It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:52 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 16 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 11:21 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu May 26, 2011 11:18 pm
Posts: 4
Hi guys! Huge Fender fan here and I recently purchased my dream strat and need an amp for it. I've chosen the Blues Jr but have noticed that some of them are MIM and I've heard that the models that have the cream color board don't sound as good as the US made ones with the green board.

Generally I'm a sucker for U.S made Fender stuff so I'd really like my Blues Jr to be U.S made.

What do you guys think? And where can I shop reliably for one of these? eBay?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 11:45 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
Hi crsuribe,

Usually the term "Made In USA" is preferable, but in the case of the BJr the Mexican versions are actually better IMO. When the production of the BJr was moved to Mexico, the circuit of the amp was redesigned to fix the problem with the reverb circuit, and the changes improved the sound of the amp. I have had great results shopping on eBay, being very careful to buy from a reputable seller and make sure that you can clearly determine the condition of the amp, buyer beware. When buying new I like to shop at Guitar Center, and they will have the latest version of the BJr, the "III", which offers even more improvements over the previous version. They also have some used ones of various versions. :idea:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Search/Default.aspx?src=Blues+Junior&o=2

_________________
---> "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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 11:55 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu May 26, 2011 11:18 pm
Posts: 4
Thank you for the insight, Shim! Is there a particular year I should look for?

I've read somewhere that the Jr III sounds wimpy or boxy compared to the older ones... have you heard about this?

I'm pretty clueless since I haven't had an amp in a loooooooong time lol


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:12 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
Well, it seems that the BJr in general is often referred to as "boxy sounding", not any particular version or model. This description is due in large part to the small cabinet size, maybe the stock speaker, and the hot bias setting of the output tubes from the factory. There are many popular mods that can improve the sound of the amp, including new speakers, adding an adjustable bias pot, and changing the tone stack capacitors. I believe that 2001 was the last year made in the USA, after that all were made in Mexico. I didn't hear much difference between the III and the previous version (both MIM), but some have described the III as sounding brighter than the previous version. I have modified my BJr, and it sounds great, not boxy at all, although I didn't think that it sounded boxy to begin with.

This is a great site for BJr info.
http://billmaudio.com/wp/

_________________
---> "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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 5:01 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
crsuribe, no disrespect intended, but if you bought your dream Strat, why not go with a DRRI? USA Blues JR's and HRD amps in general are getting to the point of needing routine maintenance like a cap job. They may have other issues too. If your heart is set on a Blues Jr, I'd go with the III series. The circuit boards and some other improvements should be worth it. Just my opinion both the Blues Jr and Pro Jr sound boxy. Always have. It's the small cabinet size. They do sing through a decent extension cabine.t
I'd still recommend a DRRI, SRRI, Bassman or a Twin for your dream guitar. These amps are just built better and IMO sound way better than any HRD series amp and made in the USA. Why modify an amp to make it sound better when you can get great sound right out of the box? Also if you mod an amp, you void the warranty. :wink: YMMV.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 9:33 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 10:53 pm
Posts: 1467
Location: deep down in Florida...
crsuribe wrote:
I've read somewhere that the Jr III sounds wimpy or boxy compared to the older ones... have you heard about this?

Most BJ I heard do sound boxy and usually get lost in the mix... I recently heard the BJ III at a jam and IMO sounded much better! But again, as things got louder it couldn't keep up. If you must have a BJ I'd go with the III version. But for a little more money you can have a used DRRI, not that much bigger or heavier than a BJ, and if you plan to play out you'll be glad you have the DRRI.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 9:58 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
Yep, 15 watts is kind of iffy for gigging even in medium sized clubs. The DRRI an Blues Jr are worlds apart. Plus the DRRI has a 12" speaker.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:30 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
63supro wrote:
Yep, 15 watts is kind of iffy for gigging even in medium sized clubs. The DRRI an Blues Jr are worlds apart. Plus the DRRI has a 12" speaker.


+3

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 2:21 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
C'mon, be fair. That should only be + 2, the BJr has a 12" spkr also. :lol:

_________________
---> "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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 2:51 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
shimmilou wrote:
C'mon, be fair. That should only be + 2, the BJr has a 12" spkr also. :lol:


......And a meager fifteen watts.

:lol:

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 4:24 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
That gave me an idea....a 15 watt amp with a 1x15 extension cab.... or even a 15 watt, 15" combo (The new 1515 by Fender? lol ) :?: :o I have thought about making my BJr into a head, it sounds pretty good hooked up to my 1x12 ext cab. With my buddy playing his LP through my HRDlx, I was able to match him in volume very well using the BJr connected to the 1X12 ext cab sitting underneath the HRDlx. ( I know, they both suck equally :lol: )

On a previous note, after some experimentation, I put the Eminence speaker from the BJr into my HRDlx ext cab, and put the Celestion from the ext cab into the BJr. This gave me just what I needed for both. The Eminence sounds better in the closed back cab, and the Celestion sounds better in the BJr. Now when I use the HRdlx with the extension cab I have two identical speakers, one in the closed back cab and one in the open back amp for a really nice blend of the two.

My BJr has been "Hot-Rodded" some, it might fare a little better than the average BJr.

_________________
---> "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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 4:24 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
shimmilou wrote:
C'mon, be fair. That should only be + 2, the BJr has a 12" spkr also. :lol:


Yeah, But it's jammed in a little tiny cabinet that makes it sound a bit boxy so it should be a +4 :lol: Nothing wrong with 15 watt amps, but they do have their limitations.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 7:25 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 7:34 pm
Posts: 6911
Retroverbial wrote:
shimmilou wrote:
C'mon, be fair. That should only be + 2, the BJr has a 12" spkr also. :lol:


......And a meager fifteen watts.

:lol:

Arjay



yes but, supro gigs with his egnater rebel20. 5watts isnt that much difference, beside he can also mic the blues jr. Rebelsoul was just telling a story of warren haynes blowing his buddy of stage with a mic'ed PigNose. (5watts) used blues jr's can be had for $250-$300.
i love mine, boxy or not. just reach in above the speaker and hit the "boxy" switch
and your "boxy" tone gets cut in half.

_________________
63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 8:01 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
:)

_________________
---> "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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Help picking the right Blues Jr.
Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 8:30 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
way cool jr wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
shimmilou wrote:
C'mon, be fair. That should only be + 2, the BJr has a 12" spkr also. :lol:


......And a meager fifteen watts.

:lol:

Arjay



yes but, supro gigs with his egnater rebel20. 5watts isnt that much difference, beside he can also mic the blues jr. Rebelsoul was just telling a story of warren haynes blowing his buddy of stage with a mic'ed PigNose. (5watts) used blues jr's can be had for $250-$300.
i love mine, boxy or not. just reach in above the speaker and hit the "boxy" switch
and your "boxy" tone gets cut in half.



The difference you get is a bit more headroom and dynamics at 20 watts. The Egnater isn't really a fair comparison anyway. If you set the tube mix dial at 12:00 you get a pretty good volume bump. Bruce says it's a little over 25 watts. On top of that, the Rebel 20 seems rated pretty conservatively in the watts department. With the two 112 cabs, this thing cuts the mix like a knife and can keep up with amps rated a lot higher. It blew the doors off my HRDlx big time. :lol: Using a mic won't help you with stage volume if your bandmates don't know how to control themselves. :mrgreen: I'd still go with a Tweaker instead. Now Egnater's coming out with a 40 and 80 watt version. He hit gold with the Tweakers.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 16 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: