In my experience, the only thing a 5e3 and a Blues Jr. have in common is a tweed skin.1.) Bill M/Bill M/Bill M (When someone brings up someone who’s passed , say their names three times in remembrance)
2.) Though it’s much more limited and often noisy, I would vastly prefer a Pro Junior !
3.) As the owner of two clones, and a real 1957, 5E3’s are their own thing and what they have in common with a blues junior is that they are both guitar amplifiers.
I've worked with a lot of players, who used Blues Juniors. Harp players seem to like them, the best- with a tube swap. I can dial in a useable base tone but I've never found an example which I considered inspiring.
I always think Fender misses a trick, by refusing to sell an affordable Tweed Deluxe reissue. Hand wired examples never come up for sale here, in the used market- and originals? Forget it. I think they'd sell a ton of simple Deluxes, at around the price they charge for a Blues Junior- especially now, that small amps are The Thing and House PAs are so good.
Interesting and informative experiences. Thanks for sharing your very real world and true to life experiences and opinion.It's just my opinion but, based on multiple comparisons of EL84 and 6V6 tubes in my little class A 6 watt Cornford Carrera I hear distinct differences between the two tube types in question. The Carrera works with all tube types and I've come to enjoy the chance for head to head trials. In this case I've found that when switching back and forth between the EL84 and 6V6 using the 8 pin / 9 pin selector switch on the amps face plate any EL84 tube is always louder than any 6V6. Also, in all cases, EL84s are more defined and crisp with 6V6s favoring a slight tweedy grit. EL84s favor the upper mids and have a super tight bottom end. 6V6s favor the lower mids and produce more bass but the bass is not as tight or defined. Also, in this comparison, by using multiple guitar models, I've found the type of guitar pickup make a huge difference to the 6V6. Where the EL84 sounds great right across the board using all pickup types the 6V6 loses clarity and sometimes becomes a bit muddy through standard type humbuckers. When using Fender type single coils through the 6V6 their tone at least equals and sometimes surpasses that of the EL84 depending on the brand and age of the 6V6. NOS 6V6s are drastically better than current production. While I prefer and use NOS Amperex Bugleboy EL84s from the early '60s in my Bruno amps I do use new production EL84s in both my Cornford Hellcat, (Sovtek), and Mesa Mark V:35, (Mesa). I've also found some good current production JJ EL84s. Sadly, I've yet to find any decent current production 6V6 tubes and that's a shame because, when it comes to the swampy, gritty tweed type blues guitar tones as heard on multiple recordings using Strats or Teles the NOS 6V6 tubes are the best of the best for this purpose. In all other cases I prefer EL84s over 6V6s. Note* I've stated many types on TDPRI that EL84s are may favorite type of output tube and that remains true. Hands down. But even I, when going for vintage blues through a Fender single coil guitar would choose an NOS 6V6. It's like they were made for this task.
Super Sonic 22?If 'fender' made a BJ style amp with 6V6s, I might consider one of those.
Don't overlook or dispel the Blackface Deluxe Reverb either! It is hovering very closely to the Vibrolex Reverb!
Very good point and maybe someone at Fender would get the idea, but then again have you seen the price that the big box music stores tag the Custom Handwired lowly Fender manufactured Tweed Champ Amp ?I've worked with a lot of players, who used Blues Juniors. Harp players seem to like them, the best- with a tube swap. I can dial in a useable base tone but I've never found an example which I considered inspiring.
I always think Fender misses a trick, by refusing to sell an affordable Tweed Deluxe reissue. Hand wired examples never come up for sale here, in the used market- and originals? Forget it. I think they'd sell a ton of simple Deluxes, at around the price they charge for a Blues Junior- especially now, that small amps are The Thing and House PAs are so good.
Nahhhh...Super Sonic 22?