IanHenry Posted February 22, 2012 Posted February 22, 2012 Hi, In my search for a practice amp for home use only, I had set my heart on the new Yamaha THR 10, but the long wait has made me start eying other possibilities, and the amp that caught my eye was the Fender Blues Junior 111: I want to use the amp with my Les Paul Classic Antique at low volume. I know one is solid state claiming to sound like a tube, and the other is a pure tube amp, and I also know the Yamaha is a real “box of trick” and the Fender is pretty much a two trick pony (clean of slightly distorted), but I was wondering if anyone had any experience of them. Regards, Ian.
Rich W Posted February 22, 2012 Posted February 22, 2012 In addition to lots of feedback I'm sure you'll get about the Blues Jr, you might want to check out Bill Machrone's take on the differences between the II series and the "improvements" Fender introduced with the III series. You might prefer the II series. http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=709
IanHenry Posted February 22, 2012 Author Posted February 22, 2012 That's interesting, but I don't think the 11 series is still available, at least not here in the UK. Thanks anyway. Regards, Ian.
Rich W Posted February 22, 2012 Posted February 22, 2012 That's interesting, but I don't think the 11 series is still available, at least not here in the UK. Thanks anyway. Regards, Ian. You'd have to get a used one. If you can live with that, it's a buyer's market because (at least in the US and Canada) the Blues Jr is one of the biggest selling amps. Lots of series II available on eBay and other places, sometimes for close to half the cost of a new series III.
bonzoboy Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 I have a Limited Edition Blonde Blues Jr. with the Eminence speaker and it's just a marvel.I was in my local music store trying out and Epi LP Trad Pro it sounded so good through the Blues Jr. that I bought the amp too.My amp is only one of the first series of the amp but it's just sublime.it has a very wide tonal response,a great reverb and tremolo and it sounds great run either clean or dirty.There are upgrade kits for them but the most simple and effective mod you can do is drop in a Celestion Vintage 30. Solid state amps that sound tubelike are almost non existant except for the Traynor TS 15,20 and 30 from the eaarly 80s.Pete Traynor spent 6 years developing these amps and they really do perform and sound just like tube amps,I can't for the life of me figure out why they discontinued the series. The Vox hybrid amps sound and perform just like tube amps because they have a 12AX7 tube in the power amp as opposed to the preamp in other hybrids.These amps also have about the best amp and effects models on the market today,even their Leslie and UNI-Vibe models are just like the real McCoy. Marshall hybrids are also great for amp models but their effects are not quite on par with Vox but they are still better than most. BTW: These amps are available from 5W in the Marshall to 120W in the Vox AD120 VTH etc.
RaysEpiphone Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 Fender, Yamaha make's good motor cycle's....
Bender 4 Life Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 the B-Jr3 is more than a 2 trick pony.....it'll do just fine on classic rock & early metal. The reverb sounds REAL('cause it IS) and there are many different ranges of tubes you can load it with for different tones. it's also a great platform for modding! My twin spkr. Blues Jr.III...I call it the "Blues Sonic". it'd be a heII of a fight getting me to part w/it !!
badbluesplayer Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 The Blues Junior is a great amp. I had one and I wish I never sold it. I'd get one of the new models in a heartbeat.
IanHenry Posted February 23, 2012 Author Posted February 23, 2012 I have tried one of the Blues Junior's and it sounded great, but will it still come up with the goods at low volumes? I was sold on the Yamaha (but I haven’t tried one yet, only seen the video’s on uTube) I have a Vox VT20+ modelling amp and dislike it, I’m not keen on all the gimmicks (I find it’s all too easy to spend more time looking for the right tone than playing guitar), and I wonder if the Yamaha might be the same. I’m sure the common sense choice is the Fender, if only because it will always have some re sale value because I think the Yamaha will be worthless second hand. The big decider will be if the Fender can produce the tube sound at low volumes by using the master volume. It's hard when you have the money, but your not sure what you want Regards, Ian.
badbluesplayer Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 Yes, Ian, the Blues Junior delivers the goods right down to really low volumes. You can dial in the gain you need and then get the volume you want with the master volume control.
IanHenry Posted February 23, 2012 Author Posted February 23, 2012 The Fender just sounds better & better! ian.
bonzoboy Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 Back in the early 80s our bass player and I were looking for new amps.I tried the Yamaha-solid state-but I couldn't wring one bit of distorrtion even when near top volume,it had a built in distortion that was just appalling so I bought a Peavey Deuce.The bass player tried the Yamaha amp with a 15"speaker and loved it for the reason I didn't-It played clean at any volume-he still uses it.If you want clean all the time go Yamaha.BTW to who was wondering how the Blues Jr. performed at low volume-you can coax lovely overdrive even at bedroom volumes,especially if you engage the "fat" button.
Bender 4 Life Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 love the "FAT" switch on mine too....not sure what it really is, but mine acts like a built in boost/overdrive..... makes a single coil SING like a humbucker, and makes a humbucker WAIL I SAY !!!(sorry, I love that amp)
IanHenry Posted February 25, 2012 Author Posted February 25, 2012 Many thanks to everyone who gave me advice on this. I went to a local music shop today and tried the Yamaha THR10, Orange Tiny Terror (12” speaker model) and the Fender Blues Junior 111. I had been waiting to try the Yamaha since late November, after seeing so many clips of it on uTube, but owing to the power supply problem here in the U.K, they only arrived this week. What a massive disappointment! My wife (who can’t tell the difference between one amp and another) described it as “sounding like a tinny little box” The Orange was only good at high volumes (even when set on 7 watts), had little tonal control, no reverb and was the most expensive of the trio. The Fender sounded right with my Les Paul from the moment that I plugged it in, even my wife thought it sounded beautiful. It was no contest really. I’ve always liked British amps before, and never really considered a Fender but now I’ve had to have a re-think on that, I now love my little Fender! Again, thanks for all the help. Regards, Ian. p.s yes the "Fat" switch is great.
Rich W Posted February 26, 2012 Posted February 26, 2012 Congrats on the BJr Ian. It's a good little amp for the price, and there are lots of mods you can do to really bring out the tone, if you're so inclined. Even just upgrading the OT and filter caps makes a nice difference.
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