Jet City Amplification JCA 100 HDM Head + 1999 Mesa Rectifier 4x12 + Lewitt DTP-340-TT

Finally added one of my long-time wants to the collection... I got a Jet City Amplification JCA100HDM head.

If you're not familiar with these amps, they were a brand built by Mike Soldano, Doug White, and one other guy. Mike Soldano designed the developed the circuits for these amps himself, and the preamps are designed to be identical to the world-renowned $4000 ‪@SoldanoCustomAmps‬ SLO-100. I am not sure, but I believe the HDM's power amp section is designed to be identical to the Soldano HotRod 100. But I could be wrong... I do know the power amp section has more grunt than the SLO's that I've played. And while my recording skills are not the best, and I'm still figuring out this new Lewitt 340-TT mic, I can assure you, this amp sounds absolutely incredible in person! It sounds so close to an SLO/HotRod 100 after I put new Mesa 12AX7 preamp tubes and new Tung-Sol 6L6GC power tubes, it honestly surprised me. It sounds super clear, articulate, sharp, deep, extremely tight low-end response, and super clean mids & highs (as you can hear in the video). This amp is a tone monster! Don't sleep on the JCA 100HDM... It will blow your mind how good a budget tube amp can sound!

So, amp specs are as follows...

Jet City Amplification JCA-100-HDM. It's all original, minus the tubes, and some typical heavy internal dusting (like all tube amps). I am running a new set of really hot Russian Tung-Sol 6L6GC power tubes, and full new set of Mesa 12AX7 preamp tubes. It really needed some new preamp tubes bad. The old ones were sounding a bit weak and thin, and after swapping in these new ones, it sounds massive and full again.

The cabinet is my original 1999 Mesa Standard OverSize Rectifier 4x12, that still has the original 1999 Mesa-spec (T4335) UK-built Celestion Vintage 30 speakers in it. And it sounds absolutely amazing! This cab has a massive sound to it.

Mic is a Lewitt DTP-340-TT setup in an SE Electronic microphone filter stand. It works really well for blocking pick noises and anything outside of the sonic area around the mic. Highly recommend. Running into my Audient EVO4 interface, and then into GarageBand. No post-EQ, other than combining the tracks into a single stereo track, for an organic 3D sound (like you would hear in the room).

Still trying to figure out this mic and get it dialed in, so sorry if the audio isn't perfect, or loud enough. I'm still tweaking things to get it right.

Guitar is an older Agile AL-3200-NT, with Fishman Fluence Modern active humbuckers, and Ernie Ball Mammoth Slinky .012" to 0.062" strings. Guitar is tuned to Drop-C (C-G-C-F-A-D).