Ready for a new old tone

[whammy64]

This is my first post here and my first on any forum in a long time. Been a lurker for a while.

Anyway, I am longing for a good, reasonably priced amp that can give me that vintage tube sound that's a little different from the Fender tube amps I now use. I have become interested in the Epiphone Valve Junior head/halfstack. For about $250, the reviews I have read have my interest piqued. The apparent simplicity (one knob) appeals to me and the price is right.

I currently use a silverface deluxe reverb, about 1978 or so, beat up, banged around, with a weber alnico speaker. I love this amp - played it 20 years now and intend to keep it and maybe replace its chewed up tolex and rattly reverb tank. The DR suits me fine without any pedals, other than an occasional CryBaby Wah. My Gibson guitars sound warm and fat and my Fenders just sparkle. But its got a lot of miles and some rattles and noises and I often long for a more 50s-sounding, darker, tweed-like tone.

My other amp is an 83 Pro Reverb with the blackface cosmetics and the dreaded master volume. I know this is a semi-wonderful amp but the tone is not my bag at all. Clean tones are OK but when I want to push it into overdrive a bit, it's too loud, too glassy, too piercing and simply frustrating for me. It makes me not want to play. It's sometimes OK for chording with a band but even just slightly overdriven leads - forget about it, especially at home. Sure, I could plug in a pedal and probably get some of what I'm after but I am not into pedals that much. And this thing is heavy.

I know I can't make it lighter, but what can I do to tweak the Pro to improve its tone without making circuit mods? Should I just sell it and buy the valve junior and some other toys?

Am I on the right track with the Epiphone amp? Other suggestions?

My style is blues -for sure - EC, T-Bone, BB, Freddie, Jimmie Vaughn, Magic Sam - those guys are my heroes. I play rock, soul, funk and some country stuff, too. I hate metal and overproduced product. My main guitars are Gibson LP & SG, and Fender Tex-Mex Strat and Tele thinline. I have 30 years of playing with 20 years of working band experience. Still learning but set in my ways.

Too much for a first post?

[stokes]

Have you tried the Epi VJ?It is not an amp you can use in a band situation.I didnt like it at all,to me it sounded like what it is-a cheap amp.I will admit I am somewhat spoiled with my collection of tube amps,from 5and 10 watt Champ types to a 60 watt Boogie and everything in between,21 tube amps in all.My style is similar to yours,and my axes include the same,I think the Tex-Mex Strat is one of the best Strats I ever played.Anyway,I would suggest you try the VJ before you take the leap,you may like it,but if you are looking for something to use in a band situation,the VJ wont cut it,unless your drummer uses brushes.For a bedroom amp I guess it might be okay,but I wasnt impressed with it.I am not a fan of the Silverface amps,and I know this may cause a shit storm from some guys here,but I would take that SF DR and do the Blackface mod at least and probably a few more things,but of course if you love the amp the way it is or are concerned with the collector value,then forget what I just said.I wont even comment on the '83 Pro other than to say I would rather sell that and get a 5E3 kit from Bruce,or one of the other cloners out there,you will likely be happier with one of those,given your style.A bit more $$ than an Epi VJ,but a much better choice,and there are a lot of mods you can do to a 5E3 to make it more usable in a band situation if the stock version has too much break-up for you.

[whammy64]

Thanks for the reply, stokes. Volume for me is not a problem with the band since my amps are always mic'd and mixed. So, a small amp is fine. We're not a loud band anyway. Don't want a cheap sound though. I've only played through the VJ combo since nobody around here has the head in stock. It was OK but didn't really dig in and test it properly.

As for the DR, she's no collector piece. I had some work done on it early on by a friend of a friend. Later but about 10 years ago, a more trusted tech undid that work, which he called "suspect." He replaced the caps and did some other stuff I can't remember now.

I used to play a friend's blackface Pro Reverb and I never cared much for it either. I will say my Pro sounds good for jazzy stuff and much better with my Les Paul than my Strat, to my ears. Tremelo and reverb work nicely. The amp is in great shape since I rarely gig with it, only a little wear on the rear upper corners.

But that 5E3 kit looks like exactly what I'm looking for. Just hadn't considered building one myself. That could be cool.

Thanks again.

[stokes]

The 5E3 kits get some good reviews,I've never tried one myself but I have built a few 5E3 types some years before these kits became popular.I did some mods to get a little more headroom and to brighten it up a little,the stock 5E3 is pretty dark sounding to me,and they break up real fast.I would think with some basic soldering skills the kit should be pretty foolproof,and having read some of the threads around here,you get some great customer service from Bruce.I have no affiliation with or have no personal experience with Mission Amps,just basing it on what I've seen on this board.

[Sweetfinger]

the no mod tone mod

You can sort of 'fool' your silver/blackface Fender into more of a tweed tone by turning the treble and bass all they way to zero and turning the mid(if it has one) all they way up. If it doesn't have a mid control, the midrange is internally set by a resistor to about 'half way up'. Turn up the amp and enjoy your new 'mod'. I know, ....it seems weird, but trust me.

[SlowPaw]

I've also been somewhat pleased with Gerald Weber's quick & dirty "Marshall Lead Channel" mod to my blackface. Warmer tone, more gain, very little work.

[Jammin'John]

Pro

Not much you can do with that amp.
Make sure you have a 5U4 in it.
Put a 12ay7 in V1 & V2.
Get a warmer speaker.

JJ

[whammy64]

good advice here.

I found something to do with the Pro Reverb. Sold it for three times what I paid for it and bought and built a Mission 5E3 kit as advised by the wise members of this forum. Way to go.
I enjoyed the build process as a first-timer and I would love to do another one. Bruce was cool and he has a quality product. Amp fits the bill perfectly.
One friend called it "a world-class amp." Works for me. For my style and playing situations, this amp does exactly what I need. Jammed with a buddy who brought his Fender Blues Jr. and at any volume/drive level the 5E3 just sounded LOADS richer and fuller. The 5E3 was the perfect step up from the PR.

Sounds good with every axe I've plugged in.

[Jammin'John]

5E3

5e3's are a lot of fun.
I have old american tubes in mine and a Weber 12F150.
Very nice when clean and breaks up just the way I like it.
The only amp that is as sweet is my 2x5E3 with a Weber Blue Dog & a 1230-55 in it !
It's as big as Texas.

JJ