I've just started playing the guitar and I purchased a Blackout Telecaster with the three single coils. I am in the process of getting an amp and I need some help. I've narrowed down my choice between the Frontman 212R and the Blues Junior III. I don't know if I will ever play a gig, but might (I'm 59 years old). I'm into everything except metal and country: Blues, Rockabilly, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Jazz, Punk and Funk. I also have a Digitech RP500 stompbox. Your thoughts?

After looking over the specs of the Frontman I confirmed my suspicion that it was a solid state amp.....
For the style of music you prefer, I think the Frontman will not be the best choice, One being solid state...Clinical sound........Versus the Blues Junior which with an all Tube layout will be much warmer, much more versatility in dialing the sound you want..
100 Watts.... Unless you are playing in large clubs....That is too much wattage, especially if you are planning on cranking the amp for any sort of distortion, which from a solid state, will not be anything like the Blues Junior...

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

I have an older Hotrod Deluxe its 40 watts all tube and sounds great, Haven't played through the Hotrod III yet but it may be as good as the older version. You might look at one of those.

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--- John

Get the '65 Deluxe Reverb instead.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Welcome Chris.
First off, nice choice on the Blackout. I own one myself and it is a great guitar.
As for the amps, my advice is always to avoid the FM line of amps. IMO, you will be much better off spending your money on a Blues Junior. There are also a few different offerings from various brands out there in the same price range as the amps you mentioned, and you might just find something that really speaks to you when you plug into it. Whichever you choose, good luck.

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FINALLY!

A seasoned voice of sanity and experience.



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

go for the blues junior... i had the frontman, the only thing its got going for it is that its loud...

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blues - its a religion...

+2 No comparision. DRRI is just a better built, way better sounding and more professional piece of equipment. Give an Egnater 20 or 30 try too. These are three of my favorite amps. I own the Rebel 20. Great sounding, versatile amp. So is the DRRI, plus you get two channels with separate EQ, gorgeous reverb and an amp that cuts a mix like a knife. If you don't have the bucks, clean DRRI's go for $600 all day long. The Egnaters are off the hook too, never had a seconds problem with it in over a year and a half. The Egnater Tweaker series are great too. IMO All better than the Frontman or Blues Jr.

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

I didn't ask about a Deluxe Reverb...

Some people don't care what you asked unfortunately, nor do some understand why you asked for opinions between the two which is because they are in the same pricerange. First off,
I'm sure if you had a grand to drop on an amp, a '65 Deluxe Reverb would be a really nice amp and you'd get one.

Getting to the question at hand, the Blues Junior is by far the better amp than the 212R. It's a no brainer. Head to the music shop and plug into both. The tube warmth, tone, etc. blows away the solidstate 212R. Also, if you're wondering about how loud you can get it.....you will be amazed how much the Blues Jr. will compete with the 212R. Tubes are louder than solid state in my opinion. If you put a 30w tube amp vs a 30 watt solidstate, the tube amp sounds twice as loud as the solidstate. I know the 212R is 100W, but trust me, you can't go wrong with the Jr. and if you like adding pedals, etc., they take pedals very well.

You are correct about the price range and thanks for the great advice about the Blues Junior. It seems to be everyone's choice (except for the Deluxe Reverb!). So I will pick one up tomorrow! My thanks to everyone who gave advice and someday, when I become a great guitarist, I will own a Deluxe Reverb!

Welcome to the Forum chrisajr, congratulations a Telecaster is a great (the very best IMHO) solid body electric guitar

and this amp looks like it will work perfectly

rock the nations Bro!

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

I never meant to be rude. I was simply presenting a better, alternative answer to your query. I realize times are hard for some folks the past few years but I cannot imagine a $400 price difference being the end of the world unless there are truly, truly harsh circumstances in your life at present. If that is the case I suggest buying no amp at all and consider using your money for more important things. If however you are simply impatient to purchase a new amp and you could, if you wanted, raise the extra $400 with a little time and patience then I urge you to reconsider your decision. No healthy person who has tried a DRRI prefers the FM212 or the Blues Junior. This forum is ripe with heated discussions and complaints stemming from making the wrong choice at the crossroads where you now stand. There are also thriving cottage industries, and I mean thriving, making a fortune addressing the shortcomings of lesser amplifiers.

After today there is one thing you will never be able to say, that nobody ever said anything to you or gave you any cautionary warning. Having now done my due dilligence I speak no more to your decision. I wish you well.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Welcome to the forum Chris-the Blues Jr. is a great choice.The first time I played through a Blues Jr. was while trying out a guitar in a music shop however I was that impressed by the Blues Jr. that I bought that too.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

+1 Didn't mean to be rude either. Some of the amps I mentioned like the Egnater Twaeker are in the same price range. Before you decide, check this out. http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=2
Then check this out http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ ... -combo-amp

The Blues Jr has its shortcomings. Like boxy sound and according to Billm who many consider the Blues Jr guru a few other design problems. For fifty bucks more the Tweaker offers quite a bit more for the money including the best tone stack/system in its price range.

No one was trying to be insulting, we all just try to help. A few of us play professionally and rely on our gear. Good luck with your choices.

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