Updated - Epiphone Valve Junior thoughts & review!

[Twinfan]

I'm struggling to find one locally to try out, so I may have buy one mail order without having played it.  They've been getting rave reviews all over t'internet and I want a low power home practice/recording amp.  I'd play straight into the amp for:

* AC/DC-esque crunch rhythm
* Beatles-esque clean tones

I'd then use my Maxon OD-9 and Danelectro EQ for solos and heavier rock stuff.  I'd be playing a variety of guitars thorugh it - SG, Tele, Strat, Les Paul etc.

So to anyone who's played one - are they as good as the hype says they are?  Will it do what I want it to at reasonable levels and still sound good?

[Tricalibur]

It can kinda do AC/DCish stuff thoguh it might be better with a little bit o boost in front of it. The lower volume cleans are purty nice, especialy good for pre-amp effects n' stuff. I bought mine from the internet without ever trying it either and im completely happy with mine. It doesnt have a whole lot of gain on tap as stock but an OD pedal in front realy helps.

[blue]

there's a guy selling a pair of mods on ebay which are apparently very easy to install.  a tone control, including a switch to bypass it, and a switch which gives the amp's natural sound plus  3 extra gain positions, apparently it can add quite a lot of gain to the amp.  can't vouch for their quality, but they're out there if anyone's interested :?:  

 i'm told there are a lot of mods available for this little amp.  i'm also told that it's best to buy the head rather than the combo, but that sort of defeats the whole point of a portable little valve amp, doesn't it?

[ElTel]

Hi,
I have had my Valve Junior for a few months now. For low level bedroom practise it's way too loud if you want the crunch between say 2 o'clock & 5 o'clock. I ended up buying a Digitech Screamin Blues pedal just to be able to play at lower levels. I've gotten to really like this set up. However minus the pedal the tone and crunch is all past 12 o'clock where it really packs a punch [bareknuckle one in fact!] and it really moves air. Quite amazing volume for an 8" speaker. I'm hoping to be able to get some sound bytes of this amp available from my email address in mp3 format.

Even though I have had this amp for some months now I feel as though I'm still getting to know it. I've already changed the valves as the originals [Sovtek] were very hissy. That's not too criticise Sovtek as they make some very good valves. I put some JJs in and things improved a lot. If you want any more info please let me know. Meantime you will not go wrong in buying this amp over the internet - just make sure it is this year's model. iMuso.co.uk sell them and they are all the modified version as the originals hummed more than they should.
Cheers
ElTel

D'Oh... another bum note... take 143.....

[Twinfan]

Thanks Tel - and welcome to BKP  :)

I know about buying the latest version with the DC filaments so they don't hum.  I know the original was very prone to noise.  Thanks to blue for saying the heads are a good idea, but it's the "little combo" bit that appeals to me.

So it's quite loud when cranked around 2 o'clock then is it?  Are we talking window rattling or just waking people up loud???

[blue]

well, it's five watts, and i've just played through a zvex nano head into a single 12" speaker, that's only 1/2 a watt, and it was pretty loud!  don't expect it to be on a par with small transisto practice amps, it'll be considerably louder.  and there's no pre-amp gain, all the dirt comes with the volume wound up.

[Twinfan]

Cheers blue - I know I need to crank it!  I guess I'm finding it hard to imagine how loud 5w is! I need to find somewhere local that's got one I think.

[ElTel]

Hi,

5 watts of valve amp is louder than I thought an amp like this could push out. My experience is that with my Strat it stays cleanish up to about 12 o'clock at which point the amp starts to crunch. As you turn the volume to around 3 o'clock it breaks up even more and on 5 - 6 o'clock you have a real crunchy drive. With the Strat at this volume it's way more than you might normally use for home practise or even recording - but this is where the tone and bluesy crunch is...!

With my 335 style Washburn [humbuckers] you get way more crunch much earlier but at say volume 2 o'clock to 5 o'clock the average room will shake, rattle and roll. So with your LP this amp will push out a really powerful sound.

As you say the best way is to audition one but there is no way you can turn this amp to say 3 o'clock in your average guitar shop to try it out unless they have a fairly well sound proofed room or similar.

Personally I would say buy it and try it - you will not be disappointed... guaranteed!

Cheers
ElTel

D'Oh... another bum note... take 143..... 8)

[DeanS]

Don't forget that in order to double the volume (given speaker efficiency) you need to increase the power by 10 fold. So a 5 watter is approx half as loud as a 50 watter!

I've a Harly and when cranked (in a small room) it will damage your ears...

[Twinfan]

It's not going to be as quiet as I hoped then.  Mind you, I have a couple of pedals I can use at low volume, but then I may as well use my Klipp or GH50L!

Hmmmmmmm..........

[DeanS]

Twinfan, it'd work fine with pedals in front.

Also see the Mercury magnetics mod- soundclips are pretty good..



http://www.mercurymagnetics.com/pages/nav/valvejr.htm

[blue]

seems like overkill, but you could actually use an attenuator with it.  i read on another forum that someone plugs his junior into an attenuator then takes the line out from it to a bigger power amp, giving him a 100 watt junior!  don't know how well it would really work, and seems a bit gimmicky, why not just use a bigger amp?  but it should work.

[Hell Hound]

Attenuator for such a small amp is easy to DIY. A simple light bulb in serie with the the output and TADAAA you got your attenuator with a bonus, a nice natural compression.
a 12v 7w light bulb is perfect for the VJ.

[Twinfan]

Well I managed to find a shop locally that had one in stock - it only arrived this morning!  The guys in the store had been playing all day and I was noodling on it by 4:45pm!

They are superb!  Really great depth of 3D valve tone and they crunch up nicely as the volume goes up.  I see what you mean about 5 watts being loud - it certainly filled the shop easily enough!

This particular amp had a loose input jack so we took the amp to bits to see if we could tighten it up before I bought it.  We couldn't as it seemed to be missing a washer or two, so they're getting me another brand new one for next week.  Inside it's a dead simple amp, very nice and clean and well assembled.  Simple sturdy metal chassis and a nice chunky cabinet.  You couldn't make it yourself here in the UK for anywhere near the cost of £99!  I can't see how they do it for the money on components, let alone including assembly time in China.

Verdict?  Every "old school" guitarist should have one at home for practice/recording/mic'd up gigs.  They really DO sound that good!  I can't wait to get it home and plug my Les Paul and Marshall Drivemaster into the front end of it.

Thin Lizzy anyone??????

[_tom_]

I'm interested in getting a VJ for practise and maybe recording with when I get a decent mic. What does it sound like when cranked? Does it break up nicely or is it kinda harsh (like my Fender is a bit..), and is the small speaker actually good?!