toddlgreene
751 posts
Feb 09, 2010
6:52 AM
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I got a new Epiphone Valve Jr. combo last week. My friend has a decent vid camera with passable audio quality. I am thinking of playing a few different mics thru it out-of-the box stock, then the same with a 12at7 or 12ay7, then again after Randy Landry mods it. I'll do all vids in the same place, with the camera in the same position each time. I want to be able to compare the differences myself, but thought it might be useful to share. Would this be helpful to anyone? I'd also be open to mic requests-between us we have several.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Feb 09, 2010 7:41 AM
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LIP RIPPER
173 posts
Feb 09, 2010
6:56 AM
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I'm curious about the modified sound vs. stock. I have the head unit and I'd like to hear the difference.I thought about buying the Bitmo kit.
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toddlgreene
752 posts
Feb 09, 2010
6:59 AM
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Lip, I will also play the head thru the V Jr cabinet, stock and modded. My friend has the cab, which is great on its own.
I'm no authority, but it seems the guitar-specific Bitmo kits might take the amp further away from being a good harp amp instead of an improvement.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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markdc70
17 posts
Feb 09, 2010
7:37 AM
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I think a lot of people would be very interested in a video like that. Also, I second Todd in agreement that a Bitmo kit would definitely not be what you would want for harp. All the parts you need are easily accessed through Mouser, and the directions are right there on lonewolfblues.com.
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Kingley
828 posts
Feb 09, 2010
7:43 AM
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Sounds like a great idea Todd.
One thing to bear in mind (which I suspect you have already thought of) is to have the volume set at the same level for all the stock / modded and different mic combinations. That should then give a totally fair comparison of the mods and mics.
Mic wise I suspect people most want to hear Shure 545, SM57, JT30 with crystal MC51, JT30 with CM/CR, Green Bullet 520 and 520DX and an Ev RE10. As these seem to be the most popular mics amongst most players.
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LIP RIPPER
174 posts
Feb 09, 2010
7:48 AM
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Very interesting, I'm glad I didn't buy the kit. I'll check out Lonewolf.
LR
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toddlgreene
754 posts
Feb 09, 2010
7:50 AM
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Good points, Kingley. I will document the knob positions, although it will react totally different when the separate tone knob is added.
I have and/or can get my hands on:two or three different JT30s with ceramics, A few 520Ds, an SM57, an RE10, possibly a 545, a Bottle of Blues, a crystal and dynamic Shaker, several different Ev mics and a homemade or two. Sold my 520DX a while back, but might be able to borrow one from someone for the sake of the test.
Wow, in reading my own microphone list, this could take a while! i might have to limit it to three or four:SM57, JT30 ceramic, Shure CM, RE!0...or something like that.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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markdc70
18 posts
Feb 09, 2010
8:06 AM
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Knob position after the mod will not relate directly to knob position before. The removal of one resistor between gain stages and the addition of one before the power tube totally changes what is going on at previous volume settings. They would be totally irrelevant.
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toddlgreene
756 posts
Feb 09, 2010
8:10 AM
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markdc70, true, although it may be good to note when I go between the 12ax7 and the 12at or 12ay. that would be the only difference at that stage. This is still pre-mod.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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jonsparrow
2168 posts
Feb 09, 2010
8:13 AM
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im very interested to hear it. esp with the tube swaps.
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toddlgreene
757 posts
Feb 09, 2010
8:18 AM
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Jon-mine is the newest version 3, and it has the Eminence 8" in it. Which speaker does yours have, and is it stock?
I'll pick 4 mics, keep the same setting on the amp, and play stock with 12ax7, then 12at7, then 12ay7...then I'll send it off for mods. I'll post it all pre-mod, then afterwards I'll demo again with the same mics and piece it all together.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Feb 09, 2010 8:18 AM
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jonsparrow
2170 posts
Feb 09, 2010
8:20 AM
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i swaped mine for a jenson c8r speaker. i dont have the version 3 model.
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MJ
74 posts
Feb 09, 2010
2:05 PM
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Jon, I find it interesting that you swapped your stock speaker for a Jensen CR8 which is a ribbbed cone speaker. It is my opinion that the stock smooth cone speaker that comes with the Epi vjr is better suited for harp. The smooth cone tend to give earlier breakup whereas the ribbed cones are often too bright with a harp for my taste.
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jonsparrow
2179 posts
Feb 09, 2010
3:11 PM
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for me the stock speaker couldnt handle any bass response. if there was too much low end it sounded like a fart. with the new speaker it can handle it just fine an then some.
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MJ
75 posts
Feb 09, 2010
3:50 PM
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Jon, Fair enough. Tastes vary. A side note , Harpgear amps are equipped with straight cone speakers. Always worth trying. Maybe a Weber sig 8 or better yet a Weber VST.
Last Edited by on Feb 09, 2010 3:53 PM
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jonsparrow
2181 posts
Feb 09, 2010
4:36 PM
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maybe ill order one an give it a shot. i really wanna just buy a harpgear though lol. so much money though.
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MJ
76 posts
Feb 09, 2010
4:53 PM
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Well, if you start with the speaker....after a while you will have a whole HG lol
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jonsparrow
2183 posts
Feb 09, 2010
4:58 PM
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hahaha
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ZackPomerleau
710 posts
Feb 09, 2010
5:32 PM
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I've always wanted to hear the difference.
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htownfess
16 posts
Feb 10, 2010
1:31 AM
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Todd, don't worry about matching output level before/after: run the amp just below the point of feedback with each mic. People are probably more interested in the max you can get out of the stock amp and whether the modded version clearly exceeds that.
Mark on the floor where you stand with each of the mics during the stock head shoot, then stand at those distances for the modded video shoot. Bet the second round is clearly louder without feeding back, but if you have to move to keep from feeding back, say so.
Very important: Unless your camera has a level meter, do not film from too close for the first round, because the modded version is likely to be louder and could distort the audio if the camera is too close, which would be a shame. So set up farther away for the stock shoot--the audio's more important than what you or the amp look like. You might check levels with a louder amp at the stock Epi shoot, make sure you're leaving yourself some headroom.
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toddlgreene
762 posts
Feb 10, 2010
5:02 AM
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Good points, Htown...I popped a 12at7 in last night, and powered it on briefly just to make sure it still worked, but tonight at our meeting I'll give it a workout. I might get time to do the vid, or at least start it, this weekend. I'll make it as scientific as my simple mind will allow!
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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blueswannabe
9 posts
Feb 10, 2010
6:34 AM
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Todd, Your experiment would be very useful to me because I have an epi combo v.3. The only mods I have done thus far is replace the coupling caps to .47 uf . I have all the other necessary materials to complete all of Randy's recommended mods at lonewolf but I am hesitating because, it sounds good to me so far. A side by side comparison would be very helpful. If and when I proceed with the remaining mods I will post a comparison myself.
Also, in regards to speakers. My epi has the 8 inch eminence, and I thinks it sounds nice. I believe the stock eminence speaker has a ceramic magnet. Out of curiosity, I hooked up an 8 inch weber sig 8 (alnico). I found the weber sig 8 to make some subtle differences which I thought would be an improvement. Thus, I do plan on ordering the Weber speaker.
Last Edited by on Feb 10, 2010 6:42 AM
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toddlgreene
763 posts
Feb 10, 2010
7:55 AM
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Hmmm, I don't hate that Eminence...Maybe YOU can do a video comparison of the Eminence vs Weber speaker? Might change my mind.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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blueswannabe
10 posts
Feb 10, 2010
10:02 AM
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Here's a quick comparison. I am using a D harp. I tried to cup the mic in the same manner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Z8Dy5bsFo
Last Edited by on Feb 10, 2010 12:06 PM
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blueswannabe
12 posts
Feb 10, 2010
6:06 PM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Z8Dy5bsFo
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wheezer
144 posts
Feb 11, 2010
7:20 AM
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I have a Harley Benton GA5 which is an Epi V. Jnr in different clothes (and appx. £50 cheaper). Although the HB comes with a tone control it ain't very good.
I bought a "brownface" tone control mod from Nigel at Alnicomagnet and it transformed the amp. I believe that Randy at Lone Wolf Blues does a similar kit if you are the U.S. side of the pond.
Thing is, before I would think of speaker changes I would add some tone control to the amp. The kit I bought cost £12.00 (appx. $18) and took about 90 min to fit.
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