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Fender Pro Junior

Summary
Price New Fender Pro Junior @ Musician's Friend
Manufacturer URL http://www.fender.com/
Features 6.6 (203 responses)
Sound Quality 8.6 (227 responses)
Reliability 8.0 (178 responses)
Customer Support 6.5 (51 responses)
Overall Rating 8.6 (217 responses)
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Product: Fender Pro Junior
Price Paid: USD 400
Submitted 10/09/2009 at 10:03am by Jim Blevins

Features : 10
I give this amp a solid 10 for features, not because it has a ton of them, but because it's so simple. Volume, tone, and on/off switch.

I love simple and this amp really does it for me. If you use any effects your sound has probably gone through one or two eq's before it hits your amp anyways. It always seemed redundant to me for amps to have a bazillion knobs.

Sound Quality : 8
This is not the best sounding amp you'll ever buy. That's just a given with the price range and 10" speaker, but it's a great building block for some good tone.

My solution was to build a box for it and turn it into a head. I play through a 1x12 cab with an eminence private jack and it really sings. I run the amp between 4&5 when I play which is just around the breakup point for the tubes and I just love the tone I get. I use a schecter c1-elite and I can clean up the tone by going to the single-coil setting or push it with the humbuckers to get just a hint of some overdrive.

I love this amp. I wish it had a little more clarity, but it's inexpensive enough that I'm not afraid to keep tweaking it and playing with it to improve the tone. If this was a Dr. Z or something in that price range, I wouldn't even want to take out a single screw. (And I played in a band with a guy who had a Dr Z.. his tone was not much better than mine IMO)

Reliability : 10
Never had a problem with this amp and I've played the hell out of it. I bought it around three years ago and have never regretted it.

Customer Support : No Opinion
never had a problem, so I can't say anything about the support.

Overall Rating : 10
DEAR FENDER,

PLEASE MAKE THIS AMP AS A 15W HEAD AND DON'T SCREW IT UP BY ADDING ANY KNOBS.

THANKS,
JIM


Product: Fender Pro Junior
Price Paid: USD 140 USED
Submitted 08/12/2009 at 06:28pm by cubistguitar

Features : 5
Very simple controls, Volume and Tone. It can sound great for many types of playing, but not all. It is basically an all tube practice size amp with a big sound that can be quite distorted with just a twist of the volume knob. 15 watts, 10 inch speaker. Pretty loud but not firm enough in the bottom for live rock band.

Sound Quality : 7
Sound quality is subjective. If you set it pretty low in volume it is relatively quiet and full sound. I really like the distorted tones it will produce, but boy does it get noisy when you go there. The tubes love to rattle as well. I have tried different ones to get rid of the rattle but it eventually comes back. Damn fun amp however, and the size and portability give it great versatility.

Reliability : 9
I believe it to be quite reliable. It has never stopped producing sound. Tubes are cheap and easy to source so it will continue to be useful forever.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Fender? They are a great brand, but I wouldn't send this amp to them for any reason.

Overall Rating : 7
I really like this amp for the vintage styling of the appearance and tones. Now that I own some really serious hand made amps to compare it to it seems a little blah. Fender doesn't really make a great sounding cheap amp other than this one. They are pushing their branding as far as it can go with most of the pathetic line. The so called reissues don't live up to their namesakes in most cases and they the custom shop stuff that does is outrageous expensive .
With that in mind, this about the coolest value out there for the money.


Product: Fender Pro Junior
Price Paid: USD 255 USED
Submitted 08/11/2009 at 11:34pm by Smokin Joe
Email: guitarjr13<at>yahoo dot com

Features : 9
I got the '94 USA blonde with the oxblood grill. Really simple operation which is what I like. ON/OFF switch, Input, Pilot Light, Volume and Tone knobs with 15 watts thru a 10" special design speaker. I bought this one recently to replace one I gave to a friend from Spain that was over here in the US to make a documentary about the blues scene in Texas. More on that later. I love the blues and also play old motown and classic rock and this amp fits in nicely. For what the amp is I give it a 9

Sound Quality : 7
I play a USA strat with stock pups and also just got the road worn 50's strat with the tex-mex pups and they both soung really good thru this amp. I never had the bad humm in either one that I owned but they were both used so maybe someone did the short screw mod to it before I got it. It does have a little humm when you crank it but I always turn the volume down on the guitar between songs so thats not a problem. When I had the first one I really liked the way it sounded but really only played it for a practice amp. When I gave it to my friend they had a gig later that nite and I went to check them out. He had his les paul plugged in and the amp was mic'd thru the pa and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The tone was awesome and I knew I had to get another. This thing was bone stock and kickin ass. I read the reviews about the speaker and tube changes everyone makes to get thier tone but think it sounds good right out of the box. Tone is a very subjective thing. What I like my rig to sound like will not be the same as the next guy.

Reliability : 10
The first one I had was reliable and would gig locally without a backup. I had it for about a year and played it all the time but when I travel I always bring a backup. The second one would be trusted as well but would bring spare tubes and fuses at least. I have been playing tube amps for over 30 years and have only had two problems in all that time. The first time was a leaky roof in a club during a bad rainstorm that dripped a couple of drops behind my blues deville and splashed up on a hot tube. I finished the last set thru the pa. The second time was a defective tube (stock GT) that came in my vibro king. We were playing local and I had someone go and grab me another amp.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never really had to deal with fender. I have two great amp techs that work on my stuff when needed plus most of my gear is way out of warranty. The only new fender amp I ever bought was that 212 blues deville and it held up well back in '93 or '94. I hear good and bad stuff about fender. GOOD LUCK!!

Overall Rating : 9
I have been playing over 30 years and have owned a lot of tube amps. Mostly fender amps but have also had some Solid State Peavey, Solid State Marshall, Line 6 Spider, Tube Newcomb, Tube Masco. I have a pile of fender amps from a 1960 fender bassman to my replaced fender pro and a lot in between. I think for the money that you can get the pro jr for new or used you will find a place for it in your arsenal. It's compact and light and if you need more volume just mic it up. It might not be your holy grail but you never know. Happy Hunting!


Product: Fender Pro Junior
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 08/04/2009 at 09:03pm by Smokin Joe Soliz
Email: guitarjr13<at>yahoo dot com

Features : 8
I have the USA blonde with the oxblood grill cloth. 15 watts, On/off switch, Pilot light, vol/tone knobs and input. Pretty simple but thats what I wanted. Actually this one is the second one I have owned. The first one I had I got from a friends pawn shop. I was super clean and I really didn't know much about them when I bought it. I liked that it reminded me of my 1960 tweed champ. It was a great deal so I tried it and was like WOW... This little amp sounds really good. The first one I gave to a friend from Spain that was over to tour around and it sounded so good I bought another one to replace it. More on that later....

Sound Quality : 9
The first one I had I bought used and it didn't have the crazy hum everyone talks about. Maybe someone had already done the center screw trick. It had the eminence 10" speaker not the jensen blue and still sounded good. I mainly play Blues with a USA strat with stock pups but have played my jumbo body jazz guitars thru it with great results. I remember later that nite when my new friend from Spain plugged his Les Paul into it at a local bar and started playing he was grinning from ear to ear. We mic'd it into the pa and I was listening out front and man that thing sounded good. I had mostly just played it as a practice amp around the house and had never giged with it. After that I had to get me another one and did just that. I have a nice collection of guitars and amps ranging from a 1960 bassman to a MIM blues jr limited edition tweed and I really like the pro jr. I think it fits in as a small club amp as well as a great practice amp.

Reliability : 9
Everything held up good on the first one and also the second one which is the USA model too that has not given me any problems either. I can honestly say that in the past I was one of those dyed in the wool "it has to say USA" on it but reading the reviews for the MIM Blue jr tweed limited edition and than buying one has changed my mind. That comes from a guy that has a stack of USA strats and would still grab my mexican strat for a gig in a heartbeat. It sounded as good as the others. I would grab my pro jr and play a club without a backup. Not a very good idea to some but I have only had two problems with my tube amps over 34 years. I guess I've been lucky.

Customer Support : No Opinion
I have been playing a long time and have two great techs that keep all my tube gear rolling when needed. I buy new stuff from a local store that takes care of me and warranty work. I rarely buy new amps or guitars that have a warranty. Never dealt with fender.

Overall Rating : 10
If it were lost or stolen I sure would buy another. MIM or USA. I have owned a large amount of vintage amps over the years and can honestly say that the fender pro jr has been a pleasent suprise. My working collection includes Newcomb G-12, SF fender prosonic, 1960 fender bassman, 1947 Masco, Early blonde fender vibro king, Tweed fender blues deluxe, fender vibratone, Custom vibrolux reverb, MIM fender tweed blues jr LTD. ED. and thats the short list. Back to the pro jr, Some like to mod it and are lookin for a certain sound and some have found it really good stock. I have not owned the MIM model but would have no problem with buying one. The one thing I have learned over the years about tone is that everyone is searching for their holy grail. I'm not saying that the pro jr is that holy grail for you but it could be. I like it! HAPPY HUNTING....


Product: Fender Pro Junior
Price Paid: USD 350.00
Submitted 07/15/2009 at 01:06pm by Bodimach

Features : 8
Only two features that you need.Volume and Tone. Period!Wish it had reverb but my pedals suffice.Believe me, it has plenty of power.

Sound Quality : 10
Great for Jazz or Blues or Rock.
I don't find it any noisier than any other amp that I have owned.Excellent clean or distorted.

Reliability : 10
Not much to go wrong with this puppy.

Customer Support : 10
Never used them. Who cares???

Overall Rating : 10
Creamy sounds the way that Leo intended. Buy it! Mine was made in the USA and sounds incredible. I usually don't rave about amps. But, this one really has fit just about any venue that I have played over the years.


Product: Fender Pro Junior
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 05/15/2009 at 09:50pm by chuck

Features : 7
I have a mexico made pro junior i bought off ebay. I love the el 84 sound. features are basic

Sound Quality : 7
I go back and forth with this amp on sound. It is noisy. When I got it the center top screw on the back was pushing the metal shield into one of the pots. take the back off and bend the flange doen so the screw wont push it eliminated alot of the hum. It still has some tho. The sound is good. It gets pretty loud and sounds good into a seperate cab. The stock speaker sounds sorta confined. I plan some tweeking to get rid of the hum, new JJ tubes, and maybe a different speaker. It sounds good but not up to fender standards.

Reliability : No Opinion
ok

Customer Support : No Opinion
dont know

Overall Rating : 7
This amp would need some work to be really gig worthy. If you mic ed it the noise would probably come thru. Not a bad first amp specially for the price.


Product: Fender Pro Junior
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 05/01/2009 at 12:27pm by Blues Guitar

Features : 10
Pro Jr, black tolex, mase in USA - don't know when.

Sound Quality : 10
OUTSTANDING - one of my favorite amps. I bought mine used so I don't know if the speaker is original or not (I think it was a replacement) anyway, I think the reason mine sounds so great is the speaker. It's an Eminence 10446 blue alnico. I think you can still buy them for about 70 bucks online. For Blues this combo is a dream. All my friends who hear or play it want to buy it from me. Nice fat slightly gritty tone that's even better than my Blues Jr with an Eminence 12" Texas Heat Speaker. If you can find one of the Emi 10446 speakers try it - you will be impressed.

Reliability : 10
Never a problem.

Customer Support : 9
Never needed customer support.

Overall Rating : 10
Blows away every other amp in it's class and price range.


Product: Fender Pro Junior
Price Paid: USD 100 USED
Submitted 03/03/2009 at 10:33am by willvis

Features : 5
This is an early to mid-90's Pro Junior. I bought it for $100 at a pawn shop in Montana while on tour up there. Features? Volume, Tone, a speaker...

Sound Quality : 8
This can widely vary until you figure out which tubes you prefer in your Pro Junior. I keep a spare set in the back of the amp at all times, and even keep the old tubes after I've switched. EL84s, especially in these cheap tube sockets, can be real finicky, noisy, pingy, rattly. But if I keep some good EL84s and a 12AY7 and a 12 AX7 in there, in combination with a speaker upgrade (in my case a Celestion Vintage 10---a bit dark, but still sounds good and can't blow it up if I try).

Try the Pro Junior as a head through a good 1x12 cabinet and it really opens up. I recently recorded using Pro Jr into the 12 (Eminence Cannabis Rex) in my Dr Z Maz 18 Jr, and it sounded fantastic. Mike Campbell-ish chime, Keith Richards rhythm, early Zep lead. Good stuff.

Reliability : 9
Mine has only been in the shop once in 14 years---and I bought it used for $100. Like I said, I keep changing those tubes and it keeps working.

Customer Support : 10
Don't know. Bought used.

Overall Rating : 10
For $100, nothing beats this but my Silvertone Twin Twelve, which I got for $75 in the mid-80s. It rocks; I've used it on stage, in the studio, at home. I've flown with it in the overhead of a Southwest Flight.


Product: Fender Pro Junior
Price Paid: CDN 225 USED
Submitted 02/28/2009 at 03:19am by Andrew
Email: ab0323 at shaw<dot>ca

Features : 8
No sense in rerwriting what people have written below.

I bought the amp 2nd hand for 225 CDN. Mint shape - I don't think the guy had turned it on. He said he bought it in 2002. A new one lists for 435 CDN plus taxes = about $470 I wouldn't have (didn't) paid that. This is not a $500 amp. You can buy allot more amp for that. Worth what I paid.

Sound Quality : 5
I play a '58 Gibson ES125 with a Stock p90. I play swing jazz and blues. I wanted a no nonsense amp. Small, tube driven. The amp is exactly that. My struggle at first was that it was too trebelly for my ears. I replaced the speaker with an Eminece Lil' buddy for a warmer more present mid/bass range. This is a great soloution to using a larger speaker setup. I have also added a new jj and EH tube combination. There is a hiss but not even close to the one before my upgrade. I rarely crank this amp. I don't need to, I play in small clubs - great tone at low volume. The clean has a great puch to it. Rarely go past 5. Honestly, 12 is LOUD and it screams back at you. I wasn't looking for versitility in the amp just a straight up plug in and go set up. I do use a reverb pedal, I think it's a must. However not that I think they should add it too the amp. It's simplicity is it's selling point. I know a guy at work who plays Metal through his pro Junior. I rated sound quality 5 before the speaker switch and 8.5 after.

People continually comment on the tone I get. "That's your amp?!" Yep.

Reliability : 8
So far so good. 6 months.

Customer Support : No Opinion
NA

Overall Rating : 7
I've been playing professionally for 10 years. I own a SG, an Epiphone Sorrento, My ES125 plus a multitude of Acoustics, Banjitar, Mandolin etc.

I would replace it. I would like to have gone with a small boutique amp but for the 1000 dollar difference this suits me and my budget fine. Again the simplicity and 2nd hand price sold me. Small package, easy to upgrade if you wish. I don't need that much volume. And the initial hiss and Trebal prompted me to switch things around. Glad I did.

If you can find a deal - great for the price. Retail price is iffy IMO. A little more money you are in a differnt amp range.


Product: Fender Pro Junior
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 02/10/2009 at 11:42am by jerry weisinger
Email: weisingerjerry at yahoo<dot>com

Features : 8
I OWNED 4, NOW 2. NO FRILLS ALL TUBE AMP, A VOL AND A TONE KNOB. IT IS A 1 TRICK PONEY BY ITSELF. REALLY WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED THESE DAYS AS MOST PLAYERS ARE USEING MULTI EFFECTS PROCESSORS OR A MULTIPLE PEDAL SET UP. I USE THE PAIR OF THEM LIVE IN A STEREO SETUP BUT HAVE USED 1. I USE AN SM 57 TO MIC. PLENTY OF VOL YOU JUST NEED TO GET IT UP OFF THE GROUND. I USE A TABLE ON MY MIXER RACK AND MY CORD CASE BOX. YOU CAN ALWAYS GRAB A CHAIR. 15 "TUBE" WATTS GREAT GREAT TONE!

Sound Quality : 10
I USE 2 STRATS WITH HOT RAILS IN BACK AND COOL RAILS UP FRONT, AS WELL AS A PAIR OF TELES 1 A B BENDER AND THE OTHER IS A SLIDE RIG ALSO LOADED WITH HOT RAILS AND MINI HUMBUCKER UP FRONT. I PLAY EVERYTHING FROM COUNTRY, POP, ROCK, TO METAL. WHOEVER IS PAYING. I HAD 4 BUT SOLD 2. I HAVE A USA MODEL AND A MEXICAN MADE UNIT. THEY BOTH SOUND GREAT TO ME THEY ARE VERY CONSISTANT AND EVEN ON HEADROOM AND BREAK UP TONE AND THEY BOTH BREATH VERY, VERY WELL. ONLY ISSUE I HAD WAS THE TACO MODEL HAD QUITE A BIT OF NOISE. POPPED OFF THE BACK COVER AND THE CULPRIT WAS A WIRE GOING TO THE LIGHT WAS ZIP TIED AND IT PUT IT AT AN ANGLE PULLING IT INTO A METAL CLIP. SNIPPED THE TIE MOVED THE WIRE AND "VIOLA" YOU CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM. THE DISTORTION BEGINS AROUND 4 GETTING REALLY HEAVY AS YOU GO UP. I LOVE THE SOUND BUT TRY TO KEEP IT CLEAN AS I CHANGE SOUNDS ON MY BOARD AND USE MY VOL KNOB ALSO. AWSOME TONE AND I AM REALLY AMAZED AT THE SOUND COMING FROM THESE AMPS. BROKE MY BACK, SO MY JUMBO STACK DAYS ARE GONE AS WELL AS MY TWIN DAYS, IS THAT A RIDICULAS AMP OR WHAT! SUPER HEAVY AND BRUTALLY LOUD!!! YOU NEVER GET THE TUBES COOKING. ANYWAY THIS IS REALLY THE PERFECT AMP FOR ME. I HAVE READ ABOUT MODS AND SPEAKER CHANGES BUT I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS ON IT NOW ONLY PRAISE. VERY POWERFUL, VERY VERY LIGHT, GREAT CONTROLABLE FEEDBACK BREATHABILITY QUALITIES. REMEMBER IT IS 15 TUBE WATTS. YES A WATT IS A WATT BUT TUBE AMPS ARE RATED DIFFERENTLY THAN SOLID STATE THAT IS WHY A TUBE AMP IS ALWAYS "PERCIEVED" LOUDER ROUGHLY 1 TUBE WATT = 3 SS WATTS. FOR THOSE WHO DISAGREE GO TO A STORE AND PLAY A SS AND A TUBE AMP OF EQUAL WATTAGE THEN TELL ME WHICH IS LOUDER. A TUBE AMP HAS MORE DEFINITION AND REALY CUTS THRU. SS AMPS HAVE ALWAYS LEFT ME LOST IN THE MIX OR AS I PUT IT FLOATING WHICH IS FINE IF YOUR BLENDING BUT LEAD TIME AND FILLER TIME YOU EITHER BURIED OR MIXING THE INTERNAL ORGANS OF YOUR BAND MATES. TUBES HAVE MUCH MORE DEFINITION WARMTH AND TONE. I HAVE TRIED A FEW SS AND NEVER CARED FOR THEM. SS AMPS ARE LIKE MASTERBATION, YOUR ONLY SCREWING YOURSELF. VERY LIFELESS TO ME AND NO BREATHABILITY.

Reliability : 10
I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES PERIOD OTHER THAN THE HUM WHICH WAS A WIRE THAT JUST NEEDED TO BE MOVED OVER. I HAVE READ ABOUT SOME HAVING NOISE ISSUES NEEDING TO REMOVE THE CENTER TOP BACK PANEL SCREW ECT. OUT OF THE 4 I HAVE HAD THEY WERE THE SAME AS THE LAST VERY CONSISTANT. I DO AND HAVE GIGGED WITH IT WITH NO BACK UP. NO WAY WILL I TOTE EXTRA AMPS 1 IS HEAVY ENOUGH. IF YOU NEED TO BRING BACK UP GEAR, GET BETTER GEAR.

Customer Support : 10
NEVER DEALT WITH THEM ON GEAR. CALLED ONCE FOR INFO ON DATING AN AMP AND THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL.

Overall Rating : 10
20+ YR VET ALWAYS USED PEAVEY, TRIED CRATE, MARSHALL, VOX, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS. SWITCH TO FENDERS A FEW YEARS BACK STARTING WITH A TWIN, THEN A DELUXE REVERB, PRINCETON REVERB, VIBRO CHAMP AND FINALLY THE PRO JR. THE HALF STACKS AND TWINS LOOK COOL ON STAGE BUT BEGIN TO PALE IN THE MOONLIGHT AS THE NIGHT WEARS ON AND YOU BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT TEAR DOWN AND LOADING. IF YOU USE TUBE YOU ARE REALLY BLOWING IT IF YOUR AMP IS OVER A 40 WATTER. YOU NEVER GET IT UP LOUD ENOUGH TO REALLY COOK THE TUBES YOU MAY AS WELL PLAY A SOLID STATE. NOW YES YOU NEED TO MIC IT LIVE BUT THATS THE STANDARD THESE DAYS NOT MANY GOING OLD SCHOOL (NOTHING MIC'D ONLY VOCALS ON A SMALL PA, REMEMBER THE GARAGE DAYS?). I DON'T NEED ALL THE BUILT IN EFFECTS AS I HAVE MY PROCESSOR AND ALSO I DON'T TRUST THEM. TUBE AMPS GET HOT, REAL HOT. DON'T BELIEVE ME TOUCH A TUBE AFTER ITS BEEN ON A WHILE. WHAT IS THE MAIN KILLER OF PROCESSORS AND ELECTRONICS? HEAT. NOT A REAL BRAINER THERE. ALSO, IF BY SOME CHANCE MY RIG DID GO DOWN I CAN ALWAYS SHOOT STRIAGHT INTO THE BOARD. BOTH AMPS FIT IN MY CORD CASE BOX SO WHEN THE OTHER MEMBERS BRING IN THE CORD BOX WITH THE SNAKE AND CORDS ECT. WELL THERE ARE MY AMPS. AFTER THE BOX IS EMPTY I PUT 1 UP ON IT. THE OTHER GOES UP ON MY MIXER RACK TABLE. LIKE I SAID GET THEM UP AND MIC EM AND NOT ONLY WILL YOU HAVE A GREAT SOUNDING RIG BUT AFTER THE SHOW YOUR BACK WILL THANK YOU AS WELL AS BAND MATES INVOLVED IN LOADING.

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