Littoral
1069 posts
Apr 18, 2014
7:04 AM
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Specs/Options look favorable.
Any thoughts?
http://www.tdpri.com/2014/03/06/epiphone-century-amp-inspired-by-1939/
(This is just the link, if anyone is fancy at posting images etc. please do)
Faithful replica of classic 1930’s era cabinet design including hand made laminated Maple cabinet with bent rims, all metal handle, 6-point star screws and vintage grill cloth.
Re-designed electronics including:
• 18 watts; All-Tube; Class A/B
• 2 - 6V6 and 2 - 12AX7
• 12” Speaker
• Master Volume with pull “boost” mode
• Master Tone
• Bright, Normal and Dark Inputs
• Extension Speaker Output
• Footswitch Jack (footswitch optional)
• Internal Bias Adjusment
Estimated worldwide production – 3,000
Last Edited by Littoral on Apr 18, 2014 7:08 AM
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Greg Heumann
2686 posts
Apr 18, 2014
7:58 AM
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From the specs it sounds like this amp is set up for guitar shredders. The combination of dual 12AX7's, a master volume and a single 12" suggest it will probably be a feedback monster out of the box. It may be possible to tame that with tube substitution or an anti-feedback device. There are many many amps out there with similar configurations and they all sound different. The only way to know is to try it.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
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HawkeyeKane
2479 posts
Apr 18, 2014
7:59 AM
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First off, I'm both astounded and elated that Epiphone is producing an amp again! And it's beautiful!
I think this looks like it might be a better prospect than the Fender Excelsior did a few years back. 18W is a step up. And the price looks very reasonable. But I agree with Greg. Only a trial would tell for sure.
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Apr 18, 2014 8:01 AM
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jbone
1593 posts
Apr 18, 2014
9:10 AM
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Hm. Looks great. BUT. Worldwide production raises a flag to me. It may be a great performer but exactly where is it going to be made?
The sad reality is the current business model which says, make it look great and do well but not last long. Hence the first few may be killers and then the rest possibly made very cheaply. Witness the current crop of good looking bullet mics from unknown makers, with very light cable, poor solder job, and maybe inferior elements.
I love the look. I have to wonder about the components and the workmanship is all.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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HawkeyeKane
2481 posts
Apr 18, 2014
9:37 AM
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"It may be a great performer but exactly where is it going to be made?"
China. Just like the VJ and its bigger brothers.
What's funny though is that I've found blurbs on forums about it from as early as January, but Epiphone has nothing about it on their website.
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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BigAl
23 posts
Apr 18, 2014
9:45 AM
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I have not had good experiences with typical master volume amps. I have used some of the old fender master volume amps with good results, but they weren't a high gain master design. Most "modern" master volumes are used to cascade one preamp stage into another for higher gain. They are designed for preamp distortion at low volume levels.
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BigAl
24 posts
Apr 18, 2014
9:49 AM
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Ahh, just saw the pic. No gain control for the preamp.
I guess I misunderstood, might be ok.
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HawkeyeKane
2550 posts
Jun 27, 2014
8:38 AM
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Bringing this back....MF has them on pre-order for August shipping. $399.00
Epiphone Limited Edition Electar Century Amplifier
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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Ugly Bones Ryan
94 posts
Jun 30, 2014
8:29 PM
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Vox 3 G2 mini amps are pretty good.
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Bugfan
8 posts
Apr 02, 2015
8:20 PM
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I have one of these Epiphone Century amps. It has a sound I like with great variation possible with the different tone inputs combined with tone contrl knob and then further with the boost knob . It had some AC hum issues ( as this model has due to some factory sloppy wiring of the heater wires) but this was easily fixed. If I compare it to my VHT special 6 though it is too much treble really even on the dark inlet.
I did the Jim Rosen tone stack harp mods on the net on my VHT to darken it up ...which works really well along with a change of preamp valve to a 5751 . When I looked at the Epiphone schematic I noticed the tone stack is almost exactly the same as the VHT sp6....so I think doing the same mods may ...maybe...give me a VHT SP6 sounding amp that is louder and more versatile. ( and better looking!)Its only two resistors and a capacitor removal and while the layout is slightly trickier to do than the VHT its probably only an hr to do from start to finish. I have already changed both preamp valves to JJ 5751 valves ( the stock Ruby ones are noisy). I will prob change the power valves too ...maybe some Russian military grde 6v6 equivalents. I'll post my findings once the tone stack mods are done.
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Bugfan
9 posts
Apr 05, 2015
11:39 PM
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Interesting results on the Epiphone Century reissue amp...I changed the resistors to the same values as the VHT changes recommended. Treble part of the tone stack R6:180k to 100k and R7 33k to 1.4k...and removed C9 high bypass. Definitely brought the tone lower or rather knocked the high end response off. Much more feedback resistant now. I need to increase the bass response still more though I think. I will try a resistor change on that now (R8: 33k to maybe 120k) and see how that goes. I might change V2 back to 12AX7 also. So far for 88 cents worth of resistors its been a worthwhile change!
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Allan Evers
1 post
Oct 07, 2018
1:58 PM
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Hi Bugfan and thank's a lot for posting the above mods :-)
I'we been looking high and low for to find some mods for this amp, and I even asked in the Facebook group "Guitar tube amp builders" with no luck.
I did all your mods C9 R6 R7 R8 and that gave the amp some more volume and bottom end.
I was just millimeters from ordering a 5C3 kit to build in the chassis, but still I'm not really pleased with the amp, and I might build a point to point circuit for it one day, but thanks again.
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