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Post by robn on Nov 29, 2006 22:23:54 GMT
Does anyone own one of these? An Epiphone Valve Junior Head - 5 watt, single ended class A amp with 1 x 12ax7 and 1 x EL84 If you do - what's it like and what cabinet do you run it through? I'm thinking about getting one for electric blues slide and harp - they are about £100 and seem to be getting good reviews. Looks pretty retro - I like the idea of only having one knob on an amp! Robn
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Post by lee holliday on Nov 30, 2006 8:36:18 GMT
Robn. If you wanted the ability to have more than one Knob on an amp it would have to have multiple inputs!!!!!!!!!!
Regards Lee.
Only joking these Amps get good reviews are inexpensive and look the part.
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Post by Michael Messer on Nov 30, 2006 10:12:04 GMT
I haven't actually seen one, but I am impressed by what I have read in reviews. 5 watts is very powerful if you run it through a good speaker - something like an eight inch blue Jensen speaker would be good. I only use a 6 watt Champ when I play with my band. At big venues I mic it through the PA system, and at small venues I just rely on the amp. It is easily loud enough to sing over a drumkit, if you have a sensitive drummer! It looks great for £100. I don't like amps with too many knobs & buttons, so I am all for the one knob amp!
Shine On, Michael.
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Post by robn on Nov 30, 2006 11:25:34 GMT
I know what you mean about the Jensen 8". I have one of these - A Hiwatt Busker (solid stade, 15 watt, mains/rechargable battery, Hi/Low gain mic input, 2 ch guitar input) which I dropped a Jensen C8R 4-Ohm into. The sound difference was outstanding. The P8R Jensen Blue is probably even better, but it is twice the price! Epiphone also make a Valve Junior combo - This has an 8" speaker in it. The early version of combo hasn't got such good reviews due to hum but the new version (post May 06) has solved the problem. I note that Watford Valves are doing a Jensen C8R and cryo valve upgrade offer on this model. The whole lot, amp and upgrade, would come in at under £150. That's got to be worth considering. I'm still tempted by the head though and then making my own speaker cabinet. In most of the reviews I have read people have put the head through 1 x 12s, 2 x 12s or even 4 x 10s - the Celestion V30 being favoured. But this is probably because guitarists do not generally own 1 x 8 cabinets! I recon you are right, Michael, that a Jensen 8" would be about perfect. Now I need some cabinet designs! Do I go open back or closed back? Robn
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Post by Michael Messer on Nov 30, 2006 13:06:48 GMT
Get a Jensen Blue 8 inch and an open-back cabinet - That's what I reckon!
Shine On, Michael
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Post by robn on Dec 1, 2006 0:20:21 GMT
I'll give it a go and post the results. I may even build a 2 x 8" cabinet if my finances run to a pair of Jensens Incidently, I'm in the final stages of finishing my lap steel project - it just needs the position marker abalone discs insetting. I've had a lot of help from a friend, infact he has done all the "hands on" stuff. We put the strings on and fired it up for the first time this evening - really sweet - it is going to be a lot of fun to play. I'll post some pics and a sound file after the weekend. Robn
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Post by menamestom on Dec 1, 2006 17:08:14 GMT
I've got the combo version of this amp, It's definitely got a lot a lot of mojo for the money. It sounds best with my Gordon Smith, I can get a great bluesy crunch for slide. Tends to mush up a little with my strat though.
Whilst 5w is loud in the world of Valves, it will not keep up with a full band with a loud drummer unless mic'd up. I've used it at rehearsal with one band and it was okay but with the other it was just drowned out. Clean headroom is low but you might get more from the head version though a bigger cabinet, although who wants clean!
To summarise: a simple, inexpensive valve amp with great crunch tone that's too loud for the house and not loud enough for the rehearsal room! I kind of wish I'd have got the Laney VC15 or not Sold my Delta blues on a whim. You can't beat the epiphone for the price though.
If anybody wants a souddclip just drop me an email and I'll record one tomorrow.
Cheers Tom
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