Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

Chas

New member
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Hot-Rod-Blues-Junior-NOS-1x12-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=483711

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Anyone have one of these? Do you like? Don't like the particle board thing for that price $580, but I needs me a Fender Amp.
 
Re: Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

Since it is the same amp as the tolex version (yeah, okay; $2.50 worth of tweed, upgraded speaker, 'premium' GT tubes, yadda yadda whatever) why not just buy a used tolex one for 1/2 the money? If you really want to blow 600 bucks, go find a Traynor YGM-1 and be happy...
 
Re: Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

Thanks ES - I read a bunch of reviews with people raving about this version but i trust the forum bro's opinion more than BS on MF or whatev. Very pricey for sure. Can't find a store with one to try it out in my area.
 
Re: Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

I'm having a hard time digesting the newer prices on Blues Juniors!

Although admittedly, it was several years ago, I think I paid $279 or $329 for my blonde one.

The main upgrade I see on this NOS one, as far as tone, is the speaker. I've used a Jensen C12N RI in mine, and they sound great ... but still .... $600!!!!????
 
Re: Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

I'm having a hard time digesting the newer prices on Blues Juniors!

Although admittedly, it was several years ago, I think I paid $279 or $329 for my blonde one.

The main upgrade I see on this NOS one, as far as tone, is the speaker. I've used a Jensen C12N RI in mine, and they sound great ... but still .... $600!!!!????

What he said.
 
Re: Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

i love the look but the p12r speaker they put in isnt really a good choice. its probably better than the sotck one but a p12n or p12q would have been better. warmer and deeper sounding

i would find a used one and use the money you save to upgrade the speaker and tubes.
 
Re: Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

I got one of those NOS Blues Juniors when they first shipped, and I'm pretty happy with it (use it a lot). As far as differences between it and the regular one, it's mostly just an appearance thing, since one could easily swap out the speaker and tubes and end up with the same thing, tone-wise. The Jensen does sound better to my ears, but I run it through a 2x12 cab anyway, so I don't use the internal one anymore.
If you're planning on swapping out tubes and speaker anyway, you could save $$ by getting the normal version. If you weren't, and wanted a slightly-better sounding amp out of the box, get the NOS.
 
Re: Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

Thx RLee - I need to find one in a store to hear it for myself - Probably going to scan eBay or CL for a used one. I take all my amps apart anyway, remove the back, swap tubes etc. How much clean headroom do those have? I also am hearing at 15 watts they are not as loud as one would expect.
 
Re: Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

I have a blues jnr that ive modded a bunch and its now my main amp. I will second the opinions here about just getting a used standard one. Its a pretty good amp stock and its a killer little amp when its modded a tiny bit.

unless you love the way it looks, dont pay the extra money for the hot rod version
 
Re: Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

I also am hearing at 15 watts they are not as loud as one would expect.
15 watts can be fairly loud ... it just depends on the situation

the limiting factors for some would be the "boxy" sound of the small cab, the clean headroom (depending on the speaker), and the frequency response that's usually just part of any small amp

that said, it's about my most used amp at home
 
Re: Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

unless you love the way it looks, dont pay the extra money for the hot rod version

+1

An I mean really, $600 for a BJ?
I love BJ's as much as the next guy, Don't get me wrong...I'm a huge fan of getting BJ's...but you can get them WAY cheaper in china town......
But at the same time....I've never gotten a "hot rod" BJ, just normal BJ's...
 
Re: Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

Thx RLee - I need to find one in a store to hear it for myself - Probably going to scan eBay or CL for a used one. I take all my amps apart anyway, remove the back, swap tubes etc. How much clean headroom do those have? I also am hearing at 15 watts they are not as loud as one would expect.

the amp gets plenty loud. loud enough to play bar or small club gigs. jeremy (the admin) used to do it all the time. you might not get cleans at the highest volumes but you can retube it with the Eurotubes max headroom kit to coax some extra cleans out of it. Ive done that and i think it sounds great. I also switched out a resistor to cool the bias a little bit which i like, but a lot of folks are divided on it. Apart from that, ive added a new speaker and changed a few cap values across the tone pots.

I know that sounds like a lot of mods, but you could probably buy a used one, do all those mods and still save money over the new hot rodded one.
 
Re: Hot Rod BJ NOS Anyone?

+1

An I mean really, $600 for a BJ?
I love BJ's as much as the next guy, Don't get me wrong...I'm a huge fan of getting BJ's...but you can get them WAY cheaper in china town......
But at the same time....I've never gotten a "hot rod" BJ, just normal BJ's...

Been married for 15 years, BJ's are a distant memory....

Def going with a used BJ, will swap out the speaker in time.
 
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