Epi Valve Junior tubes...

[Dogbreath]

OK...just sharing my thoughts here...

So I got the head, tried it out, did the JP1 mod (which did indeed brighten up the tone) and tried out a few different pre tubes. Don't have any power tubes on hand.

Tried a Mullard 12AT7, RCA 12AT7 blackplate, RCA 12AT7 grey, Shuguang 12AX7, Siemens 12AT7, GE 5 Star 6072 and ended up going back with the stock EH 12AX7. Wasn't all that impressed with any of mine.

I'm gonna get the JJ ECC83 for power and the JJ 12AT7 (thanks Suprstar and CMunch ) but am curious as to what makes the bigger difference...the pre tube or the power tube?
Does the AT series break up sooner than the AX series?
What about the AY series?

Care to edjumacate me?
Post your thoughts?
Group hug?

 

[soundchaser59]

Pickups make the most difference.

Change speakers, makes a noticeable difference.

Even upgrading the output tranny will make more difference than changing tubes. Of all the things you can change, I think the tubes make the least noticeable difference.

I wont hug you, but I hope you feel more edjumacated now.... but dont take my word for it. Spend a bunch of money on tubes and speakers and pickups and output trannys and have at it! That's what I did. Then I sold the darn thing and got a Mesa. You'll spend less money getting a vintage Champ, and it will sound better.

 

[Dogbreath]

no hug???
Where's the love?



Thanks dude!
I know whatcher sayin and I've got a couple other amps I use but this one fits my needs well. Without my pedals, I can cover country and bluesy tunes for my bro and with the pedals I can crunch my own stuff.

now....about that hug......

 

[soundchaser59]

Sorry, not trying to spoil your matriculation path.....

It's just that my greatest amp buying and amp modding disappointment was the Epi VJ. Everythign else is usually worth a run through, but not the Epi. In fact, I've never played an Epi amp or a Gibson amp that I liked.

So wait for the next teacher to chime in, maybe then you'll get yer VJ Hug.

 

[Double]

Yeah go for a speaker change it will make the most difference, it is almost like changing guitars. I had an Epi Head and found that difference between tubes was minuscule compared to a speaker change. An good example are the differences between a Jensen speaker and an Celestion speaker it’s like playing two different amps.

 

[Dogbreath]

DoubleDude

One of my cabs has 2 V30's in it. I could swap a Jensen (or sumpin) into 1 space, keep the V30 in the other and just wire in 2 jacks. More versatility.

Just may try that.

 

[antichef]

tend to agree with the thread so far -- *but* -- does the VJ have a farty sound to it when you push it? (or pull its finger)? With my stock tubes, the 12AX7 was too much for the crappy EL84 to handle, and it went into fartland. This can be remedied by either a stronger EL84 (the JJ would probably be good) or a weaker preamp tube (like a 12AT7) or both.

 

[Dogbreath]

when I pull its finger it did have a bit of fartiness to it. The JP1 mod helped that out. It's now brighter, tonally.

I guess I'm tryin to get as much versatility as possible outta one piece of gear.

My bro's CD is country, like old school country and my CD is more blues to metal. So my thoughts were to be able to just run the head/cab with it's clean to slightly dirty sound for my bro and then put my pedals in the midst for my stuff.
I think by the time I'm done, this'll do it. But if not....meh....
I had gas anyway.

Tanx for your time.....
Kel

 

[Dogbreath]

I stand corrected. The thing still farts. Power tube is on its way.

Still researchin speakers.

Peace gents...
Kel

 

[CMunch]

I stand corrected. The thing still farts. Power tube is on its way.

Still researchin speakers.

Peace gents...
Kel

Dude mine sounds crap with the Epi Cab but sounds good with an old home made cab with two Fane 10`s ,also my wee Epi combo has a 10 inch speaker n I think the combo sounds better than the head,stock anyways,not sure if 10`s make a difference,done nothin to the combo,gonna order the Bitmo mod for the head and give it a whirl.