Number 5 is alive

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How it started...

All the hype about the Epiphone Valve Junior amplifier completely passed me by, perhaps because a 5 watt, single-ended amp with an EL84 and a 12AX7 is not an amp which interests me; I had already covered SE in a project of my own (TT66), and other manufacturers have similar amps in their lineups. But when one of my customers asked me about some modifications I took the time to take a deeper look at this little amp.
The circuit is nothing extraordinary, absolutely standard and discussed in many different pages in the Internet, so I felt no real enthusiasm for the project. The modifications I found in the many web pages devoted to the amp were, truth to tell, somewhat lame.
But the passion with which those people were working on their amps was amazing. There must be something attractive in these little guys and this was a reason for buying one. The Epiphone Valve Junior and the Harley Benton GA-5 are both available from Thomann, and they´re both quite cheap.

I ordered the head version, because I find combos impractical and they´re the most hostile environment for tube amplifiers. The amp arrived quickly and I was pleasantly suprised. The sound was ok, classic single ended sound as I was expecting it from this type of amp. The headshell is clean and well-done, the price of this amp is really okay. Nothing to criticize here.
I was surprised a second time when I took the chassis out of the headshell. Everything is PCB mounted and clean. You can´t expect point-to-point wiring and expensive parts in an amplifier in this price class, but for the price the parts are okay, the tube sockets are even Belton parts which are one of the really good sockets on the market.
Some of the well-known and even more expensive brands could learn some lessons here.

The metal chassis is likewise cleanly done and painted, the power and output trannies seem stable, again, in reference to the price. I was a bit astonished that a 'Made in China' amp, with a Chinese 12ax7, is equipped with a Russian (Sovtek) EL84.

In short I can say that this is a tidily built amp for a very fair price and, maybe the most important thing, a good basis for extensions and modifications, because there´s much room left in the chassis and the parts are a good basis.
I think especially for beginners (but not only) this amp is perfect for doing a first built on their own. It´s a complete and functional plattform for making the junior an adult, or at least a teen.

This was the moment when my mood changed and I couldn´t wait to get the amp on my workbench.

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