Bluemoon Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I need to go try these out. Before I do so, please feel free to give me your thoughts. I own a LP Standard. I have a Valve Junior amp that I hate (too muddy at high volumes, too cold at low volumes). Looking for a good practice amp. Will not use it for gigging. I play mostly classic rock and blues. No metal. I want a good amount of clean headroom (I have a fulltone OCD pedal that l love) and a warmer tone. I tried out the regular Blues Junior. I liked it, but it was a little too cold sounding. So here are the two choices: 1. Fender Blues Junior NOS version. I know it is 15 watt, but it has master volume and I have a weber attenuator. The OCD pedal also will help me get the crunch I need without cranking the volume. But the volume issue does concern me. 2. Blackheart Little Giant head with an Avatar cab fitted with a 12 inch Celestion heritage or vintage speaker "other" is not welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FennRx Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 ill say it again....the BH has the same guts as the VJ. if you hate the VJ, a little EQ teaking isnt going to make you love the BH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I have the Blues Jr. and use a Chandler Tube Driver much as you do your OCD I suspect. I have to vote for it, but in all fairness I have not played the other amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 ill say it again....the BH has the same guts as the VJ. if you hate the VJ' date=' a little EQ teaking isnt going to make you love the BH.[/quote'] Disagree. Owned both and played them side by side. Modded both. Similar designs? Yes. But not the same. Will you love the BH? Don't know. But I found it did the classic rock tones you describe pretty well. It loved Les Pauls, and it responded well to pedals. Makes a great practice amp IMO. BTW, I'm not voting. Since I have never owned the Blues Junior I don't feel able to do a fair comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted September 23, 2008 Author Share Posted September 23, 2008 I should say that the VJ I had was version 2. I modified it a lot (resistors, capacitors, OT), but could never get it right. I want something that will work right out of the box (other than perhaps a tube swap). My VJ also was the combo version. What I've read is that the Blackheart is a major step-up from the VJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Vox AC15 I'm no help, I know... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolff Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 1 vote for the Blackheart. I put my money on that one because my BH5/112 is due to arrive at my house tomorrow morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingarmadillo Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Get the Blues Junior, trash the stock Sovtek tubes and put in a set of JJ's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtle Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 blues junior all the way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossroadsnyc Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Blues Junior NOS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scozz Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 My VJ also was the combo version. The VJ combo has a 8" speaker, the Blackheart combo has a 12" speaker. Hugh difference! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichCI Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I need to go try these out. Before I do so' date=' please feel free to give me your thoughts. I own a LP Standard. I have a Valve Junior amp that I hate (too muddy at high volumes, too cold at low volumes). Looking for a good practice amp. Will not use it for gigging. I play mostly classic rock and blues. No metal. I want a good amount of clean headroom (I have a fulltone OCD pedal that l love) and a warmer tone. I tried out the regular Blues Junior. I liked it, but it was a little too cold sounding. So here are the two choices: 1. Fender Blues Junior NOS version. I know it is 15 watt, but it has master volume and I have a weber attenuator. The OCD pedal also will help me get the crunch I need without cranking the volume. But the volume issue does concern me. 2. Blackheart Little Giant head with an Avatar cab fitted with a 12 inch Celestion heritage or vintage speaker "other" is not welcome.[img']http://forum.gibson.com/public/style_emoticons/default/eusa_naughty.gif[/img] I think they're pretty different sounding amps and you need to try them out and find out what YOU like. No offense, but nobody here can tell you what you're going to like, you have to decide that for yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted September 23, 2008 Author Share Posted September 23, 2008 I think they're pretty different sounding amps and you need to try them out and find out what YOU like. No offense' date=' but nobody here can tell you what you're going to like, you have to decide that for yourself.[/quote'] Right. I've tried the bj and liked it a lot. The problem with the BH is that i am going to have to do some searching to find someone who stocks it. I thought it would be fun to see how a vote turned out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I got my Little Giant head from Music123 - looks they are $199 now! Mine was $129 earlier this year. If you played the Blues Junior and definitely liked it though, you might stick with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted September 23, 2008 Author Share Posted September 23, 2008 That is how I am leaning...though there is something really attractive about switching the watts from 5 to 3. Wish I could afford the Egnater rebel. You dial it down from 20 watts to 1 watt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adlankj Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 What do LPs sound like through a Blues Jr.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolongermike@gibson Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 We have a modded Blues Jr and its an astounding-sounding amp, with my Les Pauls, with my Strat and other guitars, too. Put a hemp speaker in it and some mod done, not sure what he did, but the guy swore by it, and he was right. It tightened that little amp right up and now its a punchy tone monster. We also have a Valve Jr and I'm absolutely in love with that thing. I like it close miked for recording on axis with a SM57, on about 10'o'clock or so. I roll the tone back most of the way on my humbucker on the front position and its this fat buttery tone that I just love. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted September 24, 2008 Author Share Posted September 24, 2008 guitarest, How do you like your Tech21s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted September 24, 2008 Author Share Posted September 24, 2008 What do LPs sound like through a Blues Jr.? Not sure I can describe it. Need to hear it. Do a search on youtube "Blues junior les paul." l. He's playing it through the NOS version, which has tube and speaker upgrades. It is a little warmer sounding that the standard model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA_siCkBoy Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Blues Jr. & Fulltone OCD = Heaven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Explorer Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Someone mentioned blackheart has the same innards as a valve junior, which is completely wrong. In terms of tube compliment maybe yes, but the tone stack and filtering is very important to the overall tone of the amp. Personally I would buy a used blues junior and pop in a warehouse veteran 30 as Celestions are now Chinese made except for heritage series which are way overpriced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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