scojo
100 posts
Sep 02, 2010
8:37 AM
|
I recently got an Epiphone Valve Jr. I used to have one but, for some crazy reason, sold it... although the old one did not have the Eminence speaker. I am an endorser of Lone Wolf pedals and got Randy Landry to do his modification (except that, instead of installing both a high gain and low gain input, I got him to put in a line out).
I've used this amp twice since I got it back. I played it with a guy named Bret Mosley (bretmosley.com/index.php), using the line out and my Ultimate 545 (and nothing else), then through the board. Punchy, bright, juicy... everything that a harp amp should be.
I then used it at a medium-sized club gig with my own 5-piece band. This time I let the sound guy mic the amp instead of using the line out. Also, I used my suite of Lone Wolf pedals (Harp Attack, Harp Break, Harp Octave, and a prototype delay pedal that I've been test-driving), as well as a Samson Airline wireless system.
Again, the amp performed beautifully. Plenty of punch (regardless of which pedals I was using at the time), and I could hear it well on stage, even with nothing through the monitors.
I highly recommend Randy's work on this amp, as well as his pedals. lonewolfblues.com
Last Edited by on Sep 02, 2010 8:41 AM
|
toddlgreene
1738 posts
Sep 02, 2010
8:44 AM
|
Yeah, Scott, I've praised it ad nausem on here, and those who haven't actually tried the very same thing won't agree until they do. For a less-than-200$ amp, it's unbeatable with a few more bucks invested. I will say this(again...)if you've got the stock EH and Sovtek tubes in it, you'll be doing yourself a tremendous favor by spending 20 more bucks and getting JJ EL-84 and 12ax7 replacements. They softened that harsh distortion to a buterry soothness. I shared this with Randy as well-I will see him soon and I'll let him hear the difference with his own ears. The man does good work!
----------
Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
|
HarpNinja
608 posts
Sep 02, 2010
8:46 AM
|
So a total bill for a modded Vjr would be????
----------
Mike
|
scojo
101 posts
Sep 02, 2010
8:51 AM
|
The whole thing, with shipping, cost me $260. You could probably get it for less if you find a used Epi on eBay.
|
HarpNinja
609 posts
Sep 02, 2010
8:59 AM
|
Wow! I like the idea of the head/cab as well...assuming you have the combo. Any sound samples of said mods by anyone out there?
----------
Mike
Last Edited by on Sep 02, 2010 9:01 AM
|
toddlgreene
1739 posts
Sep 02, 2010
9:08 AM
|
Mike, I need a good recorder, like a Zoom...I don't know anyone who has one, and I don't have a pot to p*** in right now. Randy's been wanting me to do these recordings for a while.
Oh, and I have the combo. It's handy, and sounds good as is, but thru the cab with the 12" it's got more bottom end and volume. Harvey's got the cab, so if I can get my hands on a recorder, I'll do that as well.
----------
Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
Last Edited by on Sep 02, 2010 10:20 AM
|
HarpNinja
611 posts
Sep 02, 2010
9:11 AM
|
Lol. No worries. I don't *need* anything, but would like a small amp and probably a Q3 in the near future. I have the bonus of a 30th B-Day in December and know I have a bit of gig money to spend too.
I like to plan out my music spending to assure I can contribute gig money to the family too. I am also sick of wasting money on harp stuff that I don't really need. My HG50 and Ultimate 57 are by far my best purchases!
----------
Mike
|
scojo
102 posts
Sep 02, 2010
9:16 AM
|
I have the combo but am intrigued by the idea of pushing it through a bigger speaker.
|
HarpNinja
612 posts
Sep 02, 2010
9:17 AM
|
Todd - I actually just found some clips on YouTube of yours. The Kalamazoo was pretty sweet! The Epi appeared to not be modded in the A/B, though.
Thanks! I am wrapping up my lunch break and need to head back to work. Thanks again to the board for being patient with my recent amp questions.
----------
Mike
|
toddlgreene
1740 posts
Sep 02, 2010
9:17 AM
|
Ah, 30...I remember that birthday well. I got a divorce from my starter wife for that birthday, and still had my '59 Bassman RI, which went caput shortly thereafter, in the middle of a band's demo recording. 11 years ago. Sigh.
Yes, Mike, those vids were pre-mod, and not a good audio respresentative. The Kalamazoos are sweet, for sure. But, I'm very happy(bang for the buck-wise)with this modded and retubed Epi. Same value tubes;just better tubes.
You questions drew a lot of good info and opinions from the members here-an invaluable source of info for many folks. I've learned a lot from the folks here, for which I am grateful.
----------
Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
Last Edited by on Sep 02, 2010 9:22 AM
|
HarpNinja
613 posts
Sep 02, 2010
9:56 AM
|
En route to work and called the music store. I can get an Epi for under $150 there and he can do the mods for me (don't know the total price). So tempting!!!
You guys keep the stock speaker in there too? Just flip out the tubes?
This is the same place where I demoed the amp. I didn't dislike it, but had nothing really to compare it to at the time. I think it'd work just fine for practice even w/o the mods for now.
----------
Mike
|
toddlgreene
1741 posts
Sep 02, 2010
10:14 AM
|
Yes, I'm fine with that Eminence. I did try a Weber Sig with the harp dust cap slaved in at Randy's shop, but not installed in the cabinet. Not a tremendous difference there, even though it wasn't a great condition for the test. If I get bored enough one day and have 30 bucks burning a hole in my pocket, I might get one for s&g's, but it's not something my ear needs. After Randy's mods, I kept stock value tubes(EL84 and 12ax7), and recently upgraded to JJs from the stock brands. The icing on this little amp's cake.
If you're gonna play it pre-mod, do try the 12ay7 in the preamp slot.
----------
Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
Last Edited by on Sep 02, 2010 10:21 AM
|
Joe_L
594 posts
Sep 03, 2010
4:33 PM
|
Mike - check out the half stack. You might dig that better
|
HarpNinja
614 posts
Sep 03, 2010
6:52 PM
|
I got a great deal for a version three combo locally. It will be my grab and go practice amp (when I get it). I would then like to get the amp modded and eventually get a combo cab.
The head/cab is a sweet deal, but I am shooting mostly for at home noodling and the occasional practice (which doesn't require gig volume). An 8" is enough from past experiences.
Actually, in a perfect world, I would get a 2x8 cab that I could use with the HG50 as an extension cab or the Valve Jr...either that or run two of the combos in stereo.
Breaking down the price of a head/combo for $250, I could get the new Valve Jr. and a used Valve Jr. for the same....which would be 10ish watts and 2x8.
----------
Mike
|
