Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

[cadred]

I got to play and hear these guys side by side at the store last night. Most of what I read around the internet seemed to favor the tone of the Pro Jr, so I went in expecting to prefer that, but it wasn't that easy.

I really liked the clean tone of the Blues Jr. It seemed to have more personality or "tubiness" that I really dug, while the Pro was a little more neutral. I also liked the fact that you can get some gain on the Blues at low volumes, which would be nice for the bedroom.

On the other hand, when they were both cranked up, the Pro seemed to have a little more bite, which I dug.

I'll probably use some pedals, but I think either has the headroom to handle that. I was a little bummed that neither has a line out or can handle external speakers without mods. I have a nice 2x12 bassman cab that would go nice with either of them.

So what should I do? It's close, but I'm still leaning a little towards the Blues Jr. That seems contrary to popular opinion so I have to wonder if I'm missing something?

Also, it seems they raised the price about $100 on both of them the last year or two?? They were both a bit more expensive than I original expected.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

I don't know if you were looking at the older Blues Jr and Pro Jr, but they revamped the whole hot rod line about six months to a year ago (which accounts for the price hike). Additionally, although I haven't been able to find any pics of it, the fender site says that both the Blues Jr III and the Pro Jr III (the new ones) have external speaker jacks. I didn't see any on the backs of the combos in pictures I found, so maybe it's inside the cabinet? I don't know.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

thankfully there are used ones all over the place.

I'd take the Blues Jr III on most days. I too like the clean better and on the blues jr, and it has a 12" speaker.
When you scoop the mids on a BJr III it hints at the blackface tone which I certainly love. It also has reverb!

The pro jr is great but I find the blues jr more versatile.

 

[cadred]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

I don't know if you were looking at the older Blues Jr and Pro Jr, but they revamped the whole hot rod line about six months to a year ago (which accounts for the price hike). Additionally, although I haven't been able to find any pics of it, the fender site says that both the Blues Jr III and the Pro Jr III (the new ones) have external speaker jacks. I didn't see any on the backs of the combos in pictures I found, so maybe it's inside the cabinet? I don't know.

I thought that too, but it's external speaker wiring, which means the wiring for the speaker is exposed (and easy to swap), but it does not have an actual speaker jack.

thankfully there are used ones all over the place.

Any suggestions on where I can find them? Only a couple of used ones on Ebay, and the prices are just okay for used. I haven't seen any used ones in a store.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

Try Craigslist.

 

[cadred]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

Try Craigslist.

I've had my eye out for a few days, so far only one other person with a WTB, but CL seems to be feast or famine.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

I still think they're worth it at the new prices, in case you don't find a used one that suits you.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

id go the blues cos it has a 12 inch speaker. swap the crappy fender one out and you have an amp that punches way above its weight. Reverb and master volume add to its charm. Yes the pro has a simpler circuit which is good, but id trade that for reverb and a 12 inch speaker any day.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

I personally liked the Pro Junior more... but whatever.

 

[cadred]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

I personally liked the Pro Junior more... but whatever.

Can you elaborate on you liked more about the Pro Junior?

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

I liked the overall tone of the overdrive and clean better than the blues jr. I also liked the fact that it was simpler but the blues was probably more versatile. So many people already had you pushed towards the blues jr. I didn't think there was a point in elaborating.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

I personally liked the Pro Junior more... but whatever.

. . . same here mate


I had a Blues Jr for 5 years.
During that time, i felt the dirt tone was EXTREMELY generic (read : boring), the reverb was lifeless (compared to a Deluxe Reverb), and the effectiveness of the tone controll's sweep was not that great (compared to a Vox AC15).

Now, a Pro Jr. that lil amp had TONE !


YMMV

 

[Aceman]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

Neither is terribly flexible by today's standards. But the Pro is a Zen amp. Plug vol bright/dark go! I think the tone is awesome. It loves the boxes I use with it (Drive-O-Matic, Tremodillo, Holy Grail). You don't buy these things for bells, wistles and in/out/arounds.

But if you want to do any serious tone tweeking, or play with any EQ options, etc...Blues is the way to go. Just all around more useful amp. You need to be pretty happy with that one sound and do the rest with a pedal or a guitar swap with the Pro. It has one volume level - on!

Personally, I'm never getting rid of my Pro. I'd buy a Blues to go along side it.

 

[cadred]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

Thanks guys. I think I'm going with a Blues Jr. Not because the Pro Jr is not awesome (it is), but because I like the flexibility to turn down the Blues Jr and use it as a practice amp.

Also I like the sparkle of the Blues Jr's clean tones, even if the higher gain is a little sloppier than the Pro. Now the question is which Blues Jr to get


(actually I think I'm just going to get the Blues Jr III)

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

Proguitarshop has a special version that only ther sell. Comes stock with an Eminence Cannabis Rex speaker and PGS's choice of speakers. Definitely worth looking into.

 

[cadred]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

Proguitarshop has a special version that only ther sell. Comes stock with an Eminence Cannabis Rex speaker and PGS's choice of speakers. Definitely worth looking into.

I think every shop in america has their own version. I personally listened to a Pre III and a Limited Edition Blonde in a guitar shop this weekend. The Pre III sounded great, but I didn't care for the LE version at all.

Forgive my ignorance, but what are the defining characteristics of the Cannabis Rex speaker?

 

[phil_104]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

Just last month, I acquired a BluesJr limited edition, which has a few differences to it, that make all the difference in the world. I think I paid 50$ more. According to the manual that comes with it, it's a version III (obviously, by the black plate on top, and inverted number. The manual also says something about a mod in the high end circuit; didn't really look into that.

The big difference would be the speaker; I believe it has a Jensen C12N. HUGE improvement over the stock speaker, when it comes to the high end response (this might be in combination with the mod I didn't look into, lol), but mostly in the overdrive tone. Little more low end punch, little more pleasant high end.

Oh, and it's also brown, with a wheat grillcloth. Sharp looking, very oldschool. Anyways, it's my main gigging amp. Be prepared to put a good distortion in front of it though. I'm actually looking into that this week. Good news is, it does take pedals very well.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

Just last month, I acquired a BluesJr limited edition, which has a few differences to it, that make all the difference in the world. I think I paid 50$ more. According to the manual that comes with it, it's a version III (obviously, by the black plate on top, and inverted number. The manual also says something about a mod in the high end circuit; didn't really look into that.

The big difference would be the speaker; I believe it has a Jensen C12N. HUGE improvement over the stock speaker, when it comes to the high end response (this might be in combination with the mod I didn't look into, lol), but mostly in the overdrive tone. Little more low end punch, little more pleasant high end.

Oh, and it's also brown, with a wheat grillcloth. Sharp looking, very oldschool. Anyways, it's my main gigging amp. Be prepared to put a good distortion in front of it though. I'm actually looking into that this week. Good news is, it does take pedals very well.

Cheers,
Phil

Yep a c12n is a big improvement. Pretty much anything is a big improvement over the fender/emi speaker. A good speaker transforms the BJ into a really good amp. I swapped a c12n into mine, then later (unusual i guess) it ended up with a celestion g12t75.

 

[cadred]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

Yep a c12n is a big improvement. Pretty much anything is a big improvement over the fender/emi speaker. A good speaker transforms the BJ into a really good amp. I swapped a c12n into mine, then later (unusual i guess) it ended up with a celestion g12t75.

So far I've seen the following Blues Jr III variations

Standard w Lightning Bolt speaker $499
Western LE w Lightning Bolt speaker $499
Blonde Top LE w Lightning Bolt speaker $549
Red October LE w Eminence Redcoat Wizard speaker $559
Humboldt Hot Rod w Eminence Cannabis Rex speaker $539

My understanding from reading Bill's page is that the III has a new Lightning Bolt speaker that is significantly better than previous models. Are any of the worth the extra $$ over the new Lightning Bolt?

 

[phil_104]

Re: Can't Decide: Fender Pro Jr vs Blues Jr

So far I've seen the following Blues Jr III variations

Standard w Lightning Bolt speaker $499
Western LE w Lightning Bolt speaker $499
Blonde Top LE w Lightning Bolt speaker $549
Red October LE w Eminence Redcoat Wizard speaker $559
Humboldt Hot Rod w Eminence Cannabis Rex speaker $539

My understanding from reading Bill's page is that the III has a new Lightning Bolt speaker that is significantly better than previous models. Are any of the worth the extra $$ over the new Lightning Bolt?

Like I mentioned previously, the one I have with the Jensen C12N, when compared to other III series BJr, is a significant improvement. I could see the Cannabis Rex sounding wicked in that amp.