I bought a tweed Blues Junior a few months ago, and have tried to love it but keep on coming back to the fact that it's not that good an amp. I have a SFDR to compare it with and it's nowhere near that in sound quality. I hadn't played it for a few weeks and today turned it on and it sounded like a blanket was covering it, muffled and lacking in dynamics of any kind. At louder volume ti's ok, but at home, ugh. I put in a Cannabis Rex when I bought it and a better preamp tube. It was shrill before that. I love the Fender sound...Is there an alternative at even twice the price? Is it worth it to buy a PR?
I bought a Pro Junior that had a Cannabis Rex in it. I couldn’t stand it. I had the same problem. It was like a blanket was over it. I put in a Jensen and loved it. I would try a different speaker.
Is that Jensen a P12R? If so it's Alnico, low Watt (15W), and will not take dirt well at all. I switched mine with a 90's G12T75 and it made a big difference for my style. RE: Alternative, I can't say much about that other than I took mine into a local Amp guy and he did some Mods that completely and effectively changed the BJ into a pretty nice amp that sounds entirely different than the original. If you haven't yet, check out BillM's BJ mods online. Mine are C4 mods but similar to BillM's.... a few different specs and brands involved.
I got C4 to mod mine too and completely different amp after. Also mine came with a v30 which sounded like crap pre mod, amazing post mod and I tried like 10
Different speakers as well.
You could modify your SFDR to sound similar to a PR...study the schematics and data sheets for both models and determine the changes that have the greatest change towards a PR...implement each mod, one at a time, then test the tone, allowing plenty of warm-up time for the power tubes. It may appear time consuming but it is the most accurate method...your ears are your prime discriminator.
If you want THE Fender tone, below 20W, buy a Princeton. Anything besides a Princeton, or a clone of it, will fall shy of your goal. The Blues Jr is a fine amp, for a different goal.
What are you not getting out of your DR that you’re trying to find elsewhere? I picked up a PRRI (65) as a smaller alternative to my late 60s 40-watt Fenders. I just find it feels weak compared to what I’m used to. I’ve modded it so it’s working as good as it can. Sounds way better through a 1x12 cab and I play it clean, so basically I’m better off with a DR or my big Bandmaster Reverb through a 1x12 cab.
Now, I did pick up a 15 watt Dr Z and it gave me something totally different that complements my Fenders really well.
But if you really want a PRRI, I’ll be moving mine along, but I don’t see how it would really help someone who already has a DR.
Nothing lacking in the DR..I guess my post was unclear. .I just want a second, smaller amp for other purposes and not feeling great about the Blues Junior.
I tried one and thought it was trash I told the one from long and McQuade that too. They where surprised. But as all ready stated I bet if you changed the speaker it be a good amp.
There's a black star artist 15 for sale still I think. I sold my blues junior for that amp. A lot more tweak ability, clean headroom and tighter bass. I've tried quite a few 15watt amps and I think that the artist 15 is honestly one of the best out there.
Makes me laugh that every thread on the Blues Junior is filled with awe as how good an amp it is. But it is also filled with as many post, if not more, about how there's always something that needs to be modified for it to sound good.
Not what I'd call a good amp. A good kit maybe ...
That's a fair point for sure. The whole mod thing worked out well for me both amp sound and price wise luckily. I do get why people wouldn't be happy with the amp though. Everyone has a different sound.
@TimH has a PRRI w/ 12" speaker up right now for $1K. I've had that same model and you cannot get a better Fender sound for the price IMO. The 12" makes all the difference...that speaker is also a C-Rex however.
UPDATE: @TimHhad that amp available. Already sold!
I ended up doing some of the Billm mods on my blues junior when I had one and it helped the sound quite a bit. I had a Jenson speaker in it and switched to a 70/80, either speaker sounded good with the mods. If your half decent with a soldering iron they're not too difficult but I will say Billm's website has been down for a bit now. It was active for a bit after he passed away but it looks like his son stopped running it because the site is down now.
I notice that the Blues Junior is fixed-bias. You could try cathode-bias on the output tubes...a common resistor with no bypassing and then try with a low value by-pass cap...you may like the tone, especially when you are pushing the output tubes.
I have a Traynor YGL1, Traynor YCV15, Traynor YGM3, and a 5E3 clone with a reverb/trem pedal. All less than 20 watts and all good alternatives to the Blues Jr.
Blues Junior seems to be the Honda Civic of guitar amps. Makes guitar sounds, great resale value, lots of aftermarket accessories. Makes me wonder if anyone buys them because they like the sound? (Disclaimer - I've never played one)
Not to quibble, but less than twice as much, unless you're referring to 70s model. But you're right in suggesting you get what you pay for.
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