Epiphone Valve Junior Combo

Johnny Storm · 19-10-2006 2:32pm #1

In accordance with my oath to the Guitar Fetishist's Society I now present pix of my new Epiphone Valve Junior Combo.

This is a 5 watt valve combo for €145 with one 8 inch speaker. I bought it hoping to get some classic rock type sounds at home. I was very impressed with the amount of websites devoted to this amp and how people were doing simple mods to improve the sound.
E.g.
http://duhvoodooman.com/VJr/VJr_mods.htm (very good for beginners)
http://www.18watt.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=9053 (90 page thread on modding the EVR - need to register with the site)
http://www.valvejunior.com/
There's loads more.

I have to say that it looks a lot nicer in person than in pix. Its made of nice looking materials and has a very solidly built vibe. The cream nametag, faceplace and surround of the speaker grill all match in a good way and as I say are better in person.

The key question: what does it sound like? Well, here's the problem, TBH I'm fncked if I know! This thing is WAAAYYYY too loud for any possible application in my house. (As was very helpfully pointed out on this board before I bought it but you can't tell me anything

). I can tell you that with the knob at about 8 o'clock you get a very clean "sick saxophone" type sound. This doesn't sound too bad at all with strats although personally I'm not a fan of any kind of clean sound (otherwise I'd play a shaggin' acoustic :rolleyes: ). Past 9 o'c its getting very loud and beyond that is so far unexplored. Tubular distortion is too far through the kids-crying, wife-accusing, neighbours-phoning barrier for me. :eek: It does sound good with my Boss Blues Driver and as you can see the speaker is about the size of a whole Microcube.

I'm not sure as yet if I'm going to send this back to Thomann or what.

Note on Thomann. I have to say that this purchase has put me off Thomann quite a bit. I ordered this thing back in mid Sept while their site said it was in stock and it was only delivered this Tuesday. All systems can go wrong of course but there was no attempt to communicate with me at all. The capper was that they sent me the amp with a 2 prong round pin plug and when I asked for a 3-pin square plug they replied "we do not supply any leads with 3 pin plugs as we only ship with the 2 pin versions". So **** 'em from now on. :mad:

bombidol · 19-10-2006 3:00pm

let us know if you are selling it. someone might pick it up off you. OR i could swop you a 10 Watt Orange practice amp and a few quids?

The_g-man · 19-10-2006 3:07pm

"we do not supply any leads with 3 pin plugs as we only ship with the 2 pin versions".

Musicstore have the same catch when buying anything with a psu. Found that one out after ordering my digitech fx board.

jimi_t · 19-10-2006 3:36pm

Anything similar to this in a small bass combo?

david · 19-10-2006 3:57pm

If the psu is built into the plug you have to get a shaving adapter thing in maplins/poundshop, otherwise just wire a new plug, no big deal really.

Don1 · 19-10-2006 4:17pm

ooooh, noice. If you are thikin of getting rid of it I'd be very interested indeed! I could do with more valves without the excess volume. (I know you said it's loud but I live in the country and have total disregard for my hearing at times)

fish-head · 19-10-2006 4:21pm

That's disappointing Johnny. Ah well, you've still got El Cube.
Seemed like such a cool idear though, eh? Maybe the next one will be better. They must still be having teehting problems.

Kenny_D · 19-10-2006 4:48pm

Is there not a switch on those amps to change the output wattage? Like 0.5w 2.5w and 5w?

Or am I thinking of another small amp?

Johnny Storm · 19-10-2006 5:19pm

GStormcrow wrote:

Is there not a switch on those amps to change the output wattage? Like 0.5w 2.5w and 5w?

Or am I thinking of another small amp?

I think you're thinking of the Vox competitor to the Microcube, the DA somthin'

fish-head wrote:

...Maybe the next one will be better. They must still be having teehting problems.

There's nothing actually wrong with this one - its just too loud for me. I really knew it would be when I bought it but I was still hopeful

Freakonaleashx wrote:

If the psu is built into the plug you have to get a shaving adapter thing in maplins/poundshop, otherwise just wire a new plug, no big deal really

Thanks, its just the same kind of cable that you plug monitors, computers etc in with. I have several leftover ones. I just had a PIA that they dont supply the right one. If fact I'm pretty sure its illegal to sell electrical equipment in Ireland with the wrong kind of plug. Not sure about internet sales though.

I honestly havent decided what to do with it yet. I might try to make an attenuator as is mentioned on some of the websites I linked to earlier so as to get tube distortion at living room volumes. Also Thomann have a 30 day return policy. You guys will be the first to know if I do decide to sell.

Quattroste · 19-10-2006 5:41pm

Pity about that Johnny. It certainly looks cool but seems to serve no practical use for you. I understand your issues with volume too.

We need houses in the country with seperate garage/studio room plus child and wife proof locks and a beer fridge....... eh that's about it!

It wasn't me! · 19-10-2006 8:51pm

Don1 wrote:

ooooh, noice. If you are thikin of getting rid of it I'd be very interested indeed! I could do with more valves without the excess volume. (I know you said it's loud but I live in the country and have total disregard for my hearing at times)

Pfft! Woman!:p I play a 50W JCM800 and my tone unfortunately requires power stage saturation, so I have to have the volume at ten to be satisfied. Also don't have an attenuator yet...

feylya · 19-10-2006 9:27pm

It wasn't me! wrote:

Pfft! Woman!:p I play a 50W JCM800 and my tone unfortunately requires power stage saturation, so I have to have the volume at ten to be satisfied. Also don't have an attenuator yet...

Or a nagging wife

david · 19-10-2006 9:31pm

Keep the valves, lose the woman... Sorted.

feylya · 19-10-2006 9:34pm

Pah, use the valves to get the woman

Just off topic for a second: This would sound quite good through yon amp...

It wasn't me! · 19-10-2006 9:46pm

freakonaleashx wrote:

Keep the valves, lose the woman... Sorted.

Pfft! My wench likes volume!

david · 19-10-2006 10:32pm

feylya wrote:

Pah, use the valves to get the woman

Just off topic for a second: This would sound quite good through yon amp...

Possibly if it didnt look so gank

Eoin Madsen · 19-10-2006 10:49pm

Johnny Storm wrote:

If fact I'm pretty sure its illegal to sell electrical equipment in Ireland with the wrong kind of plug. Not sure about internet sales though.

Only applicable when the point of sale is in the Republic, so Thomann, Musicstore etc., are not under any obligation.

Quattroste · 20-10-2006 9:38am

feylya wrote:

Pah, use the valves to get the woman

Just remember to change the women as often as you change the valves.:p

ferdi · 20-10-2006 10:34am

here, how loud can it possibly be? are the kids,missus and neighbours very 'strict' or does this yoke actually blast you out of it with the knob past 9o'clock?

Johnny Storm · 20-10-2006 5:08pm

Well, it's hard to convey in writing how loud it is but it is really an amp suitable for small gigs rather than home use. Obviously you can turn it right down but then you miss out on the valve distortion which is really the whole point of it IMO.
Of course if I had that house in the county that Quattroste was talking about .... or maybe a little pad on that island where Keef Richards fell out of the coconut tree..... :rolleyes:

Epiphone Valve Junior Combo

Comments