Epi Valve Junior Head impressions @ SamAsh

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Gear_Junky

Gear_Junky

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So, I was there buying some volume knobs :)

They had the Epi Valve Junior head hooked up to some Marshall 4x12 and I decided to try it and also compare to the Tech 21 Trademark 10 to see if I can hear a difference and if I really want tubes.

For total honesty, I wanted to plug the head into the Trademark's 8ohm speaker input and compare on the same speaker, but they wouldn't let me.

The guitar was their Epi LP Custom.

I don't know what it was - the head sounded very dark on low settings, without much highs or sparkle. At about 12 o'clock it was starting to sound interesting, but very loud and they wouldn't even let me turn up higher.

I realized that I couldn't (wouldn't want to) have that kinda volume even when I'm alone with noone to disturb. But just out of curiousity - do you think maybe the cab was a bad match? Maybe to high of a rating for the 5wt head and so there wasn't enough energy to drive it? I'm sorry, I really don't know what kind of the cab it was, but it was finished in dark blue color.

On the other hand I liked the Trademark 10 pretty well (I used to have a Trademark 60, so I'm pretty familiar with the sound). And I totally didn't like the Roland Cube's distortion as compared to the Trademark.

I'm still going to try a small tube combo at some point and really not saying anything against the tubes, but once again decided that it's not for me yet.

I'm ordering me a Behringer GDI21, but maybe some day the time will come for me to get into tubes. :)
 
well ...... although I have one of the heads and like it ...... I'm not sure the Valve Jr. is a good amp for you to base your reaction towards tube amps on.
It is a bit dark before you swap out the tube and it needs to be paired with the right speaker.
And, even then, it's a bit of a one trick pony.
You really need to try out some bigger tube amps even if they're not what you need for a small recording amp to get an idea of their strong points. Then you'll have a better idea of what you'll want from a smaller amp.
The Orange Tiny Terror is bad ass and there are quite a few other small amps more versatuile than the VJ.
But if the VJ is too loud for you ..... then you're gonna need something other than a tube amp anyway because even 5 watt tube amps are pretty loud,.
 
Yes, I agree. My "opinion" was more regarding volume, not tone. I'm sure there's better-toned amps out there. And I'm sure even this one can sound nice with new tubes and right speakers.

Lt. Bob said:
well ...... although I have one of the heads and like it ...... I'm not sure the Valve Jr. is a good amp for you to base your reaction towards tube amps on.
It is a bit dark before you swap out the tube and it needs to be paired with the right speaker.
And, even then, it's a bit of a one trick pony.
You really need to try out some bigger tube amps even if they're not what you need for a small recording amp to get an idea of their strong points. Then you'll have a better idea of what you'll want from a smaller amp.
The Orange Tiny Terror is bad ass and there are quite a few other small amps more versatuile than the VJ.
But if the VJ is too loud for you ..... then you're gonna need something other than a tube amp anyway because even 5 watt tube amps are pretty loud,.
Click to expand...
 
Gear_Junky said:
So, I was there buying some volume knobs :)

They had the Epi Valve Junior head hooked up to some Marshall 4x12 and I decided to try it and also compare to the Tech 21 Trademark 10 to see if I can hear a difference and if I really want tubes.

For total honesty, I wanted to plug the head into the Trademark's 8ohm speaker input and compare on the same speaker, but they wouldn't let me.

The guitar was their Epi LP Custom.

I don't know what it was - the head sounded very dark on low settings, without much highs or sparkle. At about 12 o'clock it was starting to sound interesting, but very loud and they wouldn't even let me turn up higher.

I realized that I couldn't (wouldn't want to) have that kinda volume even when I'm alone with noone to disturb. But just out of curiousity - do you think maybe the cab was a bad match? Maybe to high of a rating for the 5wt head and so there wasn't enough energy to drive it? I'm sorry, I really don't know what kind of the cab it was, but it was finished in dark blue color.

On the other hand I liked the Trademark 10 pretty well (I used to have a Trademark 60, so I'm pretty familiar with the sound). And I totally didn't like the Roland Cube's distortion as compared to the Trademark.

I'm still going to try a small tube combo at some point and really not saying anything against the tubes, but once again decided that it's not for me yet.

I'm ordering me a Behringer GDI21, but maybe some day the time will come for me to get into tubes. :)
Click to expand...

firsy off
you stated a few reasons why not to deal with sam ash dickheads.

next time go to GC they will let you try out any gear on the floor and dime it if you want.

secondly
I would not recomend Behringer amps, they have way too many repair returns which cost nearly as much as the amp to repair. you can get a Kustom or a Crate for not much more than the Behringer.
 
Roguetitan said:
firsy off
you stated a few reasons why not to deal with sam ash dickheads.

next time go to GC they will let you try out any gear on the floor and dime it if you want.

secondly
I would not recomend Behringer amps, they have way too many repair returns which cost nearly as much as the amp to repair. you can get a Kustom or a Crate for not much more than the Behringer.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I don't know about SamAsh vs. GC - they're all different in every place.

The Behringer I'm getting is actually a SansAmp copy, not an amp and it's a $30 pedal. But it's a copy of Tech 21, which I KNOW sounds good. So I still think I've got a good plan here ;)

Thx!
 
Gear_Junky said:
Thanks. I don't know about SamAsh vs. GC - they're all different in every place.

The Behringer I'm getting is actually a SansAmp copy, not an amp and it's a $30 pedal. But it's a copy of Tech 21, which I KNOW sounds good. So I still think I've got a good plan here ;)

Thx!
Click to expand...

Oh I am sorry I thought you was talking about an amp.

Ya I have a few pieces of Behringer gear laying around that are pretty good
just stay away from the combo amps, cabs and the more expensive mixers, they are crap.;)
 
Gear_Junky said:
For total honesty, I wanted to plug the head into the Trademark's 8ohm speaker input and compare on the same speaker, but they wouldn't let me.
Click to expand...


:eek::eek::eek:
i'd have given that guy the one finger salute, a good loud FU, and walked out the door.


about the tubes:
i love tube amps and you'll hear a lot of hype around here about them...and with good reason. but there are some things tube amps are just not suited for. i have a solid state combo 2x12 that sounds great and my tube amp will NOT make that sound. and it sounds good a low volumes and as you found out, plugging straight into a tube amp is no good for that.

ya gotta have the right tool for the job and sometimes that tool is a solid state amp.
 
Not really the best thing to try.

A few things tho, the fact it was a 4x12 would give you a a bit more volume, all things being equal, if you dropped it down to a 1x12 cab you'd loose about 6dB volume-wise.

A few good things about the VJ:

1 - Its basic, if your a DIY nut this is an alright unit to build around, make some modifications, tweak some values etc.

2 - Its 5 watt, its easy to make your own attenuator (or buy a cheap one) if you want to get the sound from it being a bit more driven but without the volume.
 
5W is LOUD. so don't be deceived by "it's only 5W".

secondly, LtBob's right--it IS a bit of a one trick pony, but it's a good trick. put some decent tubes in there (i popped JJ Teslas into mine) and it really does open up and sparkle a lot more. i'm sure the mercury magnetics transformer swapout would make it sound even better.

it really gets going between 12 and 2 o'clock. it gets mean.....quite mean. and when paired with a decent speaker (i prefer a single 12in with it), it's a screamer.

i say it's definitely worth the $100 or whatever they're going for (plus $20 for tubes), assuming you've got a decent speaker cab to use with it. and if you're one of those guys who likes to mod and DIY, it's a great platform for that.


cheers,
wade
 
Well, if they don't let people crank it past 12 o'clock, chances are they'll never sell it and I'll be there to pick it up on clearance :D
 
mrface2112 said:
it really gets going between 12 and 2 o'clock. it gets mean.....quite mean. and when paired with a decent speaker (i prefer a single 12in with it), it's a screamer.
cheers,
wade
Click to expand...

So, I figure they'll never sell it, cuz they don't letcha crank it past 12 and then I'll be there to pick it up at clearance! :D
 
I have a valve jr amp head.
I have tried it with 3 different speaker cabs. It sounds completely different on each cab.
I made a homemade speaker box with one altec 12" speaker. It sounds killer on that cab. The other cabs don't sound that good with this amp.

I would say that the amp/cab was a bad match.
 
My educated intuition [of someone uneducated in this particular field, though] told me the same thing.

A simple explanation of a need for a power amp I read: "guitar pickup alone does not generate enough energy to physically push a speaker cone, so an amplified is needed".

Another thing I read: "a 15" cone handles low freq. well, but there is a loss of clarity" (because highs are lower energy and can't push the speaker?)

So that's what I thought, maybe that particular cab's config was "too heavy" for this head to "push". At least, before it's cranked.
 
Gear_Junky said:
My educated intuition [of someone uneducated in this particular field, though] told me the same thing.

A simple explanation of a need for a power amp I read: "guitar pickup alone does not generate enough energy to physically push a speaker cone, so an amplified is needed".

Another thing I read: "a 15" cone handles low freq. well, but there is a loss of clarity" (because highs are lower energy and can't push the speaker?)

So that's what I thought, maybe that particular cab's config was "too heavy" for this head to "push". At least, before it's cranked.
Click to expand...

My homemade cab is a 12" altec speaker (don't ask me what kind) in a plywood box. The speaker is totally enclosed in the box with no vents.

It would be hard to find a cab that sounds better IMO. That little amp head rocks on that cab.
 
jimistone said:
My homemade cab is a 12" altec speaker (don't ask me what kind) in a plywood box. The speaker is totally enclosed in the box with no vents.

It would be hard to find a cab that sounds better IMO. That little amp head rocks on that cab.
Click to expand...
what color is the Altec?
If it's white it would be a 421 I think ..... the green ones are the older alnico.
Regardless ..... Altecs are, IMO, some of the very best sounding git speakers out there.

Hey Jimi ...... where the hell is that blues song?
When I get back from BR next week I'm gonna send you sound files of some of my horn parts I've done on other peoples' stuff ........ see if we can get this thing rolling.
 
Lt. Bob said:
what color is the Altec?
If it's white it would be a 421 I think ..... the green ones are the older alnico.
Regardless ..... Altecs are, IMO, some of the very best sounding git speakers out there.

Hey Jimi ...... where the hell is that blues song?
When I get back from BR next week I'm gonna send you sound files of some of my horn parts I've done on other peoples' stuff ........ see if we can get this thing rolling.
Click to expand...

I think it's green bro.

Im using a lexicon Omega to cut tracks with and it went on the blink.
Lexicon has it now supposedly fixing it on a 8 day turnaround...We shall see. Anyway, I wanted to have the guitars, keys, and vocals cut before I sent it to you for horns.
I'm going to get something finished as soon as I get it back.

I have recorded tracks on my laptop but it's just bass, drums, and a scratch vocal/guitar track on each tune.
 
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