Blues Junior Version Differences (III vs. IV)

[Butch Snyder]

Hey guys, I have my eye on a Fender Blues Junior; especially for smaller gigs and rehearsals. What are the main differences between version III and IV? Those are the models I'm looking at.

 

[FuseG4]

The 4 has a little more solid bass, less harsh treble, the reverb is smoother sounding, more balanced.

I remember when the 4 came out I thought it was such an improvement.

I would never personally buy a 3 now that the 4 exists, for me it just sounded more like the princeton and deluxe reverb that I like.

 

[jeremy]

do we know what they changed in the circuit? i had a v1 that i modded a bit and put a greenback in and it was a really good amp

 

[FuseG4]

They changed to a cooler bias, changed the point the reverb circuit taps off of to before the eq, and the bright cap value of the reverb, bypass and coupling caps of gain stages were changed

 

[Butch Snyder]

I just bought a brand new Blues Junior off Reverb. Lacquered tweed cover. It's brand new but I don't if it's a III or IV version.

 

[FuseG4]

If it is brand new like made within the last several years it's the IV version

 

[Butch Snyder]

If it is brand new like made within the last several years it's the IV version

We'll see....

 

[Rex_Rocker]

A friend of mine has a V2 that we did the Bill M mods on that sounds great, especially through a good-sized cab.

 

[Butch Snyder]

I'm not looking to perform any mods or adding a cabinet. I'm just looking for a good small Fender tube amp for practice, band rehearsals, and small venue gigs. I owned a v1 Blues Junior back in the late 90s. It was decent, but I'm sure the improvements through the various versions will help.

 

[hamerfan]

Hey guys, I have my eye on a Fender Blues Junior; especially for smaller gigs and rehearsals. What are the main differences between version III and IV? Those are the models I'm looking at.

Read here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Blues_Junior

 

[Butch Snyder]

Just received my new Blues Junior. It's, in fact a "Blues Junior Ltd." Can anyone give me a clue as to what I have? Is it a version III, version IV, or neither?

 

[jeremy]

if its brand new, id assume a iv. i think they started that version in 2018 or 2019. the ltd version probably has a jensen speaker and the tweed covering, but the circuit is the same as the normal version

 

[FuseG4]

Unfortunately the only sure way to tell is the color of the PCB board inside

Green is ver 3, black is 4

 

[jeremy]

they went back to green for v3? v1 was green too, v2 was cream.

 

[Butch Snyder]

if its brand new, id assume a iv. i think they started that version in 2018 or 2019. the ltd version probably has a jensen speaker and the tweed covering, but the circuit is the same as the normal version

Yes, Jensen speaker and tweed. Sounds good to me, I guess that's the main thing. I have read where the IV has a Celestion A speaker.

 

[jeremy]

the normal version, yes. the ltd versions usually are tweed and jensen. been that way across the different v1/v2/v3/v4 models

 

[Butch Snyder]

the normal version, yes. the ltd versions usually are tweed and jensen. been that way across the different v1/v2/v3/v4 models

Interesting. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Unfortunately the only sure way to tell is the color of the PCB board inside

Green is ver 3, black is 4

I guess mine is a ver IV LTD?

 

[jeremy]

yep

 

[Butch Snyder]

Ok, I guess that settles that. Now, onto my next endeavor.....