CTN
The Drama Dude
Well I've had this for a couple of weeks now, and only recently had a chance to crank it.
For those who don't know about Jet City, it's a company that was set up by Mike Soldano and a couple of other guys. A lot of the amp circuit designing is done by Mike Soldano himself - including custom specs for the transformers. The flagship amp, the JCA100H features the overdrive channel design from the Soldano Hot Rod+. They also make a JCA50H (50W version of the 100H), a JCA20H (20W 1 channel crunch monster), and a combo version as well. There is one particular amp (to be released) called the PicoValve, designed by Andy Marshall of THD, based on the UniValve.
Aside from amps, they also make cabs based on Soldano cab designs, as well as an isolation cab especially for recording, and they will soon be making a series of effects pedals.
Manufacturing is all done offshore, in China. That said, Mike Soldano and his partners frequently visit the factory there and ensure that quality standards are up to Mike's specifications, and that quality assurance is top notch.
As a result of this offshore manufacturing, the costs are much cheaper than similar built in USA products would be, but since the designs, specs, and tolerances all have to meet Soldano standards, the amps sound fantastic.
I mentioned I had a chance to crank my JCA100H and find out what it's made of. Evidently, half a cow was stuffed into the headshell. Seriously though, it runs 5 12ax7s and a quad of 6L6s.
This thing is beefy as hell on the overdrive channel (full gain). Playing through a Mesa Boogie Rectifier cab (V30s), it sounded massive. Sort of halfway between a Dual Rectifier and a Peavey 6505 (ironic, considering both those amps borrow a lot in terms of preamp circuit design from the Soldano SLO). Big bottom end that can be loose and smooth if you want, or tight and percussive. The mids are very present - in a good way - whether or not you scoop them with the 3 band EQ. Highs are smooth and usable. Never does this amp get shrill or harsh sounding, even with the treble and presence dimed. There is a pronounced Low and Low-mid character to this amp, which is what gives it so much beefy punchiness and body.
It excels at crunchy low to mid-gain settings. You can turn up the gain on the Normal channel if you want to get a nice overdriven tone, or you can dime it for a really thick crunch. Where the normal channel leaves off in terms of gain, the overdrive channel picks up. Low gain settings on the overdrive channel are thick and crunchy, getting progressively more saturated as you turn up the gain. Great JCM800 kinda tones as well, but more beefy because of the low/low-mid oomph. Regardless of where you set your gain levels on either channel, the amp stays exceptionally clear sounding and has a really interesting ability to really sing when playing leads.
Cleans can be almost sparkly with the Normal gain set low, but it is not a Fender type clean. It's definitely got some warmth in the lows and mids, with a smooth top end, but I haven't yet played single coils through it, so I'm not sure how they would sound (awesome, I'm sure, but this isn't a fender, so it won't sound like one).
the interface is extremely simple.
two channels with independent gain control and volume control.
Shared 3 band EQ
Presence
single button channel switching footswitch comes included
FX Loop, like most Soldanos, does not have level controls, but I don't use an FX loop anyway so it was a moot point for me.
Speaker jacks for 4 ohms (2), 8 ohms (2) and 16 ohms (1)
Overall, fantastic amp, and it sounds even better with a TS9 in front of it.
I am happy
For those who don't know about Jet City, it's a company that was set up by Mike Soldano and a couple of other guys. A lot of the amp circuit designing is done by Mike Soldano himself - including custom specs for the transformers. The flagship amp, the JCA100H features the overdrive channel design from the Soldano Hot Rod+. They also make a JCA50H (50W version of the 100H), a JCA20H (20W 1 channel crunch monster), and a combo version as well. There is one particular amp (to be released) called the PicoValve, designed by Andy Marshall of THD, based on the UniValve.
Aside from amps, they also make cabs based on Soldano cab designs, as well as an isolation cab especially for recording, and they will soon be making a series of effects pedals.
Manufacturing is all done offshore, in China. That said, Mike Soldano and his partners frequently visit the factory there and ensure that quality standards are up to Mike's specifications, and that quality assurance is top notch.
As a result of this offshore manufacturing, the costs are much cheaper than similar built in USA products would be, but since the designs, specs, and tolerances all have to meet Soldano standards, the amps sound fantastic.
I mentioned I had a chance to crank my JCA100H and find out what it's made of. Evidently, half a cow was stuffed into the headshell. Seriously though, it runs 5 12ax7s and a quad of 6L6s.
This thing is beefy as hell on the overdrive channel (full gain). Playing through a Mesa Boogie Rectifier cab (V30s), it sounded massive. Sort of halfway between a Dual Rectifier and a Peavey 6505 (ironic, considering both those amps borrow a lot in terms of preamp circuit design from the Soldano SLO). Big bottom end that can be loose and smooth if you want, or tight and percussive. The mids are very present - in a good way - whether or not you scoop them with the 3 band EQ. Highs are smooth and usable. Never does this amp get shrill or harsh sounding, even with the treble and presence dimed. There is a pronounced Low and Low-mid character to this amp, which is what gives it so much beefy punchiness and body.
It excels at crunchy low to mid-gain settings. You can turn up the gain on the Normal channel if you want to get a nice overdriven tone, or you can dime it for a really thick crunch. Where the normal channel leaves off in terms of gain, the overdrive channel picks up. Low gain settings on the overdrive channel are thick and crunchy, getting progressively more saturated as you turn up the gain. Great JCM800 kinda tones as well, but more beefy because of the low/low-mid oomph. Regardless of where you set your gain levels on either channel, the amp stays exceptionally clear sounding and has a really interesting ability to really sing when playing leads.
Cleans can be almost sparkly with the Normal gain set low, but it is not a Fender type clean. It's definitely got some warmth in the lows and mids, with a smooth top end, but I haven't yet played single coils through it, so I'm not sure how they would sound (awesome, I'm sure, but this isn't a fender, so it won't sound like one).
the interface is extremely simple.
two channels with independent gain control and volume control.
Shared 3 band EQ
Presence
single button channel switching footswitch comes included
FX Loop, like most Soldanos, does not have level controls, but I don't use an FX loop anyway so it was a moot point for me.
Speaker jacks for 4 ohms (2), 8 ohms (2) and 16 ohms (1)
Overall, fantastic amp, and it sounds even better with a TS9 in front of it.
I am happy
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