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Post subject: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 3:55 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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After the recent discussion on speaker choices for the FSR Blues Jr., I finally pulled the trigger on the Limited Edition Blues Junior™ III "Two Tone Green Eagle" with the “Screamin Eagle” speaker.

Checked it out in the store and everything seemed fine. I noticed that in order to get the same amount of reverb as I get on my HRD when the knob is at 3, I had to crank the BJr. reverb to about 6 but I attributed this to the difference in reverb tanks between the two amps.

Got home, played a few minutes and everything was fine. Came back a couple of hours later and there was no reverb. :cry: :shock:

I removed and reinserted the cable going to the tank and this had no effect. Still no reverb.

I'm definitely taking the amp back tomorrow but I'm not sure if it will be for a swap or for a full refund. Needless to say I'm very disappointed. I have four amps, all of them Fender tube amps, but for the first time I'm starting to question my faith in Fender. :(

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 4:43 pm
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
but for the first time I'm starting to question my faith in Fender.


Trust me -- you have plenty of company.

:evil:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 5:05 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Trust me -- you have plenty of company. :evil: Arjay
    Unfortunately, you're right.

    Is it substandard parts? Poor QC? Something else? You don't need to be a marketing genius to know that at some point this is going to impact sales and the company's bottom line. What does it cost to get reliability?

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 9:47 am
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
What does it cost to get reliability?


An informed buyer and very carefully shopping.

Arjay

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"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


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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 2:25 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
An informed buyer and very carefully shopping.
    Thanks to this forum and people like yourself who know how things work on both sides of the amp, I would consider myself an informed buyer. As for "carefully shopping" I take this to mean buy from a reputable dealer and make sure the paper work is in order. All Fender amps I've owned were purchased new from reputable Fender dealers.

    My HRD has been in for repairs three times in less than a year. My Vibro Champ XD died after twenty-minutes. The FSR BJr. I bought yesterday lost Reverb the very day I brought it home. The only trooper has been my little 5-Watt Champ 600. As much as I love the Fender sound I am reluctant, now more than before, to buy another Fender amp.

    And to top everything off, guess what happened when I brought the amp back to the store and the salesman plugged it in? ... I suppose there's the possibility that I'm losing my mind and imagining things, but I'm going to stick with the intermittent issue theory. :lol:

    Short of paying mega-bucks for a hand-made amp, is there another option for those of us who don't posses the technical Kung-Fu to make our own?

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 4:02 pm
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
Short of paying mega-bucks for a hand-made amp, is there another option for those of us who don't posses the technical Kung-Fu to make our own?

Cheers!
BM[/list]


You can build your own. Just start simple, say with a 5F1 Champ:

https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_50a.htm#5F1

Even without written instructions, just a schematic and wiring diagram, even a blue monkey could build one. :wink: 8) :D :lol:

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 6:34 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
You can build your own. Just start simple, say with a 5F1 Champ: https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_50a.htm#5F1 Even without written instructions, just a schematic and wiring diagram, even a blue monkey could build one. :wink: 8) :D :lol:
    Your confidence in my ability is inspiring, Bill. I only wish I was as sure.

    Truth be told, I have considered the possibility but the only experience I have with electronics is wiring and soldering LEDs. I've used ceramic resistors, LEDs, various switches, but as you know amp components are more varied and complex. Still, it is an intriguing proposition. If the kit came with a step by step DVD maybe I'd consider it.

    As for the type of amp, is there a beginner's amp kit that includes a reverb tank? I realize that one must start with the basics but I already have a Champ 600 which I bought for $120. I'm sure you can understand why I wouldn't want to spend upwards of $500 to, at best successfully build one myself or at worse, have a $500 collection of spare parts. :lol:

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 7:02 pm
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
As much as I love the Fender sound I am reluctant, now more than before, to buy another Fender amp.


By "careful shopping" I mean buy yourself a Leo Fender amp.

It's no accident that Fender Deluxe's built fifty years ago are still paying their way on stages and in studios everywhere while FMIC Hot Rod Deluxe's built a mere ten years ago are already being unceremoniously dumped into landfills.

And that's the unvarnished-and-undisputable truth.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 9:34 pm
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Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
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Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
Bluer Monkey wrote:
bluesky636 wrote:
You can build your own. Just start simple, say with a 5F1 Champ: https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_50a.htm#5F1 Even without written instructions, just a schematic and wiring diagram, even a blue monkey could build one. :wink: 8) :D :lol:
    Your confidence in my ability is inspiring, Bill. I only wish I was as sure.

    Truth be told, I have considered the possibility but the only experience I have with electronics is wiring and soldering LEDs. I've used ceramic resistors, LEDs, various switches, but as you know amp components are more varied and complex. Still, it is an intriguing proposition. If the kit came with a step by step DVD maybe I'd consider it.

    As for the type of amp, is there a beginner's amp kit that includes a reverb tank? I realize that one must start with the basics but I already have a Champ 600 which I bought for $120. I'm sure you can understand why I wouldn't want to spend upwards of $500 to, at best successfully build one myself or at worse, have a $500 collection of spare parts. :lol:

    Cheers!
    BM


Start adding extras like a reverb tank, and it no longer becomes a beginner's amp kit. There are several kit makers that provide detailed instructions. 63supro built one, I just forget what it was.

Maybe start with something simple like a pedal:

http://buildyourownclone.com/

Once you start building your own equipment, you won't want to buy another commercial amp or pedal. It's quite addictive. 8)

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 2:29 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
Start adding extras like a reverb tank, and it no longer becomes a beginner's amp kit. ... Maybe start with something simple like a pedal: http://buildyourownclone.com/ Once you start building your own equipment, you won't want to buy another commercial amp or pedal. It's quite addictive. 8)
    Starting off with a pedal is great idea! Thanks, Bill.

    Just placed an order with BYOC for the Classic Overdrive Kit. :shock:

    Wish me luck ... I will definitely need it. :lol:

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 4:47 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
By "careful shopping" I mean buy yourself a Leo Fender amp. ...
    Ah, I see. So if I'm reading you and Bill correctly there are two viable options. Go vintage and get a "Leo" Fender amp or build it yourself. ... "If you build it, they will come to play." :wink:

    Good advice and I may end up doing both - we'll see how the pedal project turns out - but in the meanwhile is there any mass produced tube amp currently on the market in the 15W to 25W range, comparable to a BJr or SS-22 which you would consider reliable?

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 5:00 pm
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Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
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Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
Bluer Monkey wrote:
bluesky636 wrote:
Start adding extras like a reverb tank, and it no longer becomes a beginner's amp kit. ... Maybe start with something simple like a pedal: http://buildyourownclone.com/ Once you start building your own equipment, you won't want to buy another commercial amp or pedal. It's quite addictive. 8)
    Starting off with a pedal is great idea! Thanks, Bill.

    Just placed an order with BYOC for the Classic Overdrive Kit. :shock:

    Wish me luck ... I will definitely need it. :lol:

    Cheers!
    BM


if you need help, you know where to come. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 5:29 pm
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
but in the meanwhile is there any mass produced tube amp currently on the market in the 15W to 25W range, comparable to a BJr or SS-22 which you would consider reliable?


Nothing that I'd spend my money on.

YMMV though.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 6:20 am
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Even one like this, 1967 a few years after Leo sold Fender but still all the same goodies inside. 8)

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Post subject: Re: FSR Blues Jr. Reverb DOA
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 12:51 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
if you need help, you know where to come. :wink:
    It arrived today.
      I've been looking at every "How To Solder" video I can find.

    Image

      So far so good. I successfully unwrapped it. No problems to report. ... Stay tuned. :lol:

    Cheers!
    BM

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