't think it's too bad.

Through a V30 speaker and using a good mic with it too. That's probably the best sounding demo if it I've seen/heard so far.

I dig Soldano's stuff so it's only natural that I have to try Jet City amp out. Heck, I use the Soldano model on my Vox AD50 as my primary tone anyway. Gain is back quite a bit but I love the tone it has.

 

[karpathion]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

That's exactly what I'm rebelling against - internet hearsay and "on paper, it should sound good."

I am with a '96 Hot Rod DeVille 212 now, for anyone curious.

maybe you should have gone a little bigger. i've had my handsome devil and 2 blackheart cabs. for over a year. it has jjs and tung-sols. the master volume makes this one a little better " i think" than the 5 watt and the 1 watt. i have more controll over what i'm doing. and a little more power for big bottom end. i've played all 3 of the blackheart offerings. and the hd15 is a different animal than the other 2. same goes for the vox nighttrain and egnator rebel. i think 20 watts or so and a litlle more controll would make you like them a little more.

 

[tc]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

Ah, the low-wattage-tube-amp fad.

I bought a Blackheart, thinking it would sound great, because hell, everyone on the internet said it would!

I tried for a year to love it, even like it, and I straight up had no luck doing so.

I am not speaking against Blackheart.

The problem is the low wattage fad.

Folks are buying them, which is keeping the fad alive, and the early adopters like me are trickling them down to people who "hafta get a tube amp because the internet said so" or guys with kids who don't yet understand that a higher wattage amp on 1 still sounds way better than a low wattage amp on 7.

Pedals.

I bought it (Blackheart BH5h) thinking I would like the all-power-tube distortion, but it was not pleasing to me. I had JJ's in it and a top dollar cab and speaker.

Cliffs: Low wattage tube amps, while they are selling like an m'er-f'er right now, will eventually reach a saturation point and everyone will realize, "hey, none of these truly sound like I hoped they would," and the fad will end.

Or, it could just be that they're "not for me."

Well I dunno how low is low for you, but I mean 20-30 watts is more than enough....Deluxe Reverb, Bluesbreaker...I really can't say those amplifiers are a "fad". If you mean 1-5 watters then yeah I guess I do agree with you.

 

[woemoejack]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

I do recognize the multitude of amp makers pushing out the bedroom tube amps like crazy... I wouldnt necessarily call it a fad, maybe better described as bringing affordable tube tone to guitarists of all skill levels. hopefully the kid buying his first guitar and amp will opt for one of these over the other small wattage solid state stuff out there. looking back years ago when I blew my summer job money on the latest and greatest all digital built in multi effects solid state amp i cringe to think i could used the same amount to buy a blues junior or something of the like...

1962 Silvertone 1481. 5 watts, 8" Weber Alnico, same tubes in it since it left Sears almost 50 years ago, and still the best sounding amp I have ever owned. sure its not the most versatile, but its the only amp I own that i would never sell or trade away.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

Just find a Zinky Blue Velvet and be done with it.
I traded for a little 25 watt combo and since I got it a few weeks ago I have hardly even fired my other rigs up. The chimey cleans and glorious crunch tones coming from this itty bitty 25 watt 1/12 combo are flat amazing !!

http://www.box.net/shared/zc3kipddj1
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=809752&songID=8637001
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=809752&songID=8629894

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

Just to clarify, you know I was talking about my BlackSTAR right?

yeah i was just saying that cheap low wattage tube amps can still sound good even after dropping $800 on something from a major manufacturer. depends on what you think sounds good I guess. Good but not great maybe.

btw I'm sticking with 15W (a small tube amp by comparison) because 30 and 40W is just TOO LOUD.
Bedroom tube amps is a niche that needs to be filled. What like I'm just supposed to play solid state if I don't want to shake the walls? LOL no.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

a higher wattage amp on 1 still sounds way better than a low wattage amp on 7.

Low wattage tube amps, while they are selling like an m'er-f'er right now, will eventually reach a saturation point and everyone will realize, "hey, none of these truly sound like I hoped they would," and the fad will end.

Or, it could just be that they're "not for me."

I agree with that first point for many amps. But Most of those good higher wattage amps are above a certain price point. Price matters, as price is a good indicator of what kind of R&D and parts/labor went into the amp.

I'm willing to bet that a 57 champ RI will sound better on 7 than a blues jr. on 1 with most od pedals. It may sound just as good as a HRDx on 1 with a pedal.


CHEAP low wattage tube amps will be around for a while. Some still sound better than many solid state amps in the same price range.

things like the fender 57 champ RI... those things deserve to be around. They have real studio and practice utility.

i personally am past the 5W tube amp thing. 15W amps are the minimum I'll buy from now on. All the ≥15W amps I've played DO sound better than anything <15W. except if it was made by crate. that v33 was lame.the blackheart was much better.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

Mmmmm...

The problem is the low wattage fad.

Folks are buying them, which is keeping the fad alive, and the early adopters like me are trickling them down to people who "hafta get a tube amp because the internet said so" or guys with kids who don't yet understand that a higher wattage amp on 1 still sounds way better than a low wattage amp on 7.

Pedals.

I bought it (Blackheart BH5h) thinking I would like the all-power-tube distortion, but it was not pleasing to me. I had JJ's in it and a top dollar cab and speaker.

Cliffs: Low wattage tube amps, while they are selling like an m'er-f'er right now, will eventually reach a saturation point and everyone will realize, "hey, none of these truly sound like I hoped they would," and the fad will end.

Or, it could just be that they're "not for me."

The 'problem' with low-wattage amps isnt' that they're low power... small tube amps have been around since the '40s & '50s, a lot of which are still in use or flat out copied today. The AC15 never went anywhere... old Silvertones & Supros... little Gibsons, Princetons, Champs & the like.

I think the real crux of it is that a lot of the new "low watt" tube amps are built to a price point rather then for any sort of tone. IMO a lot of 'em sound really crappy.

When I was at the guitarget a few weeks ago I plugged into one of those Jet City amps and it wasn't very inspiring. The Blackhearts are kinda ok... the Egnaters have all the dimension & reponse of a POD...

A lot of cheap tube amps are really no better then solid state amps.

There are quite a few good solid state amps too...

I'd rather have a PV Bandit then a Valve Junior.

 

[AniML]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

OP here again. I am now certain I am returing my JC combo - it is boxed and ready to go. I A/Bd it right next to my SCXD (which is mildly upgraded with an ECC83 & Weber Sig speaker) a couple of different times. I played both my Tele and LP into both amps straight up and thru a Tech21 British pedal and the Fender flat out blows the doors off the JC in every respect, but most notably in articulation and complexity

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

I want a small versatile combo, and may go for the Bogner Alchemist combo. The idea of built in digital effects doesn't turn me off either, since they're bypassable.

Do it! I have the Bogner Alchemist 1x12 and love it! It's extremely versatile and the effects are actually pretty good. It also has the 20-watt/40-watt switch if you want the lower wattage. My only complaint is the amp is naturally bass heavy, especially with my all Mahogany guitar, so I had to really cut the bass and boost the mids/treble to get a tight, clear tone.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

Well, there are a few classic low watt amps. Like the 5e3. I happen to like the Killer Ant, the Blackstart 5ht and my 5w Gretsch/Supro.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

btw I'm sticking with 15W (a small tube amp by comparison) because 30 and 40W is just TOO LOUD.

By the time you get power amp distortion out of a 15 watt amp, you're as loud as a 30 watt amp, but with a bit more grind. The difference would be distortion by 4 on 15 watter vs 5 on a 30 watter. Both are loud by then.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

wanna a great low wattage amp that has gobs of tone? Get a Tweed Princeton. Single-ended tweedy goodness.

I make one, called the Austin. based on the TP circuit. Put a 12" speaker with it and a cool retro cab.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Got my new Jet City 20W Combo - and I am thoroughy disappointed

i disagree with this entire thread