Fender Blues Junior III vs IV - Comparison Demo

The boys sit down to compare the much loved Fender Blues Junior III with the new kid on the block - the Blues Junior IV.
Which one do you prefer?
www.absolutemusic.co.uk/fende...

[@markfranzen899]

Nice comparison guys! REALLY appreciate the fact that that you not only set them the same, but then adjusted each to see what they can do with some tweaking.

[@tannerboil6765]

"Less Fendery" is the exact word on the IV. Defiantly more body on the IV, almost "Marshally"...big sound. I like it. The speaker is defiantly making a big difference. GREAT comparison guys!

[@KordTaylor]

Thanks so much for this comparison. It was just what I was looking for!Wonderful.

[@JeremyMcCant]

I definitely prefer the mark 4 clean. The 3 sounds more open and brighter for distortion. Overall, I like the mark 4 because it seems to keep that classic sound even with higher distortion. The 3 does sound good though for a brighter marshall gain sound and sounds a bit more like a metal type of tone but, the 4 has that classic cranked, full-bodied sound to it. The 3 also seems to break up a bit faster. Both awesome amps, I'm pretty sure that people could buy both and get use for each individual amp. Amazing demo!!!

[@captainjaneway1111]

The III sounds like a distorted small amp struggling at high volume. The IV sounds like a big amp that has the power to be loud without shite distortion.

[@af5aristoto]

That was a great fair comparison guys. Very educational. Thanks so much! I've got a Blue Jr III and am always bothered by its bell like high end. I always turn the bass up and reduce treble and reduce the tone knob on my Strat to try and make it fatter and bassier. Also I have the boost always on. I believe that the new one might solve many of my problems. Specially that I really love the Fender clean tones. I can tell a huge sound difference in headphones. Will go check one out.

[@onixtheone]

Should’ve done a test where you forgot about what the knobs say and tried to set exactly the same level and amount of drive and eq and taken reverb off

[@user-my8cx8mp6h]

You helped me to choose one. Thanks! Waiting for my IV.

[@benparker2901]

Fantastic review. The review industry is over saturated (no pun intended), but there's definitely a vacuum (also no pun intended) when it comes to accurate comparison reviews like this. An exact A/B test was the right call.

[@sbadali1]

Great review! I don't own a BJr ... leaning towards the IV after seeing this as it better suits my needs. Thanks Gents!

[@rafmis7660]

Good review fellas! Thanks, Ontario Canada.

[@grodriguez512]

If ya can't decide which one to buy just buy both and go stereo 😂😂🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@whatyoumakeofit6635]

Yep. I would think the differences in the two would complement each other well.

[@JLebowski357]

That is a fantastic idea!

[@dannyharpermusic]

Thats what I did. Bought both!

[@spotmfd9431]

I like the darker sound of the IV. Keeping my older blues junior but might not be my main amp anymore.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

dark is the easiest thing to achieve musically,turn treble off,turn reverb off,have muffled speaker,turn mids down...you have dark>>or mud>>or shit ....dark sucks balls

[@abradfordajb]

The 3 seems to have more top end. The 4 seems "smoother" with more bottom. Also, it is true that the 3's reverb jumps out at you more ..... "washy" ? The 4's reverb is pulled back a bit and sounds almost HiFi. The overly "toppy" 3 really stands out with sc's. The 4's smoother nature compliments overdriven sounds. Overall, both sounds are good .... it just depends on what a player is looking for. I'm sure that EQ'ing the 3 can smooth out the top, and boosting the 4's treble can add top end. To me, it's obvious that Fender has re-voiced the 4 to "fit in" more with today's 'modern' sound, whereas the 3 really is more of a vintage sound. Solution: Buy BOTH and use a floor switcher :-)

[@RS-pp7ng]

I've always hated the top end on the Mark 1, 2 and 3. I love the way it's rounded off on the Mark 4.

[@tomasdubienski1926]

What are the original amp settings in the video before you guys change anything? Love the tone!

[@davidfox9642]

The best tonal comparison I've heard. And i agree with both you in your assessment. I just purchased the blues jr mark iv

[@mnnicholas304]

Same…just got the iv today and I’m in love!

[@krisabbott9238]

Great review thank you

[@DraftNutthana]

bought a mark 3 yesterday because this video!

[@toadamine]

Good choice!

[@flyinUtah]

I love my Blues Jr III LOVE it!! and the other day I was at Guitar Center and there was a white Blues Jr. with a Celestion speaker in it and I hated the sounds compared to mine; Now keep in mind I play a 79' Strat but I've found that there are lots of Limited Edition Blues Jr.'s with all sorts of different speakers in them. Bottom line is this I've tried all sorts of combo's but the eminence just seems to give me the best Hendrix tone which is what I like. There's a video where someone demo's a Blues Jr. III to a 59' Bassman combo and anyway yes one is clearly smaller but, it was just like his baby brother in sound. **Anyway what do I know I'm just a tone chaser!!**

[@-dlb-]

Great job guys. Thanks! I like the 3, but the 4 might prove easier to work with, especially with pedals.

[@jadonx]

A iv it is for me then but is it available in lacquered tweed?

[@paulvarlaro1184]

I got the blus jr lv 2 months ago and switched out the speaker right away with a eminence taxes heat speaker and wow now I got that srv sound at a low volume! Love it then hit the tube screamer pedal for over drive ,nice.

[@RickP2012]

Dammit, I was thinking about picking up a mk iii cheap and figured they'd be much the same. However, I much prefer the mk iv.

[@sickb2200]

The IV delivers a slightly scooped tone profile which I like better for high gain, but I like the III better for cleans and lighter break up. I can always cut down the mids. They will both take pedals well. I'll keep my two Blues Jr. IIIs which I run in stereo - they sound so awesome that way! Might be cool to run one of each in stereo though.

[@WowIndescribable]

I have no idea what the hieroglyphics were towards the ends regarding the tone controls. Why not put text on screen like you did when changing amps?

[@donnaadams6855]

Hi , I’m confused I want to buy a blues junior but I only play clean so is the mk3 or mk4 better for me ? I don’t know anything about valve amps , I like to play Beatles , country . I don’t know what to buy HELP

[@theloniouscoltrane3778]

Does the blues junior III 230v (Eur) have a headphone and foot pedal jack? Where will you insert the footswitch to engage the FAT boost? Thanks

[@steveindorset]

No headphone jack on the Blues junior. Only the FAT boost is activated by the footswitch.

[@dekzan]

Please, how many watts on the 3 and 4 speakers ?

[@br549times3]

It'd be nice to hear a comparison between Cannabis Rex, III and IV.

[@JesseJuup]

Great comparison! This is how it should be done! 10/10

[@juujuujuupa]

May I ask what is the model of the PRS? Does anyone know?

[@chrisbradshaw159]

This an excellent review. The differences are obvious.

[@seanfried5583]

If you turned the reverb up on the IV it would wind up sounding pretty close to the 3. Setting knobs to the same setting is not necessarily the best way to compare. It is a good starting point but the amps were designed to sound different, so it is fair to assume they would have different frequency response curves for the controls.

[@SpezlvomAnneNr1]

Different wood cabinets. Is der a weight difference?

[@seven336]

Has anyone tested the Mark 4 against the Blues Junior Lacquered Tweed? Can't decide which one I like more

[@Stratman6969]

Interesting comparison, but are both speakers broken in?

[@1willywonker]

tried one today with a tele sounded fantastic for country rock and blues everyone should own one

[@1willywonker]

they sound so good im gonna buy one

[@therealwolfspidertoo]

do you have a compare of the bassbreaker v the blues jr4?

[@luckyfamilyman]

When I was 10 years old played guitar with a very wise older guitar amp guru who revealed the secret 3 things for 100% best way to make ANY AMP sound better... 1:Practice 2:Practice 3:Practice

[@kimhansen6384]

He was just stuttering :-)

[@sasmitha8446]

Where is the pickup selector on that PRS?

[@rikmcrae]

Sasmitha Waidyatilleke the back knob is a 5 way rotary switch.

[@savagedick1462]

Mine doesn't have III marked on the rear logo but the bottom inner small sticker shows a manufacturer's date of 2018....is it a iii?

[@janisoppliger1152]

Cool Video! is there any differnece with noise/ Hum ect.? cause my Blues Jr. 3 Tweed has a lot of hum and i don‘t kmow if this is normal... mabye you can help me?

[@diegodesousafaria]

Janis Oppliger check if your electric outlet is properly grounded. I have the same model, same problem, run it into a pedal power supply with a “lifted” outlet (“doesn’t need” the ground) and the humming was gone.

[@donstewart368]

My blues 111 has a Jensen 12 inch C12N. My favorite speaker for a Fender sound. Its a keeper.

[@paulrichard10]

I have a IV. Sounds great out of the box with minimal tweaking.

[@marka2033]

Great tones, lads. That PRS is beautiful.

[@jman1428]

To bad the volume is louder on the older series?

[@theinvadersband]

I much prefer the 4 over the 3. I had two 3's and sold both. Tried the 4 in Guitar Center and could tell a difference right away with the a fuller sound and less chime. Good video.

[@realtruenorth]

see, I like the character and chime, that's what made it it's own amp. it sounded vintage to me (imperfect) new one sounds more modern. but than again I can get a more blackface tone from the clean on my Mesa so I wanted a strong deviation from that. also, I don't use the internal reverb, I use a stymon reverb so that takes away some if the issue.

[@user-wr5ue6zc5o]

How could you unplug and plugin back and forth like that without turning the volume down? Many tube amps in your store must be damaged.

[@therealwolfspidertoo]

what about the cab? partical board or ply?

[@kennethflood4661]

I wonder how much is just down to speaker? What would the mark 4 sound like through the eminence speaker and the mark 3 through the celestion?

[@moreorlesslikeso]

Exactly. I've replaced the stock speaker in my BJ III with an Eminence Swamp Thang and that stabilized the bottom end noticeably. So the speaker really matters. Apart from that really recommend cranking the power amp instead if the preamp, sounds so much better...

[@gillesgenete9598]

Also the BJ3 speaker may be well rodded while that of the BJ4 is brand new: makes differences for bottom end

[@brandonkruse6412]

A Celestion will always have more midrange and a pronounced treble where as Eminence will have more scooped mids with firm bass and rounded treble.

[@abradfordajb]

The MIV sounds fuller and smoother at all frequencies, and the treble in particular is smoother and is absent the sharper sound of the MIII. The difference is 90% speaker, and 10% a toned-down reverb, and whatever Fender did to the preamp EQ. Neither sound is "better" in the absolute sense, because it depends on what the player is looking for.

[@sergioserramusic]

One of the biggest improvement one can do to a BJ is replacing the stock speaker. Some like T-Rex Cannabis, others prefer Celestion Greenback, I was thinking too about upgrading my BJ mark II with a new speaker

[@atomic7731]

great video but it seems the 3 sounds louder than 4? more gain? what do you think, guys?

[@michaelepstein7515]

Defiantly the 3 sounded louder!

[@dom-ru5cc]

Just more gainy

[@tysonrinker8089]

getting a fender blues jr III today!!!

[@asleepinthealley]

What Speakersv are in both of these?

[@lukasm8990]

What would it sound like with the new Boss Waza crafted MT-2? I heard that nothing brings out the true tone of Fender tube amp like a Waza crafted metal zone pedal.

[@AbsoluteMusic]

with 9 year old strings on of course ;)

[@Mr.Altavoz]

great video...I'll go for the 3

[@LadderFromMGS3]

what song is he playing at 7:40? can’t put my finger on it

[@Prajnana]

I preferred the III for cleans (vintage) and the IV for distortion (modern). Since I buy an amp for it's cleans, it would be a III for me. Reminds me of the differences between the '65 and the '68 Princeton reissues.

[@waynetykocki3964]

The 3 sounds great but the 4 is also good out of preference the 3 for me

[@tysonrinker8089]

bassbreaker has a good distortion

[@PeterDad60]

So does a Marshall so what's your point? This is a Blues Junior Version III vs. IV "comparison", get it?

[@FLdb-wj4wc]

@@tysonrinker8089 i have the bassbreaker. My singer has the blues jr. Her amp always sounds better and cuts through the mix way better than my bassbreaker. Very disappointed

[@cmkilcullen8176]

yes...

[@DriftwoodBeachMom]

Very good comparison. I have some questions, though. How are both when played at a lower volume, like from 1 to 3? I have heard that it could sound like "a transistor radio"? What were your thoughts at the lower volumes? Have you compared the Blues Junior TWEED to the IV? I hope you can respond to this. Thanks.

[@DriftwoodBeachMom]

Thanks. I will try the IV out.

[@JamesMcCutcheon]

Blues Junior with 6V6 is american the III with El84 is British.

[@DriftwoodBeachMom]

Thanks.

[@michaelaabbaticchio8438]

The IV has way better string definition for chords

[@jeffbriggs4268]

The BJ lacquer tweed was the best of them that I've heard. I have a III and a black face Princeton and they sound great together.

[@realcoyotekings]

III more upper mids, less bottom. IV less mids, more bottom and cleaner all 'round. Sounds "nicer." III will cut through the mix better in live situation, but that IV does sound sweet.

[@natebot321]

I definitely prefer the clarity and high-end of the III.

[@alexandergilman3394]

How would people compare the III to the older model, pre-2010?

[@13Hangfire]

Why don't you guys use a looper to a/b amps with?

[@paulb5480]

Hi, the Blues Junior III always sounded kind of boxy to me, does the IV sound boxy too?

[@benparker2901]

Boxy is a good word - loads of mids hey. I think that's the fender amp sound - I've never really loved it. But III's can be made to sound great too. I bought a IV and I wouldn't say it's boxy. It's just a more rounded and useable tone than the III (in my opinion). I think both sound better with a good OD pedal rather than relying on the amp's own pre-amp gain (which I believe is where the boxy sound comes into play).

[@lanceheaslewood4121]

Great vid chaps , much better than those bell ends at Andertons!

[@blodgidonka]

What about the cab Material??? The IV is made out of partial board... Is that going to be an issue? Other than that I like the iv

[@axesandamps]

I wonder how much of the total difference is the Celestion speaker. I would love to hear the two different heads (Mark three verses mark four) played through the same cabinets and speakers to see if they truly improve the amp. As it stands I like the Mark three. Much better bloom.

[@robertstapleton3598]

I know this is an older video but it's still relevant and some of these comments will be helpful to new buyers. I agree with Onix Junes comment that aiming the knobs the same way does not guarantee a match. Version 3 here was louder and much brighter making comparisons unequal. Best to use ears and try to match as close as possible - see if that's possible. Then see what the differences are.

[@stevewebertampainvestments2097]

I am trying to pick between a III and IV right now and I feel the IV sounds better in every way esp the reverb. I have yet to compare them side by side tho

[@TwistedIdentity]

I'm glad I watdched this video. I like the III more than the IV by a mile. The reason why I want a Blues Junior in the first place is for that harsh top end. I love it

[@brianm1491]

Why go out and buy a mark 4, when u can adjust the tone settings on the mark 3 ?

[@paulolsen6870]

Should have set both reverbs at zero.

[@blyssed]

Ya. I can't believe they missed this

[@Kennardy]

Yep!

[@realtruenorth]

well, I would like both, part with reverb, part without.

[@HROD137]

I cannot pay attention to the sounds, that PRS is a beautiful guitar, haha, I love fenders but been latelly thinking on getting an SE Custom. Great demo , owned a BJ first generation and did some mods, I think it's one of the best, versatile and most affordable tube amps around, a big plus, wont break your back.

[@steppingrazor5081]

What mods did you do? I have the first gen also and looking for some better tones from it

[@davidberry4992]

Great comparison video. I think the clear winner it the Blues Jr. (leaning towards the IV).

[@rickwilson9932]

Sounds to me like the mic levels at the mic pre stage are quite different, which makes for a difficult A/B comparison. The three's mic input sounds more colored if not overdriven, and come across as louder.

[@tylerwatkins9582]

which one is on the right?

[@bciecko1]

I'm a bit late to the discussion but the reverb from 3 into the 4 is what I'd like. Or, maybe, a version 4 with a twin reverb--a Blues Jr. Twin Reverb for those of us that just love the 'verb.

[@kdrake777]

Is the IV still a tank reverb?

[@bassiclogic]

I hear more tube sound in the III than the IV. The reverb is tamer on the IV! As far as the Bass difference I would imagine that could be adjusted in the bass control!

[@Mike-xz4ie]

Really thought the range of both amps came through well in this video and the Mk iv is clearly the better amp for a single coil pickup clean or driven. For a gibson with humbuckers the mk iii sounded better clean but pretty thin when driven while the mk iv driven on both types of guitars sounded excellent. If you've got a gibson type guitar you'll want both amps, but if you've got a fender guitar you'll only want the mk iv.

[@sboy1955]

A good demo would be to see how much either of these amps can be tweaked to sound like the other amp using the given EQ, gain, and volume controls. I.e., I’m fairly certain they can be made to sound almost identical.

[@PatinaMisfit]

Great video, good to see a proper A B test not just dicking about.

[@TMillsMusic]

The clarity of the IV is so much better.

[@adamperry870]

3 for sure people say it has too much reverb but I like it in my opinion well because of the time of music I play

[@pinsk94]

Really have an issue when you compare with the same settings. Set each up for the beat tone and then compare. One amp might sound like crap at current settings but might be better it set up appropriately.

[@1willywonker]

they sound great with the PRS

[@guitarhiker4449]

Lefty and a righty cool! Lefties rock! Nice strat man! Mark 3 is definitely brighter to my ear. I like the mark 3 myself. Rock on!

[@geraldhills41]

Mark III is the typical fender twin flabby bass sound, nice to hear the IV has improved !

[@AshishLimbu]

great comparision,,

[@danielhartman5086]

I like the Blues Jr. IV. So I will be getting that 1.

[@BreadandFaxes]

The reverb is very noticably dialed back. I bought a new one yesterday after having a tweed one and I noticed right away the reverb sounded very dull

[@sooparticular]

that prs sounds awesome

[@stevebarry8540]

Man, what a great morning.

[@margovallen]

I've got a Fender Blues Junior Lacquered Tweed NOS and it sounds great. May or may not replace the speaker. I have yet, to play out with it so, its difficult to tell the tone at higher volumes.. as I've only played in in-doors for practice. But, as it were---- sounds wonderful. Sounds lovely with my Fulltone Plimsoul pedal, as well. With both, single and double coils. Nice and portable.. looks really tweed-lacquer cool. Love the amp. The Jensen C12N sounds great, thus far. We shall see.

[@margovallen]

Lets face it------ Fender made the Blues Junior much worse as the amps go by. Changing only to attract the idiot crowd. I own the NOS original and it sounds much better than these.

[@DJFalkoHannover]

Okay! Thank you, I but the Mark III and save me some money! For my beautiful 2 Les Paul Customs and PRS McCarty II.

[@punditpoint195]

Hmm, the III is better overall. The IV has lost top end brilliance, and the distortion has some kind of muffled, compression going on. Put the speaker from the IV in the III and you'll already have an improvement in the low end. When Fender did the 68 Princeton, they managed to take all the magic out of it and make it sound bad. It seems like they've continued that trend with the BJ IV.

[@gmlasam]

@Pundit Point... I agree with you, but I'll take it further. The first BJ version sounded the best and observing the declining changes its been receiving, I think Fender is losing sight on the magical tone BJ once had and made famous.

[@AllenPinchloaf]

I thought it was just me diggin the 3rd version

[@artithew6922]

@@gmlasam p

[@KipCount]

III has all that glassy character and reverb is as it should be. The IV's reverb is totally castrated. You can get all the lows you want out of a Blues Junior by swapping speakers or driving a nice 2x12. Feeling very good about my III right now.