Out of these, which do you think is best?

[Guest]

I'm looking for something to replace the Eko. It just doesn't cut it.

It's not going to be bought right now (no $ and in a guitar playing downtime) but as most of you know I like to do my research with a lot of time.

I'm looking for something that will get me good a bedroom sound. Nothing that will wake the neighbours up but that will deliver some good tone.

All prices were taken from MF and I only took into account the list value to which I added 23% (tax around here).

Bear in mind I have no chance to try either. All the stores carry around here are Crate's GX15R's and big Marshall heads. I've had enough SS with the EKO to want another one (and I don't really like the GX) and the Marshalls are out of my league ($, volume and skill wise).

Fender Blues Jr:

750$ would become 674€.
All the controls you need, fat channel and reverb.
12 inch speaker.

Pro's: Reverb and versatility.
Con's: Price, possibly too much volume and I don't know what to do with all those knobs, frankly...

Might be the better amp of the trio but it may be too much for an amateur, not only in quality and features but also in volume.

Fender Champion 600:

270$ would become 242€. Nice value IMO
Volume control, high and low gain plugs. Ability to plug into an external speaker, 6 inch speaker, 5 watts.

Pro's: Price, enough volume with good tone (from what I can hear on youtube).
Con's: Maybe too simplistic.

Looks like it replaced the Pro Jr, took away some of the features (I think the tone control) and set the price down a tad.
I like it from what I can gather around in the net.

The control, from what I read, really just controls the volume, the guitar's controls are what sets cleaness or distortion.

As my vote implicates, this one is my favourite.

Epiphone Valve Jr:

250$, would also become 225€.
Volume control and nothing else. No high and low gain plugs. You can only plug to an external speaker if it's a 4 ohm one (the head version of this amp does all the others). 8 inch speaker, 5 watts.

Pro's: Inexpensive, bigger speaker (what does that give it, more volume over the Champion?)
Cons: One with less features and only one where hum is present (apparently easilly fixed but I don't want to mess with an amp or have somone do it for me and end up paying more than if I bought something better).

Reccomended due to the price but I really can't justify the difference, not to mention I don't really trust Epi (tough I realise they seem to be making better stuff).

Does seem to really respond to the way the position of the knob, from what I've seen on youtube (no one shows that for the Champ.).

I admit this is my least favourite option.

If anyone owns any of these amps, feel free to provide your opinion.

UPDATE: The prices were all wrong... :smack:

 

[V!N]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

The Blues Junior is the best, but you probably already knew that. The other two are like all tiny tube amps, they're pretty much a joke .. Sure, the distortion comes from some tubes, but the sonic advantages of tube distortion are rather limited by the cheapest parts inside and the tiny speaker.
You'll get more realistic tube sounds at a lower level with a somewhat larger transistor combo and a perhaps a nice pedal if the amps distortion sucks.

But if I may be so free to add a Rob option, I'd say the Madamp A15Mk1 might be just what the doctor ordered. The kit comes with high quality parts (Mallory 150 caps, Hammond transformers, etc.)

€ 259,- for a kit and if your dad is still working with wood, he could make you a nice cab to go around it, combo or head.
some pictures and clips here

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

Go with the valve junior head. Get a cab.
If you go with the combo, the hum is gone on the new ones, so thats not a con anymore.
If you think the valve junior is a joke, you havent spent much time with one. I have one, and it absolutely sounds great. You are kidding yourself if you think the blues junior is that much different, other than features.
I really think that once my speaker is broken in a bad monkey will be all I need. (with my head and a v30 copy)

 

[V!N]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

I've had all the amps mentioned in this thread (so far) in my shop and tried each and every one of them very thoroughly.

 

[Guest]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

The Blues Junior is the best, but you probably already knew that. The other two are like all tiny tube amps, they're pretty much a joke .. Sure, the distortion comes from some tubes, but the sonic advantages of tube distortion are rather limited by the cheapest parts inside and the tiny speaker.
You'll get more realistic tube sounds at a lower level with a somewhat larger transistor combo and a perhaps a nice pedal if the amps distortion sucks.

But if I may be so free to add a Rob option, I'd say the Madamp A15Mk1 might be just what the doctor ordered. The kit comes with high quality parts (Mallory 150 caps, Hammond transformers, etc.)

€ 259,- for a kit and if your dad is still working with wood, he could make you a nice cab to go around it, combo or head.
some pictures and clips here

The Blues is the "deluxe" option of the group. Only if the other ones are totally unacceptable.

The MK isn't really an option. Even I could make a cab for it, the problem is that I don't really want to deal with electronics. Not to mention I'd like to have the security of a warranty (don't know if a kit can offer that).

Go with the valve junior head. Get a cab.
If you go with the combo, the hum is gone on the new ones, so thats not a con anymore.
If you think the valve junior is a joke, you havent spent much time with one. I have one, and it absolutely sounds great. You are kidding yourself if you think the blues junior is that much different, other than features.
I really think that once my speaker is broken in a bad monkey will be all I need. (with my head and a v30 copy)

I have 0 experience with any of them, I admit that (plenty of times) .

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

Champ.

 

[Guest]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

You tried it Biggie?

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

I've had all the amps mentioned in this thread (so far) in my shop and tried each and every one of them very thoroughly.

What was it you did not like about the Valve Jr ? was it the combo or the head ? I think that a lot of the reason the Valve jr and champ sound less than the Blues Jr is the fact that the blues has a 12" speaker in it.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

Buy an old Gibson.

But yeah, I've played the Champ and it wasn't too bad. Pretty good really. The Blues Jr. just kinda bugged me. I dunno why, mine was completely stock, so that may be it. But I just never got along with it. I guess it's kindof a prejudice - it was a good amp, but I just didn't get alont with it. Maybe it needs Single Coils? I know my Falcon is eating both single coils and buckers for breakfast (in a good way).

Champ was good though, and with that $400, you can get a few pedals that will make the Champ just as good.

 

[Guest]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

You do have a point there.

I'm wondering. The BJ has a master volume. Does that mean I can have the amp volume to top giving me a distorted tone but at a low volume good for practicing?

The only thing that really makes me want to buy the BJ is the fact that it's a bigger one. If I'm to buy a new amp I might as well buy something not as practice-y as my EKO but I have to take care it's exceedingly loud.

Either way. When I'm ready to buy I'm going to Lisbon and do a store run. See if I can find them and what else there is that might suit me.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

Yeah, the BJ does have a Master Volume, and you can get it to break up. That might be the better option altogether, it's just more expensive. That's the only real reason I didn't vote for it.

 

[Guest]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

Yeah, the BJ does have a Master Volume, and you can get it to break up. That might be the better option altogether, it's just more expensive. That's the only real reason I didn't vote for it.

I'm asking if it does what I think it does. I really don't know LOL

Ultimately, I'd like to have the BJ. Realistically I think I'm gonna go for the Champ if it doesn't utterly suck.

Been reading on it, looks like it was THE student model a couple decades ago, just a bit less powerful. I am a student and since I already have a student guitar I might as well make a full set out of it lol.

If anyone can give their reviews of these amps, I'd appreciate it. Even the Epi isn't completly out of option. It's just getting there.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

Yes, there is a decent break up with the volume high but the master low. Not metal or anything like that, but a decent break up.

Check this thread out:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=240298

 

[Guest]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

Yes, there is a decent break up with the volume high but the master low. Not metal or anything like that, but a decent break up.

Check this thread out:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=240298

Ah, cool. I don't really play metal, despite what my gloss says. Classic rock and the like, which I reckon is what these amps were made for.
That feature does look handy.

Basically improving the amp can actually be les expensive than the BJ. Might buy it, mod it and when I feel I've outgrown it go for the BJ.

Thanks.

 

[theodie]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

A Marshall. :laugh:

 

[Axl H]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

Played a gig with a Blues Jr. the other night.

Its a cool sounding little amp, and with a DS-1 in front of it and some volume I got quite a good heavy-rock sound out of it.

But.... With a Les Paul I couldnt get a very good clean out of it, it was distorting at quite low volume.. Only 4 on the master.

And despite having a good mid boost on the amp and a DS-1 with a heavy volume and distortion boost on, I just couldnt get my leads to really break through in the band.

The Valve Junior is my favorite of those 3 amps, tried one in a store and liked it alot

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

Luis, the Blues Jr is worth the extra money for the added clean headroom and having a more tunable tonestack.....I have gigged with one, with great results.

I wouldn't consider the Epi or the Champ to be in the same league.

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

Classic rock and the like, which I reckon is what these amps were made for.

Basically improving the amp can actually be les expensive than the BJ. Might buy it, mod it and when I feel I've outgrown it go for the BJ.

that is the exact tone the valve junior is good at. I think you have already decided against it, but anyway.
If you say the word "mod" and dont get the valve junior there is seriously something wrong with you.
And you WILL NOT get power tube distortion at low volume, no matter what. If that is what you were asking.

 

[Guest]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

A Marshall. :laugh:

Why, you little...! Lol

Played a gig with a Blues Jr. the other night.

Its a cool sounding little amp, and with a DS-1 in front of it and some volume I got quite a good heavy-rock sound out of it.

But.... With a Les Paul I couldnt get a very good clean out of it, it was distorting at quite low volume.. Only 4 on the master.

And despite having a good mid boost on the amp and a DS-1 with a heavy volume and distortion boost on, I just couldnt get my leads to really break through in the band.

The Valve Junior is my favorite of those 3 amps, tried one in a store and liked it alot

Since I have an HS guitar I reckon I could just go from single to HB to go from clean to distorted. Could be nice as I don't really use the bridge for clean (at least I can't with my current amp...).

The line will be Cyclone, Boss SD1, whatever I decide based on this thread and after trying them out.

Luis, the Blues Jr is worth the extra money for the added clean headroom and having a more tunable tonestack.....I have gigged with one, with great results.

I wouldn't consider the Epi or the Champ to be in the same league.

Tunable tonestack? I'm sorry but I don't follow you, what does that mean?

that is the exact tone the valve junior is good at. I think you have already decided against it, but anyway.
If you say the word "mod" and dont get the valve junior there is seriously something wrong with you.
And you WILL NOT get power tube distortion at low volume, no matter what. If that is what you were asking.

I will not deny any claims of anything being wrong with me lol :beerchug:

I don't mean low volume on the amp, I mean an amp that when pushed distorts but not being too loud.

It is true, the Epi is the least favourite, just there for an option and if I can try it I'll consider it.

I'm getting swayed towards the BJ now...

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Out of these, which do you think is best?

Tunable tonestack? I'm sorry but I don't follow you, what does that mean?

It has bass, middle and treble controls. Doesn't the other amps mentioned only have a single tone control?