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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 4:34 pm
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SMW17 wrote:
...Why the hatred of this particular amp?...


Remember in HS, when one big-shot starts picking on someone, it then becomes trendy for everyone else to pick on that same person? Pile-on if you will. :lol:

Just kidding, not really a lot of hate for the BJr here, quite the opposite, there are really only a few haters. But those few post vociferously about it. I respect their opinions about tone, despite the ringing in their ears. :lol:

If we were talking about another trendy amp brand, the advice would probably be: "Take some time and get to know the amp and learn it's controls before you dismiss it." But since it is the BJr, the standards quickly change to, "Get rid of it." True story. :)

I paid $400 for mine a few years ago, and at that price range the performance exceeded my expectations, not much that can beat it. I have been playing the heck out of it, trying to get tinnitus so I can start hating the sound. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 4:57 pm
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There are plenty of amps in the Blues Jr price range that sound way better and also prove to be more reliable. Why is the Blues Jr. one of the most modded amps in the whole Fender lineup? Ask Billm. He has a made a whole cottage industry out of telling you all the problems with the amp and how to fix them. :lol: We all perceive tone differently and that's great. Reliability is even more important. I'd never mod and amp to try to make it reliable, nor will I by an amp to try to turn it into something it will never be. With my HRDlx I stopped at tubes. Got it to sound just okay to me, couldn't get it to be reliable and got rid of it. If my Egnater did that I dump it too. The problem was when I tried out the HRDlx I didn't have the time to really put it through it's paces, and I missed the return policy terms which was two weeks at my Mom & Pop shop.

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:40 pm
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No hate here.

It's a fine, unpretentious, blue collar, semi pro rock n roll/blues amp. It's nowhere near as bad as a few people paint it. But neither is it a Mesa Boogie..

It has a few problems - ditch the stock (and utterly awful) "Emminence made for Fender" speaker for something better (I installed a Celestion V30) and the amp will come alive without any further mods. You might also expect the reverb spring unit to pack up - the transducer pick up wires on the spring are just way too fragile. Simple job to replace. Oh, and the lettering quickly rubs off the silver control panel.. :?

Mine has been ultra reliable but it only gets 7 or 8 hours use per week I have to admit. Apparently (they say) the Power Tubes run hot as a result of a high bias setting. Maybe they do, but mine is 3 years old and the original Groove Tube valves are doing just fine.

Chris Rea's stage guitar back line is a pair of Blues Juniors, so at least one serious pro likes them..

Can't comment on the latest mk3 revision. Mine was the model before that.

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Last edited by adey on Thu Dec 08, 2011 6:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:18 pm
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Who's "Chris Rea"?

:shock:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:32 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Who's "Chris Rea"?

:shock:

Arjay


:shock: :shock:

"Road to Hell" ? Big no1 hit single..
"On the Beach" ?

Wrote "Fool If You Think It's Over"..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EBw_da7BZk

British singer/guitarist. Great slide player. Mostly a blues/roots artist these days

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Last edited by adey on Wed Dec 07, 2011 9:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:41 pm
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Sounds like a Mark Knopfler wannabee to me.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:45 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Sounds like a Mark Knopfler wannabee to me.

Arjay


Good call. But no. Both from the North East of England, and both deep baritones, hence the similar distinctive voices. He and Knopfler emerged about the same time as I recall. Definitely not a Wannabee, a substantial artist in his own right.. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 10:18 pm
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Here is my Blues Jr. The chassis itself is stock. Just the cabinet and speakers are different.

Image


Image


Image

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 4:50 am
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That's a great looking amp Chet, really like the cabinet.

As for the Blues Jr, after hearing so many rave reviews I borrowed one from a friend and was very disappointed. The "tiny and boxy" descriptions are spot on, even at loud volumes. I was happy to plug back into my Hot Rod Deluxe. Even happier when I got my Vibroverb. :D

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 6:32 am
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Chet fixed his the proper way. A nice, big, beautiful cabinet and a fine choice of speakers.

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 9:03 am
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Voodoo Blues wrote:
Even happier when I got my Vibroverb. :D


:mrgreen:

Now, let's see a show of hands......Who doesn't like the '64 Vibroverb?

8) 8) 8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 9:11 am
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CAFeathers wrote:
Here is my Blues Jr. The chassis itself is stock. Just the cabinet and speakers are different.

Image


Image


Image


Chet, THAT is a work or art!


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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 10:36 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Sounds like a Mark Knopfler wannabee to me.

Arjay


I'm hearing the same Knopfler influence big time.
Don't be fooled by the backline. Many touring artists either have endorsement deals or just simply rent what's available. Joe Bonamassa did a video featuring a bunch of Marshall Class 5 amps for the launch of the amp. I've never seen him on stage with them again. Do you really think Jeff Beck uses Pro Jrs exclusively and not his Marshall's even though he hangs a Fender banner across the stage?

I've even rented equipment way back when while playing out of town and didn't feel like hauling equipment. It's way cheaper and easier. The HRD series is cheap to rent. Last year I saw Springsteen at his last show at the Spectrum in Phila, Pa. There were HRD DeVille's all over the place and it sounded like an icepick in the forehead. I hope they were rented. I'm glad I got the tickets for free. It was just painful tone.

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:50 pm
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I love my Blues Jr., but this hasn't always been the case. When I first purchased it I didn't like the sound and thought it sounded a little tinny. In my opinion the problem is like Retro mentioned earlier the combo cabinet is too small. I have used mine now with two different extension cabinets (both closed back) and the thing really rocks with beautiful tone. I wish they produced the Blues Jr. as a head only, I'd probably be first in line to purchase one. Right now I am using this amp with a 112 closed back extension cab with the combo speaker unplugged and and the extn. cab plugged into the existing jack.

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Post subject: Re: Does anybody NOT like the Blues Junior.
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:37 pm
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S Bender wrote:
I have used mine now with two different extension cabinets (both closed back) and the thing really rocks with beautiful tone.


This "upgrade" alone corrects the lion's share of the amp's issues.

"Hello, Scottsdale......anybody listening?"

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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