Jet City Amplification JCA20H and JCA12S Half-Stack  

I give it 10  because going into I know what to expect from a single channel amp.  All features and settings are very usable, extremely versitile, and you can get a lot of different tones from the amp.  I am a tech head/engineer so the Preamp section of this amp I don't rely on as much as the power section.....I use outboard preamps for any overdrive and can really tune in the tone with onboard features.  And yes It will do BROOOTAL metal.  I would actucally rathar record with this than any high watt amp costing 3000 bucks...and it's loud enough to drown any drummer in a gig setting, especially with the right cab....VERY modable amp...you can do it ALL with this amp....Bone stock you are getting a modded JCM800 in this head....

Bulletproof Construction!  Cases are tough, nice tolex...you can tell that QC is a big deal.  And the sound...well you simply won't believe your ears....WALL OF SOUND!  Best sounding amp I have owned.  I actually made money trading my old amps for this, and I am never looking back....JCA 4 Life!

Please...not only is it one of the least expesive...I down right outperforms amps costing a whole lot  more

well, it's only fair since it exceeded every expectation in a tube amp...let alone a small inexpensive one.  Well no it's not fair because overall this amp deserves an 11!

I've never been a "gearhead", or been very knowledgeable about amps, effects, etc.  Been playing for 35 of my 45 years, but more as a personal thing than as a "musician".  So imagine how it felt when, after all that time, I finally found a product that made me understand what people mean when they talk about "tone."  This thing replaced my line 6 spider III (see, I'm not a gearhead!), and for the first time ever I really "get" the idea of loving a piece of gear.  Cosmetically I find it very appealing, but the sound, well - it's honestly more "real" than anything I've ever owned or played through.  Yes, I know it's not a botique amp, but for me, it sure feels like that, and more.

I was a bit reticent knowing they are manufactured in Asia (as I like to buy American often), but I can't say enough how pleased I am with the quality of materials and construction. A solid 10 in my book.  

I would pay triple for this, and still be happy.  I like it that much.

What can I say that I haven't said already, I'm a fan.  I love this amp and speaker cab, and although admittedly I am no expert in "gear" (have I said that enough yet?) I am an expert in knowing when I hear something I like, and the tone this amp gives me, I like (or love!).

I can't believe what a steal it was. if you're looking for a lot of effects or bells and whistles, this isn't for you, but if you want a good, well-built all-tube amp with a ton of volume and killer tone, this is the one. i play a fender mexi tele and an epi les paul standard through it and it sounds great. even sounds okay with my epi acoustic put through it. can't beat this amp, love it.

(i took a couple of points off features because it's a very basic amp--as i said, no effects, etc. quality a 10 because it's built like a truck, value a 10 because of what you get for the price, and overall a 9 on the balance. but really, i love it, and as long as you know what you're getting and what you're not getting, this is an easy 10.)

This amp is great for all different styles of music. You can get a nice clean Jazz tone, many punchy blues tones, and even some metal. Don't listen to people that say this amp can't be used for metal. Just turn the Gain to 9, the Bass to 9, Presence between 0 and 2, and adjust mid and treble where you like, then just crank the amp. METAL tone. I don't play metal, but I am very impressed with the tones you get out of this amp. Don't let the "one channel" fool you, this amp is no joke.

Great quality! You will think you are playing an amp 3x as expensive as this one.

You won't find a tube amp at this price that has as many tone options as this one, and lets just face it....the JCA12S cab comes with an Eminence Speaker.  NEED I SAY MORE!?!?!?!

Incredibly simple set up, people complain about single channel amps because they don't want to take the time to dile in a tone that can stand as a platform to build their sound from. This amp has all you need regardless of whether you're into pedals or want to go straight into the amp. I'll admit a tube driven reverb like the combo would have been nice but if you aren't driving the tubes and want to use a reverb pedal go ahead, if you are letting the amp wail away, then maybe you'd want to look into an effect loop mod. Otherwise this is all you need.

Very sturdy, classy looking (though still not sure how much I like the logo...one day i like it, the other I don't...can't decide). I haven't had it very long but it seems like it could take a beating as much as any other amp.

Sound wise this thing is much more versitile (at least in my case) than people make it out to be. Of course it has great tone to its overdrive like almost everyone else says, but It actually has very usable cleans. This may be just my experience because my tele has fairly passive pickups and not humbuckers but I can get all the way on the master volume and about half way on the pre-amp/gain before I get some distortion on the neck pickup. the bridge is a little hotter and breaks up slightly sooner but not near as much as people talk about. So clean head room is very reasonable for me. Nice acoustic-ish, boutiqish, (WARNING NOT FENDERY) usable cleans. HINT: the presence knob actually comes in handy in the clean category, gives you more bight and closer to that vox chime.

My pedal set up isn't the greatest and probably sucks a lot of tone out of the amp (Line 6 pod live xt) but the amp takes it great through the front as long as I don't have the amp simulator on the pod, which many pod owners know what I'm talking about. Delays sound great and overdrives build off the clean tones I've found. I haven't had to use my guitar volume really to clean things up. But I've pulled off to the best of my ability some U2/edge like sounds, which also include basically all contemparary praise and worship sounds, and on the opposite end I've gotten really sweet black keys style tones and classic rock tones.

I know the guys at Jet City probably built this amp with Classic rock and good old crunch in mind, but if you're smart about it and don't rely on Gain as VOLUME you can get a very versitile sound out of this head. Of all the lower priced amps this will probably be the best value of any unless you just really have to have the fender brand on something in which case go ahead and spend the extra 100 or so.

Like I said this amp can be extremely versitle and great if you're smart about it and don't just turn knobs expecting to sound like mayer. If you use humbuckers (which i assume every tom, dick, and Harry who buy these amps do) don't expect a huge ton of clean head room. But remember, gain should not equal you're volume, while it will increase you're volume, its gonna always bring overdrive to your sound no matter what your amp choice. Be smart and patient with your purchase and don't just assume that since you can't get amazing fender cleans past 3 on here that its a bad amp (the dials go to 9! so think about it as going to like halfway on a normal amp. Mine reaches about 5 before any breakup so on any other amp that'd be above halfway!)

Seriously though this could be the beginning of a long relationship. While there are plenty of other brands I'd love to have. This is completely practical and too good to give up. especially in this price range.