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Post subject: Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin vs Deluxe
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 2:43 pm
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Hi - New to forum so I'm sure that may have been covered elsewhere to some extent so sorry for any redundancy.

I'm contemplating buying either:
Blues Junior - very portable but no channel switching or high gain mode
Super Sonic 22 - relatively portable & has high gain
Super Sonic 60 - less portable due to weight
Super Sonic Twin - much less portable due to weight - otherwise this would be great due to the flexability.

I play mainly blues but frequent various open jams and wind up playing other things as well. Not a metal player but love Hendrix style effects so headroom is nice for those.

I love the idea of a very portable amp like the Blues Junior but I suspect that the volume might not be able to cut it since jams have a tendancy to get loud.

I suspect that the SS 22 would be loud enough and still the portability/weight is reasonable at 45 lbs I think.

I'm sure the 22 is plenty loud for a band situation and probably the Junior would be as well although the BJ would have less headroom. and no channel switching.
I can always get an extension speaker for any.

So how much volume difference is there between the SS-22 and the SS-60 (and for that matter the SS-100) assuming no extension cabs?

Mr M


Last edited by Mister Mxyzptlk on Thu Dec 06, 2012 4:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 3:14 pm
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Forget the Blues Junior. Not even in the same league as the Super Sonics.

I own a SS60 and it is phenominal. You won't be sorry with the sound but your back will beg for mercy. If weight isn't an issue go for the SS60.

Have you considered the Blues Deluxe? It's a great amp and the limited edition (150 pcs) is beautiful to look at.

Keep us posted on your quest.

Take care.


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Post subject: Re: Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin vs Blues Deluxe
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 4:00 pm
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Thanks waswell.
Yes, I've pretty much ruled out the Junior for lots of reasons.

The Blues Deluxe is an option, but I've looked into that one before and I think that I would always need to bring pedals with me in order to get a decent high-gain sound similar to the 22 which by itself sounds great for an overdriven blues.
Check out this video of the Deluxe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uewGwH8l7kw

But yes, thanks, it is an option that I need to think about. You can get an extension cab for that as well.

My overall plan is to have a rather lightweight amp that I can grab and go and have enough volume and power for smooth sounding overdriven leads. I think that the 22 probably will fit that bill.
Next, for times when I really need more volume, I would probably get a separate 60-100 watt head and 2-12 cabinet. Each fairly manageable on their own weight-wise.

On the other hand, if I went with the Deluxe, I could get both the 40-watt combo and a separate extension cab for about the same as the 22 and possibly be done except that I would have to resign myself to always carrying at least one or two pedals to muscle-up the Deluxe. But not a bad idea to consider. I'll really need to test one out soon. I've had at least one friend recommend the Deluxe as well. Thanks for the feedback.

Mr M


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Post subject: Re: Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin vs Deluxe
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:19 pm
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For your needs, you might consider the Hot Rod Deluxe rather than the Blues Deluxe, as the HRDlx will give you the clean sound and a very good high gain sound without the need for any pedals. The HRDlx is similar in size and weight to the BDlx.

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Post subject: Re: Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin vs Deluxe
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:25 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
For your needs, you might consider the Hot Rod Deluxe rather than the Blues Deluxe, as the HRDlx will give you the clean sound and a very good high gain sound without the need for any pedals. The HRDlx is similar in size and weight to the BDlx.
Thanks - I've checked the HRDs out and liked the sound of the first generation of that amp but not so much the HRD III that's out now. I think it's just too "tight" of a sound. I think the SS-22 sounds a little more loose on the high gain side. Maybe I'm wrong and I'll need to compare up close and personal with them.

Anyone know the relative volume difference between the SS-22 and the Blues Deluxe?
I've heard it said that the 22 is very loud so maybe about the same as the 40-watt Deluxe, yes?


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Post subject: Re: Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin vs Deluxe
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:43 pm
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Mister Mxyzptlk wrote:
shimmilou wrote:
For your needs, you might consider the Hot Rod Deluxe rather than the Blues Deluxe, as the HRDlx will give you the clean sound and a very good high gain sound without the need for any pedals. The HRDlx is similar in size and weight to the BDlx.
Thanks - I've checked the HRDs out and liked the sound of the first generation of that amp but not so much the HRD III that's out now. I think it's just too "tight" of a sound. I think the SS-22 sounds a little more loose on the high gain side. Maybe I'm wrong and I'll need to compare up close and personal with them.

Anyone know the relative volume difference between the SS-22 and the Blues Deluxe?
I've heard it said that the 22 is very loud so maybe about the same as the 40-watt Deluxe, yes?


I also own a 65 Reverb Deluxe which is rated at 22 watts. The BDRI and DRRI are very close in overall volume levels so I think the SS22 might be the way to go. The BDRI is louder but it doesn't seem to be substantially more.


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Post subject: Re: Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin vs Deluxe
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 7:18 pm
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waswell wrote:
I also own a 65 Reverb Deluxe which is rated at 22 watts. The BDRI and DRRI are very close in overall volume levels so I think the SS22 might be the way to go. The BDRI is louder but it doesn't seem to be substantially more.

Yes, thanks, probably it will be the SS-22. I do like the style of the Blues Deluxe tho, and I suspect that the build may be better on it although I don't have any evidence to support that.

I could always add an external cab to the Deluxe and move more air, but maybe it wouldn't be substantially louder.

Too bad that the SS-22 doesn't have a matching 1-12 cab. You would have to get the 70 lb 2-12 cab designed for the SS=60 head.

Then there's the Blues Deville with the 4-10s, but now we're back up to 50 lbs and I'm not sure that I would like playing out of 10s. I will probably try it though. I think I may have heard a friend play through one with pedals and it souded great.

Well, I should be checking out these options up close soon.
Thanks everyone for the comments.

Mr M


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Post subject: Re: Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin vs Deluxe
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 12:55 am
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I have a Blues Jr., a Blues Deluxe Reissue w/ matching extension cab, and a SS22.

You are wise in ruling out the BJ mainly for lack of headroom.

Yes, the BDRI does need an OD/Dist. pedal to achieve 'dirtier' sounds. I sometimes use a "volume" box in-the-loop which allows for increased pre-amp distortion without ear-bleeding volumes. The ext. cab really adds bottom to the sound.

I find that the SS22 is more than enough volume for any application I'd want to subject my ears to. I use a 2X12 extension cab with mine from time to time and again, the bottom is increased. One nice feature I use w/ the SS22 is to place an EQ pedal in-the-loop with it's volume slider boosting the volume. I set this pedal on top of the amp using velcro w/ short cables, and leave it ON. Now the SS22's included footswitch has a solo volume boost for either channel via activation of the fs loop button.

I'd be hard pressed to choose between the BDRI and the SS22. Glad I don't have to. :mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin vs Deluxe
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 6:35 am
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IM4Tone wrote:
I'd be hard pressed to choose between the BDRI and the SS22. Glad I don't have to. :mrgreen:
You know it!
If I go with the SS-22 my next "louder" option would have been the SS-60 which, I assume would be loud enough for just about any gig that the SS-22 couldn't handle, short of being miked up (and I've been to some very loud jams...).
I would want to go with the SS-60 separate head and the 2-12 cab. However....
It seems that the SS-60 head has no reverb. What's with that? Maybe Fender just "forgot" to add it? The SS-60 combo has it. The SS-22 head and combo have it. The SS-100 head and twin combo have it... Was the SS-60 head bad and is being punished?
Am I wrong? Is it specified somewhere?
http://www.fender.com/products/super-sonic-60-head
MrM


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Post subject: Re: Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin vs Deluxe
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 6:14 pm
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...So my quest continues...

I compared the Blues Deluxe to the SS-22.
The Blues Deluxe didn't have the high-gain overdrive that I need, so I moved on down the road to test the 22.

The 22 definitely has a really nice burn channel which sounds good to me at lower volumes. Past a certain point (maybe 3.5 on the master) it got really loud.

However, I felt like notes were beginning to flow together so it didn't seem the best for rapid fire playing. I played around with the tone controls and the two gain controls quite a bit and was able to get better definition out of it and what I got would probably be great for most.

I think maybe it's just that the one 12" speaker is getting over-burdened at a certain volume and can't output the definition as it can at lower volumes if that makes sense…

Perhaps others have had different experiences and the phenomenon was in the particular amp I was using, so anyone else considering the 22, please check it out for yourself. I still haven't ruled it out by any means, further tweaking or possibly eq or a compressor might do the trick.

I thought that the tone was very good overall. The clean channel was more than I hoped for in an amp this size.

I really must now consider the possibility that I may need to run pedals all the time through an amp with headroom in order to achieve the sound I want at relatively loud volumes.

I may consider the Blues Deville at 60 watts and 4 tens. I suspect that has lots of headroom, yes?

So which would be better for pedals the Deville or the Deluxe? I presume that the Deville will have more headroom than the Deluxe.

One method would be to use a boost pedal to overdrive the dirty channel into more overdrive.
The other would be to use a more aggressive distortion pedal to zero-in on the exact sound and use the clean channel in order to not further color the sound.

OK….I’m rambling now….


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Post subject: Re: Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin vs Deluxe
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 9:32 pm
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Yes, the quest for perfection is almost a disease! :(

I've not found it in any amps "as is" with no pedals. I find the SS22 to be the closest, especially if you use the eq pedal in-the-loop as I described in a previous post on this thread. It is less of an inconvenience when placed on top of the amp and left ON at all times (no floor clutter) and it's at your disposal via the footswitch. Give it a try...it may get you 'closer' to the sound(s) you're looking for. :o

As for my BDRI, I use a pedal board to get all the sounds I need in addition to the amp's.

Sounds like you're particular as I am, so you'll probably end up with at least one pedal.

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Post subject: Re: Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin vs Deluxe
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:20 am
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Thanks IM4Tone, when I auditioned the 22 I didn't try the eq trick, so maybe that would help with the definition. My experience was that rapid-fire notes seemed to blur together without the necessary delineation. I don't know if an extension cab or possibly changing the speaker would help with that. Possibly a Celestion Vintage 30?

So here's the upshot:
Objective: Find a portable (combo 50 lbs or less) with great high-gain drive but also with a nice Fender-like chimey clean channel that can also be used for pedals and overall is loud enough for even very loud jams.

Alternative Objective: Find a portable (combo 50 lbs or less) with a nice clean channel and will sound great with pedals and is loud enough for even very loud jams.

I'm reaching the conclusion that the first objective may not be able to be met - at least not by a Fender amp. The 22 comes very close. The only issue is the blurring that I mentioned.

I haven't been able to try a SS-60, so that may be a completely different animal since it should have more headroom and uses a different speaker. The SS-60 is 54 lbs which is a little more than I wanted, but that may be the sacrifice I'll need to make.

Regarding the alternative objective, I haven't been able to find a Blues DeVille to test yet. I'd really like to compare the DeVille to the Blues Deluxe Reissue with a bunch of pedals. Hmmm, I may know a couple of other stores I can call....

Sorry for the rambling...
Thanks very much to everyone for their input! :)

MrM


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Post subject: Re: Junior vs SS-22 vs SS-60 vs SS-Twin vs Deluxe
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 9:52 pm
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Hey, Mister Mxyzptik!

I just bought a Blonde SS22. Just like a child, you will love it, but it needs some discipline.

Tubes make all the difference, especially with this amp. I was going to chime in and say go for a Hot Rod Deluxe, but you need for decent overdrive makes the SS22 a good choice. The OD on this amp is much smoother and enjoyable than the HRDx. (I had a 2002 model HRDx that I enjoyed for years).

My SS22 came out of the box with the usual issues (channel pop, loud reverb hum and lots of white noise). I popped in different tubes and all that changed. It's a sweet amp. The reverb on my amp is not nearly as good as what I had on my HRDx, but the OD is just fantastic. All that said, I find myself playing mostly out of the clean channel. Probably will go for a Deluxe Reverb RI at some point...

Best of luck!


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