I’ve been using the newest model of Blues Jnr for about 4 months now, no gigging, just playing at home, and I’ve been mostly pleased with it. I have noticed one thing, though. When I dial in a bigger reverb sound on the Flint on a higher mix (80s Hall usually) there is an unwelcome mid-heavy droning sound. In fact, generally with more complex, dense effects, it sounds like the speaker can’t cope without flubbing out, even when I dial the mix down. It makes playing using more atmospheric, delay/reverb sounds more problematic. I don’t know if it’s an issue with the headroom of the amp (it’s not the Flint, I’m sure) and that having something more powerful with more headroom, or even a different speaker, would help. Anyone else experienced this? I know previous versions of the Blues Jnr were regarded as boxy-sounding, but suggestion was that the IV had improved this.
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@icbm would probably be most in the know regarding the blues junior models and impacts of cabinetry. Maybe something about those reverbs is making the BJ resonate and not in a good way.
For my own two penneth’s worth, if I’m just playing at home and want lots of stereo effects then I’ll just rig the effects up with my computer sound card and monitors with decent IRs or amp sims for wet effects channels. Monitors seem to be more capable for keeping all the effects frequencies in order than guitar cabs.
Then I can either just use a dry amp in the room or an amp sim balanced centre for the guitar itself.
If I don’t want to use the computer then I also have a pair of old solid state 1x12 combos and run them in stereo. They have big enough cabinets that I don’t struggle with too much midrange from them.
The problem I find with smaller amps, 1x10 or below is that they just tend to be in smaller boxier cabinets that have a mid range honk that I can’t stand.
If anyone has found a good one or tips to avoid the honk I’d love to know :-)
If you’re just putting your post preamp/fx loop effects through there then you don’t necessarily need high end amp sims ‘cause you can still use the BJ as an amp in the room for your front end sound ....
Edit: you can also get decent second hand Peavey and Marshall solid state amps for about 75 to 100 quid, so pretty cheap compared to the pedals :-)
edit 2: of course, you may not wish to participate in this kind of faffery and just get a single amp that doesn’t resonate or flub...never had a Blues Junior though so cant help you troubleshoot it I’m afraid
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
Princeton Reverb.
Peavey Bandit.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
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I did borrow a Blues Junior for a with and tried it with my Princeton and there was a massive difference in clarity, although the BJ is a much cheaper amp I was still surprised the difference was do marked. The irony is they probably don't cost much different to make.
The Blues Deluxe is a bigger better amp so the improvement was more expected, other than weight I can't really see a reason not to have a BD over a BJ, as the cost difference 2nd hand is so small.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson