Have a hot rod blues junior that i never really liked the sound so one day i decided to turn the master volume all the way up and use the pre-amp volume for the main volume. WHAT A DIFFERENCE its not distorted but thick sounding like u took a blanket off the amp.Then i used an OCD for my drive and a memory man unbelievable sounded like a full stack marshall anyone else have this experience with this amp?
FENDER HOT ROD BLUES JUNIOR
- Thread starter raystone
- Start date
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: FENDER HOT ROD BLUES JUNIOR
Many amps with a volume and gain knob will sound really great this way!
I like to do this and wind the gain up past where I need it, and then start with the volume of the guitar low and then wind it up until I get a good crunch. The volume knob of the guitar (on most, not all guitars) shaves off a noticeable amount of treble, and this is the ticket IMO to really loving bright, vintage-output single coil pickups.
Very, very different sound from the old "preamp gain on 10, master on 3, all guitar knobs on 10" approach I started with back with my first few amps.
Many amps with a volume and gain knob will sound really great this way!
I like to do this and wind the gain up past where I need it, and then start with the volume of the guitar low and then wind it up until I get a good crunch. The volume knob of the guitar (on most, not all guitars) shaves off a noticeable amount of treble, and this is the ticket IMO to really loving bright, vintage-output single coil pickups.
Very, very different sound from the old "preamp gain on 10, master on 3, all guitar knobs on 10" approach I started with back with my first few amps.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: FENDER HOT ROD BLUES JUNIOR
wait till you try a better speaker...
wait till you try a better speaker...
IM4Tone
New member
Re: FENDER HOT ROD BLUES JUNIOR
^ Agreed...and even better yet with a bigger cabinet with a new speaker(s). Either an over-sized combo cabinet or use an extension cabinet. Major difference IMO!
Kac
Hootersologist
FENDER HOT ROD BLUES JUNIOR
I've had two different modded Blues Jrs. Both for a considerable amount of time considering how long I usually keep an amp. I'll probably get another one. Great Amps!
I've gigged with them in rock bands running them as a combo or using an extension cabinet. Never disappointed.
I've had two different modded Blues Jrs. Both for a considerable amount of time considering how long I usually keep an amp. I'll probably get another one. Great Amps!
I've gigged with them in rock bands running them as a combo or using an extension cabinet. Never disappointed.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: FENDER HOT ROD BLUES JUNIOR
If you're handy with a soldering iron, BillM mods are often worthwhile. He's made a career out of finding ways to make inexpensive Fenders perform like more expensive amps.
If you're handy with a soldering iron, BillM mods are often worthwhile. He's made a career out of finding ways to make inexpensive Fenders perform like more expensive amps.
IM4Tone
New member
Re: FENDER HOT ROD BLUES JUNIOR
By the time you add up all the mod and speaker change $$, you could have purchased the Blues Deluxe Reissue and had (IMO) a far better sounding 2 channel switching amp.
By the time you add up all the mod and speaker change $$, you could have purchased the Blues Deluxe Reissue and had (IMO) a far better sounding 2 channel switching amp.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: FENDER HOT ROD BLUES JUNIOR
To be fair, i only did the simple mods with tone caps etc. i never changed the transformers or anything large.
I think once you get to that stage, might as well look for a new amp with better iron and a better cabinet.
i did all those, then reverted back to stock...my 2c
To be fair, i only did the simple mods with tone caps etc. i never changed the transformers or anything large.
I think once you get to that stage, might as well look for a new amp with better iron and a better cabinet.
IM4Tone
New member
Re: FENDER HOT ROD BLUES JUNIOR
For sure, and I spell "different" in this case b-e-t-t-e-r (as in sound and value). It is more difficult to control volume-wise, however, if that's an issue to the user.
Re: FENDER HOT ROD BLUES JUNIOR
they also sound completely different. if i was looking for a 40w channel switcher id look else where and if i was looking for a big fender clean tone and didnt care about the channel switching, id also look else where. not bad amps and i know a few people with them who are very happy with them, just not my favorite.
they also sound completely different. if i was looking for a 40w channel switcher id look else where and if i was looking for a big fender clean tone and didnt care about the channel switching, id also look else where. not bad amps and i know a few people with them who are very happy with them, just not my favorite.
IM4Tone
New member
Re: FENDER HOT ROD BLUES JUNIOR
The point I was making was value for $$$ spent, including costs of any changes the person felt were necessary to get the sound/tone he liked. I own both the BJr. and the BDRI. I was meh about the BJr. until I converted it to a head and played it through a 2X12. The BDRI was very satisfying stock. Just feel the BJr. is too costly for what you get.
