Looking for a 5 watt valve practice amp and i've narrowed it down to these two. I've read the reviews online but was wondering if anyone here had experiences with either or both. I play mostly rock and metal - the valbee seesm to be a little more expensive but not much. Anyone have any opinions on these two amps?
Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
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Baltar
New member
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
i can't tell about the valbee, just that im interested in testing one
i own a valve jr head, which is nice little toy. at the end, you get what you
pay for. i couldn't stand playing it without at least a better preamp tube.
this is imo a must
older models of the combo are humming due to bad layout and ac-filaments.
i reduced bias and added a treble boost on mine - since this is done, i am quite
happy with it's low volume cleans.
if you don't want to mod at all, an additional guitar preamp pedal or 19" with equalizer +
the better preamp tube as mentioned above would be a nice point to start at.
if you're interested .. most people prefer the jj ecc 83s, i have chosen the jj ecc 803s
cheers
i can't tell about the valbee, just that im interested in testing one
i own a valve jr head, which is nice little toy. at the end, you get what you
pay for. i couldn't stand playing it without at least a better preamp tube.
this is imo a must
older models of the combo are humming due to bad layout and ac-filaments.
i reduced bias and added a treble boost on mine - since this is done, i am quite
happy with it's low volume cleans.
if you don't want to mod at all, an additional guitar preamp pedal or 19" with equalizer +
the better preamp tube as mentioned above would be a nice point to start at.
if you're interested .. most people prefer the jj ecc 83s, i have chosen the jj ecc 803s
cheers
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
When you say the valve junior is not a pratice amp, is that because it's single channel and needs cranked to get any tones other than clean? I had thought about buying one and maybe using a valve ditorion pedal, something like the DHA FATGUTS to drive it.
When you say the valve junior is not a pratice amp, is that because it's single channel and needs cranked to get any tones other than clean? I had thought about buying one and maybe using a valve ditorion pedal, something like the DHA FATGUTS to drive it.
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
Ok cool, thanks Pierre, i'll have a look into it. From reading reviews it seems most people use a pedal with the valve bee as well. I think i'll opt for the valve junior, especially with the mods available for it.
Ok cool, thanks Pierre, i'll have a look into it. From reading reviews it seems most people use a pedal with the valve bee as well. I think i'll opt for the valve junior, especially with the mods available for it.
Pierre
Stratologist
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
Also the Valbee has A LOT MORE gain than would normally be there with only one 12AX7 fullfiling driver AND preamp duty, like on an old princeton. There HAS to be chips and opamps in there; and the to be honest the gain channel sounds like it. Also, 5 watts out of a 6L6... must be a weird circuit indeed.
Also the Valbee has A LOT MORE gain than would normally be there with only one 12AX7 fullfiling driver AND preamp duty, like on an old princeton. There HAS to be chips and opamps in there; and the to be honest the gain channel sounds like it. Also, 5 watts out of a 6L6... must be a weird circuit indeed.
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
Yeah, i can get a modded boss super overdrive pedal for £50 on e bay, and the the valve junior seems to be down to £100 so i should have a pretty decent set up for little money. I've only ever owned a line 6 spider (sold now) so i'm sure it will sound fantastic to my ears!
Yeah, i can get a modded boss super overdrive pedal for £50 on e bay, and the the valve junior seems to be down to £100 so i should have a pretty decent set up for little money. I've only ever owned a line 6 spider (sold now) so i'm sure it will sound fantastic to my ears!
baritone
Well-known member
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
I recently got a Valve Jr. Head to mess with. My plan was to eventually get some modifications done, but so far I am totally satisfied with the stock version. With the single knob, there isn't much you can do to adjust the tone, but that knob has a significant effect on the gain and the tone. But for more tonal options, many people get some mods done, but I just hook up a good distortion pedal.
I recently got a Valve Jr. Head to mess with. My plan was to eventually get some modifications done, but so far I am totally satisfied with the stock version. With the single knob, there isn't much you can do to adjust the tone, but that knob has a significant effect on the gain and the tone. But for more tonal options, many people get some mods done, but I just hook up a good distortion pedal.
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
Personally I'd look right past the Valve Jr and look at a Vox Valvetronix combo for a practice amp. Good tone, price and much more versatile.
Personally I'd look right past the Valve Jr and look at a Vox Valvetronix combo for a practice amp. Good tone, price and much more versatile.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
I love Valve Jr's...wish they had 'em when I was first starting to play. It's the easiest way to get "your" tone started...basic tube amp tone to build on with pedals, and the amp itself reflects the tonal characteristics of individual guitars and pickups very well...haven't even modded mine and I think it rocks so I can only imagine what it's like when you start tweakin it.
-X
I love Valve Jr's...wish they had 'em when I was first starting to play. It's the easiest way to get "your" tone started...basic tube amp tone to build on with pedals, and the amp itself reflects the tonal characteristics of individual guitars and pickups very well...haven't even modded mine and I think it rocks so I can only imagine what it's like when you start tweakin it.
-X
bloodswords
New member
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
here's my all Ibanez practice rig:
*ValBee amp
*Tubescreamer
*RG321
*even an Ibanez cord...
the ValBee has decent default drive but it's nothing intense, so metal-type tones ain't quite its forte until you boost it with a drive-type pedal (i'm using my TS9). i'm loving the cleans though- superb for the make!
here's my all Ibanez practice rig:
*ValBee amp
*Tubescreamer
*RG321
*even an Ibanez cord...
the ValBee has decent default drive but it's nothing intense, so metal-type tones ain't quite its forte until you boost it with a drive-type pedal (i'm using my TS9). i'm loving the cleans though- superb for the make!
baritone
Well-known member
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
Generally, solid state and hybrid amps are better for practicing/bedroom applications, since even a small 5 watt tube amp is pretty loud. My Valve Jr. gets loud enough to shake the whole house especially when run through my 4x10 cab, which handles up to 300 watts. But mostly I use my 2x12, and the volume is a little more reasonable.
Generally, solid state and hybrid amps are better for practicing/bedroom applications, since even a small 5 watt tube amp is pretty loud. My Valve Jr. gets loud enough to shake the whole house especially when run through my 4x10 cab, which handles up to 300 watts. But mostly I use my 2x12, and the volume is a little more reasonable.
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
With a single 6.5 or 8inch speaker you will not be shaking the house, no matter how much wattage you're pushing. You'll still have reasonable volume levels. I can't imagine 5 watts being loud after owning 50 and 120 watt amps.
I myself am interested in a valbee for practice.
With a single 6.5 or 8inch speaker you will not be shaking the house, no matter how much wattage you're pushing. You'll still have reasonable volume levels. I can't imagine 5 watts being loud after owning 50 and 120 watt amps.
I myself am interested in a valbee for practice.
Baltar
New member
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
initially i also didn't want to mod, but after playing some band practice and
jams with it, i wanted at least the treble boost installed. this is quite easy
done and i like it a lot.
agree on the speaker size. 12inch speakers have some unique sound, which
imo can hardly be done by really good 10ths. but it's also a matter of
efficiency. i don't know any 6,5 or 8 inch that delivers the sound or
efficiency (!) of an em governour for instance.
i have an 50W all tube combo as well and we're surprised how loud 5
watts can be. the bottleneck of 5 watt valve jr is the clean headroom.
it breaks in quite fast, which is the reason for lots of people to go for it.
if you want more clean headroom you play around with input impedance
and bias.
if you don't believe it, i'm sure your local music store will let you try
out ... i suggest to connect a valve jr to a efficient 212 cab for the first
try.
just my 2cents
cheers
initially i also didn't want to mod, but after playing some band practice and
jams with it, i wanted at least the treble boost installed. this is quite easy
done and i like it a lot.
agree on the speaker size. 12inch speakers have some unique sound, which
imo can hardly be done by really good 10ths. but it's also a matter of
efficiency. i don't know any 6,5 or 8 inch that delivers the sound or
efficiency (!) of an em governour for instance.
i have an 50W all tube combo as well and we're surprised how loud 5
watts can be. the bottleneck of 5 watt valve jr is the clean headroom.
it breaks in quite fast, which is the reason for lots of people to go for it.
if you want more clean headroom you play around with input impedance
and bias.
if you don't believe it, i'm sure your local music store will let you try
out ... i suggest to connect a valve jr to a efficient 212 cab for the first
try.
just my 2cents
cheers
Last edited:
schecterplayer
New member
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
have you guys seen the Crate V58? 5 watt el84 tube amp with gain, tone, and volume and an 8-inch speaker. its more versatile for practice than the valve junior due to the gain knob and sounds pretty good. Ive been looking at the valve junior head for myself just to add another tone and lower volume setup and it isn't much more than half the price of my overdrive pedal. With any of these affordable tube amps replace at least the first preamp tube with a high quality tube because the stock ones tend to be very low quality and it can make an awesome difference in the tone. good luck with whatever you get
have you guys seen the Crate V58? 5 watt el84 tube amp with gain, tone, and volume and an 8-inch speaker. its more versatile for practice than the valve junior due to the gain knob and sounds pretty good. Ive been looking at the valve junior head for myself just to add another tone and lower volume setup and it isn't much more than half the price of my overdrive pedal. With any of these affordable tube amps replace at least the first preamp tube with a high quality tube because the stock ones tend to be very low quality and it can make an awesome difference in the tone. good luck with whatever you get
Baltar
New member
Re: Ibanez valbee or epiphone valve junior
i looks very nice and seems to be one of the things you don't need to mod
anymore, comes with celestion speaker
but .. bummer .. , it costs 377 EUR over here :eek13:
but for that money i'd rather go for a pro junior or save some more for a
tiny terror top.
i looks very nice and seems to be one of the things you don't need to mod
anymore, comes with celestion speaker
but .. bummer .. , it costs 377 EUR over here :eek13:
but for that money i'd rather go for a pro junior or save some more for a
tiny terror top.
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