Who here is still running one of the original Jet City 22H's?

[Ascension]

They used to be seemingly every where but now you never see them on the used market or hear about someone running one.
I traded for one of the early Soldano designed amps before the Martin Kid designed 22H Custom era.
This is my second one of these and I'm still playing with different combos of tubes speakers and effects.
Anybody else running one of these and want to swap some notes on things like what tubes and speakers these seem to like?
So far have a pair of the new Sensor Mullard EL84's in the power side and a pair of real RCA 12AX7 Blackplates in V1 and V2 in the pre.

 

[moshpit817]

I bought one of the Custom 22's when they first came out and modded it..then regretfully sold it..I would like to find a 22H now or even another Custom 22..I didn't know they were so hard to find..I still have one of their aftermarket cool looking front grill screens somewhere.

I like them and now I want to find one after reading your post.. I just ran JJ's EL 84's and JJ's ECC 83S preamp tubes and it sounded awesome.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

https://reverb.com/item/70025609-jet-city-jca22h-modded-depth-control-and-choke

 

[Demanic]

I just recently saw one of the combo versions for sale for ~$250.

 

[NegativeEase]

Yeah, your'e right -I never see them on stages or in the stores anymore. Sort of a rarity these days

 

[Ascension]

I bought one of the Custom 22's when they first came out and modded it..then regretfully sold it..I would like to find a 22H now or even another Custom 22..I didn't know they were so hard to find..I still have one of their aftermarket cool looking front grill screens somewhere.

I like them and now I want to find one after reading your post.. I just ran JJ's EL 84's and JJ's ECC 83S preamp tubes and it sounded awesome.

If you want to part with that front mesh grill I'm interested.
One of the real magic bullets in tubes for these seems to be the new sensor Mullard reissue EL 84's.They made a huge difference in my amp the way they break up when you push them and make it feel a lot more like a Marshall Plexie on the first channel in particular. I'm running pair of NOS late 60's RCA Blackplate 12AX7's in V 1 and 2 and those did wonders to warm up and smooth out this amp tonally.
These also seem to like Vin 30's in a closed back cab and the WGS Retro 3o's in a open back cab on speakers. This is my 3rd one. Had a round logo early one but sold it for the later JCA 22H Custom because I wanted a real clean. That was a mistake and never liked the Cutom as the clean was just ok and the high side was to buzzy. The new one is a later version in Black with the Jet City logo not the first 333 round logo. Nice little amp with a good edgie Marshall crunch on the first channel and a thick modded Marshall tone on the hot side.

 

[Ascension]

Yeah, your'e right -I never see them on stages or in the stores anymore. Sort of a rarity these days

For a while those seemed to be everywhere but have now pretty much vanished in the used market. Now they have gotten expensive and it's very hard to find a nice one that hasn't been ether abused or modded. I traded my MT 15 head to an old friend for this one and a equally pristine Egnater Tweaker 15 head. Both he bought new and have only been used in his home studio. Didn't really need both the M15 and the first gen real US Archon 50 head but could use those edgier Marshill type tones with the little Jet City in a small light head.

 

[NegativeEase]

For a while those seemed to be everywhere but have now pretty much vanished in the used market. Now they have gotten expensive and it's very hard to find a nice one that hasn't been ether abused or modded. I traded my MT 15 head to an old friend for this one and a equally pristine Egnater Tweaker 15 head. Both he bought new and have only been used in his home studio. Didn't really need both the M15 and the first gen real US Archon 50 head but could use those edgier Marshill type tones with the little Jet City in a small light head.

Wow, I thought the MT15 and you would be together forever -did you tire of the sound and want to do something else?

 

[Ascension]

Wow, I thought the MT15 and you would be together forever -did you tire of the sound and want to do something else?

Loved the little amp and would buy another one if I didn't have the 50 watt US Archon head.
The MT 15 was a little dark and metal for my Church use first off so it had come home and I have the old Carvin X 50B at church now. The Archon is not much bigger not much heavier and is a far better sounding amp head to head ( should be as was a grand more $!) so didn't need both. This deal will put some $ in my pocket from the sale of one amp and let me keep the other. Likely will sell the Tweaker for around $300 and keep the Jet City. Still super hot on the MT 15 and like them much better than the more expensive new import second gen Archon 50.
The Jet City also gives me a tonal option I really don't have now so it all made sense.

 

[idsnowdog]

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/msg/d/braham-tube-amp-trade-for-drum-set/7641874002.html

 

[Ascension]

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/msg/d/braham-tube-amp-trade-for-drum-set/7641874002.html

That's the 20 watt single channel. Mine is that crunch channel plus has a switchable high gain overdrive side that was designed by Mike Soldano. Far different amp.
This is the amp I have.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeah, your'e right -I never see them on stages or in the stores anymore. Sort of a rarity these days

I don't think the JCA20H that I played was loud enough for a stage, but that's just me.

It's a great-sounding amp, I just didn't think it was anywhere near the loudest lunchbox amps I've tried.

I haven't played the 22H.

 

[Ascension]

I don't think the JCA20H that I played was loud enough for a stage, but that's just me.

It's a great-sounding amp, I just didn't think it was anywhere near the loudest lunchbox amps I've tried.

I haven't played the 22H.

For what I do that's a plus. I have larger amps for higher volume bigger stages. I needed a small amp for smaller gigs. The little Jet City is still hard to control at low volumes though. As far as not having enough for a full band situation this was my first one live.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

For what I do that's a plus. I have larger amps for higher volume bigger stages. I needed a small amp for smaller gigs. The little Jet City is still hard to control at low volumes though. As far as not having enough for a full band situation this was my first one live.

I haven't tried the 22H. Just the 20. I think I'd like the 22H better, but I did like the 20 once I tried boosting it with something fat and loud like a Klon-type. But if you have the chance, I recommend you look into the depth mod. Really opens up those amps which are voiced a little light on the bass, IMO.

If you have one cranked up live and mic'd, I bet it'd cut it. I have always practiced in confined spaces with really loud bands, though. I guess I've always gotten along which like-minded people who share the love for the visceral experience of hearing a drumer BEAT on the drums. None of my lunchbox amps have ever cut it, so I kinda feel predisposed (for my application). But I did try the 20H at some point, and I thought at the time that it wasn't as loud as my Dark Terror, which in turn wasn't as loud as my Krank, which in turn wasn't as loud as any of my EVH LBX's. I've heard the MT15 is the loudest of the bunch, though. The LBX's were loud enough, but not good enough, TBH. Super farty and shrill at those levels.

But yeah, if you want a moderate volume level, I bet the 22H would sound wonderul. Have you tried the Bassbreaker 15? That one's also nice.

 

[moshpit817]

If you want to part with that front mesh grill I'm interested.
One of the real magic bullets in tubes for these seems to be the new sensor Mullard reissue EL 84's.They made a huge difference in my amp the way they break up when you push them and make it feel a lot more like a Marshall Plexie on the first channel in particular. I'm running pair of NOS late 60's RCA Blackplate 12AX7's in V 1 and 2 and those did wonders to warm up and smooth out this amp tonally.
These also seem to like Vin 30's in a closed back cab and the WGS Retro 3o's in a open back cab on speakers. This is my 3rd one. Had a round logo early one but sold it for the later JCA 22H Custom because I wanted a real clean. That was a mistake and never liked the Cutom as the clean was just ok and the high side was to buzzy. The new one is a later version in Black with the Jet City logo not the first 333 round logo. Nice little amp with a good edgie Marshall crunch on the first channel and a thick modded Marshall tone on the hot side.

I will have to look out in my small shed and dig thru all the boxes of gear and parts etc and find it..I also have an extra footswitch for one and I know exactly where it is..I saw it out the in its original box and never used brand new condition.

The main guy from Jet City was really cool about sending me that front grill really fast..heck I think he even gave me a discount on it and I didn't even ask..If I remember correctly his name is Doug ? We talked on the phone about my Custom 22..super smart cool guy with lots of good Jet City information.