Epiphone Valve Junior Head

this amp is as simple as air. A volume control and that's it. the saving grace is it's speaker outlets. Most of my speakers are rated at 8 ohms, but it's nice to have that option of other ratings. With the right kind of adapters, I can use this with any amp i have.
- I did some home recording recently. I was using my Fender Junior Pro and i was bothered by the tube rattle. Although, i liked the sound from the fender amp, i couldn't have that rattle. I hooked up the Epiphone through the Fender and and got the sound I wanted, rattle free.

Tones can go from a low clean to a thick distort.At about 1 o'clock on the volume dial thing get fun. past that it gets louder, and a little more fun. For what i like to play, anything between 10 to 1 o'clock works best. it's not like i'm going to be using this at the Staples Center anytime soon - if ever.
Although, because it's a simple amp, it can bring out a few faults real quick. dead strings sound even deader on this amp.
- I like playing my Telecaster through this. It can get twangy and clean at low volumes. When I play my Dean Stylist though it, It chunks up good and woody at 10 o'clock. At lower volumes, with a little reverb and slapback, both guitatrs sound great.

No problems so far, but all it's been doing is sitting at home being used once in a while. Of course, when you suffer from GAS, it's so hard to give each amp the full attention they all need....

wouldn't know, never had to deal with epiphone/gibson.

I've been playing since the late sixties. I'm not a big fan of big amps as i have no need for them. With these small simple amps, the limitations are part of the sonic puzzle. This Epiphone is as simple as it gets. And because it overdrives fairly soon, i can get the crunch i want without too much damage to my house.
- I also own a Fender Junior Pro and a Vox P15SMR408. I've managed to use each amp as a head for the other amps speakers. It works out well that way, a real flexible arraignment If I really want to get loud, I can bring out my crate 1, then things get interesting.
- I was given to some free money to spend at Guitar Center. I think I think i got a little overloaded on the choices. I kept looking at everything I could afford. Finally, I saw this on sale next to the Crate POWER BLOCK. When I heard the Epiphone though a 4 x 12 stack, I thought this little amp has some good possibilies, so I bought it.
- This item was a gift, i'd still want to replace it - only after i track down the thief - yadda yadda yadda.
- For it's size, cost and features, it's a great deal.

The Amp is just off the boat from the People's Republic of China; Yes, that's where it comes from folks-as does most of your goodies that you've been buying over the last 8 years! Anyway, I immediately exchanged the Russian tubes inside with Groove Tubes- One GT-12AX&M in the preamp section and a GL-EL84-S (#5) in the power. Then, I plugged it into the mono plug of a Marshall 2x12. I pulled out my strat with voodoo pickups and,
very, very impressive tones came forth. It is my practice setup from now on.
Of course, this is the very reason that I bought the Epi Valve Jr. Head-for practice.
Nothing extra to complicate this arrangement. Though, I would have like the product to be made here in the U.S.A.

The tones are clean and break up early. I've happily used it with pedals and a Line 6 floorboard.
The head holds it's own in a very small room. I wouldn't want to use it for a gig though.

Seems to be solidly made, when I changed the tubes, the back grill plus two sets of metallic corner guards have to be replaced. This puppy is solidly built. Again, it was made in the PR of China-so, these days, quality control is dictated. Time will tell how this amp head will last
over time; however, I believe that it will do so, very nicely.

Although this product is subcontracted and imported by Gibson, Who knows in the long run,
since RP China as a source is a wildcard for the future.

I've been playing for forty years, have over 20 guitars and five other amps (three tubes).
Although my friends are still rightous snobs about tube amps, I think that they will be impressed by this head. It's a great little number if you want it, need it or can only afford to buy this; or, if you enjoy seeing a vintage Epiphone logo on the front. If you have the bucks and need a small practice amp. I'd suggest getting a Gibson handwired GA5 Les Paul Jr. amp.
It is, and will remain a classic. The tones from the GA5 compared to this amp, is like eating a good sirloin compared to a Macdonald's hamburger (sorry if you are a vegetarian, or a lover of Micky Dee's). The handwiring and parts make the difference. Also, if you consider a GA5, consider upgrading to the same GT configuration, as above.

has 4, 8, and 16 ohm outputs which is an awesome feature in my book!

10!!! Excellent classic rock breakup when this thing is cranked. You can't get anything that's going to sound better than this for $100. I give it a 10 based on price,value, and tone. Sure an original jtm 45 will kicks it's butt but you'll have to refinance your house to afford one of those these days!

So far so good

This is the best $100 I've ever spent!

Exactly what it needs ... a volume knob. This 5 watt Class A amplifier is built to reflect the true tone of the guitar that you are playing. It is a simple, and very affordable, tube amp. It also features 4, 8, 16 ohm speaker out jacks (a very nice and flexible feature), which covers about all speaker cabinets that guitarists use.

Just great! I really like the sound of this little amp. With the volume low you get a nice clear yet round and warm tone from the amp. Crank it up for some crunch, and add an overdrive pedal for more sonic mayhem. It really acts like an amplifier should -- just amplifying the tones that are sent to it -- whether it be a particular guitar plugged straight into the amp or a particular guitar with whatever effects connected in between.

Still too early to tell. I have only owned the amplifier for a month. The build quality, though, is much better than one might expect for a $100.00 amp.

Never had to deal with Epiphone.

I am very pleased with this purchase. For those who have not played the amp, this little 5 watter is loud. I use and attenuator to tame it while being able to crank the volume for maximum tube saturation. I will change the tubes out soon to investigate the sonic differences. Right now, though, I am pleased with its sound as is. If better quality tubes improve the amplifier???s current tone, I will be all the more pleased. I believe I will buy another head, but I think I will get the Valve Junior combo also just so I have both.

Straight forward, all tube head with a volume knob.Crank it up and go. 4,8, and 16 Ohm outs are a real plus. It has alot less features than the Line6 junk I just unloaded, but the tone makes up for this.

All I can say is what a great little amp for practicing!Running it into a 2x12 cab. w/V30 Celestions.I no longer need to fire up my marshalls everytime I want to play. I dumped a Line6 Flextone for this little gem because the modeling amps hate pedals.Goes from very clean to crunch as you crank it. It absolutely loves my Route 66 OD, you can drive it to a VH or Hendrix tone with the right guitar. OK, it doesn't have the worldclass tone of my JTM 45 with the Heyboer OT tranny, but for $99 this thing is worth every cent.I'll be buying another one so I can run in stereo.

N/A, just bought it.

Never dealt with them

I've been playing for 30 yrs, have G.A.S. and realize it.Amps include JCM 800,JTM 45,Line6 Flextone,Boutique pedals such as Sweetsound Uvibe,Tonebone Classic, Route 66 OD, Vox Clyde Wah, Maxon Delay. I love the pure tube tone in this simple little head.For the price this has great value, I'll be getting another one.

This is a follow up to my review below...

I put an MXR 10-band equalizer in front of this amp and it CAME ALIVE!! I'm serious when I say this, I just put my Marshall Silver Jubilee away, because this amp sounds so much better than the Marshall...I thought I would never do such a thing, but the truth be told, the VJ Head w/ the EQ sounds better! It is very sensitive to the EQ, more so than the Marshall ever was. In fact I was about to sell the MXR eq because it didnt do much w/ the Marshall...well, w/ the VJ, every frequency is sensitive. B4 you mod the VJ, try the MXR 10 Band Equalizer...because of this discovery, I'm not even going to bother modding it xcept for tubes...I went on mercury magnetics web site and listened to their sound bites...with the mxr, it sounds almost exactly like their sound bites...nice and crisp, with full-ranged tones...

Features are, as every other reviewer has described them, minimal to nonexistent. This can actually be a huge plus. My Dr.Z and my Matchless Lightning don't have too many knobs on them either. This keeps you from defeating yourself or trying to make the amp make allowances for the (too) wide range of guitars you play through it without knowing how to adjust the tone on the instrument.

Yes, the amp is capable of a "Cream" era 70's sound. For those of us that really don't like that sound particularly, it can also do a pretty good AC30 impersonation when mated with the right preamp valves and speaker. For a higher gain sound, put a pedal in the chain, or better yet a bunch of them (it handles multis like my Vox Tonelab SE with aplomb that probably makes my AC30 weep quietly from the closet). It can be on the dark side without EQ control, but this can also warm up effects or bright, thin sounding guitars, so decide whether you need to add eq before you start.
I'm using mine in stereo from the Tonelab with the combo version of this amp on one side running its little ceramic 8" and a JAN 12AT7 for high frequency bite and the head mated to a '40's (?) Bell & Howell Projector Speaker cabinet with a Jensen C series alnico 12 in it and a higher gain JJ12AX7 in the preamp for a bit of warm overdriven voxiness and chime. Both are running JJ EL84 in the power stage.
Not to mention the cabinet options this little head gives you give a great opportunity to have COOL looking gear that keeps people guessing (rather than something they can run out and buy). My guitars are two Gretsch (Malcolm Young Signature and Light Blue Pearl Jet) a '71 Gibson ES 345, a '64 Hofner Verithin, a Tele thinline, a Casio DG20 and a Parker Nitefly (mainly for recording). The amps currently favour the brighter guitars, but that's easily flexible, and if I want the ES 345 to sound less like a sled of Les Pauls hitting a wall, I can ease back on the Vari-Tone switch.
My music style is '80's post-punk (Echo & The Bunnymen, U2, Placebo, Simple Minds,The Cure, INXS, psych furs, The Cult, James, Def Leppard, Suede etc. and I'm yet to find one of these that the combination of the two amps and a decent multi-processor can't dial in.
It's great and versatile for recording, and so far has been loud enough for live, just mic it up - singers perform better when the rest of the band isn't drowning them out anyway. I'm not sure I would reccomend these as 'beginner' amps or as a 'stand-alone' piece of gear, as no one piece of gear does all the things we want it to, but for a super warm and dynamic low wattage class A amp stereo pair that looks dead cool onstage and cost less than a decent pair of shoes, these are definitely worth a try.
The fact that you don't have to break your back trying to carry your AC30 or Matchless around to a club (not to mention worrying about someone stealing it) is just icing on the cake.

Since it's a stereo pair, I suppose there already is a backup in place, but it hasn't been a problem so far.

Yet to come up.
Their warranty is fairly long (5 years I believe) but modding them voids it. I have all the Bitmo mods and have been waiting for a time when I'm feeling like a bunch of benchwork to install them all. I've read excellent things about them, but honestly when I get home from work and walk up to my little rig, I usually end up playing it instead of getting out the soldering iron. If this changes, I'll review the Bitmos as well.

This, after slight tube swapping and mating to a mismatched speaker configuration (alnico/ceramic)stands pretty close to some amps I've paid a great deal more money for. No, it's not really a substitute for an AC30 if you're touring or playing big venues, but since I'm not these days, its a lot less of a headache and a whole lot less of an expense plus it has a lot more individuality (at least for now).
If I ever get myself to sell my other amps, I'll have to come back and rate this a "10".

For $100, this amp head gives us (1) a real tube pre-amp section; (2) a real tube power amp section; and (3) three speaker outputs (4, 8, or 16 ohms). Also, it is a very attractive little head, with a solid feel and apparently good build quality. True, it lacks a standby switch, tone knob, and some other features--thus the rating of "6." But it's only $100!

Wow! I have played the amp through a 2x12 cab at Guitar Center, a vintage 2x15 cabinet (a great-sounding old Teisco cab), and a 1x12 Line6 cab that I picked up. It sounds different through the different cabs--but it always sounds great. And it's incredibly loud for 5 watts. It has an outstandingly warm tone, moving into a full-throated--but not over-done--distortion as you crank the volume knob. I've tried with a number of different guitars. It makes even my Teisco Spectrum 5 sound great! (Beautiful, cool guitar, but its wacky pickups are tonally challenged.)

I play nothin' but the blues, and this amp is great for it. A metal-head would need a pedal or two, but the amp takes pedals well. I've plugged in a Frantone Cream Puff, a Zoom UltraFuzz, a Voodoo Labs Superfuzz, a Snarling Dogs SuperBawl Whine-O-Wah, a Rocktron Black Cat Moan wah, a Voodoo Labs MicroVibe, a Visual Sounds H2O Liquid Chorus and Echo, and a PreSonus TubePRE preamp. The Epiphone has treated all of them kindly. In fact, it's a real pleasure trying out my pedal collection through the amp! With some pedals--for example, the Frantone Cream Puff--the Epiphone sounds as though it's channeling some previously unknown tone god.

I don't gig, but I did use the amp for my company's holiday party, playing it through the 2x15 cab in a room of about 200 people. It was plenty loud for the venue: in fact, I was louder than the bass player, who had a 100 watt solid-state amp and two 12s.

I've only had the amp a couple of weeks, so I can't predict how it will work in the long term. It appears to be solidly built.

I've never dealt with Epiphone and thus have no opinion in this category.

I've been playing about 25 years. I have owned a variety of other amps, including three vintage Silvertone tube amps (one of which I still own: tiny, but great sounding), a Fender Tremolux (great-sounding amp), a tiny Danelectro (beautiful, warm sound), a couple of Peaveys (including a Delta Blues 210, which is also a great-sounding amp), a couple of Alamos, some solid-state amps (a couple of Voxes, a Fender Frontman 25R, a Crate . . .), and a couple of Teisco amps (including a Teisco Checkmate 50 and a Teisco "Miny T"). I own a bunch of guitars, mostly off-the-wall stuff. (I'm a big Hound Dog Taylor fan: thus the Teiscomania.) This Epiphone appears headed instantly for "Most Favored Amp" status. I haven't gotten a bad sound out of it yet; it treats my guitars well, even the weird ones that no other amp has ever really liked or respected; it treats my pedals well; and it's surprisingly adaptable.

I would definitely buy another if this were stolen or lost. In fact, I've thought of buying another so I can run the pair in stereo--and maybe at last get a knock on the door from a neighbor, asking me to turn the darned thing down!

I love the vintage look, the small size (I hate lugging heavy amps!), and the tone the tone the tone the tone the tone!

This is a great little amp. For $100, it's almost unbelievable.

Basic - All you really need!

OK, I'm STOKED! Just got it in from musiciansfriend last nite...Tried it this morning. I'M IN DISBELIEF. How in the world did they get a $99 amp to sound this good is beyond me. I've been looking for a cheap alternative to a Vox AC30 and I think i've found it. With my les paul and strat I NAILED Edge's sound, IMHO. Now, that's to my own ears comparing it to a AC30 I played 2 weeks ago. I was looking for that "Chimey" top end the AC30 is known for, and this comes pretty close, well at least good enough for me! Now, it doesn't sound EXACTLY like one, mind you, but if you went out and spent $1600 on a new AC30, it won't sound exacly like Edge's setup either. I found it with the volume between 2 and 3 o'clock, and LIGHTLY picking the notes on the guitar. If you hit them too hard, it will be too harsh and distorted. At that setting, if you hit a power chord it's gonna crank...Some reviewers said it sounds sorta marshally - I disagree. It has a higher top end, and it's not as smooth as my Marshall Silver Jubilee; more like a fender or vox cranked. (BTW, I played this thru my Crate Blue Voodoo 4x12 cab, which is a great cab - I dont think they make them anymore...)

ONE IMPORTANT OBSERVATION: I noticed when I played a note, I heard a too-familiar fizz on the top. As I suspected, the tubes are microphonic. I tapped on the top of the head, and sure enough you can hear it thru the speakers...They are Sovtec tubes, but probably 2nd's or low quality. I'm gonna retube it next week anyways, so no worries here.

Buy One of these before they sell out of them! I went to a store that had 3 of them last week, they were all gone a few days later...

I would bring a backup if I was playing out with it...

I'm sure epi would take care of things if needed

Playing 28 years, have played every style, from Elvis (Hey, you laugh, we were so busy w/ gigs we almost quit our day jobs!)to heavy metal. Used to be one of those 80's players with stacks and racks of outboard gear. I smartened up, and now use good floor pedals with my Les Paul, strat and 1981 BC Rick Mockingbird thru my Marshall Silver Jubilee. Simple. Currently in a Christian worship team. This amp fits right in with contemporary Christian music...

Although many reviews have already been submitted I feel the urge to say my say as well. Groundbreaking piece of kit, no excuse to buy average small trannie amps anymore. Get AT LEAST one of these.
Simplicity is a beautiful thing, and this ampette is beautifully simple.

Goes from clean to a decent roar by a quick flick of the single volume knob. Turn it up and control things from your guitar. Sound quality is very , very nice. Its class A valve, so you're sorted for quality sounds. Responds well to my Gibson The Paul ( 1979) and Squier Tele. Take effects well to, I use a Boss GT3 multi and various overdrive units. Slight hiss when fully cranked on its own, but on the whole very quiet indeed.

Time will tell, but the signs are good. Build quality seems very decent. Comes with a 5 year warranty! That's 2 years more than you get on an average brand new car! Nice!
Solidly built, no compromises made. Nice and chunky , but still cute.

Should be really easy to service this one, or get it serviced. So simple, not much that can go wrong that cannot be easily fixed.

This one is a keeper for sure. Use a vintage Roland Bolt 30 Hybrid amp as a cab for the Valve junior. Fitted with a Celestion classic 80 speaker. Does the job very nicely. For the price, this thing is a no- brainer. Did I mention that the amp is cosmetically flawless as well? Epiphone really have their quality control well sorted on these products. What next? A 20 watt version with EQ and reverb perhaps? Now that would be glorious. For the moment, this fella is the bargain of the year.