With the price hike in boutique guitar tube amps, (and rightly so since, depending on the components quality that go into the construction the initial costs can add up very quickly), there seems to be a tone-void gap between solid-state easily accessible (cheap) and the high end tube amps out there.
So, what will you do, if you are a serious guitar player but have no cash to spend on one (two or three) of the big name tube guitar amp?
Epiphone launched the Valve series and with it, an intriguing model called
Epiphone Valve Junior Head, a single ended amp, class A, all tube (!), head version (recently reviewed in the Vintage Guitar Magazine). A simple one-knobbed, robust 5 Watt amp, that can deliver some serious tone into say a matching Epiphone Valve Junior 1×12 Extension Cab via three impedance output jacks (4, 8 and 16 ohms) on the rear. All this with a 12AX7 tube in the preamp section and a EL84 for the power amp.
Nothing special up to now you might say!
But listen to this! The
Epiphone Valve Junior Head Tube Guitar Amplifier, costs USD 149.99, the Epiphone Valve Junior 1×12 Extension Cab
costs USD 159.99, or you can get the Epiphone Valve Junior Half Stack
for only USD 249.99!!! If that’s not enough, here is also the elegant Epiphone Valve Junior Combo Amp
for USD 199.99 !!!
All are shipping free from Musicians Friend!
Something must be wrong, they must have miss-priced it, or there was a typo of some sort. No, it is true. You can arm yourself with tube overdriven guitar tone for a quarter of what other big name boutique guitar tube amps are out there!
And as if this didn’t convince you to put your hand on it, hear this: You can actually mod the amp, – of course if you own a soldering iron and if you can change a spare wheel on your car – to a killer tone machine with a minimal expense by simply replacing the Output Transformer, and changing the tube brands, and a couple of components here and there. More details in actually how to do this found on the www.sewatt.com forum – an absolute place to discuss specific mods on this amp!
There will be a video tutorial on how to do this VERY SOON!
Now, make yourself a favor. Stop playing on your crappy solid-state (or hybrid tube) guitar amp and get your hands on the one (or more) of the two models!
Epiphone Valve Junior Head Tube Guitar Amplifier
Epiphone Valve Junior 1×12 Extension Cab
Epiphone Valve Junior Half Stack
Epiphone Valve Junior Combo Amp
Related posts
Looking forward to seeing the video tutorial!
Hey Gaby,I love your vidio helps,They have helped me,Im building a 50 watt plexie and your heater wiring was invalueable to me,and im 48 years old,i check every day to keep up with garage tales,Thank you for your site You are a awsome
person,Mike
Gabi,
Any thoughts on installing an internal attenuator and using it as a master volume – but with the tubes saturated?
Also, I’ve read a lot about standby switches. Most of the expensive mod packages out there that include the standby switch just seem to have a switch and some wire. Where would I put that in the circuit? (I have a V3 head).
One more: Can I put an effects loop in the signal?
Thanks.
-Matt
Gabby, not to be a bother but can we have an update on the no feedback mod you’re doing.
Hi David! Not a bother at all – I have the first half already filmed. The new episode will detail the negative feedback and adding Resonance, Presence control and even a line out. I will be traveling for the first half of April (taking off next week) and I will try squeezing out before I leave. Thanks for the patience!!
There’s a VVR (Dana Hall’s Variable Voltage Regulator see Products then Kits) that gives you the control of how much B+ you feed into the amp but having the tubes run at the same constant filament temperature. I plan on doing a video on how to instal one of those kits in a regular cathode biased amp, and you can use the same idea to install it into the VJ.
I am not familiar with those mods, but I suspect you would add a standby switch right after the high voltage rectifier bridge.
For the loop, take a look at the SEwatt.com FAQ (scroll down where it sais “Line-Outs and FX Loops”). you have a couple options there.
Hope it helps!
Hmm – not familiar too much with those mods,
Thanks! I’m keeping that VVR kit bookmarked! I was looking at several external attenuator boxes that are either inserted into a loop or between the output and the speaker. They supposedly work like a “power soak” and enable you to crank the amp and then lower the volume without losing that cranked amp tone. Is the VVR similar in function?
Also, quick OT question (I’m new at this, so please bear with me):
On my VJ3 head, I have a multi-tap output (4, 8, and 16 ohm). If I change the OT (to say a Hammond or a Heyboer), do I lose those output options? I don’t really want a 4 ohm out, but the 8 and 16 seem essential.
Can I plug in an 8ohm cab into the 8ohm out AND a 16ohm cab into the 16ohm out AT THE SAME TIME?
Thanks.
One more: Can I put an effects loop in the signal?