Author Topic: Updated - Epiphone Valve Junior thoughts & review! (Read 12614 times)

Twinfan · « **Reply #15 on:** September 29, 2006, 08:10:23 PM »

It breaks up nice and progressively, so you can dial in as much as you want. It's not harsh at all - classic valve distortion. I was amazed how good the speaker was! It's an 8inch Weber and works VERY well with the amp.

Seriously, I can't get over the value per pound of these things. And there's loads of scope to mod them should you so desire!

_tom_ · « **Reply #16 on:** September 29, 2006, 08:55:37 PM »

Tempted to ask (nicely :P) for one for my birthday and buy some of those mods from ebay to get into modding amps, want to do some mods to my fender sometime but scared to as it looks all complicated in there :lol:

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #17 on:** September 29, 2006, 09:27:37 PM »

here's the schematic if anyone is interested...

a single ECC83 (two gain stages) - I'm thinking most of the crunch is from the entire amp being driven hard (trannies saturating etc...)

I'd be inclined to drill another socket in there and install an EF86 for the front end - much more RAWK!!!

I tried one of these amps and wasn't too impressed, then again I think EL84s are a bit on the weak side used in singles or pairs (a quad sounds great though - e.g. AC30)

For single ended amps like this I think a 6V6 is much nicer with a 'fuller' tone.

:twisted:

Ratrod · « **Reply #18 on:** September 30, 2006, 02:24:16 PM »

Being a bit of an old school guy, I'll be shure to check one out when I see one in a local music shop.

Hell Hound · « **Reply #19 on:** October 02, 2006, 06:19:39 PM »

That schematics is from the old version, the new one got better filtering and DC for the heater.
The speaker is in fact a custom Weber done for Epiphone, really good.
Gotta get 2 heads and mode them into a 2x5w tube poweramp for my rack :lol:

Shag101 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 13, 2006, 07:14:35 PM »

I just bought the Epiphone Valve JR head.
It sounded real nice in the store at full volume. I took it home and it sounded real good but I could not blast it as loud as in the store. It is loud for 5 watts.
Anyway, I took out the Big D pedal and put it in front of it and BAM!!!!
It sounds so great. I cant believe it sounds this good.

thanks for writing the review!!!

Twinfan · « **Reply #21 on:** October 13, 2006, 07:22:10 PM »

Nice one shag101 - what cab are you using it with?

I've just been trying out my VJ - I went for the combo in the end after I'd read up on all the reviews and mods.

I'm running it with my SG and a Marshall Drivemaster in the front - it sounds great! Without any pedals it's better suited to single coils as it's quite dark sounding. With humbuckers you need some more treble from an EQ pedal or a distortion/overdrive. They are LOUD for 5 watts but the basic tone is lovely, even at low volume.

Pure valve tone for the price of a pedal? Every guitarist should own one!

Shag101 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 13, 2006, 07:32:55 PM »

I'm running it through 2 old EV 12"s I had from back in the day. Probably will buy a new speaker or two and build a cab for it.
Maybe even take the guts out of the casing and screw it into the cab I build for a nice cool look. lol

Shag101 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 13, 2006, 07:43:18 PM »

Actually, I just ordered some new tubes for it too.
I wanted more gain at a lower volume but still be able to get a decent clean by rolling it back.
I was suggested JJ EL84 in a grade #40 and a graded high gain ECC83S that is 115+ on each triode.

crispsandwich · « **Reply #24 on:** October 13, 2006, 08:19:28 PM »

Shag,

I was reccomended the same thing. Let me know your thoughts. Personally I didn't like them at all, made the sound muffled in mine and the overdrive is harsh. I swapped the ECC83 back to the Sovtek which helped, but I accidentally broke the EL84.

I'm putting in an Electro Harmonix EL84 and either a Mullard 12AT7 or a Brimer 12AU7 in the next few days. I want a lot less gain. The amp does cleans so well I'm going to drive it with pedals :).

Shag101 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 13, 2006, 08:28:07 PM »

Quote from: crispsandwich

Shag,

I was reccomended the same thing. Let me know your thoughts. Personally I didn't like them at all, made the sound muffled in mine and the overdrive is harsh. I swapped the ECC83 back to the Sovtek which helped, but I accidentally broke the EL84.

I'm putting in an Electro Harmonix EL84 and either a Mullard 12AT7 or a Brimer 12AU7 in the next few days. I want a lot less gain. The amp does cleans so well I'm going to drive it with pedals :).

HAHAH. Great, I hope mine dont sound the same

crispsandwich · « **Reply #26 on:** October 13, 2006, 08:45:06 PM »

You can get a kit from Watford Valves, it's 2 harma replacement valves for it and a Jensen C8R speaker. It's 45 quid and supposed to make a lot of difference (in a good way, although it's a cracking amp in stock form). I'm toying with the idea of getting one. Not sure yet.

Shag101 · « **Reply #27 on:** October 13, 2006, 08:51:54 PM »

Quote from: crispsandwich

You can get a kit from Watford Valves, it's 2 harma replacement valves for it and a Jensen C8R speaker. It's 45 quid and supposed to make a lot of difference (in a good way, although it's a cracking amp in stock form). I'm toying with the idea of getting one. Not sure yet.

I got just the head so not too worried about the stock speaker since there is none....lol..
The tubes only cost $16 usd so hopefully, I cant go wrong...

Twinfan · « **Reply #28 on:** October 13, 2006, 11:04:05 PM »

I've heard the stock speaker is more than godd enough and some people have gone back to it after a supposed "upgrade".

I'll get better tubes for mine at some point, meanwhile I'm just going to enjoy it!

Shag101 · « **Reply #29 on:** October 17, 2006, 12:21:04 AM »

Quote from: crispsandwich

Shag,

I was reccomended the same thing. Let me know your thoughts. Personally I didn't like them at all, made the sound muffled in mine and the overdrive is harsh. I swapped the ECC83 back to the Sovtek which helped, but I accidentally broke the EL84.

I'm putting in an Electro Harmonix EL84 and either a Mullard 12AT7 or a Brimer 12AU7 in the next few days. I want a lot less gain. The amp does cleans so well I'm going to drive it with pedals :).

New tubes came. I'm blown away. Crank it to 1/2 volume and get a nice heavy crunch. Go past 1/2 and it gets louder and sweeter.
I'm very happy with the new tubes.