Day 7 - TTK's Take on the Epiphone Valve Junior JR Hot Rod Edition - NAMM '10 2010

[ArielsSmartyPants]

Lets hear max volume with just enough gain for breakup :)

[jonreidcookingTV]

I'DE like to see a DR Z wreck amp review

[mackavella04]

do you think this unit ran into a vox actv4 would sound good? i wanted a good reverb unit but didnt want to spnd $600 on a fender revrb tank and the electro harmonix pedal i wantd they discontined

[ShaggyDawg]

I always feel a bit sorry for these guys who weren't really born with the blues gene where all they can muster is a couple of clumsy, 3-note "twiddle-dee, twiddle-dee" licks.

[moriondor]

isn't the reverb TUBE driven not SPRING?

[ruffles272]

Why did you capitalize the words tube and spring?

[moriondor]

@ruffles272 Not sure really, just did. Does it really matter?

[UnijaLudaka97]

hey lmsjr..... how to get the clean out of that bad boy without loosing the volume?

[mrovantes]

Good stuff, it doesn't seem to overdrive when you dime the volume knob anymore. Kinda like how it does with the v3 combo. In any case, hail the tone king. More amp shootout videos pls.

[ckolonko]

Great video. Thanks you very much.

[MyNameIsRich]

If you want controllable blues breakup (bedroom level) use an overdrive / boost in the front to push the pre-amp, take the gain past 2 o'clock and master down, i love this amp, reverb is usable at low settings but not to everyones tastes.

[klv400]

great demo!

[thebluesman1979]

maybe it was the cab or the video audio but i just don't thank the new hot rod sounds that good. I like the new features but the stock tubes need to be replaced to get a much better tone. I cant down the valve jr hot rod too much because it is well worth the money with the things you can do with it.

[AceOnTheBass100]

Hot little amp! Have you tried different tubes in it, like some NOS RCA 12AX7's? The reverb feature alone is worth the price of admission. Fender's '63 Tube Reverb retails for almost $900, so by comparison this baby is a steal!

[MegaFenderstrat]

you should demo fender's new hot rod 3 series

[t0psecretshit]

tone king? more like tone fucking suck! just kidding i actually like this amp thats why i'm checking it out. this guy doesn't make it sound that good though.

[TheAnddrake]

Less talk more rock damn it!!!

[MikeGowinBand]

OK!

[DangerousBastard]

Pretty cool!

Not crazy about the reverb.... But a cool little amp, and a cool video. Thanks!

[wunwinglo]

I love this guy. _|,,|

[kfinchum2]

this a perfect blues amp... Sounds Awsome!!!

[Gotama456]

so effectively the gain knob acts as volume control, and the volume knob acts as a master volume control? im kinda confused because on my amp the gain knob basically acts as a distortion control and doesn't really affect volume.

[taypuc31]

@Gotama456 This is a tube amp. Gain is input volume, and master is output volume. Higher input overdrives the tubes as it gets louder so you have to turn down the master so it's not too loud.

[SerWer90]

Very "fleshy" and tasty sound. Simply great for vintage pieces

[shoekstra1419]

how's the non hot rod version for a harder punk or thrash kinda sound?

[MeanGreenMovies]

@shoekstra1419 not good it can get VERY heavy distortion but only when youve got volume all the way up, so its a pain

[Guppy915]

@shoekstra1419 I guess for Ramones or something it would be cool. It's a no BS amp, I use a Tubescreamer, and Dr.Z BrakeLite attenuator. I can crank it and it sounds sooooooo good! I do not like it for thrash sound. I got a MXR Fullbore Metal and it sounds kind of crappy on this amp. But, I use a Boss DS-1 or an Ibanez TS-9 and it rocks hard, like Cream or AC/DC very well. It's one of those things you just forget equipment and love to play!

[PeterRosenqvist]

NO pedal on this day ?? . {;o)

[MFJord1]

hey TK!

you should demo the epiphone valve senior!

[1984kevingriffin]

too much stuff on the screen

[realkman666]

What a nasty-sounding thing.

[NeckPickup]

how do you get the devil horns to make that sound? ive been practicing it for months and its still silent.

[dcologgi]

What guitar is that?

[ct6mblack]

Dude, he says it in the video...

[mfudge007]

I would guess that 90% of the players out there that have a Valve Jr. use it as a practice amp. Not really loud enough to gig without monitors. I own 4 valve jr's, not the hot rod though, with 4 1x12 matching speaker cabs. I actually use all 4 of them live, with the help of a Line 6 Pod+Y-Cables to run all 4 heads. I stack the amps 4 high in between 2 stacked speakers on each side. I get a great tones. Even with the amps set to 2 oclock, i still get clean tones from pod. I like having unique rig

[skaterguitar4ever]

@mfudge007 if i were you i would use analog pedals cuz ithink its betta

[gds3z]

I had one of these. Sent it back. Unbelievably bad reverb! Did anybody at Gibson listen to this thing before they let it out the door?

[maybe000itsme]

This amp sounds kinda thin. Jet city jca20h ftw!

[tjk3052]

Sounds very dark, this thing really needs tone contriols, and that reverb sounds terrible IMO. The Blackstar HT-5 is much better.

[twobirdsonestone13]

i think it is funny how you mention it has sort of an "overdrive" distortion and not a medal one... well duh its a tube amp.. if someone is looking to use a 5 watt tube amp for medal then they shouldn't be playing the guitar. thanks for the demo though.

[RNRDOLL]

metal....spell it with me...m-e-t-a-l

[ByrdWhiteMovie]

I have one of these things... not even the hot-rod version, I mean the original (1 volume knob & a power switch,) and I get a great metal tone w/ the volume dimed & a Boss SuperOD in the front. And that's w/ a single coil strat. Just loud enough for practice w/ a drummer, too.

[epitaph664]

TO THE TONE CAVE BATMAN!!!!!!

[pasigmon]

Would like to see a demo of this amp with the Dummy load implemented and it being used as a Standing Alone Reverb unit driving a Fender Champ type of amp or similar. Additionally, I think changing the V2 tube from 12AX7 to 12AT7 could improve the tone of the reverb. I'm sure it would be very easy to voice the reverb tone with a few easy mods. Seems like a lot of bang for the buck!

[snellgrc]

reverb on this amp sucks, should have had a tone control instead -

master volume also sucks - they should have fitted an attenuator like the Vox AC4 so that the power tube can be distorted too - only way to get these amps singing.

[hendrix184]

HELP ME i want a low watt tube amp head for christmas and here are the ones i want.

1. Epiphone Valve Junior Hot Rod

2. Balckheart Little Giant

3. Vox AC4 TV

4. Or Blackstar HT-5H

[pablobs24]

vox ac4tv

[nght5tlkr]

I reckon the Blackstar HT would be best as it's more dynamic, but it depends more on what you play and what tone you're after.

[jamesreptile1109908]

play all of them if you can. the epiphone is nice because it is easy to work on. the black harts i dont like that much for distortion. vox i thinkis the best out of all of them for price sound and looks.

[RNRDOLL]

@hendrix184 get the blackstar..way better

[RNRDOLL]

If you want a good opinion, we need more info...what kind of music do you play, are you jamming with a abnd etc...

[fucksalottasluts]

Epi screwed the pooch on the reverb. How can you fuck up reverb that bad? It's not exactly the hardest thing in the world to implement properly. The decay is too long, the dwell is too high and the frequency response is just flat out wrong. It's like they just tossed the reverb in as an afterthought. Would have been more effective to use the second tube for higher gain and stick a TB tone stack in it. Hopefully the modders can fix it and make this amp rock like it's little brother.

[ima80sfreak85]

Good work. Would like to see an in depth review on the new Valve Senior. I have only see a couple reviews on this amp. Looks to have promise in the burgeoning affordable tube amp category.

[shackleton1]

Reverb sounds terrible. You cant expect a tube driven reverb to sound good at this price.

[alohastewie]

quick request tk valve senior vs blackheart handsome devil

that would be killer!

[DimDim40]

@alohastewie I agree. I need a 15 - 20watt all tube head to go with my new home made 2x12 cab and am torn between the Jet City JCA20H, Blackheart Handsome devil head and the Epiphone Valve Senior Head.

[bubbabeau07]

@alohastewie hell, do a three way between the blackheart, the epiphone, and a vox ac4tv..that would be awesome!!!

[asirianinagony]

I would love to see a video on the new Epiphone Valve Senior as it is practically nonexistent on Youtube and Tone King vids are usually some of the best. Loved the video like always man.

[princeperry65]

I counted every time he said "ok"...

...14, I think.

Not bad.

[andreaxyz]

thank you for this demo... I m going to give away ht5 mini stack away this weekend for the little Hot Rod....

[filipopolis1976]

Jesus Christ! Man, your talking kills your videos! You keep on recapitulating and paraphrasing things over and over and over and over and over and over..... again!

[jelt1979]

legend man

[andreaxyz]

Hey Tone King, why don't you compare the Valve Junior with the Blackstar HT5???? It would be cool.... and very explicative of the US industry and the UK one... Cheers...

[HRcircut85]

check out his video on 10 amps in 10 minutes, it has em both in there

[SpiteJay]

Thanks for the review, I really dig the stuff you've put up. I'm relatively new to diddling with equipment so my question is, could I plug this monster into a Blackheart BH15H and not plow it apart? Rock on

[MojoPenguin]

Man, this Hot rod sounds great, and it can act as a spring reverb tank ? o_O KOOL I'm still holding to my Spring Chicken for my surf needs thought, too big. BUt THANKS TTK, amazing as always. \m/

[tak178]

Sounds fine, but do this with passive pickups when you are able.

[ace69er]

Very nice little head. Whats the wattage on this? 10W?

[6730]

Are you Going to Review The 20w Epiphone Valve Senior head or combo?

[MarkBrim]

i don't think epiphone knew about this when they created it, now they will jack the price haha..

[tony93666]

the baby boomer blues boys will love this

[Phishboy26]

Good surf unit. I wouldnt buy this as a head but would implement the reverb in an effects loop if i used an amp without reverb

[EL34]

i want an upgrade! =]

[Marco18Rock]

Sound really nice man!!! thanks...

[GNRrockerdude]

nice clean, could do all kinds of rock with an O/D out front, would need a distortion pedal for metal though

[tehsimo]

sounds like crap to me :/

review an engl invader

[elluish]

can you demo the valve SR.??????????

[sokka06]

It is a tube amp.

[edward892]

solid state? i don't see tubes

[paulster14]

Nice Bluesy sound. Good buy for a spring reverb.

[veers0r]

Not really a pedal but still cool. A video on different wah's would be cool too! ;)

[nght5tlkr]

With the guitar's tone knob rolled back, I reckon this amp could pull off a very nice bluesy sound.

With the reverb cranked, this amp could easily be used for surf tones =)

I may have to check one out, although I still prefer the Blues Junior or JCA20 more at the moment.

[NaturalMystik]

You really should mic the amp... otherwise it's a bit useless.

[dooomedking]

@NaturalMystik

can anyone tell me what happens if i turn this amp all the way up and than put a boost in front of it to make it even louder

does it break or something

or do i just have to have good cab the resist high volume

[123marijn321]

@NaturalMystik i always see that as bullshit, if you are playing guitar you do not put your ear right next to the amp, you sit 1 or 2 meters off it.

[ruffles272]

sweet!

[SkootSucksAtLife]

hmmm :)

never knew epiphone made amps

sounds pretty nice!

[nght5tlkr]

You've never heard of the Valve Junior? Where have you been?

[SkootSucksAtLife]

haha i dont know :P