Posted 1/4/2008 7:53 PM (#6826 - in reply to #6393) Subject: Re: Epiphone Valve Jr.
Roadie
Posts: 24
I plan on buying one of the Blackhearts anyways, so I'm interested if you do decide to mod one. Especially interested in adding a reverb. Boy, that would be nice.
Posted 1/5/2008 8:20 AM (#6831 - in reply to #6393) Subject: Re: Epiphone Valve Jr.
Posts: 3799
Listening to that clip... it sounds a bit thin to me - but that could be because of a single coil PU guitar being used - at any rate, sounds like it could be fattened up. Since I am such a snob these days - yes, one of the first things I would do is toss out the $1.99 jap scrap transformers and get some decent ones in there - that alone would make that amp worth listening to.
Posted 1/27/2008 10:05 AM (#6972 - in reply to #6824) Subject: Re: Epiphone Valve Jr.
Groupie
Posts: 1
713 - 1/4/2008 1:12 PM
Luigi - 1/3/2008 1:25 AM I may do the Blackheart next, we shall see.
i really would like to hear a comparison of one of these moded vs. the epi. but you have to admit the blackheart logo etc is a bit well feminine...
As Soon As Blackheart Eng sends Me some more Amps I will post clips (the last ones I returned for use at the NAMM show)
There are two Mercury mods the for the little giant one consists of transformers and some circuit changes and the other is a bit more complex. Its called mean 13 it has one 12ax7 and dual 6v6 in parallel single ended output.
Both have different transformer sets.
To answer the question before asked. The Mean13 is very usable and probably the best mod for this small amp.
LOL @ the logo yes a bit feminine
I will also do some clips of the Champion 600 mod when setup doing the recording.
Posted 1/27/2008 10:25 AM (#6973 - in reply to #6393) Subject: Re: Epiphone Valve Jr.
Posts: 3799
I have to disagree completely with the statements made in the video - I and two others spent a good deal of time listening to the Blackheart at NAMM. In stock configuration, it was very weak, sqaushed bottom end and very thin legged gain - it really sounded pretty terrible. The head goes for $149.00 street, which puts it next to the Epi Valve Jr with the BitMo duo mods, and quite frankly - the Epi with those Duo mods sounds much better than the Blackheart stock - at about the same price point.
The Blackheart was also very meek, which I pretty much expected - I don't see in anyway (as stated in the video), that it can keep up with a drum kit, maybe one played with brushes... as it was unable at times, to even compete with the ambient aisle noise at NAMM.
I don't doubt that the Blackheart can benefit from a tranny change - most all commercially made amps do - but what it really needs is a kick in the ass, it would have been a much better choice to stick a 6V6 in there rather than an EL84 - the EL84 is just not very well supported. The triode switch struck me more as a gimmick that would seldom be used, since output drops off like a stone when the triode is switched in - a huge sacrifice for a tone that you get by just rolling the volume on your guitar down a bit.
I was considering this amp from a 'next project' and have since decided to drop it.
Of interest though - and I have never been much of a Krank fan... is, the Krank Rev Jr - that little amp just plat out kicks ass, but at 20W, still right on the edge of being about to keep up with a drummer. It is decidedly more expensive though - the head alone maps out around $500, but it is a solid piece of gear.
I am also interested in the Epiphone Blues Custom 30 - I think it looks like a solid platform for a gig amp and also has enough open space to add some terrific gain mods to it.
Posted 8/19/2008 1:52 PM (#7263 - in reply to #6393) Subject: Re: Epiphone Valve Jr.
Groupie
Posts: 1
I just tried the trio mods this last weekend and notice your wiring of the lo mo whoa switch is different than the Bitmo instructions. It looks to me that the Bitmo instructions have the mod wired into the volume pot. I did that with my v3 board and it didn't work. So I followed your version (wired into the board) and it worked..... until I got it mounted back in the cabinet. I think I fried the volume pot (I am a newbie modder as well as a newbie solderer). Long story short, my vj is now at the guitar store getting repaired (I hope).
Posted 4/14/2009 1:00 PM (#7309 - in reply to #6393) Subject: Re: Epiphone Valve Jr.
Groupie
Posts: 1
Hey, I'm new at this whole modding thing. Well I guess I might as well come out and say it, when it comes to electronics and wiring and such I'm retarded. Schematics are a foreign language. I was wondering if anyone could give me an idiots guide to installing a standby switch in an epi valve junior. I know it's not 100% necessary but I'd like to have one anyway. Thanks.
Posted 4/22/2009 12:35 PM (#7310 - in reply to #6393) Subject: Re: Epiphone Valve Jr.
Groupie
Posts: 1
hey guys, i was just wondering if the 10-uator would work properly with the fully modded amp, or if the 23 watt version would be better? the reason i ask is i'd like to buy that first (i'm in an apartment), as i plan to do all of the other mods over a period of a few months because i'm short on cash and i'd really rather not have to buy both and try to re-sell one.
Posted 5/5/2010 9:09 AM (#7341 - in reply to #6393) Subject: RE: Epiphone Valve Jr.
Groupie
Posts: 3
I just tried the trio mods this last weekend and notice your wiring of the lo mo whoa switch is different than the Bitmo instructions. It looks to me that the Bitmo instructions have the mod wired into the volume pot. I did that with my v3 board and it didn't work. So I followed your version (wired into the board) and it worked..... until I got it mounted back in the cabinet. I think I fried the volume pot (I am a newbie modder as well as a newbie solderer). Long story short, my vj is now at the guitar store getting repaired (I hope). http://moviesdownloading.ushttp://movies-downloads.ushttp://downloadable-movies.us/
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