Epiphone Valve Junior Head

ive had this for about 7 months now wanted to wait to write a reveiw so i could test it out overtime. ill tell you i use this head with a 210 hartke cab for bass and it rocks i do use it for guitar but i just loce it as a bass amp..this puppy has some puch and ive actually used it live i just mic it and it just thumps. ive had new jj tubes put in to get a little more clean head room stock a just under half way i got a little grit but now i can go almost 3/4 way up and just nice awesome 70's bass grind..

for bass very nice love the sound..with my american strat its a little thin but i did the tube mod because i wanted the clean headroom so without at least some kind of pedal its just too bright. if you turn her up all the way though it rocks but its too loud for practice these things are really loud..very quite get some noise with my strat(what amp doesnt make noise with a strat) my les paul and my thunderbird bass are dead quite though

ive used it live about 5 times all with bass and i use it at home alot and the kids are always climbing on it for a chair or banging on it and ive havent had any problems..the only thing i would even remotley knock points off for are that the power chord can sometimes come loose in the socket

have never used them ive owned alot of epiphone stuff over the years though and have never had any problems i seem to always buy the epi version of whatever gibson i have at the time as a player and sometimes the epi version is better than my gibson's

just a great little amp and like i said they make fantastic bass amps..

Features: all tube, class A, 5 watt design. single knob (for volume). three speaker outs 4ohm, 8ohm, 16ohm.

This amp has some easily overlooked features that make it handy. For one, its self-biasing, so you have no trouble experimenting with different tube brands and mixing. You still gotta use a 12ax7 and el84 of course. I wish the amp had an eq section and a master volume. but hey its 99 bucks so whatever! as far as versatility: the amp ranges from punchy cleans to all out overdrive. i've run this through the matching cab and other speakers and it always sounds great for the style i'm playing. this ranges from classic rock to blues to 70's style metal. for modern tones you'll deffinitely need an EQ medal

sounds range from nice cleans to warm breakup to really harsh overdrive.

you control the gain by driving the tubes (thanks to a 5 watt class a design). this can be done via the volume knob, your guitar's volume, and the pickups you use. with a passive i get a good range of tones. with my extra high output active humbucker this amp has NO cleans. just warm to brutal (but not scooped mid-range brutal).

the valve jr has a neutral EQ at lower volumes but then its cranked the mid range really comes alive with heavy bass presence and good highs. this amp is very quiet during operation.

this amp is not suited for modern styles as is (ie: modern shred and scooped metal). its all about mid range tones so you can do classic rock with ease and some awesome 70's metal tones that i use in my progressive metal band(and we're damn heavy!) if you like scooped tones just put an EQ pedal in there and youre good.

simple design, simple operation, cant go wrong

i'd use it without a backup but you should always have extra tubes and a spare fuse just in case

havent dealt with them, havent needed to

amazing value. i got the head brand new for 99 and the cab brand new for 130. cant beat this value. this has replaced my 140 watter! for jamming, practice and most venues this amp will perform fine. if youre competing with a huge amp or are in a bigger venue you need to mic it. problem solved. i love the tone and the real tube design! i just wish it had an EQ and master volume...

i give it an 8 because i love it to death but if it was lost or stolen i'd save up for a pro amp

Very versatile in that it drives all kinds of cabinets (thanx to 3 separate outputs in the back).
No tone controls, just volume... but if you need to tweak thetone simply use an EQ pedal and you're good to go.
Also, if you need more drive use an OD pedal.

Great for rock, classic rock, and some earlier forms of heavy metal (Judas Priest) with an OD pedal. You can certainly shred with this guy.

Very quiet (no noise and/or hiss) and unexpectedly loud for only 5 watts. Certainly too loud to play in any apartment.

Regardless of volume issues, this amp sounds great and even better when driven by a nice pedal... actually, even with a cheap Bad Monkey the results are recording-worthy.

Not at all dark sounding as some have written in the past. I experienced a big, muscular sound with plenty of highs.

In all fairness, need to add that I bough mine used and that the previous owner upgraded the tubes to JJs, so I don't know what the amp sounded like out of the box.

Too early to comment

I've been playing for 26 years as a hobbyist. Own 30+ guitars and 7 amps.
I would certainly buy this amp again.

It's a 1-trick pony. But that one trick is a controllable tube overdrive/saturation.

The sound on this thing is absolutely amazing if you're into tubes. For $130, you won't find a better amp head. This thing makes every practice amp out there a joke if this is the sound you're looking for.

If you want metal or a lot of variability, then get a modeling amp...but it won't respond to your guitar controls or your picking as well as a real tube will. For blues, classic or even hard rock, jazz, pop...you won't find a better amp for the price.

I run mine wide open with a G&L Legacy or an SG and use the guitar's volume controls to control the sound with a gutted Vox Valvetronics cabinet (the amp died and I didn't replace it). I also have it running into a THD hot plate because it's just so damn loud. Yes, the hot plate alters the sound a bit on the quietest setting, but it makes it playable in my apartment.

I would imagine it would take pedals allright, but I don't plan on using one except for a clean boost.

And this is with the stock tubes. I'd imagine you could tailor the sound to your liking with slightly different tubes.

Again, it's a 1-trick pony...but it does that one trick really well.

I dropped it once...ripped the leatherette when it hit, but didn't notice a single probelm affer the fact.

The amp hasn't broken down, and I don't expect it to. There's not a lot to go wrong with it and it's simple enough to get fixed.

Epiphone's guitars (apart from the elites) seem to have the same choices made in their construction: good wood, horrible electroncis. That is not the case with this amp.

Never dealt with Epiphone; never plan on it.

I absolutely love this amp. My eventual plan is to run it wide open through the Hot Plate on a loop of an LS-2 with something else on the other side into something like a Black Cat that's really clean...and use the amp like a distortion pedal. As it is right now, it sounds absolutely amazing for the price and does exactly what it claims. If it dies, I'd go buy a new one before having it fixed and then use the fixed one as a backup. At $130, there's no reason not to own one...it's cheaper than pedals made to model this kind of amp.

I am guessing it was made in 2006 or 2007 since I just bought it new.
Features: Volume, Input, On/Off switch. My cats can operate it. Full tube amp since it has a 12AX7 preamp tube and a EL84 power amp tube. 5 Watts. Three speaker outputs (4, 8 and 16 Ohm).

I am using it at home for my hobby of torturing my wife and cats using whatever is sonically available to me (guitar, keyboard, piano, organ, voice). I am predominantly a pianist(weddings, lessons, etc.) but play guitar for some variation and such. It is a good volume for my usage: loud enough to feel it, not too loud that the neighbors take up pitchforks and storm my house. I would hate that to happen because they would probably take all of my beer and good liquor.

Only thing I think it is lacking is an effects loop.

Scoring this one is difficult since it is short on features but it has all of the features that I require it having. I would give it a 10 but minus 1 for no effects loop. That justifies my 9 rating.

I will preface all of these comments by saying that it is still 100% stock. This is my first full tube amp.

People have said that it is a little dark and have to agree but I like a slightly darker sound after many years of playing through cheap solid state amps that way too bright and brittle sounding. Even though it has only one control it is pretty variable on sound by just using the volume knob. Its clean is pretty good and I like the feel of the distortion. It is very quiet with very little noise.

I am using a pretty wide variety of guitars with it: An Ibanez SZ520QM (HH), Ibanez Roadstar II RS140 (SSH), Johnson Strat (SSS Texas Specials), BC Rich Ironbird (HH bridge=DiMarzio Breed), Oscar Schmidt OE40, OLP Luke (SSH active). I has suited all of my styles which range from Blues to Country to Rock.

One of the most impressive things that I have found about the Junior is that it loves pedals! I have a Jekyl & Hyde pedal that I have held onto even though I have not had much luck with it through solid state amps. It kept sounding too piercing. It sounds great through the Valve Junior! I had gotten rid of most of my pedals sicne I got tired of not liking them but now I am afraid I may start piling them up again!

I am currently playing it through a modified Kustom Tube 12A combo amp. I added a switch and an input jack so i can use the Kustom as a combo or a cab. I will be doing this mod to my other amps to give me some flexibility: Kustom 12A with 8" speaker, Peavey Transtube 212 EFX with 2x12 and a Fender Cyber-Deluxe with a 12".

It seems sturdy. I usually wouldn't gig without a backup no matter what I am playing.

I don't feel I have had it long enough to give a good rating on this.

Have not had to use.

I have been playing about 4 years now. I listed most of my guitars and amps above.

I would definitely replace it with another one if stolen. The price is great and I really like it. It is super flexible since it takes pedals so well. I have never been an Epiphone fan until I played this amp.

I love how simple it is. It is going to force me to actually spend time learning instead of tweaking umpteen knobs and switches. I have modelers that I spend more time tweaking than playing.

It is pretty much alone at its pricepoint for being fully tubes. I am new to tube amps and was not prepared to drop $400 at the moment. This give me a great introduction to tube amps and doesn't break the budget.

Overall, I think it is a great amo and a great value!

2005/2006 5 watt all tube amp. This is the new version with the reduced hum. I play Latin, Blues, Rock, Jazz, New Age..etc ... I play through this amp mostly with my American Fender Start with David Gilmour EMG pickups. I also us my TogaMan Guitar Viol(BowedGuitar.com) through this amp. I find that the bowed part sound s a lot warmer. You know all the features (or lack of) of this amp already. I do wish it had reverb. Everything else is fine.

This is where this amp really shines. I turn mine up to about 11 o'clock and control the gain with the guitar's volume knob. This amp doesn't stay too clean, but I do mic it up and use the P.A.'s reverb for it. As long as I have a monitor nearby I am in tone heaven. This little amp really surprised me...

Looks pretty solid, but for $99.00 I wonder where the cut corners. I plan on buying a couple more and getting them modded with Mercury Magnetics. So far, I have not had a problem with it.

Never dealt with them.

I have been playing for about 12 years now. I recommend everyone who is into tube tone to get this little gem. You will not regret it.

Brand new.. probably a 2006, as it's the version 2 model.
I play rock blues country and pop on this thing.
One channel, one volume control, one on/off switch. that's it.

Mine is dead stock and about three weeks old. It came as a blem from Musicians Friend.. I managed to discover the fuses weren't connecting in the holders. fixed it for free in about five minutes.
voila.. perfect.

I wish it had a standby.

It has plenty of power.. esp for the overdriven sounds.. otherwise it's a practice amp.. and wont keep up, on clean settings, with a drummer unless he's taking it easy and you're chording. Then it might be ok.

These will not continue to be sold at 99.00.. you'd better get off your crack and go by one cheap while you can.

I'm giving this a ten because wishing it had stuff or did things I had no reasonable expectation for would be dishonest.

Real sweet tube clean esp if you're pushing it almost to overdrive.
I've used strats teles p 90s humbucks.. and it has a good relationship with all of them.

An el84 tubes sounds like an el84 tube.. and if you don't like that, you're probably goofy in the first place. The overdrive is fantastic..from mild to wild this has stuff you can really get into.

maxed out it's a bit mushy.. but then.. what amp isn't?

It's quiet.. it's toneful.. it's got plenty of volume for jams or solo practice. it loves pedals in front of it..

Today I jammed tom petty, and zz top..
then I fingerpicked clean for a while, folk to jazzier stuff.

I am always able to make this amp sound good, fast.

what you use in front of it, it responds to wonderfully.

(unless it's crap.. hey! know what sounds really awesome.. the cheapo behringer cs100 compressor all by itself.. man.. the amp has the tone.. )



I'm giving it a ten.. for two reasons.. out of the box at this price it's tone madness!
however.. for those wanting more, it's available in common modifications, cheap and in several voicings.
how can it deserve less than a ten?

five year warrranty. My 15 year old epi sheraton has an even longer warranty. I doubt I'll ever need either of them.

The main projection for hassle is the lack of a standby switch.
it will cause the tubes to warm up too fast, and reduce their lifespan a bit.

but I can't deduct points, since I knew it didn't have one.

it's built well.. nice inside and out.. solid everywhere.. good materials. no sloppy glue or anything like that..
I'd have to say it's really overbuilt.

So far, other users are NOT having any problems. No component failures, etc..

so though mine is new.. the warranty is in effect, and is a long one..and reports are all good from others.. a ten!

I've never done warranty with epiphone or gibson. I've communicated with them several times. And they've always been great. Even sent me a whole bunch of really nice posters!
So I have nothing bad to say about them.. and haven't heard anything bad.
another ten.

My first amp was five watts.. back in '64.. a little silvertone with a 6 or 8" speaker.
I have about 30 guitars and basses.. three amps.. lots of stuff..recording etc.

Not only would I buy this again.. I am going to buy another one.
It's just too good a deal.. too good a sound.. too many possibilitys..
it would be foolish of me not to.

Compared to solid state offerings in this price range, this amp blows them away.
other small tube amps seem to cost twice as much, at least.

I do think they should install a standby switch.
otherwise.. I think they have done this exactly right.

To move the amps performance around would make it more costly.
What EPI has done is give you a really sweet tube amp that can be whatever you want for tiny money and not a lot of effort.

I think that's better than adding a hundred bucks to the price.

Buy this amp. Keep it for the rest of your life. As long as you practice at home.. you'll be glad you have this. If you do small gigs.. like play in church.. or jam in the garage or basement... or even lots of clubs and bars that are 300 or less seating.. you'll be glad you have this amp.

I typically plug a digitech rp7 in front of it.. and there's my reverb EQ modulation.. etc.. and the amp gets along fine with it.

I can drop the volume of the amp down to a whisper and still it sounds very good.
above the 10:00 position.. the amp is really just great.

I have to say this is one of the best buys out there.. what it is is way more than it's price tag.

Music 123 has them for 129.00... MF still has them at 99.00.
ebay used ones are available.. you can't miss at these prices folks.

I know it sounds like gushing.. and I know amp experts would swap a few compliments and add a few criticisms.. that's their nature.
But for most guitar players.. this is as good as it gets for an amp of this size and type.

I liked my Marshall mg15dfx.. and I liked my Behringer GM110..
they both had nice qualitys and were great to practice with.

Now, I never turn them on.

One knob is enough for this little tone monster!

This may be the ultimate jazz amp! Nice warm full rich tone! If you want to hear some great sounding audio clips of this beast just go to
www.myspace.com/clifffrederiksen-the speaker was a peavey Sheffield 1X12 cabinet. These are awesome sound clips!

Seems very well built-not much to go wrong!

I wouldn't know-never needed it.

This little beast rocks! Wvery studio or jazz musician ought to have one!

Less is more at least when you're paying 100 bucks for a tube head. I think an EQ pedal could really open up some options.

I have it connected to a 16 ohm Carvin tweed 2-12 cab loaded with US-made "British Series" Carvin speakers. I play an LP Jr. with a Seymour Duncan '59 in the bridge and the stock P-100 at the neck. I can get a wide range of tones with this set up. Want to rock out, I use an MXR Distortion+, which really helps the tone out even with the distortion at "0". It's also useful to overdrive the amp at lower volumes. I also once owned a Classic 30, and to compare the two would be unfair but I'd be hard pressed to choose between the set-ups

No probs, 5-year warranty.

see above

No tone, volume on/off only. Rating is relatively high because of the convenience of multiple ohm settings for different cabs. Tube, w/ss rectifier.

Great for blues. Very sweet cleans at lower volume & tons of gain when dimed w/humbuckers. A little too gainy (especially for harp), so I will probably sub a 12at7 or 5751 for the 12ax7.

It is built like a tank w/a 5 year warranty. No need for backup. but really to new for me to give an appropriate rating here.

No issues w/Epiphone.

Love clean & overdriven tones. Far out performs the valve jr. combo. I would be willing to pay 20-30 bucks for a tone control. There is nothing out there in this price range that comes close in tone.