Epiphone Valve Junior Combo

You can read about the features elsewhere. A single input jack and a volume knob. What else is there to say?

Using with American Strat with Lace Sensor pickups.

Mine has the infamous hum problem with the volume turned up about one quarter. Very annoying.

It does sound nice though. But I will probably either return it or seek out the modification. Any tips on how to get this done?

Just bought it.

Basic, inexpensive tube amp. If not for the hum, I think I would really like it.

As below.

As Below.

As below.

Just got off with "Bob" the "amp guy" at Gibson who handles all amp problems. He swears there is no swap-out that's ever been done with the new-old VJs and denies any problem with the originals.

He refuses to say if you bring it to an authorized repair place if they'll honor the noise fix or not. But he denies any global fix or repair strategy and that the new rev is simply "revised specs", not a fix. Basically, the guy was a flaming CYA lying corporate bunghole.

Everybody knows about the problem, and Gibson/Epiphone refuses to deal with it. So much for customer support. "Bob" didn't want to know about the problem, wouldn't admit they had ever heard about it before, and wouldn't admit the new rev was a "fix".

This is the kind of user-friendly company you really want to do a lot of business with.

A great product conceptually, and it works quietly after the fix rev, but avoid the early models with the single cutout in the back at all costs. Gibson is basically pulling the Monte Python Dead Parrot routine over the first noisy gen of this product. "It makes noise don't it? Then it ain't dead, is it? Warranty denied!"

2006 version, without any buzz as said in other reviews. I even have no earth in my flat electrical installation and it doesn't make any noise.

You know the stuff : one volume knob that acts like a gain when cranked all the way up. Plug and play, that's totally its philosophy. Perfect for me. I give it a "No opinion" though 'cause I love it this way but it's quite limited nevertheless.

I play it with an Epi Les Paul (w/ Gibson 490R & 498T humbuckers) and with a Squier '51 which I bought at the same time.
A bit dark with the humbuckers, but good nevertheless. The single coils love it. Gain goes from very clear (a beautiful clean in my opinion, I use it mostly this way in fact as I have a Marshall Studio 15 for the crunch with a Master volume - same as a JCM 800 but in a small 15W combo version) to very useable crunch (AC/DC, Thin Lizzy etc.) Not for high gain stuff (thrash metal etc.) of course, but this baby loves pedals (Guv'nor, DS-1 ...) so who knows ...
So in plug and play version, the VJ has one style of sound, from clean to crunch, but it rocks hard ! I might even get another one just to mod it and try to get other sounds, but I like this one too much to touch it.

However, those 5W are LOUD as hell ! Seriously! DON'T buy it unless you have a basement to play in or want to play it clean. I can't even approach the crunch setting (~1 o'clock) in my flat, it's way too loud. My floor vibrates really bad when I go over 11 o'clock! I will use it in a few weeks in a pub with my rock band, it's loud enough.

Seems built as a rock, smells quality for 150 euros. I will see in a few months.

Have not dealt with them so far, and don't think I will need to.

I have been playing for about 7 years. I own the gear mentionned hereabove, an Epi LP w/ Gibson humbuckers, a Squier '51 and a (tube) Marshall Studio 15.

If it was stolen, I'd definitely buy another one, especially now that the buzz problem is fixed (look for the 1205*** s/n which are the fixed ones). For 150? these amps are a freakin' good deal !! I might buy an A/B Box to use it for my clean sound. However I'll try before to throw in a 12AX7 EH and an EL84 JJ, to make it crunch earlier.

I thought I would have fun with it a few days and then cry on my 150? (as always when I buy gear without thinking) but man this little amp rocks so hard, i love it ! The single pot is so fun to use and its look is so cool. I can't help but play "Sex machine" each time I power it on.

It's the 2006 (made in China) version... noiseless !
This little 5 watts (loud enough) amp is more than OK in clubs or pubs configurations.. plug an Esquire or a Tellie in it... and it's just "plug & play"... I give it a 10/10

See above...

I think that Epiphone (Gibson) have resolved he "buzz" problem with the 2006 edition... so is it too for the head version... again...10/10

I don't know much about Epiphone, I've had a Coronet in the sixties... shame on me... I sold it to buy a Gibson...?

I've been playing for 45 years... my current materials are 2 Fender Stratocaster (USA RI-57) H-1 and four Jim Reed Guitars (Tele style)... a Ash model with P-90 neck PU, a thinline, a Ash with hotrail (push-pull) bridge PU and a one and only one piece alder Esquire... I own a DeArmond Jazzbox X-135 and a cheap Cort Earth 100 electro... my amps are a Jim Reed Legend 28, a Fender Pro Junior + this little 5 watts wonder... oh! yes I have a Laney LA65C for my acoustic too...

Read below...I'm giving it a 10 even though HC says that's for 'very versatile'-- but that's not what this amp is about. I bought it for it's LACK of features, and for that, it's perfect.

This is actually an update, since this is my second Valve Junior --I sent the first one back (bought in October 05) because of the noise problem. The amp made too much noise--obviously a design flaw. I even complained about it to Epiphone and Gibson because I loved the tone of the amp so much--they were very prompt about their replies, I'll give them that.

I really regretted sending the VJ back...just haven't been able to get the sound of it out of my ears... I like my other amp a lot too, but it's 15 watts, which is already too loud.

Well, guess what, the people at Epiphone/Gibson have been paying attention to the complaints about the amp...about a week a go I got to hankering for another VJ. I decided I'd just live with the noise problem or pay to get it modded. I wrote to the Epiphone sales team...and got an email back the same day saying that they had redesigned the amp! So I ordered a new one two minutes later...

The arrived today...I frankly didn't expect much, and like I said, I decided to live with the noise...turned it on and...yep, you guessed it: the noise is gone!

Sure, it still makes a bit of noise, but no more than any other tube amp I've heard. And I bet with a proper set of tubes, the noise level will go down even more, while the tone level will go up. I'm playing single-coil guitars too, that probably adds to the noise level a bit.

I love the sound of this amp! I love it cranked, starting around 2-3 o'clock. Although it's sound quite nice at 12 o'clock too.

The sound on this model feels tighter than the last one though, punchier and stiffer --the 05 model really had that creamy thing going, this one's sound is definitely more brittle...probably has to do with the design change, what do I know?

The speaker tends to fart a lot when the volume's maxed out...but that's part of its charm I suppose.

Anyway, take my sound review with a grain of salt, I've only had it for half a day. The main point of this review is to discuss the noise problem and point out that it looks like Epiphone has corrected the design.

Can't give an opinion. Looks solidly built.

I have the impression that they redesigned the back panel --looks like there are two models, one with a single opening, the other with two openings --I'm pretty sure the first JV I had had one opening. This one has two.

Like I said before, both Epiphone and Gibson were really prompt about answering my emails on the one --I got emails from several people too, including tech staff, not just marketing flacks. And all that for an amp that cost less than 150 euros.

Backlit On/Off Switch
Volume Control
Jack Socket
Valves (tubes)
Speaker
What more do you need?

1) Switch on
2) Turn volume knob to 2 o'clock - leave for 1 hour.
3) Take Squier '51 which has been pre-strung with 0.015 > 0.056 Newton set tuned to open G.
4) Plug in Squier.
5) Place Coricidin bottle on pinky of left hand.
6) Hit that classic "Dust My Broom" riff on twelfth fret.
7) Ignore Alfred Black Dog (my labrador) howling.
8) Ignore "Her Highness" screaming (Ithink she says "turn it down!!!!"

SHEER BLISS!

Yes, I've had the hum and hiss problems sorted by my local Tekki for #10 - he won't let me in on the secret but he did a superb job.

No problems so far - except from the wife and the dog!

As an ageing bass player who also plays slide - this is it!
No effects, just use the guitar knobs and your hands to control it!
FUN,FUN,FUN!
Have used it at local pub jams and gigs with no problems other than everyone asking "What the h*** is that? Where can I get one?"

Yes, I would buy another!

_$119.99 ( BEAT THAT!!!)
-Single ended class "A" amp
-One input jack
-One 8" speaker
-One external jack for a speaker ( 4 ohms )
-One Volume control knob
-One EL84 power tube
-One 12AX7 preamp tube

Basically it.

Sounds absoulty great. I play 70's and 80's hard rock and heavy metal. I use with just a Jackson Reverse and a Ibanez tube screamer and it POURS tone out of the little 8" speaker. I just today changed the power tube to a JJ Telsa EL84 and it sounds perfect. 10X better than it did before, more way more smooth, rich, and warmer. And it now sounds way less harsher than it did before.

The only concern i have in this area is the hum. Past nine 'o clock the hum starts to get loud. But when you are playing you cant even hear it.

But again, the tube screamer( TS-7 )plays a huge role in the tone im getting for this amp. I would highly reccomend you get one. I use it as a treble booster and for extra overdrive.


CAUTION AMP IS VERY LOUD FOR ONLY FIVE WATTS RATING

It has held up fine. Havent had it that long though, maybe four months.

Havent delt with them.

You can get any tone from AC/DC to Van Halen with this amp. I rate it a 9 just because of the little hum, but again you can barely notice it when actually playing. May plan on getting another one in the future.

Features = Tone.

This amp sounds very, very good. Yes, mine has hum and perhaps I will have it modded to reduce the hum, but frankly, I don't mind it when I'm playing it, which is the fun part. I had a Vibro Champ years ago, same kind of low-watt amp, and this sounds as good but may be louder. With volume at half I can play my Strat and use the guitar volume to control clean and overdrive. To my ears, the stock speaker is just fine. I did replace the preamp tube and got mo' tone, and I will replace the power tube as well.

N/A. I got mine "used" but mint for $65. Don't care if it breaks.

N/A

Been playing since 1975, if I lost this I would replace it with the head version now it, since it has better grounding and taps for 4/8/16 ohms. A great little amp for practicing that gives up great tone and which is simple enough that you can change out either the power tube or preamp tube and hear a difference, good or bad. Pure tube tone at an affordable price.

2006. one channel, one knob, one el84, one 12ax7. Perfect for blues and rock. I bought it just for around the house. I wanted the 5 watt head, but the store only had the combo. So at 99.00 it was hard to pass up. One 4 ohm speaker out. I run it into a 12" closed cab. It gives the amp a little more beef. I don't seem to have the hum most people complain about. You can get a lot of different sounds with your guitar volume and a tube screamer.

I play an old rg560 Ibanez hum sing sing. Great guitar for blues and rock. Not a heavy metal amp. Great blues amp

brand new ( two weeks old )

I've been playing about 40 years. I have owned 4 marshall, a fender twin, a mark 4 mesa, traynor, vox. And I have played just about any amp made. You know a good amp, when you turn it on, it should sound good right away without a lot of tinkering, This amp sound very nice ane at 99.00 You can't go wrong

03-05 ?? Valve Junior Combo
This amp is only suitable for any style of music where distortion is necessary and overhead isn't a requirement. It has 1 12AX7(ECC83) preamp tube and an EL84(6Q5D) power tube. 1 input jack, 1 speaker output jack (which is plugged into the internal 8" speaker). This can be used for an external cabinet. I think the speaker is a Chinese made Eminence. One (1) volume knob, a power on switch. No tone controls, no gain, no standby. Single Channel, output is 5 watts, Class A design.

A lot of hum, and some hiss. Way, way too much hum. Originally, this amp was much too noisy, especially at any setting. It was the scary kind of hum. I kept expecting to hear peculiar explosions, see smoke and smell pungent ordors. But, never did. I played it with P90 and humbucker equipped Gibsons. I play the blues mostly, which is a suitable for this beast. A Friend got this amp, because it reminded him of a Dr. Z Mini-Z, which reminded him of some good GA-5 he played way back when. So it wound up on my workbench for a few weeks. I did some web searches and found a few sites and a real growing interest in these. Anyway, I found the fixes. When I got around to applying these mods it didn't take long. I just used a bunch of old parts. I fixed a ground problem which turned out to be a proximity issue. I also replaced the cheap Chinese input jack with a good Switchcraft, and put in another one (to split the signal to another amp). I also put in a filter network for the power supply. All the hum and hiss go bye-bye.
This amp only makes two sounds, quiet and distorted. But, what a distortion it is. Wow !!! With the original speaker, it is just a nice dirty growl. I disconnected that and plugged it into an 10" Weber Blue Pup, and what a change. The volume controls the gain, the more volume, the more distortion. I wouldn't call it brutal. Just kind of hot and sparkly. Louder than I expected. If I were to have rated it prior to the fix, I'd have to give it a 1, but now, it's clean off the scale. I'll split the difference and give it a ---

The amp seems to be reasonably well made, just cheap in design. The tubes will probably need replacing. I'd like to put in some vintage NOS tubes. I wouldn't gig with out a back-up yet.

I don't know about the warranty.

I'VE GOT TO GET ONE OF THESE. I like the simplicity of use, and I like the sound. I'd like to see a standby switch. I think I'll buy the head version. Heck for this amount of money, can I go wrong?