Which Blues Jr us the best one?

[GaryOsborne]

The NOS tweed, the humbolt hot rod, the stock black bj3?
I really want another one of these (used to have a stock black one) and I really like the tweed one with the special Jensen in it. I'd love to try the humbolt with it's stock c-rex. What do you guys thing?
There's ones I've never even heard of before. There's a surf green one on my local CL and I just saw a "western wheat" version on GC used. I know it's all subjective and opinion but still, it's fun to find out what other tele players like. I do mostly classic country and some southern/classic rock.
Thanks.
Gary.

 

[AirBagTester]

You should check out Billm's site for a great explanation of the history of the Blues Jr: http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=207

Other than some of the circuit board changes over the years from the old one to the III version, they are all the same except for speaker changes and colors. For example, you could buy a stock Blues Jr. III and put in a Jensen just like the "Tweed NOS" and it is functionally identical. (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure this is the case.)

I have one in emerald green with a Celestion speaker in it, which supposedly sounds more mid-rangey than either the stock speaker or the Jensen but I don't know for sure. Then also there's the way a speaker breaks in that changes the sound too. All I know is that I like it.

 

[pondcaster]

Nothing special but I'm partial to the blonde with oxblood grille!

 

[sulaco]

They're all largely the same. However, the humboldt hot rod would absolutely, hands down be my choice of the 3. No question. That cannabix rex has been modified to better match the BJR, which apparently makes a difference.

 

[waparker4]

I would get the cheapest used one I could find in working condition and put whatever speaker I want in there...

 

[GaryOsborne]

Ideally I'd like a tweed one with a c-rex. But the Jensen that's in the tweed one sounds so good IMO. I could get a tweed one from GC used for like 349$ then another 80$ for the c-rex. I just don't know. Does the c-rex sound THAT much better in this amp then the Jensen tats in the tweed ones?

 

[slauson slim]

I like the NOS tweed w/ the Jensen. But that's the only B Jr I have, and the only one I have ever played. Turn the Master all the way up to 12, adjust volume tone to suit. It's a good amp.

 

[73Fender]

I like the NOS tweed w/ the Jensen. But that's the only B Jr I have, and the only one I have ever played. Turn the Master all the way up to 12, adjust volume tone to suit. It's a good amp.

Me too, only one I ever played through. I do like it with the master down as well. If you like to tinker I recommend Bill M's mods. Another good reason to buy used.

Lately I've been playing through the Blues Jr and my Tweed Lil Dawg using an amp splitter...fun fun.

 

[Johnny Cache]

I've owned 2 BJ's a USA Green Board and a MIM Cream Board. All else being equal, the Green is a bit darker and the Cream a tad brighter. I'd go with the Green if I were looking for another, but I really didn't like either amp that much.

 

[Del Pickup]

I would go for one in red tolex. That would be cool and then I could change the speaker if I felt it necessary.

Sadly I've never seen one in red......

 

[RubyRae]

Humbolt gets my vote, and the coolest looking by far. I really want one.

 

[985plowboy]

I got the one that said "Peavey Classic 30" on it for $200 used.

 

[Gearhead88]

I like the NOS tweed w/ the Jensen. But that's the only B Jr I have, and the only one I have ever played. Turn the Master all the way up to 12, adjust volume tone to suit. It's a good amp.

X 2 , turn the volume up and use the guitar controls to dial in the sound I want

It's the only one I've got , never had a standard Blues Junior.

I've got a bunch of other amps , the only one I own that I enjoy more than my blues Junior is my Peavey Delta Blues 1-15.


A couple of weeks ago , I walked in to my local music store and found a newish looking / used Blues junior in Red , it had a red coat speaker in it too , they had a price of $300 on it , I went back the next day , it was gone , that kind of thing has happened several times to me.

 

[GaryOsborne]

I don't really like those ones. They're called like "red October" or something. The hardest one to find, and I think the coolest one, is the other red one. The Texas Red one. For some reason they put a vintage 30 in it though instead of something that would make more since, like a Texas Heat or Lil Texas. They're all made by the same company! Lol
I just like that tint of red with the wheatish colored grill.

 

[rebelwoclue]

I have the Blond green board with a Swamp Thang-I like it. But if I came across a deal on a Humbolt, I'd be owning one of those too.

 

[GaryOsborne]

Swamp thang is a blues jr?! That's nuts. I had one in a blues deluxe and I had to sell it because it felt like too much speaker for that amp. Lol.

 

[PeterVV]

I have a bj iii that I put an eminence the wizard speaker in , and the previous owner changed the input valbes sounds great.

 

[Bluesy Groover]

A lot depends upon what you want and are trying to do with a BJ. I played a lot of them in stores a few years back before settling on a BJ III. For cleans and my home style blues and jazz it is a really nice little amp. No pedals in my formula.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

I put the swamp thing in mine as well. Can't be accused of sounding small, boxy, etc anymore.

 

[rhythmjones]

The best Blues Jr is a Pro Jr.