So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

[IM4Tone]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Available as a head:

http://www.allenamps.com/brownsugar.php



Late to the party as usual - I should have finished reading the whole thread before posting.

I've listened multiple times to the videos/sound bytes of that Allen Brown Sugar. It is possibly the best sounding amp I've ever heard IMO. I've been fighting the urge to buy the head version now for over a year!

 

[jeremy]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

ive spent hours checking out his site over the years and im very intrigued but they are pretty rare in the wild

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

ive spent hours checking out his site over the years and im very intrigued but they are pretty rare in the wild

Very true. However, any comments I've ever read from owners have all been highly favorable. Still I hold back for some reason???

 

[jeremy]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

i hold back mostly cause i already have a bunch of great amps and for the most part only use two of them with any regularity

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

I wish I’d never sold my brown Deluxe. I wish I’d never sold a lot of things...

 

[Ascension]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Can not for the life of me understand why the Jet City 20 watt heads are not more respected in discussions like this one!
I got my 2nd one yesterday a JCA 22H Custom and am blown away. Frankly the Tiny Terrors and the Vox Night Train are cheap sounding toys in comparison and not on the same planet as these amps are. From juicy warm cleans to vintage Marshall tones on the Crunch side, to BLISTERING thick fluid sustain for slos and a GREAT big round Brown rhythm sound on the OD side + a really GOOD loop my little head absolutely KILLS! Grabbed mine for $263 SHIPPED last week from Musicians Friend and this well may be my best ever new amp deal EVER!!
Just don't get the lack of love for the Jet City amps???

 

[jeremy]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

the few jet citys ive played sounded fine but are more modern voiced than what i go for, not sure about gigging reliability. do yours get bounced around in the back of the car/van much? i dont mean abuse, but just driving from gig to gig

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

the few jet citys ive played sounded fine but are more modern voiced than what i go for, not sure about gigging reliability. do yours get bounced around in the back of the car/van much? i dont mean abuse, but just driving from gig to gig

Yeah. One reason I went for the Vox is because it’s handwired. Only amp I own that isn’t is my Mustang and it’s acting up after just a couple of years. It’s under warranty but still...

Another reason is that it’s switchable from 30 watts to 15 watts.

Another is that I miss my old AC30 and although this new one has a master volume, the MV can be switched right out of the circuit....so no tone loss.

Another is that I have a small stash of NOS GE EL84’s.

Also has an effects loop so I can add Reverb and Delay.

And finally, it’s a head that’ll sit right on top of my AC30 size Matchless speaker cab loaded with 60’s Celestions. Lighter. AC30 combo amps weigh a ton!

I think I made the right choice.

 

[Ascension]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

the few jet citys ive played sounded fine but are more modern voiced than what i go for, not sure about gigging reliability. do yours get bounced around in the back of the car/van much? i dont mean abuse, but just driving from gig to gig

Just got this one yesterday. The 1st one I owned got gigged out a lot and was rock solid in reliability.
Yes they are more modern on the voicing to some extent. In particular the OD side but this new one really nails a solid vintage Marshall tone on the Crunch side + if you back off the gain has a pretty darned good warm clean. The new Custom is a much different amp from the original JCA22H I had the way its voiced. I do the modern Worship thing mostly so was looking for an inexpensive great sounding reliable small head with great tones that I could set up and leave some where without sweating it to much. IMO the Jet Citys are simply the best sounding most reliable and versatile inexpensive amps out there for what I need.
3 reasons I say this.
Tonal versatility and also not just good but GREAT low volume tones.
Low price point with real real tone stacks features like switching and that great pedal friendly loop + so far rock solid reliability.
For me this one is HUGE in that these have a really GOOD pedal friendly LOOP!!!
Own a pair of 25 watt Boogies the Zinky Velvet combo and now this head + have owned several other low wattage amps and consider these the absolute best amp for the $ in this category IMO.

 

[Ascension]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

the few jet citys ive played sounded fine but are more modern voiced than what i go for, not sure about gigging reliability. do yours get bounced around in the back of the car/van much? i dont mean abuse, but just driving from gig to gig

Just got this one yesterday. The 1st one I owned got gigged out a lot and was rock solid in reliability.
Yes they are more modern on the voicing to some extent. In particular the OD side but this new one really nails a solid vintage Marshall tone on the Crunch side + if you back off the gain has a pretty darned good warm clean. The new Custom is a much different amp from the original JCA22H I had the way its voiced. I do the modern Worship thing mostly so was looking for an inexpensive great sounding reliable small head that was not that expensive + had great tones. IMO the Jet Citys are simpley the best amps out there for this. 3 reasons
Tonal versatility and also not just good but GREAT low volume tones.
Low price point with real features and reliability.
For me this one is HUGE in that these have a really GOOD pedal friendly LOOP!!!
Own a pair of 25 watt Boogies the Zinky Velvet combo and now this head + have owned several other low wattage amps and consider these the absolute best amp for he $ in this category.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

From what I’ve read, the Jet City’s do seem like a great amp at a great price.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Very true. However, any comments I've ever read from owners have all been highly favorable. Still I hold back for some reason???

I'll add a comment if I ever get around to building the the 1-12 Brown Sugar kit I bought.
]

 

[Jacew]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Can not for the life of me understand why the Jet City 20 watt heads are not more respected in discussions like this one!
I got my 2nd one yesterday a JCA 22H Custom and am blown away. Frankly the Tiny Terrors and the Vox Night Train are cheap sounding toys in comparison and not on the same planet as these amps are. From juicy warm cleans to vintage Marshall tones on the Crunch side, to BLISTERING thick fluid sustain for slos and a GREAT big round Brown rhythm sound on the OD side + a really GOOD loop my little head absolutely KILLS! Grabbed mine for $263 SHIPPED last week from Musicians Friend and this well may be my best ever new amp deal EVER!!
Just don't get the lack of love for the Jet City amps???

Because of you, I now have to go to check that JCA22H that I saw on sale yesterday...

 

[Ascension]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

From what I’ve read, the Jet City’s do seem like a great amp at a great price.

They are and that's what baffles me on why they don't get any respect. Small light weight so easy to transport with a lot of features at a low price point. If you need a big round hot rodded Marshall tone one one side with a choice of a nice warm clean or more open vintage Plexie toned second channel these are great rigs.

 

[PierceOkken]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Tiny terror or OR15 all the way, EVH LBX 15w is pretty swell also

 

[PierceOkken]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

And the Friedman pink taco is just pure rock, but it is an expensive little thing.

 

[justFred]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

From what I’ve read, the Jet City’s do seem like a great amp at a great price.

Sorry, musta missed it...wuz up with the AC30?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Sorry, musta missed it...wuz up with the AC30?

Hasn’t arrived yet.

 

[dystrust]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

From what I’ve read, the Jet City’s do seem like a great amp at a great price.

These amps are great; I bought a standard 22H when Guitar Center was blowing them out for $279 about a year ago. I was somewhat GASing for a Mini Recto at the time, but the 22H completely killed it. The Recto has better cleans, but the 22H sounds like a JCM800 on the crunch side and a mini SLO on the lead. My Mini and full size Marshall Jubilees have British tones pretty well covered, so I only pull out the Jet City when I want to play metal or when I want to record leads without a pedal.

Because of you, I now have to go to check that JCA22H that I saw on sale yesterday...

If that used 22H is priced right, go for it.

 

[moshpit817]

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Re: So what’s the best of the 15 watt/20 watt heads?

Few
1- Zinky 25 watt Blue velvet head is just a BEAST but good luck finding one!!
2- Best bang for the $ Jet City JCA 22C the Custom voiced by Martin Kid is just a bad boy and right now Musicians friend is running them at $299 SHIPPED!!
3- Soldano Atomic 16 watts of badass!
My top 3!

Not to hijack the thread but I just ordered the JCA Custom 22 Martin Kidd yesterday morning,shipped late last night..Jonesing ! I had the EVH 5150 LBX 15 1st version,loved it,plenty of gain on both channels but the lesser gain Blue Channel didn't do clean too well,but lots of these 2nd hand around,nice effects loop too.