How much to mod the crapness out of a Blues Jr ?

TimmyO · November 2018

Say to add a Celestion and fix the bias issues?

equalsql · November 2018

Are you handy with a soldering iron? If so check out Billm.
http://billmaudio.com/wp/

I added his bias, presence and power-cap mod to mine and was very pleased with the results.
http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=65

TimmyO · November 2018

I've soldered before but I'm definitely not confident enough in my ability at it to rely an any amp I worked on!

noisepolluter · November 2018

Have you bought it already?

ICBM · November 2018

One million pounds.

Funkfingers · November 2018

TimmyO said:
How much to mod the crapness out of a Blues Jr ?

ICBM said:

One million pounds.

Well, maybe, one thousand Pounds.

Sell the BJ. Purchase a Princeton Reverb or Deluxe Reverb re-issue.

TimmyO · November 2018

noisepolluter said:

Have you bought it already?

No - is idle musing given my Bandit-denial and no others for sale locally at the mo

TimmyO · November 2018

ICBM said:

One million pounds.

Genuine lol

TimmyO · November 2018

Funkfingers said:

TimmyO said:
How much to mod the crapness out of a Blues Jr ?

ICBM said:

One million pounds.

Well, maybe, one thousand Pounds.

Sell the BJ. Purchase a Princeton Reverb or Deluxe Reverb re-issue.

Can DRRIs be given more headroom - I recall surprise when playing one with a drummer in years past - that lovely clean sound couldn't be had if'n you wanted to be heard

TimmyO · November 2018

(before anyone suggests it - I'm not carrying a Super Reverb!) ;-)

ChuckManual · November 2018

ICBM said:

One million pounds.

My mods didn't cost that much...

noisepolluter · November 2018

TimmyO said:

noisepolluter said:

Have you bought it already?

No - is idle musing given my Bandit-denial and no others for sale locally at the mo

I’ve owned two blues juniors (mk1 and mk2) which were OK but both had annoying flaws and although there were good sounds in there it took some wrangling to get them. Background noise levels were an annoyance at home. Celestion G12H worked well as a speaker upgrade but to be honest for £100 extra you could get a hotrod/blues deluxe. I had one yonks ago and still regret selling - would happily have another. OK they weigh half as much again as a blues junior but unless portability is a major factor I’d say it would be worth a trip.

ICBM · November 2018

TimmyO said:

Can DRRIs be given more headroom - I recall surprise when playing one with a drummer in years past - that lovely clean sound couldn't be had if'n you wanted to be heard

Yes. You can fit 6L6s and a solid-state rectifier, which gives them a tighter, bolder sound and a bit more outright power as well - makes them sound a bit more like a miniature Twin. You could possible fit a more sensitive speaker too, but the stock Jensen C12K is actually pretty loud anyway. For what it's worth, I agree about the lack of clean headroom as stock, and I don't even play loud.

TimmyO said:

(before anyone suggests it - I'm not carrying a Super Reverb!) ;-)

A Vibrolux Reverb is a very nice halfway house - nearly as much power as the Super, two 10s, and the cleaner, sharper 6L6 tone compared to the 6V6s in the Deluxe - and closer to the Deluxe than the Super in size and weight.

noisepolluter · November 2018

TimmyO said:

Funkfingers said:

TimmyO said:
How much to mod the crapness out of a Blues Jr ?

ICBM said:

One million pounds.

Well, maybe, one thousand Pounds.

Sell the BJ. Purchase a Princeton Reverb or Deluxe Reverb re-issue.

Can DRRIs be given more headroom - I recall surprise when playing one with a drummer in years past - that lovely clean sound couldn't be had if'n you wanted to be heard

I stuck a Cannabis Rex in mine - nearly 3dB more efficient than stock Jensen (admittedly different mfr so different measurement) but noticeably louder in any case. There are other speakers available that are even more efficient but tend to be heavier - the C-Rex actually knocks about 1.5lbs off stock weight.

TimmyO · November 2018

ICBM said:

TimmyO said:

Can DRRIs be given more headroom - I recall surprise when playing one with a drummer in years past - that lovely clean sound couldn't be had if'n you wanted to be heard

Yes. You can fit 6L6s and a solid-state rectifier, which gives them a tighter, bolder sound and a bit more outright power as well - makes them sound a bit more like a miniature Twin. You could possible fit a more sensitive speaker too, but the stock Jensen C12K is actually pretty loud anyway. For what it's worth, I agree about the lack of clean headroom as stock, and I don't even play loud.

TimmyO said:

(before anyone suggests it - I'm not carrying a Super Reverb!) ;-)

A Vibrolux Reverb is a very nice halfway house - nearly as much power as the Super, two 10s, and the cleaner, sharper 6L6 tone compared to the 6V6s in the Deluxe - and closer to the Deluxe than the Super in size and weight.

reissue-wise there looks to be a blackface one (at least, it has a face that is black, if you take my meaning) and a 68 silverface one - is one any better than the other or just circuit variations ?

TimmyO · November 2018

ok everyone needs to stop what they are doing and check this guy out! :-)

wt.....

equalsql · November 2018

ICBM said:

One million pounds.

Do I detect a touch of cynicism there?

p90fool · November 2018

FWIW I have a Blues Jr 3 I'm using as an extension cab at home, it's had three different good quality speakers and I've run four or five different amps into it and it always sounds boxy and weak.

So mod number one is basically throw it away and start again.

dindude · November 2018

Sell it and buy the IV - it’s genuinely much much better sounding that previous interactions.

springhead · November 2018

p90fool said:

FWIW I have a Blues Jr 3 I'm using as an extension cab at home, it's had three different good quality speakers and I've run four or five different amps into it and it always sounds boxy and weak.

So mod number one is basically throw it away and start again.

I think they sound boxy too. I did some of the BillM mods on one for a friend. And a mate of mine did the same on his and swapped the speaker for something else. Both still sounded boxy. I think there’s just something in the cabinet size/shape/construction that gives them that tone.

Mark1960 · November 2018

I looked at both the Blues Junior and the Blues Delux a few years ago, and although the Blues junior is a very decent amp, the Blues Delux is far better, in build, sounds headroom everything really, its just heavy, and that's where the blues junior has an advantage, but I spentt an extra £120.00, and got the blues delux, with absolulely no regrets

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

How much to mod the crapness out of a Blues Jr ?

Comments