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Post subject: Blues Jr III ear piercing highs
Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 7:36 am
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Joined: Fri Jul 28, 2017 9:23 am
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New member needing you all's help.

I have a fender Blues Junior 3 less than a year old. Bought it as the grab and go yet loud enough for jams amp. It is all stock except for speaker upgrade to Celestion G12K and it now has great bass and low-mids response :-) I was never happy with the highs which are ear piercing to me. When I tried it at GC, I did with a strat equipped with a humbucker. When I use any of my single-coil equipped guitars, it is out-of-control high.

I read that in the development of BJ3, Fender modified the circuit board to address musicians requests for more upper mids and highs. Seems that was a successful change for Fender engineers. Problem is, I prefer darker/warmer sounding amps.

I spoke to my local amp tech and he says different tubes will not fix this. Is he right? If so, do you all have any suggestions to get my BJ3 darker/warmer sounding with tamed med-highs and highs?

I have a SF Bassman 50 which I love with the same Celestion G12K speakers in the 2x12 cab. Would be great to get it somewhat closer to my Bassman 50. If all else fails, do you all have any suggestions on Fender 112 tube combos that I should look into? I heard of the Super 60 and Champ 12, there may be other choices too.

Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr III ear piercing highs
Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2017 4:12 pm
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A speaker change might help. Some of the sound of the Blues Jr. has to do with the cabinet though. And like you said, the circuit is what it is.

I swear some of those amp engineers are partially deaf. The highs are just ridiculous on so many amps.

Where are you playing? At home or out? What kind of music?


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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr III ear piercing highs
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 12:00 am
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Location: Indiana
dguilbault wrote:
...I spoke to my local amp tech and he says different tubes will not fix this. Is he right?


No.

dguilbault wrote:
...any suggestions to get my BJ3 darker/warmer sounding with tamed med-highs and highs? ...


Lower gain tubes can do wonders for mellowing the tone. I would definitely try a 5751 in V1 and a 12AT7 in V3 (PI). This will tame the tone a bit, and retain most of the volume. A 12AY7 in V1 would further tame the tone, but at the cost of even lower volume.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr III ear piercing highs
Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 1:14 pm
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Professional Musician
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The latest versions have C9 removed from the master volume circuit. While the cap did reduce treble, the result of removing it allows ear piercing treble to escape when you miss a string.
I have been installing a 500pf to 750 pf in the C9 position to tame it down.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr III ear piercing highs
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 11:57 am
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Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
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Apart from some other work too technical for me(!) which included NOS output tubes, a Cannabis Rex speaker made all the difference to mine. Takes out much of the ice-pick!

But the BJr isn't the only amp to do this. Sometimes the only way on a SC Strat is to knock either the volume or tone back a bit.

Cheers - Peter.


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