Author Topic: I got me a Valve Junior head (Read 6706 times)

Ratrod · « **on:** November 26, 2006, 02:23:10 PM »

I stumbled across one at a little music shop. They didn't have the combo anymore so I got the head for a bargain price.

It's great fun, this little amp for a price that is less than an FX pedal.

It is a bit dark sounding though. Hopefully a better set of valves brighten it up a bit. I'm also gonna shop around for a small single speaker cab so I can use it in the living room.

BTW, does this amp need bias tune up when I replace the valves?

dave_mc · « **Reply #1 on:** November 26, 2006, 02:50:45 PM »

I don't think you need to bias- from my understanding, biasing is where you set the crossover point between the valves (or pairs of valves) in class A/B- and the VJ is class A, and only has one power valve, so you don't need to do this. Don't quote me though, this could be BS, lol.

The VJ is awesome for the price, isn't it? :D

I quite like the darkness of the tone- it contrasts nicely with my brighter engl, I think.

I hear JJ's are a good swap (don't know if they'll brighten it, though), which does away with the low-fuzz octave as well which would be nice- I haven't tried it myself, though, I'm hoping my uncle has some nice NOS tubes in his garage that I can "borrow" instead...

great little amp, and super-cute! Even my mum and sister liked it, and they're normally like "grrr, not another boring black box!"

:lol:

Twinfan · « **Reply #2 on:** November 26, 2006, 05:45:16 PM »

I've got an EHX ECC83 and a Mesa EL84 in my combo at the moment. Brightens up the tone and clarity a treat!

Ratrod · « **Reply #3 on:** November 26, 2006, 06:07:13 PM »

I'm thinking about getting a set of JJ valves and the BITMO Spanky mod, found on ebay.

dave_mc · « **Reply #4 on:** November 26, 2006, 07:43:26 PM »

have you got a link to that mod, ratrod? just out of interest...

:drink:

Tricalibur · « **Reply #5 on:** November 26, 2006, 10:51:17 PM »

I almost bought a couple of mods for the VJ from that guy too. Real nice bloke. I have a JJ EL84 and a Tungsol 12AX7 in mine and they sound great!

Ratrod · « **Reply #6 on:** November 27, 2006, 10:22:38 AM »

Here's a link for the BITMO mods on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/BITMO-SPANKY-mod-kit-for-the-Epiphone-Valve-Junior-amp_W0QQitemZ140056363046QQihZ004QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

dave_mc · « **Reply #7 on:** November 27, 2006, 05:17:41 PM »

^ thanks, ratrod.

:drink:

EDIT: I'm liking the look of that trio mod...

:D

Ratrod · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2006, 01:06:56 PM »

I have installed the BitMo Spanky mod and a set of new JJ tubes.

The BitMo mod contains a set of 4 caps and a very good manual on how to install the mods. I didn't install the so called mojo cap. It increases the gain but I think it has enough gain and I like to keep some clean headroom.

The mods and tubes made a significant improvement to the sound. Most of the mud has gone and the amp has more treble and brightness. You can actually use the neck pickup now.

With the volume at about 10 o' clock and a bit of slap echo, you'd swear you were at the Sun studios back in the early 50's.

Twinfan · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2006, 01:23:39 PM »

Interesting.

Did you install the tubes first and try the amp? I've got new tubes in my combo, and I'm wondering how much extra clarity the mods add on their own?

dave_mc · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2006, 04:33:51 PM »

^ seconded, twin.

I'm half thinking of the trimode mod, but I think he's done away with that- you have to buy them separately now. :(

So he posts to Europe then? How much was the postage, out of interest, ratrod? and you recommend it?

:drink:

OD-Black_Fire · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2006, 10:42:01 PM »

VJ's look nice and cheap, I might buy one so I can mod it. How far can you mod the amp? Can you completely chnage the voice of the amp? Like, make it really metal or something when its cranked?

dave_mc · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2006, 11:44:13 PM »

^ i'm just guessing, but I'd have thought you'd have to add a master volume for that, and at least some of the modders say they aren't all that happy with that tone. That being said, there are plenty of mods knocking around for a low/high gain switch, so that might do it.

I still doubt it'd be totally metal (depends what you mean by metal, though), but I guess it'd be more metal.

Ratrod · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2006, 12:13:55 PM »

When I was just about done soldering the new caps in the amp, the postman came with the new tubes. Talk about Just In Time delivery. :P So I didn't bother checking the difference between the tubes.

The new tubes probably make the amp sound smoother and richer. I think there's no way this amp can sound so much cleare and brighter with a simple tube replacement.

The postage was $6.50

If you want, you could mod this amp to hell and back. With the tri-mode mod you should get a wide range of sounds. I don't think you could turn it into a metal amp with just these mods. Maybe if you add new transformers from Mercury you could but that's a $300.- mod. :? Might as well get an Orange Tiny Terror then.

If you're an amp guru, you can figure out how to mod this amp yourself. If you don't know the first thing about amp mods, these BitMo kits are great. If you can swap a pickup in a guitar, you can do these mods.

$20.- seems a bit expensive for 4 caps but it's the manual that's important. It was money well spent.

dave_mc · « **Reply #14 on:** December 06, 2006, 02:13:29 PM »

^ thanks- I assumed the $6.50 was only for USA, but if that's worldwide, that's great.

:drink: