Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

[Lewguitar]

I know nothing about them, other than that some players love the heck out of them. Which years are the most desireable? Some guys say to look for those with a green PC board rather than white. Thought I'd ask here first... Thanks, Lew

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

I know nothing about them, other than that some players love the heck out of them. Which years are the most desireable? Some guys say to look for those with a green PC board rather than white. Thought I'd ask here first... Thanks, Lew

Lew
Here's a link to a thread at the Fender Amp Forum about the cream vs. green pcb's in the amp.
http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&topic_number=409753
I'm almost considering one while I live in an apartment temporarily until I buy a new home, and wouldn't mind knowing more about the amp myself. I played one a few years back at a guitar store, and also played a DRRI next to it. Of course the DRRI overshadowed the BJ, but not too much as the BJ still had a nice Fender sound to it and broke up nicely at lower volumes.
I'll be checking this thread out to see what some other members chime in with.
....Bob

 

[seafoamer]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

I know it's not the BJ, but Gibson is now making a little point to point wired amp that just looks bad as$. Forget the model #, but I'm sure it's easy to find.

 

[sweet_lou]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

Check with Curly he has one

 

[Curly]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

I have a blonde B Jr I got a few years ago from MF.
I think mine has a green board. I think newer one's have a cream colored board and are assembled in Mexico.

I did what the folks on the FDP forum recommend - changed the speaker and tubes. JJ power tubes, and an NOS GE in V1. Jensen C12N RI speaker. Mine sounds great, and it's my everyday amp.

As for what years are good, that's a question for the FDP forum.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

There really aren't any "bad" years for the Blues Junior, they've primarily kept the same design. Most problems folks have with them have been consistent throughout the run of the amps so far. The green boards are a little darker sounding and the white ones a little brighter. Some folks prefer one over the other.

I bought one as a project about 6 months ago; the reverb didn't work on it and I figured it'd be fun to tork around with. Once I got the reverb working I did a bunch of the mods that the user Billm on the Fender Forum site had put out there and it immediately became my number one amp. It's a goofy little tone monster.

Yesterday my drummer stated that my tone has consistently been better with that amp than a guitarist in another band who has gone throung a ton of amps since they've been playing together.

 

[sweet_lou]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

Just remembered. The one I hade was made in Mexico and had a green board.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

Thanks Guys! I've just been hearing so many good things about these I thought I'd ask. I see them on Ebay for under $300. But if I already have a couple of vintage Deluxe Reverbs and a couple of late 50's tweed Deluxes, would there be any reason to own a Blues Junior? Curly, do you prefer your Blues to your 5E3 Deluxe??? Lew

 

[Curly]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

Curly, do you prefer your Blues to your 5E3 Deluxe???

Lew,
my tweed Deluxe is richer, harmonically. It's not as loud, and it's a little noisy.

the B Jr has a full tone stack, and it's a little more versatile tone wise. I use it for a lot of my clips to be consistent, and because I think fewer people have tweed amps to relate to for a reference. It's more gig worthy, but it would be nice to have a line out. Great recording amps.

there are a lot of fans of the Pro Junior, too. It has a more simple circuit, just volume and tone, so it's in the tradition of a Champ.

I went with the B Jr for the reverb, and the 12" speaker.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

the little gibson thing is a 5w class a thing that isnt worth the money, it sound ok but not that great, kinda ratty. maybe it was the tubes, but for $450 or what ever it was selling for, i thought it sucked.

i have an old green board jr with a greenback and i love it, so does everyone who plays thru it.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

But if I already have a couple of vintage Deluxe Reverbs and a couple of late 50's tweed Deluxes, would there be any reason to own a Blues Junior?

Tonally they're different beasts. Granted the Billm mods made mine a little more Blackface than it was previously....

The Blues Jr. is a Master Volume amp. The ability to crank it in a small area and not take heads off is desirable to alot of folks. I like the versatility of it that way. It goes pretty well from the bedroom to some mid-sized gigs and probably bigger if you've got a good PA working for you.

They're weird wonderful little beasts that show up everywhere....

 

[Norman_T]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

Both of my BJ's have green boards and were made approx 2-3 years ago. I have changed the pre amp tubes to JJ's and also the speakers to Jensen and I love them. I use 2 of them for gigs and although I have other amps these are my main amps and do the job for me. The reverb is nothing to speak of but then I rarely go over 2 on them.

If you manage to get hold of one at a reasonable price then get it - it will serve you well and will cover most gigs and you will be able to sell it without any problems.

 

[hacker]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

I am a big fan of the blues junior also. They are making a relic version now-for about $100 more you get the tweed relic cover and a simply mind-blowingly sweet Jensen Alnico Speaker. Big improvement over a stock BJ. The stock speaker, IMO, needs to be changed.

The Gibson amp is a class A remake of their GA-5, and it didnt impress me either. I would rather have an old champ or a Kalamazoo model one.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

Cool little amps, Lew, but considering what you have, I'm not sure you need one.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

ive played a lot of small fenders. 6v6 vs. el84 quite a distinct tonal difference

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

I can't speak directly about the Blues Jr. but I have a Pro Jr., which is similar in many respects. I find the background hum that characterizes most of these amps objectionable, especially for recording -- all of my vintage amps from the 50'-70's are much quieter at idle, as is my 2003 Orange AD15/12. The PJ has been in and out of the shop for months to deal with unacceptable levels of hum. It seems to eat 12AX7 tubes at an alarming rate. The tone is very nice o/a, but can be a bit boxy -- a Princeton size cab is a much better fit for a 10" speaker IMO, let alone a 12".

All in all, for $300-400 or so (new) the Jr's aren't bad, but there are far better buys in low-power vintage amps (e.g., silverface Fenders, tweed and blonde Gibsons) for about the same money. The Orange AD15 (now discontinued) blows it away, albeit at about 3 times the price, but so does the Traynor YCV-20 for only about $100 more. If your tweeds are repros that you don't mind taking out of the house, then I doubt that you would find much use for the Jrs.

 

[Pepi]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

I know nothing about them, other than that some players love the heck out of them. Which years are the most desireable? Some guys say to look for those with a green PC board rather than white. Thought I'd ask here first... Thanks, Lew

Hi Lew:

Check this webpage out http://mywebpages.comcast.net/machrone/bjrinfo.htm I don't see where anyone else posted this. BTW. I'll trade you a BJ for that old Fender you bought on Ebay the other day

 

[easyman]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

[If you manage to get hold of one at a reasonable price then get it - it will serve you well and will cover most gigs and you will be able to sell it without any problems.[/QUOTE]
What years exactly old is for you ? :evil:

 

[jeremy]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

my jr is not any more nosiy than any other tube amp i own, sure when its dimed its louder but so is my marshall and my bassman but those are way to loud for most clubs. with the right tubes and speaker they are a great little amp. i got mine for $225, the greenback was about $75 and maybe $50 for tubes. ive had to fix the reverb a few times but its plenty roadworthy now

 

[easyman]

Re: Need info on Fender Blues Junior Amps....

I know nothing about them, other than that some players love the heck out of them. Which years are the most desireable? Some guys say to look for those with a green PC board rather than white. Thought I'd ask here first... Thanks, Lew

Hi Lew, I do not know the juniors, but am gathering infos
on small Wattage tube amps cause I would like to by one soon. :scratchch

Here is post I kept from this forum:

BlueSnMettle, « guitar shop/ « Fender Blues Junior ?”
I agree with the tweedster. I replaced the original speaker for a V30 & slapped some matched up JJ tubes & the little bugger just kicks it. Add a SpinaModded TS-9 on top of that and I'm ready to go. Curly/Gary is right, check out all the info on Fender forum about it. People have different views on replacement speakers and tubes, but if you do you research and find similar views with another "Blueser", you're gonna love the results. Great little amp! Good luck!

Thank Lew for your answer on Keith Richards tele pickups.
Easyman :wave: