I've got Pro Junior GAS

[ratherdashing]

There's something about these tiny Fenders that really turns my crank. Portable size, stark simplicity, output that doesn't make my ears bleed, and damn cool looking. Not to mention cheap as dirt for a quality all tube combo.

I am surprised at the pro players (including Bonnie Raitt) who use these little guys quite often. I have also noticed there are a lot of mods out there for it, which is pretty cool.

What are your thoughts? Talk me into/out of buying one!

 

[Rushfan2112]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

I'd say go for it. I would have bought one, but I love reverb, so I grabbed a Blues Junior. But when I played it, it was excellent!

 

[J Moose]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

What are your thoughts? Talk me into/out of buying one!

I've got a blonde one that matches my '60s Bandmaster...I dig it a lot.

They're pretty dirty sounding & can be really dark...maybe too much at times even with 'tone' on "12" but a mod or two (even a speaker) might clear that up. They're REALLY loud too...I use mine with a Power Break for practice & things that require a lower volume. It's not really a 'practice' amp without the Break & not quite loud enough to gig with unless you stick a mic on it and go through the PA...but it's IDEAL for that stuff.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

Cool. Anyone ever tried hooking one up to an extension cab?

 

[J Moose]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

Yup.

Gets a little louder.

If the drummer isn't taking totally insane monkey swings at the kit you MIGHT have enough volume to gig small spaces as long as you don't need ANYTHING that approaches a clean tone.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

Consider the Gibson GA5, the sounds out of that amp are much more alive and thicker than the Pro JR's tone IMO. Dont need a speaker change, pretty loud too. Takes pedals well too, I put a Fulltone OCD as a solo boost in front of it and just to drive the tubes when I want a very midrangy nasty rhythm crunch! Amp is a natural companion to a LP too, but sounds very clean with teles and has a very creamy driven sound with P-90s.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

The one big drawback to the GA5 is that it costs twice as much as the Pro Junior. I'm not convinced it's twice the amp that the PJ is. A speaker change and a pair of JJ tubes would be less than $100 anyway.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

Cool. Anyone ever tried hooking one up to an extension cab?

It gets alot louder through my V30 Marshall 4x12 cab....Sounds very British sounding also....I have the first series 1997 Blonde PJ made by Bruce Zinky....Great amp!

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

Is there any difference circuit-wise between the blonde PJ and the current black & silver model, or is it basically the same?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

Is there any difference circuit-wise between the blonde PJ and the current black & silver model, or is it basically the same?

It's the same circuit....Bought mine off a buddy that worked at Sam Ash in 97 for $175 and have decided never to sell it....I also had a tweed PJ but that one I did sell...I Used to run them in stereo with a Digitech GSP 2101 Artist Preamp/Processor and got some great tones at smaller clubs..

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

That's good news about the Digitech -> PJ setup John! I have a similar idea involving my Pod XT. It's a scalable setup. Check it out:

Rehearsal or small gig: Guitar -> Pod XT -> single Pro Junior

Small/Medium gig: Guitar -> Pod XT => two Pro Juniors in stereo

Medium/Large gig: Guitar -> Pod XT => two Pro Juniors in stereo => stereo 2x12 or 4x12 cab

and in the unlikely event I get an outdoor or really large gig:
Guitar -> Pod XT => two Pro Juniors => two attenuators => solid state power amp => two 2x12 or 4x12 cabs

Of course, this all hinges on the Pro Junior sounding good with the Pod in front of it. Back when I was looking into amplifying my Pod, I never really experimented with small tube amps, so I'm going to give it a try on the weekend.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

O yea, i forgot about price, I got my GA5 for only $450 and I wouldnt have gotten it if I didnt get that deal.

I actually like the Blues Junior a lot if it helps. The reverb on it was good and the master volume was a good addition.

 

[J Moose]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

Of course, this all hinges on the Pro Junior sounding good with the Pod in front of it. Back when I was looking into amplifying my Pod, I never really experimented with small tube amps, so I'm going to give it a try on the weekend.

Good luck with that.

I got my Blonde PJ from a guy who tried that & his opinion it didn't work too well because the PJ gets SOOO dirty so quickly. I've never tried it, don't own a POD...but I can see/hear some of what he's talking about. If thats the plan you might be better off tracking down a pair of silverface Princetons or something of that ilk.

I could see running a pair of 'em off a regular old chorus pedal or something though. I've mixed Larry Mitchell & his band in a few small clubs (100-200 people) and he was running (this was a few years ago) a pair of PJ's that were split by stompboxes and that pair of amps with microphones on 'em is just about enough for a room that size. Two Jr's pushing a pair of 2x12's should be enough for most things! If you need MORE volume at an outdoor show you can always get it coming back to you in the monitors...I prefer that anyway...the sweetspot is bigger.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

Yes the PJ isn't really about headroom as much as the small amp "grind"....At about 4 on the volume,this amp starts getting some teeth...But it's a pretty loud amp even at this volume for a 15 watter.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

Yes the PJ isn't really about headroom as much as the small amp "grind"....At about 4 on the volume,this amp starts getting some teeth...But it's a pretty loud amp even at this volume for a 15 watter.

I guess it depends on what the actual SPL volume of the thing is before it starts to break up. I have a feeling it may actually be loud enough at low volume for what I need - especially if I use two.

The alternative for me is an Atomic Reactor 112 (which I used to own), and even it started to break up a bit with the output level on 7. For the price of the Atomic, I could get two new PJ's, or two used PJ's with new speakers and tubes.

We'll see how it works out. It all depends on the volume and the quality of the sound I get.

 

[J Moose]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

Yes the PJ isn't really about headroom as much as the small amp "grind"....At about 4 on the volume,this amp starts getting some teeth...But it's a pretty loud amp even at this volume for a 15 watter.

Yup.

At "2" the amp is off...between 0-2 is "clean" and beyond "4" there's nothing but dirt & dirt & even more dirt. I'd think you want something a fair bit cleaner if your using a POD as the front end...at least I would. Maybe a pair of PV Classic 20s or 30s; Princetons; AC15s...

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: I've got Pro Junior GAS

I'm also looking at the Roland JC-90. I'd only need one since it's a stereo amp, and plenty powerful to boot. And when it comes to clean headroom ... fuggedaboudit!

Again, I will need to hear it in action. I may love my Pod, but I'm still a tube amp guy at heart.