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Epiphone Valve Jr.

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Tim said:
You guys are getting tougher and meaner as you get older. Man, no slack at all on this forum. A guy goes away for a week and comes back to a completely new set of attitudes. I think you all need to get off the forum, close down your computers and spend the next 4 hours rockin on your guitars to get all this pent-up frustration out of your system. You will come back a new man. Trust me!

Warren - I like your shoe analogy. May I use your quote?
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What pent-up frustration are you taliking about Tim?
 
I like the way you think. Don't ever let you wife read your posts.

This brings on an idea for Robert. Can we have a magical thread that disappears after 7 days? This way when we post something we do not want our wives to read, in 7 days it automatically deletes itself for the protect of us guys. Sort of an artificial intelligence self-destruction thread control.
 
warren0728 said:
i used the shoe analogy (she LOVES shoes)....when she asked why i needed more than one guitar (or amph)...i told her it was like shoes, they each have their own "purpose"...

ww
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"So you need one in each *color* that's cute honey. I understand."
 
Warren
Take that classic 20 with you to the music store next time and plug it into a 4x12 cabinet. You won't believe what you hear. I mean other than, "hey turn that amp down."
 
Spudman said:
Warren
Take that classic 20 with you to the music store next time and plug it into a 4x12 cabinet. You won't believe what you hear. I mean other than, "hey turn that amp down."
Click to expand...
i might do that....ron has some 4x12 cabs at his place!

ww
 
warren0728 said:
i used the shoe analogy (she LOVES shoes)....when she asked why i needed more than one guitar (or amph)...i told her it was like shoes, they each have their own "purpose"...
ww
Click to expand...

Here's how on another forum I explained one's purchases to the wife:

First off, you have to re-order your terminology. Turn with me now to page 264 in the Manly Man's Guide to Women handbook.

You do not "need" a piece of gear. The word "need" to a woman is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Their response to your statement of need is to challenge you to justify that need. Once they've got you on the defensive, you're doomed. You'll never be able to justify your "need" for more gear when you've already got a bunch. Nevermind that you know it all has different and specific purposes, to the female mind, it's just more "stuff" that she doesn't understand and therefore you don't "need" it.

Instead of saying you "need" a new piece of gear, you say I want a new piece of gear. When challenged to defend your "need" (they're only programmed in one format), you respond with; "I didn't say I need a new piece of gear, I said I want one, so I'm going to buy it. It's an irrational desire, and I don't have to defend it." If you sense in your wife a moment of cognitive dissonance, you could be bold, seize the moment, and say; "It's like your shoes...do you think that justification is required each time you buy another pair of shoes that you certainly don't "need"?"

Warning: She will attempt to re-direct the discussion back to your "need". Don't fall into this trap. Stand your ground and reiterate that you don't "need' a new piece of gear, you want it and you're going to buy it. Do not attempt to use this strategy more than once in a six month period. This will overload the female mind and she will give you the silent treatment, answering your inquiries of "what's wrong" and, "are you OK", with "nothing" and "fine."

Good luck Mr. (your name here), and remember that under no circumstance are you to allow your copy of the Manly Man's Guide to Women handbook to fall into the hands of the enemy.

Oh, and remember also...sleeping in the garage is a temporary discomfort. A new piece of gear will bring you joy for years to come. It is always easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission.


;)
 
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OK, I've had several days to play with this little Valve Jr. beastie and I've noticed something each time I turn it on. The amp has this muddy low end sound....but only for the first half hour. It's been mentioned various places before, but it's worth mentioning again, this amp really needs a good half an hour to warm up before it hits it's stride. I've noticed this on every occasion that I've played mine. I don't know why this is, but the difference in tone is incredible after the warm up period.

Last night I was playing with various tubes and after a half an hour with a Russian 7189 (EL84M) and a GE NOS JAN 12AX7WA in the amp, the thing really came to life. I mean it sounded really good! The tube combination I chose made the stock Sovtek tubes sound dull and lifeless. For the record, I was playing through an Avatar semi-open back 2X12 cab loaded with two Weber C12N's.

I have one Strat clone that I made that's loaded with an overwound set of custom single coils. These things are 7.0k for the neck and middle, and 8.0k for the bridge. They're wound in such a way as to sound more like 6.5k and 7.0k respectively...but still thick sounding pups. The middle pickup sounds as good through this little amp as any other I've tried. Tight, presence loaded, with a real cutting tone. It does both rhythm and leads well...and with that Strat snarl to it. This is the most usable Strat middle position pickup I've ever tried. It's also wired "wide open" with no tone control. The neck pickup was ok. It was a little dark for my tastes through this amp, but not horrible sounding. The big suprise to me was the performance of the bridge position pickup. I normally don't care much for a bridge only Strat tone, but let me tell you, through this amp it is the best combination of sweet, raw, cutting, and bright tone I've heard. And with no ice pick to the ears either. Rolling off the tone (as I have it wired to do), the tone just softens, but retains the cutting tone. I must have played for more than an hour just on the bridge pickup. I never reall got to any other guitars, this one was so much fun to play. Wow!

The great thing about this tube combo for those so inclined to change tubes is that the Russian 7189's can be picked up for about $10.00 a tube. The pre-amp tube is another matter as the GE tube I mentioned is now going in the $30.00+ range, but I'd be willing to bet that similar results could be achieved using a Tung Sol re-issue 12AX7 or maybe a Sovtek 12AX7LPS.

I think that it's going to be awhile before I'm through experimenting with this amp. Each time I turn it on and play through it (and with it as I mod it), I discover new tonal possibilities. How can this possibly be with an amp with only two tubes and one knob?
 
Bloozcat said:
"It's like your shoes...do you think that justification is required each time you buy another pair of shoes that you certainly don't "need"?"
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lol....i was telling my wife this morning that we were discussing on the fret about wanting more than one guitar and more than one amp and she said, "did you tell them about your shoe analogy"! I almost fell over laughing as i admitted that i had!

ww
 
warren0728 said:
lol....i was telling my wife this morning that we were discussing on the fret about wanting more than one guitar and more than one amp and she said, "did you tell them about your shoe analogy"! I almost fell over laughing as i admitted that i had!
ww
Click to expand...

And they think we're not paying attention!

I've gone even further...I've become somewhat of a co-conspiritor with my wife. Half of the clothes in her closet I've bought for her. I know how clothes will fit her by different labels...which run large, which run small. I know more about womens clothing than I ever wanted to know....;)

I have a very good eye for color and a memory for color to match. I can be standing in a mall with my wife somewhere and she'll ask if something she's looking at will go with some other outfit and I can tell her if it will or not. And I'm never wrong with colors. I'll pick things out for her that she'd never pick for herself and she'll get all kinds of compliments when she wears them later. I can even tell better than she if a dress off a rack will fit her or not. I take her out on her birthday for a day of shopping just for her. Breakfast... shopping...lunch...shopping....dinner. Christmas morning the floor beneath the tree is littered with presents for her...more clothes, even jewelry - which I've learned about as another of her favorite vices. And yep, I even know shoes. Which she likes and doesn't like, the better shoes by brand name, the colors for her outfits.

So, do you think my wife would want to "kill the golden goose" so to speak by objecting to my little self indulgences when she's become so dependent on my "help" and involvement in her picking out her wardrobe? I've infiltrated the enemy camp and have become an indispendable confidant. I'm like the supplier for her addiction...and she's so satisfied all the time that she never objects to my minor (cough, cough)....purchases.... :D

Seriously though...although it's true that I do all of this, my wife is not the least bit concerned about what I buy for myself. I'm pretty self disciplined and self regulating in my purchases, and what I buy never affects the household budget. And while the floor beneath the Christmas tree may be littered with presents for her, the other half of the floor is full of presents for me. All I have to do is give her the catalogs, with the items highlighted. Or, give her the web address with a step-by-step walk through to find the items I want. And she buys them. She couldn't give a rat's pathooie what she's buying as long as it's what I want. So, you know all those little purcahses that you always put at the bottom of you wish list to by for yourself so you can buy the amps and guitars? I put all of mine on my Christmas wish list.

The only thing that my wife objects to (other than the noise :o), is that I've taken over the second bedroom in the house with my "stuff", and every available bit of space under most of the beds in the house. But I'm working on a plan for that too...I've got my wife about 90% convinced that we need to build a out building behind the house. I've sold it to her as a "dual use" addition. A workshop/"stuff" room for me, that can be easily converted to a guest apt. should we ever want to sell the house.

I couldn't get away with any of this though, if my wife wasn't the woman she is...so I'm blessed in that...:R
 
Bloozcat said:
I take her out on her birthday for a day of shopping just for her. Breakfast... shopping...lunch...shopping....dinner. Christmas morning the floor beneath the tree is littered with presents for her...more clothes, even jewelry - which I've learned about as another of her favorite vices. And yep, I even know shoes. Which she likes and doesn't like, the better shoes by brand name, the colors for her outfits....

So, do you think my wife would want to "kill the golden goose" so to speak by objecting to my little self indulgences when she's become so dependent on my "help" and involvement in her picking out her wardrobe? I've infiltrated the enemy camp and have become an indispendable confidant. I'm like the supplier for her addiction...and she's so satisfied all the time that she never objects to my minor (cough, cough)....purchases....
Click to expand...

Bloozcat - I come to the come to the conclusion that husbands like you give the rest of us a bad name. I am here reading this wonderful article you wrote about how you treat her with loving affection and how she's become so dependent on your "help" and involvement in helping to picking out her wardrobe? Boy does she have you by hook, line and sinker. She has the perfect set-up here my friend. You drive her to location. You buy her lunch. You pick out her clothes. You even pay for them! Man, what a perfect world she has created. You do it all for her so therefore there no disagreement on whether to much money was spent on the clothes that she really didn’t need. Or worst yet maybe to hot to wear and catches the eyes of strangers.

My question to you Blooz is when was the last time your lovely wife took you to lunch/dinner and paid for it. Took you to your favorite guitar shop and picked out the best guitar in that store and said “Honey, this guitar fits you perfect. I want to buy it for you”? Oh yes, you need a new tube amp combo to go with it.

If you tell me she has done that, then please tell me where you found her. We need more like her.

I truly believe you need someone to come and rescue you from this trance you have been placed in. She must have mesmerized you with her beauty. Woman do that you know?

Maybe some of us Floridians like Warren from Orlando, Frankencat from Tampa bay and myself from St. Augustine can put together a rescue party to come and save you. Jensen Beach is not to far to help a poor fretter in trouble. We men must stick together.

Ok, kidding aside it sounds like you have a wonderful relationship with your wife. Just make sure every time she gets new clothes, you get a new piece of gear just to keep the balance. A good wife is hard to find these days. When you get one, make sure she’s a keeper as the fishermen say ... right T2TB?
 
Tim said:
...A good wife is hard to find these days. When you get one, make sure she’s a keeper as the fishermen say ... right T2TB?
Click to expand...


Tim - I practice catch and release. hahahaha

I think Blooz is being smart. Hell I like it when my wife buys herself something! It makes me feel less guilty for buying the stuff I do!
 
tone2thebone said:
Hell I like it when my wife buys herself something! It makes me feel less guilty for buying the stuff I do!
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amen....my wife likes to decorate (seems like week there is some new accesory or decoration in the house!) and i encourage it cause then she can't (or should i say has less reason to) complain when i get new gear!

Tim said:
Maybe some of us Floridians like Warren from Orlando, Frankencat from Tampa bay and myself from St. Augustine can put together a rescue party to come and save you. Jensen Beach is not to far to help a poor fretter in trouble. We men must stick together.
Click to expand...

iago is still in florida too! we are getting quite a florida contingency....maybe we should have a floridian fretter get together....as long as we don't have to go shopping for womens clothing! :D

ww
 
Tim,

I've only mentioned one of the little things that I do for my wife.

Now let me tell you some of the things she's done for me....

On my birthday three years ago, she planned a big suprise party for me at a local hotel with 50 of our friends invited. She very cleverly disguised the party as a business luncheon that I was invited to also. The people there represented friends who I (and/or we) have known for the last 30 years. The party was great, but that wasn't the celebration in and of itself. The party was really just a prop to unveil the real birthday suprise...

She planned a trip for the two of us to the Bordeaux region in France, staying in a bed and breakfast in the wine country, and touring some of Frances most famous wineries (we're both really into wine). Then, 2 1/2 days more in Paris before coming home.

On another birthday she suprised me with a trip to London...

On another birthday a trip to San Francisco and the California wine country...

...and there are others I won't even mention.

So, I think I'm pretty safe...no need to send out a rescue party (unless I have too much wine! );) If I'm in a trance, then it's one I'd highly recommend trying...I wish I could bottle it and market it. In actuality, I'm probably the one who has received the greater benefit...although every trip is one we enjoy together.

BTW: Although it might sound like it, we're not wealthy by any monetary measurement...we both have careers and no children, so there's time and money for travel. Oh, and one other thing...there aren't any more at home like my wife. She and I are the black sheep of our families...or as I'd rather put it, we're the white sheep in families full of black sheep. My wife does have a sister, but she's a nut case...you'd gnaw your own leg off to get away from her...:D

Life is good...
 
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Excellent testimony there Bloozcat! Sounds like you have a marriage made in heaven. I think you may have a few jealous fretters on your hands. It is absolutely wonderful that you have such a fine woman for your companion, friend, wife, ect.

Ok, so you tell me that there is no more where she came from. That’s bad news for the men of the world. Have you ever thought about having her cloned? You could make a lot of money populating the world with extra caring woman that make exceptionable fine wives.

Enjoy life my friend. It don’t get better than what you have. My best regards to you and the misses. You both are blessed.
 
Didn't this used to be an amp thread? At least, that what I started it out to be. Guys, I mean no disrespect to anyone participating in the most recent line of discussion about their wives, but there is a place on the forum for that discussion: Open Mic. For somebody just coming onto this forum looking for discussion about the Epiphone Valve Jr., this might present a problem. Let's keep the posts on point here, OK? If you want to talk about other brands / types gear, or family stuff, or whatever, start a new thread in the most appropriate area, or contribute to a thread of the same topic that's already been started. It'll make it easier for everyone who participates in our forum. Hey, I'm guilty of it too, so I'm pointing the finger at myself as well. Let's all try to be more cognizant of what we're posting on the various forum threads, and make sure its relevant. :)

Just wanted to relay that, since this thread seems to have spun totally off-topic. Thanks - Nelskie
 
Speaking of staying on topic...have you heard a demo posted by someone at the Fender Forum? It's a sound demo of someone playing a Valve Jr. head through the speaker in his Blues Jr. He does a really good job of demonstrating how the amp sounds at various volumes on both pickups...at both full volume on the guitar and rolled back. Also demonstrates several effects pedals with the head too. It really sounds good. He's playing a Tele too....

I'll post it here...

http://www.thedangerrangers.com/08%20Epi5watt.mp3
 
tone2thebone said:
Speaking of staying on topic...have you heard a demo posted by someone at the Fender Forum? It's a sound demo of someone playing a Valve Jr. head through the speaker in his Blues Jr. He does a really good job of demonstrating how the amp sounds at various volumes on both pickups...at both full volume on the guitar and rolled back. Also demonstrates several effects pedals with the head too. It really sounds good. He's playing a Tele too....

I'll post it here...

http://www.thedangerrangers.com/08%20Epi5watt.mp3
Click to expand...

Yeah, that sound file has been making the rounds. I think I first saw it at The Gear Page, then HC, then the Fender Forum, now here. It's pretty well done.
 
Nelskie is so correct. I am a participant in the spin off topic thread thief. We need to police our self and stay in check. Open Mic is the correct place to carry on off topic conversation. Just think of those new members doing a “search” for Epiphone Valve Jr. and having to read all this stuff. I apologize.
 
Tone - Thanks for the Epi Valve Jr. head link. Damn! That little bugger sounds nice! Not that my Valve Jr. combo doesn't sound great - it really does. It's just that I'm now imagining that awesome tone being pushed though my Peavey Classic 112E cabinet, with a 12" Eminence Swamp Thang thumpin' out all of that juicy Class A tone. And at $100 bones, yet another Epiphone gear deal of the century! Man, how can they do it?

MUST . . . RESIST . . . BUYING . . . NEW . . . JR. . . . HEAD! AARRRRGGGHHH!
 
Nelskie - You're welcome anything for a bro!

I know...I think they've also controlled the hum by doing some kind of electrical magick of some kind. I've read about it over and over at other forums but I can't recall exactly what they did. Who knows I might grab one of these babies myself!

Warren - Somewhere I saw that some dood had replaced the stock speakers in that exact cabinet with a set of Celestion Blues and it just looked GORGEOUS. He took pics of the inside of the cabinet. Talk about sexy. I think it was used as the cab FOR the Valve Jr. Head if I'm not mistaken. That cabinet looks great. I bet you the head would sound incredible through my Marshall 4x12 cab with Greenbacks!
 
I checked out that Epiphone link, and the "Blues Custom" combo amp caught my eye. Man, that's a sexy lookin' little number! Your choice of Class A or A/B from the same amp? Cool! Is this a brand new model? I'm not in the market for a tube amp since I got my Peavey Delta Blues, but this one looks mighty fine! Looks like they go for $500 new.
 
Bloozcat said:
Here's the Epi combo I was speaking of in my earlier post:

462302.jpg


Here's the specs:
Epiphone Blues Custom 30 tube amp Features:
· Power: 30 AB/15 A W
· Type: 100% Tube
· Class: A & AB
· Rectifier: Tube- 5AR4
· EQ: Two Modes-Independent and Interactive
· Preamp : 12AX7 (5)
· Power: 5881 (2)
· Speaker Type: 2X12" Lady Luck by Eminence
· Tube Reverb
· Channels: 2
Outputs: 4 Ohm (2), 8 Ohm (2) & 16 Ohm

And it just so happens (what a suprise!) that I have a matched pair of NOS 6L6WGB's (5881's), and an NOS 5AR4 (GZ34) sitting at home with nothing to do...for now, anyway... oh, and speakers too...;)
Click to expand...


Yeah, I thought so too when I posted it here a few pages ago. I'm saving my pennies, juggling amps around, making room in the "amp closet"...:D

I hope they do the same DC filament mod to this one before they bring it out. I'd like to see it as quiet as my Valve Jr. head.
 

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