"Epiphone" Valve Junior Combo Amp Review

Products are rated from 1 to 7 Harps!

Steve"Big Daddy BluzHarp"Harvell

The Epiphone "Valve Junior Combo Amp" has got to be THE most awesome deal to be had on the planet earth for the price!This is a class A output amp through a single ended circuit that delivers constant power giving the musician a dynamic and responsive sound at his beckoning call. Now this amp is not a 100 watt marshall Stack or a Modeling Amp that gives you 100s of options,but for what it is,there is not another amp that can touch it in any way. I have read some reviews about it needs reverb,tremolo,etc,but that is where being a mature musician comes into play.Many cats need a lot of extra crap and too much distortion to cover up their inabilities as a player.That is where using a PURE tube amp comes into play.

My contact at Gibson Labs said that the Epiphone "Valve Junior Combo Amp" and "Head Version" are essentially a Gibson GA-5 Circuit with a few tweaks to give it more headroom. And I agree with that statement for the Epiphone "Valve Junior Combo Amp" is the loudest 5 watt amp that I have ever played through.The quality of the design,the build of the circuit and cab is top notch.The cabinet quality reminds me of a "Matchless",REALLY.It is solid and has some weight to it, not so light like some cheap practice amps that they seem like they may move around from vibrations when cranked.The vinyl covering is immaculate,the seams are perfect and glued down with the precision of a NASA project.I have seen many amps in stores costing several hundred dollars and the darn seems are coming unglued,and these are name brands demanding a lot of cash?How in God's name does "Epiphone" get this done for the store price of $139.99?

Let me point out that I have a place in my amplifier harem for both the "Epiphone" Valve Junior Head and the Valve Junior Combo .The head version is kool for changing the voice of your signature sound by using different size and brand of speakers as well as various cabinets made from solid woods/plywood/plexiglass etc. But the Epiphone "Valve Junior Combo Amp" has a very unique place because of the design of the cabinet in conjunction with the speaker brand and size.As a result, you have a whole different animal than the "Epiphone" Valve Junior Head even though the circuitry is basically the same.

The Epiphone "Valve Junior Combo Amp" is 5 class A watts through a "Sovtek" EL-84 power tube and a "Sovtek" 12AX7 preamp tube. The 8" speaker is a PERFECT match for this awesome little combo.It has such a diverse voicing in that it sounds crystal clean at low settings but can morph into a fire breathing monster spitting out overdive that would leave other similar size speakers in the dust.I am a harmonica player but have had friends that play blues and classic rock that,well,I almost had to pry the amp from their hands they liked it so much.And my son plays hardcore rock and has 2 cds out with his band,"Keeping The Promise",and Steven was like the other guys.He will have one under the X-Mas tree this year.It is sure to please musicians of all types.

For my personal test of this combo amp I was using a "Shaker" dynamic harmonica mic with a volume control.At about 11:00 I start to get that edgy breakup that sounds so gritty,and at 1:00 there is creamy overdive that is over the top. 2:00 is the ultimate sweet spot for me.What I have started doing is using my harmonica mic with a volume control a lot like a guitar player does.I will turn the Valve Jr. Combo up to 3/4 wide open and back off full volume 3 clicks on my mic and you get a bit more overdrive without feed back as opposed to playing with the mic wide open and the amp at 2:oo.Another option is to crank the amp wide open and back off the volume on the mic 4 clicks back from wide open, the volume and overdrive would make Eddie Van Halen back off and let you take the lead solo!

It is very easy to change the power and preamp tubes by simply disconnecting the power cord and removing the screws that hold on the back section of the amp.Changing the tubes to get various textures is what makes this amp yet another versatlile tool in your tone arsenal but the speaker is just fine in my opinion even though I have read where a few readers have changed it out.The Valve Junior Combo is a mean/nasty little tone monster that I am very happy to have and it plays right out of the shipping box like a hand wired $700 amp,really!The head version is fun but with the combo it is so easy to just pick it up and go to the open blues jam and simply plug in.It will keep up with a full band unless they go to white noise.

If you would like to read my review of the head version go here Valve Jr. Head Review . I give the Epiphone "Valve Junior Combo Amp" my highest rating of (7) Harps and also a new one.My "Nasty Amp Award" for being so mean and low down when ya turn her UP!One of the best amps that I have EVER played through,PERIOD!!!!



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