Blues Jr Fat Switch: use it much?

TeleBrew · May 9th, 2008, 11:39 AM

I've had my NOS laquered tweed Blues Jr for four months now. I've been using the Fat Switch more these days, especially in band practice. It really helps me cut through the mix when playing clean, and is a great boost for solos, clean or dirty. When playing at home, I'd been using it mainly for boost, but have found I like it on at other times, too. Having the footswitch really makes the Fat Switch a useful tool.

Does anyone out there leave it on the majority of the time? Use it just for a solo boost? Not use it at all?

Doug Ferguson · May 9th, 2008, 11:43 AM

I never have it off. I love the way it boosts the mids and lows, especially clean.

TeleBrew · May 9th, 2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Ferguson

I never have it off. I love the way it boosts the mids and lows, especially clean.

Yeah. When I have it on for a while, then turn it off, everything sounds kinda thin.

Billm · May 9th, 2008, 12:03 PM

I seldom use it for clean playing because it exaggerates the amp's touch-response more than I like. I don't have a thinness problem because my BJrs have the tone stack mod and power supply stiffening.

I use the Fat switch when I need more preamp distortion or overall drive.

bowman · May 9th, 2008, 01:12 PM

I'm with Doug and TeleBrew - it's always on.

JimiBryant · May 9th, 2008, 01:41 PM

when using two Blues Jrs I'd have one set fat and the other not so I could
blend between the two.. using just one, it depends on the mood or need,
ya know? I definitely like the amps, they're good-to-go for me although
I have an urge to get one of mine tweaked up a bit just for variety 'cuz
my two are pretty close except for the speakers I swapped out - those
being a Jensen ceramic r/i in one and Eminence Legend 125 in the other.

bowman · May 9th, 2008, 02:07 PM

Jimi, I hear you on the urge to tweak your BJ. I'm actually quite happy with mine as is, but I've heard so many good things about Billm's mods that I think I'll have to get his list and decide on which ones will work for me. Perhaps a Father's Day present to myself...

drewsblues · May 9th, 2008, 02:14 PM

My BluesJr is pretty muddy, stock (it's a green-board version), so I never hit the fat switch. It just makes things worse. I'm taking the thing over to a tech friend this weekend, and he's going to tweak it for me. Hopefully that'll make the fat switch more useful -- and the reverb less noisy!

sax4blues · May 9th, 2008, 02:28 PM

I leave it on when playing low volume and turn it off as the the volume goes high.

Billm · May 9th, 2008, 02:29 PM

Your tech friend knows about the Blues Junior mods, right? He shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel. The green board reverb problems are completely curable.

LOTF · May 9th, 2008, 08:22 PM

I'm with the folks who leave it on all the time. I also have decided that I love my Blues Jr. every bit as much as my AC30CC2 (and it's a lot easier to haul around to places). I do think I want to upgrade the speaker, perhaps to a Celestion Alnico Blue.

subdude1 · May 10th, 2008, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sax4blues

I leave it on when playing low volume and turn it off as the the volume goes high.

Ditto.

freddie · May 10th, 2008, 01:42 AM

I use both settings as well. I got the newer model of black footswitch to change it and it is very quiet and easy to put in and take out, good investment if you like to use the fat switch.

freddie

nevadacalifornia · May 10th, 2008, 06:54 AM

I have had mine on since day one. I usually run it at about 5 on both volumes, and just a much fuller sound with the fat.

91xlntS-3 · May 10th, 2008, 07:54 AM

I leave mine on all the time, gives me just the tone I'm looking for. A real punchy, clean tone with my Teles.

I bought a new Fender Footswitch for it, thinking I'd switch it off/on, but I just sold the footswitch cause I never used it!

I have 2 of these amps, both from around 2000 and both made in USA!

johnhe · May 12th, 2008, 06:11 AM

I have the fat switch on all the time. II love the clean sound when turned up about half way with the fat switch on - totally lovely.

Someone on here mentioned trying out a Celestion Blue. Just be careful - I bought a Emminence Red Fang and it wouldn't fit into the Blues Jnr. Unless you're prepared to cut away a part of your amps chassis, there's a chance that the Celestion won't fit either.

FirstBassman · May 12th, 2008, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91xlntS-3

I bought a new Fender Footswitch for it, thinking I'd switch it off/on, but I just sold the footswitch cause I never used it!

May I ask - which footswitch and where did you get it?

Did you mean "new to you" or Fender makes a new one?

Thanks!

drewsblues · May 12th, 2008, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billm

Your tech friend knows about the Blues Junior mods, right? He shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel. The green board reverb problems are completely curable.

Yes sir. Thanks very much for that, too.

Scott V · May 12th, 2008, 08:52 PM

I must be the odd man out here, I rarely use the fat switch. But in fairness, I usually run a Bad Bob, Bad Monkey and a Sonic Stomp into it. Mine is also a green board from '96, I got it when they first came out.

May 9th, 2008, 11:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
TeleBrew Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kittredge, Colorado Age: 36 Posts: 863	Blues Jr Fat Switch: use it much? I've had my NOS laquered tweed Blues Jr for four months now. I've been using the Fat Switch more these days, especially in band practice. It really helps me cut through the mix when playing clean, and is a great boost for solos, clean or dirty. When playing at home, I'd been using it mainly for boost, but have found I like it on at other times, too. Having the footswitch really makes the Fat Switch a useful tool. Does anyone out there leave it on the majority of the time? Use it just for a solo boost? Not use it at all? __________________ "Where do you fit in pthtttpt magazine?" - Pete Townshend

May 9th, 2008, 11:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
Doug Ferguson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 55 Posts: 1,562	I never have it off. I love the way it boosts the mids and lows, especially clean. __________________ If you get hung up on just guitar players, you've missed something.... Don't ever get to a point where you just gotta be a guitar player. You hear something, go try to get that note and sound as much like that as you can.-Buddy Guy

May 9th, 2008, 01:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
JimiBryant Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicago Chicago that toddlin' town Age: 46 Posts: 1,725	when using two Blues Jrs I'd have one set fat and the other not so I could blend between the two.. using just one, it depends on the mood or need, ya know? I definitely like the amps, they're good-to-go for me although I have an urge to get one of mine tweaked up a bit just for variety 'cuz my two are pretty close except for the speakers I swapped out - those being a Jensen ceramic r/i in one and Eminence Legend 125 in the other. __________________ *we all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun.*

May 9th, 2008, 02:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
drewsblues Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 234 9 Photos	My BluesJr is pretty muddy, stock (it's a green-board version), so I never hit the fat switch. It just makes things worse. I'm taking the thing over to a tech friend this weekend, and he's going to tweak it for me. Hopefully that'll make the fat switch more useful -- and the reverb less noisy! __________________ -- Drew

May 9th, 2008, 08:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
LOTF Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tempe, AZ Age: 53 Posts: 226	I'm with the folks who leave it on all the time. I also have decided that I love my Blues Jr. every bit as much as my AC30CC2 (and it's a lot easier to haul around to places). I do think I want to upgrade the speaker, perhaps to a Celestion Alnico Blue. __________________ Regards, LOTF TELES: 2008 '52 Vintage Hot Rod 2007 '72 Thinline reissue 1985 Squier (MIJ)

May 9th, 2008, 12:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Billm Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey Age: 61 Posts: 399 1 Photos	I seldom use it for clean playing because it exaggerates the amp's touch-response more than I like. I don't have a thinness problem because my BJrs have the tone stack mod and power supply stiffening. I use the Fat switch when I need more preamp distortion or overall drive.

May 9th, 2008, 01:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
bowman Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Westborough, MA Age: 56 Posts: 377	I'm with Doug and TeleBrew - it's always on.

May 9th, 2008, 02:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
bowman Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Westborough, MA Age: 56 Posts: 377	Jimi, I hear you on the urge to tweak your BJ. I'm actually quite happy with mine as is, but I've heard so many good things about Billm's mods that I think I'll have to get his list and decide on which ones will work for me. Perhaps a Father's Day present to myself...

May 9th, 2008, 02:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
sax4blues Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Jose, CA Age: 51 Posts: 536	I leave it on when playing low volume and turn it off as the the volume goes high.

May 9th, 2008, 02:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
Billm Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey Age: 61 Posts: 399 1 Photos	Your tech friend knows about the Blues Junior mods, right? He shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel. The green board reverb problems are completely curable.

May 10th, 2008, 01:42 AM	#13 (permalink)
freddie Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portsmouth, U.K. Age: 44 Posts: 182	I use both settings as well. I got the newer model of black footswitch to change it and it is very quiet and easy to put in and take out, good investment if you like to use the fat switch. freddie

May 10th, 2008, 06:54 AM	#14 (permalink)
nevadacalifornia Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Wisconsin Age: 40 Posts: 133	I have had mine on since day one. I usually run it at about 5 on both volumes, and just a much fuller sound with the fat.

May 10th, 2008, 07:54 AM	#15 (permalink)
91xlntS-3 Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 696	Always on... I leave mine on all the time, gives me just the tone I'm looking for. A real punchy, clean tone with my Teles. I bought a new Fender Footswitch for it, thinking I'd switch it off/on, but I just sold the footswitch cause I never used it! I have 2 of these amps, both from around 2000 and both made in USA!

May 12th, 2008, 06:11 AM	#16 (permalink)
johnhe TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 26	I have the fat switch on all the time. II love the clean sound when turned up about half way with the fat switch on - totally lovely. Someone on here mentioned trying out a Celestion Blue. Just be careful - I bought a Emminence Red Fang and it wouldn't fit into the Blues Jnr. Unless you're prepared to cut away a part of your amps chassis, there's a chance that the Celestion won't fit either.

May 12th, 2008, 08:52 PM	#19 (permalink)
Scott V Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle Age: 42 Posts: 460	I must be the odd man out here, I rarely use the fat switch. But in fairness, I usually run a Bad Bob, Bad Monkey and a Sonic Stomp into it. Mine is also a green board from '96, I got it when they first came out.