Good clean amp

[sgmypod]

pod stuff ain't bad but the vox tonelabs..are better if you have the cash or the boss stuff

[Kilby]

How loud are the Blues Jrs though?

With 15 watts of valve power it can go pretty loud, though it does sound pretty good at low volumes as you have the gain / master volumes to play with (an l-pad (or a lightbulb) attenuator can work wonders too).

[Elliot]

BJrs are loud (you can gig a small room with them) but the separate master and volume (which should be called gain) means that you can get most loud tones at bedroom levels by turning the master to max and the volume to low for clean or vice versa for lows.

To make it a really good amp you need to do about £20 worth of mods (they are: change the tone capacitors for orange drops, reset the bias resistor, put another capacitor in the power supply can and a jumper lead in the middle control) - the mods are easy for anyone who can do a Monte Allums pedal mod: no drilling or cutting new circuits required - type BillM into google for the mods.

Its clearly not a booteek amp though and has an EL84 power base so it like a Fender version of the AC15.

[Elliot]

oops Kilby beat me to it . . .

[_tom_]

BJrs are loud (you can gig a small room with them) but the separate master and volume (which should be called gain) means that you can get most loud tones at bedroom levels by turning the master to max and the volume to low for clean or vice versa for lows.

To make it a really good amp you need to do about £20 worth of mods (they are: change the tone capacitors for orange drops, reset the bias resistor, put another capacitor in the power supply can and a jumper lead in the middle control) - the mods are easy for anyone who can do a Monte Allums pedal mod: no drilling or cutting new circuits required - type BillM into google for the mods.

Its clearly not a booteek amp though and has an EL84 power base so it like a Fender version of the AC15.

Is there a risk of me shocking myself and dying whilst performing these mods? I really like the sound of the Blues Jr with fuzzface in this video - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YpaT_S7cEis

Fender version of the AC15 eh? I like the sound of Voxes so this has interested me now :) Is the stock speaker good enough or does it need changing out for something better?

[Elliot]

Shocking, oh yes so ALWAYS DRAIN THE CAPACITORS FIRST - the hard part is taking the PCB out for the tone mods - it requires lots of patience -

I have a tweed Bjr - so I never had a stock speaker (Jensen C12N instead) but on the FDP people think either the Eminence Texas Heat or the G12H are the best upgrades.  I run mine through a Texas Heat or  2x12 with Classic Leads most of the time.

[Henk]

If your going the BJ way, which have alot better clean then a superchamp IMO, get a USA made one used. They are not only better made, but will keep value alot better since everyone wants an USA made. You wont have any problem finding one used if you have a bit of patience or dont mind traveling a bit.....

The Blues deluxe is still alot better though IMHO, and only costs a wee bit more used....

[Kilby]

The Blues Jr stock speaker is ok, I do have a link somewhere for a load of mods, and also comparasons using different valves and speakers.

I will try and dig the link out as I think it is on the pendrive that has decided to hide on me.

[Elliot]

Look at these for the basics:

http://home.comcast.net/~machrone/bluesjunior.htm

I would add I don't agree that USA BJrs are better made than the Mexican run - as a US product they keep their value; but they are the old green pcb amps that were too dark, had defective reverb circuitry and some issues with the fat switch.

[sgmypod]

Have decided to build my own(from a kit) a 6v6 5watt amp(head)