Can any amp tech offer Bill m mods here in the U.K.

markj

After a frustrating time on an order for my Blues junior from Bill m audio ( it didn't turn up ) Can any amp tech here in the U.K. Supply the necessary parts to get the same results as what I would of got with the Bill m mods.

TheMarlin

The reason for the delay with Billm is Bill was rushed into hospital with a tumour in the brain.  He had it removed. and is in chemp.  The prognosis is good, but it's going to take further tests, and likely a bit of physio, for him to get back to work.   He's suspended new orders, and has a bit of a backlog, but he should be back up to spread in a few months.

No other company I know offers the level of modification and mod kits that Billm offers.  I'd wait it out, and get the best mods possible from the specialists (Billm).

Marlin 

markj

Many thanks for that. I wish Bill all the best and good luck.

p90fool

markj said:

After a frustrating time on an order for my Blues junior from Bill m audio ( it didn't turn up ) Can any amp tech here in the U.K. Supply the necessary parts to get the same results as what I would of got with the Bill m mods.

Which mods did you order?

markj

The transformer upgrade and the cap upgrade.

jpfamps

Any competent repairer will be able to perform the mods.

There are plenty of companies offering a transformer upgrade, although I can't comment on the efficacy of these.

What are the cap upgrades? 

markj

If anybody can put me in the right direction regarding caps and transformers. Fire away

ICBM

markj said:

If anybody can put me in the right direction regarding caps and transformers.

Yes.

Don't bother.

Start with the speaker, then valves. Then possibly some proven small component changes.

If after that you're still not happy, it's not the right amp for you.

TheMarlin

The only other transformer upgrades I know of are from Mercury Magnetics, and they're VERY expensive.

I'd wait until Bill s back up and running (just had brain surgery, and chemo).  Should be a few months.  You can buy all you need from Bill cheaper than a MM transformer.

Where are you based.

M

markj

The blues junior I have is the special edition version fitted with the cannabis rex speaker. I thought it would be beneficial to upgrade a few things.

ICBM

Valves possibly.

Seriously, if it doesn't sound the way you want, you either need a different speaker or a different amp. You can only make minor changes by changing valves, and probably even less with other components unless you change values as well.

You cannot make a Blues Junior into something that sounds like (for example) a 5E3 Deluxe by changing the transformer or the caps. It's not a bad amp, but it's not a great amp - the limitations are in the circuit design, not the components.

A different speaker will still make more difference than anything else.

What is it you don't like about the sound now?

markj

I would like to get rid of some of the treble. It can be quite shrill at times. The Blues junior isn't my main amp, but was hoping to improve the tone a bit.

p90fool

You will improve the tone a tiny bit, leading you onto the next mod, and the next, and the next.

By the end of it you'll have more money in it than a used Deluxe Reverb Reissue, and it'll still sound pretty much the way it does now.

Fine-tuning a lovely-sounding amp to your own personal taste is a fun and rewarding journey, but trying to stop a Blues Junior sounding like a Blues Junior is frustrating, expensive and doesn't really work.

ICBM

markj said:

I would like to get rid of some of the treble. It can be quite shrill at times. The Blues junior isn't my main amp, but was hoping to improve the tone a bit.

I would think a much darker speaker than the Cannabis Rex may help. If anything the stock Fender/Eminence might be better, they're quite midrangy.

A V30 is maybe going too far, but I'm not sure...

jpfamps

Getting the amp running on the correct voltage for the UK helps as well.

I would agree though, throw a load of money at an amp doesn't in my view make much sense economically.

jonnyburgo

Turn the treble back on your guitar.

markj

I may change the EL84's.

p90fool

markj said:

I may change the EL84's.

With what end in mind?

markj

Would it be better to change the pre amp valves or the power amp valves. The amp is only a practise amp, just want to improve it if possible.

bandmaster188

I just bought blues junior III with the cannabis Rex speaker. It's no boutique amp for sure but with a bit of control tweaking you can get some decent tones from it. I've been dialing the middle and treble back to around 11 o'clock and the bass nearly maxed. Because its only a small enclosure it's always gonna suffer from boxy combo syndrome, which is why I've been running mine through an external 1x15 cab. Also tried it through my 4x10 too but the 1x15 sounds best. I would say any larger external cab will improve things dramatically. I might even convert mine into a head.

markj

Yes I agree with you, because of the small cab its in it restricts the tone. I may try it through my 2 x 12 cab.