Fender Guitar Amp

[Ninanina]

I'm thinking of a valve amp for the Strat

Does anyone have any thoughts on a Fender Blues Junior amp?

I don't need a big powerful amp so I guessed the 15w Junior would be ideal

[Stratmangler]

What are you looking for in a guitar amp?
The Blues Junior is a lovely amp to have if it's what you're looking for.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Hi
Marshall make some nice amps of all different sizes and abilities http://www.marshallamps.com/products/amplifiers/
I know this artist managed to get very good if not unbelievable sound from them:). 12734

[Ninanina]

What are you looking for in a guitar amp?
The Blues Junior is a lovely amp to have if it's what you're looking for.


I'm looking for a slightly warmer sound than my Roland, or maybe a richer sort of sound. But it must be able to play quietly and still sound good though

Do you reckon the Junior would be ok?

[Stratmangler]

If you're looking at a Blues Junior then it's worth checking out the Blackstar HT-5R, and the Marshall SL5 too.
The main thing about all of the amps is that they're generally more responsive to touch, and they usually lack talent enhancers.

The Blues Junior is fairly old school - it's single channel and you need to turn it up to get it to sing, so at 15 watts it can get quite loud.
I have a Blackstar HT-1R, and it's plenty loud for playing at home, although sometimes I'd like to have a touch more clean power, and have considered the HT-5R.

[Ninanina]

Thanks for the info Chris

Do you think the HT5, SL5 or Junior would be too loud for home use? Obviously it depends on the vol control but can they sound ok reasonably quietly

[Stratmangler]

The best thing to do is try all the amps in question - if it will do what you want when turned down then it'll be fine.
The three amps mentioned have one thing in common - they all run on valves. Most electric guitarists prefer valve amps because of their response to a player's touch, and also because of the harmonic richness that they can bring to a guitar's tone.
The amps mentioned all have different voicings, although the Blackstar is designed to be a chameleon and be tunable to approximate a Fender amp or a Marshall amp and many points in between.

[Haselsh1]

In all honesty, you need to find a damn fine music shop and try it out, I use a Vox which has the most incredible crunch to the sound just like those old 60's sounds. All I need now is a Gibson Les Paul Gold Top to replace my Strat which I don't really like very much :eyebrows:

[lurcher]

I use a blues Jr, and I love it, must take it over and let Chris have a play sometime. If all you want is a classic fender blues sound, then I would say its the one for you. If you want different sounds, then the other options suggested, or something from the line 6 range would be my suggestion. I went for the Jn, as it made the sound I wanted, and so its a perfect fit. Its loud, but will go down to practice at home volumes. But yes, you need to find a good shop. if you can find anywhere like my local (Halifax, Guitar Zone) shop, they will match the online prices (close enough) so will always get my money, just so I have somewhere to go and spend an hour on a slow afternoon :-).

[The Black Adder]

In all honesty, you need to find a damn fine music shop and try it out, I use a Vox which has the most incredible crunch to the sound just like those old 60's sounds. All I need now is a Gibson Les Paul Gold Top to replace my Strat which I don't really like very much :eyebrows:

+1 for VOX... and yes. Lose the strat if you can. The Les Paul will sound fookin lovely through the VOX. I love Les Pauls, had a Custom once and the action on it was utterly sublime. It could hold a note for ages, quite 'phenomental'. :)

[Haselsh1]

OK so maybe a Gibson Les Paul Gold Top displays a slightly overactive imagination on my part cozz right now an Epiphone SG copy would suffice as would any copy with some nice chunky humbuckers. I see that Gear4music have some great offers on :eyebrows:

[costerdock]

I can't help you as I haven't heard any of these - but I'm also getting an amp in the next six months to go with my Strat - I'm going with the VOX AC15C - It's a tossup between the 15C1X with the Alnico Blue or the 15HW1 with the greenback. The hand wired is nice as it has an option to play with half the watts - which hopefully means not as loud.

Anyhow - good luck!

[Ninanina]

I've found someone locally who has a Blues Junior for sale, probably going for a listen Sunday (today)

[Stratmangler]

Didya go and try it out then?
Whaddya think of it?

[Ninanina]

Well I saw it, heard it, and purchased it.... it's now home and I love it :D

I makes my playing sound better than I really am for some reason... it's got a lovely tone... and I love the spring reverb... :guitar:

[Stratmangler]

Nice one! :D

[lurcher]

Is it a MkIII or an earlier one?

If you feel the need, there are a load of mods that can be done (not felt the need myself yet).

http://billmaudio.com/wp/

[anthonyTD]

They are great little amps,
I have a few customers who use them, As Nick states you will see many mod upgrades being recomended on various sites, however, they are mostly personal choice, and not a fix for all, if you like it as is, leave it!
I used to get quite a few Guitarists who would ask if i could change modify Silver face Deluxes, and Pro-reverbs into black face versions, and after saying yes i could, i would then ask them why ? most would state "well because the black face is better" without ever hearing or playing a blackface! Ohh the stories i could tell! :eek:
Anyway, enjoy your new toy. :)
Anthony,TD...

[Ninanina]

I think you would call mine a MKII

I love it how it is so I don't think I will be modding it in any way...

[Ninanina]

Lesson today from my lovely teacher, Ben, (how he puts up with me I will never know!!!) was one I suggested..... Guns n Roses - Slash - and "Sweet Child of Mine" intro...... I love this track to bits.... now I just need to get my head around it on the Strat....got the gist of it I think but need LOADS of practice...:):)

So I WILL be doing some head banging during the next couple hours......I've got You Tube on repeat playing the original track just to get me in the mood....

I am just wondering if I can get the Strat and the Blues Junior to sound 'crunchy' enough for this tho.....

Will try to download a backing track to the iPad to play along to... seems like a plan.....:D:D:D

Maybe a Les Paul will be on the agenda some time in the future....:doh::doh::doh::doh: No I must resist.... Guitars defo seem to multiply much more quickly than hifi bits and pieces..... :mental::mental::mental::mental:

Now I must go and buy a top hat with glittery bits..... just to get into the swing of things.......:eek: actually hats quite suit me so maybe that's a doer !!!!

The tubes are warming up in the BJ and getting ready for me.......:D:D

[Ninanina]

One thing is for sure though..... I will never be as sexy as Slash is..... he has something you know!!!..... :yay:

Calm down now....:D:D

[Stratmangler]

I am just wondering if I can get the Strat and the Blues Junior to sound 'crunchy' enough for this track.....

With "Sweet Child" you need to use the neck pickup for the lead bits, and the bridge pickup for the rhythm bits, and you'll be somewhere in the ballpark.

If you require more gain than the Blues Junior (I wouldn't abbreviate the name to BJ :eyebrows:) can provide then you can boot the front end of the amp with a preamp booster or an overdrive pedal.
The Digitech "Bad Monkey" is a very decent example of the breed, and with low & high EQ controls you can set it up to not alter the basic tonality of the guitar.

W6l21rEx2ik

[Ninanina]

With "Sweet Child" you need to use the neck pickup for the lead bits, and the bridge pickup for the rhythm bits, and you'll be somewhere in the ballpark.

If you require more gain than the Blues Junior (I wouldn't abbreviate the name to BJ :eyebrows:) can provide then you can boot the front end of the amp with a preamp booster or an overdrive pedal.
The Digitech "Bad Monkey" is a very decent example of the breed, and with low & high EQ controls you can set it up to not alter the basic tonality of the guitar.

W6l21rEx2ik

Thanks Chris for the heads up on all of that.... super stuff...oooooooh I NEVER thought about the BJ bit.... how crazy of me.... calm down now...:doh:

[Ninanina]

My 'Blues J' is humming away nicely so I am sure she is ready for me now so I really must go and practice....

This guitar business is so much more rewarding than Hifi.... really ...... I never thought it would be but everyone should try it to see if you are musically gifted... I don't think I am particularly gifted but I do LOVE my time spent with the Strat.....it's quite a thrill... and sooooo late in life..... I should have taken up the electric guitar sooner....

I feel I have really missed out somehow.... so LOTS of catching-up...... come on peeeps you gotta give it a go.... :D:D