That Pedal Show - Fender Blues Junior, Vox AC15, Fender Bassbreaker 15: Which One Is For You?

[@zac_m]

"I've got a 1961 AC30." Is a reasonable response to literally any critique. "You're not very good at backing up into parking spots, are you?" "I've got a 1961 AC30." "That's fair."

[@joethrelfall6370]

vox ac30 in brian may(or 3 ac30s centre dry two outside amps wet if your lucky to have the full bm) rig with treble booster, all tone controls fully off normal channel up full with chorus added in master up full red special replica an a sixpence.

[@joethrelfall6370]

thats me happy ac30 is better than ac15 period. nice amp ac15 not loud enough ac30 is better.

[@Corporations8MyBaby]

I've got a 1959 Tweed Bassman which is like the opposite. Pushing it with a boost isn't as helpful as a good overdrive... the opposite is true with the AC30 so it depends on what you get used to and in what band. I was able to get my amp in the 90s because 1. the store didn't realize how original it acutally was. and 2. Living in Hollywood means you have access to Fender treasures before a lot of others do... not so with English Amps.

[@aixpert291]

😂

[@Sjur_sm57]

That should be on a t-shirt actually!

[@SuddenSoundStudios]

Six years later and this is still the best comparison across these amps. Thank you!

[@fotog04]

With my headphones on, the AC15 is my preference. The frequencies cut through so well. I love it!

[@cadams1607]

I used to have a 100w solid state Kustom amp and my mate an ac15. Mine sounded fine while playing alone in a room but in a band situation mine was mud the ac15 just cuts through in a great way.

[@brandonearley9624]

I have literally been watching these guys for a year and am just now realizing how great of a player dan is.

[@baldybonce29]

Brandon Earley only just?!! Are you mad they are both seriously great guitarists....i see where you're coming from though I was listening to his technical brilliance on the pedals way before I realised how great he was on the guitar

[@CorbCorbin]

He's a great player overall, but his sense of what to play, with what equipment, is uncanny. Is that understandable?

[@CorbCorbin]

nick Cooper Yes, I did this as well. He knows how to dial in tone brilliantly, but also the right thing to showcase the tone he dials in.

[@brandonearley9624]

Yeah I think the focus was so much on the tones and the pedals I didn't pay very much attention to his ability. You're right though. Both top guitarists.

[@grilledcheese1318]

Its great to come back to these older episodes and re-enjoy. Even better now that I have a Blues Junior.

[@JwMcLaughlin]

The decision fatigue is real

[@robpearson9526]

Yep, so is This listeners…

[@DavidHiemstraMusic]

1:40 Mick: People ask us why we haven't done anything on the Grateful Dead... Dan: I'm not into reggae

[@ThatPedalShow]

+Musical Gear & Tackle hahahaha ;)

[@NNJ007]

Musical Gear & Tackle most epic tps quote

[@czgibson3086]

Listen to the Grateful Dead! You don't know what you're missing. They are flawed but profoundly soothing. "The bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean." Start with Europe 72, Live/Dead or American Beauty and thank me later!

[@Hansvonbartles]

@@czgibson3086 the boys were never flawed, clean yer earz out!

[@czgibson3086]

@@Hansvonbartles I'm mostly thinking of tuning problems. Their vocals were out of tune far more often than you'd hear with most of the big touring bands. Plus guitars: I was listening to a live tape the other day, and after spending ages tuning up and getting everything "just exactly perfect", part way through the first verse of Promised Land one of the guitars was already out of tune! I still love them more than just about any other American band. :)

[@hgostos]

Never been a better time to play guitar: affordable yet good sounding amps and guitars galore plus loads of excellent free tutorials and tone information available (eg. That Pedal Show).

[@patrickcarroll1754]

Thumbs up if you think Mick masterfully tweaked the E.Q on the fly to give each amp its fullest potential.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thank you!

[@mtbright06]

That Pedal Show bought a bass breaker 15 and have been screen shoting the eq settings. You guys rule!

[@sinjon]

Agreed but for some reason the Blues Jr sounded like crap at 10:00 compared to the Bass Breaker and I normally prefer the sound of the Blues junior.

[@philclarke7712]

After watching Lee Anderton it's a blessed relief!

[@BollocksUtwat]

@@philclarke7712 "So everything's at about... eh, 12 o'clock."

[@CaseyJamesMusicOfficial]

The blues junior really shines when you crank the master and use the volume as a main volume. Sounds weird I know.

[@CarloscFr]

I own a Blues Junior and I'm in love. It's light and simple, all that i want. I set the volume at 9'5 to crunch but still being able to clean with the guitar volume and a Plexi-kind pedal, sounds great! It would be great to see the Catalinbread RAH in the show, i think it's a very interesting pedal.

[@vicenteortiz8521]

Do the heat of the tubes of blues jr can affect the components?

[@andreweasombentley4703]

You guys do comparisons like this in such a methodical way that we can really learn from. I really don’t think it matters at all if you are ‘repeating’ comparisons that have already been done by others because yours are so much more informative

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thanks Andrew! We hope that the good viewers of KZbin find shows/presenters that they connect with. So whether that’s us or somebody else - we just hope people are finding the stuff that inspires them to play more and sound better. Thanks for the kind words!

[@TomLuck]

I own the Bassbreaker 15 and I used to have a Blues Jr. I prefer the Bassbreaker personally. I have wanted to try an AC15 for a while. This video is perfect for us non gigging home noodlers!

[@claytonmurrayguitar]

Those Bassbreakers are super underrated. Fantastic little amps.

[@jorgenvandeburgt8670]

I'm sure they'd be more popular if they weren't so damn ugly.

[@jsphillip60]

@@jorgenvandeburgt8670 Wouldn't we all!

[@jsphillip60]

Just kidding!

[@jasondorsey7110]

I had a bassbreaker 15 and it was garbage..had a super champ x2 and it was garbage...have a blues Jr III, tweaked it with a few choice upgrades and it's delightful, nothing like my silverfaces but it's a keeper nonetheless, dunno why people online hate on the bj so much, maybe I just got a good one

[@michaelyolch79]

Underrated? They've sold a gazillion of these things all over the world!

[@chriscooks9850]

I can get lost in all your videos however this has been one of the most useful to me. Mainly to confirm what I know. The Blues Junior really suits my style, my pedals and is versatile when it comes to swapping between HB's and single coil on stage. I know it was 6 years ago but thanks for making this video!!

[@SirVicc]

I bought an AC15C1 partial because of your "Can Vox take pedals" vid, and this just confirmed it was the right choice. Keep up the excellent work!

[@RsqSqr]

Soon i would be, hope I make the right decision

[@petergraham9267]

........and finally from me.........owning a BB15, I am now getting a Vox AC15, and running them together..........WHAT A SOUND! 😍😎👍

[@livingabovethe12th]

That Fender bassbreaker 15 covers a huge amount of styles and genres in one amp for a very reasonable price. And if you want to get heavy with it just plug it into a 2 x 12 sealed cabinet makes a HUGE difference....ps my friend is the LD for Noel G....I will "have a word"... ;)

[@mattgilbert7347]

....and now I want a 2x12

[@dlhackett]

I recently bought a second hand blues jr tweed. I had such buyers remorse for the first couple of days until I turned it up a bit; and there it was. Nice little amp . . . and Pokey!

[@LuisHernandez-dy1rq]

IMHO the best way to use a Blues Jr is put the master at 12 then volume at 1.5 or 2 /3 for gigs EQ bass at 5 treble at 4 mid at 4 reverb to taste

[@bullish7352]

Goes to show just how much personal taste counts. I've just swapped my Bassbreaker, which I used for 3 years, for a Blues Junior and I couldn't be happier. The Blues Junior for me does everything the Bassbreaker failed at, specially a beautiful clean sound at high levels and a more full-bodied sound with distortion pedals

[@omiska]

Great show as ever boys! I myself own the 45 Bassbreaker combo (2x12) and it has attenuation built in so you can go from 1-45 watts and adjust the loudness and headroom at your pleasure, I highly recommend anyone who can to try it out! I live in a flat with neighbours above, below, left and right and I have yet to hear complaints of me being too loud... I am absolutely in love with it and it has become my almost exclusive and go to amp at home, band practice and studio/ live gigs! It has been 13 months so far and I am never letting go of it... P.S. To Mick and Dan and all of the subscribers: May you have a healthy, successful, and happy New Year filled with great joy and new experiences! I am looking forward to another year of Fridays and Tuesdays and maybe another day of the week as well (here's me hoping) filled with lessons, inspiration, great guests and fun hangs with my two favourite pedal freak buddies and all of the dudes and dudettes in the comment section below... May the Game of Tones never cease!!! Cheers from Croatia!

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thank you for the kind words and wishes! We like the 45 too - in fact we should get ours back, it’s in Simon’s studio! :9)

[@andreweasombentley4703]

Nikola Brkljačić I tried the 45 with the intention of using it the same way as you but found it too loud for use at home, even at minimum power. I’d be interested to try running it into something like a 1*10 cab for home use to see if that helped. In the meantime I have the 007 which I absolutely love

[@DavidDyte1969]

007 for days!

[@omiska]

Andrew Bentley The way I use it at my flat is as following: guitar cable in Both input, volume Normal around 15%, volume Bright around 10%, the power output at about 5-8 watts and then play with the EQ and the presence knob as you prefer... I mostly use a Fender Strat with the Volume pot at about 7 so I can sometimes boost it a little if I wanted to and a lot of different overdrive, distortion, fuzz and mod pedals in front of the amp. Mind you, it is loud but apparently, my loudest still turns out to be tolerable for my neighbours ( I have been living in the flat since age 1, started guitar at age 4 and now I am 30). I know that I might be blessed with the best neighbours around, but no one would tolerate 26 years of torture without at least speaking up just a little... Anyways Andrew, that is the way I set up the 45 at home ( hope it helps) cheers!

[@northof50now]

Funny how tone is so subjective. I purchased my BB45 after seeing Mick do a demo with Pete on the Anderton's channel. Hated it. Couldn't get a clean tone out of it. No bottom end at all - it's as though someone shelved off everything under 200hz; the attenuator is less than spectacular. Couldn't find a drive pedal that didn't make the amp sound harsh. BUT - in a wet/dry rig with a Blackface - absolute magic! Best tone I have ever achieved. Happy New Year.

[@aarondurham75]

Great vid fellas! I’ve gigged for a solid year with the Bassbreaker 15. It’s a not a clean pedal platform amp, which you guys caught on to. Where this amp shines (IMO) is setting it slightly crunchy as a dirty rhythm sound and then hitting it with a boosting pedal for leads. It really likes the J Rockett Archer which pushes upper mids through. Coincidentally, using a boosting pedal and rolling back the guitar’s volume gets me a “cleanish” sound. Happy New Year...cheers!

[@JeighNeither]

That amp rolls off better than any amp I've ever played. I don't think they got the best out of it here, it's capable of more. I play a lot of clean stuff, & my homebase was the middle gain stage, & roll off for glassy cleans. I sold my combo, but I found a really good price on a new BB head from a local shop ($500 ) & in today's supply chain inflated market, that's a steal. ($750 on Fender.com). I'm picking it up next week.

[@rogervann5547]

I have the AC15 greenback, the reverb has such a character in this amp, for me its unbeatable at the price point its at. I pair mine with my Blues Deluxe. Together they get a really wide sound, with the vox chime and the fender punch, both break up in a completely different way and it just makes an inspiring sound for me. All for not mega bucks!

[@skeres01]

Nice feedback. I'm thinking of an AC15 Alnico blue with my Fender Deville ML. Probably the AC30 is a better match but I also want a single amp option that is fairly easy to transport when required. Any thoughts on the sound combo?

[@lufiealice6251]

I have a Royal Blood Jnr and Bassbreaker 15 and I love them both. Can’t speak for the Vox but they have a certain sound you either like or you don’t. An important point is that the Bassbreaker is a great bedroom amp, the volume goes right down and sounds great, that can’t be said for the Blues Jnr and really you need pedals with it. The Bassbreaker has a lovely overdrive sound, I never put it in high gain mode though....

[@mattgilbert7347]

All true. My BB15 is my bedroom amp, and the DI XLR out to cab sim (NOT the amp's which is crap) into my mixer is great for headphone practice.

[@bertonedes]

Have the Bassbreaker 15, and im using it mostly for a clean playng in my small bedroom. There he shines like a STAR. BUT, in a bigger room this mini beautiful amp starts to loose headroom for good cleans, especualy with a humbucker neck pickup(for strats its still ok). To get some better clean, you have realyyyyyy to crank it up to some neighboors un-frendly level. I think a Blues JR do not have that problem. I don know why is that so?

[@Corporations8MyBaby]

"so just a new body, new neck... new pickups..." :D hahaha // "15 watts doesn't allow you a lot of clean headroom"

[@ThatPedalShow]

+Corporations8MyBaby cheers mate, yep, with any tone, context is everything ;)

[@CorbCorbin]

I agree about the PRS comment. But your insight on using two 15 watt amps is very good. I've done the dry/wet thing to great success with two 15 watt amps. A Blues Junior and a Crate, which I always forget the name of for some reason.

[@guitarfreak585]

Also! There's a recent rig rundown episode with Tosin Abasi that you guys might love! He's always been a champion of the axe fx, but he's basically ditched them for a Morgan and a huge Mick and Dan sized Pedalboard. It's a super cool video, really old school way of doing it. Seems like you guys are setting new (old) trends!

[@sonofboar13]

CodyMBB is it any coincidence that once TPS blew up, Tosin Abasi and Misha Mansoor both switched to traditional amp and pedal rigs? ;)

[@guitarfreak585]

Travis McCulloch very well could be. They've certainly cost me some money over the last year or so hahahahaha.

[@sonofboar13]

CodyMBB me as well! Started collecting pedals and getting a “pedal platform” amp. Dan and Mick have revitalized the pedal and amp tradition when I thought it was going to be lost to Kempers and Axe Fx’s

[@2Plus2isChicken2013]

I saw Tosin Abasi live during the Generation Axe tour in 2016 and I'm not sure Dan and Mick could get into any of his music. He wasn't my favorite of the guitar players who were there. 8-string guitars and djent just aren't anything I care for.

[@pedalgazer7109]

This is just SO detailed. If I were looking to buy one of these - and agonizing over the choice- this video would be an absolute god send. As it happens I've owned all three. The only one I kept is the AC15. However, I loved that bassbreaker. I applaud Fender for always trying new things and doing something new. It seems to me that they have been trying for years to do a "Fender" amp that can also do high gain- and it just doesn't work. I'm glad they keep trying, but with all their various attempts - like the super sonic or the prosonic- or their vintage modern series- the desire to have one amp does that great Fender clean - AND - some sort of mid range rich classic gain just isn't going to happen. Still, the bassbreak is one of their bravest attempts yet.

[@sgtpepper91]

ACs tone cut knob can get rid of the annoying chimey top end. With that, that amp wins

[@michaelkupfer3723]

The Blues Jr. has the most dull sound, the Vox the most organic, and the Bass breaker sits perfectly in the middle. But even with my cheap headphones I can hear that hum that forced me to return it. Vox AC 15 for me it is

[@astewart9410]

Here in 2020: Went into this video wanting a Blues Junior. Mid-point, I wanted a Bassbreaker. By the end I wanted the AC15. Can't afford any of them but, obviously, the only solution is what you said: I need all three! Can we all also give a huge shout out to Dan for his playing, and to Mick for his mad amp-sound setting skills!

[@thechannelforeverything2170]

I agree with you guys that the Bassbreaker was miss marketed,I have the Bassbreaker 45 and it's a FANTASTIC pedal platform,sounds great with guitar and bass,and is loud as hell,so in that sense it's almost like an old Traynor amp with some more attitude.

[@mattgilbert7347]

The channel for everything Damn straight son. Word is that a couple of mods may be in the works for: 1) Footswitch control for the bright switch. 2) Ditto for the 3-way onboard gain structure.

[@mattgilbert7347]

The channel for everything Thats the 15W combo. Idk does the 45W have the bright switch?

[@thechannelforeverything2170]

Matt Gilbert It has a bright channel but not a bright switch,it's like an old Plexi

[@Gummmibaer]

The medium channel on the Bassbreaker 15 is just awesome. My bandmate uses this amp and Im so jealous!

[@metalliholic]

Messed with it at GC and found the middle setting to sound delicous.

[@antonr.2101]

when I worked at GC I was sure to use that amp for all pedal demos. It's platform was perfect and it showcased just how loud and versatile a 15W true tube amp could sing. That being said, I use a Palomino V16 as my main gigging amp and man, I couldn't be happier....swapped out my v2 preamp (distortion spot) with a 12AU7 to make it SUPER clean and I crank that master to about 3-4 o'clock....sounds fantastic and takes pedals beautifully. The Vox sounds a bit similar to it in this vid.

[@philhood4604]

I tried a Bassbreaker 15, one of the best sounding and versatile amps I have played. Super clean to ultra dirty

[@ahmedsherbiny8952]

Phil Hood does the bass breaker produce sparkling clean sound? Cause all the videos on utube show a gritt punch to it even at the low gain setting.

[@davidcheon2582]

@@ahmedsherbiny8952 I got two days ago, and after some experimenting, it does give me a great clean tone when the gain structure is set to medium with the gain at 9'oclock.

[@mattgilbert7347]

@@davidcheon2582 It can do the Vox thing at that medium setting. Bright switch on, treble down.

[@gregs8685]

It’s a shame about the digital reverb though, which always sound fake. With a spring reverb tank it would be unbeatable.

[@whiskersb5296]

Great episode. Happy new year and thanks for all you do. As the guy from t-Rex said, you're educating people and you're the nicest guys in the world.

[@Macconator2010]

AC15 in my humble opinion is the most versatile of the amps put on show, but still really nice. I’d probably pass on the Bassbreaker. The AC gives you the classic vox chime, normal, clean, tone cut, etc.

[@infinitedurr]

Add a Rat & you’re good to go

[@thechannelforeverything2170]

Hey you haven't delivered me those pizza rolls you promised

[@Macconator2010]

You have to comment on my webzone to get a pizza roll.

[@KozmykJ]

FX Loop, DI Out + Silent DI are all included on the BB15, the others don't have any of those features. So application versatility is a field that the BB15 leads in. I liked all three, even before this video, but I chose Bassbreaker 15 in the end for my applications and I've come to learn the ways to get a whole range of tones that I doubt the others could manage.. I'll prolly pick up a s/h Vox along the way but I'm in no rush as my Selmer 8 rocked the old classic Brit combo tones, and will again once I replace all the 55 year old capacitors... ;^)

[@jonnelson5881]

Didn't Mike and Jay kill you?

[@harryemmott8597]

Dan's one liners were on point in this video: "I've got a 1961 AC30" "I'm not into reggae" Legendary.

[@paniccleo]

The vox is just such a different kettle of fish!

[@gordo907]

I run a Strat through a Suhr Riot into an AC15, and you CANNOT get the smile off my face! It sounds awesome!

[@nightwishlover8913]

Mick: "All respect to dead fans". Quite right you should respect dead people!!! And live ones!

[@whiskersb5296]

Nice to see an amp I own on the show. I use the bassbreaker 15 on the lowest gain setting and set so that with my strat it's pretty clean unless I dig in really hard, but with my les paul it's over that edge of breakup. And Dan called it gold!

[@RDYC]

Don't overlook the Blackstar stuff. My ID15TVP is one of my favorite amps ever, and i had Deluxe Reverbs back to the 60s as a kid. The Blackstar is a REAL amp, it can be any amp, and its built reallt solid. LOUD!

[@GiantPinhead]

Outstanding! Interesting how the BB added low end, the BJ mid , and the AC the high and conjoining them with the Strat brought it all together.

[@Aleph_Null_Audio]

This is the first time I've likes the sound of a Blues Jr.

[@pickledblues]

Thank you for posting this three days after I was trying out all 3. I chose the AC15. Something magical happens when you turn up bass and treble on full and put the tone cut at noon.

[@blakelarson8373]

I love how you can see Mick playing in the reflection of the Thorpy Veteran. Great shot!

[@ThatPedalShow]

Entirely planned. Ahem....

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Such integrity. Neither of them faked an orgasm when they kicked in the D&M Drive. These are people i can trust!

[@toneydavis9802]

Thank goodness you finally settled it . Britts prefer British amps! Lol. Seriously though it did prove one thing and that is an amp is an individual choice and in this day and time there are really good amps in all price ranges and wattage. How I love them and wish I had money, space and time for them all. You guys are so deserving and fortunate to do what you do. Keep pedaling!

[@grahamlong5969]

Bought an AC15 only today to go wet/dry with my Blues Junior, then discovered this video. I'll be doing something similar when I get home next week. Thanks for the headstart and the great work you do.

[@lance134679]

I'm thinking that the AC15 is the only amp you could gig with, unless you're relying heavily on the monitors. It seems to have the most headroom. It also has the nicest reverb, IMO. Thank you for the comparison video. I think you could do the same kind of thing with some common mid-wattage amps, such as the Deluxe Reverb, Hot Rod Deluxe, AC30, JTM45, etc., though it may be harder to narrow down the choices.

[@seanbrooks2583]

i think it greatly depends on how clean you want your sound.

[@davidstriderlindsley2712]

I gig and rehearse with mr Bassbreaker 15 combo all the time. The matching speaker cab makes it really great.

[@lance134679]

@New Level Coding Yeah, you can gig with anything. If I remember right (this was 4 years ago), the AC15 was the only one that I would personally gig with based on my experience of how loud I need to be to be as loud as the drummer on stage.

[@moreorlesslikeso]

My experience with the Blues Junior goes like this: just drive the BJ with the Master on 10 or 11 and control volume and overdrive with Preamp/Gain (and the guitar's volume knob). That's the way to go with this amp - it'll get really responsive and have some nice "organic" compression... A decent replacement speaker with tighter bass response won't hurt, though. Some "always on" pedal with moderate overdrive - for just fattening the input of a single coil guitar - will put some icing on the cake, still. Tubescreamer-like pedals might, however, possibly overdo the midrange a bit, so "transparent" (or more neutral) overdrives might be a better choice IMHO. But beware: this certainly won't work at bedroom volume levels...

[@anbublack97]

Wow, that Vox chime sounds so great, really sets it apart from the other two. Ac15 for me, love it...

[@TheOldFlyguy]

Vox killed the two Fenders with gain. Jr was harsh and I don't like it period.

[@joshmuz9018]

Yep it was better in every way with every guitar

[@jameswagner5098]

They are great

[@bigtsshackfestival9563]

I’ve always been a fender guy and looked down on vox for being made in china , well these models any way, but man I was so wrong. I got an ac 10 and now I’ll have an ac15 soon cus they are just bad ass. The sound is wonderful and it’s all that matters. Vox has their stuff together and put out such good stuff. I’d take an ac10 over a blues jr. ac 15 is not even close. Much better than the fenders

[@larryadams1873]

I own a Blues Jr III Amethyst. The Celestion A type speaker the amp comes with really opens up the tone of that circuit. The bass is way more full and tight and is sweeter in the treble. I use an OCD as well as a Dirty Little Secret for crunch. My go to fuzz is a Walrus Audio Jupiter V1. The amp easily handles all of these pedals and doesn’t fall apart at all. Your average Blues Jr really need a speaker swap to sound its best to me. Loved the video and keep up the awesome work guys!

[@Spidouz]

If only Fender would release the Blues Junior and Hot Rod Deluxe in head versions...

[@mattgilbert7347]

Pro Junior as well.

[@phill2840]

@@mattgilbert7347 yeah

[@enorbet2]

Hiya Phil, I can't see any good reason for a 10-20 watt head. The failing here of all the amps featured in this vid is low end headroom. The only fix I know of is in the Bassbreaker 30. Even the venerable AC30 or the Deluxe Reverb Reissue barely cuts it there as a single, stand alone amp. That evolved gain staging in the Bassbreaker 30 with substantially more low end headroom than any 10-20 watt amp ever made makes that amp actually deserve being a separate head, and it switches down to 18 watts if and whenever needed. 15 watts just either sounds thin or breaks up way too soon with anything close to "warm" or "full bodied" tone... and it will BARK! The only amp under 30 watts I know of that handles decent low end at even low level gig volumes is the Marshall 2525C, and that may be because they chose to underpower 2 x EL34s. 2 x EL84's? Meh.

[@phill2840]

@@enorbet2 maybe some like that 'loose' sound ;)

[@enorbet2]

@@phill2840 Understood and agreed. Tonal preferences are all valid since they are subjective. My point was that it is unlikely that most musicians would always prefer that tone just as it was noted especially by Dan in this video as a negative attribute. With most modern amps coming with "step down" attenuation of one sort or another, it seems far wiser to have an amp with sufficient wattage for decent headroom, that can switch down if one wants that loose low end or shelved off bass response. I recently bought a Monoprice 1/15 Watt 1x12 combo which is OK for basic practice and amazing for the price actually, but I'd want two of them for a gig. I don't know if they'd sell very well as a head. Hmmm they might as a stereo version :D

[@markkosa1]

Blackstar HT20 MKII slays them all and has a 2 watt mode for bedroom bliss. Plus it has a global master volume that does not affect the tone when turned down. I have a BJ Ltd also with the CRex speaker which is quite nice when cranked a little but The Blackstar is in a league of its own! 2 sweet cleans and 2 great OD tones, you won't be sorry and it sounds huge. If you will only play bedroom and small jams get the HT5 MKII, I have that one also and it is very nice watch the demos.

[@benmoore7946]

only 2 minutes into the video, but I already have to say: Thank you, as always, for including the vox! Merci beaucoup :)

[@wulfbak]

I’ve had a Blues Junior and did all the mods to it. With the speaker upgrade and mods it really transforms the amp. But with the amount of money you have to put into it you have to consider whether or not just to buy a higher grade amp. I think a lot of people who are disappointed with the Blues Junior are really expecting something more like to sound like a Deluxe or Princeton and that’s completely a different circuit.

[@kylejolin6033]

I completely agree. I had a Blues Jr and considered all the BillM mods. I paid $350 Canadian for a used Blues Jr. Then I walked into the local music store and there was a USA Fender Hot Rod Deluxe for $450 ( used). I bought the Deluxe and compared the two....... sold the Jr the next day. The Jr is a great amp, just didn't have the bottom end I like, and the Deluxe has a beautiful velvety bottom end!!

[@isaacwilliams9919]

Mick: Where do you think that reverb is set? Dan: In hell Banter like this is just one of the many reasons I love this channel

[@gcvrsa]

The way that they were setup once the levels were balanced, the AC15 was definitely noticeably brightest, the Bassbreaker next, then the Blues Jr., while the Bassbreaker seemed to have the heaviest bass response. If I knew nothing else about these amps, I'd choose the Bassbreaker just on that. But, I feel pretty certain that if I was forced to use any of these three, I'd get acceptable tones out of them.

[@jamjunkies3639]

Yeah, I'd say the Tele needs a re-fret (1:03:51). Those aren't frets anymore, they're inlays! :P Great episode guys... especially as I'm looking at getting a Vox AC15 soon. :)

[@johnladdsmusic]

Great video guys! I own the Bassbreaker 15 and always wondered how it stacked up against these other two specifically! To my ears I think I own the right amp! Although I play the amp primarily in low and mid gain stages, the high gain with the bright switch off is the best gain sound any Fender amp has ever produced! For live shows I plug into a Bassbreaker 1x12 extension cab and it works very well. I agree that any of these amps may struggle volume wise with a loud band, but for my live applications it's perfect...

[@jamesdalziel4516]

Paused at 3:59 to write this... Get Noel on the show!!!

[@arosalesmusic]

Marshall DSL 20 CR is the best along with Vox AC-15 according to the PSIONIC AUDIO

[@briandowling7577]

I had this predicament earlier in the year. It was a toss up between the AC15 & Bassbreaker, the Blues Jr wasn't even on my radar as I was looking for something dirtier. The Bassbreaker was just too fizzy for my liking. The AC15 really benefits from swapping out the reverb tank. I swapped mine for one from TAD with a shorter decay. Beautiful!

[@johnsorgini1306]

You all say that “those amps aren’t meant to handle all that gain” and I agree 100%. However, it’s that raggedy, coarse gain structure that I love. Then, I hit it with a blues driver, and it makes it all the more raggedy, without sounding like a metal ish amp.

[@jeffmorris9893]

That upside down strat sounded amazing at the end as well.

[@christophersmart8067]

At 35:50...those chords are what I hope for in every amp demo. Thanks Dan!!!

[@veerchasm1]

I prefer the AC15. Was surprised how well the Bassbreaker did

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

Watching in 2024. Between the Blues Jr and the AC15 I have to hand it to the Vox. I did not care for the Bassbreaker. I’m looking for my first tube (valve) amp and this video is very helpful

[@sn95_mustang_garage]

This was very interesting, it's really a toss up at these levels and I'm wearing headphones. Pro Junior was the best, sorry had to.

[@Bonellemusica]

JamCave Studio you mean blues Junior

[@sn95_mustang_garage]

Bonelle You misses the joke. Dan kept saying Pro Junior.

[@Bonellemusica]

JamCave Studio lol 😂

[@stuartphelps3293]

I have an ac-15, but I would love to have a Fender again. The pro blues junior deluxe reverb Deville did sound really good on the show.

[@sonofboar13]

recently purchased a fender blues junior not too long ago and it has quickly become my favorite amp. It's honestly all i need with my mini pedalboard. Decided to pull the plug after watching your video on "getting more from your blues junior" multiple times a day and especially after Mick's volume trick with the compressor.

[@ryanwilliams5832]

Should have ran the AC15 on the normal channel. I'd like to see a comparison of the AC15 and a PRO Junior. It is 15 watts as well, although the speaker is 1x10. I think it kills the Blues Junior. AC15 all the way for me though, especially with the single coils.

[@CorbCorbin]

Ryan Williams If your without a pedal, I would take the AC15 as well. With an OD or Fuzz I would go Blues Jr.

[@adalbertoschuckjr.1509]

I have no words to express how amazed I am. The best of the best programs ever. Using a local saying, "To travel through the cosmos you don't need gasoline". That's how I'm feeling. In Haven. What a lesson (how to set amplifiers) you gave to us (at least to me) ... THANKS A LOT...

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thank you sir, glad you found it useful!

[@abelramirez7320]

Proud owner of a Bassbreaker 15. Won't ever let go.

[@dicecreamman1739]

So, five years later and the amp is?

[@MatzeMaulwurf]

Answer please. Thank you.

[@Michalo125]

I will answer instead. Still have my Basbreaker 15, second set of tubes, still love it! These were awesome 6 years with this amp. @@dicecreamman1739, @MatzeMaulwurf

[@DanielRutter]

VOX AC15 always sounds damn good. I own one, so I'm definitely biased. I've had a crack at the Bassbreaker, I liked it but I went for a VOXAC15 over it purely because it's got chimey cleans and classic rock tones. Blues Jr sounds great for somethings, but it definitely has a low quality sounding speaker and in general a very thin sound that makes it stand out. Not a fan, however I can see it'd be a great amp to get a solo or some rhythm to cut through a mix. AC15 takes it for me. :)

[@leogomes993]

Please would you guys do a video on frequencies? Also the pedals that “enhance” them and maybe the best way to set the EQ on your amps/pedals. Thumbs up if its a good idea

[@BobPerrone]

I love my Blues Jr. Nice pallet of tones and still has the balls to cut through, either clean or gritty. Best all around 15 watt for not too much $

[@jadmcgregor]

I have a bassbreaker 15 and absolutely love it!! I use it as my "Living Room" amp. Great sounds at low volume!!

[@shelo0828]

Hey Buddy, can make a good sounds in lower volume that you can still hear the strings acoustically? Planning to buy bassbreaker 15. Thanks!

[@jadmcgregor]

@@shelo0828 you sure can!! Great amp!!

[@mattgilbert7347]

@@shelo0828 Second that! You can also run the XLR out to an IR/Cab sim unit to an interface or mixer, whatever - and have awesome headphone tones. You get the sound of the amp and yr pedals with the speaker sim of your choice. But on Sundays it's Bassbreaker & Blues Junior wet/dry day! Awesome small, portable w/d rig. Only quibble - the FX loop is noisy. I spent $180 getting mine fixed and retubed. Sounds a lot better, but the loop (and the reverb) is still a tad noisy. It's only a problem if the amp is running at higher gain so I can't run my mod/time based effects into the front, which is my preference. A Greenback or Creamback sounds amazing in this amp.

[@Dartheomus]

Just get them all.. I use an AC30C2, 68 Princeton Reverb Custom, and a Marshal DSL40C. Playing all 3 at once drives the wife nuts, but damn that wall of sound is amazing. I toss in my Thorpy Muffroom Cloud (thanks to you guys) and... man... it sounds like I overdubbed a few tracks.

[@BJamin4God]

Got a DS1 for Christmas. On its own very mid scooped and a little fizzy. Ran it into the OCD in lp mode with the gain off and turned the level on the DS1 down so the OCD wasn’t compressing, just tone shaping and it sounded great!

[@G40s_WW]

BJamin4God I also got a DS 1 for Christmas. I have the tone knob dialed in at 10 o clock and the gain on half and I use to turn down the volume on my guitar. By doing that I get really nice vintage gain sounds. It's the only pedal I use with my AC 30

[@j_music_8779]

For me, Bassbreaker 15 👍. All are great amps!

[@liys540]

bassbreaker 15 of course

[@mattgilbert7347]

William Li Great for Davey G. toan

[@michaelyolch79]

I'm all about the Bassbreaker series (30R especially). They have their very own one-of-a-kind tone that's really set apart from all the same-sounding amps.

[@mikelermanmusic]

Just picked up a used Bassbreaker 15 yesterday (killer deal), and it sounds awesome! It can be dark and warm, or bright and shiny. I would agree that it's a quiet 15 watts and may not be best with a drummer, but the tone is WAY better than I was expecting. Much more versatile than my friend's Blues Jr and less noise than my Crate USA Palomino V16. Formidable in all gain stages.

[@jasonpearce3854]

I just got the Laney Cub 12. It falls into that category of amp also. 15 watt 12 inch speaker all tube. It has boost, reverb and two different inputs. A 1 watt and 15 watt. Absolute sweet amp.

[@jonathanzuzio175]

It's like a surprise Christmas gift getting a new episode during the holiday week! Thanks, guys

[@ThatPedalShow]

+Jonathan Zuzio you’re very welcome :)

[@tompoynton]

Utterly unimportant of course, but the knobs on the Bassbreaker are hideous

[@ThatPedalShow]

Aesthetic is everything dear boy.

[@bobbob3630]

I like them, they feel good in the fingers

[@patrickstutt86]

I actually agree and you're tight it makes no difference in the long run but I feel as a whole the amp lacks style. Where as the Vox just oozes style in every way. Not that I'm a superficial person (ahem)

[@KozmykJ]

+Bob Bob They spread your weight when you sit on them by mistake as well ;^)

[@ron980]

I think the color of the Bassbreaker is hideous. I wish Fender did black tweed right like how Swart does it where it’s super black and not an off grey dry looking color.

[@richardtopp4619]

That was awesome! Just bought a '52 Reissue 2010 Tele and looking for an amp to pair it with. Obviously went straight to Vox/Blues Junior comparison. Stymied by the options but I learnt a heap of stuff. Well done!!

[@trevormccue9585]

One of the best episodes yet. AC15 by a mile for me, but damn two amps is the real deal. Maybe an extension of this episode, AC15 and BB, with more pedal ideas, wet/dry, midrange for the Vox, etc. Make the two amp rig.

[@VERBANDTREM]

Great Show! I've had the AC15 and a few Blues juniors. The vox has a more linear volume and nice tremolo (but the cab is made of cheap MDF that can warp and is so heavy). The blues junior had a better quality reverb tank and better quality/lighter cab (also don't need to take the back off to change a tube) But together they sound GLORIUS! fender and vox is my favourite pairing of amps!

[@paulsummerside]

Am curious why Fender have moved away from 6V6 valves and moved over to the more British idea of EL84s. Surely part of the Fender tone of old Fenders was using 6V6 valves. All said and done am loving the sounds off all three amps. Think I can narrow things down to the Blues Junior and AC15 for me. Think would actually go for the Blues junior if push came to shove. As versatile as the Bluesbreaker is, it doesn’t know what it is.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Interesting. The 6V6 is still a big part of the Deluxe Reverb and Princeton Reverb worlds, arguably Fender’s ‘best’ low-mid power amps. Maybe EL84s are more simple and plentiful than the 6V6 for more mass produced stuff? Interesting question!

[@garyjford1981]

Superb episode! Hurrah! 👏 👏 👏 absolutely cements it for me, Vox AC15 and Blues Jr (with Jensen)... then a Blues Deluxe Reissue in a few years just because!

[@tonehunter8755]

Mick instantly playing over Dan talking was Conedy gold

[@ThatPedalShow]

We try to please. Timing is every Thing

[@samwisegrangee]

Just bought a Pro Junior. Tried it side by side with a Blues Junior and there’s so much more presence and clarity in the PJ. The BJ had a good squashed tone, but it could breathe like the EL84s in the PJ. I’m amazed that the headroom and breakup in the PJ and I love the simplicity of the controls for a platform amp. (I wasn’t impressed by the reverb in the BJ, so I was gonna replace it anyway.)

[@alexwalker5645]

Cool post!!! I might be making the same decision!!! I like the even more compact size of the PJ vs the BJ, and despite being smaller it seems to be less boxy sounding, more immersive as well.

[@olafhenke5654]

I got a ProJunior IV and I love it. The weight is great and sounds amazing. Loud enough to play with the band! Really happy with it. :)

[@28_gauge]

Vox AC15....because I already have one!

[@davidebaloo3606]

Do you feel the missino fx loop? How do you manage the delay for instance?

[@terencekirton6812]

I picked up the the Vox T20 & the Fender Super Champ XD with a radical ABY pedal and the sounds and effects are Majestically Magical,.. I think I got the Whole world in my hands. Oh yes The ZT Jr. is a beast too!!

[@jayjayripoff]

Ooo, yep, had this very choice when me and my band mate was buying our first valve amps for recording, and we think they were a match made for each other, and for us!... I took the AC15, went to the back of the shop, I played one chord and knew it was that sound I'd been looking for ever since I played through a 60s AC30 at a jam night 10-11 years ago, same chord, THAT sound! Les Paul into a RAT, instant THAT sound(Foo Fighter central)! Done for me! My mate liked it too, but wasn't fully convinced, it didn't suit his TS909 and Strat, he'd been using Blackstar until then, but wanted something different, the Fenders looked classy, the whole range was there....... He plugged into the Blues Jnr...... THAT sound! Hendrix, Clapton, it's clean and loud, then it's driving and bright but it's still composed, we played them together, great blend of the 2! :-D Job done, best sound we ever had! Then we both got sacked from the band! Damn! :-/ Nonetheless, we still play them together regular, working on a covers band now. They're loud enough to self monitor, and if we need to mic up we can! Great great amps, Thank you for the video! :-)

[@ThatPedalShow]

Hahaha!!!! Great idea about them pairing well together in a band. They sooooo do. :0)

[@jayjayripoff]

In a way what you guys have shown in this video is similar to what we observed...... When we have single coils, and as my friend does the leads, the Blues Jnr is high and harsh on it's own, but like you say it gets heard in a band situation.... In contrast, I love the sound of humbuckers into the Vox because it sounds like classic rock rhythm and crunch, and provides the backing for the leads..... I do think though that the Blues Jnr ultimately has an edge on the Vox in most peoples minds, which is just fine, but I don't need one as Tom has one.... On to the Bassbreaker, yeah a very good player in a popular local band, working at my fave guitar shop definitely spoke highly of them, and tried his best to sell it to me, I'm sure he was thinking I was after high gain for a metal band, but I've always thought the trouble with many local metal bands has always been too much saturation(part of my problem with my previous setup, mush! :-( ), the sheer amount of misused Blackstar amps out there in Leeds on the weekends is nuts! -_- But to me it has just always seemed that if you want THAT metal sound they all try to get, it's a Marshall or a Mesa, and they can't afford them! I recently got bad GAS for a JCM 800 or 900, the 800 12" combo at 50 watts would have done me real nice for £500 notes. If I wanted saturation that is. XD Sorry, I gibber on too much, but I loved the Blues Jnr in this, nice nice tones from all anyway. Good work, keep it up. Laters!

[@tedwardbrownington4231]

jayjay ripoff opp

[@jayjayripoff]

Overly Processed Post? Yeah, didn't have a lot to do last night really! XD

[@TheEvtrojan]

First off, I must say, I love TPS, you boys have taught me so much. I am very grateful. It occurs to me that I might now be in a position to teach you something, my guess is neither of you know anything about the Grateful Dead's early music. Humble suggestion; put on some headphones and listen to a song called, Dark Star, from ,Live Dead. I'd be willing to bet my pre-CBS '61 Stratocaster that neither of you would ever speak of Jerry Garcia in such a condescending and dismissive manner again....again, just a recommendation for the edification of two chaps who've taught me so much. Thanks Boys... CHEERS!

[@ThatPedalShow]

+Joel Davison cheers Joel, will do. I must say that we’re in no way intentionally condescending or dismissive of Jerry Garcia or anyone for that matter. It’s just a band that for whatever reason passed Mick and myself by.

[@EricNielsen85]

Noel Gallagher on the show! Man... that would make a hell of a hell of an episode..

[@professionalprocrastinator8182]

ntfb85 Can’t imagine him saying much about pedals though. Have you seen him when he’s usually asked about gear? He goes all surly.

[@leonbarron368]

Im not sure though because even from the start (pre Def Maybe) he was using multiple amps in unison. Fair enough not a whole lot of pedal work but still, there must be a huge amount of untapped sonic knowledge from that experience/experimentation. It'd make an amazing show

[@paultwiselton1996]

OH YEAH DUDES!!!!

[@good_king_guitarman1334]

There'd be a lot of swearing!

[@jumpboy29]

Noel Gallagher seems like an honest jerk though. His sense of humor is often misunderstood. And I always prefer to see someone just be themselves than be a fake.

[@knarfzednem]

I use the ac15 into a 4x12 with vintage 30's with a Bassbreaker (7 watt version) going into the vox cab. The bassbreakers' generous low end compliments the a 15s' top end very well to my ears. Bring in a stereo reverb and delay and I can get lost for days.

[@kenkeyes8148]

Blues Jr. with the "Bill M. mods" is more like a Blues Deluxe. Un-muddies the bass and adds gristle to the mids.