Luke Juke
4 posts
May 19, 2008
4:09 AM
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I've just bought an epi valve jr. I'm going to change the pre amp tube to either a 12au7 or a 12at7. Which ever sounds better but I was wondering if any of you guys have an epi and what mic you're using or if you could recommend one. Cheers. Luke
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metalosaurio
8 posts
May 19, 2008
3:18 PM
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Hi. I have the same amp, wich I use with my green bullet with an old Hi-Z CM element inside, and I must say the feedback has becomed less of an issue with the CM element that with the new DX element.
I have only recieved compliments about the amp and the sound produced, most of them are about how great it sounds and how loud for a 5Watts amp. For me it's ok. I play mainly in small clubs and it's enough so I don't need to worry about feedback most of the time, except maybe when I play with some other band that enjoy playing loud (too loud for my taste).
About the sweet spot of the Valve Jr. for me it would be between 12 and 3 o'clock, with the mic at 9 o'clock. A great compromise between somewhat distorted tone and feedback.
regards,
Nicolas
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Patrick Barker
57 posts
May 19, 2008
3:50 PM
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I also happen to have an Epiphone Valve Junior with a standard shure green bullet and it sounds great. I like the settings pretty similar to what metalosaurio wrote for practicing and small performances. There is some feedback with the normal green bullet but its not much of a problem unless you stand close to the front of the amp with the volume high. The green bullet's chord is long enough to make it easy to stand a good distance from the amp, or you can just stand slightly to the side of the amp. The volume is more than enough; I've never turned the mic volume past about 12 o'clock but I'd image the volume would be pretty scary.
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mr sog
10 posts
May 19, 2008
8:06 PM
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I use an epiphone valve special (5 watter) which I assume is pretty much the same as the jnr except it has a few more knobs to play with (alot of them pointless) and I use a green bullet also. I just use it for home playing. Feedback can be an issue with green bullets. I have cranked it all the way up before to experiment but I had to be in a different room otherwise it feeds back too much. (Was pretty loud though). I have nothing really to compare it to but I like it for cranking out some cool sounds in the bedroom.
Last Edited by on May 19, 2008 8:08 PM
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Oxharp
9 posts
May 22, 2008
12:26 AM
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Hi Guys you want to stop messing around with Gutar amps especially epi jr as they are nasty for harp and are made in china. I have has 4 amps all guitar and at long last I have sold them all and bought a dedicated Harp Amp from Marble Amps. They the Dogs and they do not feed back. Yes they are a bit more expensive than the cheaper guitar models but the difference in ease of playing no feed back the tone is awsome and I now feel that I was wasting my money searching for a guitar amp to amplify an accoustic instrument. I have had a Fender Bassman 59 LTD modified (too big and warm on tone). A fender blues Junior, moded. Too much feed back).An epi 5W head and 12 inch Cab.
(too much feed back, (no DI or Line Out). An Andown Peacmaker 40W 3 channel. (rubbish tone). And now I have a Marble max amp. No feed back small with monster tone. Cruches up dirty and playes really clean.Has a speaker out for hooking up to a bigger cab if nessesary.It has a line out to go straight into a PA so you will never need a big Amp in med venue. In short look at a dedicated Harp Amp.
I toyed with the Idea of getting a sonny jr cruncher or a harpgaer from Brian Purdy. Both are highly recommended by my and I have spoken to both guys who DO NOT give you the hard sell. So for the guys in the US I would go for a Sonny or a Harpgear. (too expensive for me to ship to the UK, Import Tax is a bummer)and for the UK guys I def go for a marble amp. If you want more info or have any Q;s then I am russ.turner@ntlworld.com. Cheers
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TBone69
12 posts
Jun 04, 2008
9:03 PM
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I picked up my Epi Valve Jr for under $100 on Ebay and it was brand new in the box and was the latest revision.
Currently I am using a no name non descript mic from a tape recorder I picked up for $6 or so off of Ebay and it sounds great. I think it is one of Adams buddies, http://myworld.ebay.com/deluxe8765 his auctions have videos of the mic being used.
I also have a Turner Bullet mic from the 40's I am restoring with the original shure controlled reluctance element that suprisingly still works.
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Bluzdude46
1 post
Feb 03, 2009
3:25 AM
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Hi all new to this forum. Epi VJr can be nice sounding amps with a few modifications. Epiphone did a very cool thing with this amp, they put it out at very low cost and started a post forum for people to talk about it, and they did. The smart part was that Epiphone monitored the forum and the mods that people were suggesting they put into the next version, they basically used us as beta testers, good idea. Lone Wolf Amps has a sight with some very good mods changing the preAmp voltage, beefing up the coupling caps and adding a treble cut control. This makes the Epi VJr a good sounding/lower feedback amp. None of the Mods are terribly difficult for someone who can solder and inexpensive enough to go to a local electronics place and have them make the changes for you. I did the mods myself I own the VJr Head & cab and the combo. I use the 2 linked for gigs. Don't get me wrong there are some very ugly solder joints in these boxes, but when you're on stage wailing, not many people notice them.
Peace,
Michael
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moota
2 posts
Feb 03, 2009
4:38 AM
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Hi. The Valve Junior Combo is my everyday practice amp cos I live in apartment. I've posted sound clips of the amp at:
http://soundclick.com/louislam
You can hear this amp played with the modern Shure 545SD and also the Superlux D112/C. With diatonics and chromatics too.
The amp has been retubed with JJ 12DW7 at the preamp. Otherwise no further mod.
-Louis
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Ant138
61 posts
Feb 03, 2009
1:07 PM
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Hi Luke, i bought an Epi vale jr last month and i love it. I use a Superlux d112/c mic, it looks just like the green bullet only its blue in colour and it sounds great,ive even compared it to a friends green bullet and it sounds the same only it cost £39.99 you can get it from Thomman.de its also got a volume control on it which means you can get that chicago sound without making your ears bleed,turn the amp up but the mic vol down, and you can practice without annoying the neighbours and get that sound.
Last Edited by on Feb 03, 2009 1:09 PM
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TBone69
36 posts
Feb 03, 2009
6:25 PM
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I have my Turner 22x with Shure Controlled Relutance element up and running and it is a ton more powerfull than the old tape recorder mic. First thing I noticed was I had to turn the volume a lot lower than before.
I then swapped tubes around and found the 12au7 to give the best. But I have since switched back to the 12ax7 with the mods below.
I have also performed the mods to make the Valve Jr work better with the harp as described at
http://www.lwharpamps.com/projepimod.html These mods give a better bottom and take away alot of the brightness on the top.
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Bluzdude46
2 posts
Feb 04, 2009
5:49 AM
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TBone I have the same effect using an Old CM White Label (very Hot) Mic as opposed to a regular Green Bullet Mic. I also have an old chopped sonotone ceramic element mic that sounds wonderful with the epi + mod just need to crank the amp to about 2:00 with treble cut all the way down. Try it. I experimented with 12au7, too whimpy I got a very good quality 12ax7 and replaced the power tube with a better grade tube instead. I like the Head & Cab version better, with the two linked I get a nice sound, still need to mic to PA with a loud band.
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TBone69
38 posts
Feb 04, 2009
11:40 AM
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Hey Bluzdude, what tubes did you go with? Are they new replacements or NOS pieces.
I'll have to give those knob settings a try when no one is around, it's amazing how loud 5 Watts really are.
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Bluzdude46
5 posts
Feb 05, 2009
4:40 AM
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I went with the new stock Tung-sol's, very warm not as glass crunchy but alot more ballsy then changing to a 12au or 12aw. The 12au,aw, even the 12at seem to work better in pairs of pre amp tubes where you can switch one out with an au and leave in an ax it then makes it a little warmer, but with 1 pre amp tube in a 5 watt 12ax7, a good brand is best. I honestly forget which power tube I upgraded too I'll try to take the back off and take a look in the next coupla days. Pre amp is more of a change tho' Keep in mind I'm linking 2 amps together for 10w one 12" cab and the 8" in the combo The Emininence 12" Lady Luck and 8" Special design are phenomenal for harp. My stage rigis now 2 bogen challenger amps..modded 33w and 20w but I still use the Epi(Eminence) cabs with them. I like it when guitarists ask me to turn down a little
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MrVerylongusername
134 posts
Feb 05, 2009
5:33 AM
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If you've changed the power tubes, you'll need to rebias the amp for the best tone.
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Bluzdude46
8 posts
Feb 07, 2009
2:10 AM
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Epi VJr needs no re biasing it's got solid state rectifier fixed bias. If you use the same type tube just a better quality then the chinese EL84 they come with no re-biasing necessary
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