Fender Blues Junior (15 Watts of Valve Tone)
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- čas přidán 14. 06. 2020
- Fender Blues Junior (15 Watts of Valve Tone)
The Fender Blues Junior is a valve (or tube) amp and has been around for a long time, and it seems there's a good reason for that. It's supposed to be very good. There have been different versions of the JR, but they're pretty much the same amp, with some minor differences. The one I'm trying out is the lacquered tweed version. This is the first Fender valve (or tube, if you prefer) amp I've reviewed on the channel, which is nice. So let's see what it sounds like. Does it do the blues like a senior or junior? Does it sound good?
Enjoy!
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Awesome, Elmo! Really great job, and coincidentally, I made a Blues Junior Tone video for the Mustang GTX yesterday. AND ... I featured you in my Saturday Shoutout video this weekend. Keep up the great work!
@@SteveGuitar What's the Url may I ask? I want to watch..
Hoosier Daddy Thanks for asking! And you can check it out here: czcams.com/video/gQH0UTqEo6Q/video.html
Hoosier Daddy I just realized you may have been asking for the blues Junior video 😂. Here it is: czcams.com/video/U5OIoJ6i7UY/video.html I’ve got a fender clean video coming tomorrow too.
Thanks man :)
Excellent! Got this amp. It’s great and I love the old school look and sound. Love playing it with the master on max and volume low. Can see your Malmsteen influences! Thanks for the video.
Cheers!
I have several tube Amps including this one ' it's a good all around versatile Amp
I sometimes run it in stero along with my 65 Princeton or my AC-10 or ac-15 , haven't tried it yet in stero with my deluxe reverb or vibrorlux reverb.
You have one of the best videos on CZcams of this amp.
Your channel rocks man!
Great reviews and you are a killer guitarist!
Thank you very much Tommy :)
Dude, great demo! I don't even feel like I need to try it in person. I know what it can do now. Thanks!
Glad to help!
Great review again, and very funny. To me the sound with OD pedal is great and there is probably a known mod for adding an FX loop. I think I'm gonna get one 😁
Cheers :)
Have a Blues Jr 3 and I recently upgraded power tubes to 7189's and put in a Canabis Rex speaker . Way more head room , nicer top end can handle more bass. It's a nice amp and can do certain things...I also have and love a Dr Z Maz 18 jr (along with some other amps) and theres no comparison. I got a really good deal on this brand in 2013 and have gigged with it a lot....no complaints and no problems so far.
Got one in today. I love it!!
Cool!
Guitar skills are at another level
Cheers!
It’s really hard to tell how good it sounds on a CZcams video. The only thing that I can say for sure is that Elmo had got some chops!
At first, I thought Elmo was corny. Then I subscribed to his channel and realized his humor is funny and made sense to break the boredom of gear reviews. Haha. Cheers Elmo. I've been planning to buy the blues junior, just not quite convinced of it yet.
Thanks :)
Damn, I missed this one until now. I've had a Blues Junior Texas Red special for a out 13yrs now. It's a fantastic amp with a Vintage 30 or a Jensen C12N. The Volume is basically the "gain" knob for these amps. They're stupidly loud for 15w
Yeah, it was quite loud.
The different speaker Fender put in these make a huge difference . The Canabis Rex from what I’ve heard is the pick of the bunch 😀👍
this was awesome review man! thank u. Would love to see u compare this to other fender amps ..like princeton and deluxe reverb..while u havea decibel meter on...and inform the viewers about the loudness...which could help us decide what we should go for. I think thats what no other reviewers do, would be awesome!
Thanks! Sadly, I already sold the amp, as I can't afford to keep the gear I review (most of it anyway).
I have a BJr II and a custom deluxe reverb(the silver face model)-the DR's reverb is noisier, the amp is quiet without the reverb on, the BJr is the 2nd version and the reverb is quiet. The bigger cabinet has a better sound, the BJr II can be quieter and has the master volume, though you can do a lot with pedals(I run 3 delays, each on a different type, sometimes all, sometimes none , an OD for clean sustain, some times use two OD's) overall the DR has a better sound though cost double the BJr-I bought both used, both use a PC board, though DR has some higher quality parts. 15 vs 22 tube watts, for most bars, ect both can get plenty loud with bass, drums, keyboard, you can do hearing damage with both. I've used the BJr with another guitarist, bass, drums, I think I had the volume mid way maybe, though no one was going for volume wars.
I've got a Base Breaker 15 watt can cover everything but not as clean as the Blues so with those two you can do it all the way to high gain without a pedal . I love my Base Breaker as well never had a problem in the years of use, it cranks out to the moon.
Great amps. They sound great. Fender does cheap out on parts to save a buck dollar here and there. So a few upgrades are needed. Decent speaker, new Bias, input jack, voltage reset, recap of the capacitors. I bought my two 2nd hand to factor in the extra cost. Did it m, make a difference? Yep. I have two, did one at a time, i play in stereo. So i tested the one that had been modded against stock. The difference to my ears was night and day. It was so worth the effort, that i did my other Blues Jr.
Nice, I also modded mine recently. I‘ve bought a green board version from a Guy who purchased it ~20 years ago. Played maybe 20-50h. First set of tubes was still in.
What speaker did you put in? I am considering the WHS ET65. It fits in, is not so pricy and I read a lot of good stuff over it…
Yes, I'm still working on setting up.
amp great, playing great !
Cheers 😊
These can be great little amps, esp the later ones.
I bought an '06 'Diamond Series' out of the box and out the door for $400 since the floor model didn't work.
Should have looked to see if the spkr was plugged in ;)
Anyways, hss Strat and the amp sounded great.
At home, turn up the gain, set the vol low then sneeze on it and you're trying to turn it down. Needed a lower taper pot.
Still fun, though. Played my last gig the year before. I used to run the Jr with a Vox Pathfinder 15 R via a Behringer UC100.
Sounded good. I miss both amps.
Great video! I have an urge to buy it.👍
Cheers :)
A few months ago I tried the latest version of the blues junior in black. I'd say they've tamed that reverb a bit. Personally, I went for a new '68 Princeton, far better cleans than the Blues Jr and better reverb. At home I always use a pedal for crunch. I think they give a better tone at very low volumes.
Cool :)
Mixed bag was nailing it. Sounded much like my Hot Rod Deville I eventually sold. The speaker layout...yeah..(my Marshall Master Lead Combos from the 80s offset also) Blues Jr grt for classic and well...blues. On another note...I swear by my Fender red knob Champ12 from the 80s...has been modded and got the Cannibus Rex Ameriican Patriot speaker. Very pedal friendly and more modern sounding than some of Fenders other offerings...( plus one can easily get one for around 250 to 300 range used) Blues Jr an alright amp. Esp for one looking to hang w a not too heavy handed drummer.
I used to have a made in Mexico Fender Champ. Nice amp.
Does this guy know people use blues jr for jigging ? That's why they like them, small can do clean and good with pedals man .
Just fyi. I just found this vid on my YT timeline, and didn't get a notificatiom even though I have all notifications turned on with you kind sir.
Strange.
@@MrPolevaulter Yeah. Since I found you way back when I've had you checked for all notifications. Weird..
I’ve always kind of thought of the Blues Junior as the amp people end up with when they walk into a store and say “I need an amp.” The Pro Junior is a different beast altogether, a 1x10 15-watt amp with just a volume and tone knob. I really like that one, it’s super boxy and gnarly sounding in the best way. Breaks up really early and does the blues thing better than the Blues Junior, IMO. Great demo.
Planning on trying one out at some point.
Put at nos 5751 in v1 and a ragin cajun speaker and the pro jr is a cool crunchy blues machine
50-year old Elmo will like this amp... a lot.
It’s my favourite amp. Glad it was your first fender. They do what they do very well and exactly why I bought mine. You have to find your happy place between the volume and master, especially if you’re running pedals through it. Funny, your “cons” were my pros. Hahahahaha rock on brother! Oh, have you played the spark yet? Wife order me one for Father’s Day so I should get it in time for New Years. LOL. 🤘🏻😷🤘🏻
Cheers! Just ordered one the other day. Actually my first Fender was a made in Mexico Fender Champ back in my teenage years. Nice amp that.
Elmo Karjalainen you might get lucky being CZcams guy. I’ll probably be getting mine in time for Christmas from what I hear about order/delivery times.
The amp has low headroom. So you basically have to run it very clean and not boost it too much then it’s a great pedal platform. Also the eq can really help with the “fizziness” of dirt pedals by rolling off the treble. It can take high gain distortion and Fuzz very well but you do need to make sure all the break up is coming from the pedals and that you keep the volume from pedals at or bellow unity.
Cheers :)
On the back with Elmo. Ziltoid!!
:)
Definitely need to change the speakers on those amps. I have a Greenback in mine and it smooths out the harshness. This is mainly a blues/country amp.
It is called 'the Blues Jr.'
My 2018 Tweed Blues Junior had some harsh sounding distortion even if the Reverb was only on two. I pulled all of the GT JJ tubes except for V3 which is a long plate electro-harmonix 12at7. I put a regular JJ ecc83 in V2, a low gain short gray plate mid-sixties RCA 12ax7 in V1 and some regular JJ el84 tubes that I had in the amp and the harsh and weird staticy sounds in the Reverb went away. I'm going to try a current production Tung Sol 12ax7 in V1 sometime soon to see how that works out.
Great vid. For me not having an fx loop on this or any amp is a deal breaker...
Cheers! Yeah. That was a bit of a bummer.
Its bright as hell
YOur so cool I love it. Excellent!!!
Thanks :)
Great amps, the trick is to run them wide open, I run a pair in stereo
I use to have a 100 watt Marshall JMD:1 Half Stack Best Amp I ever Had , should never had sold it .
Selling gear is always a risk.
I sent this great video to Fender customer service
Awesome thank you!
Not everyone is wealthy with dollars and dollars falling out of their pockets. For us poor folk out there, this amp basically cost 500$ used and it's a no brainer for those who are not wealthy or rich influencers in the world. It's sounds great and is well worth the 500$ used. Again not all of us can buy 54 fenders with a marshall stack and thousands of effects pedals. Unreal.
You think I'm a rich influencer? To be fair, the Harley Benton Tube15 is much better imo, and much cheaper.
@@MrPolevaulter all I am saying for 400 to $500 used its worth it. At that price point it sounds fine for what it is. If it was a thousand plus dollars I can understand it not being sought after but again for such a cheap costing amplifier, to me it sounds fine. Ymmv.
Greetings from Georgetown Ontario :) Hey Elmo, have you ever thought of trying out the Peavey Transtube Bandits? Thanks
I have thought about them, but not gotten around to getting one yet.
I’ll stick to my Roland blues cube 30w hot..which is a clone of this..at least what they say...and with built in attenuator..0.5w to 30w..very neighbor friendly amp for great tone lol...nice and honest demo btw...cheers
Cheers :)
I have a Blues Cube Hot and love it. Its actually based on a Fender Bassman 😃
@@jamesmarciniec4787 hey James thanks for reminding 👍..yes we’re lucky
As soon as you started playing it I thought wow, those Fender cleans... Just killer..
Sounds like your reverb tank is loose or reverberating too much at about the 10 to 1040 mark..???
I think with some EQ adjustment even with the overdrive pedal you're using it could be excellent
It sounds really good to me thru headphones here at home at least...Especially the cleans..
Might have been yeah.
I, too, would like to hear your opinion of a Peavey Bandit... good review!
Thanks! Maybe at some point.
I was almost ready to pull the trigger on a blues junior until I tried the vox ac15. I personally thought the vox was far better and instantly bonded with it in a way I hadn't with the Fender. I'm not saying the blues junior is a bad amp because it definitely isn't, but if you aren't sure, I would say give the vox a try before you decide. There's also the bass breaker 15 that seems to break up at a lower volume, probably not as sweet on the cleans as the junior but is a great pedal platform. I see a few people have sung the praises of the Princeton and deluxe, while I have to agree with them you have to remember these amps are quite a bit more expensive.
Yeah, I've also liked Vox more.
lol a very diplomatic review ..
Fantastic review, and unreal playing!!
Would you ever review the Vox AC15? I can't decide between the two... 🤔
I've had my eye on an AC15 for a while now.
@@MrPolevaulterDo it! Do it! Do it! 😆
Elmo, assuming the Volume knob drives the tubes and the Master controls the output, why can't you have high gain at low volume for bedroom playing? That's what i do with my Marshall DSL40.
I'd like to hear back 'cus I'm thinking of getting one. Great video, by the way.
It just doesn't do high gain.
I read on some reviews that they were able to get good breakup at bedroom levels with some combination of one volume way up and the other way down, but I'm not sure which.
Master all the way up
Volume up and master down
Great video as always. But why are so many demos played with a strat?
I like a Strat.
Somethings wrong with the reverb on that thing….mine doesn’t sound anything like that!!!
U can get preamp breakup @home levels w/any amp mostly. Although ur not gonna be pushing the power tubes it still sounds great for country, rock & blues. The name doesn't say Metal Jr. Lol
Haha :D Metal Jr would be a good name though :D
Hi great playing dude , is this a small version off the fender twin deluxe tweed
Not sure. This was basically the first Fender tube amp I've tried (I used to have a red knob Champ as a kid), so I'm not expert on Fenders.
No. Only similarity is tweed and Fender brand.
Would an attenuator help extract more and get more of a home player sound level ?
Probably, but a good one will cost you quite a bit. Personally I don't use them, even though I pay Plexis. I just stick a volume pot in the loop. Works great.
@@MrPolevaulter Thanks Elmo. I will test my recently purchased Harley Benton attenuator on my 20W Traynor YGM-4 Studio Mate and then likely find out that the volume pot is easier :)
The tweed has upgraded speaker and valves
Cool :)
Also has a solid wood speaker baffle.
Indeed....when you play it twice, no longer a mistake.........
Yep :)
@@MrPolevaulter that's what you call jazzing it up
I'm going to get that Bugera V-22 amp you demoed a while ago. Any advice on tube enhancement, tried to get a metal tone
@@lawrencemack4171 Changing tubes? Not really any advice on those.
For playing pink floyd or jimi hendrix is better blues junior amp or katana mk2 100 or ???
Blues junior vs harley benton tube15(monoprice stage right 15)? kovasti kehuvat joka puolella, mutta kiinnostais saada puolueeton mielipide.
Tulossa arvio tuosta Tube5 vahvarista.
Not sure if it's the amp or the guitar, but I'm missing that "open" Strat sound in the top end.
Look where the mic is! It's very "off axis". This takes away a lot of high end. In addition, his Treble knob is below half. It's very trebly if you want.
Can this amp overpower drums? I like it, and I'm thinking about buying it but I don't know is it right choice for playing along with drums.
How well does it take pedals which takes pedals better ???blues jr? Or pro jr????
Hi, what did you engage on at 18.04
Strymon Riverside.
Try my amp the 1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb . 🔊🔊🔊🔊
Let me say this. I recently bought a blues jr 4 and when he says it’s loud it is loud. My boss Katana 50w maxed out on master and volume with gain in the middle is about the equivalent to blues jr on volume 6 and master 4.. it’s stupid loud. I live in a 1200 square foot home and I can’t play past 3 master with volume set to noon.
Yep.
I’m not sure I like the reverb on those amplifiers is there anything that could be done to alter that and get a better reverb sound I only use it on number two maximum if I ever use it at all other than that I find that the tone of the aMp is 👍 great
Not that I know of.
You don’t like the classic Fender Spring Reverb? Wow I’ve literally never heard anyone say that before lol. You could get a reverb pedal?
I love its reverb. I was stunned by how much I liked it. Adds beautiful depth. I'm comparing it to a Fender Deluxe and Princeton.
But is it worth twice the price of the harley benton tube?
No. I actually prefer the HB.
Sun pitäs laittaa tuubskriimeri ja hakata niitä kieliä kunnolla. Sitten se vasta pääsee valloilleen se saundi. mutta joo aika jazzi tyyli sulla tässä demossa :D
Kyllä siellä loppupuolella pistettiin säröt kehiin.
❤
12" jensen, spring reverb and can mic it to a PA if it needs more
Thanks why don't you show the difference and compare them without effects or mic's?
Hello I would like to buy an amp to play Stevie Ray Vaughan or Pink Floyd would you have any idea please I have a budget of 700 €
Harley Benton Tube15. And you'll still have money left over.
Sounds great, but I'm more of a "rattle your teeth" kind of player. It's just not loud enough. Saw Dan Baird a few years ago rocking one on stage and it worked, his lead guitar player was rocking a Vox AC30 and completely overwhelmed him with volume. Have to admit, I was standing front row directly in front of the AC30 amp, so I suspect that made a difference. Have an AC30 myself, it's punishingly loud with the alnico blue speakers, lord knows how Brian May can still hear anything, stacking 12 of them at at time.... But on the occasion that Dan ripped it up on the BJ, he sounded really good. Clear but with a bit of hair on it. Tasty. Oh, and that Yngwie "I'll see the light tonight" riff, tritone, tritone, tritone tritone tritone............ You can't unhear it once you recognise it. Great demo my friend.
Great review, but living in a block of flats, it's just too loud!
Yeah, probably.
the first guitar has a scalloped neck?
Yep.
The Jensen inside the tweed version is really bad for overdriven tones. Its only good for clean. Change it to a Greenback or a V30 and it will be much better for overdrive. The Jensen is very bright and fizzy with overdrive.
Yeah, would probably help.
Eh. I owned one. Okay as a platform for pedals but I like my Monoprice 15 watt amp better. More versatile. But truth be told, for everyday practice it’s the MicroCube.
Yep, the Micro Cube is great :)
This or Vox AC15?
I think I preferred the AC-10 to this, but I haven't tried the AC-15.
Perkele?
Good news, everybody! Elmo has agreed to send this amplifier to me! Everybody celebrate! This a glorious...complete lie. It's called having just bought another guitar and the very real possibility my wife will kill me if I buy one more thing after we've purchased a new bedroom set. But by Krypton, I really think this will be a future purchase for me.
:D
haha im back!
i subscribed this time hope all is well
Thanks! All is well. Hope you're OK too.
What does "ICE" mean ?? I'm an old dumbass Australian and missed that lesson at school. I'm lucky in some respects. My house is on a quarter acre block and I tend to say "Fuck the neighbours". If it's under 110db they can enjoy it or not. I play in business hours, leave Sunday as a "Day Off" but during 09:00 to 20:30 Monday to Saturday, the neighbours better get used to it. I've lived here for 50 years, watched the suburb grow around my lonely home and in my opinion, (actually it's a fact) they're the "incomers" and can deal with what I've done (playing the guitar) since I was under 10. Get used to that "pretty decent playing schedule" or move. It's their choice. My house was bought by my Mother for $27,000.00 in 1970. Now it's up for half a million. Go figure ?? I didn't move next to them. They moved up from Sydney in the '90s, 00s. I think I'm being really fair. I don't plan to turn down during business hours. I like playing the guitar and moving air !!
Sell me your Malmsteen Strat !!!! 🎸
NEVER! :D
Never liked mine, reverb was too much, and the cranked tone was too saturated and did not take drive pedals well. Deluxe reverb or Princeton are better, try those
Yep, I have a Princeton with a Celestion Creamback and it kills for a portable small gig amp.
Yep, I wanted to like the blues junior but it just didn't do it for me. In the end I bought the '68 Princeton. Couldn't be happier with it.
So much gear to try, so little time :D
Reverb too much?? You know there’s a knob for adding/rolling off the amount of reverb? Also, it takes drive pedals really well IMO....
Every amp I look into this guy destroys it, I cannot afford what he likes
I like the Harley Benton Tube5 and 15, the Micro Cube, Spark Amp, Bugera V5 and 22, and I think they're all cheaper than the Fender.
@@MrPolevaulter i think I have only seen the bugera available here in Mexico, I was tempted by the av15 and the Marshall ori5 but you didn’t like neither of those
@@MrPolevaulter update: i went for the bassbreaker, it was cheaper and liked the sound for the money, I wish I could go for something on a higher end but that was the best for the buck i could get i guess
But how does it compare to a katana? Hahahaha
:D
Play the damn blues on it..
I'll play what I want, thanks.
??? Do you mean: play something different than blues for a change?
no tiene canal limpio siempre tiene distorsión y no puede subir volumen distorsión siempre no. malo malo.
nooooooooooodling all over the place ..:-)
The reverb is really annoying.
Shame on Fender..Just got BLUES jr. iv............I'm not Happy because..the Knob Stems are PLASTIC..Wobbly - cheap feeling...Why the heck do such a stupid move...How much did they save on 7 3/4" stems.. I tried tightening , did nothing.... I ended up pulling all the knobs, Dremel the inside holes much deeper so the knob rests lightly on the faceplate... that helped, but it's still wobbly.. FENDER NEEDS TO ONLY USE METAL STEMS COMING OUT OF THE VOLUME AND TONE POTS............... GET A 2019 IF YOU CAN OR 2018...
That sucks :(
Farty low end
Nothing exciting, if you compare it to any Marshall of your choice.
It’s just a different tonal flavor.
Nothing special about the Marshall if you prefer a blues Junior.
No tiene canal limpio. 😂 siempre suena distorsión . No puedes tocar limpio y subir a tope sin que distorsione. Malo malo. Muy mal fender
This has to be the worlds worst valve amp. It sounds woody and boxy under all circumstances.