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Post subject: Fender Blues Junior III - billm mods and new speaker
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:15 am
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Hi there.

Have just bought this amp and have been reading up about the billm mods http://billmaudio.com/wp/.

1. Please can anybody comment on how much benefit they provide.

2. Assuming positive reviews, I live in London, UK. Does anyone know of a reliable engineer to install the mods.

3. Now that the Blues Junior has an Eminence Lightning Bolt speaker, is a speaker swap to the much lauded Eminence Canabis Rex (or Swamp Thang) still worth it?

All replies much appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Blues Junior III - billm mods and new speaker
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:18 am
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Hi bluesbar,

The BJr are known for running extremely hot bias on the output tubes, and I think that the adjustable bias is the best mod that you can make for the amp. This opens up a whole new world of sound from the amp. You can get much better clean with a lower bias setting (in this case), and the output tubes' life is greatly extended.

There are many Billm mods, and each will have it's own merits, but how much money do you want to put into your amp? I would do the basic kit first (tone stack and coupling caps, adjustable bias). Best $22 + shipping, that you can spend for the BJr. I did mine over a year ago and absolutely love it. The POD amp models and effects now sound very nice with this amp, I can get some fantastic tones, and people are amazed that my BJr can sound just like a Marshall, Mesa, or bigger Fender amp. The POD amp models sound much more realistic with the cleaner output of the modded amp. Can't say enough good about Billm and his BJr mods. :D

I think that the stock BJr can get a really great distortion tone, but not as good of a clean tone at higher volumes, and is limited in it's versatility. With the basic kit from Billm installed, the amp is much more open, and does cleans much better, as well as retaining the awesome driven sound, and you can really dial in much more variety of sound, making the amp much more versatile. You may even reconsider keeping the stock speaker after doing the mods....well, at least for a while. :lol:

Many people find that a speaker change will also improve the sound of the BJr. I swapped mine with the Celestion G12P80 that came in my HRDlx ext cab, as it had a much better low-end response than the stock Eminence. The stock Eminence speaker from the BJr sounds much better in the ext cab, as the Celestion was just too boomy in the cab, and not very good highs.

Maybe you could delete your other double-post before someone responds to it. Just open your other thread and see the "X" near the bottom of your post and click it. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Blues Junior III - billm mods and new speaker
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:33 am
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Many thanks for the informative reply - much appreciated. Did you do the mods yourself - I don't have circuit mod experience but am good with my brain/hands - could a first timer cope or should I pay an amp tech?

Any comments from others who have experience with the billm mods?

Any comments from others on alternative speakers for the Blues Junior III - does it need one or is the stock Eminence Lightning Bolt pretty close to for example, a Cannabis Rex?

Kind regards.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Blues Junior III - billm mods and new speaker
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 11:10 am
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Yes, did them myself. I have installed Billm kits for others that they purchased, and the kits come with great instructions including pictures, and I have also ordered the parts and done the same mods without a kit. Getting the kit from Billm is surprisingly inexpensive, and not much more than buying the parts yourself (a few dollars), especially good considering the instructions are included. On the Billm site, he gives details about which parts to order for a DIY'er (of course no instructions). If you have good soldering skills, and are comfortable disassembling the amp and drilling the holes, it isn't extremely difficult. Of course, amp off and unplugged from electricity, and caps discharged before dis-assembly. Maybe too much for a complete newbie to tube amps though, certainly a two hour or more job.

BTW, I would get the standby switch while you are at it, great addition, easy to install with the same precautions described above.

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


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Post subject: Re: Fender Blues Junior III - billm mods and new speaker
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:48 am
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When I did my BillM mods on my cream board BJ I did them by myself with a couple of email conversations with Bill for clarification when needed. He was very helpful and I would definitely recommend buying your parts from him as he has done all the leg work determining what works best.

You should know, however, that the mods only mask the amp's short comings. The mods do not cure them because a considerable portion of the problem is the cabinet itself. You can use these mods to make it better but you'll never succeed in making it great. I went down that road doing the mods and trying speakers and after a lot of work and a lot of money down the drain I eventually gave up and bought a different amp.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Blues Junior III - billm mods and new speaker
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:32 pm
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The mods are easy to do and well worth the price if you do it yourself.
BTW I tried several speakers and the Swamp Thang was by far the best match for the amp to my ears.
I think with the mods its a great little amp and really cuts through in a band situation.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Blues Junior III - billm mods and new speaker
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:47 am
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I have a Blues Junior NOS, and it's my gig amp, so I had to replace the plastic input jack before it got broken. So, in addition to the input jack, I ordered the standby switch mod, and the "basic" kit.

I have some experience soldering and de-soldering, the required tools (a decent soldering iron, de-soldering tool, side-clippers, drill, etc.) and am fairly good with my hands, so I decided to do the mods myself. The instructions that Billm provides are very clear and made his kits well worth the money.

The result was exactly what I was hoping for. The Blues Junior sound, with more bass response and much more control over the Bass, Middle, and Treble. Another positive effect was that the natural overdrive (with the "Volume" knob turned way up) sounds clearer and more articulate.

Some folks on this forum don't like the Blues Junior very much, but I do. It sounds good, (even better with mods), it's compact and light-weight, and all-tube. Sure, it doesn't sound like the very expensive (and heavy) Fender amps up the line, but it's good enough for me.

The Billm mods turn a good amp into a great amp, in my opinion.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Blues Junior III - billm mods and new speaker
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 8:32 am
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mw13068 wrote:
...The Billm mods turn a good amp into a great amp, in my opinion.


That says it best. Those that don't like the sound of the BJr to begin with, probably won't be any happier after modding it. However, I did, and am. :D

The Billm mods are as advertised, keeping the main character of the amp, with improved sound. No one has claimed that it'll turn the BJr into a TR. 8)

No "boxy" sound here. :wink:

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---> "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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