Should I get a Blues Junior?

[Matt42]

Due to my (semi)-recent breakup with my g/f, I'm currently tube amp less. For the past several years I've just been borrowing her '68 Bassman or '62 Champ for gigs. That's obviously not an option anymore. I was borrowing a friend's Delta Blues 2x10 since the breakup as he was out of town for work, but he got back a few weeks ago. The same friend has offered to sell me his Blues Junior, and I've been waffling back and forth on it. I will be buying a new amp this summer http://www.41stamplifiers.com/the-bayonet/ and since I'm working about 75 hours a week between two jobs right now, I'll have the money by early July at the latest. On the one hand, it'd be nice to have a decent backup, but on the other hand, the Bayonet blows a BJ out of the water. And it's not like the Bayonet is a 4x12 stack and I'll need a practice amp (it's actually really really light).

I'm leaning toward passing on it. I do want to have a second tube amp, but I'm leaning toward it being something larger (mostly for Pedal Steel), like a Lonestar, Mark V, Super Sonic Twin or 68 Custom Reissue Twin.

Edit::: I apologize for leaving out all the BJ puns that were possible in this post.

 

[skyydogg01]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

I would.

I mean, you need an amp right now. You're still planning on getting the bayonet (your link is bad, btw). It never hurts to have a spare/backup/something to leave at the jam room/etc. And look at it this way, the bayonet uses 6V6's, while the Jr uses EL84's. Gives you a different flavor when you want it.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

Short answer: yes

Long answer: it depends. I love the EL84 tone myself, but it's not for everybody. There are almost as good of new amps available for less money (than a new BJ) but since you have a buddy selling a used one it will be tough to find a similar amp with such a good price. Obviously you are in a good position to bring your guitars and try out the BJ for yourself. If you like how it feels, leave the money on the dresser. If not, no hard feelings.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

I don't really need an amp right this minute. The other guitarist in my band has a Vox Night Train combo that he uses for practice, but he gigs with a DeVille, so I could use the Night Train. I also have access to a Valve King Royal 8 (5w EL84 amp), it's my brother's but considering I gave it to him in the first place, I'm sure I could borrow it. I also have a Roland Cube 60 that I have gigged with many times, and has been my main practice amp for about a year.

I've actually played the BJ fairly extensively. It's never wowed me, but it's a solid amp. I'm just not sure it's what I'm looking for. I'm actually leaning towards a TA-15 as an EL84 amp (I do like EL84s).

I've mostly talked myself out of it at this point. I should be getting that 41st in about a month or so, which really just makes me want to hold out for that.

Here's a better link:

http://www.41stamplifiers.com/the-bayonet/

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

What kind of sound do you like? Are you looking for sparkling cleans, nice overdrive, heavy gain . . . ?

 

[skyydogg01]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

I don't really need an amp right this minute. The other guitarist in my band has a Vox Night Train combo that he uses for practice, but he gigs with a DeVille, so I could use the Night Train. I also have access to a Valve King Royal 8 (5w EL84 amp), it's my brother's but considering I gave it to him in the first place, I'm sure I could borrow it. I also have a Roland Cube 60 that I have gigged with many times, and has been my main practice amp for about a year.

I've actually played the BJ fairly extensively. It's never wowed me, but it's a solid amp. I'm just not sure it's what I'm looking for. I'm actually leaning towards a TA-15 as an EL84 amp (I do like EL84s).

I've mostly talked myself out of it at this point. I should be getting that 41st in about a month or so, which really just makes me want to hold out for that.

Here's a better link:

http://www.41stamplifiers.com/the-bayonet/

Well then, you should buy it anyway and send it to me. I'm actually GASing for one right now, but I need to sell some assets.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

nah. dont buy gear that you dont get inspired by.
Save up a little longer and get an amp that you really dig.

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

Unless you can get it for <$350 (and preferably $300) I'd pass. They're decent amps, but over-priced IMO and very meh with the stock cab and speaker. Mine has been converted to a head.

 

[autologic]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

I know I say this in every thread, but... Have you looked into Bugera? I tried a blues Jr. and one other hot rod series amp when I was looking earlier this year, but I decided to get the V22 instead based on reviews online. I absolutely love it. It feels more... Alive to me than any of the other amps I've tried. I'm sure the V55 would be better for gigging, but if you get a chance to try one, do it. I have already decided that my future is going to have a lot more Bugera amps in it, because they have some really great amps for really forgiving prices. If you get one, I would avoid the first generation amps and get the infinium model.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

What kind of sound do you like? Are you looking for sparkling cleans, nice overdrive, heavy gain . . . ?

My primary tone is either a bit of overdrive from the amp goosed with a pedal, or lots of overdrive from the amp and clean it up with the volume knob. That 41st Bayonet does both of those things very well.

nah. dont buy gear that you dont get inspired by.
Save up a little longer and get an amp that you really dig.

That's where I'm leaning really strongly. I don't think I'd be considering a BJ if weren't for the fact that my friend has one he's selling. That should probably tell me something, tbh. I'll be ordering that 41st as soon as my first set of double paychecks hit in a few weeks, so it's not like I'll be without a nice amp for too long.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

My primary tone is either a bit of overdrive from the amp goosed with a pedal, or lots of overdrive from the amp and clean it up with the volume knob. That 41st Bayonet does both of those things very well.



That's where I'm leaning really strongly. I don't think I'd be considering a BJ if weren't for the fact that my friend has one he's selling. That should probably tell me something, tbh. I'll be ordering that 41st as soon as my first set of double paychecks hit in a few weeks, so it's not like I'll be without a nice amp for too long.

If you can keep borrowing it then I would say ask nicely to do so. lol

I have a Modded Fender Hot Rod Deluxe that inspires my playing–if the amp is just a band-aid and doesn't inspire you then I would not buy it unless it was cheap enough to flip for the same price or a little more when you go to get the amp you really want.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

First off, never anything wrong with having a Blues Jr. (Pro Jr. fan/owner myself)

Second, should always have practice and a gigging amp

Finally, this whole borrowing the GF's amp is BS in so many ways, but we'll let that go for now.
*And the ask to borrow is not a bad temporary move

 

[Matt42]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

First off, never anything wrong with having a Blues Jr. (Pro Jr. fan/owner myself)

Second, should always have practice and a gigging amp

Finally, this whole borrowing the GF's amp is BS in so many ways, but we'll let that go for now.
*And the ask to borrow is not a bad temporary move

First, that was my impetus for considering it when he said he was thinking about selling it. It's not a stellar amp, but it's a solid little amp that works great in a pinch. And it's something that I wouldn't mind leaving at our practice house.

Second, I consider my Cube 60 to be my practice amp and backup amp. I wouldn't want to leave it at our jam house, just because it's what I use to practice pedal steel at home as well. But that being said, carrying a Cube 60 to the car isn't like loading a Twin or a half stack.

Third, I'm curious why you say it's BS? I mean, she has some killer amps, far better than anything I've owned recently. She's got a really good job, so she can actually afford to buy stuff when she sees something she wants. That all being said, it's moot since we broke up in February anyway and there's no way in **** I'm going to ask to borrow an amp now.

*Last, I think my solution for any electric gigs until I get the Bayonet in my hands will be to borrow our other guitarists Night Train.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

You're so close to getting what you really want, why spoil it now? Scrape by with the Roland or the Night Train for now and you'll have your good amp soon enough.

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

Haven't spent much time with one, but I know you can certainly do a lot worse!

 

[Diego]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

Just to bring a different perspective to the table...

Have you tried your lovely Cube 60 with a nice cabinet?
It punches way above it's weight when paired right. And it would be a cheaper solution to your issue.

The Cube is a bit flat and dead in the mids/high mids by itself. A good speaker does wonders for it.

 

[mplsbender]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

What year is amp?think in 2007 bj reverb was improved.What is conditon of tubes do they need replacing soon. If you did buy bj and say a year later you had some extra cash you could replace speaker with better one and then bj really a nice little amp and check out bj hotroded on google. WWW.steviesnacks.com he had one in his gear section and its a great amp

 

[Grenade]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

I say get it. I bought one Friday night for $225 and it's a great little amp. I used it last night just for my lap steel.

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

I say get it. I bought one Friday night for $225 and it's a great little amp. I used it last night just for my lap steel.

For that price, absolutely! But for over $300, NO.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Should I get a Blues Junior?

Just to bring a different perspective to the table...

Have you tried your lovely Cube 60 with a nice cabinet?
It punches way above it's weight when paired right. And it would be a cheaper solution to your issue.

The Cube is a bit flat and dead in the mids/high mids by itself. A good speaker does wonders for it.

I hadn't considered that option, but honestly it's not really what I'm after long term. I might end up buying a cab for it anyway, though, to try to improve it's capability as a pedal and lap steel amp. If I could get a bit more out of it, it would be a perfect amp for that until I can afford to get my Milkman Pedal Steel amp.