Fender Blues Junior Lacquered Tweed Special Edition

One channel all tube. I would sum this amp up as simple. The only feature is reverb. I bought 2 have owned them for a year now, play one or both depending on size of the room. I have almost always used one. Do not buy this amp if you are looking for a clean sound, crank it nice slight overdrive, great with single coils bright sound. Best part is I can carry both amps my bag and gretsch in a club in one trip, very handy in NY city.

The amp makes one sound good for blues, rockabilly and classic rock with addition of blues driver/tube screamer. I play rockabilly/pychobilly/punkabilly, ad a gretsch all set. Also not bad with strat/tele. I luv simple stuff, plug in 10 seconds of messing with the knobs and you can play.

The amp has never let me down, I play alot so I have changed the tubes but that was to prevent sound deterioration. You dont have to bias it due to low power so its a cheap fix.

n\a never busted

I have been playing since 1990 when I was a wee lad. I have owned the full spectum of equipment some I sold and kick myself (marshall jcm800 stack) ya id never use it but man it was cool. Some I wish i had never bought. This amp I will never sell. I bought a vox to use for other projects, but if you like the one trick keep the pony.

2006 all the tweed you need. Ok, so here is what I like about the features... they are minimal (i could even live without the reverb)

This amp sounds good on a relative scale... for it's size, cost and weight, it excels, but it certainly does not fill a room like a 4X10 bassman. So... I like the sound quality reatively speaking : )

pretty new, but seems put together with some care... plus has 5 yr warranty so...

n/a

overall, this amp serves the purpose I bought it for... portable, good, reliable tone. I totally dig it, and it doesn't hurt that my wife thinks it is "cute" so I can leave it in the living room!!

It's probably not fair to give it an official rating after offering a review in July, so instead, a commentary:

A few years back, I a/b'd a bunch of boutique amps, including Bogner Shiva, Top Hat and a Dr. Z 2-10 Maz 38. Problem I had with the Shiva was, in order for it to really come alive, it had to really get loud. Problem with the Top Hat is it was a little too high-midrange for my taste. Of the three I liked the Dr. Z the best, but it seemed to go from 0 to 80, without as much plug-n-play 'in-between' as I'm used to.

One of the salesguys at the small, independent shop I was visting said, "Close your eyes and let me plug you into something that'll blow you away." I was game, and sure enough, the mystery amp sounded amazing. I was thinking, "Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about."

You guessed it, THAT amp was a Blues Jr.

Since then, I have gigged with some very nice, vintage and high-end amps; I own an exceptionally nice sounding 67 Vibrolux Reverb. My favorite two boutique amps on the market currently are the Z. 1-12 Maz 38 Sr. and the Bogner Metropolis.

The class A circuit Blues Jr NOS with the Jensen C12N ceramic speaker and a set of JJ tubes does not sound exactly like any of the above amps, but it provides an equivalent sonic value, and in terms of sweetness of tone, it excels, IMHO.

Which brings me to the reason for the re-review. I just picked up a 2nd NOS tweed Blues Jr., and gigged with both, simultaneously, tonight.

If you haven't tried this, you owe it to yourself. The tone was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I had the hair standing up on the back of my neck all night long. I used a 61 SG Reissue with WCR Coils pickups and a 50's style Strat with Van Zandt Vintage Plus's. Holy S**t. Friggin's incredible. And the comments - I've never had so many people compliment my tone, even a few who weren't guitar players!

I paid $475 for both, new, including tax, so for $950, not only do I have an affordable tone monster for a combined amp, but I can lift it in two stages, significantly lightning the load.

And to the guy who bought one of these used and said it didn't measure up, you might replace the tubes and take it to a reputable amp tech and have him check it out. I just can't see it - something may be wrong with that amp.

Do you know what year the amp was made in?
2006.

Is the amp versatile enough for you and the styles of music you play?
YES.

What are those styles?
CLASSIC ROCK, BLUES, JAZZ

How many channels?
1.

Does it have channel switching?
NO.

Effects loops?
NO.

Headphone jack?
NO.

What features do you wish it had?
CHANNEL SWITCHING, EFFECTS LOOP, HEADPHONE JACK

Why?
FOR VARIATION AND QUIET PLAYING

Are there features you never use?
NO

Where do you use this amp?
CLUBS, BEDROOM

Does it have enough power for you?
YES, OTHERWISE I MIC IT

Feel free to enter any other features (stereo, tube or solid state, etc.).
MASTER VOLUME, FAT SWITCH, ALL TUBE EL-84, REVERB

What kind of sounds can the amp make? How much variety?
CLASSIC ROCK DISTORTION, JAZZ CLEAN, BLUE DIRTY. GREAT VARIETY

Is the clean channel distorted at high volumes? In what settings?
NO

How brutal is the distortion?
GREAT FOR CLASSIC ROCK.

What guitar and pickup styles are you using it with?
IBANEZ S, FENDER STRATOCASTER, GIBSON LES PAUL

How does it suit your music style (and what is that style)?
EXCELLENTLY. ROCK, BLUES, JAZZ.

Is it noisy? On what settings, and in what environments?
NO

Can you depend on it?
YES

Would you use it on a gig without a backup?
NO

Has the amp ever broken down? Because of neglect of regular servicing (as in tubes), or just plain neglect?
NO

If you've dealt with the company, how helpful/friendly were they?
N/A

Ever try and get it repaired? Was the repair done under warranty?
NO

Were you able to find an authorized service center easily?
N/A

How long is the warranty?
FIVE YEARS TRANSFERRABLE

How long have you been playing? What other gear do you own?
35-YEARS, SEMI-PROFESSIONALLY. I OWN ALL KINDS OF MASS-PRODUCED AND BOUTIQUE GEAR. THIS IS THE BEST AMP I HAVE EVER OWNED IN 35 YEARS.

If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else?
YES

what do you love about it? What do you hate?
TONE


Did you compare it to other products? Which ones? Why did you choose this one?
NO

Anything you wish it had?
NO

Anything else you'd like to share?
NO

2004 Fender Blues Junior Lacquered Tweed Limited Edition. Reissue Jensen speaker and JJ Tesla tubes. All stock.

Okay -- c'mon now, people. This amp sounds decent enough -- but this isn't anywhere near a "10". All you folks that rate this amp a "10" - have you actually played good high end and vintage amps? The Blues Junior Limited might be a fine amp for only $500, but plug it in next to a Dr. Z MAZ 18 Junior and then you'll know what a "10" sounds like. Next to something like the Dr. Z, the Tweed Blues Junior sounds thin, cheap and boxy. Sorry, but is time it was said here. I have owned one, and I liked it -- but it rates a 4 or 5 at best. And that reverb is truly aawful.

Seems solid enough -- but that tweed veneer rips so darn easily. Never had a problem with it otherwise.

N/A

I have played for thirty years. The Blues Junior Limited might just be the most overrated amp ever. I'm not saying its terrible -- it is simply an adequate amp that is probably best used as a home practice amp. I can't imagine any guitarist with good chops would use thing for anything important. It is dang loud -- that is for sure -- but it has little girth to its tone. It seems to work pretty well with pedals, by the way. BUT THIS AMP IS NO CLASSIC.

Just received the relic version of this amp after bidding for it on ebay. I must say that it was well worth the search and the dosh. I played through every amp I could get my hands on both bigger and smaller. Some had more features but none had the presence and tone of this little guy. I say little only becuase I have been playing through a borrowed 59 Bassman but the sound is not small. It does just what is says on the box. No whistles and bells no loops just sweet tone tone tone. If you can find one of these buy it if you can find two of them buy them

I play mostly Blues so this amp suits me down to the floor. I use a 56 Strat Relic and a 1946 Gibson L-7 set-up for slide and this amp is just the ticket for both. It works well in a small room and a big room as well. 15 watts make it very quiet so it works well for recording. It can also be miked and used in a club venue. Reminds me of seeing Robin Trower in Detroit on stage with his Strat and a single tiny amp. Couldn't sound better, just couldn't. Perfectly matched to my guitars and playing style.

Only just started using it but I have never had problems with Fender amps. Even the crappy ones seem to keep on going.

Never delt with Fender direct always with the dealer and never really had to do that.

This is a great little amp which has already become collectable. The Jensen speaker just sings. The only problem with this amp is that friends are always asking to borrow it and I don't like the way people eyeball it when using it in a club. I had to lose this amp but would pay a small ransom to have it returned if it was nicked. The relic version is a nice touch if you have vintage equipment it fits right in. Skip the tolex model and find a relic or tweed and just plug in.

Just recently purchased my tweed Blues Junior amp. I love the sound that it produces (both clean and gritty) thanks to the master volume and regular volume. I love the tweed look. Couldn't afford the 57 tweed twin, so this one will have to do. But at least this one has a great reverb which the 57 twin tweed is lacking. I use this amp primarily for playing the blues and it fits the bill very nicely. This amp sits beside my 65 twin reverb. They compliment each other very well. I am hoping to purchase a foot switch that will allow me to switch from one amp to the other, and allow me to play through both amps simultaneously.

The amp can be a git noisy, but not bad. Just need to keep the pickups faced away from it.

I play my Fender Strat and Epiphone's copy of the Gibson es-175 through the amp. I notice that the humbucker pickup on my Epiphone gets a bit more of a "growl" (great for some blues riffs) from the amp than my Fender. This amp has plenty of distortion for my taste.

So far, the amp seems totally dependable. No problems as of yet.

Haven't needed Fender Customer Support as of yet and hopefully won't have to.

I've been playing off and on for approximately 40 years.

It would break my heart if the amp became lost or stolen. This is why I have insurance on my instruments. Yes, I would replace it with the same product (if I could still find one).

I'd still like to pick up a Leslie speaker. Guess I'm a bit nostalgic when it comes to vintange instruments and sounds.

This amp has the features you would expect in a little tube amp made to sing the blues. It has a Master volume, so you can use the gain knob to dial in from clean to funky, then you can push the small fat button and dial in some more grit -sweet!
Does it have a bunch of other sounds and effects? No- that's not what it is about. it does have reverb - it does not have a stand-by switch or a foot switch. One of the features has got to be how it looks - the vintage tweed is really nice

This amp is quiet - maybe that is expected from 15 watts vs. my hot rod deluxe at 40 watts - but if you crank it up it is plenty loud.
The sound is great rich / warm and vintage - you can dial in plenty of variations. it sounds great with both my deluxe Strat and with my Epi Sheraton with P-90's. you don't need pedals to get funkadelic
you just plug and play.... and have a nice day, whatever

It looks, feels and smells tough

Standard Fender warrenty - I think they are in bussness to support mussicians and not for the fast buck - so I guess I am going to rate this high.

I am going to rate this high because it was everything that I bought it for - great bluesy tone - maintains tone at lower volumes - and it looks great with my sunburst Strat next to it.

The Blues Jr. Relic was only sold at Guitar Center as far as I know.
It is a tweed version that has been distressed (translates to made to look ratty). It is exactly the same as the black Jr. inside except for the speaker. They put a Jensen P12R in this one, WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!! I played it next to a black one in the store, and they
were like night and day!! This amp captures the feel of the Super Reverb (with those 4 P10R's) without the volume!!! (15 watts Vs 40 watts). It's all tube with bass/mid/treble, reverb, and a FAT switch.
The only things it doesn't have are a stand-by and effects loop (but
you don't need effects with this one).

The Relic can go from sweet with great high end sparkle to all the growl you need. My 52 reissue Tele and this amp were made for each other. I also play a Clapton Strat, LP Custom Lite, 335, and a Carvin
electric acoustic (EC175) and all can find great sounds thru it. My music ranges from 60's british & Dylan to Blues, and all of my stuff
likes the Jr. Simply, the tone is there.

I've had it 2 years...no trouble yet.

Fender is great. I haven't dealt with them on this piece, but I have
always been satisfied with them on other things.

I've been playing for over 40 years, and I've played my share of
equipment' and I couldn't drop coin on this amp fast enough.
It's amazing what the alnico equipped P12R did for this piece.
Would I get another if I had to? Truthfully, I would get a CLEAN tweed version and replace the speaker. I am also toying with the idea of buying a black copy (cheaper) and droping in the Jensen
for a back-up.

This is probably one of the best known little amps out there, so I won't bore you with all the specs and features. They are the same as the standar Blues Junior. However, this amp is the Lacquered Tweed Special Edition, not relic, not blond, just Laquered Tweed.

That means that the amp is covered in a beautiful laquered tweed tolex that gives this amp a rich deep tweed color like the vintage ones but with a NOS (new old Stock) look. Also, the crappy Emminance speaker found in the standard blues junior has been upgraded to a made in Italy Jensen speaker.

So, the tweed plus the speaker and the fact that it is a limited run, adds $150 to the cost of the amp over a regular BJ.

I'll give it a 9 since it should have included the foot switch

I got this amp to compliment my other amp sounds and get some blues sounds without too much tweaking. My other Amps inlcude a THD Univalve run through a 2x12 Avatar Cab with Celestion speakers, and a Marshall Valvestate 1x10 combo unit.

I use a Fender American Ash Telecaster, a Les Paul clone, and a Takamine Acoustic.

I was looking for an amp that was low wattage so I can get tube distortion without going deaf and that it could play clean enough for the acoustic.

This amp exceeded my expectations. The sound that comes from this small box is amazing. It doesn't sound boxy at all and the bass notes are all there. The whole combo seems to resonate so when listenting to it in a room, it is hard to know where the sound is coming from. Is very non-directional, or three dimensional like.

The reverb is decent. I never liked too much reverb any ways, so I keep my reverb no higher than 3.

The clean sound is very, very nice. It makes my Takamine sing, the sustain that I can get is awsome and the harmonics just as amazing. The highs are like shivering bells but without being overwhelming and the bass notes just full and warm, the mids fill in the void and makes the guitar sound like its natural unplugged sound, just louder. Perfect!

Of course, if you want some break up, just raise the volume a bit on the amp and increase the guitar volume and then you can create nice warm tube breakups with just the attack of the pick.

The Grove Tubes EL84's that come with the amp are rated at a 9 or so, so they have plenty of headroom for acoustic stuff. If you like an earlier breakup, get a pair of matched JJ's EL84's with a rating of 5. Enough head room and they get crunchy earlier than the standard tubes.

If you want a boutique sounding amp for a fraction of a cost, then this is it.