Jet City Amps

**bravesfan007** · 12-22-2009, 08:11 AM

I also had the chance to try the combo version of this at Sam Ash while I was stuck because of the snow trying to get back home. I thought it sounded good, but could be made better with a speaker upgrade. Of course, I was more interested in the head version, but neither there or Guitar Center had it. Guitar Center didn't even have any of the Jet City Amps in stock. I may need to find a way to jump on this.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 12-22-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bravesfan007

I also had the chance to try the combo version of this at Sam Ash while I was stuck because of the snow trying to get back home. I thought it sounded good, but could be made better with a speaker upgrade. Of course, I was more interested in the head version, but neither there or Guitar Center had it. Guitar Center didn't even have any of the Jet City Amps in stock. I may need to find a way to jump on this.

I just found the combo in stock and for the price, heck, for any price, it impressed me. However... I need the loop and the dual channel functionality of the 50 watter that is coming out...

This is the best value in amps right now if you can get by with one channel.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 01-14-2010, 06:39 PM

Okay, I spent my morning talking to Mike Soldano for roughly half an hour and then playing these amps.

Okay, the 20 watt is my least favorite of the line. The Picovalve is amazing and can pull off high gain tones. However, the version I played was to be sent into the guys at THD for approval today. It is not final, but street price should be under 300 for essentially a univalve tweaked by soldano.

The 50 watt combo is cool, but not quite an SLO.

The 50 watt Head is according to Mike Soldano a 50 Watt SLO with different but similar transformers for a street price of 600. They also are reintroducing the supercharger with a different name. (It said supercharger on the display with a crossed out sign that said, "legal says we have to call it something different" $250)

The cabs contain the Chinese made eminence speakers similar to those in the Soldano cabs.

There is a sub $400 ISO cabinet available with USB out that sounded really good.

Seriously, Mike wants to up the price, but I met the two gents in sales wo set the price as well. They are intending to keep prices stable.

Best sounding amps I have played in a long time. (Save for my SLO)There are also a small line of pedals Jet city is releasing as well.

relient nelson · 01-14-2010, 11:33 PM

What exactly did you dislike about the 20W, Bill?

**Rainer.** · 01-14-2010, 11:52 PM

Yikes... This amp seems a little too awesome.

**bravesfan007** · 01-15-2010, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by relient nelson

What exactly did you dislike about the 20W, Bill?

Judging by the earlier comments, I don't think he disliked it, just that it's his least favorite.

seventoglory · 01-15-2010, 08:33 PM

Yeah these amps are awesome, and they become little beasts with a hot OD upfront. Designed by soldano so you know its gonna at least be decent. Speaking of these miniamps mesa has the transatlantic coming out soon, should be awesome.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 01-17-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bravesfan007

Judging by the earlier comments, I don't think he disliked it, just that it's his least favorite.

correct. Its a killer amp. But its in the realm of preferences. The Picovalve is a little single ended amp with 2 `12ax7s so it actually can get dirty, real dirty. The 50 watt head is just a thing of awesomeness. The 20 is no slouch, but it is just not going to be as good for what I like to play as the 50.

The 50 is a budget SLO essentially with half the watts. You can't beat that. I think I heard a demo of the transatlantic from mesa and really was not so impressed as I was by these. Now realize I am a high gain soldano fanboy.

Jet city should be on everybody's radar. Heck, the Iso cab is probably going to be a purchase for me. It has USB outs and such to make recording easy.

Joseiy · 01-17-2010, 05:09 PM

From the specs I was kinda guessing another Voxy type of amp but Im guessing thats not the case?

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 01-17-2010, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseiy

From the specs I was kinda guessing another Voxy type of amp but Im guessing thats not the case?

Which one, and I would say these are about as far from voxy as it gets...

Joseiy · 01-17-2010, 05:23 PM

The JCA20? I think was the one. It kinda reminded me of the Night Train/Tiny Terror from what I saw.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 01-17-2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseiy

The JCA20? I think was the one. It kinda reminded me of the Night Train/Tiny Terror from what I saw.

Its an atomic 16 made overseas I believe. I would describe it as a much more American flavored amp. Also, much higher gain than a TT.

**Rainer.** · 01-17-2010, 05:56 PM

No, it's a Soldano. It sounds like a Soldano for sure.

The TT is much more akin to a Vox, while the Jet City has a much more aggressive overdriven character.