Fender Blues Junior Club

[nosuch]

Originally Posted by Ron Garson

I guess I need to be in! Here's mine, and both are stock!

Do you play both together sometimes?
Is the tweed one the limited edition or an old one?
how do they compare?
should I stop to ask questions?

[FenderNic321]

here is my blues junior, it's all stock (so far).

[Ron Garson]

I just got the tweed one a couple of days ago, so I haven't tried to play both together. In fact I haven't done a real comparison yet!

It's a NOS Ltd Ed. with the Jensen speaker and I'm only just beginning with it. It sounds pretty good though, so far!

[414driver]

Found a creme board for $250...a puff. Sent it to Billm....spent $120 for the works incl. freight. Added a neo "lil Texas"....total $430. The usual compliment of JJ tubes. With the aux speaker jack I can add any 4-16ohm cab.....they take 4ohms just fine. Super tone....super lite. Best money I ever spent!

[indiobravo]

Originally Posted by 414driver

Found a creme board for $250...a puff. Sent it to Billm....spent $120 for the works incl. freight. Added a neo "lil Texas"....total $430. The usual compliment of JJ tubes. With the aux speaker jack I can add any 4-16ohm cab.....they take 4ohms just fine. Super tone....super lite. Best money I ever spent!

what was the turn around?

[maches]

Originally Posted by Gr8tfulEd

Where does one go to get the right filter caps? Is this a Radio Shack thing, a hard to find "vintage is better" thing, or somewhere in between?

I bought the filters caps from Mouser. I doubt you will find them at RadioShack, and I don't think vintage capacitors will help much here. You will need 3 22uF 450V capacitors, and 1 47uF 450v capacitor. If you have not done the power stiffening mod you can order 2 47uF caps and place them in parallel. I used Xicon capacitors, but there are other manufacturers out there who make quality capacitors.

Xicon 22uf 450v

Xicon 47uF 450v

[raf]

Originally Posted by TeleBrew

Here's my NOS Laquered Tweed w/AVRI '52 Tele. They look nice together.

Love the NOS...I have one too!

[telecster]

I connected my BJR to a 2X10 extension cab. WOW...Totally a different sound. Really warm and full. I especially like it with my Martin. OK now I have to build a cab. First I need to find out what speakers are in this closed/ported cab. I also will make it switchable between the internal and the ext cab.

[Justjammin]

Originally Posted by Justjammin
I am soo trying to get into this club, especially after checking out Billm's site. The darn prices of the new units seem a little high, so I've been scanning CL and eBay for a deal.

Well, I'm almost there *fingers crossed* I found an older black "Corona" model, price is a little high, but it's much less than anywhere else that I can find.

Is there anything that I should look out for? Cosmetically it looks great for being used.

[rocksteady Max]

I have a stock one my BFF

[ugmold]

I have a USA Black one, but I just bought a Lacquered Tweed cab on ebay because I love the look. I think I will use the black cab as an extension speaker/stack.

Only mods are new tubes, JJ's and er....can't remember.

Also own a Pro Jr/Blonde.

-ugmold

[68 Shovelhead]

I have a first year BJ, got it when they first came out in '96 if I remember right. I liked it then and I still do.
Mines just the Blackie tolex model and nothings been upgraded.

[Teleblooz]

Originally Posted by 68 Shovelhead

I have a first year BJ, got it when they first came out in '96 if I remember right. I liked it then and I still do.
Mines just the Blackie tolex model and nothings been upgraded.

If you like the tone as is, you owe it to yourself to at least do the Billm reverb mod. makes that noisy 'verb shine.

[Justjammin]

Ta Daa, I'm in! I picked up a Stock, Greenboard, USA Version, in Black. I'm not sure of the year just yet.

I had a hard time getting her dialed in, why couldn't Fender do "Bass, Middle, High" is beyond me, anyway my first impression was with my (MIJ) 62 RI Strat, Keeley modded BD and it just wasn't hitting home, I'm thinking wifey is going to kill me if I can't bond with this BJ Jr. plus I'm a little dissapointed myself.

This morning I take a go at it with my (MIJ) 62 RI tele and a Sparkle Drive, three hours later I emerge with a grin from ear to ear, what a great little monster, this is going to be fun. Now I'm off to the mods dept.

[telecster]

Originally Posted by maches

I've had my Blues Jr. for a few months now. I just modified it yesterday using some Billm mods. Basic kit, audio-taper volume and reverb pots, switchcraft input jack, standby switch, tone stack. I have some new tubes coming tomorrow as well (All JJ's except V1 is a Tung-Sol RI). Still has the stock speaker, but I'm thinking about trying a C-Rex after hearing so many good things about them.

A little reminder to anyone who is doing work with a cream board Blues Jr. to check their filter capacitors for leakage. I have one starting to leak and will be replacing all four of them shortly.

How do you like the audio-taper pot?

[richey88]

Originally Posted by Justjammin

Well, I'm almost there *fingers crossed* I found an older black "Corona" model, price is a little high, but it's much less than anywhere else that I can find.

Is there anything that I should look out for? Cosmetically it looks great for being used.

Mine is theCorona model also. It came with new caps - $175 from an amp tech in the 'hood. I couldn't pass it up. Love it!

[sonicland]

Originally Posted by Fret Wilkes

Mine looks exactly like this one here. Just installed an Eminence Red White And Blues speaker and the Billm Standby Switch. I may swap the speaker for a Cannabis Rex that I just aquired to see how that works out as well.

I bought a new one 2 years ago, switched the speaker to a Celestion V30 and didn't notice much of a difference. Lived with that for awhile and then switched to a Cannabis Rex and noticed a big difference. YMMV but the Rex really rocks in a Blues Junior. Next I'll replace the reverb, then some Billm mods and I'll be a happy man.

[FenderNic321]

Is this something that anyone experiences with their blues junior......I turn the switch "on" and about 10 seconds later there is a loud "humm" , now, when I turn the volume up , it does not affect the "humm" at all. and when I play, you cannot hear the "humm" either.

Is this something that is normal with tube amps?

thanks.

Nic

[Feargal]

Mine is stock, for now.........

[Middleman]

Originally Posted by FenderNic321

Is this something that anyone experiences with their blues junior......I turn the switch "on" and about 10 seconds later there is a loud "humm" , now, when I turn the volume up , it does not affect the "humm" at all. and when I play, you cannot hear the "humm" either.

Is this something that is normal with tube amps?

thanks.

Nic

Only at high volumes. At lower volumes there is not issue however, the BJ does have more noise than my other Fender Amps.