Dec 04, 2008 09:58 pm By the way, this is the head with the separate 12" cab.
Epiphone Valve Jr.???? Who here is the one that bought one?
Posted on Dec 04, 2008 09:25 pm
Noize2u
Czar of Midi
Administrator Since: Apr 04, 2002
I have a chance to grab a modded Valve Jr. and the Eminence loaded cab. I have avoided buying another full on amp for years as my Line 6 gear has never failed me. But this thing modded sounds incredible. And the side part is with Ray now doing guitar lessons I am inclined to add this because of its small size and incredibly huge sound.
The mod's really takes this thing to another level. Even Ben who owns the store it is in was impressed by this little thing. It appears to have the tone control with top boost from BitMo and then there are two 3 way switches added, one called gain and the other called mojo. I cannot find these two mods on the net anywhere and they don't appear to be BitMo mods.
Anyone got any ideas? I'm not going to grab it if these aren't kosher mods and its going to torch it.
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Dec 04, 2008 09:58 pm By the way, this is the head with the separate 12" cab.
Dec 05, 2008 02:07 am Paul - a friend of mine has a moded one and all I can say is - Wow.
for the mods you mentioned - ???
Overall - Great practice and recording amp!
I'm trying to find one for myself at the right price
Dec 05, 2008 02:22 am I have an Epi but no mod. I love it regardless. I have the combo.
Dec 05, 2008 10:45 am Is that at the Music-Go-Round? I better dash up there and steal it out from under you! (Can I hide it at your house so my wife doesn't find out about it?)
Dec 05, 2008 12:11 pm I think it was TallChap that has one.
I'm almost positive I can dig up info on those mods over at HR.com. I've seen several people discuss them. I'll go do some digging and come back if I find anything.
I say go for it! The Valve Jr. seems like such a cool little one-trick pony amp. I've always wanted one. And every person whose posts I've read that's had any mods done (tube swapping, speaker changing, and the mods you're talking about where they add new switches, caps, resistors, etc. have all been very very positive).
Just one quick caveat though. Before you pull the trigger on the Valve Jr., go try out one of the amps from the BlackHeart series. They're disguised Crate amps, but don't hate it because of that (I friggin hate Crate amps!). They're in the same price range as the Valve Jr. and they come standard with more tone controls. I've heard pretty good things about them as well. I hear that they give a Valve Jr. a pretty good run for its money.
Just a suggestion. Anyways, I'm off to go look up some info on those mods.
Dec 05, 2008 01:01 pm Is this the mod that the amp has? The BitMo Trio mod...
thetubestore.com/bmtrio.html
Here's a page devoted to Epi VJ mods, maybe he touches on what's been done to your amp:
duhvoodooman.com/VJr/VJr_mods.htm
I also keep finding links to www.valvejunior.com, but it looks like that domain has been released back into the wild.
Also, you could ask at a site like 18watt.com or gearslutz.com and see if any of the experienced users there know of these mods.
Oh, and as another amp in that general size to check out is the Tiny Terror by Orange. Lots of good press follows that amp around.
Good luck!
Dec 05, 2008 08:01 pm Kaos, thanx. But I would honestly gig with this thing if I still did. With the mods on it it has about12 different tones you can crank out of it. Some not much different then others if only slightly.
Jim, sorry its here now. Nice thought though. :-)
BH, ya I'm not sure the combo would do it for me. That 8" speaker wouldn't get me what I want out of it. This 12" Eminence is killer. Its a semi-open back and weighs a ton so it is solid and will probably shake the house.
Tadpui, ya I went through all the stuff at the tubestore site and could not find any reference to the mojo switch at all. But yes, the Trio seems to be at least part of the mod. But the gain part of the trio mods uses a different decal then I have. It simply stated gain on one switch and mojo on the other. And booth are on/on/on type switches and the amp reacts differently in all 3 positions on both switches.
The tone variation is cool, but the Fat Boost on the tone knob mod is stellar to say the least. Its a push pull knob and you pull it out for the Fat Boost and the bottom just becomes huge. And not muddy at all. It almost gets brighter as well when you pull it out. At first I thought it was a kind of Top Boost mod like the old Vox used to have.
And ya Tad, I hit that Duh page as well. And he had no reference to the mojo switch either. I'm just going to have to email the dude at BitMo and see if he knows anything about it. Besides, I'm going to grab his 10-uater kit for it as well as this thing is so freakin loud.
I'll get a couple pix up later.
I went directly to the BitMo site as well and found nothing. I googled about 10 different ways trying to find any reference to it, but no luck.
I'll post a pic tonight or tomorrow.
Dec 05, 2008 11:36 pm Update.
I changed out the Sovtek 12AX7 to a Tung Sol and holly **** did that add some grind and balls to this thing. Although I like the sound it got with the Sovtek the Tung Sol is a bit creamier with a smoother break up. You can roll off on the guitar farther and still get a nice high gain sound. The Sovtek could not go near as far down and keep a crunch to it. And the Tung Sol seems a bit fatter once the Fat boost is pulled out as well. Really nice chug to it.
I will keep the Sovtek EL84 in it for now though as that sounds great as is.
I'm still waiting for an answer on the mojo switch though.
Tadpui, I didn't find anything yet on those links that answers that either. Tomorrow I'll probably hit sewatt.com though as they are said to be the end all for the Jr.
Dec 07, 2008 01:39 pm Sounds like you made a great find there Noize, gonna post some audio of it?
Dan
Dec 07, 2008 02:08 pm Mine isnt modded. For 5 watts it rocks. I run it through my 412 cab alot. Drives it to pretty loud levels. Best $120 I spent. I do wish it had a tone knob at times. You can see it atop my JSX in my avitar.
Dec 07, 2008 03:22 pm OD, ya it was indeed. I had the chassis out yesterday and the mods look to be done very in a pretty barbaric fashion. I have already repaired one of his connections to the volume pot. But many of his connection's look rather poorly soldered and could have been done much better. I'll post a few pic's of it today and then probably the guts tomorrow for a laugh.
I'm taking down to Jeff Krumm to morrow as well. He owns Savage Audio and has been building custom amps for years. I trust his opinion whether the mod job will hold up or not. But I'm more looking to get an answer from him hopefully on the mojo switch and exactly what it is accomplishing.
Audio samples will probably come shortly before Xmas or just after. I want to use my 609 to record it and I have it in pieces right now for a simple mod and clean up.
Bushmaster, ya lots of folks liked the un-modded version as well. But I can tell you that the mod's make this thing scream and might be well worth a look if your handy with that type of thing. It turns this thing into a very boutique type amp. Fromm the sound I am getting if listening blindfolded I would swear to it be one much more expensive amp. It is such a creamy tone its unbelievable.
Dec 07, 2008 09:07 pm I might have to try it. I can solder and Im pretty mechanically inclined. Dont tell my wife.
Dec 07, 2008 09:50 pm Ya, the MoBit kits seem to be the best ones out there for a complete kit with instructions. Some of the other mods, a couple of which were in Tadpui's post are pretty easy as well.
After I talk to Jeff I may tear these mods down and re-do them with proper wire and soldering.
Dec 08, 2008 05:45 pm Damn, Tadpui, that's a hek of a memory you have there!
I do indeed have one. No mods. It's the little 1x8 combo.
I got together with friends a few weeks ago for a jam. I had the chicken head knob up to "3 or 4" (no numbers) so it was cleanish, and then I had my Digitech RP250 in there. Very loud! Held its own with a full kit (real sticks - not rods), a bass amp, and two other combos.
My drummer buddy says, as we're packing up, "That thing's dirtier than an old whore!"
Yes. It is.
I love it.
As for the mods, there's a bunch of Google-able sites on little mods. I'd say get it anyways. It's a $100 amp. It's a 5w Class A Tube $100 amp.
What are you looking for? The "Mojo" switch might be just that! Pure Mojo.
Remember that according to popular physics, and actual testing with meters, and the combined experience and expertise of all the people at Seymour Duncan, the front pickup on Eddie Van Halen's "Frankenstein" DOES NOT WORK.
The guitar doesn't sound the same without it....
So your Mojo switch might be something completely weird that adds...you know...
Bushmaster, I'm surprised that you didn't get one of Tad's lectures on sticking screwdrivers/soldering irons into tube amps. Danger Will Robinson...
How much is this little darling on sale for? If it's under $200, you're likely getting a deal.
My little Jr. has one little chicken head. I'm leaving it that way!
Dec 08, 2008 05:57 pm TC, my sentiments exactly. I jam with it cranked to about 1 o'clock and run SD pearly gates and a '59. No need for anything else in front. Just need to back off the volume on my guitar and it cleans up great. I like to keep it simple.
Dec 08, 2008 06:38 pm TC, I bought it that next day. I could not resist because of the pure tone that thing made.
It is actually the head type with an Eminence loaded cabinet 1 x 12. Solid as a rock, and louder then all get out.
It was already modded when I got it. That is part of what sold me on it was the amazing tones it was getting. And with the 1 x 12 cabinet I would probably gig with this thing. It is LOUD!!!
The mods are we think, the BitMo Trio mod which includes a tone pot/switch that is pretty much a top boost type tone and then pull that sucker and you get a Fat Boost. And that makes this thing thump. It will chug like my Rectifier did, only smoother.
The other part of the Trio mod is a gain structure switch. It has a smoothy kind like a blackface, then gets a bit more grind and the third setting is high gain and some real sweet crunch.
The mojo switch though is a tough call. It seems to work with the gain switch. Depending on were the gain switch is it gives a bit of a brightness or adds another gain stage and really goes balls out. That is when it is the loudest, and even rolling off on the guitar only smooths it out slightly. Volume goes down a bit but it keeps that high gain tone. Very nice. I have dropped it off at Savage Audio to let Jeff Krumm work on it and clean up the mod's that were done. I shake too much and some of the things in there don't allow me much space to rest my hand to reach in there with an iron.
As for the price I paid. $240 complete. The head/cab sells for $249 new with no mods. And I figure I'll get my money out of it. It is just nice to have a smaller tube amp in the house again. Especially when it sounds like this thing does.
And no, I never got the volume past 12 o:clock.
Dec 08, 2008 10:15 pm OK, here are a couple pix from before I tore it down to bring to Jeff.
Click for a larger view.
Dec 09, 2008 11:27 am Sweet!
I was merely commenting that my combo, without mods, was a monster. With mods, I'm sure there are some fantastic variety to be had.
I'm simple folk, me. So no mods for me (didn't even change the stock toobs!). Plus, all that voltage scares the bejeesus out of me.
Congrats, Noize.
What makes me laugh is your comment on having a tube amp in the house. It's not that quiet....
Ooh, see where your volume is in that pic?
"We were happy in Joe's garage..."
Tell me I'm wrong..
Dec 09, 2008 01:22 pm Yeah TallChap, I have a weird memory when it comes to these kinds of things. For some reason, I can probably tell you what interface, amp, guitar, pedals, and software most of the old-school regulars on these boards use by rote. It just becomes part of my mental image of each person here. I dunno why. Especially when my memory is so terrible in pretty much every other dimension of my life.
I constantly forget what day of the week it is, leave my computer at home when I need it for work, forget to bring my wife the drink she requested when I return from getting myself a beer from the fridge, things like that.
But somehow I know that PJK uses a Yamaha MG16/4 mixer and fully registered Reaper software, that dB used to use an Audiophile 2496, that BlueStarNinja (who hasn't even visited these boards in at least 5 years) used ProTools, that Zek uses a Sennheiser shotgun mic, that Fortymile has a POD that he's been disappointed with for years now, and that Noize has one of everything.
If only I could remember things that were actually useful to me in everyday life!
Dec 09, 2008 01:25 pm Quote:
and that Noize has one of everything
Wrong, he has two of everything, three of some...
My memory is for numbers...I dunno why, but I can remember numbers, not another damn thing in life...
Idiot savant I guess...
Dec 09, 2008 08:03 pm Wrong, he has two of everything, three of some...
and i remember that dan has a soft spot for the booze with a dear on it.
..and that Home Recording Connection wasn't the first name on the ol list.
Dec 09, 2008 08:37 pm TC, ya not dissing the stock units by any means. In fact it was the stock sound of the head/cab unit that got me intrigued in the first place. The modded one was a very happy accident. And Ray simply fell in love with it, so that flipped a switch and really got me excited. So I just up and bought it.
But ya, its been almost ten years since I owned my last tube amp, maybe a bit longer. The volume knob just happened to get turned that way when I slid the chassis back in for the pick. Otherwise it was residing happily around the 11 oclock mark, plenty loud. Almost too loud with the switches in the right places.
The chassis is now down at Savage Audio in good hands now. He is going to light it up and check it out. Then if he thinks he can tweak it to be better he will. Otherwise simply redo the mods to be more sturdy and well done.
He wants Ray to try a few different speakers as well for the cab if he thinks it will help get him the tone he wants. But he wont change anything if Ray tells him he likes it as is.
And yes, I am very happy in Joe's Garage. I now have to dig that out to listen to it since you bring it up.
And honestly, I have only one of some stuff.
I only have one of each guitar. :-)
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