Epi Valve Jr... whee!

[CoG]

I just got the head version one of these as a gift... what a blast... not exactly tonal nirvana if you need low end but I just played ridiculously overdriven tones for like half an hour and my ears aren't ringing even a little bit

Not loud enough to hang with a drummer, but I could see recording leads with it.

 

[disassembled]

I just sold my old VJR combo to Soundpurist. Mine was COMPLETELY tricked out though. New output tranny and all kinds of mods to the circuit board but that tone.....****. I had it setup so it wasn't farty or too harsh when dimed and I swear it sounded like I was playing a vintage marshall on the edge of exploding. Those amps are a lot of fun after you start modding a bit but I just can't really have an amp that needs to go very much over normal conversation volumes to sound good. Maybe in the future I will get another one but they sure are fun.


Have you tried running it with a 412?



Greg

 

[CoG]

No, not yet, just one of my 1x12s. Played it for about an hour this afternoon, sounds better overdriven (volume past about 1230) to me in stock configuration. I find the lower-volume tones a little 'stiff,' like there's a big midrange bump in there somewhere, but it really rips when you open it up.

Stupid question, how the heck do you get the back off/chassis out? I wanted to try some other tubes. I pulled all the screws on the rear panel and it didn't seem inclined to move, so I figured I'd ask before I try something dumb and nick the tolex.

edit: oh, wait, you just said "combo." This is a head, probably set up different. All the mod sites seem to have the chassis out already when they start the howtos...

 

[Ken j]

Check this site out for Epi mods: http://westlabs.com/Frames.HTML

For those of you who remember the West amps of the '60s you may enjoy this site.

 

[disassembled]

No, not yet, just one of my 1x12s. Played it for about an hour this afternoon, sounds better overdriven (volume past about 1230) to me in stock configuration. I find the lower-volume tones a little 'stiff,' like there's a big midrange bump in there somewhere, but it really rips when you open it up.

Stupid question, how the heck do you get the back off/chassis out? I wanted to try some other tubes. I pulled all the screws on the rear panel and it didn't seem inclined to move, so I figured I'd ask before I try something dumb and nick the tolex.

edit: oh, wait, you just said "combo." This is a head, probably set up different. All the mod sites seem to have the chassis out already when they start the howtos...

I would say take the screws out completely just to be sure they are not screwed into the head and pull the panel outward started from the center of the chassis. It will come out you just have to muscle it a bit.


Greg

 

[CoG]

I would say take the screws out completely just to be sure they are not screwed into the head and pull the panel outward started from the center of the chassis. It will come out you just have to muscle it a bit.

Thanks man-- I got it off last night, it just took some serious yanking, I think they must have put the headshell together while the glue on the tolex was still wet.