1 Topic by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2011-10-17 13:12:40)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Topic: Fender Blues JR. wows at band rehearsal

OK,

So I usually have rehearsal every week. There's two amps in my basement... my Rivera 100 watt knucklehead through 2x12 EVM 12L's, and the other guitar player uses a 40watt Fender HotRodDeluxe.

For practice yesterday morning, the HRD was still in a trunk from a gig the night before... so I decided to bring my Fender Blues Junior (heavily modded) downstairs. I guess it's pushing 22 watts modded (new transformers and such). I had my other guitar player play through the Rivera, because I know its capabilities, and I wanted to really test the Blues Jr in terms of tone and overall volume in a real band rehearsal setting...

Rehearsal went awesome. The Rivera and Fender at opposite ends of the wattage spectrum played nice together, and I thought the Rivera would drown out the Blues Jr. Everyone was very impressed. It didn't have the "chunk" of the Rivera, but it held it's own admirably. It blew my mind how a 15-22 watt amp could go next to a 100 watt amp without any hearing issues one way or the other...

The last time I attempted something like this it was the Epiphone Junior amp... the 5 watter... through a 4x12 cab - it was competing with that Fender HRD 40 watt... and I couldn't hear myself at all.

I ran the Master and the Volume of the Blues Jr. at 6/12 (yes, one more than 11 wink ) and it didn't quite force the powertubes to overdrive. Drove the amp with a Fulltone Fulldrive II MOSFET.... worked beautifully. I'm not a huge pedal fan, so it was sort of an eye opener to see it all working together so well.

The EVMs and the knucklehead are just a lot to carry (upstairs, to shows, etc.), so I might chance just gigging my next show with the blues JR... we'll see!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: The Netherlands
  • Registered: 2010-02-14
  • Posts: 318

Re: Fender Blues JR. wows at band rehearsal

You know, I once heared from Nik (of Ceriatone) that a 10 watt amp is just half the power of a 100 watt amp...
But the Blues Junior keeps surprising me too, this year I went to a kind of american car show, and there was this rockabilly band playing, and the guitar player only played through a blues junior, that amp has some freakin' good power, and certainly if it's modded (like yours), it will blow minds....

Love to hear some sounds, haha, only if possible....

Rick

I don't charge for mistakes. - Joe Bonamassa

3 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2011-10-18 09:21:47)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Fender Blues JR. wows at band rehearsal

Hey Rick!

Ive heard when the wattage is doubled, it only increases by 3 dbs or so... so the difference between 50 & 100 watts is only a couple dbs.

What I don't like about 50 or mostly 100 watt amps is the Master volume goes from quiet to super loud. 0-2 is crazy but 3-10 isn't all that noticeable in volume difference.  hmm

Joe Bonamassa wrote:

Hey Dude... Here is my experience.  If you are already using a 55 watt amp there isnt much of a difference between the 100 watt and the 55 in perceived volume.  You will be still told to turn down with equal vitriol from the house sound guys.  What you will gain is the clean headroom you want.  The guitar will clean up better.  I have a 50 park and it stays with my superleads and superbass amps..  Good Luck.. join the hundred watt club.  you thank yourself..  Its alot of fun..
Joe B

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: The Netherlands
  • Registered: 2010-02-14
  • Posts: 318

Re: Fender Blues JR. wows at band rehearsal

Oh! Haven't heard that before.. now I do...  I know what you mean with the 50-100 watt amps. My JCM900 (100 watt switchable to 50 watt) is loud as hell. The clean is very easy, the volume is actually pretty nice volume at around 3-4, but on the lead channel.... I don't even think it's on 1, it's just before 1 or so.... haha!

Rick

I don't charge for mistakes. - Joe Bonamassa
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
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Re: Fender Blues JR. wows at band rehearsal

Taking the mic aspect out of the equation and what will or won't be heard way out in the audience: It's surprising how loud even 5 watts (depending on the amp and settings) is in close proximity to the rest of your band mates.  I was told very sternly not to come back to an open mic night when all I had was a Class 5 combo...on the floor, with the volume under half.  You should get a pair of blues juniors and do a small dual amp rig, it would look cool and then you'd have a back up should one take a crap on you at a gig.  I say go for it and try the Jr. at your next gig.  If it's indeed pushing 22 watts, that plenty loud and the easy set up and tear down will be refreshing!  -S

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Re: Fender Blues JR. wows at band rehearsal

I believe Rick49 is right - it is a common misconception that a 100W amp is 10 times as loud as a 10W one, but from everything I have read, the measured loudness is probably around 2x...

The reason Joe uses 100W amps over, say, 50W ones is I believe the 'headroom' that it gives him to stay clean before it starts to break up.  I am thinking that you will also get to push the amp harder with overdrive pedals etc. too.

Disclaimer: I am not amp expert - what I know about amps you could fit into a matchbox, without first removing the matches...

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"
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Re: Fender Blues JR. wows at band rehearsal

You need ten times the wattage for twice the volume, which is pretty much what Nik from Ceriatone said. But, ther's more to it than that, as we all know, because the movement of air has a part to play too.....thereby a 30watt head on a  4x12 cab may seem louder than on a 1x12 cab. Clean headroom also has a part to play too.....how much of it do you need to get 'your sound'.....and an open back cab will obviously project differently than a closed back cab. So, lot's of variants to consider, it's not just about the maths.

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8 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2011-10-18 09:23:21)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Fender Blues JR. wows at band rehearsal

helrazr84 wrote:

You should get a pair of blues juniors and do a small dual amp rig, it would look cool and then you'd have a back up should one take a crap on you at a gig.  I say go for it and try the Jr. at your next gig.  If it's indeed pushing 22 watts, that plenty loud and the easy set up and tear down will be refreshing!  -S

What I'd like to do now is get a VOX AC15 and run it with the Fender Blues Jr... see how that does!  cool

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: Fender Blues JR. wows at band rehearsal

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:
helrazr84 wrote:

You should get a pair of blues juniors and do a small dual amp rig, it would look cool and then you'd have a back up should one take a crap on you at a gig.  I say go for it and try the Jr. at your next gig.  If it's indeed pushing 22 watts, that plenty loud and the easy set up and tear down will be refreshing!  -S

What I'd like to do now is get a VOX AC15 and run it with the Fender Blues Jr... see how that does!  cool

If your current blues jr is throwing some serious heat, maybe the chime of a VOX will compliment it nicely!

  • Registered: 2010-03-20
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Re: Fender Blues JR. wows at band rehearsal

Nick,

I love the Pro Junior- it's everything a tweed should be. I now use it as the second part of my stereo rig to act almost like another distortion level.

I've often thought about running 2 of them in stereo, or one and a class 5 for a mini JB rig.

"Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips...."

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  • From: North Carolina
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Re: Fender Blues JR. wows at band rehearsal

Hey they have a new Transformer that can produce 30 watts!  You got to have the 6v6 power amp tubes.  Unless you've changed the tubes to 6V6 your only burning 18 watts.

AD3THREE's Website

  • Registered: 2011-08-29
  • Posts: 267

Re: Fender Blues JR. wows at band rehearsal

The blues jr. is a great grab and go amp.

Run in stereo with a vox would be very cool.

Oasis.Guitar's Website