Jet city jca50h vs jca22h/100h/100HDM amp head?

[Charvel1975]

What can I expect if I get a JCA50H? Can it get good clean sounds better than my Peavey 6505+ head, will I need to do a complete retube & bias, boost & EQ pedal? On my pedal board currently is a Boss NS-2(soon to be replaced with a ISP Decimator), MXR M234 Analog Chorus, Boss sd-1 (would I need better boost for JCA?), Korg Pitchblack tuner and a Line 6 Relay G30 wireless. I'm selling my Peavey 6505+ head to fund the purchase, I know less wattage means more breakup at lower volumes, so if I want "tube mojo" seems like I'd want to go with the 50w and turn it up more. I currently use my 100w head (Mesa Boogie Tremoverb), and when I'm using my Marshall 1960 4x12 cab, I basically can't turn it above 3 or 4 without blasting all over the rest of the band or shows for that matter... and that means I'm not pushing my tubes, and not getting much of that sweet "tube mojo" sound I'm looking for! I won't be playing large shows for some time to come but I'm looking at this head for small local shows, maybe small venues and bedroom practice/recording. It needs to be heard over drums.

I know that tube amps sound best when you blast the volume on them. So I don't want a large amp with lots of volume that I won't ever have a need for till I'm playing large stages (which I could use my Mesa for). I just need something for the 5-piece regular unsigned band. Also, lower wattage would mean lower volume and lower volume capacity means that the amp's tubes will be driven enough at those lower volumes. So my question is what exactly are the differences between these heads? will I be able to get a better distortion from the tubes and all from the 50 watt since I won't have to turn it up for the whole world to hear? or do you think I'll need all the volume the 100watt can offer? Also, what is the clarity/muddiness of each, if they are affected by the wattage? and tone? which one sounds the least cold, and has more of a sweeter smooth tone?

I want something a little different than my Mesa Tremoverb & 6505+, a SMOOTH alternative/classic/heavy rock and metal distortion, as well as metalcore. nothing cold, tin-can scratchy. I know the distortion on this amp could be achieved with a pedal but I still want the amp with the most smoothness to it. So, how much different are these heads?

 

[Ascension]

Re: Jet city jca50h vs jca22h/100h/100HDM amp head?

Had the JCA22H for a while and loved it.
Won't do real cleans so let's get that out first. Will do a great Marshall style crunch that cleans up well on the 1st though that is very usable.
Does REALLY well in getting a nice edgie breakup to classic Marshall style crunch on Channel 1 and then has that Soldano SLO style scream channel on the other side.
REALLY cool rocking amp if you don't need a real pure clean but look elsewhere if you do.
I miss the one I had and now wish I would have kept it because I really did get some GREAT tones out of that little head!
Suspect that the 50 and 100 are going to be similar animals.
As far as being heard over a band and crowd I never had any problem being heard with the JCA22H playing in Black Churches. I can't conceive of any club situation that would come CLOSE to the volume levels of a black Church so---.
Here is a live video with the JCA22H. I am running my 07 PRS Custom 24 into the the amp miced with a wah on the front end and pushing a Blackstar 1/12 cab loaded with a WGS Retro 30, I am using only a Boss delay and a Hardwire verb in the loop for effects and other than the full on solos this was channel 1.