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Post by jackstrat on Jan 31, 2009 12:10:29 GMT
Hiya lads...
Just a quick update with regards to the Fender Champ 600/Epiphone Valve Junior saga...
Having sent back the 'humming' Fender Champ, my requested replacement, an Epiphone Valve Junior arrived yesterday. The whole returns process took about nine days - from collection of the faulty unit to delivery of the replacement...that's from Ireland to Germany...excellent service I reckon!
Anyway, I've just been trying out the Valve Junior. Firstly, there's no HUM!! Nothing worth worrying about anyways. Secondly, I'm not a great believer in fate, but initial impressions would lead me to believe that it might well have been fate that the Fender amp was faulty...coz the Epiphone is soooo much better!!!! I realise that it has the advantage of a slightly larger speaker (8") and it shows cos the sound is much bigger and fuller...meaty!! Very impressed indeed.
I'm with Andys on this one I reckon...a serious piece of kit, especially for the price. Happy.
Once again, thanks for the advice and discussion lads, really helped me to make what I reckon was the right decision (for my requirements anyway!!)
Best regards, Niall
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Post by andys on Jan 31, 2009 16:59:11 GMT
Glad you like the Valve Junior, but one thing you have got to do first time you get the chance.
Put that amp through a bigger guitar cabinet.
I have mine running through a 2 x 10 cab, but I have heard that through a 2 x 12 or even a 4 x 12, they are superb.
Must be a guitar cabinet though, PA cabinets sound too clinical.
The 8 " speaker is pretty good though, and is loud enough for small gigs even.
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Post by andys on Feb 1, 2009 17:02:13 GMT
My Valve Jnr setup looks like this. The cabinet needs finishing off though
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Post by jackstrat on Feb 1, 2009 19:33:30 GMT
Hiya Andys
Thanks for posting the pic...that's very interesting... You're VJ looks quite different to mine...red knobs, phones control etc. Are they retro-fits?
As regards connecting up to the cab, while I appreciate the advantages, my whole reckoning behind getting the small amp is for portability and space-saving...so while I'd be willing to try it out, I'd doubt that I'll be investing in a new cab anytime soon!!
Thanks again for the pic...
Niall
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Post by andys on Feb 1, 2009 21:15:58 GMT
The red knobs are retro fits. The extra control I have labelled "phonics" as it is just a gain control. It controls the amount of signal between the preamp and the power amp. In reality it makes the amp more sensitive and boosts the crunch a bit more at higher volumes.
Mine, too sounds damn good through its own speaker. The 2 x 10 drives it a bit harder, and gives a bit more bass.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2009 3:00:53 GMT
I love these low-wattage tube amps. I have a 70s Vibro Champ that always sounds perfect. When I wanted more power for gigs, I picked up a Fender 65 Deluxe reissue hoping that it would sound like a bigger Champ - but no dice. Contrary to another post - I can't resist tweaking my gear even if brand new. The DRRI currently has been all re-tubed with Brimars and other recommended NOS tubes (can't remember now) and a Weber speaker and it sounds great - BUT, I love the Champ. I picked up one of the Blackheard Little Giant heads - I read they are made in the same factory as the Epi VJs - and it's a killer amp. But by design, they were built to be modified. Mercury Magnetics has a kit which I had installed to replace the transformer and add a choke (plus some other mods) and it definitely improved an already cool sounding amp. I would like to try gigging with that in a smaller club.
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Post by jackstrat on Feb 21, 2009 9:45:42 GMT
Hiya Guys!
Took my new Epi VJ to rehearsal with a mate's band the other night...boy did I come home with a smile on my face! It performed brilliantly with nothing added but an EQ and a Boss Blues Driver. Even the guy who owned the rehearsal space, who'd be a bit of a gearhead to say the least, was well impressed...and when I consider the fact that I could carry two guitars AND this amp all at the same time it really makes me wonder how often my DeVille will be wheeled out in future.
I'm off to the studio later to do some slide work with the aforementioned band, and have no doubt the VJ will be in the car with it's safety belt on!!
regards, Niall
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 21, 2009 11:05:28 GMT
That's great Niall.
I used to own a 100 watt wood-cased Mark 1 Mesa Boogie amp. It was a stunning machine that never let me down. But it was so heavy that eventually I sold it. I just couldn't take it anymore! For the past fifteen years I have done all my electric guitar gigs & sessions with an 8 watt National amp and a hand-built Champ style amp. I have also done one or two with Marshall & Danelectro mini battery amps.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2009 20:02:37 GMT
OK - if you've used the Marshall & Danelectro mini battery amps - your next challenge would be to gig with one of those Smokey Amps that look like a pack of Marloboros.
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Post by Stevie on Feb 21, 2009 21:09:37 GMT
Smokey Amps. If you can hear them, they are full on distorted, if you back off the volume on the guitar, they are (sort of) clean but barely audible. No point in that. You might as well whistle. However, Plug a Smokey into a 12" speaker (or three!!) and you wont believe it. How does 1/2 watt move those big paper cones in and out using a PP3 at how many mA? If you really want a challenge, try one of those cr**y 5 watts Yamaha AA5 amps. If you whistled over that, you wouldn't be able to hear the amp. Even your unamplified strat would drown it out. Oh dear oh dear! Stevie.
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Post by andys on Feb 21, 2009 23:45:37 GMT
I have a couple of mini amps, a Marshall and a Dean Markley. The Marshall has one great tone, and is a lot of fun.
One amp that does look fun is the Blackheart Killer Ant. 1/2 watt output, all valve head. Valve overdrive at bedroom volumes.
Its funny how small amps have made a resurgence. I remember when the small roland amps came out, people were sneering about them. I recall a tour manager of an indie band I played for, saying about them, "Dont even think about it, large amps are the only ones that cut it live". All very well, but sharing a minibus with those monstrous things was no fun. Then we supported another band who got a great sound using small valve combos, and Polytone Brutes for the bass. I was sold on small amps then.
Know what I have for my Valve Jnr? A budget attenuator. Its a caravan reversing light with a 15 watt bulb in, connected to two jack sockets. Connected between the amp and cab, it has a subtle compressing effect on the tone. Plus, as you play harder, the bulb glows brighter!
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 22, 2009 11:41:23 GMT
I have used the battery amps quite a lot over the years. When I am flying to gigs and can only travel with one guitar, I always have a battery Marshall or Danelectro in my case. I can play it in the hotel room, dressing room...etc. Also on those trips I sometimes go and play a session on the radio, so I just take the battery amp. At low volume it sounds pretty clean and at high volume....well, all hell breaks loose! I have used them on stage occasionally too. I have turned up at a gig and the amp that has been provided for me is so bad that I just use the battery Marshall instead! Spare batteries or a mains lead are essential!!!! You'd be surprized what can be achieved with one of those and a mic. In the 70s I remember when the Pignose came out, everyone went crazy over them. Those first Pignose amps did have an amazing sound. I think I am right in saying that Eric Clapton recorded Motherless Children on the 461 Ocean Boulevard album with a Pignose. I have seen the Smokey mini amps, but I have not had the pleasure of trying one. Caravan reversing lights for better tone. Sounds interesting... Shine On Michael.
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Post by andys on Feb 22, 2009 14:59:22 GMT
I love the fact that those battery Marshalls, in plastic cases, have a suprisingly "Marshally" tone. You'd think that they were a bit gimicky, but not so. I love my little mini amps, I have one that resides at my workplace in a college. It gets let out a lot, especially when students amps dont work, and they need something to record. Apparently both Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt from Quo were big users of mini/battery amps in the studio as well as Eric Clapton. Pignose actually fitted one of their amps in a small travel style electric, and I have heard on of them being played, and putting out a half-decent tone as well. Built in controlled feedback!!! Light Bulb Attenuator. Here it is;-
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2009 16:22:36 GMT
Light bulb attenuator - what a clever idea! I suppose anything that absorbs the load will work to a degree, right?
I was a little bummed when Blackheart came out with the Ant only 6 months after I bought and modified my Little Giant - 1/2 watt would have been much more of what I was going for. The LIttle Giant is too loud for my intended purpose as you do need to crank it up to get the drive I want. Running through a single 12" - it shakes the room. I am going to try and gig with it though. I bought a Smokey just for the pure silliness of it - but it's great fun and fits nicely in the storage compartment of any guitar case. It is amazing how it can push so much sound through a larger speaker. I need to check out that small Vox Andys had mentioned.
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