the_happy_honker
58 posts
Mar 20, 2011
2:52 PM
|
I'm in the market for my first mic and amp (around 5 watts), for practicing at home and with friends.
I would like your opinions on this amp:
http://www.ratvalveamps.com/epiphone-valve-junior
On the surface it seems like my dream come true - while not a "harp amp," it appears to be tonally very flexible (e.g., choice of EL-84 or 6L6 or a mix; three different rectifier settings, swichable preamp bias and gain, and much more), with real attention to power attenuation and a headphone out, so I can keep my family and neighbors happy.
So is this the real deal or a tone dud? Opinions welcome!
|
praefect
55 posts
Mar 20, 2011
6:06 PM
|
*sweet mother of god*
|
Jehosaphat
18 posts
Mar 20, 2011
7:23 PM
|
Monday morning in the marketing Dept:
JOE:"Guys i should be at home..massive headache"
BOB: "Whys that?"
..."Kid next door playin' his guitar..must have a Marshall Stack in there"
JIM:"Hey wait a minute...maybe theres a new market demographic here..after all most kids live home or are renting.."
JOE:Yeah howza 'bout a small valve amp..no fancy circuits just good value and simple."
BOB:"One week flippin' burgers to pay for it!"
JOE:"NO TONE CONTROLS!"
JIM:"CHEAP BUT GOOD!"
BOB:"I'll buy the kid next door one!!"
:-D
|
Joe_L
1139 posts
Mar 20, 2011
8:27 PM
|
What will they think of next?
Save yourself some agony. Buy a used silverface Champ. They are cheap and easy to sell when you outgrow it. If you've got money to spare, pick up a used tweed Champ clone like a Victoria or a Kendrick. They are also easy to sell. Guitar players love those things.
----------
The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by on Mar 20, 2011 8:30 PM
|
LittleJoeSamson
530 posts
Mar 21, 2011
12:15 AM
|
440 GBP ?
I'm sure it's a good amp for harp, but save yourself a ton o' bucks and pick up a VHT Special 6.
Then, invest in some tubes to swap. First get the pre-amp set with 60's 12AX7's: RCA, GE, Sylvania, or Japanese Matsushita. ( Mullards, Lorentz, other Euro tubes overpriced, IMO ).
Then , find a 1950's 6V6...pretty much any that you can find.
Use the 3W switch to keep the neighbors happy. ( along with tasteful playing )
Don't do it on a Sunday !
|
Baker
112 posts
Mar 21, 2011
6:00 AM
|
I think this amp is pretty good first amp. I have one which I think I payed £75(GBP) brand new.
Lone Wolf have a mod designed specifically to make this amp a good harp amp. Can be found here: hhttp://www.lwharpamps.com/projepimod.html. I have not had this mod done to mine (although I am meaning to get around to it), so I can't tell you what's it like but I have heard good things.
I did have issues with feedback at first, but this was easily fixed by changing out the pre-amp tube to a 12AY7.
Here are a couple of old useful threads on this amp: http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/366450.htm
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/557365.htm
I have played through this amp with a Shure 565SD set to Hi Z, and one of Greg's Blows Me Away, wooden bullet mics and it sounds great with both.
EDIT: Posted wrong link to the Lone Wolf mod.
Last Edited by on Mar 21, 2011 8:58 AM
|
toddlgreene
2761 posts
Mar 21, 2011
6:24 AM
|
Looks like serious overkill for an Epi for harp. Randy Landry's mods and some good retubing will make it as sweet as it can be. Since this amp came out(and I got one and had the mods done), the VHT entered the scene. Although my Epi sounds great post-mods and tube swaps, I'd probably go for the VHT for price, bang-for-buck and tone right out of the box(spare some re-tubing)if I had to do it over again. Both can get you some sweet tone, and it really boils down to this:
a. Do you do mods yourself, or are you willing to have someone do them for you?
b. The EL84/6QB5 tubes in the Epi and the 6V6 in the VHT are totally different animals in the way the break up. EL84s get dirty breakup quick, whereas the 6V6 seems to have a warmer graduation between clean and distorted. You'll have more 'dirt' at a lower volume with the EL84, and it just gets dirtier. It's really a matter of personal preference. I play primarily with cleaner stick mics(EV631, mainly), so the extra distortion isn't over the top.
----------
Todd
Eudora and Deep Soul
Last Edited by on Mar 21, 2011 6:28 AM
|
5F6H
565 posts
Mar 21, 2011
6:46 AM
|
You don't really need all the option switches, you certainly don't need a new output transformer. Randy's Lone Wolf Mods should do the job & simple resistive attenuator can be made from 2x 10W resistors if you need the amp to be quieter for home use.
£440 is way too much for a Epi V Jr.
|
