The Valve Jr transformation is complete....

[duhvoodooman***]

Got ambitious and pulled out the chassis for a couple of photos:

[duhvoodooman***]

How expensive would it be to source the rest of the parts and make it a head version? I've been looking at the valve junior lately and was going to mod it into a more vox like sound anyway, so this might be a really cool option.

Not sure what you're asking. Do you already have a Valve Jr. that you want to convert? If so, what version? Or are you talking about building a head from scratch?

[Tig***]

Cool, that got my interest. However, I can't find any EVJ populated boards on their website.
I'd like to get a Vox voiced one to replace my dead EVJ's board.

[vroomery]

I'm talking about building one from scratch. It might be more cost effective to buy a head and replace it with a complete board.

[duhvoodooman***]

Cool, that got my interest. However, I can't find any EVJ populated boards on their website.
I'd like to get a Vox voiced one to replace my dead EVJ's board.

About halfway down this page:

http://www.turretboards.com/guitar_a...ve_junior.html

I'm talking about building one from scratch. It might be more cost effective to buy a head and replace it with a complete board.

I expect that it would be considerably cheaper to buy a VJr head and modify it than to build from scratch. The cost of transformers, chassis, hardware and cabinet would add up pretty fast. I'd suggest looking for a used head on eBay or CL.

[tunghaichuan***]

I'm talking about building one from scratch. It might be more cost effective to buy a head and replace it with a complete board.

Before I owned any of the VJ amps, I built one from scratch just to see if I could do it. It came out great and sounds better than a stock VJ. I'd been collecting parts for a long time before, so I doubt I have more than $50 in it, but if you were to buy all new parts, it would no doubt cost more than a VJ amp. I would buy a used amp to further increase your savings.

[tunghaichuan***]

Looks great, DVM.

Got ambitious and pulled out the chassis for a couple of photos:

[Tig***]

Thx for the guidance. I had a killer headache yesterday and couldn't find it.

I'm really liking what I see so far.

So, it looks like you had to cut off the stock connectors and solder the wires directly to the board, right? Do they supply adequate instructions on wire placement? It sounds like yo and Tung had to adapt your past mod's to the new board. My only mod is a tone pot.

Also, how does the EVJ sound now after you've had a chance to play with it?

[duhvoodooman***]

So, it looks like you had to cut off the stock connectors and solder the wires directly to the board, right? Do they supply adequate instructions on wire placement?

Yes, had to cut off the stock spade connectors on the transformer wiring and solder directly to the board. The layout diagram makes it pretty clear what you have to do, I thought. There are some grounding wires that have to be added, too, also shown on the layout.

Also, how does the EVJ sound now after you've had a chance to play with it?

Sounds very, very good. Definitely has that juicy, single-ended Class A character. Kind of a rustic & untamed edge to the tone. This version has better clarity and more treble end than my previous mod. Candidly, I think I went a little overboard in hot rodding that one!

[Tig***]

Yes, had to cut off the stock spade connectors on the transformer wiring and solder directly to the board. The layout diagram makes it pretty clear what you have to do, I thought. There are some grounding wires that have to be added, too, also shown on the layout.


Sounds very, very good. Definitely has that juicy, single-ended Class A character. Kind of a rustic & untamed edge to the tone. This version has better clarity and more treble end than my previous mod. Candidly, I think I went a little overboard in hot rodding that one!

Looks like something I can handle then. I'll pull the trigger tonight.

Not sure which components to choose...
Mallory 150 or Orange Drop cap's, as well as 1 watt carbon film or 1/2 watt carbon comp resisters. I'm not sure if they make much of a difference in tone or reliability.

[duhvoodooman***]

Not sure which components to choose...
Mallory 150 or Orange Drop cap's, as well as 1 watt carbon film or 1/2 watt carbon comp resisters. I'm not sure if they make much of a difference in tone or reliability.

The carbon films are the better technology on the resistors--less noisy. Carbon comp rezzies get talked up on the basis of "vintage mojo", whatever the hell that is. Snake oil, IMO. Less noise = mo' better, in my book.

For the caps, the usual rule of thumb is Mallories for British style amp tone (Vox, Marshall), and Orange Drops for the more glassy, Fenderish tone. I went with the Mallories on my Voxy board. I've never compared the two types side-by-side, but I'll bet the difference is pretty darned subtle....

[Tig***]

My EVJ board arrived today. Its the Voxy version as well. Hopefully I'll wire it up next week.

[Ch0jin]

Ah the yellow board. Should provide slightly glassier treble and more intricately shaped highs than the red one DVM has....

[Tig***]

Ah the yellow board. Should provide slightly glassier treble and more intricately shaped highs than the red one DVM has....

You know it!
Yellow boards are the secret to increased touch sensitivity as well, but don't tell DVM.

[Commodore 64***]

Wait, that's' a Vox/Fender version..it has an Orange Drop AND a Mallory! Are you sure it won't explode or something? What if the Orange Drop goes for Declaration of Independence?

[duhvoodooman***]

Ah the yellow board. Should provide slightly glassier treble and more intricately shaped highs than the red one DVM has....

You know it!
Yellow boards are the secret to increased touch sensitivity as well, but don't tell DVM.

But the red boards have more tonal warmth and superior gain characteristics. This is widely known....

Seriously, that's great, Tig. Looking forward to hear what you think of the finished product.

BTW, Bloozcat just got one of these new VJr boards, too....

[Bloozcat]

Yep, mine came in last Thursday, one day before I went out of town for 4-days. I should get started on it this week the good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise.

And of course, mine is a red board as well....

[Tig***]

Yep, mine came in last Thursday, one day before I went out of town for 4-days. I should get started on it this week the good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise.

And of course, mine is a red board as well....

Yes, but the yellow board will make women within range turn to puddy in your hands. It's a known fact!

[Bloozcat]

Yes, but the yellow board will make women within range turn to puddy in your hands. It's a known fact!

Ahhh... my dashing good looks and natural animal magnetism already does that...