All user reviews for the Epiphone Valve Junior Hot Rod Head

amp lamps Epiphone Hot Rod
5W
connection?? tac??
volume gain reverb, standby, on / off

UTILIZATION

super simple
the sound is there, he may not like, I think it suits me: huge, with P90 (I use one with three Reverend P90 and a strat-type selector). I bought it for the harmonic (0 .. occase. about, I do not seem to date: serial # 03401092210157 ... if someone can tell me ...), but after 48 heuresje preferred for harmonic bomb: a Watkins Dominator.
I do not have the manual, it is useless.

SOUNDS

I play Blues, the Chicago, with Reverend He is comfortable in the sounds a little fat and the guitar is versatile enough to go from the amp tone.

OVERALL OPINION

I for one week, he is super nice and simple. I had almost everything except the Vox and Marshall, although my Watkins Dominator is what Jim Marshall pumped for Bluesbraeker ...
From secondhand, € 180 with 12-inch cabinet, all in a "lollipop", it has nothing at that price my lil 'lady.

The Valve Jr. Hot Rod is a factory upgraded model of the original Valve Junior Epiphone put out a few years ago. Most players were modifying their stock Valve Juniors, so I guess Epiphone decided, shoot we'll make even more money off of this great idea we had.

The original had a only a power switch and a volume knob, the hot rod has a gain and reverb knob as well as a standby.

I was a fan of the old Valve Jr. and I had sold mine, so with a bit of seller's remorse this upgraded model was an easy sell. It set me back $200 online.

It's simple and well if guitarists were to be honest, they have way too many knobs on their amps as well as how many gigs does the Average Joe play a year where he needs 100 watts of tube power?

Since it is easy on the budget, I'm more carefree about this amp. I can leave it in my car, let a friend borrow etc.

I really like the way it sounds through a 4x12 cab. The tiny thing can really drive a 4x12.

If I designed the amp, I'd have gotten rid of the lackluster reverb and added a tone knob instead.

Well built. It isn't high quality. Hi-Fi audiofile guys would gawk at the electronics, but it's built for guitar players to have a cheap tube amp.

Another fun amp. It takes pedals well and can drive most cabs with multiple outs for 4, 8 and 16ohm cabs. Would make a great backup if not number one gigging amp.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

- Amplifier Head 5 Watts
- Controls: Gain, Volume, Reverb
- A lamp Reverb
- Thanks to a dummy load switching, the head can be used as stand-alone use Reverb as an effect on any amp.
- Lamps: 1 x 12AX7, 1 x EL84
- Stand by for preheating lamps
- Circuit modified from the original Valve Junior
- Dimensions: 22 x 36 x 25 cm

UTILIZATION

Personally I only use very little fireworks with my amp distortion or an overdrive a boost and possibly a delay reverb associated:
So its clear we have a pure sound quite round but with a color of its own I think it's an amp for a specific style such as blues and rock at all for my part I am quite well it is presented sound and precise enough slamming and especially hot enough accuentuant mediums rather well and this even at low volume as you go up the lamp comes gradually and the feeling of presence responds well (I play on lag roxanne 500 guibson les paul supreme American American Deluxe Stratocaster and more)
By saturating it remains quite disappointed when still remain even in the same style registry so well for me while keeping his sound specific but I think it will not please the most demanding sound level
For me it lacks precision in the register
The lamp has reverb is pretty saturated in clear changes a bit I would explain but it is always useful
Try anyway because he asks to be very exploitable seen what it offers in comparison to his colleagues of the same class (I think a vox bleackheart and other)

SOUNDS

From its five W's surprising power for the apartment is cool neighbors are thrilled we'd love a cruise or something like that to pass a 1 Watt, for example it helps even more.
For the sound I already stated above
When you put it honestly effects must settle all this takes time as well but it's worth because the cash though because it seems a natural view

OVERALL OPINION

Frankly to try and purchase in general sold his cab 1X12 epiphone between 170 and 300 overall and close to 400 all nine
For a lonely and I in the apartments ca serious matter I truly believe that repeated and live in it should be enough if somewhat above the tank but when even that sends strong
Good compromised anyway because all that remains lamp 5 w do everything correct and the price and I got it it's worth going to look
Now I have seen further notice and changing two or three things you can apparently make a beast even more exploitable and interresting in its origin without artifice with just a scratch to see (I would give you notice when I do The changes I will explain with small video on my youtube (magixfingers91100 in research) not modify and change)
Stay tuned for new adventures.
I'll wait to use it anyway but I do not regret this purchase at all
Contact me if you have questions or other
Musically
Magix Fingers

Everything is said in the previous review:

Amp-all-tube (for the part 2x12ax7 preamps and a EL84 for the power)
-Gain, volume, reverb (spring).
-Exit "Reverb out / preamp out".
Out-Hp in 4, 8 or 16 ohms.

UTILIZATION

With three buttons on the grill difficult to get any easier ...
Presence of a stand-by for the preheating of the lamps. Not found on other amps of this price.

SOUNDS

Tests in the cab with eminence shop open and semi equipped with a Les Paul P90
As on previous opinions on the lack of roundness and gloss, really too focused in the medium - medium high.
The definition is pretty nice even by cruncher lamps (the lamp finally!) A good shot.
The reverb seems nonexistent. After 11h at knob it only appears to cause an effect ... emetic.
The dynamics of the sound is good but not excellent ... Half shade ...

First try at home with a small cab 4x8 Blackstar "and a Jaguar (j'étofferai paragraph as and a measure of usage):
The dull side of the amp goes well with the sound (very) bright Jaguar and gives a result rather well balanced! The cab (closed) gives him a comfortable seat in the lower spectrum without being too (much better than the Epiphone cab) and it's a beautiful clear sound that comes out of the beast!
Going up the gain it through good crunch to a small overdrive limit.
By adding a small overdrive pedal (just a bit to boost the level) saturation appears well and keeps a beautiful beast definition.
On sounds very saturated the bottom of the spectrum loses some precision and brightness decreases. At the same time, he has not had an amp head to the Black-Death-grind-Xcore swisscheddar-metal.

OVERALL OPINION

Used for a few hours my opinion is not necessarily the best.
But having tried several heads (between 250 and 500 roros) this little Epi, 120 € in a supermarket promo music, though filled his office and report quality / price is more than interesting.

At that price no frills, one branch, we play. Well enough to work at home (we keep the stack Hiwatt to the Stade de France).

I will not repeat his well-known characteristics.
I bought it completely by accident during the sales period in a large music store.
He was the last resulted in the gondola, given the price, I jumped on it! (92 €)

UTILIZATION

can no longer simply an input, 3 settings and presto, here we go!
I did not have a manual but is it really necessary?
This gives a good sound but ....

SOUNDS

I play a bit of everything with a TV equipped with custom p90 or acoustic electric violin and art.
Originally, this amp gives you a sound enough, but starved of proper foundation for serious, even compared to his junior brother valve that sends much more in this registry.
The sound is clear enough and the amp gives you a pretty good saturation as soon as you push the gain and volume. Serious dégueulent quickly on the other hand, you have to play with a lot of treble.
The clean sounds are not terrible because of the lack of serious and significant saturation occurs too quickly. It lacks power even for a 5 watt. At this power, I've heard much better.

The preamp output provides only the sound of the first preamplifier stage, so if you overdrive the amp, you get a clean sound with reverb.
As builder of tube amps, so I decided to inform me about it (diagram, topics ... etc) and open the beast.

Looking at the diagram, I better understood why it was so anemic in the bass.
Some component values, moreover, the signal coupling capacitors including those of the reverb are unusually undersized, with experience in other schemas like fender, marshall, ampeg, I've never seen here.
May - be this is to give a medium color very acute voluntarily to make up a little twist of microscopic output transformer that does not support the bass. All this looks like a finished design in a hurry with the constraints of the components used.

Once changed a few components, the receiver is already becoming much more enjoyable.
The reverb is also improved but it will not make miracles with is a basic two springs.

But once the output transformer changed, the sound is much improved on all fronts. It becomes a completely different amp.
The amp is very versatile with a clear, crystalline, non-aggressive, very dynamic with good bass péchus and powerful sound without even dégeulle its completely saturated, it is a treat.
Suddenly, my electroacoustic sounds of fire god and my TV too.
It was not at all the imprssion a small amp sends 5Watt so here!
It becomes usable without problem in a group even clear sound.
When you push the gain and volume, saturation soft tubes is gradually and gives you chills in the back.
Sounds to ZZ TOP, or ACDC, or super clear and péchus good for funk, jazz and electro-acoustics .... What more?
I even connected directly to the piezo pickup on my bass with an amazing result!
I'm going to throw the preamp that I used for my bass and piezo use one of the junior.

OVERALL OPINION

For how long have you been using it? 15 days

What thing do you like most/least about it?
+ Its price, its look, the gain volume and reverb, distorted sound
Good tubes (12AX7 RUBY and el SOVTEK 84)
Excellent quality of construction and assembly at all levels, the Chinese bravo!

-The sound is no slack in the seat and serious lack of fishing, reverb very average or even bad.
Output transformer microscopic flange completely sound (the price of the amp is the reason) is like a nice car engine in a porshe ...

Repeat this choice at this price, very definitely.
on the other hand must count in the 60 euro more for the kite a bit and there you have another amp without comparisons ...

2x12AX7 version (ruby base) and 1xEL84 (Sovtek base).
5W meter, which is amply sufficient contiguous to more than 97dB of return on HP's usual guitar.
One entry, sufficient in view of its objective.
No effects loop.
Separate gain and volume to play either domestically or in clean crunch: big progessivité settings, a very good point.
On: Off and separate standby: excellent for general RELIABLE and longevity of the tubes, a great asset.
Solid state power supply with choke on the high voltage: a pleasant surprise.
Reverb adjustable delay line: a bit hollow and lacking in scope, however.
Connect 4, 8 or 16 ohm coupled to power the desired box.
IEC Mains: selects its cable sector with care, another good point.
No tone control, which will not surprise many people to 159 €: potentially critical point but with a moderately strong blues tonal balance, and quite well mastered a bit dark, we can live with it.
Interior very clean and well done for an object of this award.

UTILIZATION

Simplest configuration, manual completely unnecessary.
The lack of tonal adjustment can confuse fans of the potentiometer, which is not my case.
In addition, replacement of the original tubes (operation accessible to ordinary guitarist) can ennoble the general update.
The response curve is a little dark, blues and rock type rather it is a bit short on leg (opinion reassess after running).
The thickness of the record is a bit light, what to put in the context of its price: 159 €. Again, after running to do.
That said, there may after all go from blues to rock to jazz without too much difficulty.
Allow to heat at least 20 minutes before seeking an opinion relevant issue that can not be heated past 45mn. Rather

SOUNDS

fat while lacking seat (on the box 12 "Eminence partner) as crystalline, let's be clear, this is not a Fender bright.
However, compared to other 5W (Blackstar, Marshall among others), I find it more noble and potentially more versatile.
Fully compatible with my goals (blues / smooth jazz / jazz), particularly as easily upgradeable (I do not despair of digging up the diagram). Product

OVERALL OPINION

unknown, and whose version of Hot Rod seems to have curiously disappeared from the catalog to date, and interest inversely proportional to its power.
You can add a very elegant finish in red and black livery, a total lack of breath (except to push and gain its maximum volume), a superb escalation settings and the presence of a delay line for Onboard reverb.
I had the opportunity to look at the Blackstar HT5 disadvantage (relative, since subjective) of the latter was too flat and neutral.
Obviously the short run compared against a Laney Lionheart, but their prices do not really contribute in the same category.
If you find that head Hot Rod in hand and if you are looking for a home without flirting with the eviction notice, throw an eardrum or both: the surprise is perhaps not far ...