Epiphone Valve Junior

Bridgehouse

munckee said:

Can you try and remember to remind me before quad if you haven't got too much else on.  I will add it into my calendar!

Will do

Bridgehouse

Maybe I could keep this thread going till then.. er, maybe not

King85

Why are you after an alternative and not an EVJ?

Bridgehouse

King85 said:

Why are you after an alternative and not an EVJ?

Just checking out the options - sort of arrived at it by default. The ultimate harp amp is a pro junior - but they can be quite pricey

uncledick

I've seen a guy play blues harmonica through a totally dimed Deluxe.  Phenomenal.

bandmaster188

Correct answer is a 4x10 Bassman 

ICBM

munckee said:

You want my champion 600 converted to tweed 5e1 champ!

Yes you do!

King85 said:

Why are you after an alternative and not an EVJ?

Because the VJ really doesn't sound very good - not even the later versions. As a modding project they're a good way to get a functional amp as a starting point - but as an actual amp, not so much. Every other Champ-type amp sounds better.

bandmaster188 said:

Correct answer is a 4x10 Bassman 

And Wembley stadium .

A friend of mine who plays blues harp had almost the entire range of Fender amps from a Champ up to a Showman at one point - he simply picked the size of amp to fit the venue. Everything bigger than the Princeton Reverb II is now gone, there simply isn't any point in more volume now.

57Deluxe

FatPete said:

Harley Benton GA5 is the same thing as the Epi, plus a tone control.

only a used one as is long gone new...

Keefy

57Deluxe said:

FatPete said:

Harley Benton GA5 is the same thing as the Epi, plus a tone control.

only a used one as is long gone new...

I had the combo. The EQ is actually a bass control.

I eventually gutted mine and recycled the cabinet, chassis and PT for a Micro 5E3 build.

Sorry, never tried a harmonica through it!

McSwaggerty

ts not all just about the amp. Good electric Bluesharp playing requires skill and correct technique 

For proper Chicago mojo you are going to need a Hi Z mic, something like a an Astatic JT 30 with a controlled magnetic or reluctance element - not one of those crappy modern Shure Green Bullets.

If you just buy a valve amp and face up to it with a SM57 or similar and expect to sound like Paul Butterfield or Charlie Musselwhite. - you are going to be mighty disappointed......

Bridgehouse

McSwaggerty said:

ts not all just about the amp. Good electric Bluesharp playing requires skill and correct technique 

For proper Chicago mojo you are going to need a Hi Z mic, something like a an Astatic JT 30 with a controlled magnetic or reluctance element - not one of those crappy modern Shure Green Bullets.

If you just buy a valve amp and face up to it with a SM57 or similar and expect to sound like Paul Butterfield or Charlie Musselwhite. - you are going to be mighty disappointed......

I am aware of the mic requirements - played in a band with a suitable setup some years ago - just getting back into it again!

vale

i think there were a few redesigns of the valve junior as the first run had a power issue and the second run had some other issue (overheating maybe?). so the ones to watch out for are the last ones. mark 3 or equivalent.

i can't remember the exact fine details (just something i investigated once upon a time) but if you are seriously considering buying then it's something worthy of a google.

@ICBM may be able to suggest best editon.

edit. just checked back and noticed he advised the champ, in which case ignore above if tempted by that substitution.

ICBM

vale said:

i think there were a few redesigns of the valve junior as the first run had a power issue and the second run had some other issue (overheating maybe?). so the ones to watch out for are the last ones. mark 3 or equivalent.

@ICBM may be able to suggest best option.

The Mk1 also sounds terrible, due to an incorrect (by design or mistake, I don't know) resistor value which makes it extremely muddy. I can't remember much about the Mk2, but the 3 is definitely the best, although still only OK-sounding.

I wouldn't treat them as anything other than a semi-finished project really - but they're worth it for that, you get a nicely-made cabinet and chassis and a couple of usable transformers, safe on the mains input side etc... just build your own choice of vintage Champ circuit inside and it's good.

Alnico

There was a GA5 head and cab on FB Marketplace last night for £100.

I think it was in mid/north Wales.
Is that a good price?

It looked barely used.

Bridgehouse

Alnico said:

There was a GA5 head and cab on FB Marketplace last night for £100.

I think it was in mid/north Wales.
Is that a good price?

It looked barely used.

Going to try @munckee ‘s kind offer

ICBM

Alnico said:

There was a GA5 head and cab on FB Marketplace last night for £100.

Is that a good price?

Sounds pretty reasonable, even if you simply add up what the parts would cost.

bandmaster188

ICBM said

bandmaster188 said:

Correct answer is a 4x10 Bassman 

And Wembley stadium .

A friend of mine who plays blues harp had almost the entire range of Fender amps from a Champ up to a Showman at one point - he simply picked the size of amp to fit the venue. Everything bigger than the Princeton Reverb II is now gone, there simply isn't any point in more volume now.

More to do with the speakers to be honest. My mates been using his custom made harp amp (champ based i believe) plugged into my 4x10 Cab with p10r’s and it sounds huge without making your ears bleed. 

ICBM

bandmaster188 said:

More to do with the speakers to be honest. My mates been using his custom made harp amp (champ based i believe) plugged into my 4x10 Cab with p10r’s and it sounds huge without making your ears bleed. 

I expect it would... a long time ago I sometimes used to run a cranked '59 Champ through a Marshall 4x12" wired for 4 ohms. Neil Young tone at fairly tolerable volume .

Bridgehouse

I only need volume for a Jam session and not Albert Hall or Wembley levels

I am an ok harp player but not good enough to have most of Huddersfield hear it!!!!

bandmaster188

Not sure what this fella’s using but it’s fat as f**k! Get one of those.
https://youtu.be/K4J0NS5HJe8