Combo $399 http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ValveSr/
Head $299 http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ValveSrHD/
I didn't think Epiphone would ever get that one shipped. 6V6 tubes, tone and gain controls, reverb and a standby switch! I'm curious enough to play one if I see it at GC.
I have one of the V1 Juniors and it's not bad, but not inspiring. I would mod it to a Vox tone if I didn't feel like I'd have to change the output tranny in it to do it justice.
V1 NEEDS some mods... but it can be really good. V2 and V3 are pretty easy to mod to Voxy tone. V3 doesn't require an OT upgrade, 1 and 2 do.
DreamTheaterRules — Dec 04, 2009V1 NEEDS some mods... but it can be really good. V2 and V3 are pretty easy to mod to Voxy tone. V3 doesn't require an OT upgrade, 1 and 2 do.
I did the input mod and stopped there. A Hammond isn't too expensive, but parts can add up to the original price of the amp pretty quickly. It is fun and educational though.
There are even cheaper alternatives to the Hammond. A tricked out Valve Junior can sounds REALLY good, for less than $200 amp+mods. That's CHEAP for a really good sounding amp!!!
Here's a freebee for you. Open it up and cut J1 (Jumper #1) spread the wires a bit so they don't touch. Put it back together and check it out. Makes the gain much more usable. Then, do a MPS tranny for around $25 shipped. AFTER you put the tranny in (because it will change your voltages) there are 4 resistors (R8, R9, R10 and R14) that bias the EL84. Its biased way to hot from the factory which is why they eat tubes. Biasing that will make the whole amp sound way better. You might stop there. But from there you can look into some of the voicing mods (Voxy is great!, Marshallize and Fenderize are very good as well) or maybe just a Tweed style tone control. But again, a full blown mods package with OT, a "voicing" mod, tone control, the whole thing is probably $75 in parts.
Come to SE Watt and join in the fun. (I'm "DTR" there).
p.s. DBM, word in the amp forums is that the verb sucks on the new Valve Senior. Some say that completely disabling it makes the amp sound pretty good.
DreamTheaterRules — Dec 04, 2009p.s. DBM, word in the amp forums is that the verb sucks on the new Valve Senior. Some say that completely disabling it makes the amp sound pretty good.
I heard the same thing myself. I would probably buy a Fender Blues Jr if in the market for something like that at 20 watts. But interesting none the less. I have a version 2 Valve Jr and it sounds great with stomps in front. Never modded it at all.
The Pro Jr is pretty tasty sounding as well for a great clean tone on the cheap. Might not be a band amp but for studio/recording? Yes.
Kabala — Dec 05, 2009The Pro Jr is pretty tasty sounding as well for a great clean tone on the cheap. Might not be a band amp but for studio/recording? Yes.
I tried one at my house for about 2 weeks a few years back and the thing was noisy. It had this hum that the Blues Jr does not have, plus it does not have the full tone stack and 12" speaker, and it has one less preamp tube. I sent it back because of the hum, and I did check on forums to see if it was that particular amp or a thing that happens with all of them, and it turned out to be common. I tried changing out the tubes to JJ's it did not help and I still have the new JJ's right here on my computer table waiting for an amp to go into.
Thats too bad, the one I've played through numerous times now always floors me! I'll prolly end up buying from the guy (and his Carl Martin Compressor which may have something to do with the experience ;)). To be fair, I've NEVER tried a Blues Jr but I know they're good! Both those amps are amongst the first mentioned for getting great Fender tones on the low wattage cheap. (=
I played a Vox Night Train today while at GC - first time I've ever played anything "Vox" -- WOW. First impressions go a long way with me and damn, that is a SWEET little head. Hmmmm....