Well this is just my opinion as always but I have to agree with Metropolis there...the BJ's sound "ok" but any more I think there's better out there. I had been looking at the BJ's for a very long time...and watching the price go up and up (anyone remember when they were only $350 on sale?). That said, this last holiday season I got a new Bugera V22 and I -love- it. I had been wanting to play one for about 4 months after I had first heard about them but apparently there was a design problem with the first batch that shipped. Anyways, once my local Guitar Center finally got one in, I finally got to play it and I was really floored...such great sounds from such a "cheap" amp (and before anyone says it, yes I know Bugera is owned by Behringer...it's still a great amp!). The Bugera has similar wattage and power and even tone as a BJ but it's -a lot- more versatile...the BJ is kind of a "one trick pony". Also from the price stand point, for the cost of a brand new BJ, you could save a bit more money and get yourself something significantly better for not that much more.

I also have to say that I recently played at a jam night through an older BJ and that thing had some -serious- problems. I never did find out exactly what was wrong but I suspect the tube for the reverb was a bit microphonic...that sucker just howled every time I tried to plug my Strat in (and not in a good way). The funny thing was I mentioned that to my tech a few days later (while asking about getting some horns repaired) and his response was something like "Blues Jrs...nice amps if you can find one that isn't all screwed up". Either way, I've been kind of put off Fender Blues Junior amps. If that's really what you're looking for as far as sound goes, for what one costs new now a days, I'd probably invest in something like a gently used Peavey Classic 30 instead.

Please don't misunderstand me here...I'm not saying that Blues Juniors are "bad" amps...and back when they were less than $400 new, I thought they were very good amps. But now that they are $500 and up, I just really can't justify the money for them. It's still just a little 1x12 combo in any case.

Again, just my opinions,
Jim

Which leads me to two questions:

How did the Bugera do with blues? and
If you had to pick between the Classic 30 and the Bugera, which way would you go?

Just wondering, as I'm in the "pre-shopping" mode for my first tube amp, myself.

Well, personally I think the Bugera does really well with the blues...at least for the "crunchy stuff" ala SRV. My only real gripe about the Bugera is that it's a bit hard to get a good clean sound with any degree of volume...the downside of those EL84's I guess. She does get LOUD (especially for only 22 watts) but most of that volume is crunch...even on the clean channel.

Now if were up to me, between the Bugera and the Classic 30, I would go with the Bugera...which is what I did. I had also been looking at a very nice little Classic 30 for a while at a flea market. The guy was asking $350 for it and I'm sure I could have probably chewed him down to under $300. I've played them before and they are nice little amps. That said, I really love how versatile this little Bugera is. First it's got a "Pentode/Triode" switch on the back...in Triode mode, it really kind of sounds like a vintage old Fender Twead...very nice and mellow and laid back. Flip her in to Pentode mode and she suddenly starts to sound like a small Marshall! Very nice crunch. Then she's also got a "Boost" button on the front that really makes it sound like an old Vox AC 30 "Top Boost"...a very nice touch really. In other words, she really is like having 3 separate amps all in one nice, convenient, great sounding package. Sorry if I'm sounding like a commercial there! LOL!!!

Now as with the BJ, I'm not saying the Classic 30's are "bad" by any means...those are great sounding little amps. I just really like the Bugera that much! Seriously...I had been looking at that used Classic 30 for quite a while but once I played the Bugera, I really was floored with how great that amp sounded...and still am. I've been cranking the crap out of that little amp for the past couple of months and it just sounds really sweet...except for getting a good loud clean sound (which I'll probably end up using my Lab for), I really haven't had a problem with that amp at all...just really great all around.

Again at the risk of sounding like a salesman, seriously...go play one. As they say, the proof is in the pudding. Ok...yea..the reverb could sound a little better (I still prefer real springs there) but these are very serious amps with some considerable tone for the money.

Peace,
Jim

This post should be in amps...
I own a blues jr... its a good basic amp... not too loud not too soft (but that could be debated)
I have one of the black Tolex ones made in mexico from around 2004 (with very few play hours on it...
The Tweed (noS) blues Jr (my brother's amp from like 97 or so) has a different speaker (Jensen I think)... And i like it better than mine...
These amps are good amps and have good application but I will include this "buyer be aware"
... Blues Jr's do not have an adjustable bias for the tubes so most of them run "hot" from the fender...
This can burn tubes prematurely and/or make the amp sound sub-standard or even bad. So whats the solution? get a different amp that allows you to keep it in check or mod the amp.
There are adjustable bias mods out there for the Blues Junior...
Here is a link I found: http://home.comcast.net/~machrone/bjr/bjbiasreva.htm

Also there is no fx loop if you care...

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