Speaker swap to gain clarity in Fender Blues Junior? (very specific question)

[InstantCoffeeBlue]

Based on your description, I think what you are hearing is the "EL84 Sizzle" Those power tubes have this grainy smooth tone. Also, most amps with those tubes are punchy with big lower mids. Hard to describe. It's a tone I like but not one I would want in every situation.

That's a good point. Regardless of which speaker I've tried in my Pro Junior (for me, nothing has beat an old Eminence Legend 1058 FWIW), the amp has a certain sizzle that isn't present in my 6v6 or 6L6 amps. It has great cleans in its own right, but it's never going to have the clarity of the BF amps.

 

[Ascension]

Might want to also look hard at a WGS ET65. I went though several speakers in a open back 1/12 that I run with my Zinky Blue Velvet, Mesa Subway Rocket or PRS MT 15. Went through several Celestians the WGS C and Retro 30 and a few Eminences before settling on the ET 65. Really is very nice in a small 1/12 open back combo and have one in my Zinky Blue Velvet now.
This is the Velvet with the WGS ET 65 unmiced live.
Here is the Velvet with the ET 65 miced and running only a little delay and verb. REALLY like this speaker in a small 1/12 tube combo!

 

[KC]

I've had a couple of earlier versions of the Blues Jr and have had really good luck with Weber ceramics, a Blue Dog in one and a Silver Bell in another. They're both inexpensive and relatively efficient, though Weber doesn't publish efficiency numbers. The Blue Dog in particular seemed to wake the amp up, bringing out the bright Voxy side of the el84 character. The Silver Bell is more mid-focused, kind of similar to a greenback.

 

[uriah1]

c12k. Lots of clean It does add some mids but in good way

 

[Tim S]

Like "JustABluesGuy" mentioned above, look for a speaker with a high sensitivity rating. If your current speaker is rated at say 96db, using a different speaker with a rating of 100-13db will make the amp sound noticeably louder. With a louder speaker, you can turn down the gain or volume a bit more yet still retain the same volume you had with the current speaker. By turning down the volume, the amp is less likely to break up when you dig in hard. It won't be a huge difference but it will be noticeable.

Speaker sensitivity is a good point that I overlooked. However, using numbers that the speaker manufacturers supply is only helpful for comparing among speakers THAT manufacture makes. There’s no industry recognized standard that allows you to accurately compare decibel sensitivity rating of speakers from different companies. Some companies have conservative ratings while some others’ ratings are “optimistic” at best.

We know, # of decibels that 1 watt can produce when measured 1 meter away equals “sensitivity”, but what microphone? How is it aimed? Signal source? It sure would be nice of there was an internationally recognized organization that performed these tests so consumers could make purchases, confident in the sensitivity numbers. But until that day arrives, do your research and do not blindly trust decibel numbers when shopping for speakers sold by different companies.

 

[2L man]

Speaker sensitivity is a good point that I overlooked. However, using numbers that the speaker manufacturers supply is only helpful for comparing among speakers THAT manufacture makes. There’s no industry recognized standard that allows you to accurately compare decibel sensitivity rating of speakers from different companies. Some companies have conservative ratings while some others’ ratings are “optimistic” at best.

We know, # of decibels that 1 watt can produce when measured 1 meter away equals “sensitivity”, but what microphone? How is it aimed? Signal source? It sure would be nice of there was an internationally recognized organization that performed these tests so consumers could make purchases, confident in the sensitivity numbers. But until that day arrives, do your research and do not blindly trust decibel numbers when shopping for speakers sold by different companies.

Yes, unfortunately at least open and closed baffle methods are used?

Jensen use open IEC baffle standard and the numerical sensitivity comes perhaps 2db lower than "closed baffle" measure produce. IEC baffle make a deepest dip to 400Hz when rear produced sound wave come to microphone 180 decrees later but this effect wider frequency range and there comes a shallow V-shape to Jensen frequency response graphs.

Celestion and Eminence graps do not have a dip so obviously they use a closed baffle?

This link has an open baffle article. I recall there is at least another.

How to read the frequency response graphs of Jensen guitar speakers, IEC baffle measurements...

How to interpret frequency response graphs of Jensen guitar speakers published in datasheets? How Jensen guitar speakers are measured? How to compare frequency response data of Jensen guitar speakers with data of other brands of speakers?

www.tonestack.net

 

[Dik Ellis]

Bill M recommended a Celestion Greenback speaker for the Blues Jr. I'm happy with mine.

 

[Jakedog]

At the risk of being crucified for not jumping on the speaker selection band wagon-

Do your guitars have treble bleeds on the volume pots? That may be all you need. Personally I very much dislike the whole “use the volume knob to go from clean to dirty and forget about pedals” approach. I have never heard it work well. You either get a great clean or a great dirty, but the other is always, always compromised. They’re never both great.

That said, treble bleeds on the volume pots can definitely bring back some of the clarity you automatically lose by rolling them off.

 

[fatz treeboy]

I believe you are looking for a JBL D120F, or no (F).

yep..... all the "ice pick" crap is just people parroting others...... if u actually get to have one in your hands for a few days u'll see why they r so special..... all the jbl guitar speakers have a certain shine and heft

 

[robt57]

Has the Weber California been mentioned? With a screen dome, and light dope I am thinking...

 

[backalleyblues]

I have an original Blues Jr, and my wife has a Blues Jr III, I've noticed with her amp (bone stock btw) it wants to break up really easy with her P-90 equipped Epi Casino, while mine stays crystal clean much further up the dial. This might be due to the preamp design, which I feel has more gain on tap than the older versions. The idea of swapping in a 5751 in V1 is a good one, easy to do, 100% reversible, and a lot cheaper than a speaker swap.

As for speakers, the Cannibis Rex does have clarity, but the highs tend to be more muted compared to your average Jensen types in my experience, typically about 1-2 numbers on the treble control. The JBL might work for you, another possible would be an EV Force if it will fit...

 

[JRapp]

A different speaker is only gonna do so much (an EV?). It's a 15 watt amp with EL84s and a bright cap in a tiny box. If you want clarity and low end, you need bigger iron, more power, and a bigger cab. Ask me how I know---I messed with a few of these over the years (how cute, how convenient, it's loud enuf, etc) and they're all gone.

 

[Daytona.57]

Post in thread 'Cannabis rex opinions?' https://www.tdpri.com/threads/cannabis-rex-opinions.1123295/post-11778665​

 

[Whoa Tele]

I used to have a Blues Jr with an Eminence Tonker that sounded nice and was very efficient . The Tonker lite seems like it would have even more clarity .

 

[bigben55]

I once put a Wwber California in a Blues Jr with success. It was an original BJ, back in 2001??? I needed more clean headroom, and the Weber delivered. If my memory is correct, it was the H dome model, which works with overdrive as well without being too overly harsh. These are very loud, very clean speakers. Think, the polar opposite of a Celestion Greenback.

Has the Weber California been mentioned? With a screen dome, and light dope I am thinking...

 

[uriah1]

Also. Higher wattage is your friend for max clarity imho

 

[jackal]

The Eminence Lil Texas sounds great with every amp I've ever used it with. High headroom, high power handling, light weight, easy on the wallet, what's not to like?

 

[Stevie1Der7]

I believe you are looking for a JBL D120F, or no (F).

Best of luck w that

 

[KirkDahnke]

I did the BILLM mods on my Tweed Blues Jr including the CREX speaker. I was just going to sell it until I tried a regular 65w Creamback. It completely changed that amp and I love it now. So I highly recommend the Creamback. I hate the CREX. Worst speaker of merit I ever tried at leas for a Fender. The Creamback took a blanket off the amp. Even Keith Richards uses Celestions in his Tweed high powered Twins.

 

[KirkDahnke]

Bill M recommended a Celestion Greenback speaker for the Blues Jr. I'm happy with mine.

I thought he recommended a C Rex as the best speaker? I did the mods including the speaker. I hated the C Rex. A cream back was installed and it was saved from being sold.