View other reviews for this product:
themaddog « Was good... until it croaked »
Published on 09/27/11 at 10:40This is a 10 watt tube amp with a single 12AX7 pre-amp tube and a 6L6 power tube. It has a 10" speakers and is capable of putting out a fair amount of power. Unlike the later Valve Jr.'s that Epiphone produced, this amplifier runs on a different power tube and has tone controls, gain controls, and a standby switch in addition to the a power switch. It has a single channel.
UTILIZATION
This amplifier makes it easy to get a solid tone. The more you push the volume section, the greater the amount of tube warmth this amplifier puts out. This makes for some excellent tones, especially when the amplifier is pushed. Be careful not to push it too hard!
SOUNDS
This little combo can produce a wealth of different sounds and tones. Even without using a distortion or overdrive pedal, a fair amount of breakup can be achieved, similar to an Eric Clapton-type tone. With a distortion pedal you can rock on and on in all sorts of heavy metal territory. As mentioned above, you just have to be sure not to push it too hard.
OVERALL OPINION
I really liked this amp for the 10 hours or so I rocked hard with it. If you haven't figured it out yet... I pushed it too hard. I tried changing the fuse, the tubes, I just couldn't get it to work again. Worst of all, it croaked out on my on-stage at my band's last show. We were playing our last show at a big club that mics all the amps, so it didn't matter how puny my amplifier may have looked propped on a chair on stage because the tone was amazing for that night. Unfortunately, it died halfway through our set and I had to scramble to set up another amp (always carry a backup!). This was really disappointing, because I really dug the tone from this amp, especially at the closeout price at which I acquired it.
UTILIZATION
This amplifier makes it easy to get a solid tone. The more you push the volume section, the greater the amount of tube warmth this amplifier puts out. This makes for some excellent tones, especially when the amplifier is pushed. Be careful not to push it too hard!
SOUNDS
This little combo can produce a wealth of different sounds and tones. Even without using a distortion or overdrive pedal, a fair amount of breakup can be achieved, similar to an Eric Clapton-type tone. With a distortion pedal you can rock on and on in all sorts of heavy metal territory. As mentioned above, you just have to be sure not to push it too hard.
OVERALL OPINION
I really liked this amp for the 10 hours or so I rocked hard with it. If you haven't figured it out yet... I pushed it too hard. I tried changing the fuse, the tubes, I just couldn't get it to work again. Worst of all, it croaked out on my on-stage at my band's last show. We were playing our last show at a big club that mics all the amps, so it didn't matter how puny my amplifier may have looked propped on a chair on stage because the tone was amazing for that night. Unfortunately, it died halfway through our set and I had to scramble to set up another amp (always carry a backup!). This was really disappointing, because I really dug the tone from this amp, especially at the closeout price at which I acquired it.