Alright, after some issues with my video editing software and my internet connection last night, I was finally able to upload a quick demonstration video where I show what the Lone Wolf mods do to a stock Epiphone Valve Junior Head. All the info on what I did to it is in the video and in my other thread, so just give it a look-see if you are interested!
Isaac, I'm curious how loud this is. Do you have a SPL meter? My valve junior is horrendously loud when i turn it up to 3/4 and put my volume pedal to the floor.
Like 113db at 10 feet, even on high notes. On a low harp it can hit 117.
Just curious. I am using 2 12 inch jensens in a vertical cabinet for a 4 ohm load.
Last Edited by on Mar 12, 2010 11:00 AM
Thanks for the vid, I currently own the cab version of a stock VJr, I was just wondering if the master control mod would solve my problem where I play in a small place (a car) and I need to crank the volume up to get the breakup I want but at this level in such a tight space the feedback is a big problem.
Do you think just having a master volume would allow me to break up but keep the volume and feedback down?
I know, actually spring is upon us, I'll be rinding with the windows opened pretty soon, I don't know if this would help with the feedback, it *will* annoy some people though...
me? I use a simple cheap inverter, absolutely no noise whatsoever and it's a cheap one.
this cheap inverter has the added bonus of a low battery warning sound so that you know when to stop jamming and run the car for awhile.
it's a good setup, except for the feedback problem which I think this master volume might solve (even if the amp didn't feedback, we're talking about a 6'x6'x6' room, not exactly a stage so I need to keep this thing down a little while having good breakup.
Thanks Isaac. Boy, I was really hoping for a stock/modded comparison. I've never been able to find a video done like that. I also have a Lone Wolf spec modded VJr combo with a few of my own personal touches. First I'm using the in cab speaker on top of a small cab housing another Weber Sig 8" speaker, big improvement in fullness and volume. Instead of a master volume, I changed one of the 220k resistors(the one to ground) in the voltage divider before the power tube to a 50K, to allow more drive on the 2nd preamp stage before feedback, volume still cannot be maxed. And, I put a 220uF bypass cap on power tube cathode resistor looking for more bass and punch. All in all, I absolutely love my VJr and would never part with it now.
Last Edited by on Mar 12, 2010 12:13 PM
Congaron: Unfortunately I do not have and SPL meter (I know, I know. I SHOULD have one, but I don't). using my somewhat subjective ears, however, I can say that using my Mid-z mic with the volume and drive maxed, the volume is quite sufficient, but not too loud at all. It's just on the edge of being too loud for playing, say, in your living room, but probably just loud enough for a small venue like a coffee shop, and certainly more than loud enough for street playing. I'm not sure about a loud bar (probably not).
When I use my High-Z Turner +1 bullet, the amp gets too loud for home use with the drive maxed and the master volume past 3/4. With that hot mic, you could probably cut through the noise at a moderately active bar, especially if you were playing solo or had bandmates who don't have 300watt full stacks ;)
Praefect: In my opinion, the master volume control will do exactly that. Like I say in the vid, the stock "volume control" is really a "drive control". It affects the amount of signal from the first half of the 12ax7 tube that goes into the second half of the tube. This is where at least 90% of the crunchy distorted tone you love is coming from, and is the reason you can't get it unless the stock volume control is turned all the way up. The remaining 10% may come from the pushing the power tube with a hot signal out of the preamp stage, which you will attenuate if you use a master volume control mod like I did. IMO, however, I don't really miss that 10% too much, and you can compensate a bit for it's loss at lower volumes by fiddling with the tone control and with your speaker selection.
Actually, there is also one other source of crunch that you have a lot of control over, and that source is your mic selection. A hot signal from the mic will also overdrive the FIRST half of the 12ax7 preamp tube. That will add crunch to the overall signal because the crunch cascades down through all the following stages. A tight cup on a mic with a hot element will get you a lot of tone even with the stock volume control turned down.
Personally, I think the Master volume mod is very worthwhile, as it gives you more control over your sound. And the control is usable, and lets you get tone/volume combination's that you can't get otherwise.
Sounding good there Isaac. A modded vjr does sound better than stock. I like the idea of the master vol mod. I've got a spare Alpha 1meg linear pot. Would this be any good as a master vol? I've got to ask you Isaac, now you got a tube amp. Would you go back to the solid states?
Yeah, you can use a 1meg pot, but you will also need to use a 1meg resistor as the other half of the resistive divider network (the standard lone wolf mods use two 220k fixed resistors in the network). To get the right voltage out to the power tube's input, you have to have the same resistance on each leg of the resistive divider when the pot is turned to fully on (max resistance). Otherwise, you will get too high an input voltage and will drive the tube too far. Yeah, I will certainly still use my solid state amps. They have other tones that I also love, and have other advantages like the ability to be battery operated and such. You can't have just one amp! ---------- ------------------ The magnificent YouTube channel of the internet user known as "isaacullah"
Last Edited by on Mar 12, 2010 1:08 PM
Sounds great, Isaac! You're making me wish I requested a master volume be added to mine. Randy's got it now, and I'm like a kid on Christmas eve. ---------- Todd L Greene. V.P.
You know the mods sounds great but I swear I get the same basic control from using my Boss ME20. I can use the EQ to kick out the high treble tones. I may get even more control as there are 4 knobs from bass to treble to adjust. And it has a volume pedal so I can have the volume up on the amp to get the break-up distortion but turn it down if I need to with either the volume pedal or or the mic volume. Besides that you can add a little delay or chorus or whatever. The things are only around $160. Not not much of a wiz kid with the electronics so it's kind of the low tech way to go for me.
