Getting Great Blues Tone With a Blues Junior | Crossroad Blues Secrets

Getting Great Blues Tone With a Blues Junior. The Blues Junior is a fantastic little amp for the blues. In this video you're going to learn how to set this amp up to give you the tone you like. We'll go through what the pre and power amps are and how they work to affect your tone. We'll also talk about how both of these things also have a massive affect on your reverb. @crossroadbluessecrets you can purchase this amp here amzn.to/3kLMZ0m
In this video I'm using the tweed Blues junior no effects or post production. It's mic'd with a sm81 and rode NT1 room mic.
0:00 Intro Jam with Tweed Blues Junior
1:01 Intro
1:28 The Preamp and the Power Amp
2:07 Blues clean tone
2:15 What knob controls the Preamp and the power amp?
2:30 What tone do we get by turning up the preamp (Volume knob)?
4:06 The difference between amp distortion and overdrive
4:20 Turning up the power amp (master know)
5:08 Turning up both Power and Preamps
7:11 Reverb
7:48 Reverb without getting lost
8:31 Reverb Sound with Preamp on full
9:34 Reverb sound with Master on full
10:27 Outro
/ johncasson
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[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi All if you like the blues junior check out my latest video 4 legendary tones with just the Blues Junior 4 Great Tones With The Fender Blues Junior.....No Pedals Allowed! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKHCg2p6pL2rgLs

[@johntyo3359]

Just stumbled across this. fifty years playing acoustic and just learning electric. This takes a lot of the mystery out of using the blues jr and I suspect many other amps. Thanks for putting this out there for us.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

You're welcome, glad it helped, trying to get to the bottom of these things can be confusing!

[@martinmcgimpsey9750]

Thanks for the video! I will have to try some of those settings! Sounded awesome!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi Martin, you’re welcome glad it helped 👍

[@Nessy3nity]

Thank you very much for that very clear and concise explanation on the different sounds you can get from the amp. I finally understand how to properly setup my blues jr. to get the sound I like. Thank you!!! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much for writing! Really glad it helped 😀

[@junglist1]

What a fantastic way of explaining all of this in layman's terms.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi Roger, That's very kind thanks!

[@williamdevlin366]

Thank you for this video! It definitely simplifies my Blues Jr. amp knowledge!!!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much for watching, glad it helped!

[@greenturtle321]

Thanks! Own a Blues Jr. that I bought in 1998. Still original tubes! Love it.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Great! Yes these amps are wonderful

[@Bixll09]

I have a 96 Blues Jr. Still sounds fantastic and no problems yet. Great pedal amp, so many ways to set up this amp. I have my amp dialed in for me, and use my pedals to make any changes. Great playing also. Cheers,

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

I bet that sounds great! I keep coming back to this amp! Thanks for your kind words

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Beautifull sound & playing, enjoy!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

That’s very kind, thanks so much 👍

[@robinbhairam7508]

I’ve had mine since lockdown, when I, like many, took up guitar … today I learned how to use it!! Thanks 😊

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Glad I could help!

[@amir.zolghadr]

Great sound John! Very good playing as well!!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Many thanks!!

[@craigmcinnes897]

Brilliant explanation. Just got one of these and this has made it make a lot more sense! Thanks!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Glad it helped 👍 have fun with it, they are great 😊

[@daddycharlie4025]

Thanks for taking the mystery out of it...liked and subscribed...

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much, yes, can be a bit confusing all these volume knobs!

[@doug9116]

Tremendous video and much appreciated.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi Doug, That’s very kind thanks for watching 👍

[@ASHSRV]

Best amp video I have ever seen!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi Ash, thanks so much that's very kind of you. They are lovely amps aran't they?

[@devanshsoni8622]

Oh man, you did it all, that's the video i was searching like crazy, thanks man, appreciate it!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much! Really glad it helped 👍

[@tommoyer4697]

Best video ever...if you have a blues jr

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much, Yes these amps are really great 😊

[@geoffdewar8845]

What a great video, so informative. I have Blues Jr lll Limited Edition with the Cannabis Rex speaker. I love this amp. Your words will help me understand just what this amp can really do. Thanks.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi Geoff, thanks so much for writing. You have a lovely amp there I think I had one with that speaker too, it was great. I always come back to the blues junior no matter what I use.

[@geoffdewar8845]

@@crossroadbluessecrets Thanks for your message. Could you recommend a few sources of blues backtracks. I would appreciate your suggestions. GCD

[@leeder92]

Best explanation of how to get the best out of this cracking little amp so far. Thanks 😊

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much 🙏

[@chadduckworth5145]

Sweet tone and wonderful playing. Thanks very much to the insight of the Blues jr. I have been battling with learning how to play for many years now. I have horrible A.D.D. I just bought a a limited edition Blues jr with a green back in it and a Fender performer strat. Both the guitar and amp make me want to play.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi Chad, Thanks so much for writing. That’s a lovely set up you have there! I bet they sound good together. It always helps if you have a nice sound to inspire you. It takes me ages to learn things, I enjoy that though because I’ve always got something I’m looking forward to playing 😀

[@billnu]

How is the practice going with the ADD? I’ve never been diagnosed but pretty sure I’m in the same boat

[@mcse9951]

This is absolutely the best tutorial I've seen on how to get what I want from my Blues Jr. Subscribing. Thank you!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much for watching 👍 yes they are great amps these I have a Handwired Princeton but this sounds better.

[@TheQsaw123]

love that clean fender reverb. Nice sunset too.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Yes I like the super wet reverb sound too

[@jasondorsey7110]

​@@crossroadbluessecretsI switched out the Ruby Tubes spring tank in my bj3 to an older american Accutronics tank, it gave the reverb knob a much more usable range, prior to that it was either barely anything or ridiculously over-the-top

[@sipius22]

Excellent explanation!!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jjadriottt9073]

Thank you very much! Excellent video lesson! 👏👏👏👍

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

You are welcome! 🙏

[@DollyTtam]

Thanks John

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

You're welcome :) hope it helps

[@wggl99]

well done and informative

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much glad it helped!

[@yodan8937]

Excellent Video on Blues Jr. 😊

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MrRocketguitar]

Beautiful

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much!

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Now this is a proper tone demo and explanation. 👍

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much, really pleased you liked it!

[@thewikoff]

Big help, thanks a bunch, Strat Player! 😄

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Happy to help!

[@JoseFlores-lt8kt]

Great tutorial thanks

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Glad it was helpful!

[@garycrouse1918]

excellent tutorial

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much 👍🏻

[@slowwwwBurnnnn813]

Thank you 👍🏼

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

You're welcome!

[@SaidFelnyNoise]

really good

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much 👍

[@oldenglishbluesdog-ob4em]

Great sound and playing. Got a pro junior which sounds great but doesn’t quite for fill my needs ! So thinking about the blues jr 😎

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much! Yes its funny I've bought so may amps (like we all do!) but I always come back to the Blues Junior it's just great 😀

[@christophkropp4238]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Vielen Dank!!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

👍

[@hlyangel1]

Very tasty phrasing 👍

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much 👍

[@d.a.6608]

I don’t see the problems. My Jr amp was easy to dial in and it sounds awesome.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Yes you’re right just plug In and that’s it!

[@realtruenorth]

Tube screamer 808 on the front end of one of these sounds amazing.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

I’d love to hear that if you have a video

[@realtruenorth]

@@crossroadbluessecrets I don't but I am no stranger to boutique tones, have a Mesa electradyne, Fryette amp which is amazing but for a great bluesy crunch tone, I run my tele into the TS808 with drive maxed, into the blues Jr set to clean,,, WOW,, I couldn't stop playing the first time I tried it. Match made in guitar heaven.

[@nickbouvy8851]

Nice

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks!

[@tommyrr9106]

Epic

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

👍 Thanks

[@mairenared]

Very interesting video. I have a Tweed Blues Junior III with a Jensen speaker and love experimenting with different settings. One thing you don't mention is the tone settings on the amp. You appear to go for a scooped middle setting whereas I prefer to boost the middle as it cuts through more if you're playing in a band. Also interested in your take on using the volume knob on a Strat to vary the amount of distortion you get. I find It very useful when switching from rhythm to lead playing. Finally, you don't mention pedals. I know that you can get a great sound without them, but the Blues Junior is a great platform for pedals so I'd be interested in your take on overdrive, delay and compression pedals.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

HI Joe, Thanks so much for your message and for watching.Yes, I was just concentrating on the pre-amp side of things in this video. I will make another one with pedals. I made this video also on the blues junior with different guitar volume knob setting to create different classic blues tones kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKHCg2p6pL2rgLs

[@VisualSOLUTIONSMedia]

Great review, and you're a phenomenal player! All self taught or did you have classes in the beginning? While you play excellent leads, the only change I'd ask for is more chords- barre and open, see how the amp handles them and how they sound. Cheers from Miami!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi From New Zealand! Thanks so much for your comment. I had private lessons for three years but I think, like everyone I'm studying guitar everyday, just trying to learn from everyone else that seem to be so good. KZbin is great for that!

[@NagoyaHouseHead]

Went down to the crossroads ... fell down on my knees

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

😀

[@bluesman354]

Great informational video. only thing that could make it better is what is the guitar knobs set on for different clean and distorted?

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much, if I do another one I'll add it

[@deltablues8141]

Hi John, I have just discovered your channel and am amazed at the range of information that you cover. I have almost viewed everyone of your videos in a single day. I am hoping you can share some gems on the problem I have in finding a good blues setting on my guitar & amp. I am in my mid 70's and want to play a bit of blues to satisfy myself. I like a nice smooth creamy tone for blues (Always difficult to describe) with a bit bite when played hard. I have a 1980's MIJ Strat and a 2017 Strat American Pro. My amp is a fully loaded Lazy J J10 amp with spring reverb. Any suggestions on what I should do to get a good tone?

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi 👋 so sorry I didn’t know your name! But thanks so much for watching! that’s very kind. You must be sick of me by now, I would be! You have a lovely amp, I also like a creamy tone, you know I must say I find those type of tones easy to get through modlers and plug -ins but quite hard to recreate in the real world through an amp. Is there anyone you like that has the tone you like? That way you can see what gear they are using. For a creamy sound the Wampler gearbox pedal is lovely. Those tones are sometimes using two distortion pedals stacked.

[@deltablues8141]

Hi John, thank you for your reply to my post. Apology I should have added my name which is Gerry. I should also have added that I have a G2D Cream-Tone pedal, along with a 1980’ original Ibanez SD9 which I never use. I like clean smooth tones with a bit of grit when picked hard. Robert Cray type tones as well as your tone at 8.22 mins

[@dannykershaw2522]

Came for the title, stayed for the Dengue Woman Blues!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@kfkm2955]

Nice video and nice strat. What model is that strat and what pickups are in it?

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much , it a 1960 Fender Custom shop, very easy to play

[@LightningDogg]

Very nice demo. Would have liked to see you switch between neck and bridg PU on some of those settings. Overall, a very good demo.👍

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much! I just have the one guitar 🎸

[@LightningDogg]

@@crossroadbluessecrets Yes but your guitar has 3 pickups- neck, middle, bridge- and a 5 way selector switch🙂

[@cosmoganic]

Do you remember what settings you had on the intro tone? (if that was the blues jr) That tones just about perfect..

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi Ollie, I think I had the preamps up nearly full and the master around 4

[@mikekrizan3939]

Great video , but he did not speak of what the fat switch does & how it boost & changes your tone for a solo . Also there is a footswitch jack next to the speaker plug . I use a foot switch with mine for a fat lead boost . Rock on!!

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

If I make another video on the Junior I’ll do that.

[@fw3784]

Wow.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks so much 😀

[@bluesman354]

Would love to see the same format with Monoprice 15 watt amp. There's a lot of those out there now? is the gain on the Monoprice 15 watt the power amp and the volume knob the pre amp? thanks in advance

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi There, I've never heard of those, I'm in New Zealand so very unlikely to see those here. but I'll have a look at them. I think it has a gain knob which is the pre amp and volume for master they sometimes call them different things!

[@kristofer603]

Tell me how Ya feel about The Fender Blues Jr 1V with The Cannabis Rex speaker...Western Tolex...Thank You.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

I tried one in the guitar shop and I kept on going between the tweed and this one. I found the iv a bit warmer with less reverb. I do like the reverb on the tweed. I felt the tweed sound brighter and maybe a little more vintage so to speak but I did love the warm quality of the new one. What did you think?

[@steveindorset]

Hi Which Blues Junior is this and is there much difference in the I, II, III & IV?? Great playing and great vid Cheers.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi Steve, Thanks so much. This is the III the IV they have removed the bass flub and the tone is warmer compared with the tweed. They are both lovely sounding I don’t think you can go wrong. Sweetwater make a IV tweed that sounds great 👍

[@soto44123]

kinda works the same way with my vintage Twin Reverb.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

That’s another lovely amp 👍

[@gnatiu]

Use a Roland Blues Cube Hot or Stage 60 - you will need only your fingers to sound well. Plus: you get every good sound at any level. Plus: Your back will thank you, you will not have to pay extra for worn out tubes (this box really cooks the tubes - I have a 94 model, know what I am speaking about).

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Yes they are fantastic too 👍 I am a huge modeller fan myself

[@chrispage2782]

just wondering; did you read the title of this video?

[@MKActual.]

I can barely get my master volume past 2 or it blows the roof off my house…how are you playing with the volume and master so high? Are you using an attenuator?

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi TJ, I waited till my girlfriend and neighbours went to work it was very loud! You can of course just turn volume up master down. Just going to put up a video on attenuating this amp

[@MKActual.]

@@crossroadbluessecrets nice! thanks for response!

[@bobbyglass7214]

Did u try turning the guitar volume down and master all the way to 12 and use your guitar volume knob to adjust it. That’s what I had to do. Not really a genius on the subject though.

[@Richardseid]

I was about to ask the same Question. For me about 4 is wildly loud. So you lower your guitar volume way down and experiment with that volume ?

[@sparkyguitar0058]

LOUD LOUD ! That's not loud. I got a Boogie S O B that has a limit knob. This makes it possible to play along with this little amp or when I actually use the power of 60 watts I can easily compete with a Marshall stack. If not I also got 100 watts (4 pwr tubes) and a 12 L speaker. And that's my little controllable amp. For ignorant loud hurt your ears I got a pro tube Twin that's ungodly loud and is best pointed towards a wall you want knocked down. Probably the loudest combo built. Don't get much use anymore though. You said "Played when neighbors were at work". Tried that with the Twin and the neighbors called from work and asked if I could turn down.

[@mattcampbell5941]

I bought a Hot Rod Deluxe. I really regret not getting a Blues Junior ☹️

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

They are also nice Amps that one is great at home with an attenuator 👍

[@dekzan]

I like it with a RAT pedal. It drives, but doesn't change the sound of the amp.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks I’ll have to try that!

[@dekzan]

@@crossroadbluessecrets Check gearmanndude youtube channel. He demos RATs with a BJr.

[@ralphashford9022]

I didn't see any discussion about the 'fat' switch, which seems engaged on your amp.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi Ralph, you're absolutely right I didn't mention that!

[@lawtt]

Blues Junior master 12, Volume 5/6 = Deluxe Reverb breakup tone.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks 🙏

[@Ray_Wood_1984]

😊👍🍀🎶 🙇‍♂️

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Thanks 🙏

[@genebrenner855]

Both volumes turned up to 12 gives a large amount of noise on my Blues Jr. Was yours quiet? Outrageously loud and a danger to hearing.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

it was pretty loud in my small place. I put it in another room and closed the door! It wasn't buzzing though.

[@stefanstrittmatter6459]

both preamp and poweramp on full: where can you even gig that?

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

That’s the thing 😀 it’s just good for recording

[@GodWentPunk1]

Tell us a little more about that guitar.....

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

It’s a 1960 Fender Custom Shop very nice and easy to play fat 60s hand wound pickups 👍

[@alexkrummenacher5050]

"Clipping"? What does this mean in American?

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

When the amplifier runs out of juice (current) the speaker needs.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Clipping, overloading, distorting

[@jokerjoker3967]

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 €

[@JerseyMiller]

Blues Jr will do it for you if you want a tube amp. Or a vox ac15. A boss katana will get you close for a lot less but it's not quite as sweet imo.

[@crossroadbluessecrets]

Hi Joker, My preference has always been modlers, they are some much more flexible for different tones and styles. Amp wise the blues junior is great, you can add some pedals to that like the JS @ for higher gain tones. The only thing Is the reverb won't work too well because no effects loop. Another good one is the Marshall SV20H.