So many Blues Jr's for sale on Facebook Marketplace

[Jakedog]

It’s at least a 50 to 1 ratio for seeing used blues juniors in comparison to pro juniors.

And I much prefer the little screamer to the one that I could never bond with which was the blues junior.

A Pro Jr is a really fun amp. Again, not enough clean headroom for me to really use live, but it’s a blast to crank one. If I needed a straight up dirty amp for small gigs I’d have one. If they had an effects loop so you could throw a reverb on ‘em they’d be absolutely perfect little boxes.

 

[schmee]

A basic good EL84 voiced amp that can do gigging. I imagine there are a ton of them out there so many for sale as well.

 

[Ringo]

I had one some years ago, it had the Bill M mods when I got it, and it had a Celestion Greenback, to me it was a great sounding amp.
I was good for rehearsals, I was able to get a good clean tone andI used pedals for gain.
I used it at a gig once, not a lot of available clean headroom, but it had a great tone for blues / rock when it was turned up I got compliments on the sound.
I don't know how reliable they are, and like a lot of other modern cheaper tube amps, not the greatest build quality I'm sure but I never had any issues with mine.
At the time I had a SF DR too, so I sold the Blues Jr, but I'd think about getting another one if it was cheap enough and in good condition.
I regulary see some locally, priced around $4-500, but I wouldn't call the market saturated with them.

 

[emptyminded42]

Swapped mine for a Marshall Origin20.
Not sorry.

Never heard of these until just now - I've always hankered for a Blue Jr. but despite boatloads of them for sale, none of them ever seem to be a particularly good value. Might set my sights on the Marshall and save my pennies for awhile to get one instead of settling for a used Blues Jr.

 

[blowtorch]

I bought my HRDX brand new for $500
Granted that was a lifetime ago, but still-

Yeah i think for many, the Blues Jr remains a boxy* and nasal-sounding thing
Granted, for some it's the perfect amp


*(no one here will get this, but)

 

[Dik Ellis]

Mine is from the 90's, $329 new. It has been Bill M modded and a Celestion Greenback speaker. Lots of people rag on them, but I've been quite happy with mine.

 

[68goldtop]

Hi!

... I've always hankered for a Blue Jr. but despite boatloads of them for sale, none of them ever seem to be a particularly good value...

But why?
I think they're exceptionally good value - because they don't cost any money at all.
You can buy one for around $400/450, play it a couple of years - and resell it for $400/450.
What's not to like?

cheers - 68.

 

[shnaggletooth]

Hi Peegoo!

Compared to a Princeton or Deluxe Reverb a Tweed Champ wouldn't be very "fendery", I guess

cheers - 68.


P.S.:

I found an older recording of mine with some nice (I think...) BJ-sounds in it!

Going to Topanga (w/vocals) by Seaside Music

Going to Topanga (w/vocals) - Yeah - goin to Topanga! #alternative #rock #usa #instrumental #folk #experimental #americana #singersongwriter #song #germany #indierock #independent #unplugged #amps #garageRock #telecaster #guitarReviews #independentRock #soundclips #fenderChamp #poeticRock...

soundclick.com

Jorma, is that you on vocals? When did you start playing a Tele? Jack's on the bass, of course?

 

[68goldtop]

Haha!

Jorma, is that you on vocals? When did you start playing a Tele? Jack's on the bass, of course?

Yes, all Jorma, Jack and me - which makes "1" (if you do the math...)
Never thought it sounded like my OLD band.
I always played the Tele, I just rolled the tone-knob down a bit so I could fool people into thinking I was playing a Gibson

cheers - 68.

 

[saltyseadog]

Cracks me up all these "expert" opinions on Fender's second most sold amp ever.

 

[Jakedog]

Cracks me up all these "expert" opinions on Fender's second most sold amp ever.

Well, Justin Bieber has sold how many records? Doesn’t mean they’re any good.

 

[Robert H.]

Cracks me up all these "expert" opinions on Fender's second most sold amp ever.

I didn't see anyone claiming to be an "expert." But many of us speak from our own experience with BJrs. I do. I had one in the early 2000's and couldn't wait to get rid of it - harsh, tinny highs with a boxy bottom. No thanks. So what if they are a big seller?

 

[drmordo]

Never heard of these until just now - I've always hankered for a Blue Jr. but despite boatloads of them for sale, none of them ever seem to be a particularly good value. Might set my sights on the Marshall and save my pennies for awhile to get one instead of settling for a used Blues Jr.

I have two Origins and I am not a fan. They're low gain amps that do not take boost well at all; they don't act like any other tube amp I have used (or even like most SS amps, for that matter), they *fade out* when you hit them with a booster or a distortion/fuzz that is turned up. They seem like they are expressly designed for pedal board guys instead of guys that want a cranked and good sounding amp with a single pedal to push the amp a bit harder. I find them unusable and plan to dump mine (I have the 20 and 50) when I get around to it.

I'd trade my Origin 20 for a BJ in a hot second.

Link to my thread about the Origin series.

 

[old wrench]

I bought my Blues Jr. back when they first came out and got a good deal (I think) on it.

I paid $279 bucks for it, new from Guitar Center

It has a lot of hours on it but it still sounds good

As far as I'm concerned - I've already got my money's worth from it

Never really had a desire or felt a need to modify it either - it's a good amp

.

 

[old wrench]

I have two Origins and I am not a fan. They're low gain amps that do not take boost well at all; they don't act like any other tube amp I have used (or even like most SS amps, for that matter), they *fade out* when you hit them with a booster or a distortion/fuzz that is turned up. They seem like they are expressly designed for pedal board guys instead of guys that want a cranked and good sounding amp with a single pedal to push the amp a bit harder. I find them unusable and plan to dump mine (I have the 20 and 50) when I get around to it.

I'd trade my Origin 20 for a BJ in a hot second.

Link to my thread about the Origin series.

Here in my neck of the woods, there are just as many, maybe more, Marshall Origins for sale compared to Blues Jrs.

I'm going by what I see over time on CraigsList

.

 

[Shorty Medlock]

I really don't care for EL84 amps... always preferred 6v6/6l6...

That said I own a Pro Jr that I don't really love but I bought it for $300 last summer. And I have a $50 Mustang fake tube model.

My next buy will be a DeLuxe reverb kit unless I can find a decent gennie one for the same $$$ as my mortgage payment.

It will have a 15 in it...

 

[WilburBufferson]

It depends on the speaker. Mine has a Creamback. Love it!

 

[fretknot]

I did not keep mine - it came close, but it wasn't a keeper for me. Sold it and got a Pro Junior to replace it.

 

[Liriodendron]

I had one as my second tube amp. I had a hot rod deluxe as the first. Both were somewhat disappointing to me as they did not give me what I was looking for in an amp. Both have good cleans, the hrd arguably better but the blues jr was much more portable. I cranked it a few times, probably sounded good based on my expectations at the time but was not prepared for the volume level. Did not shake windows like the hrd.

I think when I bought mine 15+ years ago it was 500ish. I know the hrd was in the 600s and the bjr was less expensive. Tube stuff is crazy nuts expensive now but I could think of better ways to spend 500. Maybe wouldn’t be as versatile, but better focused.

I’d honestly rather play a Princeton or champ than either of those “modern” fenders.

 

[Jazzerstang]

I’ve mainly had 2. A stock version II from the early 2000s and a tweed limited edition from a few years later. My electrical engineer dad modded it and it was a great amp, but I sold it and I actually bought it back… just to sell it again because I needed a new water softener .

I have had/tried others more recently and generally, they are pretty bland to my ears. Then again, I am completely spoiled by my 79 PR.

Like a few have mentioned, they are good amps, but I think the folks that sell them are probably trying to save up for something nicer.