JCA OWNERS!!! (RE)JOIN THE JET CITY LOUNGE!!!

[Tortuga]

Same club, new crib. With the blessing of our illustrious host and founder of the original Jet Setters, Mr Billy, I'm currently pulling content from the old site and will post any informative / relevant stuff I can find, including setups, effects loop compatibility, modifications, resources, and whatever else looks and sounds good. I'm not claiming to be the foremost expert on these amps, but I've got a good enough grasp on what works and what doesn't, and am hoping that those of you that are (or were) using Jet City equipment will pipe in with your own expertise and insight to build a strong community here.

To (re)join the group, please let us know who you are and insert a link to this thread in your signature, as follows:

Jet Setters 2.0 (Jet ★ City Lounge Redux)

[Tortuga]

The following list of effects found to be compatible with the JCA effects loop was compiled by GuitarBilly74. I'll continue to update / modify the list as needed.

Modulation:
Eventide Mod Factor
Eventide Pitch Factor
TC Nova Modulator
TC Vortex Flanger
TC Shaker Vibrato
TC Corona Chorus
TC SCF Stereo Chorus Flanger

Delay:
Hardwire Delay
TC Nova Delay
TC Nova Repeater Delay
TC Flashback
Boss DD-20
Tech 21 D.L.A/boost
Eventide Time Factor

Reverb:
Hardwire Reverb
TC Hall of Fame Reverb
Blue Sky Reverb
TC Nova Reverb
Eventide Space
Tech 21 RVB

Multi effects:
TC Nova System
Line 6 M9
Boss GT8
Vox Tonelab LE (thanks, Promit)
Line6 HD500X (seems to work great using 4-cable method, from my initial testing)
Zoom MS-70CDR (thanks, spadearcher!)
Alesis Midiverb 4 (thanks, Hackeiommi)

Volume Pedals:
EB VP Jr (for passive pickups)
Boss FV300L

EQ:
MXR 10-band
Boss GE-7

Clean Boost:
MXR Micro Amp
TC Booster Line Driver (BLD)

Looper:
TC Ditto Looper

Loop Level Stuff:
Ebtech Line Level Shifter (streets for $75.99, according to racerevelon)

Pedals that do NOT work in the loop:
EHX Small Stone and Small Clone
Joyo phaser, chorus, and delay, according to DocRawk
I tried my MXR Eq, and found it to have some distortion issues - I may have to retract it from 'working' status
Zoom G3 has been removed from 'working' status by spadearcher

[Tortuga]

Here's some useful JCA-related materials, threads, sites, etc. Please feel free to let me know about others and I'll put them here.

Reference and Modifications Threads We've begun creating new threads for each mod, to keep things clean - if you have a mod to post, please put start it in the DIY area and let me know about it in this thread so I can reference it here.

• JCA50H Documentation
• JCA100H Documentation
• JCA22 Documentation
• JCA20 Documentation
• JCA2112RC Documentation
• Channel Switch and Jack mod
• Depth mod
• Slope resistor mod (reshapes upper mids) - CTN's is here and my copy, along with some pics of my clean and scoop switches can be found here
• Heater elevation (reduces hiss / hum by rerouting heater AC away from signal components) - Big John made an excellent tutorial, which starts here. midnightlaundry followed suit, and reports great results as well. Apparently, this was something that Soldano, himself, did to fix up a JCA amp sent in for warranty work.
• Jay's SLO mod conversion thread
• Midnightlaundry's conversion to silver mica caps
• käsebrot's thoughts on dropping overall (both channel) gain in the first stage (for more vintage tone) or in the OD channel only (3rd gain stage) by changing plate resistor from 220k to 150k or 100k
• Info from Jay on changing SGRs to support KT66 & EL34s. ironman28's take here Can it really be that easy? Mike Soldano did a vid with Doug White to convert a JCA50H over to EL34 operation without changing transformers...
• Several folks have clipped C19 (Cathode bypass on V3), stating it helps control the gain & clarity, including this one from kaoslord in Jay's SLO thread
• ironman28 presented a very interesting mod to help with the low-end at lower volumes - different from the Depth Mod, which is directed at the same issue
• Marshall 2204 conversion - anyone have experience with this?
• midnightlaundry's post regarding changing out rectifier diodes, as well as upgrading signal caps and installing an external bias pot] - see prior posting for more info about the diodes. He also posted some more info about his choice of signal caps here
• Some discussion of a DC filament for reducing / eliminating hum]
• Full tutorial of installing DC heater system
• Jay's posting of a significant "Marshall" mod for the OD channel]
• Full teardown of PCB, including upgrading SGRs] (see last photo)
• ironman28's JCA50H bias mod]
• Jay's Mercury PT upgrade]
• Jay's guide to caps - käsebrot seems to have been a huge fan of the Rödersteins
• New member TTBull posted up a compatible output transformer for the JCA20/22, along with some cool mods applicable to all JCA's

HCAF Threads ...and don't be flamin' me about these. Until I can get time to copy / summarize some of the better ones, there's still some killer info over there

• Old Jet City Lounge - the original started by Billy, before he strayed
• Pedal List for JCA Loop - lots of information, including some that won't work - most of the working stuff is summarized above
• Biasing the 50H - make sure you read and understand how to discharge your caps before you even think about opening the chassis!
• Mods for the 20 - Edge11's mod thread for the 20 head and combo - excellent technical resources and discussions
• Mods for 50/100/22 - Edge11's technical resources and discussions for the multi-channel series' with much recent activity on the 22h
• Alternative channel switching
• KT66 Tubes in JCA50 - Although KT66's are intended to be a drop-in replacement for the 6L6, there is some concern that the stock PT may not be able to supply the additional current required by the bigger tube. There is considerable discussion about PT and OT upgrades starting on page 4 of this thread.
• JCA Tone Stack - Interesting discussion about setting up the passive tone stack in JCA designs. Advice is to turn everything on the EQ to max & dial down to taste.

YouTube and Other Important Links

• Biasing the JCA20H - used by many, including Meelocheck to bias their 20H/22H

Also started a thread regarding parts supplier sites

And, some totally unrelated (to JCA) DIY stuff that I like (my thread, my links )

• DIY vertical 2x12
• LA Amp Techs
• Marshall DSL40/100 Mods
• Marshall JVM mods & other Marshall modding discussion

Need to find
* clean/crunch switch
* t-filter

Special note to anyone starting to go through this thread (or are just a glutton for punishment ): please let us know if you find any particular tidbit in this or any other threads out there that could be added to this list. I've recently (Jan 2015) gone back through the whole thread and referenced things that were of interest to me - perhaps I missed something. Let's make this the preeminent source on all things JCA!

[BleedingWhiskey]

I'm in! Going on 2 1/2 years with the JCA 100H and I still love it

I'm currently running it on the normal channel with the gain a little past noon and boosting it with a Fulltone OCD. Alot of punch, clarity, and twang running it this way with my Fender guitars. Cut's through the mix like a machete.

[Tortuga]

Here's my JCA50H, with a couple mods - custom panel (built-up frame around expanded metal grille with velcro hold-downs), front-panel depth control, clean and scoop switches (thanks Edge11!). Finished the look with chicken heads. I really like both channels, and recently got into boosting the lo-gain channel with my new Bad Monkey. Good stuff! I generally keep the gain to 3 (give or take) on the OD channel - I think I need to lower my pickups, 'cause it's gainy as hell. Love the tone, though - running mids and bass pretty high and dropping the treble and presence to tame some of the brightness of the amp. Also retubed and biased with all JJs from Eurotubes.

Speaker cabs are a <ahem> Line6 4x12 that (to me) doesn't sound too bad, although I'm really after a Randall XL with V30s. Also have a 2x12 that I built up from scratch using speakers from my old Boogie vertical half-back. I divided the cab in two - a partially open section for the C90 and a Thiele side built to TL806 specs.

[Tortuga]

I'm in! Going on 2 1/2 years with the JCA 100H and I still love it

I'm currently running it on the normal channel with the gain a little past noon and boosting it with a Fulltone OCD. Alot of punch, clarity, and twang running it this way with my Fender guitars. Cut's through the mix like a machete.

Welcome! I really like the tone on your SoundCloud songs - were they recorded on your JCA?

[kissmyace]

I'm in !!! Just got a 22h. Ready to rock it !!!!

[Yarbicus]

I'm in! I started with a JCA20h and JCA12 cab. Last year I pulled some strings (I don't work for JCA but dud write the user manuals) and scored a JCA22H that Mike Soldano modded so that the Crunch channel is a true clean channel. Also switched to chickenhead knobs. I loves it so!

[Tortuga]

Welcome! I was really in a quandary about the 22h, which was announced, but not quite available in the summer of 2011, which is when I had cash in hand and lack of patience. Ended up getting the 50 and have been really happy, but the form factor of the 22h was what I really wanted at the time.

I'm curious -have either of you done a comparison of the 22 to the 50 or 100? Does the el84 make a big tonal difference to the 6l6 design?

[Yarbicus]

Yeah, the power tubes make a difference but mostly at higher volumes. I actually prefer el84s so I am quite happy.

[PeteLaramee]

I have a BFG modded JCA22.

And it rocks.

[yell03]

I have a BFG modded JCA22.

And it rocks.

The BFG mod looks and sounds amazing from the vids I have seen, I would probably do the Double Deuce mod.
Mine is stock, I can see a separate BFG modded one in the future, I just can't bear to mess with the one I have, it sounds great as is.

[CTN]

I'm in. Here's mah rig, a 100H with a Depth mod on the front. I was Blakkwater back on HCAF btw.

[Placemat Jackson]

Rockin' a JCA22H, bros!

[CTN]

So the LED pilot light on my JCA100H is dying/dead.


I want to replace it with a normal bulb-based amp light like the fender lights for example. Anyone here know if it;s more or less a direct swap or do I need to do any other mods?

[Yarbicus]

So the LED pilot light on my JCA100H is dying/dead.


I want to replace it with a normal bulb-based amp light like the fender lights for example. Anyone here know if it;s more or less a direct swap or do I need to do any other mods?

Don't know how easy the swap is but I do know that JCA will send a new one for free.

[Yarbicus]

I'm in. Here's mah rig, a 100H with a Depth mod on the front. I was Blakkwater back on HCAF btw.

That is sexy!

[CTN]

thanks mang! I really dig the new look too.

Also as far as the pilot light, I'm kinda tired of the blue. I want to change it to a yellow/orange light instead. I think when I next bias my amp I'll check the voltage at the pilot light and see if I can just use a standard bulb assembly instead.

[BleedingWhiskey]

I'm in! Going on 2 1/2 years with the JCA 100H and I still love it

I'm currently running it on the normal channel with the gain a little past noon and boosting it with a Fulltone OCD. Alot of punch, clarity, and twang running it this way with my Fender guitars. Cut's through the mix like a machete.

Welcome! I really like the tone on your SoundCloud songs - were they recorded on your JCA?

My parts on those tracks were done on the overdrive channel on my JAC100h into my Mojo 4x12 loaded with Greenbacks. The other guitar player was running through the green channel on a Marshall DSL100 halfstack. He played lead on "Not Quite Home" and I played lead on "Joyride".

[indienoise]

In. Hmmm mayhaps I should go crank mine tonight.

[Jay]

The following list of effects found to be compatible with the JCA effects loop was compiled by GuitarBilly74. I'll continue to update / modify the list as needed.

Modulation:
Eventide Mod Factor
Eventide Pitch Factor
TC Nova Modulator
TC Vortex Flanger
TC Shaker Vibrato
TC Corona Chorus
TC SCF Stereo Chorus Flanger

Delay:
Hardwire Delay
TC Nova Delay
TC Nova Repeater Delay
TC Flashback
Boss DD-20
Tech 21 D.L.A/boost
Eventide Time Factor

Reverb:
Hardwire Reverb
TC Hall of Fame Reverb
Blue Sky Reverb
TC Nova Reverb
Eventide Space
Tech 21 RVB

Floor Multi effects:
TC Nova System
Line 6 M9
Boss GT8

Volume Pedals:
EB VP Jr (for passive pickups)
Boss FV300L

EQ:
MXR 10-band
Boss GE-7

Why not just do the loop mod to the 50H and 100H so all pedals work? Just a resistor and cap addition! Just put a 860r-1k resistor in // to the 2k2 in R25 and a 4u7 cap in // to the 2k2 in R21. The cap and the 1k over R25 should be about 0dbv level or the 860r over R25 should be about -4dbv. Makes the amp a little stiffer/clearer, but the difference may never be noticed. I did the change to my SLO Clone.

[GuitarBilly]

I did the loop mod and did not like the tone at all, it takes off a lot of the organic feel of the amp. I spoke with Mike Soldano about it and he also advises against it.

[Yarbicus]

Hey, be sure to add the Zoom G3 to "works in the loop." Love mine!!!

[Jay]

I did the loop mod and did not like the tone at all, it takes off a lot of the organic feel of the amp. I spoke with Mike Soldano about it and he also advises against it.

The 22H has a good loop design, though. Too bad the bigger guys didn't get it. Oh well, at least you found a whole bunch of pedals that get along with the loop. I didn't mind the difference in tone/feel with my Clone. I had changed a lot of that one, anyway. Was more like a Bogner XTC when I was done with it.

[Tortuga]

Hey, be sure to add the Zoom G3 to "works in the loop." Love mine!!!

Got it!