Epi valve Jr v Blackheart Killer Ant
- Thread starter tmmblues
- Start date
Low_fidelity2100
New member
Re: Epi valve Jr v Blackheart Killer Ant
Is it one of the early first versions? The mod to remove the 120hz buzz is really easy, as is the one to remove the 60hz hum. You can probably do it yourself, I did.
Is it one of the early first versions? The mod to remove the 120hz buzz is really easy, as is the one to remove the 60hz hum. You can probably do it yourself, I did.
Re: Epi valve Jr v Blackheart Killer Ant
Well, I haven't tried a VJ but the killer ant is just amazing and can get quite loud with the right cab.
If we don't have the humming in the equation (supposing you can get it fixed easily on the VJ), the points are:
-How much headroom do you need? the KA has very little, which means great clean tones at very low volume but as soon as you want a bit more you're getting in to crunch territory
-How much overdrive do you want at low volumes (considering without using any stomp boxes).
I can't say enough good things about my KA, I live in a house where I can crank amps as much as I want and I still use the KA a lot since I can dime it...sounds amazing really.
Well, I haven't tried a VJ but the killer ant is just amazing and can get quite loud with the right cab.
If we don't have the humming in the equation (supposing you can get it fixed easily on the VJ), the points are:
-How much headroom do you need? the KA has very little, which means great clean tones at very low volume but as soon as you want a bit more you're getting in to crunch territory
-How much overdrive do you want at low volumes (considering without using any stomp boxes).
I can't say enough good things about my KA, I live in a house where I can crank amps as much as I want and I still use the KA a lot since I can dime it...sounds amazing really.
drpietrzak
New member
Re: Epi valve Jr v Blackheart Killer Ant
The Killer Ant is a nice home system. It is VERY quiet.
The Killer Ant is a nice home system. It is VERY quiet.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Epi valve Jr v Blackheart Killer Ant
I had a Little Giant, the 5 watt amp (EL84 + 12AX7, just like the Valve Junior) and it had no hum and was very well made.
The Killer Ant, in my opinion, has very little, if nothing at all in common with an amp like the Valve Junior.
The tube complements of the Valve Junior and Little Giant are identical, while the Killer Ant is quite different.
Valve Junior: 12AX7 -> EL84
Little Giant: 12AX7 -> EL84
Killer Ant: 12AX7 -> 12AX7
Both the Little Giant and the Killer ant supply DC power to the filaments for super quiet operation.
To be fair, the Valve Junior runs DC to their filaments as well.
I have played single coils through a Little Giant for about a year in a basement with fluorescent lights and a computer, and never had any noise.
-Hunter
I had a Little Giant, the 5 watt amp (EL84 + 12AX7, just like the Valve Junior) and it had no hum and was very well made.
The Killer Ant, in my opinion, has very little, if nothing at all in common with an amp like the Valve Junior.
The tube complements of the Valve Junior and Little Giant are identical, while the Killer Ant is quite different.
Valve Junior: 12AX7 -> EL84
Little Giant: 12AX7 -> EL84
Killer Ant: 12AX7 -> 12AX7
Both the Little Giant and the Killer ant supply DC power to the filaments for super quiet operation.
To be fair, the Valve Junior runs DC to their filaments as well.
I have played single coils through a Little Giant for about a year in a basement with fluorescent lights and a computer, and never had any noise.
-Hunter
Last edited:
drpietrzak
New member
Re: Epi valve Jr v Blackheart Killer Ant
I have the Epi Jr and several other 5w amps. The issue for me is volume. 5w is still very loud if you are working at home or an apartment. If you are not using an attenuator of some type then the 5w will be very loud if you want tube distortion. The Killer Ant deals very will with this, handles pedals very well and can address a lot of variation by simply switching speakers and pedals. None of the 5w here can record distortion with the kids sleeping upstairs. So, for me, that makes it work.
I have the Epi Jr and several other 5w amps. The issue for me is volume. 5w is still very loud if you are working at home or an apartment. If you are not using an attenuator of some type then the 5w will be very loud if you want tube distortion. The Killer Ant deals very will with this, handles pedals very well and can address a lot of variation by simply switching speakers and pedals. None of the 5w here can record distortion with the kids sleeping upstairs. So, for me, that makes it work.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: Epi valve Jr v Blackheart Killer Ant
I had a 5W blackheart with an attenuator.
It was good but my night train with or without the same attenuator sounds better, even at bedroom volumes.
blackheart= sounds good with power tube distortion
night train= sounds good PERIOD.
either way the blackheart is a fine amp and the tone stack puts it above the VJ for me.
I had a 5W blackheart with an attenuator.
It was good but my night train with or without the same attenuator sounds better, even at bedroom volumes.
blackheart= sounds good with power tube distortion
night train= sounds good PERIOD.
either way the blackheart is a fine amp and the tone stack puts it above the VJ for me.