Opinions wanted

[anotherfreak]

Found a used one, but I didn't have a chance to play it, just picked it up to check it's weight It was really light and real tweed. Is it pretty versatile? Jazzy bluesy? much headroom? Durable?

[tomteriffic]

I got one several years ago. It had already been fitted with some nice vintage glass. The speaker was an Eminence Alpha, a precursor to the current Eminence lineup. Recently I replaced that speaker with an Eminence Copperhead and gained a bit of efficiency and therefore volume, but tonally it was about the same. I can't talk about the stock speaker but this thing with an Eminence is a great amp.

Mine stays clean on up to about 7 (out of 12). After that it develops a a smooth old tweed style breakup that is pretty easily controlled with your guitar's volume knob. It's not icepick bluesy, it's more the warm, furry, say 50's Chicago-style bluesy. With the tone control all the way up it has some bite. I've not tried any jazzy stuff, really, but I could see where it'd be good for that at reasonable volumes. Still, it's my grab and go amp, especially when I don't know what I might be walking into, say, sitting in with friends or other bands.

Again, I can't comment on the stock speaker, but with a Ragin' Cajun or a Copperhead, it's a simple, straightforward great-sounding amp.

[hardheartedbill]

Gross

[tomteriffic]

KWAP, I just realized I wrote all that about a PRO Junior.

Nevermind... Blues Jr is a way different animal from what I understand.

[anotherfreak]

Sure,

I think this had a Jensen of some kind. I was just interested for the EL84s' 12" speaker, and handy size. I was in a hurry, and didn't get to play it yet.

I guess it is a "Hot Rod" Blues JR

[Eric Weston]

Gross

They're ok for the $$........as long as you don't play it next to a really nice amp.

Then you'll probably hate it.

[Turdus]

Gross

They're ok for the $$........as long as you don't play it next to a really nice amp.

Then you'll probably hate it.

I bought a used one off of CL, as it appeared 5 mins from my house. It was cheap, and I wanted to check out the hype. Stock, no mods. Used it for one band practice, then away it went. If you like Fender amps, then check it out. If you don't, then I'd avoid.

[JohnnyB]

I've owned both the Blues Jr. (tolex) and Pro Jr. (tweed). The Pro Jr. is a one-trick pony (vintage grindy overdrive), but does the trick well.

The Blues Jr. is a decent beginner's tube amp. I sold a Crate Vintage Club 20 (2 EL84s, Celestion Vintage 10 spkr) to buy the Blues Jr. The BJ with its 12" has a fuller tonal balance (i.e., more bass), but it was nowhere near as good as the Crate. The Crate had a glassy midrange and great "jump." If you hit your guitar hard, you'd hear it come out of the amp. The BJ is nowhere near as dynamic. Even played clean it compresses transients. It has a built-in reverb, which is theoretically nice for classic rock but it's kind of weak and is of short duration.

The stock speaker isn't so great. After you use it for awhile you realize that regardless of your settings (which are audibly different), the speaker colors everything with a flat cardboardy sound.

In spite of what I say, the BJ is an OK amp if the price is right. The stock electronics and speaker are not worthy of the prices asked for the gussied-up versions such as the Woody or the Deco-Tone which fetch $1-2K on the used market. AFAIK they're just garden variety BJs inside--no handwound transformer, no PTP, no upgraded speaker or NOS tubes.

I got mine new for $279 and had to have it serviced under warranty at least once (reverb). For $250 they're not bad and accd'g to a BJ forum I came across, perk up quite a bit with a Celestion Vintage 30. Others seem to prefer Jensens and of course YMMV.