Epiphone Valve Junior Head user reviews ( 7/10) - 18 user reviews

• 10/31/11

  King Loudness's review "Not my thing..."

  Characteristics

  This amp by Epiphone is a 5 watt tube amplifier head with just a single volume control. It was touted as being great for recording or perhaps small shows if put through a decently sized cabinet. It's got no other controls, no effects loop, no reverb, no anything... just a volume control and a power switch. It's powered by a single EL84 tube and really just is what is as far the amp. Some say it makes a great modding platform, and Epi's even done a few of them over the years like that too.

  Utilization

  Getting a good sound is okay considering there is only one sound - on. It gets slowly more overdriven and louder as you turn it up but the core tone stays the same. Since there are no EQ controls, the tone is pretty much going to be factored by your guitar, cabinet and the volume you're playing at. You could run pedals in front of it to change the tone as well, but of its own merit the amp doesn't offer much flexibility.

  Sounds

  This amp sounds the same with whichever guitars I've tried. The tone is a little flat for my liking and I'd have liked at least a tone control in order to tame some of the brightness or add some more in. Of its own devices the amp sounds fairly generic and boring... I'm not particularly a fan of sterile sounding cleans with no control over the amount of breakup. I admire the attempt but I think only having a volume control is a serious limitation to this amp and it definitely turns me off. It doesn't really do much other than that one quasi broken up clean sound unless you modify it or use pedals.

  Overall Opinion

  All in all I think the Epiphone Valve Junior is an admirable attempt, but it falls short of the mark for me. The lack of tonal flexibility, the rather flat and lifeless sound and the fact that it's so dependent on other tonal factors make it really unappealing to me. They're about $150 new which is overpriced to me considering you're getting a box with speaker/input jacks and a volume control. If you are looking for something to mod, maybe try one of these, but in its stock form it's really not worth much, at least to me.
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• 12/02/08

  M Elise's review

  Characteristics

  This is a 5 watt tube amp with a solid state rectifier. It has two tubes: a 12AX7 and an EL84. There is one input, one volume knob and one on/off switch and thats all. It has jacks for a 4,8, or 16 ohm speaker configuration. I have the above pictured version with the red covering on the face which I believe is slightly improved from the earlier blue version but I'm not aware of what the actual improvements are. The construction of the cabinet is unusually solid and inspires extra respect for the amp. Even though the amp is extremely minimalist in terms of features I'm ranking it high because thats whats attractive about it i.e. its simplicity.

  Utilization

  The amp could not be easier to use obviously. As you turn up the volume the sound goes from clean to dirty. At full volume the amp is surprisingly loud which is not a plus because the purpose of a low wattage amp is to make overdriven sound at low volume levels. At full volume through a Marshall cabinet the amp is almost just loud enough to play in a band with if you have a power drummer playing an old drum kit but not quite.

  Sounds

  This amp is most suitable for recording and practice at home. I use mine with a Weber attenuator to keep the volume down when turning up. I play mine through a single cabinet with a 12 inch Celestion G12H30 speaker. The amp produces an immediate somewhat brittle type of sound that I rightly or wrongly associate with class A amps. It is not as warm a sound as I get from my other more normal tube amps. The sound has a fidelity which lends itself to recording I think because the amp is very quiet and the notes you play are very clear,tight & immediate. The amp starts to really distort with the volume knob about halfway up depending on what pickups your playing. At full volume the amp produces a very distorted singing like tone that is excellent for lead but probably to harsh for rhythm except in small well placed doses. At about 3 oclock the amp sounds better for rhythm and produces a sound that sounds closer to power tube distortion than preamp tube distortion and thats good.

  Overall Opinion

  I do not recommend this amp as your only amp because its too limiting. This amp is more suitable as a second amp to practice through or use to add variety to your recordings. These amps can be bought new for only $150 and used for $100 and thats part of the attraction. I believe they have been big sellers and now other companies are offering alternatives in the same wattage and price range. The amp is cool and will probably maintain its market value over time but for me its too brittle sounding to be something I can fully love but from what I can tell many other people love em.
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• 04/08/12

  Billy Hill's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Hard to beat!"

  Characteristics

  All Tube amp (2!) Typed british, 5 watts class A, a volume knob, three entries for the different speakers (4ohm, 8ohm, 16ohm)

  Utilization

  The sound is what it is it is difficult to change.

  Sounds

  I use it only at home on a 2x12 V30 cabinet (this is my only speaker that I use on my bandmaster and the valve junior) I play blues, surf, rockabilly, garage with a jazzmaster and a Danelectro.
  
  I tried it with my kid who was good but the battery is really limited. No chance to use it in plain in groups ...
  
  I note though that for those looking for an amp to play in the room while the kids are asleep and your nénette watching TV is shredded because its 5 watt are Home Team ...
  
  To use this I get an attenuator Weber and it's done ...
  
  
  
  Early in the race we come to have a clear sound not too dégeu. it is on is not good fender but have to compare what is comparable. At the half it was already a good nice crunch. Beyond that saturates quite fast enough but it gets rough. The pedals go well above ...
  
  I play the harmonica as above and it is not bad at all ...
  
  
  
  The advantage with this amp is that you can easily change it. I change the lamp by EH preamp 12AX7 and Sovtek kept the original (power tube) and more than surprising result. The clean sound is oddly enhanced and saturation as well. I find it useless to try to describe it to the sound with words but I can assure you that you can easily improve. I planned to change the transformer to improve the overall sound. To see ...

  Overall Opinion

  I use it every day for 6 months. It suits me perfectly. I was looking for a cheap and good amp and I found! He serves as a guinea pig for different experiences that I do not want to test on my old Fender ...
  
  Only thing missing would be a bit of a knob tone history can vary guitars.
  
  For those who want to get into the mod amp is a good basis for your future experiences (better than the VOX AC 30 that you get the father, for example lucky)
  
  In summary, for the price you can go with your eyes closed. But beware, this amp did I think that for domestic use or for solo project.
  
  
  
  If it can be snapped I'll take anything but I saw a very good experience that I will not regret in any way.
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• 02/22/12

  lovenunu's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " What the ... ?"

  Characteristics

  This is an all tube amp, 5w ... but hell, it sends!

  Utilization

  Heat lamps are left, the volume is adjusted ... All right, you can play.

  Sounds

  My friend told me mnms63 kindly lent with a 1x12 "passive rocktron few days ... and I am amazed.
  
  I tested it with a lag ak-100.
  
  With the OVD-302 belcat was an overdrive, mild to desire.
  
  With mt-2 boss ... We start from a very heavy metal.
  
  With the boss md-2 ... It can even shred, that you ask for?

  Overall Opinion

  I could try it 3 days, and compared to my old combo peavey studio pro 112, it sent ... the principle of plug'n'play I really like, at least, was sound and that's it ... not need to take the lead. Audiophiles should be avoided like the plague, but I like it.
  
  When my means allow that, I think go buy one!
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• 02/16/12

  mnms63's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " The remainder of the wrath of god ..."

  Characteristics

  It's all lamps.
  
  The connection is simple and well made. A jack input and three outputs HP 4ohms, 8ohms and 16 ohms, in other words we can plug any hp.
  
  Performance data for 5 watts but actually sounds like a transistor 30w. It's just amazing what comes out of this little beast. In requisitioned it broadly covers a drummer normal limit being to keep clear sound for the past moitiee volume which leads to a high volume output, the sound can cruncher (with a magnificent sound of hot tube amp) while of course being directly related to what you put in upstream of lampli (microphone type, pedals ...). With a simple strat pickups and can push a little, while with double crunch it fast enough, if it is to the TDCA was the natural sound with no additional effect.
  
  The trimming is you can not because we have a summary knob single volume and this is it, no EQ or trimming the gain is crude. We must therefore use the EQ pedal or a multi-effects.

  Utilization

  As said before the config is basic, with only one knob necessarily, but this one is very specific and dose precisely the output level.
  
  No manual and no need.
  
  The sound is perfect for those seeking a warm sound of tube amp with lots of harmonics, it reminds me of the sound of my 100w Marshall JCM900 combo when I pushed him. The same potato and grain similar except that one is not obliged to prevent the neighboring district to get that sound.

  Sounds

  For my style of music should be quite, you can do without effects pedal and play live, it sounds vraimment. For blues or rock 70 is nickel. According to more modern sounds, we must put the pedals, attention to the choice of multi-effects, digital does not necessarily marry well, like my marshall of aillor. I even made of metal with a multi-base effect over and it sounded good anyway. Please also note choice of HP, like any amp that determines the color. For example a 4x12 it's huge.
  
  Personally I play on one or two HP rocktron 1x12 I plug in series or in parallel if I want to emphasize the grain or the power (compared to the different impedance in both cases) and it sounds great.
  
  I play a Strat DeSUS with us in 1977 with three active EMG SA or SE with a Yamaha 211 (a simple double) or a Fender Lead II pickups with original finish and a Vig Eruption with EMG HZ passive (excellent mics by the way). All sound great with each a different sound.
  
  I love the sound at half volume, or slightly more, it is very sensitive to the way in which you attack the strings and it handles very well the guitar volume, we go from crunch to a clear sound without losing too powerful and is especially logistics light, no need to lug around the van full.
  
  I do not hate any sound since there is only one.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for about a year.
  
  I have an amp and multi-effects rack and I had some amplifiers, transistors and lamps with a marshall 100w combo, whose main fault was that he had a huge sound but only at high volume and there was not tenable .
  
  I like the feature, there are several, is the first feather weight, simplicity and ultimately the warm lamps.
  
  The one I like least, it would be necessary to equalize as the model just above and a reverb, which does not seem rédibitoire insofar as one can choose or even a pedal for each effect .
  
  I bought this amp used because I sought an amp requisitioned lighter than my rack, I think it is no longer sold as new and I'm really pleased.
  
  I certainly do it again this Chois
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• 04/15/11

  fab255's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Good natural crunch"

  Characteristics

  5 w head lamps with Cabinet 12 January

  Utilization

  can not do a simple volume knob and basta

  Sounds

  I play with a Les Paul Supreme and blade texas standard (copy strat micro system with simple passive / active / treble boost bass).
  
  In the apartment's only clear if the walls tremble and neighbors crucify me.
  
  Just repeats the bin with the les paul it live crunch. With the blade I have a clear range larger (single microphone).
  
  The sound is very low level guts. Midrange and treble although this somewhat absent. the 12-hp is something to do in my opinion. Its very vintage I would say.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it repeats the last 6 months. Power level that moved more than my marshall MG30DFX (30w transistor). Sufficient if the drummer is not a monster.
  
  I had gone to buy an amp lamp in a budget of 600 €. I tried lots of amps and when I tried the ear I hit the roof. Why? I was looking for a true vintage lamp his puke.
  
  This is typically the kind of amp are you doing way down to have a true natural saturation and it sounds damn serious.
  
  In fact the highlight of the amp is also its weak point. That is, in the apartment you forget the crunch because of the neighbors and repeating you forgotten the clean bulk.
  
  In addition I have a shit pedal and frankly it works less well than my marshall transistor except for a foot: the volume pedal.
  
  The volume pedal is a distortion pedal with this amp.
  
  So the highlight is a real crunch lamp screaming for really cheap, and bass crazy.
  
  In fact the highlight of the amp is also its weak point.
  
  That is to say that he does not like the pedals and not very versatile. very distinctive vintage. but that's why we love him.
  
  You plug a volume pedal you doing the sound of the amp and go back to my prick.
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• 11/20/10

  major63000's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " magic to begin in sweetness"

  Characteristics

  Every lamp. input connectors on front, three outputs (4,8,16 ohm) in backplate. 5 watts, which are well worth the 50 transistors (well, with the same clarity of sound, since from 15h on the transistor, the sound usually puke a combo). No adjustment if not the volume / gain

  Utilization

  therefore ultra simplistic setup: After the heating time necessary, turn the volume to boost the sound and make cruncher. Difficult to get any easier

  Sounds

  Perfect for beginners with any lamp. I play pop rock and it goes from light to crunch without problem, playing on the volume or position of micros.Je plays a Mexican Stratocaster with EMG SL kit with POD XT live pedal. The challenge was to marry my POD XT Live (very cold when it is amplified, and heat lamps. Trial and error for a night before I understood that I had to turn the output volume of my POD 1 / 3 of all my patches do not push too hard and the Valve Junior does not do cruncher immediately. Once reconfigured patches (third volume, deactivation simulations amp and cabs), I found a more than adequate ... in any case very far from its original POD. POD do I use that module effect (reverb, delay, chorus, comp and gate, OD and distortion). Heresy to some, the worst choice, because the XT is known to eat the dynamics of sound .... well, mind you, after all plugged in my rehearsal room on a 4x12 Marshall cabinet, I have a perfect sound in the mix, covering battery even when its clear and all the versatility of the POD, still handy to have a march on its configs live, volume, wah all in a single box. Patches with LOTS of compression are sounding the valve junior like a big beast of funk, while keeping a sound very clear (volume at 15h minimum). Even the OD and distortion in the attack on valve obvious retain heat lamp, incomparable to that of pure POD. A crunch which great on a Stereophonics, a disto on a flawless ZZTop ... in short, the ideal marriage.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for two months. Not tried bcp models, and especially not in good condition (not his guitar in hand, the seller who stomp beside you to eject ...). So, the price made me crack first.
  
  I love the lack of settings, as I tinker all in the POD, just adjust the volume depending on the song. Look good and sound zicos bluffing all who pass through the rehearsal room.
  
  Excellent value for money, given the quantum leap in terms of its heat. I think I spend more wicked soon, like 15 or 50 watts, but for now I take the featherweight of the craft.
  
  If you want to restore warmth to your amp simulator pedal, no need to fiddle about for hours in the menus: they stick this little valve at the outlet and presto!
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• 01/18/10

  vinzenco's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  <p class="caracteristiques"> <span class="contenu">Head tube amp (1 x 12AX7, 1 x EL84) Class A</span>
  
  
  
  <p class="caracteristiques"> <span class="contenu">5W</span>
  
  
  
  <p class="caracteristiques"> <span class="contenu">3 outputs for speaker (4, 8 and 16 ohm)
  
  </span>
  
  
  
  <p class="caracteristiques"> <span class="contenu">Dimensisons: 22 x 36 x 25 cm</span>
  
  
  
  <p class="caracteristiques"> <span class="contenu">Weight: 7.25 pounds</span>
  
  
  
  <p class="caracteristiques"> <span class="contenu">1 volume knob</span>
  
  
  
  <p class="caracteristiques"> <span class="contenu">An on / off button</span>
  
  
  
  <p class="caracteristiques"> <span class="contenu">no adjustments, no effect</span>
  
  
  
  <p class="caracteristiques"> <span class="contenu">
  
  </span>

  Utilization

  the configuration it can ne-plus simple.le manual is almost empty, but almost useless anyway.
  
  we get a good sound rather easily (especially must adjust the guitar and see with your guitar)

  Sounds

  This amp head is well suited to my style of music in general (OASIS, AC / DC for example) but sometimes I also play the U2 and there it is clearly not suited because of its lack of clean crystal (it does it very well on One, much less on Pride) especially since I use a Les Paul.
  
  but good to know what veut.quand I saw the head of this amp, I knew very well what to think.
  
  
  
  I play a Gibson Les Paul Studio, the sound is fatal in all configurations (except perhaps overdrive fully).
  
  amp crunch fairly quickly if I do not take care to reduce the volume of my shovel consistently and crunch sound is already quite strong, so to enjoy all the sounds of the machine, do not be afraid to Noise ... despite the 5 "small" Watts announced.
  
  
  
  Moreover I use a BOSS SD-1 to play in crunch at low volume but the crunch of this amp is much better to my taste (SD-1 is not doing badly so far).

  Overall Opinion

  I use this amp for 6 months environ.avant I had a marshall MG30DFX I could not adjust properly overdriven amps disgusted me full of gadgets (gadgets that will pay, often at the expense quality).
  
  
  
  <span style="text-decoration: underline;">what I like most:</span>
  
  
  
  - Sounds ranging from clean to mild crunch, it's magic!
  
  
  
  - Its unique look, daring, very 50's ... awesome!
  
  
  
  <span style="text-decoration: underline;">what I like least:</span>
  
  
  
  - Finishing, bad on mine, there are traces of glue around the red leatherette and red marks on the net all around cream (I suspect that the person who made ​​it became entangled fingers in the pot of glue and a fucking everywhere dégueulassant crossing the whole apparatus.
  
  But I do not have that problem on the cabinet member.
  
  
  
  I paid the whole head + speaker + cable 219 euros so the price / quality ratio is excellent.
  
  
  
  with experience, I think I would turn to a head blackheart and his cabinet for the equalizer and the switch 3/5W especially in terms of look the blackheart is too terrible.
  
  epiphone but still a great choice if you love the sounds blues / rock
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• 01/17/10

  Maltigow's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  While a 5W lamp characteristics could not be more simplistic, the lamps may vary with the serial production ..
  
  The three output impedances are a detail in my opinion very comfortable.
  
  Settings by a single knob.
  
  View info everywhere for details.

  Utilization

  Configuration & Editing sounds ...
  
  A glance is enough to say that the settings are not complicated.
  
  I saw some people complain about the lack of settings .. Sounds a bit like buying a pig in a poke. This extreme simplicity must be seen from the outset as a positive for the buyer, if it bothers you, other products of same kind will suit you best from the start.
  
  
  
  In my case, i like.
  
  The only point "black" is that you can not enjoy the sound palette low volume, but the concern is very well resolved by using a small attenuator, can be purchased attenuator low power for a big score in euros look carefully on the net.
  
  Manual ...
  
  I have not looked at the manual ..

  Sounds

  Will it fit your style of music?
  
  His point of view, and most importantly, I am very happy but we have to consider my style of play: I play blues-rock, funk, rock and roll instead. I will never, ever goes into saturation more "metal" and when I play on this amp, I pass without difficulty clean crystal that has not at all.
  
  
  
  (For the record, I plug it most often on a 2 * 12 "Celestion Super 65. These are fairly HP typed blues rock, with a nice bass presence / high mids.)
  
  
  
  Types of sounds ...
  
  <span style="text-decoration: underline;">knob quarter:</span> The sound is relatively clean, a clean more British than U.S., it is logical given the type of lamp power, but the cartoon ends. It&#39;s a clean as I like, very nice, warm. The volume is nice and seems suitable for an apartment. Without attenuator, stronger, it gets a little noisy. To saturate at low volume, rather think the pedal, the amp by itself is not really made for that.
  
  <span style="text-decoration: underline;">knob noon:</span> We arrive in the crunch, the sound is in his lineage, and is pleasantly manageable in the attack.
  
  <span style="text-decoration: underline;">knob at 3:</span> Now it starts to saturate, we feel the sins of the power amp which takes in the slats. Wonderful to play on it without détapisser part. There are ways to play on the attack and the guitar volume to saturate less, etc., is a type of game it takes me to appreciate fully take advantage of such amplifiers.
  
  
  
  Guitars ...
  
  I use it with a Fender Stratocaster Highway One and a Gibson Epiphone Sheraton II C&#39;57. The guitars really have their personality differences are pronounced in the VJ. The game on the attack is very nice on the Start &#39;and the mixing of microphones is very efficient with the Sheraton, it&#39;s not as nice on a lot of amps through which I passed, or on digital.
  
  
  
  Favorite sounds ...
  
  Most of the time, the volume pot is set to 2h. My pedalboard is then completed by a small clean preamp used as attenuator. I mainly use the pedals of grain and a compressor. VJ seems very pedalfriendly, he keeps asking the bastard! It takes as a leader most configs Tubescreamer that I love him so much and I assigned my Danelectro Daddy&#39;O I often struggled to deal with other gear. The compressor makes it super well on its clean / crunch. The advantage of playing with sound high but is reduced to enjoy the solicitation of the power stage.

  Overall Opinion

  I originally bought this amp in hopes of playing in any light without interfering with cohabitation. It was half a disappointment because it is still too strong for that, it really is not his taf, unless you use an attenuator. I still kept and learned to know and it&#39;s really a super cool toy that allows the lamp to pummel the vintage in every sense of fun without a hearing. I&#39;m addicted, I admit.
  
  
  
  I later made up his mind to buy a similar amp (single game crunchy) higher volume for my needs of group play opportunities because I above (not at all like " pedalboard overcrowded "and" 25 presets by its title ") really suit me, something I discovered by using it for fun.
  
  
  
  I bought it over a year ago, paid a hundred euros .. I do it again without hesitation that choice for other reasons that led me to my purchase though.
  
  <img class="smiley" src="/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" />
  
  The quality / price ratio is perfect .. It&#39;s good material, it sounds good, it&#39;s finished and it looks well designed .. It is also easily upgradeable if you like fiddling (beware of danger this entails).
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• 12/02/09

  pujol813's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  An input, volume, two lamps, three outputs (4, 8, 16 ohms), five watts.
  
  That's all.

  Utilization

  It appears that chimpanzees are able to do laboratory work. A musician should succeed.
  
  We get the sound we made with her fingers.

  Sounds

  I plug in a bunch of electric guitars on it: the simple, double, half-box, in the twelve strings.
  
  However, I found it a little blurry. Not enough bass or slapping. I brought up the new lamp by a specialist (the guy who makes amps Plextone in Toulouse). He took out his trash in 1962 with a Sylvania air ecstatic alchemist who has found a new recipe Larchmütz, he stuck preamp and it has another, which I immediately forgot the reference to amplification. Since it is much better, more dynamic, more compressed. And creamy enough when you go up the towers.
  
  I play in apartment. I do not go above the 9 / 10 hours. Beyond that, it is the invasion of Chechnya by Russian tanks.
  
  Whether denervation cruncher type punk, I put a preamp Line 6 AM4 (something quite rare on which I wrote a review).
  
  I have a Boss ME 50 effects and a boost Plextone (always the same alchemist Toulouse) before I plug the multi-effects.
  
  Result is not crystal-Fender is still not spoof, it does not cost 100 euros, but that's fine. That said, I always thought that the guitars are paramount and that it is the most simple amp in extrayent the substantial sonority. He is the quintessential.

  Overall Opinion

  I've had two years. I tried just about everything that exists. Because art. All in all, I wonder if I want to go beyond this facility.
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