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Post subject: Blues Junior, Not So Junior!!!!
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:37 am
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Hi all this may be a bit long winded but enjoy anyway...LOL..

Ok, This all started from looking into this forum regarding the FBJ amp.

It didn't take me long to grab one and I certainly don't regret it, especially after lugging around from rehearsal to rehearsal and gig to gig a HRD 410. Don't get me wrong I still love the 410 but I think I am in love with the 410's love child...the Blues Junior...lol..

Alright Today 18/12/09 I Sold my Hughes & Kettner 212 Amp and a Squier Vintage Modified Tele to top up my $300 AUD in my pocket to buy outright at $830 AUD a brand spanking new Fender Blues Junior.

At first I was concerned that it may not have the headroom for my clean chops for Reggae Music and compete with a hard hitting drummer in my Rock blues Band. "I was Wrong".

To the shop;
I walked out of the store with BJ still in it's box and cautiously took it home but I was still resereved in my mind as to whether this thing was going to cut it?

Well I felt instant satisfaction loading BJ into my car boot without feeling like my back was going to collapse, then I went to rehearsal with my Rock Blues Band and the guy's laughed at me asking "Did Your Amp Shrink"?

I replied to them saying "GF", but in my mind I was hoping that BJ would tell them to..

I set up and as soon as I started spanking my 54 RI strat I was impressed..BJ was kicking some serious arse, So I knoew then I spent the best $$ on an amp ever.

BJ had no problem keeping up with my drummer to whom is a hard hitter and has plenty of hardware to drown the titanic.

Anyway,,,,,To any of you whom are thinking about buying this little ripper, think no more and just bloody grab it.

See below pic's....ENJOY!!!! Don't forget to read the pic captions above the pic's...

Santa has come early for me....LOL...
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It is now at this time I get that Awesome Rush through my blood...
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Ok...hmmmm...less knobs than my HRD 410...now I'm confused..lol..
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She's looking at me smiling at her....she say's...CRANK ME OVER FOOL!!!!!
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Time for Rehearsal....My gear to set up..
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BJ set up with my 84 62RI and my 93 54RI....Ready to Kick some Arse!!!!
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BJ's new friend, "The Titanic Sinker"
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With the help of a smoke machine and lights and my two lovely Shetars...BJ is welcomed into the family...
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Home Time BJ......
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Thank You Santa and FENDER......


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:59 pm
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I basically went through the same thing as you a couple of weeks ago,KK. I had been using my 59 Bassman, but like you my back started complaining. So, I bought a Blues Junior and was accused of picking it before it was ripe. But, once we started playing everyone was surprised. Our other guitar player started showing an interest in it. I won't be surprised if he shows up this week with one of his own.

Like you said, these are really great amps.


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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:45 pm
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That's good stuff mate! Enjoy.

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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:59 pm
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Nice amp KK. Love the two reissues...... 8) Mike

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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:55 am
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It's nice to see another person enjoying their Blues Junior :D

You simply CAN'T GO WRONG with this amp! I have an NOS and it's the best amp I've ever had.


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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:22 am
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we got our other guitar player to get one and he's raving about the tone. great little amp!

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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 2:30 pm
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Now that's a proper introduction for new gear... smoke machine and all. :lol:

John


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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:19 am
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I looked at some other post where mod kit's are available, but as soon as you do that you lose your warranty from Fender. I don't plan on doing it anyway but wonder if anyone has heard a BJ modded?


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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 6:20 am
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kineman karma wrote:
I looked at some other post where mod kit's are available, but as soon as you do that you lose your warranty from Fender. I don't plan on doing it anyway but wonder if anyone has heard a BJ modded?


I don't understand why someone would buy an amp and mod it just because someone else says it will sound better anyway. Isn't the original sound the main reason to buy an amp anyway? I've done side by side comparisons with some cohorts of mine with BJ's and the difference isn't worth voiding the warranty over. My one friend turned with his into a reliability nightmare due to modding. He had traces lifting off the board. He did the mods with a soldering station turned down low, less than 20 watts, just to avoid the situation, but they lifted anyway. Once they started to lift, he had to add jumpers, then more jumpers until he finally scrapped the amp.

Don't let other people talk you into modding an amp you're already happy with. :wink:


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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:22 pm
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I absolutely agree 63supro, I will not ever be modding my BJ nor my HRD 410 to which since I purchased new in early 08 I have been happy with it's factory specs anyway.

I have had people walk up to me after doing gig's with both amps and comment on myself having a great tone.

Thats what makes the amp appealing in the first place great tone and it's (Factory Specs) pure blooded Fender.

I'm sure Fender wouldn't release any product if they thought that it had to modded.

I was just curious as to why people actually mod their amps?


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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 6:18 pm
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kineman karma wrote:
I'm sure Fender wouldn't release any product if they thought that it had to modded. I was just curious as to why people actually mod their amps?


To cut costs, Fender does use cheap plastic jacks mounted to a PCB on the Hot Rod series amps. Replacing them with higher-quality metal jacks isn't a mod to the sound of the amp, but does improve the reliability. For the record I've never had a problem with the plastic jacks on my Fenders, but I'm normally very careful with them. The tube sockets are also cheap, and mounted directly on the PCB. Changing tubes could break a solder joint. I've already had the tube sockets of my new Blues Junior replaced under warranty because there wasn't enough tension on the pins to hold the tubes securely in place.

Fender does these things to keep the cost down, but I'm sure that most people would pay a little more to have better jacks that are not soldered on the PCB and chassis-mounted quality tube sockets. These two "mods" would fix most of the common problems that people have with the Hot Rod series amps.


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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:49 pm
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I cant imagine that having tubes mounted on the chassis like the vintage reissue series would raise the price much.


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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:03 pm
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Think Floyd wrote:
kineman karma wrote:
I'm sure Fender wouldn't release any product if they thought that it had to modded. I was just curious as to why people actually mod their amps?


To cut costs, Fender does use cheap plastic jacks mounted to a PCB on the Hot Rod series amps. Replacing them with higher-quality metal jacks isn't a mod to the sound of the amp, but does improve the reliability. For the record I've never had a problem with the plastic jacks on my Fenders, but I'm normally very careful with them. The tube sockets are also cheap, and mounted directly on the PCB. Changing tubes could break a solder joint. I've already had the tube sockets of my new Blues Junior replaced under warranty because there wasn't enough tension on the pins to hold the tubes securely in place.

Fender does these things to keep the cost down, but I'm sure that most people would pay a little more to have better jacks that are not soldered on the PCB and chassis-mounted quality tube sockets. These two "mods" would fix most of the common problems that people have with the Hot Rod series amps.




A very good argument and i certainly don't want to sound rude, but ive seen people pour almost as much as the amp is worth into money to "mod it for reliability", why not just buy a well made amp that you are happy with?

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Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 5:54 am
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vjcor, my reply was just to point out why people would mod the amp. IMO, Fender should have done these things at the factory. Personally, I would only do these mods if I was able to do them myself, but I can't. Paying someone to do it and voiding the warranty is too risky and expensive for me. And, as you said, the smart thing is to buy a better, higher-quality amp. I plan on doing just that in the future when finances permit it, but for now the Blues Junior will suit my needs.


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Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:19 am
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Sometimes the cheaper amp like the Hotrod IS all they can afford unfortunately.Its just the reality of life.Personally I wouldnt mod an amp that was under warranty.


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