@dewere641 The amount of output watts is the thing that makes the difference. Even a 5 watt amp needs about a 20 watt speaker. So the 10-uator can probably handle 20 watts of input power.
Valve Juniors in STOCK form sound like garbage, period. They have a farty, brittle overdrive, the muddier and soggier with more volume. They have an overly saggy tone with very slow note tracking, no "slap" or crispness and just plain suck. But add a BitMo kit and they become a completely different amp altogether. A BitMo treated EVJ sounds NOTHING like a stock one.
I agree, it's only the attenuator I was commenting on. Bitmo the hell out of the VJ, and throw in a high-end Hammond SE output tranny, and add a 5-band passive eq off the CATHODE (not the plate, cathode follower eq is much more effective) of a late gain stage, and you can really tune out the horrible sounds that this amp makes in it's stock form. Also, try a 1x10, 2x10, or 4x10 cab with it, and it should tighten right up.
The "plate attenuators" are just L-pads, got to parts express, and buy a $5 L-Pad and wire it in between your amp and your speaker, and it has the same effect. It's not a pot, it's actually a variable resistor that produces negative and positive resistance in parallel, so it can actually trim down some of the signal on it's way to the speaker, yet it maintains a constant impedance on the amp. Don't waste your cash having it come in a shiny box, it's only an L-Pad.
Actually, a BitMo 10-uator is not "just and L-pad". It contains other voicing components to prevent the loss of highs as you turn the attenuation up (volume down) and a variable level line out.
It does alter the tone, I have used it. The variation in impedance is too unpredictable to really make an attenuator that actually just reduces the decibel level evenly, because varying impedances with negative impedance are products of an inexact science. What you are saying is that your attenuator comes closer to maintaining the original tone than other attenuators, right? I understand that it employs coupling and/or bypass caps to compensate, but it is still going to change the tone some.
All attenuators will change the tone to some degree but I think the 10-uator is better than most at maintaining the original tone. Changing the direction the speaker is pointing or altering the distance from the floor or the relative humidity or how many beers you have had all modify the tone. The idea behind all modifications is to change the tone, hopefully in a good way.
The idea behind an attenuator is to get "cranked amp tone at manageable volume levels", not to intentionally alter the tone. I have used it, and it changes the tone in a way that makes the sound farty and muffled in comparison to the original tone. Then again, I use single-ended amps almost exclusively, and I only play through cabinets made of solid wood, so maybe I am just too discerning, and my ears pick up what a listener's ears might not hear on my CD.
I don't know what people see in those epiphone amps, to me they sound quite muddy and muffled compared to other amps in the same category such as the blackheart line. I've played a valve standard and a handsome devil and IMHO there is no comparison.
Now that Fender has started putting the internal 6 inch speaker on a 1/4" jack (in other words, it's a micro-head with a decorative little magnet inside) I find the champ 600 to be a big contender in the $150 all-tube amp range. These little low watters are popping up everywhere to make tube "tone" affordable to everyone, but indeed, the Valve Jr sounds like crap, the crate V5 is terrible, and so on. It's refreshing to see some decent ones coming out. Rock on!
You mention that you added a reverb tank to the 1/2 watt ant killer. How & or where did you put the darn thing? There certainly isn't much room in there. Would love to hear more about adding the tank. Thanks!
Glassy Glassy Glassy!!! Alive, open, no mud. I've heard quite a few micro-tube amp demos and that one is by far the best. Gawd, what a nice tone, and that's through a crappy mic, compressed and played through my iMac speakers. Must sound killer in person!
That's quite possibly the stupidest comment I've seen made on a Youtube video in a long time, Carlos. Since when is a $36 modification that greatly broadens an amp as "expensive?" And tell me how better tubes and toggle switches destroy an amplifier or render it unusable? And your warranty is only good for so long anyhow. You must not enjoy tube amps very much or be incredibly closed-minded to make an uneducated comment like that.
$36 doesn't seem bad but if you've got to get a tech, add shipping, etc. for the mod then I can see the other guys point. So not that stupid IMO. Puting a fricken Mercury tranformers an etc. in these cheap amps or the blackheart is fricken ridiculous, aka the stupidest thing I've seen.
BitMo kits modify only the tone circuit, leaving intact the power section. Anyone who can read a diagram and solder can do these mods. BitMo mods do not call for a Mercury transformer, and I share your opinion that a modification to that degree is stupid. It costs as much to add a new transformer as you'd pay for the amp. For what tonal advantages it would give you, I don't think it's worth it. But I'm pro BitMo all the way!
STOP CALLING DOUG OLD!
guitargod2737 4 months ago
old dude rips
ryanshopefan1 1 year ago
Nice video !!!
SEE THIS:
Turn Radio into Guitar Amp:
youtube.com/watch?v=YHfoON7ukSc
pegasomarcelo 1 year ago
Grannys jammin
TheThegoob 1 year ago
Hey anyone know if the 10-uator would work on a 6watt tube amp? the 5 watt version. would the extra 1 watt not do?
dewere641 1 year ago
@dewere641 The amount of output watts is the thing that makes the difference. Even a 5 watt amp needs about a 20 watt speaker. So the 10-uator can probably handle 20 watts of input power.
ibanezman007 1 year ago
@ibanezman007 I believe that 10watt speakers are more detailed and articulate with low watt amps like the KA
antigrav118 1 week ago
Valve Juniors in STOCK form sound like garbage, period. They have a farty, brittle overdrive, the muddier and soggier with more volume. They have an overly saggy tone with very slow note tracking, no "slap" or crispness and just plain suck. But add a BitMo kit and they become a completely different amp altogether. A BitMo treated EVJ sounds NOTHING like a stock one.
knoxpages 2 years ago
I agree, it's only the attenuator I was commenting on. Bitmo the hell out of the VJ, and throw in a high-end Hammond SE output tranny, and add a 5-band passive eq off the CATHODE (not the plate, cathode follower eq is much more effective) of a late gain stage, and you can really tune out the horrible sounds that this amp makes in it's stock form. Also, try a 1x10, 2x10, or 4x10 cab with it, and it should tighten right up.
punkeratheart 2 years ago
The "plate attenuators" are just L-pads, got to parts express, and buy a $5 L-Pad and wire it in between your amp and your speaker, and it has the same effect. It's not a pot, it's actually a variable resistor that produces negative and positive resistance in parallel, so it can actually trim down some of the signal on it's way to the speaker, yet it maintains a constant impedance on the amp. Don't waste your cash having it come in a shiny box, it's only an L-Pad.
punkeratheart 2 years ago
Actually, a BitMo 10-uator is not "just and L-pad". It contains other voicing components to prevent the loss of highs as you turn the attenuation up (volume down) and a variable level line out.
BitMoBruce 2 years ago
It does alter the tone, I have used it. The variation in impedance is too unpredictable to really make an attenuator that actually just reduces the decibel level evenly, because varying impedances with negative impedance are products of an inexact science. What you are saying is that your attenuator comes closer to maintaining the original tone than other attenuators, right? I understand that it employs coupling and/or bypass caps to compensate, but it is still going to change the tone some.
punkeratheart 2 years ago
All attenuators will change the tone to some degree but I think the 10-uator is better than most at maintaining the original tone. Changing the direction the speaker is pointing or altering the distance from the floor or the relative humidity or how many beers you have had all modify the tone. The idea behind all modifications is to change the tone, hopefully in a good way.
BitMoBruce 2 years ago
The idea behind an attenuator is to get "cranked amp tone at manageable volume levels", not to intentionally alter the tone. I have used it, and it changes the tone in a way that makes the sound farty and muffled in comparison to the original tone. Then again, I use single-ended amps almost exclusively, and I only play through cabinets made of solid wood, so maybe I am just too discerning, and my ears pick up what a listener's ears might not hear on my CD.
punkeratheart 2 years ago
:O
DAMN! THAT BLACKHEART!
TheDistortionist 2 years ago
The guy is a great player , I own the EVJ and without any Mod , it sucks , everything is middy , I use it to monitor my Vox tone lab
gravano2 2 years ago
I don't know what people see in those epiphone amps, to me they sound quite muddy and muffled compared to other amps in the same category such as the blackheart line. I've played a valve standard and a handsome devil and IMHO there is no comparison.
Blinkingfever 2 years ago
Now that Fender has started putting the internal 6 inch speaker on a 1/4" jack (in other words, it's a micro-head with a decorative little magnet inside) I find the champ 600 to be a big contender in the $150 all-tube amp range. These little low watters are popping up everywhere to make tube "tone" affordable to everyone, but indeed, the Valve Jr sounds like crap, the crate V5 is terrible, and so on. It's refreshing to see some decent ones coming out. Rock on!
punkeratheart 2 years ago
i just got the VJ head and cab with the bitmo mod for 200 today and im very happy
jones12a 2 years ago
You mention that you added a reverb tank to the 1/2 watt ant killer. How & or where did you put the darn thing? There certainly isn't much room in there. Would love to hear more about adding the tank. Thanks!
LastL98 2 years ago
dude get out igor on the 6 string.
firstgearlead 2 years ago
Why has he got his gran playing for him?
McNugget94 3 years ago 9
@McNugget94 Because he is a ROCKIN!
SifuScamstar 1 year ago
Glassy Glassy Glassy!!! Alive, open, no mud. I've heard quite a few micro-tube amp demos and that one is by far the best. Gawd, what a nice tone, and that's through a crappy mic, compressed and played through my iMac speakers. Must sound killer in person!
Helps that the player knows how to play.
Viva La Tone!
elephantcup 3 years ago
excellent point
bpfrocket 3 years ago
That's quite possibly the stupidest comment I've seen made on a Youtube video in a long time, Carlos. Since when is a $36 modification that greatly broadens an amp as "expensive?" And tell me how better tubes and toggle switches destroy an amplifier or render it unusable? And your warranty is only good for so long anyhow. You must not enjoy tube amps very much or be incredibly closed-minded to make an uneducated comment like that.
freepressright 3 years ago
Very well said dude.
soundgardener75 3 years ago
$36 doesn't seem bad but if you've got to get a tech, add shipping, etc. for the mod then I can see the other guys point. So not that stupid IMO. Puting a fricken Mercury tranformers an etc. in these cheap amps or the blackheart is fricken ridiculous, aka the stupidest thing I've seen.
joesl8 3 years ago
BitMo kits modify only the tone circuit, leaving intact the power section. Anyone who can read a diagram and solder can do these mods. BitMo mods do not call for a Mercury transformer, and I share your opinion that a modification to that degree is stupid. It costs as much to add a new transformer as you'd pay for the amp. For what tonal advantages it would give you, I don't think it's worth it. But I'm pro BitMo all the way!
freepressright 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Buy the Blackstar HT dual and use it with a stock VJ - who needs expensive warranty detroying mods that usually go fauly over a period of time?
crazyboycarlos 3 years ago
the new york amp show is at somebody's house?
stymye 3 years ago 19
most likely a hotel room it looksliek
costaricangeneral 3 years ago
sounds incredible for a cheap amp
fulltonepedals 3 years ago
would have liked a little better info on the mods and sounds...
pickstrumbum 3 years ago
Hey Booper, Great sturff!! Glad to see that you are having fun! Dave N.
knobbsie1 3 years ago