Epiphone Valve junior

[TWANG]

clear decal sheets and printer.

I'm going to start doing them as full size instead of individual labels.

test print on paper.. cut it out and apply to check fit..
when I get it sized right.. go for the decal paper.
you have to spray it with clear coat after the ink drys.

[echuta13]

Clip out C3 for starters. Is it a combo? I think the stock Jr. speaker is pretty inefficient. Changing that out to a more efficient speaker should give it some breath. Another option would be to beef up the O/T a bit.

[TWANG]

clip C3 for less gain.
it' s just bit less lows, and less volume.

I leave C3 in, and wire it to a three way switch.. that way you can have
Full range, C3-lift, and NFB (negative feedback). A sort of three way voicing/gain switch.

I didn't see a question on this. but there are ways to increase or decrease the gain, of course.

Triode Electronics Tube Amp Kits Transformers Tubes Dynaco Upgrades and Parts has a nice Classic Tone OT.. which alone will improve the stock amp.
The stock 8" speaker knocks the volume down.. it can't really handle the amp, and a 12" speaker livens that puppy up no end.
But Eucheta knows all this!

[tubeswell]

I like that faceplate technique TWANG - very smart and simple. Kudos to you.

[mooreamps]

Do you really think a Twin would fit in there? Might be a little cramped. Perhaps if we left out the reverb, that should be a space saver.

In interesting notion.. Hold this thought... I am tempted to find out...

-g

[TWANG]

thanks tubeswell..
some think the pearls look 'cheap'..
I guess they'd rather have laser etched and pay big money..
but I like the look.
max the tone. add a bit of style.. keeps costs down and still looks custom.

[Chuck H]

Even the cheap looking pearl plastic looks cool though because it looks retro. The same way cheap red sparkle vinyl and Bakelite do

JMHO but if the VJ starts breaking up at the power tube before the preamp then any tube swap or gain reduction mod absolutely will not give the amp a louder clean tone. It will only change the knob setting where the maximum clean volume is. The only thing to do is modify the EQ of the amp to reduce the frequencies that are most prone to overdrive. This will mostly be in the bass and low mids leaving the amp sounding thin and weak instead of small and weak.

Along the same lines as Steve Conner (but a little more practical) you could upgrade the transformers and run a single ended 6550 for about 15 watts of clean power. You'd have to be real dedicated to the project since it may cost half the value of the amp but it would probably fit, and surprise the hell out of everyone.

[TWANG]

I got a twin in an old fm pocket radio once, but I had to leave out a lot of stuff, too.



I don't think it looks cheap. Though some do.

You can do a lot with these to make them clean on the dial..
or dirty preamp tones dominating or subject to the power tube crunch.

The stock amp generally starts breaking up around 12:00 on the dial..
modded they break up earlier.. sometimes way earlier-I've seen guys with amps that
broke up a LOT at 9:00.. usually fizzy as they pushed both tubes too hard, and didn't do much to smooth out the tone to start with.

I like 'em with EL34s but I want to do one with another preamp tube and TMB with that tube.
I'm saving back an OT for a KT66 single ended build.

fun stuff!