The basic gist of the modification kit involves the installation of new power and output transformers, the addition of a choke – a rarity in budget amplifiers these days – and a basic reworking of the amp’s circuitry to eliminate some of the noise and hum that plagued early models. Kit is likely the only one on the market that can make that claim.
But while most of these mod projects have expanded the tonality and scope of the Valve Jr., none have completely changed it. For the most part, they’ve all added some usable capabilities while maintaining the original vibe of the amp – mainly, stripped down rock tones with passable tube warmth. Having been intrigued with the amp’s possibilities since its conception, we’ve tested out a variety of modifications, from the homegrown (see Dirk Wacker’s web exclusive columns at ) to commercial projects, such as the popular BitMo modification kits (reviewed in October 2007). – a project that, ironically, was originally intended simply as a transformer demonstration kit.
Mercury’s Sergio Hamernik and L.A.-based amp wizard Alan Cyr went to work designing a custom set of transformers and choke for the diminutive Valve Jr. They wisely realized early on that the amp’s blank slate vibe would provide the perfect showcase for their talents. One of those was Mercury Magnetics, an outfit best known for conceiving badass power and output transformers for a variety of modern and vintage amps.
With modification tips spreading like an unrestrained virus through message boards and forums, facilitated by the tone-seeking faithful, it was only a matter of time before established companies caught wind of what was going on.
can be viewed as a major driver of that shift. Like muscle cars in the sixties and Superstrats in the eighties, people are again obsessed with hot-rodding, and the Valve Jr. But it should be said that the amp’s simplicity – demonstrated by the lone chicken-headed volume knob that flies in the face of modern complexities – has since combined with a growing, gear-obsessed online culture to create a technological phenomenon. By now, you’re probably familiar with the Epiphone Valve Jr., the tiny, low-wattage, low-budget amplifier that hit store shelves a few years back and single-handedly energized a cadre of amp modders, so we won’t go into a cursory rehashing of its history.
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