Blues Junior Love in...

Hotronlincoln · 02-25-2010, 12:15 PM

I now have the perfect partner for My new CV Thinline...
These amps are special...I no longer have a big Marshall valve amp for the first time ever ! (eek!) Share the love here!

pix....
http://community.webshots.com/album/...unity&start=12

peskypesky · 02-25-2010, 01:04 PM

my bro has one of those amps, and when i played his 1975 Telecaster through it, the sound was delicious.

OnThePorch · 02-26-2010, 10:37 PM

I went to my local shop this eve and compared the Vox AC4TV with the Blues Jr. I'm in the market for a practice amp, but I don't want to sacrifice tone just to save a little money. So far in my search, I've tried the VibroChampXD and the Epi Valve Jr., the usual suspects, but the Blues Jr. is way out front. That thing has headroom for days. I like the VibroChamp, but I can't say I gelled with the Voicings idea. I am a purist, and I'd like to hear the voice of my amp, not necessarily an emulated one. Everyone has great things to say about the Vox, and I pushed it today. It sounds very rich, but for me, it wasn't, for lack of a better term, springy enough. I thought open chords sounded a little dark, and it breaks up very quickly. The attenuator is a great feature, but the reverb on the Blues Jr. I'd much rather have. I set that to about 4 and set the volume lower, and it still sounded big. I nearly bought it tonight, but I know I am too impulsive, so I didn't. Which is perfect, because I'm going to hold out for a white one or a tweed limited edition.

I can't wait to get it!

Epinez · 02-27-2010, 02:01 AM

The BJr is great. I have the NOS edition with the Jenson C12N speaker. I really like the tone I get out of it.

BTW - OnThePorch. Before making your final decision check out the Super Champ XD as well (Vibro's Big brother). I started out with a Vibro and swapped it for the Super a week later. IMHO the Super blows the Vibro out of the water with the 10" speaker.

I still have the SCXD and the BJr NOS (my only two amps). Both are different in their own ways - but I'd say on a daily home playing basis my go to would be the SCXD.

Hotronlincoln · 02-27-2010, 03:17 AM

It loves Stomp boxes. My Fulltone sounds great with my les paul and telecasters. I have to wach the volume when using my Boss GT3 otherwise I have to remember it still has driven tone' even at middling volumes but its fine for the house, as long as I remember its not a Marshall JCM 800 lol!

dman · 02-27-2010, 11:39 PM

Just remember, the tweed limited edition is no different than the black tolex one other than the speaker...the tweed's got a Jensen C12N. You could buy a black one and get a C12N for it and still be under the cost of the tweed. That's what I did. The tweed looks way cooler, though!

Epinez · 02-28-2010, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dman

Just remember, the tweed limited edition is no different than the black tolex one other than the speaker...the tweed's got a Jensen C12N. You could buy a black one and get a C12N for it and still be under the cost of the tweed. That's what I did. The tweed looks way cooler, though!

you're right - that is the only difference. IMHO the C12N turns it into a very different sounding amp. Some like the change, some don't.

I agree as well - the Tweed looks much better.

kevinpaul · 02-28-2010, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotronlincoln

I now have the perfect partner for My new CV Thinline...
These amps are special...I no longer have a big Marshall valve amp for the first time ever ! (eek!) Share the love here!

pix....
http://community.webshots.com/album/...unity&start=12

You do have a great set up. Thinline are cool guitars, I never saw one until I found this forum.

5thumbs · 02-28-2010, 07:33 AM

I had one (blues Jr.) and like a dumb A** i sold it to buy more stuff. I now have a Hotrod Deville. Sound GREAT but sometimes ya just want a little amp.you can put the amp. & guitar in the seat of the car and go! Whish i still had mine ya can't go wrong..

moullineaux · 02-28-2010, 03:06 PM

I bought my Blues Jr. used and have resoldered the tube sockets, put all JJ tubes in it and a Weber ALNICO speaker. You talk about love! My GOD what a great amp. I have a HOTROD Delulxe that will be getting a new Weber Silver when I can afford it. For my money, Weber's change the whole game.

mijstrat72 · 03-06-2010, 02:31 PM

I bought my BJr. a couple of years ago, and have been slowly modding the heck out of it. It didn't really need mods, but I cannot leave well enough alone.

Well now it's a powerhouse. Tone geeks consistantly come up to me and ask me what kind of amp I'm using. The band I auditioned for absolutely flipped out when I fired this baby up. I find myself plugging directly into the amp and playing clean for several hours a day (even though I have a massive selection of boutique modded effects pedals to choose from.

My latest mods are a presence control, external speaker jack and a standby switch. Here's a shot of her just after I built a sweet new cab from 30+ year old solid U.P. birch

The cab really put the tone over the top. Other mods consist of a tonestack mod, power stiffening, mid cut, a Jensen C12n speaker and about three more I can't remember right now. I know I upgraded a bunch of the caps as well, but I'd have to tear it open to see.

1935streetrod · 03-06-2010, 05:43 PM

Good choice! Bought mine used off of Craig's list after checking out the reviews. Well worth it. Makes my Tele, Strat, and even my accoustic come alive! The annoying hum that people talk about was easily fixed by cutting the strap ties that bunch all the wiring together, and separating the two green wires away from the rest.

zag1 · 03-07-2010, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blank

I bought my BJr. a couple of years ago, and have been slowly modding the heck out of it. It didn't really need mods, but I cannot leave well enough alone.

Well now it's a powerhouse. Tone geeks consistantly come up to me and ask me what kind of amp I'm using. The band I auditioned for absolutely flipped out when I fired this baby up. I find myself plugging directly into the amp and playing clean for several hours a day (even though I have a massive selection of boutique modded effects pedals to choose from.

My latest mods are a presence control, external speaker jack and a standby switch. Here's a shot of her just after I built a sweet new cab from 30+ year old solid U.P. birch

The cab really put the tone over the top. Other mods consist of a tonestack mod, power stiffening, mid cut, a Jensen C12n speaker and about three more I can't remember right now. I know I upgraded a bunch of the caps as well, but I'd have to tear it open to see.

I'll tell ya, if that amp sounds as good as it looks, you DO have a powerhouse! Thats a work of art! I made the mistake of selling mine five years ago, but I plan on getting another one. Since I've been doing mods for folks, I got the urge.

Hotronlincoln · 03-11-2010, 10:56 AM

Well I lasted a week with out my marshall and had to buy it back (ouch!) really couldnt live without it. So is sits beside my Blues Junior and I just have two great amps now. Changed the power tubes in the BJ to JJ'sand it sounds even better. As soon as I recover from buying back my JCM 800 I will renew the pre amps as see how it sounds.

SpeedIntensity · 04-02-2010, 11:01 PM

They're ridiculously expensive (@$700C), but so sweet. My local shop has a blond tolex one with a Jenson, and a bottle green one with a Celestion. I'm trying so hard to be good...

Speed

mijstrat72 · 04-03-2010, 06:05 PM

I've been fideling with all sorts of different amps lately, and even though the Jr. might be a little thin in stock form, after some minor surgery I have yet to find something I like more in it's price range.

capt_goodvibes · 04-12-2010, 09:27 AM

The Right Speaker for your Blues Junior
http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=295

What About Tubes?
http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=131

Mod Kits and Services
http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=65

zag1 · 04-19-2010, 11:30 PM

I couldn't help myself, and bought another Blues Jr. recently. The price ($250) helped me do just what I wanted to do with it, an' try puttin' in some 5881 output tubes along with other mods. This thing sounds killer. Just gotta finish it up.

overdriver · 04-22-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mijstrat72

I bought my BJr. a couple of years ago, and have been slowly modding the heck out of it. It didn't really need mods, but I cannot leave well enough alone.

Well now it's a powerhouse. Tone geeks consistantly come up to me and ask me what kind of amp I'm using. The band I auditioned for absolutely flipped out when I fired this baby up. I find myself plugging directly into the amp and playing clean for several hours a day (even though I have a massive selection of boutique modded effects pedals to choose from.

My latest mods are a presence control, external speaker jack and a standby switch. Here's a shot of her just after I built a sweet new cab from 30+ year old solid U.P. birch

The cab really put the tone over the top. Other mods consist of a tonestack mod, power stiffening, mid cut, a Jensen C12n speaker and about three more I can't remember right now. I know I upgraded a bunch of the caps as well, but I'd have to tear it open to see.

Why the heck if ya went to all the trouble of a new cab... why didn't ya make it a bit bigger for incresed tonal responce

Telepicker · 06-13-2010, 12:15 PM

My friend is selling his Blues Jr (the Mexican made version). I tried it with my Squier VM Tele Thinline and it is gorgeousity! I've only tried it at home volumes, though. I may have an opportunity to try it on stage later this week, but you folks who know, does this little amp hold up on stage? It's only 15 watts. Should I pull the trigger on this one? I currently have a Cube 30X which I love, but the Blues Jr has an extra tone element that makes my guitar sound like, well, a Tele!

dman · 06-14-2010, 12:10 AM

Telepicker, it's 15 LOUD watts. I've replaced the tubes and am running a 12AY7 in the V-1 position to drop the gain by about 40% (I'm doing this to be able to up the volume and push the power tubes more without increasing the overall sound level). In small clubs, which are really the only ones we play, I'm running the master wide open, volume on 4-4.5. We just played an outdoor festival and I was running it about 5.5. In all cases, I'm miked, but more for sound dispersion than greater volume. Keeps up with a drummer, blues harp and bassist just fine!

Bullitt · 06-14-2010, 08:52 AM

The tweeds are cool,just havent found one when Ive had the cash to buy one,however I came acrossed a Pro Junior and Im happy with that for now,nice cab mijstrat72.

brbadg · 06-14-2010, 09:30 AM

Make no mistake this is a gigging amp! If you play metal,maybe not (unless you stack 12 of them!)

66musicmaster · 06-21-2010, 11:41 AM

Telepicker/dman,

Telepicker, Not sure how true it is, but I've heard a 15w tube amp is more comparable to a 30w solid state. I have a Roland cube 30 which is great, but we rarely turn it off the tweed model. Gtr Ctr nearest (Greensboro, NC) us has a slew of used Blues Jrs in several colors for less than $400 - most around $350. And we played a bunch of em, all work fine. The Roland is working well for us in a small room setting with no mic'ing.

Dman, I read somewhere on the net about the "magic six" - http://www.singlecoil.com/docs/magic-six.pdf if you haven't read it. Might find you something you like even more.

Randy

Teleblooz · 06-30-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telepicker

My friend is selling his Blues Jr (the Mexican made version). I tried it with my Squier VM Tele Thinline and it is gorgeousity! I've only tried it at home volumes, though. I may have an opportunity to try it on stage later this week, but you folks who know, does this little amp hold up on stage? It's only 15 watts. Should I pull the trigger on this one? I currently have a Cube 30X which I love, but the Blues Jr has an extra tone element that makes my guitar sound like, well, a Tele!

I gigged with my BJr for two years in a 5-piece band. It holds its own just fine. When I got it, it replaced a 65-watt solid state Fender Princeton 65 DSP - there was no appreciable drop in volume, and the sound of tubes is just SWEEEET!

And as somebody else noted, it takes to pedals like a duck to water, even though now I usually plug straight into the amp. This little scrapper is easily one of the best musical investments I ever made.

66musicmaster · 07-02-2010, 10:50 AM

Okay, TeleBlooz and others, that brings up a good question. My son is wanting a new amp - saving every dollar he can. We've been looking at Blues Jrs. Currently, our amp is a Roland Cube 30 that does fine volume-wise for everything we play. Would the BJ be suitable (comparable) to the roland in terms of volume output? I have read that a tube amp is comparable to a SS of double wattage. We haven't had the chance to A/B them yet, but the music store had a pretty good deal on a BJ last time we were there.

Thanks
Randy

Teleblooz · 07-02-2010, 08:55 PM

I've never played a Cube 30, but if it's a good deal, my advice would be "go for it". It's hard to go wrong with a BJr and as I said above, I gigged with a 5-piece band for years (as the lead guitarist), playing Blues, R&B, and Classic Rock. There was volume to spare, and that tube tone is sooooo sweet.