Worst Amp For Pedals? Nope. | Fender Blues Jr. | Master Your Tone Ep. 2 | Thomann
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- čas přidán 16. 07. 2024
- Some say that the Fender Blues Junior sounds bad with overdrive pedals. On the other hand it's one of the most beloved amps of all times. How can this be then? Let's check out the two Blues Jr. models and test them with different drive pedals. You'd be surprised...
Leave a comment below!
Gear used: tho.mn/tbvre
Recorded in Presonus Studio One: bit.ly/S1Pro6
Recorded and mixed with Universal Audio: tho.mn/uadx1
Monitors optimised through Sonarworks: tho.mn/sonar
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Introduction
0:46 How come it's not great with drive pedals?
1:15 The current Blues Jr. models
2:19 How to set them up
2:44 Playing | Volume and master settings
3:03 Which pedals do we test today
3:30 Playing | TS style
3:58 Playing | Blues Driver
4:20 Playing | Blues Breaker style pedal
4:40 Playing | Friedman BE-OD
5:07 The mightiest tool: EQ pedal
5:22 Playing | with and without EQ
5:42 My thoughts
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A lot of us home players have only got space/budget for one amp and we need to get a lot out of it. Would love to see a video or video series where you guys take a few of those all in one tube amps, like the H&K tubemeister/grandmeister, Marshall JVM, Blackstar HT series etc and find classic tones with them, with and without pedals, e.g. Country twang, blues, classic rock, modern metal, to really show the versatility and help people pick one that nails the styles they like.
Your videos are so informative and I think you guys could do the best job with this sort of subject!
Would love this too, trying to upgrade to a tube amp and can’t pick!
Love it Kris that you are giving your opinions here. Looking forward to checking out this series, great content!
This breakdown is fantastic. Thanks for the run through.
Huge thanks for this video! I was decided on the tweed and this shifted my thinking. Really useful
Awesome demo Kris. Thanks for the tips.
Blues jr is great if you play in a band - because there's a difference between playing on your own or within a band context. The Blues jr is great when what you really need is the mids to stand out and have your sonic space in the song.
Such a good point! 🙌 It's basically made for stage use and not to impress at home playing alone. //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses The way I see it, not necessarily at home and alone. If you're for example in a trio, say with a saxophone and a singer, you need all the bass you can get because there's no one there to fill that lower end space. So in that case I would suggest an amp with a bigger speaker. But in a live band with drums and bass, the first thing that the soundman is going to do is apply a hi-pass filter to the guitars, so in that case, with a Blues Jr, you would not have a slot of extra frequencies particularly on stage that are ultimately removed from the front of house/monitors mix anyway.
My point is that it depends on the type of use the amp is needed for, not just the sound itself. That's just my opinion though - I might be wrong.
This is why I don’t like my Blues Junior tbh. 99% of the time I’m playing by myself and practicing. I’m looking to get a different amp
Can it overpower drums?
@@octtrinittolavg I've never put the volume more than 5 with a drum kit - if the drums is mic'd, you can mic the amp as well.
this was really a great demo of the sounds, thank you. Interestingly, apart from the JHS, I preferred the tweed sound for all the others, there was such a good gritty bite, and a deeper tone on it, to my ears. Great tips, I think I'll be going for the tweed myself.
I'm glad for the opinions given here, gotta say it gave me the best info I've been wanting to know! This has been one of the most helpful videos I've ever watched on this Amp, thanks man!!!!
Thanks so much man, much appreciated! //Kris
Amazing comparison, exactly what I wanted to hear between each :)
Amazing video.This was so helpful
Blues jr lover here. Modded mine with BillM mods and never looked back. My amp takes pedals great and I get great tones from it. I also set my master on ten and the volume around 3ish. Also use a 12au7 preamp tube, more headroom due to less gain of the tube. Big difference to my ears. This all adds up to a really good amp.
Great video, thanks Kris.
I have the tweed version and found it fussy with drive pedals. Using the Keeley compressor as a boost actually sounded nice.
I run the bass at 0 as it flubs out when being driven with humbuckers. Treble around 3 and mids the same. With volume at 5-6 I get some breakup. If you can run the master even at 3-4 it opens up nicely. When I get back from holidays I’ll keep trying drive pedals with those settings.
Tips for settings - volume 12, fat switch off, treble 5, bass 6, middle 5, master 6, reverb 3.5. Nice versatile overdrive sound without any harshness, cleanup with guitar volume. I had a bias mod added to drop the fixed bias, to calm the amp down a bit and not burn through tubes so fast.
That’s loud 😂
I cranked mine for a few mins. Master on 12 and volume on 9. No pedals. Sounded full and open and backing off the guitar volume gave great cleanup.
But I can’t play that loud very often so I’m looking at a speaker that takes overdrive pedals better than the Jensen which can get muddy in the mids and harsh on the top end. Like there’s too much presence or something.
Do you know what the mod was for the bias?
Great video with great conclusions 👍🤓
I have owned a tweed Blues Jr for about 15 years. I believe it's the first Mexican made generation. I paired it with an original Catalinbread Formula 5, the two work together so well. A very overdriven Fender tweed tone. Thanks for this vid, I will checkout your channel for sure!
I’ve been using my blues jr and HX effects for quite a while now.
What I think the problem is, people over use effects. I’ve always just used them to ‘color’ an amp, not re-invent it.
I also put a Texas heat speaker in my tweed.
I have one that came with a 25 watt Greenback. Does pretty well with rock tones, and pedals in general. This was from the Blues Jr. III FSR run, "after the gold rush" or something. Not tweed, but looks close with gold tolex and a wheat grille.
I have the LTD tweed jr. LOVE it. I actually wanted to "upgrade" by buying a Marshall Mini Silver Jubiliee 2525c but ended up keeping the BJr because it sounds GREAT.
Great Interpretation of aerials 👍
Thanks David! //Kris
I have the Blues Jriii, (Limited Edition) Royal Blood 250 made? Essentially red tolex with a factory Celestion Greenback. The amp by itself sounds great. It also takes pedals well. From Tele to Strat to Les Paul it has great cleans and when it breaks sounds great to my ear.
My blues Jr is my favorite amp.
I have a vintage 64 Princeton among other fantastic amps as well.
My Blues Jnr IV with the Fromel mods and a Neo Li'l Texas speaker is an amazing pedal platform. Even my old Tweed Blues Jnr iii with Jensen took most all overdrive and fuzz pedals really well. A very pedal friendly amp.
Thanks for the info. I used a Blues Jr for 3 days. Sent it back due to not being what i wanted. I went with the Blues Duluxe in the end. Upgraded everything such as the caps, valves, speaker. It now sounds like a pro amp that i use for my blues stuff!
I have the tweed one and put s emenice swamp thing in. Sounds awesome
I have a Black made in Mexico. It's an MK 2 or MK 3. Had to replace the reverb tank. No other issues. This replaced a 65 twin, it was 2 loud. I love the sound with my Mexican Tele running classic 52 pickups, also my American Tele. Never used pedals. The Tele really suits this amp. My neighbours now talk to me again!
Great video … btw i have the Tweed version … the amp works great with a EVM12L, then it’s also loud enough for little gigs …
Awesome video. Never though about speakers in that way.
Can you organize, that you will make some "neutral" sounding amp like Revv D20, set it with pedals. And then show the differences and how to work with them with another type of speakers?
Like some vintage Celestion types (greenback or alnicos), modern Celestions (like Redbacks) and some American voiced (eminence, Jensens)?
Thanks a lot my dude! I'd love to make a video on different speakers in the same cab, it's just really hard to organise. I won't give up those and make it happen if possible. Might take a while though :D Cheers //Kris
Hi Kris,
I own a Fender Blues Junior USA 1997 and i run it with the volume on 5, treble on 5, mid on 5/6, bass on 12, master around 4 (sweetspot) and reverb around 6......
I don't use the "Fat" switch......
For pedals:
From guitar - Korg Pitchblack XS - Morley Classic Wah - Ibanez TS9 - Ibanez TS9 - Carl Martin Chorus X II - Ibanez AD9 - to amp......
If i need a more "hardrocky" sound i use a guitar with humbuckers and turn down the mid......
Same as with my Fender Hot Rod Deville USA 1996, both sound pretty simular, but the Junior is more suitable for smaller gigs......
But never have any sound issues with my Blues Junior......
Epic intro!!!
Thanks so much man! We love this intro too. It started out as a joke and we turned it into an epic joke. I mean... intro. 😂 Cheers buddy //Kris
Oh Kris, that intro is awesome - video too ;)
Thanks so much Andrew! Glad you like it. //Kris
Idk if Kris will be the one responding to comments, but im curious on how that Sire compares to a real Telecaster. I currently own a Player Series Tele and that thing out of the factory has way too many problems with it. I absolutely love the sound and the feel of the Tele, but not sure if i want to spend so much on getting it to play right, or if i should just look for a new one. We are talking cost of leveling and crowning frets, nut replacement, and set up. Plus i would still need to find a good luthier in my area first. Might be easier and cheaper to sell my Tele to replace it with another one. Despite the problems, its a guitar i instantly connected with, which makes this decision hard.
Can you make one with the Blackstar Artist 15 amp? I have had it for years, and maybe it’s just my pedals , but want a great hi gain sound, but yet it eludes me . Thanks. Good video, never had any fender amps
Thank you!
I thought the black one sounded great with the blues driver here. I have a pro junior, how close is it in sound compared to the blues junior?
Max the master and set gain/volume knob to the volume you want. This brings these little amps to life and it will take pedals great.
I have a Greenboard Blues Jr. with Bill M mods, a Celestion Greenback speaker and a Heyboer transformer, all recommended by Bill. My pedals include a Spark Boost and a Red Ecstasy mini, and they sound fantastic.
I have a Blues Junior Tweed modded with Eminence Cannabis Rex Speaker, & play a lot clean without pedals. Vol 3, Fat off, Treble 3, Bass 8, Middle 6, Master 10 - 12. I use the guitar volume a lot. But when I want something more, - Ibanez TS808, Boss BD-2, Tone City Golden Plexi, Boss CH-1 Super Chorus, Marshall EH-1 Delay, mix & match pedals for tone.
Never had issues with boosting my blues jr mk1, ive got a fulltone fulldrive v2 that sounds great going through it, my old bad monkey was great in it too! But then again thats a certified Klon Killer lol
These amps sound much better if you implement the Bill M audio mods. I think I did just about every mod available from Bill M and the amp sounds amazing for a small portable combo amp. The upgraded output transformer mod makes the amp 22 watts, which makes it possible to play the amp with a full live band.
These amps sound better using analog pedals. Wish he'd chime in on that.
Are there any differences between the two versions of the Blues Jr. other than the cosmetics and the factory-installed driver? Because frankly, neither of those drivers is very good, and I would immediately replace them, but if there are other changes to the circuit, then I'd like to know. My current Mesa/Boogie F-50 1x12 combo is very heavy for its size, and I'm looking for something smaller and cheaper that I could use for jam sessions, and the like. I would still be controlling my tone from my pedalboard, but the pedalboard I use for jam sessions is much smaller and simpler than the one I use for regular gigs.
There are tone differences in the circuits regarding the older US made Jr's versus the new versions. The tweed and tolex versions have the same circuit. It's the speaker difference you're hearing.
Kris, you can most likely make anything (even crap) sound at least okay :D
Love you're playing man!
I had the BJ IV but never loved it. I am, however, very happy with my Tone Master Deluxe Reverb
What do you think to use a Blackstar Dual HT overdrive? And is a Boss GT1 usefull?
just change the speaker to a vintage 30 and do the popular easy to do midrange mod and you will just love your JR again, cheers 🎸🎸
Noob question for the tweed version: could you not just turn down the treble/tones (to taste) on the tweed amp, the guitar, and on the pedals as well (to taste) to compensate?
I have a Tweed one with the Jensen C12N and it sounds really harsh with most drive pedals (bedroom settings with a Strat) like Blues Driver, ShredMaster, MXR BC108 Fuzz Face. I’m thinking of getting rid of it for that reason...
I would also recommend the Nobels odr-1 for the tweed version
cool!😊
The aerials medley was a nice treat 😋
Thanks dude, glad you recognised it. I changed it up a little, haha! //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses "a little" 😜... Nice job man, always enjoy your videos!
I have a Blues Jr V3 but, I modified it so it's a long ways from stock. I play it through a mesa 2-12 cab, It does great.
I have also modded mine with a ‘black face’ mod kit, more gain, negative feedback pot and a new speaker. Fantastic amps
@@kyledonworth3845 I did the twin mod so I got less gain, about 1/2. I did the presence, the tone stack mod, the EQ fix that splits the 3 band EQ into individual sections, the output power transformer, the cathode follower, and the power supply enhancement.
I also put the head in it's own cabinet.
I own a fsr tweed one. 2017. Jensen speaker. I find it kind of sharp in the top end so I have the eq with treble and mids at 4 and bass at 8. I've had the amp a few years and I feel the speaker has broke in some. I run it clean with input around 2 and master 3 or whatever loudness I want. For dirt I run my 2015 amptweaker tight metal jr in. It sounds great at bedroom levels. I probably would change the speaker to celestion gold alnico($299) for a fuller sound. I do have a bassbreaker 45 combo so I don't need to crank my bj
The tweed sounded fantastic.
Anyone use the tweed version with a multi effects pedal? I have this amp and considering a Nux MG-30 or Headrush MX-5 or something similar. I'm wondering how the amp plays with the effects in these digital modelers?
id like to see the AC30 version of this, since I have (and love) one!
Hi, where can I buy that decibel meter in your video?
Ok, so the BJ is not a good Platform. Which tube combo would you recommend?
I had a Blues Jr. Tweed and I couldn't get the sounds that I wanted, it was harsh, scratchy and the reverb was unpleasant. I decided to sell it and get a Princeton 68, best decision I've ever made, beautiful sparkly and warm tone, it's the perfect amp
I've enjoyed using pedals through the blues junior. But it took a while to dial it in.
Can you build a pub/bar gig-able pedal board that can work with a Fender deluxe reverb or twin, that can make hard rock, heavy blues and old metal tones for moments when you may have to borrow an amp or use a supplied amp that isn’t yours, and have all your tone come from pedals?
Sounds awesome man, love the idea! Let me write it down before I forget it. 😆 Cheers //Kris
Octavia>Boss OD3>Tweed Blues Jnr is the bomb. Try it.
Dial the treble down to 2 and turn the reverb off. Use a reverb pedal and/or analog delay. Tonal goodness!
wish u compared it with humbucking pickups since the tele single coils are too chimy to start with.
Are the circuits on these two Blues Juniors also different or is it only the speaker and tolex? They sound incredibly far apart. A similar show on Vox AC-15/30 would be awesome as they're also famous for being picky with pedals
As far as I know the differences are the speaker and the tolex, otherwise the amps are the same. Thanks man, the AC15/30 episode will be made. Cheers //Kris
Opinions in the music world vary greatly. I have never heard of anyone suggesting that the Blues Jr doesn't take pedals well. Quite the opposite.
NEVER heard this. Any overdrive I've tried sounds great.
I agree that's the worst amp for pedals if you use a compressor with the paddle it seems to help and back down the volume I sure hope you know which pedals to use cuz I would love to see
Yeah I'd like to see it used with analog pedals vs digital. Huge difference.
Too much treble mostly with the Tele, Sire? My American deluxe sounds great through my 3 but I have to un notch the treble bleed. Great rock sounds. Try this 4 with a plim soul pedal, fat and awesome.
Great Sounding Amp. I actually liked the tweed a bit better, personally..
Wicked video, AC15 or AC30, yes please!
Cheers Craig! //Kris
a great example how different speakers can transformer an amp ,, The jensen has more 1 kHz and more 5Khz brightness. The Celestion A-type has more midrange around 600-700Hz and much darker above 3.5kHz.. I really like this guys videos. Informative and he has a great personality.
I saw another guy comparing a boss bd2, a boss sd1 and a boss od-3 with a fender deluxe reverb with the bright Jensen C12N.
It was obvious that the BD-2 with its scooped midrange and excessive top end is not a good match with that speaker.. (he had the tone knob around 11.30 o'colck) .. The 0D-3 was good at transforming the fender amp more to a marshall sound.. The SD1 worked best with the amp started to overdrive on its own a little.
I want tweed but with the A-Type speaker
Max the master . That’ s the key . All the brittleness is gone . Use the amp as a non master amp by crancking it . Volume about 3 or four and it loves the most pedals
Nice tele!! Is that a Sire Larry C?
Yessir! It's a great guitar. //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses Thanks
You do need to retube (matched tubes) he amp (Tweed) because the factory tubes pretty bad.
Take the tweed, put in a swamp Thang speaker and pair it with a tube screamer. Perfect
It's really good with pedals You just have to cut the treble bleed thingy off.
Yes, or for me I found have volume at least half way up so the treble bleed is not so pronounced. Master to suit desired level. Running low volume makes it too treble-y.
Jensen sounds much better! Got myself an Eminence C Rex for my Blues Jr. Sounds great.
7:11 Yes, freaking AC30 😂
7:12 Exactly this one! xD
I never thought this amp sounded bad with pedals. A friend has a standard and I have a Bill M modded one, wich is one of my fave amps of all time. Both sound great with my pedals.
Put a Celestion in the tweed….viola! 👍🏼😘
The tweed blues Jr. has a much smoother sound . The other one has a brittle harsh sound .
that's the C-3 disc capacitor...clip one leg of it, and the brittle brightness is gone!
Metal Guitarist : You cant play Aerials by SOAD on a blues junior..
Chris : Hold my beer...
Hahaha, rules are there to break them, right? 😅 Well, some of them at least. Thanks buddy! //Kris
I like reviews and comparison videos, but how many of us can make really informed decisions when we have limited budgets for our gear? I can’t, for example, justify owning 4 or 5 ODs, Delays, Dstrs, etc. Plus listening through earbuds on a phone. You get the picture. We can’t swap gear like baseball cards. There seems to be some classicism ($) here that can make me feel “out of the loop.”
Sounds like the Jensen is the culprit when a pedal doesn't work in the tweed. Which is why everyone needs one of each!
Tweed is absolutly warmer!
Small combos can work great for pedals. But not this one.... I sold mine for this very reason.
It did not like pedals at all.
Both of the amps are the same internally I thought
it hit 110 dB!
It's a loud amp if you crank it! 😅 //Kris
Je mehr info's desto besser, her damit 😂
Infos, frische Infos. Wer mag noch Infos? Einfach nehmen bitte, heute früh noch auf dem Baum, jetzt in Ihren Händen. Trauen Sie sich, nehmen Sie welche! 😂 //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses Lololoooool 😄👍🚀
How about don't use an amp at all? Go from signal processing direct into the board.
with the kasleder toxic twins, every amp sounds great.. well, almost - the fender hotrod ML couldn’t care less 🤬😅
All this time I thought the both Blues Jrs have the same sound 🤷🏿♂️
My blues jr won't grow up 😞
Get it? Eh?
Vox AC10 is much better for pedals IMHO.
The build quality of the new ones is atrocious though.
Boss ,sd1
The FIRST thing Blooz Jr owners should do is clip the leg(s) of the C-3 capacitor, that's what makes the amp so harsh-sounding. It's a small disc cap close to the input jack, and basically acts like a bright switch that's always on. Fender makes some really DUMB decisions. It will dramatically improve the amp tone, trust me.
I did this and it sounds muddy
Respectfully, I think your statement is bs.
it's a crappy modern circuit with a crappy speaker should be sold with ear plugs and a helmet. as a tube guy the blues jr used to be my worst enemy -the only tube amp that i couldn't fix using tubes, the piercing high mids were brutal whatever i tried...untill ive found a solution and it's much better than all those stupid mods, just get a vintage mullard i63 in v1 and press the fat switch and youre done! a better speaker would help as well the a type is horrible and made in china.
Want to sound great ? Get a decent sounding amp , spend you money on new strings , learn how to play better. In a live loud rock mix , nobody cares about your tone
... or whether you have new strings.