Fun with a Valve Jr...

[Jakedog]

Went to rehearsal last night. Didn't feel like lugging one of my Bandits over, so I called and asked my buddy if I could plug into his VJr head and 1X12 setup, which is always in the room anyway.

Holy cow what a fun little amp! I have messed around with it before, and thought it a fun amp for the dough, but I have never tried to use it in a band situation, just noodling by myself. This amp is the bees knees for a small rehearsal rig! I had it up to about 10:30 or so on the volume dial, using my Duncan loaded mahogany hard tailed Carvin Bolt +. Only thing between the guitar and amp was my BD-2, set more as a booster with the gain around 9 o'clock.

With the pedal off, the amp was full out nice mild breakup jangle and ka-rang for as far as the eye could see. Beautiful rythym tones for big open chords and Keef/Wood style bangin'. Stepping on the BD-2 for solos just made it better. Awesome sounding little rig for our three piece Americana/Rock/Alt. Country thing. Not big enough to gig, but it filled up the rehearsal room more than adequately. Color me extremely impressed that you can get a rig that cool for that little dough. It woudn't work for everything I do, not nearly enough headroom. But for this project it's an amazing rehearsal rig.

[telepunch]

i have one as well. WAAAAAAAAAAAY too dark sounding for my liking, but I bought it with the intent to mod. It is a fun little amp though and with mods i've heard a million different sounds out of them from clear as day to some real fire breathers. For the money it suits me perfectly.

[marshman]

I have a V1 combo (read: lots of issues) that I modded/tuned up (read: lots of different issues) but I love the Keef tones it gives my with my tele.

I've often wondered if driving a 2x12 with a pair of good, effecient speakers (Celestion Blues, anyone) might make it gigable, but I don't have the dosh to find out.

Might one day try to build one with a 6L6GC or EL34 for 10-ish watts, see how that sounds.

[telepunch]

for a really really small gig you might be able to gig a VJr... if you mic'd it through a PA you could gig it. I have a V3 head, but the only speaker I have is an old gutted Marshall valvestate combo 8". I'm planning on building a 1x12 enclosure for it some day, maybe a 2x12

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by telepunch

i have one as well. WAAAAAAAAAAAY too dark sounding for my liking, but I bought it with the intent to mod. It is a fun little amp though and with mods i've heard a million different sounds out of them from clear as day to some real fire breathers. For the money it suits me perfectly.

I've heard lots of complaints about them being too dark, not this one. It was almost too bright, but in a good way, if that makes sense...

I know it has not been modified in any way, although I am unsure of which version it is... I know he's had it for about three years, and bought it new.

Could have been the guitar somewhat as well. For a mahogany body, and a pair of humbuckers, it's pretty bright and zingy. I think it has something to do with the combination of string-through body hardtail, maple bolt on neck, and having the pickups direct mounted instead of in rings or a pickguard. All I know is love it, lots of bite but still fat.

I'll be using the Epi for rehearsals from now on most likely, so I'll have a better idea of how it is all around in a couple of weeks or so.

[s360guitarist]

Watch out boys...I just got this emailed to me by Sweetwater.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ValveSrHD

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by s360guitarist

Watch out boys...I just got this emailed to me by Sweetwater.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ValveSrHD

Now that looks tasty...

[telepunch]

wow... now i wish i hadn't gotten my VJr

[telepunch]

Originally Posted by Jakedog

I've heard lots of complaints about them being too dark, not this one. It was almost too bright, but in a good way, if that makes sense...

I know it has not been modified in any way, although I am unsure of which version it is... I know he's had it for about three years, and bought it new.

Could have been the guitar somewhat as well. For a mahogany body, and a pair of humbuckers, it's pretty bright and zingy. I think it has something to do with the combination of string-through body hardtail, maple bolt on neck, and having the pickups direct mounted instead of in rings or a pickguard. All I know is love it, lots of bite but still fat.

I'll be using the Epi for rehearsals from now on most likely, so I'll have a better idea of how it is all around in a couple of weeks or so.

that's strange... I find myself using the treble booster from my Vox Brian May Special just to get my head out of the mud... although that makes it a bit bright for me... I have a ton of parts and I'll be setting up to my liking before too long

[marshman]

Not to seem overly cynical, but haven't we been waitin' on those things for a while now?

I'm just sayin'...


Does look tasty, though.

[strat a various]

I know they're fun to mod, but I've had one for a couple years and I like it stock. Even used it at a few gigs. I run it through either an open back 15 cab or 2x12 with old Jensen C12Qs. It's pretty loud with the 15". Louder than my SF Champ.

[bootlegger1929]

i had one.. well still do but i don't use it... EVER.
upgraded to a Dr Z MAZ jr nr and haven't looked back......

[DChrls]

Hello everyone, first post but have lurked from time to time. Great forum!
I have a Epi Valve Jr. too and after changing the tubes I was thinking about modding it.
One day I decided to plug my Marshall 9001 tube preamp into the Jr.
Man let me tell ya what a difference, made the lil' amp sound like another amp all together, in a good way.
It doesn't sound like a Marshall to me, kinda sounds like my Crate VC30 but warmer and better.

Anyways just wanted to say hello and FYI about the preamp through the Jr. If any of y'all have a preamp laying around give it a try.

[Sollophonic]

Mine has been well modded, and although it is a combo, it spends most of its time being run into a 2 x 10" cabinet.



Mine sounds a bit dark with certain guitars into it, like my Squier Standard Tele, but if you want brightness out of a Valve Jnr run one of these guitars into it!