Epiphone Valve Junior

The search for the ultimate tone is what most would use to justify a new amp.  For yours truly, there isn't a single "tone" I'm looking for but a way to get the best sound out of a guitar.  I know for a fact, my Tele doesn't sound good on my Marshall and at the same time, my Midtown doesn't sound too good on the Vox.  The absolute worse case scenario is an amp specifically chosen for each guitar in the collection.  Not only is this not feasible but only not practical both financially and space-wise.  This Epiphone Valve Junior is attractive on a couple of aspects.  First, the price I got if for used on Craigslist at $200 is reasonable enough that I know I can sell it for the same amount if I don't like it in the long run.  Second, I had read a lot of good reviews on the speaker cabinet that contains a single 12-inch Eminence Lady Luck rated at 70 Watt (16 Ohms).  And last, Epiphone stopped making this particular amp in 2012 -- meaning the demand may continue for a discontinued item.

From a power standpoint, the 5 Watt rating on a single EL84 power section isn't enough to cut through a full drum kit and bass playing at volume.  I tried the Valve Junior with my Talman, Jaguar and Mustang and finally settled on the tone I was after with a single coil Strat (and Tele) but the volume just wasn't there.  But hey, that's why guitarists mic amps into the PA system right?

The front face controls is no-nonsense -- a single volume knob, an input jack and an on/off switch.  No gain, no tone and certainly no standby power.  There are 3 speaker output options at 4, 8 and 16 Ohms so I'm somewhat curious to try the head with a 4 and/or 8 Ohms speakers.  The Valve Junior is popular with mod monkeys and I've read people buying the half stack model, reselling the head and keeping the cabinet.  Overall, it was worth the drive to Hesperia to pick it up from the seller.

Marshall C5-01 Amplifier

I was hesitant to trade my vintage Takamine acoustic for this amp because I read all kinds of issues with rattling on some early models.  This one ended up having a 2011 manufacture date so I pulled the trigger on the trade.  Actual model name is C5-01 for this great sounding Class 5 tube amp.  The construction is probably not as ruggedized for most working musicians -- but hey, this is a hobby for me so the fragile looking build is not an issue.

The amp comes standard with a 10-inch Celestion G10F-15 speaker which provides ample volume for most practice environments.  The controls are also fairly simple on this 5W box -- no gain, just volume and 3 tone knobs.  The one good feature that makes this a great bedroom amp is a headphone/low power setting.  Forget any attempt to get a clean sound out of this amp, though.  It is a Marshall, after all.

Vox AD100VT Valvetronix Amplifier

This is currently my main amp when I play in a group. It's has a low-power tube power amp and models several amps -- including the fames Vox AC15 and AC30TB.  This 100Watt amp is plenty loud for anything I would want to play.  There is an attenuator pot in the back to limit the overall power output and the amp came with a footswitch to select any one of two user-defined settings.  In addition to each user setting, the 2nd footswitch button control enables/disables any of the built-in effects.

This is part of the Valvetronix product line and is driven by two 12-inch speakers visible from the open cabinet.  At some point, I might build a little platform I can use to wheel this Vox around because it it heavy but thanks to the amp handles, it's really not too bad.

The only complaint I have with this Vox is that I wish I could preset more than 2 settings.  I can certainly see at least wanting 4 presets given the variety of songs that I play.  Surf clean, blues, hard rhythm and solos.  It has an effects loop that I seldom use and an output for an extra speaker.  I bought this used in 2012 and I did drive all the way to Murrieta to pick it up.

Bugera V5 Amplifier

Impulse buys are not always the best things.  First, I don't have much time to think about whether I really need it.  Second, it's a purely emotional response to some other thing that's going on -- stress, typically but nonetheless, it's a momentary feeling of elation once the purchase is made.  And last, I probably has something already very similar in form and function, rendering the impulse buy a total redundancy.  This Bugera V5 (as in Vintage 5) is an impulse buy from Guitar Center in Covina.

On the first question of whether I really need it.  Hell, no.  But did I want it?  Hell, yes.  On the second attribute of an impulse buy of non-lasting satisfaction, I think the 5-Watt tube amp is going to make me feel fine for a long time (ok, until the next boutique amp hits the market, which I'm hoping is at least a year).

My Fender Blues Jr 15-Watt amp is really a little too loud for a bedroom application -- which is what this Bugera is destined for.  This is where the Power Attenuator switch at the back becomes a relevant selling point, i.e., I can drive the tube without driving my next door neighbors crazy.  The 8-inch speaker, rated for 30 Watt is adequate at all power levels especially the high-end of the volume/gain dials.  The clean sound I can get from the V5 is perfect for practice and learning songs.  My only complaint is the LED indicator light next to the power switch.  Damn, I'm talking 1-cm diameter bright enough to light up a night club -- should I take this to a gig.  Oh, and on the third issue of redundancy, this is the whole premise behind GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) is not just double but multiple-times-over redundancy anyway.