PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

surfrider · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:56 am Post subject:

I own a Blues Junior and I have used it only sparingly. I also have the Hot Rod Deluxe, Deluxe 90 solid state, and the Roland Cube 60. I use the amps for different situations. I think the aforementioned comments about putting a mic on the Blues Junior are the way to go. I own several guitars and amps and I have the following observations.

1. The Cube 60 is the best all around amp I own but I use it primarily with my archtops with the big band and other jazz ensembles.
2. The Fender Deluxe 90 has great headroom with no break up. I have used it with the big band but it just does not have the tone of the Cube 60
3. The Hot Rod Deluxe is really only used with my solid bodies and effect pedals. Rock and Roll, Blues, and Fusion are played on this amp. Although I have used hollow bodies on this amp, there is still the break up at high volumes and it weighs a ton!
4. Now to the the Blues Junior. A great amp and I have found some local jam sessions where it does really well in a small club or room with the archtops. The Strat and the Les Paul are flawless through it. However, it is not a big band or large venue amp unless mic'ed using the archtop. You have to find the best settings for the Blues Junior according to your needs and taste.

If you want to check out the sound of an Epiphone Emperor Regent on a Blues Junior go to Dan Coy's website at www.dancoy.com.

Surf's Up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
_________________
I'll play it then explain it later- Miles Davis
http://web.mac.com/jamesjaredtaylorarts

GUITARLAW · Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 425 Location: GERMANTOWN,NY

surfrider,Dan has a nice sound,wonder though the photo of him and the keyboard player on the deck it appears that he is playing a D`Angelico guitar......Michael

surfrider · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject:

On his CD, which has excerpts on the website, he is playing an Emperor Regent.

Surf's Up!
_________________
I'll play it then explain it later- Miles Davis
http://web.mac.com/jamesjaredtaylorarts

dewey decibel · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1677

dewey decibel · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1677

BTW- I always agreed with BillM in that the best mod you can do for your Blues Jr is to put it in a bigger cabinet... Thumbs Up!

Jazzy · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 1660 Location: Norway

Now I`ve used the Blues Jr. on 5 gigs and 2 studio sessions, and it works great Smile

So I really recommend it Thumbs Up!

Phrygian Dominant · Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 583 Location: Seattle

Ochlochyjocky · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 2

I've had a blues junior for a few years now. For a big arena I use a Behringer DI100 unit. This fits neatly in the back of the cabinet and is connected to the speaker output jack. The BJ speaker is then connected to the link output from the DI box and the main output goes direct to the desk where it can go through the PA. The BJ therefore acts as your own sound monitor and the desk handles the bigger sound. Hope this is of use. Razz

vip01 · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 20 Location: SOuthern Ohio

I have a Blues Jr and never played out with it because it had a little distorted annoyng sound that would come and go and I mentioned it on the TDPRI forum and BILLM told me about the Phase Invertor oscillation that can be cured by repositioning a ribbon cable, and that fixed it for me and I really like that amp now.
http://home.comcast.net/~machrone/bjr/oscillate.htm

Since I started liking it I swapped the speaker with an Eminence speaker that I bought for an Epiphone VJ cabinent i was working on.
I think it made a minor improvement but not significant over the stock speaker.

dewey decibel · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1677

gibson175 · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:46 am Post subject:

i have one. It sounds great for that "charlie christian" style lead sound. I have used it at outdoor festivals, used it with a full orchestra including (believe it or not) five v8 powered utility vehicles, I have used it recording, I have used it with a 175, a bluesbird, a tele and a strat. It sounds great in a recording mix. BUT - it does not have a lot of bottom. I fitted a celestion which fattened it up, but it still lacks bottom. It is a cool amp, but it has its limitations. Including a tendency for the valves to get loose. Not great for comping, not big sounding at all - but for a tubey, slightly broken up legato jazz lead tone it is definitely a lot of fun. No need for pedals to get your grit if that is your thing. Oh yeah - i also did some Bill M mods and reverted back to almost stock (but that is strictly a matter of personal taste).

Jazzy · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 1660 Location: Norway

Generic Sobriquet · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 804

Ha! Nice idea. Have you heard Sixteen Horsepower?

sunriver · Joined: 24 May 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Sunriver, OR.

Jazzy,

I just finished listening to your two tunes on your MySpace page, and they are fantastic! You folks have a real feel for that "outlaw" country tone in my opinion.

I have a Blues Jr. also and I like it for what it does for me, namely just an amp to use in my home to play jazz, and it does that for me just fine.

Keep up the wonderful work you do and give my compliments to your bandmates for a great set of tunes.

Rich
_________________
"All those who believe in telekenesis, raise my right hand" Kurt Vonnegut

Jazzy · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 1660 Location: Norway

Yeah, sixteen horsepower is great music Smile

Have you heard Sophia by the way? If you like 16 horsepower, you`re gonna dig Sophia...

Thanks Sunriver. We`ve recorded about 10 tunes now. The tune "abigail" is my tune by the way. I recorded it in my home-studio.
I`m glad you liked it Smile

later,
Michael