New TOOB amp!!!
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Posted on Nov 09, 2005 02:24 pm
TallChap
Answer:On a good day, lipstick.
Member Since: Jun 24, 2004
Brought home my new Epiphone Valve Junior last night. Got a floor model at GC (discounted), which is not a bad thing, since it had time to warm up/break in the tubes and circuitry.
$119 list, with 5 year warranty (except tubes and speaker, which is 90 days).
5 watts, Class A, one chicken-head knob on the front. Very nice. A bit of hum, but that's tube for you. Nothing out of the ordinary. People have changed out the tubes for JJ's and the like, but to me, it's quite nice sounding already. Might experiment a bit at a later date.
Does make you clean up your playing a bit. Quite unforgiving, but very, very sweet sounding.
With the Schecter - 2 HB's - it's quite musical, and has a nice warm breakup. Quite dark, but not muddy.
With the Strat - SSS - it comes alive. Great articulation, and sweet blues tone. Add a bit of reverb, and kick in the neck p/up, and it's Pink Floyd all the way....
I know the arguments about matching guitars with amps, but the Strat sounds so nice with this Les Paul Jr. style amp.
At 5w of tube power, it's still a bit loud for my needs. But it sounds so nice.
Going to try hooking it up to my 4x10. I'll let you know.
I think I'm in love.
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TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Nov 09, 2005 02:32 pm I've wondered about those little amps. At just over $100 it seems worth it to have around. Have you maxed out the volume on it yet? I wanna know how it sounds when pushed all the way.
I think I'd rather save up and buy the actual Gibson Goldtone 5W amp...I've heard great things about it. But the prices keep rising on them. By the time I could justify buying one, its gonna cost as much as a new car.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Nov 09, 2005 03:24 pm Good deal Tallchap. I couldn't play my Super when I first got it, I was not good enough to even hear myself play clean. Now that I'm (a little) better, I can listen to the sweet full tone of the guitar, all by itself, and it's good.
I've heard good things about that little epi. I've never had a chance to play one though, and like Tad says, crank it up and hear that little Class A tube start breaking up and compressing. Tis a wonderful thing.
I just read on a listing, that they have sovtek 12ax7, and el84, plus a low-cost speaker. You can have fun trying different tubes, and/or speaker in the thing for better / different sounds. It's like getting a new amp everytime you upgrade something.
Have fun.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Nov 09, 2005 04:16 pm Haven't had a chance to play it full bore yet. When the chicken-head is maxed, there's a serious amount of hum, but you can feel the guitar just begging to be hit hard... Got home too late to play it (as I mentioned it is loud for 5w) like that.
You're right pjk, it's tough to hear all those annoying little nuances of poor technique. I'd better practice!!!
I'd been considering either a boutique small amp, or even building one, but the costs just kept rising. Even if this little Epi wasn't exactly gold, it was only $100. Couldn't pass it up. Even the cheapest of the cheap solid state amps are $70 these days. This is much nicer sounding. I think it will work!
Might mess with different tubes and possibly speakers later. There is a jack for an extension speaker @ 4 Ohms. I might just get a little 2x12 for it! I'm also looking forward to putting the 4x10 through its paces. That said, the 8" speaker isn't too bad! I guess it's all about what kind of punishment you give it.
Gonna need a gate for recording! That tube hum will need to be controlled.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Nov 09, 2005 04:27 pm Tube amps can (usually) be made silent. I've had my super reverb dead quiet at times, even with the volume way up.
The preamp tube may be a culprit right away. It may just be the lay out of the circuit board too, though. I'd guess that, being new, if there's hum, then it's probably 60hz coming through somewhere. It may not be fixable on a printed circuit board, but it may be as well.
I'd be inclined to take a look under the hood for quick and easy remedies. It may be something simple as a heater wire routed in a bad spot, or the preamp tube, sovtek doesn't have the best of reputations.
Anywho, great to see you enjoying the tube world. I know I am (when I can).
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Nov 09, 2005 07:16 pm I'm betting it's a PCB. Plus, I ain't getting under the hood just yet......"'ere be dragons"!
Turning the chicken head to about 1 o'clock gives very minimal hum. About what you'd expect, or less . Maxing that sucker does have a huge impact on the hum, but as I mentioned, the guitar is chomping at the bit. It's alive (didn't have the balls to upset the neighbours by actually playing it....).
The Sovtek tubes aren't the best, and are known to be microphonic. Sounds okay - SO FAR - at the low volumes I've been playing at.
Got a fave toob? Any suggestions?
I'm still like a kid at Christmas on this. I'd been getting some top sounds from my little Behringer Tube Preamp, but this is a different ball of wax.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Nov 21, 2005 10:57 am Pugged the Epiphone amp into my peavey 4x10 (with Black Widows). Hoooweee!
Great break up, lovely and creamy. Loud too.
Also experimented a little by plugging my Smokie amp through the Epiphone's 8" 4 ohm speaker. NICE.
Now I have a wonderful array for recording, for different tones. Mix and match the amps with the speakers.
The Smokie actually sounds fabulous through the 8" speaker. Very similar to a tube amp, and infinitely quieter! 1 watt transistor does not even approach 5 watts of tube! Nice breakup, and lovely clarity.
Luckily, I'm working on a blues type thing right now, so I'm so happy to have some bluesy kit!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 21, 2005 08:23 pm Glad to hear your liking it TC. Gald you invested in it I take then?
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Nov 22, 2005 10:39 am Well, yes. I'm technically a bass player, who has "dabbled" with guitar. Since going into home recording, I find myself playing guitar more, and more. That said, I've never really had a guitar amplifier (I used a keyboard amp, mostly, or went direct through FX). Having a usable real guitar amp - or two, is cool. New sounds, new tones, new ideas, new blisters.
Besides, you can't have too many toys.
Wonder if wifey will let me buy that ES-175......
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Nov 22, 2005 10:55 am webervst.com is building speakers to replace vintage sound speakers, plus they have a huge line of their own stuff. Very highly recommended, if you want to switch out the speaker.
tube wise, if you're just gonna try out new ones, the new (winged C) svetlana is getting good reviews, but I can't remember if they make 12ax7 and el84. Otherwise, the JJ / Tesla are getting good press as well.
I'd look for a NOS (new old stock) tube, like a RCA, phillips, or maybe a telefunken, or mullard. There's bunches of others. Mike at KCA nos tubes can help you out, he's got lots of experience helping people out with new tube ideas.
