Epiphone Valve Junior

[Benee Wafers]

Looking at and considering the 5 watt amp which has rave reviews practically everywhere.Any players out there are using or used to use?
I started looking at the combo amp and then got sidetracked to the head with the extension cab but I would end up spending twice the money.
Got any pros and cons for me about which rig to go for and if indeed these amps are all that they're proclaimed to be?
Lets face it for 129 bucks there is prolly nothing out there that can compete price wise in terms of a tune amp If you know of something better would like to hear about it too.
Benee Wafers

[shiva]

If it's only 130, then grab it. I have a Fender Champ 600, 2 tube amp, not very loud but awesome sound considering it's 200 bucks. Both of these are very easy to mod or upgrade as well. Only thing I don't like about the fender is no headphone jack, but my son has a GDec jr, which has a headphone anyway.

[Wheeman]

Go for the head and cab. The head has a revised PCB that helps reduce some of the noise without having to mod it. I've A/B'd the two and the head is much quieter, albeit not perfect, than the combo. The head has the heaters running on DC current rather than the combo that has AC current running along side DC traces causing some hum to bleed in.

I've just recently picked up the head as a smaller tube amp for university residence and modding. So far, I want to add a standby switch, tone (mid, treble, bass) controls, and a couple filter caps to reduce some of the hum.

[KHINGPYNN]

Saw one today but got the Blackheart Little Giant yesterday... I believe they are pretty close cct wise.

[Benee Wafers]

Thanks guys. Khing..why did you opt for the Blackheart?

I did listen to You Tube demos of both and I was kinda disappointed in how distorted they were at low volumes.
I really didn't get that classic rock or blues tone coming from either one of them. In fact they both sounded more geared to hard rock than classic.

You figure so too?

Head and cab.. I figure so too Wheeman

Benee Wafers

[smorgdonkey]

I use an Epiphone Valve Jr but instead of the Valve Jr's cabinet I use a Yorkville/Traynor cabinet with it. It is a closed back with a Vintage 30 speaker. I don't get too many hard rock tones out of it to be quite honest. All I hear is classic rock and without a Tube Screamer or something the hard stuff doesn't come out of it at all.

I realize that there may be quite a difference in my cab and the Epi branded one but I think the big factor is that if you roll your guitar volume back a bit the sound changes a lot. These amps have no controls other than volume so they will get a player working on their guitar's volume and tone controls a lot.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/smorgdonkey/amps/ValveJRw1x12cab.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/smorgdonkey/amps/burgundybeauty.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/smorgdonkey/amps/ValveJuniorwithEC400andcab.jpg

[Chito]

Benee, I did a bit of a review of the Little Giant with some a/bing with an Epiphone VJ head here:

http://guitarscanada.com/Board/showthread.php?t=11516

I still have both heads. I've actually been thinking about giving up the VJ. So with a little bit more prodding, I'll probably sell it. It's a version 2, if I remember right and it's got the DC Filament Voltage.

Here are both of mine:

http://spillback.com/studio/BlackheartAvatar.jpghttp://spillback.com/studio/AmpEpiphone.jpg

[Perkinsfan]

I have the valve jr. head.
I'm running it thru a 75 watt home stereo speaker at the moment but I will pick up the matching speaker cab. shortly.
I like it alot. It has nice clean tones at lower volume settings and slowly gets into the classic "tube crunch" as you crank it up.
I bought it before the blackheart was on the market.
In hindsight, it would be nice to have a EQ to play with, but if it really starts to bug me enough I might just score a EQ pedal to stick in front of it.
For what they are designed to do I don't think you can go wrong with either amp.
Just my 2 cents.
Good luck.
Eric

[Geek]

I'm confused, somebody help me out here... other than price, what is the big attraction to the VJ? :confused:

Just curious because it's "just another little amp" when I tried it and I've watched customers take it it over anything else, even when price wasn't an issue.

[Ripper]

I'm confused, somebody help me out here... other than price, what is the big attraction to the VJ? :confused:

Just curious because it's "just another little amp" when I tried it and I've watched customers take it it over anything else, even when price wasn't an issue.

It's because it is such a great modders platform. There is a ton of great mods for these little amps. I modded a buddies for him back in the winter and I must say ever since then I've considered getting one myself to play around with.

[garretrevels]

Great little amps, mine is stock, aside from an upgraded tube. To me it rocks, has great tone and breakup. I don't think there's a better amp in its price range.

Your best bet is to get one and try it.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2365/20080425teisco20006bi2.jpg

[Benee Wafers]

Ya there's the word I was lookng for... crunch...on all the demos I heard on You Tube I heard nothing but "crunch". Too much crunch. That is not my idea of blues or rock tone.
The best samples I can give you in terms of my idea of blues or rock tones would be Keith Richards Tele's usually thru Fender Twins and Claptons Strat thru a Fender Tweed Champ ( or whatever). Richards usually plays surprisingly clean, just a step away from the edge of breakup and Claptons Layla album tone is prolly the best there ever was ( IMO) and though there was break up it wasn't crunch.
What's with that crunch guys?

I really appreciate all your input fellas.

Benee Wafers

[Benee Wafers]

And Chito thanks for that review. Very well done.
So you've decided you're keeping the BlackHeart eh... primarily due to the tone controls I presume

How much prodding will it take to sell me the VJ in the off chance I go for it.
?
I don't suppose the Avatar would come with it?

Benee Wafers

[Tarl]

After side by siding both the Blackheart head was by far the winner for me.

[Geek]

It's because it is such a great modders platform. There is a ton of great mods for these little amps.

Yes, I'll agree for sure that they are a blank slate for mods :smile:

[Wheeman]

Yes, I'll agree for sure that they are a blank slate for mods :smile:

For those that don't have the ambition to mod it, the sheer simplicity of the interface could be appealing. The only setup you have to do it plug in a guitar, and perhaps a cab, and dial the volume to your liking.

And for the modders, look at all the space on the faceplate for adding more controls. There is even more inside if you want to add another circuit to it.

[Benee Wafers]

Thanks Tarl.
By far ? Why ?
What type of music are you playing?
Benee

[Hamm Guitars]

Have you checked out a Fender Blues Jr? It sounds like it might be right up your alley. They usually go for about $225.00 used.

[Benee Wafers]

Thanks Hamm.Not on this current GAS attack 'cause after all it was the price and the glowing reviews that got me onto the Valve and now the Blackheart.
I have researched the Blues Junior previously and if I recall correctly the reviews weren't that good.

Benee Wafers

[Tarl]

Thanks Tarl.
By far ? Why ?
What type of music are you playing?
Benee

Classic Rock and Blues stuff. It has a far better gain structure, seems to take to pedals better and has more tonal options with the added controls. If you look online these things were also made for modding, with alot of kits available for them. A buddy of mine sold his VJ after hearing my BH and then ran out and got one himself. I also put JJs in mine the day I got it. The only caveat.....if you are looking for a crystal clean tone the el 84 is not gonna get you there.

[KHINGPYNN]

Khing..why did you opt for the Blackheart?


For me the Blackheart Little Giant gained an edge with more control features, better tone and what I percieved as a greater dynamic range.

The valve junior is a great little amp but I also feel that Eminance, Crate and Pyotr Belove put way more into their design and concept... plus the quality control seems to be very high on this amp... for the price both are cool amps but the Blackheart wins the race but a far stretch for me anyways.

Cheers
Craig

[Hamm Guitars]

I have researched the Blues Junior previously and if I recall correctly the reviews weren't that good.


Could be that those reviewing it were looking for crunch.... I tried one with a V30 in it and it was super creamy. All the stock ones I tried definately had potential, and when guys show up at gigs with them they almost always have a nice sound. Never see them used for high gain or super raunchy rock, so that might be a strike against them.

[Robert1950]

The 15w Blackheart Handsome Devil is now available:

http://www.axemusic.com/product.asp?numRecordPosition=5&P_ID=17882&PT_ID=all

Anyone who carries Crate, should have this available, or to order. (The Axe Music example is used only because it is the first that came up when I googled the BHD.)

[Tarl]

The 15w Blackheart Handsome Devil is now available:

http://www.axemusic.com/product.asp?numRecordPosition=5&P_ID=17882&PT_ID=all

Anyone who carries Crate, should have this available, or to order. (The Axe Music example is used only because it is the first that came up when I googled the BHD.)


This has been on the Axemusic site for about 2 months now. I have not heard of anyone getting one of these yet, and I'd like to try one out. I believe there is a prototype demo on youtube. My local dealer says that Crate keeps moving the date back and back and back.......... If it were software it would be a classic example of vapourware. I hope it does materialize.

[Benee Wafers]

There are several demos now on You Tube of the Handsome Devil and that amp sounds very good and versatile.

Thanks guys for the further comments on the VJ and Blackheart.
Re Blackheart vs. Handsome Devil...for an extra 100 bucks you get the HD which according to what I heard on You Tube would be a no brainer.

Benee Wafers

[Benee Wafers]

To wrap this up I found a Fender "red knob" Champ 12 with a Celestion (Celestion G12L-35) mod last night on e bay for under 250 and took the leap.
All reviews on the amp and speaker were 98% favourable.
Should be here in a week or less.
At L&M a new Valve Jr with Extension cab would have run 340 plus taxes so I went with what I hope will be an amp more versatile and more suited to what I'm looking for in terms of tone quality.

Again thanks to you all for your words of wisdom.
Benee Wafers