Getting a BJ

[Bluemoon]

So i ordered the Fender Blues Junior NOS. I got it from Woodwind and Brasswind for just $495.

 

Anyway, do you think it is worth switching out the Groove tubes for JJs. Will it make that much of a difference?

[Explorer]

Absolutely! Tubes vary so much from maker to maker. And even tube to tube. Buy the JJ's you wont regret. Check out my friend Bob at Eurotubes.com and tell him you want normal break up. Also replace the 12ax7's. This you have a few options, JJ, Tungsol... the list goes on. Avoid Groove tubes in general they tend to have poor quality standards. Another thing to consider is that blues junior bias is way off! They cook tubes so expect them to last a year to 18 months.

[MikeRom]

Only problem with Goove Tubes is, they're re-branded from other tubes and you never know what the original brand was. Other than that I've never had an issue with them and they're more than adequate for pre-amp tubes.

[RichCI]

Depends on how you're going to use the amp. I replaced the stock tubes in my Blues Junior with Tung-Sols in the preamp and JJs in the power section. At moderate levels at home, I hear no difference in the preamp or the overall tone of the amp at all. Cranking it up a bit to get the power tubes sweating a bit I noticed the amp sounds a *little* bit thicker with the JJs. Putting mostly Tung-Sols in the preamp section my Mesa amp made a noticeable difference so I think it varies from amp to amp and the BJ just doesn't seem to care what is in the preamp.

 

Here's a good page on the subject of preamp tubes in the Blues Junior and test results:

 

http://home.comcast.net./~machrone/bjr/bjtubes.htm

[tonebias]

You can sometimes see the brand on the GT's. It's usually sovtek or something like that. I like Bob over at Eurotubes too. I have a Hot Rod Deluxe that I swapped the 6L6's out for 6V6's which brought the amp into a whole new realm. All JJ tubes. I also went with the long plate 12AX7's for the preamp, even though Bob doesn't recommend it, they sound SO much better that the other ones. Reason he doesn't recommend them in a combo amp is due to vibration and microphonics but I havn't had any trouble.

[ChanMan]

What RichCI said !!

 

 

 

+1 The "Everything you need to know about a Blues Junior" site.

[CajunBlues]

I got a BJ too.... I played with it hard and I busted a nut !!

[lpdeluxe]

Why don't you play the damn thing first, before you swap out tubes? What if you love the stock tubes and hate the replacements?

 

-- oh -- I forgot. This is about snobbery, not music.

[Tim Plains]

Why don't you play the damn thing first' date=' before you swap out tubes? What if you love the stock tubes and hate the replacements?[/quote']

I can't help but to agree with this. The only thing you should every change before you play are strings.

I had a BJ for around two months and thought it was a great amp stock.

[hbpatter83]

I'm not trying to hijack this thread but since it's the subject of tubes for a Fender amp I thought I could ask a question..

 

I have a 1996 Blues Deluxe with what I believe to be the original stock tubes. 5881's (power section I think) and the 12AX7's (preamp?) are all Sovtek. I was thinking about buying some more of the Sovtek's to have as spares but now wondering... if I can't find Sovtek's what are a good replacement? These have lasted a long time but it doesn't get out much. I'm not trying to change the sound but wouldn't be opposed to trying different sounding ones.

 

Thanks

 

HP

[tazzboy]

I got a BJ too.... I played with it hard and I busted a nut !!

 

Who was the lucky girl?

[surfpup]

if I can't find Sovtek's what are a good replacement? These have lasted a long time but it doesn't get out much. I'm not trying to change the sound but wouldn't be opposed to trying different sounding ones.

 

Visit The Tube Store - good reviews on many different production and NOS tubes.

[Bluemoon]

Why don't you play the damn thing first' date=' before you swap out tubes? What if you love the stock tubes and hate the replacements?

 

-- oh -- I forgot. This is about snobbery, not music.

 

[/quote']

 

Thanks for your input, a-hole.

 

I was going to play it first. And it has nothing to do with snobbery. Everything I read points to a tube change. Hence the question I posed to forum members--people whose opinion I trust. If it was snobbery, I would have changed them with out asking.

 

And how does changing tubes on an amp equate to snobbery? I am excited to get a new amp. I am excited to play that amp. And I am excited to make improvements to that amp. How is that being a snob?

 

And you might be right that the stock tubes will be fine. If that is the case, I won't switch them out.

[lpdeluxe]

 

Thanks for your input' date=' a-hole.

 

I was going to play it first. And it has nothing to do with snobbery. Everything I read points to a tube change. Hence the question I posed to forum members--people whose opinion I trust. If it was snobbery, I would have changed them with out asking.

 

And how does changing tubes on an amp equate to snobbery? I am excited to get a new amp. I am excited to play that amp. And I am excited to make improvements to that amp. How is that being a snob?

 

And you might be right that the stock tubes will be fine. If that is the case, I won't switch them out.

 

 

[/quote']

 

Haha. Good idea. It's amazing what sounds you can get out of an amp without doing all the "cool" things to it. But what do I know? I spent the evening jamming with friends on my Pignose G40V (original tubes).

[Bluemoon]

 

Haha. Good idea. It's amazing what sounds you can get out of an amp without doing all the "cool" things to it. But what do I know? I spent the evening jamming with friends on my Pignose G40V (original tubes).

 

good for you

[tonebias]

Maybe lpdeluxe has ever messed around with a BJ before?

[RichCI]

Maybe he has, maybe he hasn't. Either way, I think lpdeluxe raised a valid point, even if he was assuming a bit and came off a little gruff. How many times have we seen on this board instances where somebody has, or is planning to *order* an LP (meaning they haven't even heard let alone played the f'ing thing yet) and they're already asking about swapping pickups? Perfectly good Gibson pickups at that! But, we answer those people's questions with glee - and I think the bulk of it is BS since most replies just state what that person likes and don't take into account the guy's style of music, the amp they play through or even ask what the hell the original poster is looking to have be different (as if they heard the originals in the first place).

 

I don't think Bluemoon was looking to swap tubes for "snobbery" but probably wanted to at least see if it was worth it since a tube swap is an easy and fairly inexpensive way to customize an amp. He's probably excited about getting a new amp (I think everyone can agree that that is understandable) and wants to discuss it a bit as he can't get his hands on it yet.

 

To both, I say "Lighten up, Francis."

[Bluemoon]

Maybe he has' date=' maybe he hasn't. Either way, I think lpdeluxe raised a valid point, even if he was assuming a bit and came off a little gruff. How many times have we seen on this board instances where somebody has, or is planning to *order* an LP (meaning they haven't even heard let alone played the f'ing thing yet) and they're already asking about swapping pickups? Perfectly good Gibson pickups at that! But, we answer those people's questions with glee - and I think the bulk of it is BS since most replies just state what that person likes and don't take into account the guy's style of music, the amp they play through or even ask what the hell the original poster is looking to have be different (as if they heard the originals in the first place).

 

I don't think Bluemoon was looking to swap tubes for "snobbery" but probably wanted to at least see if it was worth it since a tube swap is an easy and fairly inexpensive way to customize an amp. He's probably excited about getting a new amp (I think everyone can agree that that is understandable) and wants to discuss it a bit as he can't get his hands on it yet.

 

To both, I say "Lighten up, Francis." ;)[/quote']

 

I am not sure how this thread got off track. I was just asking those who have a BJ whether a tube swap is worth it. I mean the amp sounds great. But would it sound even better with JJs?

[RichCI]

 

I am not sure how this thread got off track. I was just asking those who have a BJ whether a tube swap is worth it. I mean the amp sounds great. But would it sound even better with JJs?

"Better" is subjective. I can tell you that it will sound slightly thicker with JJs in the power section if you crank up the amp above bedroom levels which, IMO, is a good thing with a Blues Junior as I think they're a bit too bright sounding overall.

[RichCI]

I always get G T's for my tube amps' date=' have never had any issues. Although I have heard the russian tubes mfg leave behind a serious environmental issue around their factories because of the mfg process.[/quote']

I don't know about Russian plants in particular, but manufacturing tubes is a messy business that involves mercury. Nobody makes them in the US anymore because of environmental regulations.

 

That said I always try to get the hottest 12ax7's and I also purchase my power tubes in quads (matched). I found out long time ago that Marshall's (and all tube amps) do not like unmatched tubes..........

Matching in pairs and quads applies to power tubes; I don't believe there is any benefit to matching preamp tubes.

 

I am putting off buying for the 5150 until after the gig next week; damn things are expensive is all I have to say. Oh congrats on the BJ. On a side note I saw the title and I was like "damn thats bold"' date=' for this board anyways........................ lol[/quote']

Peavey 5150 is a great sounding amp; much crunch for less bucks than a Marshall.

[Bluemoon]

"Better" is subjective. I can tell you that it will sound slightly thicker with JJs in the power section if you crank up the amp above bedroom levels which' date=' IMO, is a good thing with a Blues Junior as I think they're a bit too bright sounding overall.[/quote']

 

Right, I had a Valve junior that sounded really cold. The first thing I did was switch out the tubes with JJs. It warmed it up a fair amount. Then again, the VJ only takes two tubes so it was a fairly inexpensive mod. The BJ takes five tubes, so it is a little bigger investment.

[hbpatter83]

 

Visit The Tube Store - good reviews on many different production and NOS tubes.

 

Thanks for the link Surfpup.. Good stuff!!

 

Their suggestion for the Blues Deluxe premium set is a little much but their best value deal looks pretty good.

 

HP

[surfpup]

I have had great luck with those guys at the TubeStore. I had a bad tube in a shipment once and they had a new on to me in a couple days - from Canada to Florida. Their reviews are killer too. Quite helpful in choosing tube brands I found.

[Out_Of_Control]

I'll never forget my first BJ.

 

I just wish they had a Standby switch.