Dear Fender... This is Still The Standard

[@TenThumbsProductions]

I loved my Blues Jr, so much I took it to Colombia. To keep it safe I had to take it in the carry on. 3 flights. Over 15000 steps carrying it, and I’ve played it all over Colombia. The mountains of Antioquia, the banks of Guatape, the Caribbean shores, the streets of Bogota. I like to open the master all the way up and the crunch comes in pretty low

[@SuperMariotrip420]

I am currently using a Hotrod Deluxe and a Blues Deluxe in stereo and am loving them!! The whole Hotrod lineup is amazing, can’t go wrong with any of them!!

[@coldshotblues]

Love my Junior it’s made its way from the bedroom to the bar on occasion.

[@jeffrowlette]

I bought an aftermarket all pine larger cabinet for my Blues JR.....not boxy at all anymore...actually sounds amazing 👏

[@nickhammick5777]

So did I..opened it right up! Also put in a C. Rex, pulled out the crappy caps for F & T's, changed some resistors, cut the bias & run it with minimal mids...fat switch off. I'd bet money its the best BJ mk2 within many, many of miles of me.

[@joshuajohnston8452]

Where did you get it ??

[@Magic_Man916]

Blues Jr. is such a beast, especially the tweed versions. It's really all you need. Takes pedals extremely well too, so shaping your tone can be endless. I use a delay in front of mine and its such a huge sound.

[@sirhc210]

it sure is!

[@RiffChord]

The tweed gives it the extra sparkle

[@andrasdebreczeni1103]

I have the tweed version of mark III. Some people who actually A/B-ed them to the black tolex version say the circuit is also modified not just the speaker. Anyways to me it sounds very warm and open (with the right eq setting!). I swapped the Jensen speaker (which is fine too) to a Celestion V-type and it gives me a nicer bass responce without sacrificing the openness and chime of the amp. For me it is the deal. I enjoy my BJ much better than my previous Bassbreaker 45.

[@smoothassmooth]

the one i tried in the store did not take my pedals well. the brown looking blues junior he has was not the sound I wanted. the older blues junior sounded better.

[@mojoredfoot]

I bought the same one a few years ago. The Jenson speaker made my ears super happy

[@justaspectatorpassingthrou6108]

I like how you approach the videos as we're just hanging out and having a nice conversation about music with you as a viewer.

[@TinkeringWithRyan]

I too started my tube amp journey with an X2. I happened to plug into a blues jr. at my local GC a few months later and was blown away with how good it sounded. I soon after picked one up from the local classifieds and never looked back. As someone who just plays for his own enjoyment it’s everything I want and need.

[@Staxovwax]

I plugged into a Tweed Blues JR IV at my GC as well. It was used for $499, looked brand new. It sounded phenomenal. I bought it the next day. Love it.

[@sirhc210]

same this happened to me lol

[@brianmcpartland3983]

I have owned all three amps that you spoke of. The Princeton, the blues Junior, and the SX2. The Princeton has been the best amp I have ever owned or played. I was a little surprised that your video made no mention of the fact that SO many people have found the BJ to be brittle and quite treble biased. Mine was so bad that I resorted to to playing a loop for hours on end at high volume in an effort to try to relax the speaker. It didn’t help at all. After a year I got so sick and tired of the amp that I sold it. As for the SX2, it is considered a hybrid tube amp. It certainly wasn’t horrible, and it makes a good beginning amp, but the tone is just not up to the level of a true multi tube amp. I didn’t care for its tone.

[@marceloaugustogasparfilho5977]

Saturdays are not the same without your videos. The fact that I can finally understand your super fast talking and lack of comas is so fun!! 😂

[@GrifsGuitarlessons]

You always tell such good stories Mike!

[@siegriedroy6467]

The riff is „Slayer: Reign in blood“.

[@sirhc210]

lmfao🤣

[@hutchfromba]

The Blues Deluxe Reissued 40W is also amazing ! Not for an apartment though. Blues On....💙

[@robertparker3580]

I have a blues deluxe reissue tweed, 40 watts and a single 12 inch speaker, and I love it!!!!!!!!!!!

[@scottpointner4681]

I have the same. Two channels makes it a lot more versatile.

[@bayleyasher]

have that same amp, gen IV tweed -- could not be happier with it. i have never been fully satisfied with an amp before, and this thing does everything i want it to and sounds fantastic. it is alive and crisp and tactile and response; it heats up beautifully, handles pedals very well. don't really have a desire for much else

[@jeffhildreth9244]

I bought a custom Blues Jr with dark green Tolex, Cannabis speaker, tweed /wheat grille cloth, etc. One of a batch of 50. Great amp. Perfect match with my 2003 Highway One Telecaster.

[@Jakethefartist]

Got the same one but with the purple and blue tolex, thing rips.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

@@Jakethefartist Sounds cool!

[@dermike4314]

Got the same one and had it for years. I play a Les Paul through it with the amp treble on zero and amp bass on 10 fully cranked and it sounds like a 50s vintage $8k Bassman, - only at reasonable volume!👍

[@nickfoster9350]

I used to do the same thing only with basses. I was obsessed with/still kind of am, with handcrafted instruments. When I toured, I always received a lot of praise for my setup and my tone. Playing bass in a progressive death metal band allowed for a lot of experimenting, and I found perfect tonal harmony with a Ken Smith Elite six string bass going through a Mesa/Boogie Bass 400+ amp and a Mesa/Boogie 8x10 Powerhouse cab.

[@startrekmike]

Out of the box, I have yet to find a Blues Jr that I actually like the sound of. I get that it is very popular but I think a lot of that popularity comes more from its price than its actual sound characteristics. If anything. This amp serves as a lesson in why one should be very, very careful about online user-reviews. Here is the thing. The Blues Jr is relatively cheap by major brand tube amp standards. A lot of younger players, budget-minded folks, or even those who might not have much experience with buying amplifiers will gravitate towards it and they will write glowing reviews because they either have an emotional need to justify it or don't really have any experience with other amps to serve as a point of reference. This isn't to say it is malicious. It is just how this kind of thing always works online. The cheap guitar gear tends to get a lot more online exposure because it is cheap and those that tend to make it a point to review such things often have some kind of bizarre "I only use cheap stuff because everything else is a scam!" chip on their shoulder or they are simply experiencing their first tube amplifier and haven't spent a lot of time using anything else. When it comes to the Blues Jr, I have played other amplifiers in its size category (sometimes cheaper) that just sound more full. If you were to put a blindfold on me and ask me to play a Blues Jr, I would assume it had an 8" speaker because it just sounds so small. It is strange. It shouldn't sound like that but it does. This becomes even more interesting when you consider that Fender themselves have made amps in that size category (one of the Bassbreakers comes to mind) that sound like a proper 12" speaker equipped low-wattage tube combo. When I look at the comments here, I see a lot of the same old lines. Folks buy these and have to do modifications to offset its boxy, small sound. With that in mind. Why is it "still the standard"? What does it do better than other low wattage Fender tube amps in its class? Could it be just that the internet (specifically Guitar subreddits and the like) tend to like it? Could it be that it fits neatly into that strange "cheap gear worship" thing that is still pretty trendy on KZbin? I can't imagine it is the sound. It is okay but there are much better for about the same amount of money. You wanna talk about a "standard"? Talk about the Hot Rod Deluxe. That thing punches way above its price point and while it is harder to tame, it makes for a economical (and much, much more versatile) entry level tube amp option for newer/younger players.

[@AnkurWow]

I've had both the Blues and Pro Juniors, and easily prefer the Pros (when I have a good pedalboard). It's 10 lbs lighter, just as loud and even punchier, and great for home and gigging.

[@Theweeze100]

Agreed!!!

[@davidmurphy4844]

I agree too.

[@cerclesvicieux]

I bought a used Blues Deluxe two years ago and am still enjoying it. The headroom is insane.

[@jcon2357]

I really enjoy your videos ... always informative and straight to the point ... great delivery ,always positive energy.

[@trioguitar]

Nice vid. Yeh, that is the beautiful thing about the Blues jnr, you can have it at home, sitting next to you, and you can play through it without annoying anyone else nearby. And as an old bloke, it's easier to carry around! I keep the Master volume permanently on 2 and a 1/4.

[@guitarhackr]

Strat and Blues Jr. is a vibe! All you need in a lot of cases. Loves to be overdriven.

[@sanfran216]

Bro, I just bought a two-year-old tweet Blues Junior with the Jenson speaker last week on sale. Just the clarity of tone over my modeling amp, it's no wonder it's been a celebrated classic amplifier for such a long time. I'm looking forward to gigging with it soon!

[@brianpaauwe3641]

Love my Blues Jr! Such a great value and amazing sound

[@murff625]

Deluxe Reverb is the standard

[@Tomekkplk]

no not really

[@swampede0366]

Agreed

[@mrfish4lyfe]

i agree

[@deanmlshredder]

​@@Tomekkplkit absolutely is. It's the go to glassy clean amp in every studio.

[@hootowl6354]

Marshall JMP.

[@craigbrown9987]

Bought a Blues Jr v4 for a pittance from a student who had discovered that amps and tenement living don't mix. Was as near to new as you could get. Was blown away by the sound, warmth and presence it generates without having to be pushed to its limit. Last week I plugged my LP in without noticing its volume was at 10. The sound from the amp, even on a relatively low setting, made the whole room vibrate (in a good way)! But it's great for double or single coils. Oh and the reverb is *really* good.

[@stanwatkins975]

I've owned a Blues Jr for about 15 years now. Did many of the BillM mods, moved the chassis to a custom made solid pine cabinet, replaced the speaker. Great sounding amp and more than gig-worthy. I'm currently "amp wealthy", with a Tweed Deluxe, Tweed Princeton, Tweed Bandmaster and a hand-wired Princeton Reverb w/12" speaker. Each of these amps have their own character and sweet spot, but the Blues Jr is probably the easiest to coax the great tones from, even without invoking the pedal board magic. In your video, you ask for a favorite amp selection. I would have said my old '66 Super Reverb (even though it was a monster to haul around) is my all time favorite, but now I'd say that the Uncle Larry (tom bucavac) recommendation to team a tweed Fender with a black-faced Fender together is by far my favorite. I do the Princeton Reverb with the tweed Deluxe and it is an amazing sound.

[@MikeMaselli-p6y]

Love watching your vids as you travel your musical journey.

[@TheMountainDemon]

I've gigged plenty with a Blues Jr. Most clubs only mic one speaker anyway. So versatile and fun.

[@hoagyguitarmichael]

Been my amp of choice for years for many of the reasons you mention. A word of warning to gigging players: try to transport it in an upright position. If you lay it down, the reverb will more than likely break. Also be careful when storing the cable in the back, as the tubes are not really protected by that spring retainer and it is easy to end up bending them in the sockets.

[@Mike_S_Swift]

Watch the circuit board. I lucked out buying a used one first generation. I got a tube Bias Mod kit from a place in the UK. Cost was about 15$ shipping was 18. Easy mod. I adjusted the bias down to safe levels and sounds even better. If you’re interested I can find the video I saw and more information. You clip out two fixed bias resistors leaving the metal lead long and straightening them. Put the little bias control board over the resistor leads solder and trim off excess. Also use a little rtv under the board. Protect you board from burning up. My old amp circuit board was in great shape. I was lucky. Research biasing your Blues Jr

[@MilesOlsenMusic]

I just bought a ‘91 BJr and it’s amazing! It’s super versatile and it’s a great pedal platform!

[@Kaijetuckerofficial]

Interesting thing about the Blues Jr is that the speaker is offset to the right, so your mic in this video looks like it might not even be in front of it. Or at best, way out over the edge. Maybe it's on purpose, but I was just noticing that. If in case you didn't know that, you can try shining a flashlight through the grill to find the center cone

[@sugarmamaboy]

I have always understood that you don't want to aim right at the center cone. So in the video it would be just right.After 30 years of alternating between the Pro and the Blues junior, I think the Blues Junior is the ultimate club amp. 12 inch speaker crammed in the smallest enclosure possible makes you a little less dependent on the soundman. If you have to use a mastervolume (and nowadays you have) , the one on the Blues Junior is not bad.

[@Kaijetuckerofficial]

@@sugarmamaboy Agree on your thoughts about the Blues Jr. It's just such a versatile amp, and it sounds so good cranked. I mean, even if you were playing arenas or stadiums, they could just mic it. No need for any other amp I guess haha

[@JillandKevin]

I've had almost every tube amp (past Blackface) that Fender made, and have been playing professionally for over 55 years. The amps that I have used the most, even in an 8 pc Western swing band, are my cream board Blues Juniors! I just got a tweed Princeton Reverb, and even still go back & forth between the PR & the BJ! My BJ's get a LOT of use (avg 2 rehearsals, one show and 14 hrs of practice every week), and have only had two small problems (solder joint on a power tube socket broke, and a Accutronics reverb tank broke a wire). It's been getting that amount of use ever since the cream boards came out (the earlier green boards didn't do it for me).

[@brandonthompson8413]

I love how much your playing is progressing. Sounds killer man.

[@lee_at_sea]

I owned one of these for a month when I didn't know how to play much. I sold it. To a real blues player. For about $400 iirc. I regretted it before the sale was done. While he was trying it out. He sounded *fantastic* on the thing. Now I can play. May need to get another.

[@rusekd]

Literary just walked out of my local guitar store and played every guitar I picked up through the Blues Jr.

[@rstuartcpa]

My first tube amp was a little 5 watt Crate with an eight inch speaker. I loved that amp. But, it could not play with a band. My next amp was a Blues Jr. At first it was okay. But lacking oomph. Like you said, Mike, the Blues Jr is the most hyped amp on the interwebs. So, I asked my virtual friends who recommended the amp for a possible issue. "Change the speaker." was the ubiquitous response from the peanut gallery. "Try the Celestial Vintage 30." everyone said. So, I did and it did help a little but still not the sound I was chasing. The next step from all the Blues Jr. lovers was to switch out the tubes. Okay...now I'm starting to realize that the Blues Jr. was not so great out of the box and that for me to get what I wanted, I'd need to spend more money than another great amp would cost. So, I sold the Blues Jr. My next tube amp was a Brian Cox tweed deluxe clone (for about the same money as what I would eventually spend on modifying a Blues Jr. to my liking). The deluxe is perfect for me. It's hand wired and I ordered it with the mac-daddy speaker, tubes and transformer. I've had it for a long time and it's still my favorite.

[@Andrew1974-u9z]

Sir, you are correct! So I came into a '90s USA Blues Deluxe' on the used market 15 years ago. It was unreliable and took years and a trip to Fromel Electronics (Seattle) to straighten it out. To this day, it's amp #1 for me. Only a Magnatone could un-seat it, maybe. At the time of repair, John Fromel asked if I wanted 20 watts instead of 40 (I did not see that question coming). If I have one regret, there are times I wish I had gone with 20. But, that's a compelling reason for me to go after a Bluss Jr. They are awesome!

[@davidbarlow431]

Mike, you should do a comparison with the AC15. Same wattage, valves, and around the same price.

[@patricklundquist9869]

And one more thing, I'm not sure if Fender fixed this in the newer Blues Juniors but the volume used to be all or nothing. Go past 3 and suddenly jumps to full volume. There were all kinds of fixes online, change the pot, or change a capacitor, something like that. I was experimenting with some old tubes I'd found in my parent's garage and discovered that replacing the 12AX7 with a 12AU7 gives the amp a fully controllable taper. I'm not sure if there were tone changes or not. It sounded fine to me.

[@iamALLon]

Love this amp. Love this channel. You just keep putting out such great stuff. Keep up the good work!

[@DavidLWhitehurst]

Mike, I have a homemade tube amp with no reverb and I wanted a Twin Reverb. I had enough to get a cream wrapped one and realized this one was solid state. Well … I already have the homemade tube amp and I’ll get a reverb pedal. Sweetwater is sending the solid state twin. I’m looking forward to it because it has XLR direct out I can use for recording. I wanted a tube twin when I started looking but not enough cash. I’ll let you know what I think. I expect the quality will be good. It shows that when I played in bands I was Peavey all the way and always wanted a twin tube amp. Oh well I wanted a nice amp for home recording. Keep the videos coming, God is proud of you.

[@rstuartcpa]

If your solid state Twin is a Tone Master, you're going to love it. I have a Tone Master Super and it's incredibly lightweight (and still sounds great). The tube version is a tone (so you'll save your back with little loss in tone).

[@Theweeze100]

Ok Mike, my first tube amp was a BJ also. For all the reasons you mentioned, it was the perfect amp for at home and the occasional jam session. Sold it and bought an X2. Not being fully satisfied with it, I swapped the original Fender speaker out for a Jensen Alako, replaced all the tubes with new old stock, American tubes, which required revising the amp. Really not that tough if you have a small screwdriver and a voltmeter. It changed the x2 to into a monster tone machine. Everything from vintage tweeds, to fire breathing dragon, Marshall. . I eventually but a Mesa boogie Fillmore 50, because I needed a second amp (one to leave at church, and one for home) That said the Blues jr. will always have a special place in my heart!

[@nickdonnoli]

Given your current living situation and fondness of the Princeton, I’m surprised you haven’t checked out the Princeton Tone Master yet! I’ve had one for almost two years and it’s incredible! The reverb even does that overloaded reverb tube thing that the Princeton does, it’s astonishing how good it sounds. I’ve owned a Hot Rod Deluxe, 65 Princeton, 68 Princeton and currently have a Blues Deluxe, Champion 600 and TM Princeton. The TM Princeton suits my needs perfectly and is probably my favorite amp I’ve ever owned because of its usability at all volumes and line out.

[@larrypower8659]

I bought my Blues Jr in 1997, an American Made Fender Blues Junior. The original, American made Jrs are much different than the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generations. I wouldn’t trade that amp for any amp in its class. The only problem with any Blues Junior, and it’s chronic, is the reverb. Sometimes it’s the tank; sometimes it’s a tube or cap, etc. Once that’s fixed it usually doesn’t happen again. If the problem-or perhaps another reverb problem-pops up, it’s most often a quick and inexpensive fix. These amps are roadworthy and easy to get a quality sound from. In 1997, I got my Jr for $325 cash. Unfortunately, Blues Juniors are now a $500 amp. Still a good deal for a working musician. With most any 12,” a Blues Junior will do the job for you.

[@caleb1rshelton]

Years ago, I played through a cheap 5E3 clone and that sound became my gold standard. Today I use a 5E3 amp sim for recording and use a 70's silvertone amp for live gigs. The silvertone has a nice clean but never really gets dirty.

[@rstuartcpa]

5E3's are incredible amps....I love my Brian Cox tweed.

[@randysteffes97]

I have a 5e3 clone. It’s the best. Modern fenders suck. The blues jr sounds great, but, they will eat el84 tubes like chocolate chip cookies, and will burn their circuit board to cinders. Fender is abusing their customers with this garbage. The Hot Rod stuff sounds terrible.

[@caleb1rshelton]

@@randysteffes97 I've seen amp techs modify them to not get as hot. Basically just changed 2 capacitors and added a heat sink. IDK how well it worked but the video said it's a common mod for blues jrs and Supro Delta Kings as well.

[@dougbrunelle7170]

Nice playing Mike! very soulful and your videos is right on the money. Thank you!

[@stephenfeldman8104]

You've got a winning personality. You're a natural in front of the camera.

[@Jaykeh41]

My dad uses a Junior. Its wonderful, and sound managers love it, nice and simple :)

[@katsafone]

This is great stuff Mike. Love the way you explain things. Thanks again.

[@tdmckee-mm8wn]

The Blues Jr. is an economical Princeton. The Deluxe Reverb IS THE STANDARD.

[@tomcoryell]

Huge difference between EL84 and 6V6.

[@nsbomb]

Amen!

[@allisterwhitehead]

Just bought one in the past month and it is phenomenal. I took a gamble and bought online having never used one and I wasn't disappointed. So much better than I was expecting.

[@CameraLaw]

Always enjoy the comments. This one especially. The spectrum from “best ever” all to way to “landfill”. The true art, to me, is the ability to bend these tools to make the best sounds you can. The key is sonic flexibility. Every combination has a sweet spot. I’d want to be Sherlock Tones.

[@09philj]

I didn't call it landfill because it sounds bad. I think Blues Jrs sound quite good... right up to the point they cook themselves because Fender builds them to fail. Not a bad amp for your ears, but a bad amp for your wallet.

[@cutthroat2147]

I have the Fender 57 custom deluxe tweed. And it's starting to be my favorite.

[@falconarcadegaming5510]

I own a blues junior and its great! I went from a 1971 plexi (had to sell for the money) to the blues jr and it really surprises me sometimes just how good it sounds for such a cheap amp. I got mine for 500$

[@leomuzzy6554]

I've owned several. I used to run 2 BJs on an AB switcher, one clean, one cranked. Favorite all-time amp was a''67 Pro Reverb I bought new. The club amp to end all club amps, and they won't re-issue it!

[@Deadman327]

Loved my blues Jr. Sold it though and upgraded to a blues deluxe. Thinking about getting another one. great little amp. Wish I hadn't sold it..

[@tedparkinson6892]

Nice playing and very nice sounds. I owned a BJ many years ago because it was a lower priced tube amp. I liked it, but when I was playing various Les Pauls in different stores I played through an AC30 and my mind. was. blown! I play with my fingers a lot and found the AC30 let me be so much more expressive than the BJ. I eventually traded in the BJ on a Voc AC15 which I had for years and really loved. My current 'fave amp' is a "Tweed" that was made from a kit. It has a warm 'organic' sound. Beautiful.

[@ahuman6309]

you hit 240k while i was watching congrats love the videos

[@thefrankly]

Great sounds! You can get close with the UA plugin tweed, if you don't have the money. The secret is to crank the DI to the level that makes you happy. Play around with your DI level and it really changes the amps vibe. While I personally like real amps more, when I was younger and couldn't buy an amp the UA would have been a blessing.

[@Stratisfied22]

I have a Blues Jr but what I like even more is my 80's Silverface Fender Musicman Bass amp that I put a 12' Celestion V Type speaker in. It's a tone machine and has become my one of my favorite guitar amps.

[@BonkeyMucket]

I had a Blues Jr III with the Cannabis Rex speaker. My reverb tank was always going out or the spring would come off. I was going to see about putting in a better reverb tank, but ended up selling the amp to a friend. I did like the sound of it though. My favorite Fender amp for sound was a Super Reverb, but they are just too heavy. I do like the new Tone Master version. It is a lighter, but I wish it had an FX Loop in it. I like the Deluxe, and may end up getting the UA Dream pedal at some point.

[@AndrewReevesArt]

I’ve been praising Blues Junior’s for decades - a few mods and you can do anything with them. ❤

[@methatswho8304]

I still have my blues jr after 20yrs

[@stuartoliphant7551]

I've had mine (III edition) for about 10 years and have mainly used it with my pedal board. It was just recently that I started plugging straight in and experimenting with the preamp (volume) and power amp (master) settings; that's how you unlock the magic. By cranking either/or and keeping the corresponding level low you tap into some really cool sounds. As you pointed out, the guitar's volume knob is your best friend. I love it with my Telecaster. However, I have to break out the pedal board to unleash the metal with my Jackson. It is treble sensitive; I think mine is set between 9-10 o'clock. Mids I have straight up at 12 o'clock; I've set 'em lower, but the amp seems more boxed in at lower settings. Bass is at 2 o'clock. I leave the fat switch off; this just seems to boost the mids to an obnoxious level (to cut through the mix during a solo?). Best advice I could give is to let the tubes get nice and warm; it's a shame it doesn't have a standby mode on the power switch.

[@phishfan]

I prefer my Peavey Classic 30 to my Blues Junior 4. Two channels, effects loop, much better drive with more range, pretty equal cleans and reverb. Takes pedals better IMHO as well. You need to crank the Blues to get any decent drive where the Peavey can do decent gain at any volume because it has the dirty channel. I also find the Fender has an ice-pick thing going on. I still like it but often consider selling it.

[@imnotfishing]

My Blues Jr is 29 years old and I am still gigging with it. Tonight in fact at The Woodshed in Brewster MA. It’s been modded like crazy but it’s the best amp I’ve ever had and I’ve had almost 100.

[@Grindstaff09]

How did the gig go?

[@jinjxmusic]

These amps... they're frustrating to me. They SOUND absolutely amazing. I typically ran mine without using the "Fat" switch wanting something a bit more flat. At one point I had the NOS Blues Junior with the Jensen speaker. I also added the MOD Reverb tank and thought I had found THE perfect amp for me. I was also looking into the "Bill M" mods and planned to send my amp or chassis to him for his upgrades. At the time, ten years ago, I was doing a lot of solo looping Jazz gigs and also enjoyed playing this in trios. For both Fender teles/strats as well as Ibanez Artcores - this couldn't be beat - even preferring it to my twin. But then, the challenges were tough to handle. Even though it sounds great, the reliability wasn't there. Mostly due to the configuration - a lot of corners had been cut to make these, they run hot, and blew fuses. Not just at a gig (that I had to sit out of), though even just plugged into my apartments wall outlet. I stopped trusting it and it sat as mid century modern furniture for a year until I sold it... which I hated to do. Also, while 15 watts is enough for small and medium size gigs, it doesn't have a lot of options for capture. On large and outdoor gigs it sounds like the tiny amp that it is when mic'd and there aren't any real other options. When I sold mine I went back to using Roland/Boss solid state because for the same weight/output they have good line out options to send to FOH for outdoor/large theater gigs, and offer versatility. I still love that sound and miss it, especially for the cleans that I do... but ideally, one day, I'd love to have a point to point handwired type thing with better parts and a rearranged configuration. Also XLR outs like some of the modern Fender Twins have. Or, spend double the amp price for one of those Tube Expanders that offer a lot of these functions. To me, the Blues Junior sits both sonically and output wise between the Gibson amps Charlie Christian used back in his hay-day and the Tweed craziness of Neil Young. I know business is business - they're tryin gto keep these to a price point and fight inflation... but to have an amp that looks and sounds amazing but has those problems was a deal breaker for me.

[@johndaugherty4127]

I have a Fender Bassman 100. Did'nt realize it was not tube until I pickrd it up. My first SS amo and I love it!

[@CharlesHoward-ud6qv]

I’ve been playing for 60 years. I’ve had some great amp. After playing for a few years I purchased a silver faced Fender Bandmaster with the help from my parents. Wish I still had it. I was gigging full time in the middle 70’s and owned a Lab Series that went into the PA system. That amp was way ahead of its time and it’s only till recently are solid state amps catching up. About ten years ago I purchased a limited edition Hot Rod deluxe with wine tolex and wheat colored grill cloth. It is without a doubt the best Amp I’ve ever owned. A real work horse, never a single problem and so versatile when it comes to tone. The band I was in until Covid happened had a younger female vocalist and everyone in the band sang. We covered Country, Classic Rock, oldies, Eighties to current pop songs. We could get away with it because of our singer. Any way, the Fender Hot Rod could cover it all. It sounded great no matter what we were playing.

[@aaronkatz2024]

I love how this dude loves playing guitar so much I come to his videos every now then for info I am not mich of gear head Gear ⚙️ obsession slows down playing progress I bought my jr blindly let the music store owner choose

[@jr0706]

The Blues Junior is a great amp. It’s best for me when I dime the master and use the volume to adjust the level. It’s really full and lets the power tubes do their thing.

[@rebeccaabraham8652]

I've just installed some new amp models on my MultiFX - and of them all... something called a 'Fender 65 Blues Deluxe Reverb' is the one that calls to me - even nicer than the 'Fender Twin' model that came with the device; I'm now using the Blues Deluxe as the base for most of my presets! There's just something about a Fender sound that works right!

[@denbodg9311]

I have 2 amps. Blues Jnr 4 Tweed, & a ‘68 Custom Princeton. I swopped the Jenson speaker in the BJ for an Eminence Cannabis Rex, but the Princeton is stock. The BJ is a great pedal platform & I use a Tubescreamer, Blues Driver, Chorus & Delay through it. Generally I play the Princeton straight in without pedals but occasional use a Marshall Bluesbreaker reissue pedal through it.

[@user-no1cares]

Some may not know about the non-reverb Princeton with tremolo. I found a ‘69 verson that I prefer over my Blues Jr version 1..

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

I have the Older Vox valvetronix hybrid amps with the 12X7A tubes in them 2007 and 2009 never sell them incredible amps wish Vox would reissue the Older models like I have..

[@MoeVanprick]

Definitely 👍

[@LeopoldShitzalot]

I have a 2005 Vox valvetronix hybrid amps and I agree with you I would never sell mine

[@danduntz2539]

In my experience, the only problem with the older models is that they don’t last. They’re proven to have cold solder joints , and other electronic issues over time, I can’t remember now. I’ve reflowed both of mine over the years to keep them going, but the issue comes back. Great sounding amps, but I just couldn’t play them reliably.

[@LeopoldShitzalot]

@@danduntz2539 mine are 20 years old only changed the 12x7A tube once and zero issues in 20 years

[@AWildKrom]

loved my blues jr. I'd probably still have it if I had room but I needed to make space and it made more sense to keep the handwired princeton

[@richthatcher]

While I enjoyed the Fender Blues Jr, I believe it was the Fender Princeton Reverb that really turned my head back to see what I was plugged into. I also took turns playing with a Mesa Boogie Subway Blues, a Laney VC30, a Tech 21 Trademark 60 (inspired by the story of Les Paul's use), and Mesa Boogie 22 Caliber amp. I kept the Princeton through all of them and I would encourage you to try one out versus the Junior.

[@lyallbush1177]

A guitar store in Toronto advised me to consider the Blues Jr. six years ago, and I bought it and I've been fairly wowed by it since. It's true that setting the Master on '2' or '3' can get you knock-out power, and while the sweet spot is in the clean range, it's not without some filthy bite. I own a Jazzmaster, and if I turn the guitar volume up to '4' the power I get I feel in my hands and stomach and feet.

[@jdpower6360]

That Blues Jr is a great amplifier. I currently use a Tone King Imperial. It’s my go to amp because of the built in attenuation. I can play it at night and no one knows.

[@jakelannetti3128]

Great amps, so versatile and punch above their weight class. They’re also easy to get cheap used. As an honorable mention, if you like the vox chime and mid range, the AC10 is a beast for its price with good tones at a variety of volumes.

[@johndooley7812]

Great channel. Thank you from New Zealand.

[@sirhc210]

Man, the local Guitar center in El Paso, TX has a Blues Junior on the floor. It is always my go to amp when trying out guitars. That amp sounds amazing

[@RiffChord]

Great videos on your channel. I’ve owned 3 over the years. I did the full Fromel mods on 2 of them. I’ve been playing since the 70’s and a classic rock guy. I sold all 3, I’ve settled on the Fender LE Bassbreaker 15 with the cream back. Far more versatile and more to my liking. I’ve also owned a 70’s Princeton Reverb but a one trick pony. I’ve played thru JCM 800’s which were great. My other fav is the Headrush MX5 and also the Katana. I was never impressed with the blues jr.

[@dinosaursr]

I’ve had mine since 2005 or thereabouts. I should put new tubes in it but it still sounds fine. Recording works well with it. In a band setting I find it loses a little punch but still very useful. Easy to carry around. The only thing that went wrong was the reverb tank needed replacement.

[@BrianJensen]

Love my Blues Jr!

[@riadmiah3342]

I purchased a Blues Jr and then gave it up for a Blues Deluxe. I keep a Lion Tamer in the FX Loop to play at a reasonable volume. I mostly use les paul guitars. I love the natural breakup of the humbuckers throuh the Deluxe.

[@theo3644]

After work I love to fire up the Blues Jr. Savin' it up for Friday night.

[@mchammer5442]

I'm using a Bassbreaker 15 (tweed version with a Greenback speaker) and I love it for its versatility. More often than not, I'd go with a minimalistic approach, just guitar -> cable -> amp. It has all I need.

[@LuckyJack99]

Love the Blues Jr

[@wheatonna]

Thanks so much! I've been playing mine (a generation II maybe?) and gigging with it for 15 years at least. But early on I got the BillMods kit (may he rest in peace), and it completely changed the tone for the better. I also put in a Cannabis Rex speaker. Recently, I decided to stop playing with my guitar knobs all on 10. And I discovered that my beloved Blues Junior was not loud enough to play clean at a gig with my guitar knobs at 6 or 7. So, I got a Peavey Classic 30. It's too soon for me to know if I made the right decision: I haven't played the Peavey yet except at home.

[@KdR594]

I changed the 1st capacitor from 45mf to a 22mf making all caps 22mf , it got rid of the boxie sound and made it sound much looser.

[@adir_i]

I have vintage Deluxe, Marshall, Friedman and Mezzabarba. The Blues Junior is amazing. I do the same, like you: I dial it to higher gain and play with the guitar volume to clean the tone and it's amazing. low volume, amazing amp, buy and then try. it takes some time to figure it out but it's worth it.

[@randyallen4959]

I have a 50w bassman head with no mods except to make it safe with a 3 prong plug, and tone caps replaced. I play both guitar and bass running it through 2 EV SRO15 Bs,.....but.I live in a high rise apartment building of seniors. My apartment amp is, though, it's a boat anchor, is my AC 15. I just started using Line6 express guitar and bass IRs to record.

[@richardryan8462]

Nice video. Nice demonstration of the Blues Jr. An amp that seems to get forgotten but must be selling is the Pro Jr. I think it must be selling because it's still around. Years ago I got what at the time was special edition that had a Jensen 10" speaker. Nowadays that's the default. I often forget how darned good that thing sounds until I plug into that amp and play. It's not what you would use for a pedal amp, it doesn't have reverb or tremolo, but that's not something I miss with this amp. Basically I set the tone and the volume, keep it there, and then just muck with the tone and volume on my tele. (The control panel on my tele is upside down so I can use the tone knob as a wah if I want, or the volume knob as a fade. Works nicely on the Pro Jr.) It's a pretty satisfying sound. I hope you'll give it a try some time.

[@donsantiago1]

I like the Junior a lot. My favorite Fender amp so far is the Vibrolux 2x10. I tried once a 1959 4x10Bassman reissue and I was speechless. Really sweet sounding. The Blues Junior is a great gigging amp, too much for domestic use, even a 1 watt can be too much. It depends on the speaker size, for the living room 1x8 might be enough.

[@jasonsims6273]

My favorite fender amp I’ve ever owned and regret for the life of me that I sold it was my reissue Super Reverb. That amp was extremely loud. I’m from Birmingham Alabama and there is a guy down here who makes Sam amps (great amps check em out) who put switches in the amp to where I could cut off just one two or three speakers, so when I was playing a smaller gig I could switch off all three speakers and have just one ten inch speaker. The switches prevents the ohms from changing so the tone stayed the same and it was if I had a blues jr inside a super reverb amp. You had to do that because if you had just unplugged the speakers the ohms would change and the tone would break up at lower volumes. With the switches it wouldn’t. Can’t believe I got rid of it.

[@TribalGuitars]

A BluesJr is on my wish list. Currently, I'm running through a Fender G DEC 3 (15w) which is a great little practice amp I got about 18 year ago from a, then, co-worker for $50 and it was about 3mos old. I don't gig and it's plenty loud when the wife and kid are out of the house. For what it is I gotta say I'm pretty impressed, even as old as it is. It's got way better sound than those Fender Cyber things they came out with, even as low power, tiny little amp. The presets are very decent. My main amp was a Princeton 65 that quit working on me and I haven't had the $ to get it fixed.