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Post subject: Blues Jr. III tube replacement & possible FX Loop
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:08 pm
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I have a Blues Jr III with a Celestion Vintage 30 speaker and the replacement Ruby Tubes spring reverb tank. First off I really love this amplifier. I know it is not a vintage Fender amp but I get all the fendery cleans and vintage vibe I want. I like how it has a lot of class A boutique-ish chime but it maintains the fat warm Fender cleans. It quickly became my go to amp.

Anyhow, I know Groove Tubes catch a lot of flack for being overpriced but I've been quite satisfied with the ones that came stock in it. What kind of tubes do you all recommend for it and what kind of tonal differences do they have? Are there any tubes that are similar to Groovetubes that are cheaper and/or better?

Also, can the Blues Jr be modded with an FX loop? If so, is it worth doing? Why does the Jr. not come with an FX loop?


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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr. III tube replacement & possible FX Loop
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:39 pm
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Valves brands: ElectroHarmonics, Mullard, JJ, Sovteck, GT, SED =C=, and a lot of old valves ... 8) 8) 8) Let your ear guide you;

For the FX loop, basic blues-rock amp, no need more, put in serial with the guitare if needed; :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr. III tube replacement & possible FX Loop
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:52 pm
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Rossfloss wrote:
I have a Blues Jr III with a Celestion Vintage 30 speaker and the replacement Ruby Tubes spring reverb tank. First off I really love this amplifier. I know it is not a vintage Fender amp but I get all the fendery cleans and vintage vibe I want. I like how it has a lot of class A boutique-ish chime but it maintains the fat warm Fender cleans. It quickly became my go to amp.

Anyhow, I know Groove Tubes catch a lot of flack for being overpriced but I've been quite satisfied with the ones that came stock in it. What kind of tubes do you all recommend for it and what kind of tonal differences do they have? Are there any tubes that are similar to Groovetubes that are cheaper and/or better?


Select your tubes from these:

https://ssl.eurotubes.com/cart/index.ph ... gory_id=31

Great people to deal with. They will answer all your questions. JJs are excellent tubes.

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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr. III tube replacement & possible FX Loop
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:54 pm
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Hi Rossfloss,

I've tried two other sets of tubes in my BJr, besides the stock GT White Labels (Sovtek). Black amp with the stock Eminence "Gold Label" speaker, added a bias adjust pot, and changed the tone stack caps and power supply caps. I used both GT EL84 S red label, and 7189 which were both very similar sounding, with the 7189s being a little more strident, while the GT EL84 S red labels were just a little warmer, but both sound great, and both sets were clearer and richer sounding than the stock GTs. :idea:

I am unaware of any kits to add an effects loop to the amp. It could be done, but would take some serious modding to accomplish. It probably would be better/cheaper to get an amp with a loop already in it. :)

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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr. III tube replacement & possible FX Loop
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:35 pm
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Yeah, I would never go through the hassle of installing an effects loop. I started thinking about it more and it is pretty apparent that there would be no easy way about doing it. I never even use the effects loops on any of my other amps anyways. I guess I have just been worrying about it more because I am going to be purchasing the Strymon Blue Sky reverb and I definitely want to use that pedal the most effectively as possible. I think a Blues Deluxe or Blues Deville is in the future as well.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr. III tube replacement & possible FX Loop
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:05 pm
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I would never consider putting an effects loop in a Blues Jr. or any amp for that matter. Even though I have amps with effects loops I never use them as the tone suffers drastically when you go through an effects loop.I'm by no means an electronics guru but I believe the reason is that the effects loop bypasses the preamp hence the loss of a good deal of tone.I'm sure someone will set things straight if I got that wrong.

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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr. III tube replacement & possible FX Loop
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:04 am
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Hi guitslinger,

You are right, if you plug straight in to the "Power Amp in", then the preamp section of the amp is bypassed. If you are using the "Preamp Out" to effects then back to "Power Amp in" (the loop), then the preamp section is still active. I agree with you, I don't use the loop much at all. Sometimes I do plug my POD directly into the Power Amp In, bypassing the preamp section of the amp. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr. III tube replacement & possible FX Loop
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:36 am
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I do know that you have to use an effects loop if your amp is not set to clean and you use any type of mod. Whenever I dial in a crunchy/gainer sound on any of my amps and I am running all my mods in the front chain, my delay pedal sounds terrible, and my reverb pedal sounds even worse. The amp is essentially adding crunch to the actual reverb sound along with the guitar sound. Which is obviously very unnatural. No room produces a distorted ambient sound. I just never need to use the effects loop because I get my dirt from OD pedals which obviously come before the mods in my front chain. In the future I'm sure I'll get a top class amp which well beckon me to overdrive it rather than using any OD pedal, in which case I'll need to start becoming more familiar with the FX loop.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr. III tube replacement & possible FX Loop
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:04 am
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As soon as you mod it, you lose the warranty. :wink:
JJ's are a big favorite. Check out www.eurotubes.com

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Post subject: Re: Blues Jr. III tube replacement & possible FX Loop
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 6:15 am
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Rossfloss wrote:
.. The amp is essentially adding crunch to the actual reverb sound along with the guitar sound. Which is obviously very unnatural. No room produces a distorted ambient sound. I just never need to use the effects loop because I get my dirt from OD pedals which obviously come before the mods in my front chain..


The age old problem with reverb /delay pedals..

One solution which MAY suit some people (but certainly not everyone!), is to mic up the amp into a PA of some sort and place the artificial reverb on the individual PA channel running the mic output..

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