Jet City JCA100HDM
divide the controls for the clean and overdrive channels into separate sections, Jet City reflect Mike Soldano’s more lateral approach to providing the same solution. In this case we find a dedicated ‘Preamp’ section that places the gain controls for the Crunch and Overdrive channels together on the front panel. Likewise the ‘Master’ section places the master volume controls for both channels side by side. If you are used to the more conventional control layout then Jet City’s design is a little puzzling but once you’ve acclimatised then it’s easy to use.
Depth Charge
Chief among the JCA100HDM’s unique features are the Depth control and the separate facility to switch between full power 100 watt operation and 50 watts half power mode. The Depth control can be employed to generate huge (as opposed to merely loud) tones loaded with bags of presence, regardless of the size of the playing environment. To understand what the Depth knob does, it’s probably important to explain that it is not an EQ control in the conventional sense and isn’t connected to the amp’s
compromise their favourite conventional EQ or volume settings. Volume is another factor that comes within the Depth controls influence. Lowering the damping factor increases the speakers’ amount of free movement and in return the JCA100HDM’s low end progressively transforms into a looser, darker tone whose greater resonance has the apparent effect of making the amp sound louder than it really is. In a recording studio or a small gig with fairly strict volume limits, this aural slight-of-hand (ear?) means that the amp will still deliver plenty of oomph even at fairly low volume levels. Viewed overall, the Depth control is a highly effective element in the JCA100HDM’s sonic armoury and it certainly contributes greatly to this amp’s overall tonal range.
100/50 watts The slight reduction in headroom when the amp is running at half power means that the output stage is working that bit harder, which translates into a warm tubey sound at moderate volume levels. Besides being easier to overdrive, a cookin’ 50 watt output stage will generate more compression and generally sound ‘sweeter’ than its 100 watt
Jet City make several speaker cabinets for the JCA100HDM: this is the compact JCA48S 4x12.
preference, it rattles household fixtures and fittings and jangles important parts of the male anatomy like nothing else!
The Depth Mod’s 100 watt mode rattles household fixtures and fittings and jangles important parts of the male anatomy like nothing else!
standard tone stack. Nevertheless the Depth knob delivers an extra degree of control over the low end frequencies by adjusting the speakers’ damping factor.
Selecting a higher damping factor with the Depth control noticeably tightens up the low end; 6L6’s tend to naturally deliver plenty of low end anyway but the Depth control can focus the low frequencies so precisely that this amp can pack a punch to rival a martial arts expert!
In a practical context, speed metal players that employ rapid bursts of alternate picked notes on the low strings will be able to dial-in just the right amount of balance between a ‘present’ low end growl that doesn’t get lost amidst the flurry of super-fast transients. On the other end of the musical spectrum, funk or even country players will probably find similar benefits in using the Depth knob to eliminate any flabbiness in the bass without having to
counterparts. A 100 watt amp really comes into its own on larger stages where it needs to be cranked up loud enough to hit the sweet spot, with the acceptance that things are going to get fairly loud, fairly quickly but the JCA100HDM’s dual output modes manage to appeal to both schools of thought convincingly.
Sounds
Big bold sounds are what this amp is all about. Whilst there isn’t too much difference in terms of overall volume between full power and half power mode, there is a clear distinction in timbre. Full power mode sounds bigger and more intimidating than the 50 watt setting but a quick adjustment in EQ clean/crunch channel does help to redress the balance in the 50 watt mode’s favour. Our love for 50 watt tube amps notwithstanding it is still very difficult to resist the temptation to go for broke and use the 100 watt mode in
The Crunch channel depends on
the gain control to set the overall bias towards clean sounds or the grittier end of the spectrum, with plenty of scope for a workable blend for throaty rock and roll or edgy bluesy tones. The half-stack format may immediately suggest that this is an out and out heavy metal amplifier and whilst this particular area is well served there is still plenty of scope for nailing some really cool clean and crunchy sounds besides pure
face-melting distortion.
The 6L6s lend a strident glassiness and a beefy low end thump that maybe isn’t as butter smooth as a set of EL34s but what really makes this amp stand out is its uncompromising muscular delivery. The JCA100HDM is no shrinking violet, it really barks at you and you definitely to need to be prepared to invest a bit of work to tame it, which is a good thing. Despite the sheer preponderance of EQ and gain options, this is not a bedroom player’s amp; cranking the gain flat out and using the distortion as a platform to skate lazily over the top will reap a certain level of satisfaction but employing the JCA100HDM this way feels akin to buying a Porsche and only using it to nip down to the local shops, never getting out of third gear. The JCA100HDM is an amp that likes to be worked hard - it practically demands it - and Mike Soldano has designed it so that it will give back what the player is prepared to put into it. PM
SHOULD I BUY ONE?
Few tube amps in the sub-Grand price range can claim direct input from an engineer of Mike Soldano’s standing. In terms of value for money Jet City has done its best to make sure that the JCA100HDM cuts few obvious corners. This is a fully fledged gigging musician’s amp with a build quality and sounds that are up there with the best.
pickup427
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