NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

[treyhaislip]

NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

My Fender Strat with Fat 50s loves my Hot Rod Deluxe but my Warmoth with Phat Cat-n and Pearly Gates-b have not really jived with it. Found this amp on Craigslist and couldn't be happier! Its a Fender Blues Jr. with an Eminence Cannabis Rex and JJ Tubes. I basiclly keep the Fat switch on and all times. Really a great great little amp! Not as powerful as my Hot Rod Deluxe and my Warmoth just loves this thing!

Thoughts on the Blues Jr.? Any mods y'all do? I've read the Cannabis Rex is a good speaker to upgrade to.

View attachment 69467
View attachment 69468
View attachment 69469

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

CONGRTAZ on the new amp !

Bill M is pretty much the go-to guy for Blues Jr mods.

http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=2

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

CONGRTAZ on the new amp !

Bill M is pretty much the go-to guy for Blues Jr mods.

http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=2

Thanks!

I had looked at his MODs before buying one, I see he just added a Standby Switch–will need to get that ASAP! (was very surprised this amp did not come with one)

 

[skyydogg01]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

I've read that the Cannabis Rex is the "Go-To" speaker for this amp. Congrats on the new amp.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

I've read that the Cannabis Rex is the "Go-To" speaker for this amp. Congrats on the new amp.

Thanks! That is what I read, was glad to find this one with it already upgraded!

Thanks again!

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Nice Grab!


Cool that it's got a closed back,too,tho it looks like it's got a removable baffle?

'Grats!

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Nice Grab!


Cool that it's got a closed back,too,tho it looks like it's got a removable baffle?

'Grats!

Its funny you mentioned the baffle, I've read where people replaced it with 3/8 Plywood to get rid of the small box tone...I wonder how it would sound in a Hot Rod Deluxe box.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Thanks!

I had looked at his MODs before buying one, I see he just added a Standby Switch–will need to get that ASAP! (was very surprised this amp did not come with one)

It's a cheap amp.... Standby technically is only needed with solid state rectification. A tube rectifier's slow startup protects the other tubes.

I've wanted to buy a Blues Jr. To do mods on for quite some time. It should be fun! From what I've read, the are two schools of thought regarding the tonal improvements. One is that the speaker will get you most of the improvement, the other school (BillM) is that the tone stack mods will get you most of the improvement, and the speaker is the icing on the cake.

Since I have no direct experience and love to tinker, I'd suggest the full battery of BillM mods.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

It's a cheap amp.... Standby technically is only needed with solid state rectification. A tube rectifier's slow startup protects the other tubes.

I've wanted to buy a Blues Jr. To do mods on for quite some time. It should be fun! From what I've read, the are two schools of thought regarding the tonal improvements. One is that the speaker will get you most of the improvement, the other school (BillM) is that the tone stack mods will get you most of the improvement, and the speaker is the icing on the cake.

Since I have no direct experience and love to tinker, I'd suggest the full battery of BillM mods.

That is very interesting, I always though of the Standby switch as helpful for saving tube life and was good to have when you turn the amp on and off.

I definitely plan on the BillM mods but will take it to a local amp shop (Acorn Amps) to look over, they did an awesome job bringing my old beat up Hot Rod Deluxe back to life! No bench fee too, they rock!

I am really digging the tone of this little amp, but I cn understand why some guys think it sounds too small for the amount of amp...a tiny box for a 1x12!

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Congrats! Nice amp! They are so pedal friendly.. That is the best part about them. You have a great starting point.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Congrats! Nice amp! They are so pedal friendly.. That is the best part about them. You have a great starting point.

Thanks! Definitely agree on being pedal friendly! Right now I'm really enjoying the Swell G-Drive through this amp–great combo!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

CREX and jjs are the best things you can do for that amp.
Don't worry about tone stack mods you mentioned. I've done them, and then reversed them.
You could go upgrading the transformers, but honestly that is too much investment into what is essentially a cheap amp in an MDF cabinet.
Just enjoy it as it is, it is a cool and useable gigging amp.

 

[jeremy]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

right. the guy put a great speaker and good tubes in it. play it the way it is and enjoy it for what it is. i used a blues jr as my main small gigging amp for years and it was awesome. i did mod it a little but its totally unnecessary

 

[Demanic]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

I have a C-Rex in a closed back cab being pushed by a 5 watt Picovalve and it sounds great. I have to believe that the Fender you have sounds just fine.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

CREX and jjs are the best things you can do for that amp.
Don't worry about tone stack mods you mentioned. I've done them, and then reversed them.
You could go upgrading the transformers, but honestly that is too much investment into what is essentially a cheap amp in an MDF cabinet.
Just enjoy it as it is, it is a cool and useable gigging amp.

right. the guy put a great speaker and good tubes in it. play it the way it is and enjoy it for what it is. i used a blues jr as my main small gigging amp for years and it was awesome. i did mod it a little but its totally unnecessary

I have a C-Rex in a closed back cab being pushed by a 5 watt Picovalve and it sounds great. I have to believe that the Fender you have sounds just fine.

Thank you all for the advice! It definitely is a great little amp! Different dynamic than my Hot Rod Deluxe and definitely deserves (IMO) the Blues in Blues Jr.!

I played one unmodded at Guitar Center before getting this one and I think new they are priced a bit on the high side but on the used market even unmodded I think these are great little amps.

I probably will still have it modded as I can't help but tinker with stuff/try different things but even if I don't the C-Rex and JJs are the main mods I was planning on doing when I got one and thankfully it is already done. Great great amp, I would highly recommend one!

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Its funny you mentioned the baffle, I've read where people replaced it with 3/8 Plywood to get rid of the small box tone...I wonder how it would sound in a Hot Rod Deluxe box.

My story of my Blues Jr. is that I bought it around 10 yrs. ago. Thought it was great, initially, but when the honeymoon period was over, it was just so so. It sat for a while, then I decided to sell it. No takers for $300 and I refused to 'give' it away. It sat some more. Then I read about the stock speaker's shortcomings and being compounded by the small cabinet. By this time I had acquired several (3) 2X12 8 ohm cabs, and decided to try the amp without the internal speaker output to the various 2X12's. WOW! What a difference. Tried a second time to sell it with no results, so I converted it to a head (Cab by Peter Mathers in Nashville). Cost was around $250 with shipping.

I have since replaced the white Fender decal with an official Fender badgeplate purchased off ebay.
I really think the Blues Jr. is over-priced new; their resale value is poor; and they can be a sink hole to throw money into by modifying. In my case, I already owned one I couldn't sell for any reasonable price, and it wasn't being used, so the head cab gave me something that now gives me excellent sound with quality 2X12 cabs. I wouldn't have planned it this way, and still think the Billm and others mods are throwing money at a problem that is cured with better speaker(s) and a bigger cab.

I'm guessing the HRDlx sized cab with your C-Rex will sound very very good with no need for anything more.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

My story of my Blues Jr. is that I bought it around 10 yrs. ago. Thought it was great, initially, but when the honeymoon period was over, it was just so so. It sat for a while, then I decided to sell it. No takers for $300 and I refused to 'give' it away. It sat some more. Then I read about the stock speaker's shortcomings and being compounded by the small cabinet. By this time I had acquired several (3) 2X12 8 ohm cabs, and decided to try the amp without the internal speaker output to the various 2X12's. WOW! What a difference. Tried a second time to sell it with no results, so I converted it to a head (Cab by Peter Mathers in Nashville). Cost was around $250 with shipping.

I have since replaced the white Fender decal with an official Fender badgeplate purchased off ebay.
I really think the Blues Jr. is over-priced new; their resale value is poor; and they can be a sink hole to throw money into by modifying. In my case, I already owned one I couldn't sell for any reasonable price, and it wasn't being used, so the head cab gave me something that now gives me excellent sound with quality 2X12 cabs. I wouldn't have planned it this way, and still think the Billm and others mods are throwing money at a problem that is cured with better speaker(s) and a bigger cab.

I'm guessing the HRDlx sized cab with your C-Rex will sound very very good with no need for anything more.

I've heard great things about making the Jr. into a head with incredible results!

I just love a 1x12 Combo...been using it ever since my second tube amp (had a Fender Deville 2x12 and then a Mesa DC-5) and haven't gone to another combo size. I am going to keep mine the way it is for right now...might look doing something similar to a HRD cabinet on down the road but for right now I really like it!

 

[Aceman]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Nothing but love for Blues Jr. And the Spesaker/tubes - much win!

Pro Jr. owner myself….GT/Weber Blue Back.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Nothing but love for Blues Jr. And the Spesaker/tubes - much win!

Pro Jr. owner myself….GT/Weber Blue Back.

Awesome to hear! I nearly went the Pro Jr. but really took to the Blues Jr.

This speaker and JJ combo is awesome! Turned the volume all the up and left the Master volume on 3 and what an awesome overdrive sound it gets! Really enjoying this amp right now!

Plus, it came with the amp cover. lol So I thought overall it was a good deal.

 

[johnthomas]

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Re: NAD – Fender Blues Jr.

Hi again treyhaislip,
A few quick notes about the new Fender Blues Jr amp...1 the rectifier IS solid state, so perhaps standby switch is a good mod. 2. While better than the Eminence stock "special design" speaker, I found the tweed Jr with a Jensen C12 to have a more defined tone than the C Rex. If you think about a speaker change, try a Jensen alnico, which is the best Jensen option. 3. Very cool, as is amp so most upgrades are icing on the cake. 4. The cab is mdf so a custom all pine cab from an aftermarket company is probably the best upgrade for a jr. Enjoy!

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk