Fender Blues Jr

OLAF MELCHER · August 14th, 2006, 07:07 AM

Hi guys,

does have anybody experienced the Fender Blues Jr ? How does it work tonewise compared to a Fender Champ ? Is it a good amp for just some slightly overdriven Blues tone ?

Thanks in advance.

Olaf

reverbbb · August 14th, 2006, 08:49 AM

Much bigger sound and more Fender like tone. They cannot stay clean sounding at higher volumes. They can also get lost in the mix of a band if they play very loud. Slightly overdriven depends on how loud you want to play it. It cleans up nicely at low volumes. But the perfect blues sound in this amp may not be loud enough for a band in some cases.

There are three distinct types. USA made, Mexican made, & Mexican with Jensens. There are also a few cosmetic examples in each of these three types. I have the MIM w/Jensens in tweed covering. I like that the best personally, but it also cost the most. You can find the USA version for $200~300 in good shape. It has a little darker sound but is a fine amp.

maestrovert · August 14th, 2006, 11:19 AM

here's a link to a page with many B-Jr settings, i hope it's helpful to ya !
link here

bongo · August 14th, 2006, 11:37 AM

hey Reverbbb,
your comment about the BJR getting lost in the mix with a band is right on. I love the sound of mine but had a hard time making it cut thru at rehersals and still don't understand WHY ? Can you explain why it sounds so good in the living room but can't cut well live - BTY, I enjoy the early breakup and don't really want the squeeky clean sounds.

Vince a · August 14th, 2006, 11:48 AM

They can cut through if you mic them up!!! Also, after a speaker change to the Weber 12F150, some JJ/Tesla tubes, and minor mods . . . it does seem to have extended headroom, and I don't have it cranked up to where I used to have it! Probably all in my head . . .

jonkay1 · August 14th, 2006, 12:15 PM

I'm a big fan of the Blues Jr. because of it's light weight and killer sound.
I have no problems being heard in the mix, but then again, we are not a loud band. A great amp for small venues because you can crank it up and not be too loud for the room.

Tremo · August 14th, 2006, 03:32 PM

Stock, they are mediocre. But they can be significantly improved with better speaker, better tubes and some minor electrical modifications. there have been several threads on these things here on this forum. do a search, you will find all the info you need.

reverbbb · August 14th, 2006, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongo

hey Reverbbb,
your comment about the BJR getting lost in the mix with a band is right on. I love the sound of mine but had a hard time making it cut thru at rehersals and still don't understand WHY ? Can you explain why it sounds so good in the living room but can't cut well live - BTY, I enjoy the early breakup and don't really want the squeeky clean sounds.

It's only 15W pushing a single 12" speaker. The Jensen is a little brighter and more articulate. But it still needs to overcome the SPL of the drums, bass, singer, room ambience and what not. If you brighten the EQ with more treble and/or mids, then you can cut through a little better. This sounds harsh if you are playing by yourself or up close. But that is going to help the mix a little more. But what helps more is the amount of speaker deflection. Two speakers will push more air. Also, more watts will push more air. They say that the mids is actually what helps a guitar cut through the mix better.

there are times when you can get right in the mix, other times when the amp is too overdriven and mushes up in the mix. Most of all, be careful with the amount of reverb - that adds a lot of "unfocused" sound to the mix.

Chris S. · August 14th, 2006, 05:39 PM

Here are a few hundred (!) user reviews:

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...es+Junior/10/1

Hope it helps, CS :-)

sax4blues · August 15th, 2006, 01:53 AM

The situations where my BluesJr does not cut it I use a bigger amp.

What comparable amps for $400 do people prefer to the BluesJr?

reverbbb · August 15th, 2006, 08:47 AM

For $500~600, am am liking my Traynor YCV50Blue. It is exactly the size of a Deluxe Reverb, yet has a pair of EL34 that take you straight into Marshall overdrive territory. The cleans are very big an punchy, but not as big as a Blues Deluxe.

I like the BJ for it's size and tone. It is a fine amp. But I have several differnt amps to get me through all types of settings and genres. The BJ is very fine for the traditional Telecaster sound.

August 14th, 2006, 07:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
OLAF MELCHER TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Western France Age: 47 Posts: 63	Fender Blues Jr Hi guys, does have anybody experienced the Fender Blues Jr ? How does it work tonewise compared to a Fender Champ ? Is it a good amp for just some slightly overdriven Blues tone ? Thanks in advance. Olaf __________________ jazzjoker

August 14th, 2006, 08:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
reverbbb Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Just Plano, Texas Age: 50 Posts: 3,733 36 Photos	Much bigger sound and more Fender like tone. They cannot stay clean sounding at higher volumes. They can also get lost in the mix of a band if they play very loud. Slightly overdriven depends on how loud you want to play it. It cleans up nicely at low volumes. But the perfect blues sound in this amp may not be loud enough for a band in some cases. There are three distinct types. USA made, Mexican made, & Mexican with Jensens. There are also a few cosmetic examples in each of these three types. I have the MIM w/Jensens in tweed covering. I like that the best personally, but it also cost the most. You can find the USA version for $200~300 in good shape. It has a little darker sound but is a fine amp. __________________ "I come here to reflect a little."™ Buffalo Blues Band

August 14th, 2006, 11:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 6,732	here's a link to a page with many B-Jr settings, i hope it's helpful to ya ! link here __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

August 14th, 2006, 11:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
bongo Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: hamden, ct Posts: 139	hey Reverbbb, your comment about the BJR getting lost in the mix with a band is right on. I love the sound of mine but had a hard time making it cut thru at rehersals and still don't understand WHY ? Can you explain why it sounds so good in the living room but can't cut well live - BTY, I enjoy the early breakup and don't really want the squeeky clean sounds. __________________ all I need is just one more guitar :)

August 14th, 2006, 05:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
Chris S. Moderator Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Near TELE-Town (Wash. DC) Posts: 2,971 7 Photos	Here are a few hundred (!) user reviews: http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...es+Junior/10/1 Hope it helps, CS :-) __________________ "I go online sometimes, but everyone's spelling is really bad. It's depressing." – Tara, from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" "It was born at the junction of form and function." – Bill Kirchen, from "Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods"

August 14th, 2006, 11:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Vince a Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Modesto, CA Age: 62 Posts: 780	They can cut through if you mic them up!!! Also, after a speaker change to the Weber 12F150, some JJ/Tesla tubes, and minor mods . . . it does seem to have extended headroom, and I don't have it cranked up to where I used to have it! Probably all in my head . . .

August 14th, 2006, 12:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
jonkay1 TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 86	I'm a big fan of the Blues Jr. because of it's light weight and killer sound. I have no problems being heard in the mix, but then again, we are not a loud band. A great amp for small venues because you can crank it up and not be too loud for the room.

August 14th, 2006, 03:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tremo Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,803	Stock, they are mediocre. But they can be significantly improved with better speaker, better tubes and some minor electrical modifications. there have been several threads on these things here on this forum. do a search, you will find all the info you need.

August 15th, 2006, 01:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
sax4blues Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Jose, CA Age: 51 Posts: 643	The situations where my BluesJr does not cut it I use a bigger amp. What comparable amps for $400 do people prefer to the BluesJr?

August 15th, 2006, 08:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
reverbbb Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Just Plano, Texas Age: 50 Posts: 3,733 36 Photos	For $500~600, am am liking my Traynor YCV50Blue. It is exactly the size of a Deluxe Reverb, yet has a pair of EL34 that take you straight into Marshall overdrive territory. The cleans are very big an punchy, but not as big as a Blues Deluxe. I like the BJ for it's size and tone. It is a fine amp. But I have several differnt amps to get me through all types of settings and genres. The BJ is very fine for the traditional Telecaster sound. __________________ "I come here to reflect a little."™ Buffalo Blues Band