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Post subject: Blues Junior III clean volume
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 5:02 am
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Hello all, this is my first post here and I'd be grateful for any help.
I've just bought a 2nd hand Blues Jnr III (no mods) and I'm a bit disappointed by how little clean volume I'm getting before the tone starts to break up. With the guitar and Master on max, for example, I can't set the preamp volume any more than 2 without getting distortion.
Is this normal?
Obviously if I turn the guitar or Master vol down then the preamp vol can go higher but there's no net increase in sound output. For test purposes all tone controls are in the middle, FAT is off, guitar is a Tele (Twisted Tele neck pup).
Thanks for any advice!


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III clean volume
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 11:27 am
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Try comparing the volume of Master cranked and Volume 2 with
Master 5 and Volume 5 ... or thereabouts.

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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III clean volume
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 2:45 am
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Wich guitar; humbucker or Single Coil ?
If Single Coil, amp may need some new tubes and bias check with new power tubes.

You did'n test drive before buy ?


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III clean volume
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 6:05 am
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BMW-KTM wrote:
Try comparing the volume of Master cranked and Volume 2 with
Master 5 and Volume 5 ... or thereabouts.

With Master on 5 the tone starts to break up with Volume at 3.5, output not very different to V2 and M12
Settings 5 and 5 is definitely into the crunchy zone.
A new set of tubes is not the end of the world, if that's going to make a difference. I'm just trying to establish what is normal for this amp.
Guitar is a Tele (Twisted Tele neck pup).
Thanks again.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III clean volume
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 11:45 am
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If you're expecting your BJ III to sound like a Super Reverb, fuggedaboutit. It ain't gonna happen. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. And a thousand dollars worth of BillM mods will not change the dynamic. Those EL84 platforms bear no relationship whatsoever to a real Fender amp, ie: something that Leo himself designed. IOW, it is what it is......a miserable fizz box with a Fender logo affixed to the cabinet so as to assuage the ego of its owner. That's the dirty little secret about the BJ that everyone seems to tip-toe around.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III clean volume
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 6:26 pm
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Arjay, thanks for the pompous and pointless rant. Hope you feel better for getting that off your chest. Meanwhile I'm asking a pretty simple question: are the results I described normal for this amp or does it need new tubes? If you're trying to tell me that all BJ amps sound like this then that would be useful.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III clean volume
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 6:40 pm
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From my experience with the Master at max (12/12) and the Volume knob at 4/12 you should still be just inside the clean range on a BJr and inside your average house it will be as loud as hell. Usually with the controls as mentioned breakup will just start happening as you move from 4 to 5 on the Volume knob (clean range ends at about 4/12, assuming a 12ax7 in V1). What you are describing with breakup at 2/12 sounds like there is a problem somewhere, probably new power tubes are in order to start with.

Here's some info that will help you.
http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=131


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III clean volume
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 11:41 pm
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Angstrom wrote:
Arjay, thanks for the pompous and pointless rant. Hope you feel better for getting that off your chest. Meanwhile I'm asking a pretty simple question: are the results I described normal for this amp or does it need new tubes? If you're trying to tell me that all BJ amps sound like this then that would be useful.


"Pompous"? Perhaps.

"Pointless"? Hardly.

Every word I wrote is the absolute truth.

As for "feeling better", no. I take no joy in denigrating a once-respected company whose products I've had an active relationship with since 1966. Five fu¢king decades, pal! I've seen it all. And at any given time on this planet you'll find literally hundreds of used BJ amps for sale on Ebay, Craig's List, Reverb, etc......all being unceremoniously dumped after their owners discovered the ultimate truth about what a POFS those amps actually are.

Now, to the gist of your original question: yes, it would seem likely that something is actually amiss with the amp. I've test-driven these models countless times in a store and none of them exhibited the apparent premature breakup you've described. Because of the EL84's design characteristics, they normally run very hot. Thus, they have a relatively short service life -- much shorter than say, a 6V6GTA or a 6L6WGB. A new matched pair may freshen things up a bit but for optimum health, the bias-supply current should be checked after installation for any anomaly. As Snowy mentioned, these amps are pretty loud and you should get some measure of relatively clean tones before the onset of grit. You might also look the speaker over for any evidence of fatigue or abuse. A tired driver never favors an amp.

Happy now?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III clean volume
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2017 2:41 am
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My 2¢ worth of 2¢... the closet "clean" sounding modern made EL84 is the Sovtek EL84M. AKA: Reflektor made 6P14P-EV (or -EB).

May want to try a set of these.

http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/EL84- ... emium-EL84

http://www.tubes-store.com/product_info ... ucts_id=20


Last edited by BMW2002Ti on Sun Jan 01, 2017 9:54 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III clean volume
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2017 2:45 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
My 2¢ worth or 2¢... the closet "clean" sounding modern made EL84 is the Sovtek EL84M. AKA: Reflektor made 6P14P-EV (or -EB).

May want to try a set of these.

http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/EL84- ... emium-EL84

http://www.tubes-store.com/product_info ... ucts_id=20


With bias adjustment

Poor clean may come from Phase Inverter tube or a bad resisitor in this circuit


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III clean volume
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2017 5:09 am
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Thanks and respect to all for your input. Sounds like it does need professional attention, which is what I wanted to know. Happy new year in Fenderland ...


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III clean volume
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2017 6:13 am
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Angstrom wrote:
. Sounds like it does need professional attention, which is what I wanted to know.



A qualified one only.


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