Fender Pro Junior

This is a tweed cabinet Pro Junior that I bought in Taipei, Taiwan - where I now work and live. This is your basic no-frills amp - on/off switch, volume and tone knobs (which I knew when I bought it - so why would I give it low marks for features?). While I would love to have a Twin Reverb there's no point owning one when you live in an apartment. The Pro Junior is a great little amp.... Read on....

I have to give this a high rating in the sound department because it really is a nice sounding little amp. It has a pleasing, warm, sweet tone that starts to overdrive when you turn the volume up. Living here I needed a smaller amp with a nice tone that wouldn't blow the windows out and weigh 100 kgs... At the store I played every single smaller amp they had - which was surprisingly many and almost all solid state with all kinds of features. In my opinion, the warm tone of this Pro Junior blew them all away - a bit more expensive perhaps (partially just because it was imported from the US) but they just couldn't compare to the sound quality of the Pro Junior (I should mention that I don't play metal). I usually just play straight into the amp because I like the clean sound but run any kind of effect through it and it just screams! I play fusion, blues, rock, and jazz and this amp is great for those genres. I just played my Ibanez Artstar (John Scofield guitar) through it today for the first time and I was blown away by the nice jazzy tones I was getting when I backed off on the guitar's tone control. Can you tell that I really like this amp??!!

I've had it for 4 years now and haven't had any problems. It gets so humid here that at one point, to my surprise, the amp started to get mold all over it (yes, the weather here sucks....) but it hasn't affected the performance at all!

No experience.....

What can I say - this is a nice little practice amp. I have recorded it on my computer and it sounds great (although a POD is also a convenient alternative) - I think this is great amp for a home studio applications that don't require high amounts of volume. It has a great warm tone that will start to get a pleasing overdriven distortion if you crank it, and sounds great when used with effects units. I talked to Greg Koch (Favored Nations recording artist), who came to town a few months ago while doing promotions for Fender throughout Asia. His main purpose was to demo the Cyber Twin but I mentioned the Pro Junior to him and he had good things to say about the amp (of course this is what he gets paid by Fender for) and said that he had played many a gig through miked Blues Juniors and Pro Juniors (incidentally, the Blues Junior is a nice smaller amp as well - similar to the Pro Junior but with a bit more power). Overall, this is a great little practice and recording amp that I'm very happy with.

My Pro Jr. I traded a dead echoplex and $40 dollars for it.
Damn good deal. The echo cost me 20.
I think it is a 96 but I can't be sure.
I use this amp to play blues or roots rock or psychedelic . It has the vintagey sound .
It has no features as everyone has said. That lets you get right to the playing / and telegraphs the actual sound of your instrument.
I usualy use it for rehearsal or recording or a gig. I don't play it much at home. Mine is tweed .
and it sounds tweed. Don't look for a "classic fender" 60's blackface sound here. This is old-timey.

It sounds good with my tele-sonic, and SCREAMS with a Les Paul w/ P90's.
I just played it an hour ago. It sounds extremely warm and soulful.
That was at volume 1+1/2. Usually I would put it about 5 and the volume at half.
It makes one good sound.
Sometimes it rattles. This is the preamp tube. Wrap it in a cardboard thing that raw tubes come in and tape it up tight. It won't catch fire. Everything everyone says is true. It rattles hums buzzes annd the volume changes itself and sometimes it gets local radio.
It is the Rawest truest thing going and sounds good.
I put it on a chair and at volume 5 it is still too loud for a cheapo gig. Must be me.
It makes a very good clean sound, and a GREAT distortion.

I have used it on mmany gigs. As everyone says they all seem to come with one bad tube. I put in Mesa tubes whhattever they are and it works pretty good. Carry a spare tube or two.
The only REAL p[robkem I had was at an outdoor gig where the power was bad and the resultant overdistortion fried my speaker.
Otherwise it is quite reliable and easy to carry..

Fender is a crapshoot unless you are well known definitely.
I had it repiared. Cost a bundle and I'm not sure they put in the right speaker.

been playing 40 years.
I have a 67 Bassman. Fender75. Gretsch amp. mesa subway.
The Subway is like a more refined projr and I use it when I need a classA type sound or more clean headroom or reverb or a line out all of which the subway does good.
If it were stolen I'd be mad .
I love the sound hate the noise, but that is the price of going back to a REAL tube sound.
I saw it and saw that the store guys were dealing in echos and took a shot. Always I am told I am too loud. I thought it would help. I guess I just suck.

It has no FEATURES, nice aint it.

I have read in these reviews about not enough headroom on the clean sound on this amp. In my opinion that is missing the point. How many times have you went and jammed with your buddies and really gave a thought about your clean sound. Now i'm not making light of the fact that a great clean tone is important it's just to me the clean on this amp is just the path to a very satisfying classic overdrive. I mean were electric guitar players right and the golden tone is the overdrive sound you hear in your head or at least that's what i have spent 17+ years trying to achieve. It is amazing to me after all the different amps, effect processors, and countless dollars wasted over the years that it comes down to this little 15 watt combo. I have a late 70's ibanez artist totally stock and when plugged into a ts-9 into this little beast this thing rocks. This amp begs to be cranked. I also have a strat and to be honest with you i can't say which one i like better. I agree that you need to keep your effects to a minimum. I use a crybaby, mxr dynocomp, mxr phase 90, ts-9 and that is it. In the past i have always been a sucker for effects,especially delay, and wouldn't buy an amp without reverb but with this pro junior i don't miss it at all. This amp made me realize that all i was doing was covering up a sound that really didn't cut it. Now i'm not saying this amp is ready to knock off the marshalls, matchless or mesas of the world because every thing has its place, it's just that i have made the mistake (as others surely have) of buying more watts than you need.In the old days I used to have a jcm 800 100 watt stack that sounded great when turned up but playing live i don't think i ever turned the power amp past 4 or 5, pure stupidity. The only drawback that i can tell about this amp is it doesn't have quite the bottom end that you might be used to but the sound is so smooth and convincing i'll take that trade off. Besides a 2x12 will help that and if you play in a band mike it through the pa. I plan on buying a second one with 2x12 ext cabs for each. I have done some of the mods mentioned in previous reviews with changing the stock tubes and weber blue pup speaker and have to say they made a big difference in tone.

No problems so far.

I have owned lots of gear over the years and never worried about the cost if it was what i wanted. This pro junior is quite a bargain considering the sound i'm getting. It's an amp for all us regular guys that play in somebody's living room when the wife is gone for the day or your buddy's garage. I'm sure there is something out there that will be better so when you find it go ahead and pull the plastic out because your probably going to need it. I'll keep this one.

We all know the features at this point so we won't waste time on that.

Using with a twin humbucker St Blues, Fender Tele and a Dillion LP copy. Sounds like a solid state amp with all my guitars. No tone - no mids - no lows - very brittle sounding. Had my tech check it out - everything functioning. This amp is a huge disappontment. Fender tone? Give me a break. Either of my Champs put this Pro Jr to shame. Big disappointment but now at least I know that Pro Jrs are a p.o.s.......

Probably reliable like most Fenders........

No idea.

Have been playing since 1964 and owned probably one of everything over the years. All my Champs, Silvertones and Gibsons literally put this amp to shame. If it were stolen the perpetrator would probably return it after checking the weak tones out.........

Pro Junior Tweed NOS USA model -- Mid 2000 production.

Controls -- Volume Knob, Tone Knob, Red Light, On/Off Switch.
Tubes -- 2 EL84's and 2 12ax7's Fender Groove Tubes
Speaker -- 10 inch Fender Brownback
Power -- 15 watts

I have a stock Fender Tele and the tone with this amp is absolutely incredible! I've read all kinds of reviews concernining rattle, poor stock tube quality, shitty stock speaker. What a load of crap! This amp is as perfect as you'll find.

This amp is pure tone and handles blues, rock n' roll and country with a vulgar display of power. The clean is clean and it breaks up nicely when driven. Somewhere Duane Allman must be smiling!

Hey Chongo, if all you play (or can play) are heavy thrash metal power chords, it would be a good idea to get something else.

What would I change about the amp? Absolutely Nothing!

Never a problem with a Fender product. I take good care of my gear, use it everyday and get it serviced once a year or so. Never a failure!

Outstanding customer service!

I've been playing for a few years. I practice at least 90 minutes a day (usually a couple of hours) everyday. If this amp were stolen, I would most certainly buy another one. Although it would probably be the black tolex version *sigh* because unfortunately, the tweeds are out of production.

This is a black tolex MIM model -- late 2002 production. Volume knob goes from quiet (0) to loud (about 8) and from there to more distorted. Tone knob acts in a subtle but interesting way -- it seems to act on the accented freqs in the midrange. Low settings give a Tweed vibe, higher settings give a better Plexi sound than any combo Marshall's built in the last dozen years. Oh, yeah, there's an input jack and a cheezy-looking indicator light. (Memo to Fender -- I'd have paid $20 more for this amp to get a proper jewel light).

I use a '78 Strat with stock pickups, a Strat Plus, and a '66 Jazzmaster. Low volume gives nice warm clean sounds -- more Tweed (or maybe Ampeg) than Blackface, really, but nice stuff. It's a great jazz tone with the right guitar (the Jazzmaster really sings here). Higher volumes take you into full-howl blues tweed and beyond, right up to something *really* close to a cranked Plexi Marshall (tho not as loud, obviously). We got some great Led Zep vibes going with the volume on 12, the tone on about 8, and a Strat Plus with a red Lace Sensor in the bridge position. Wonderful stuff. That said, if you're a shredder, keep shopping, because this puppy is strictly old school.

The factory tubes were *terrible* -- the tone was OK but there were a lot of strange noises and overtones. Swapping in a set of quality tubes made a huge difference. Other than that, it hasn't let me down yet. I don't get what all the bitching about MIM quality is about -- this thing is as well assembled as any gear I own.

No clue. I didn't bother trying to fight with Fender to get new tubes -- I had planned on replacing them anyway, and I did.

I might, at some point down the road, try a Weber or Jensen speaker. Other than that, this little critter's a keeper, with absolutely amazing tone for the money. It's a great grab-it-and-jam amp with lots of useful tones for blues, jazz, and classic rock, and volume enough to keep up with a drummer. I do worry vaguely about the low-cost pots and jack, but as long as it keeps going I'll keep it around.

Fender Pro Junior.......There is no substitute. The best little amp you will ever use.

I play my 57 reissue strat thru it and my 59 gibson Les Paul and it cranks with power and tone. I also use my digitech RP12 effects board thru it and it turns it into the ultimate player.

It Takes a lick'n and will never let you down.

Most Fender people suck unless your joe somebody, then they will kiss your___!

Eye's closed, This little amp will fool the best into thinking there listening to a $2,000 amp If your lucky enough to find one with a blue Alnico speaker you've got gold. Look for the Tweed ones.

1 channel amp with 2 EL84's and 3 12AX7's. Volume and tone are the only dials. And lastly, one 10" speaker

I'm running an '96 Am. Std Strat with red, silver and blue lace sensors. It's an absolutely amazing beast! It stays clean up until about 6-7 (out of 12) then it breaks into power tube overdrive. The clean is increadibly sparkly and the overdrive is quite nice. They're loud enough to play a small gig and with a 4x10 or 4x12 I imagine it could push enough air to cover a bit larger of a venue and besides, you can always mic them.

These are great little boxes and I would recommend them to anyone. With great little "all tube" amps like this at such a good price, why would anyone want a solid state amp?

I have two Blues Juniors. One I just bought new for $250 from a little music shop in central PA. It was brand new old stock, blonde tolex and oxblood grill. The other one is a late black late model. They both sound the same. I am looking for a tweed one. Not many features but it sounds great for blues guitar and bluesy rock. One tone and one volume with a on/off switch. The class A tube amp uses two EL84 tubes to push out 15 watts. Has a solid state rectifier. This amp has been used in my home but would probably be loud enough for a small bar gig. I use my Reverend Hellhound for playing out. If good tone at a fair price was a feature I would give it a 10. It is what it is and does that very well. A simple tube amp that delivers a fair amount of volume with good tone.

It is clean a lower volumes but breaks up as you turn the dial up. I usally peg the voulme dial almost to full and control wanted voulme and break up with the guitar voulme. I have always liked simple amps and this is the way I normally do things. The amp is a little noisy but you can move it around to find a quite zone. I have picked up AM stations by holding my guitar high up. The distortion is very crunchy blues, very pleasing. Again for the price hard to beat.

I have heard of some people having circuit board meltdowns, etc. I have never seen one. I has been a very reliable amp. The top does get a little warm when it has been on for a bit. Someone should come up with a point to point kit for these. For $200 or so you could pick up a used Pro Junior and for another $150 or so a kit could make this into a total monster.

Never used the support.

I have been playing for 30 years and have tried many things. Most low cost amps are not very rewarding. This is really the best deal on the used amplifier market. Nothing to hate. It is simple to understand and love.

This is a 2001 Fender Pro Junior. It is for playing blues and rock. Period. The *obvious* features are the volume knob and the "tone" knob (which mildly overdrives the amp). Not so obvious, but important, is the negative feedback loop, which will refuse most if not all current from the pickups, meaning that a vintage guitar with older magnets will still sound great...

I play a fairly stock strat and a danelectro u-2 through this amp.
It varies only in volume and tone - produces an amazing blues tone for size/price. With tone dialed up, it breaks up very nicely at moderate volumes. IMO, the pleasing tone on this amp is due as much to the lack of stuff between the input and the tubes than anything else. I haven't found a stomp box yet that doesn't strip all of the character out of the amp. It like it to drive a bit more, but expect that this could be achieved with a tube refit.

BTW, there is one thing you can do with this amp that costs nothing and dramatically improves the tone - get it off the ground. It can be a bit muddy sitting on the ground, but cuts through much better a few feet off of the ground.

As reliable as tube amps get - I've had tubes come loose once or twice. I never play without a backup - if push came to shove, I could run my RP300 straight to the board, but I'd be an unhappy guy playing this way.

No support ever needed.

I've been playing about 15 years and play mostly blues. I compared this to a Blues Junior and a Peavey Classic 30 - in retrospect, I might have preferred the Peavey, as it is a bit hotter...

Volume, tone, and one input jack. Perfect for blues and any recording. Does great with my strats and tele, not really made for a gibson guitar, sometimes you will get the vibe with it at high volumes. I like it where there is hardly any knobs to use, it makes it better so you have the "tone" every time! EL84 and 12AX7 Fender Groove Tubes stock.

It has tone. I get early SRV sounds through it, I also get Cropper sounds with my tele. I think it works best with a telecaster. I play blues and it has the smooth overdrive breakup. Perfect for the band practice sessions. I think that this amp is for anyone that knows that less features could be really good. Does not sound as good as my Super Reverb RI, but I prefer to record with it more for its breakup.

I replaced the tubes with Groove Tubes, not fender tubes, but the real ones. Made the amp 100% better. More Class A feel to it. I tried electro-harmonix preamp tubes, but it did not sound like GT's. I also had the input jack replaced with one that is not soldered directly on the board. cap # C11 blew up and I got it replaced with a NOS millitary grade. The amp still worked even with the cap removed. I wish it had a bias pot installed, but I don't care what it does with different tubes, I will use GT's in it for now on. Maybe install mullards, i don't know. After all the fixups the amp is like a tank, its been dropped and had all the accidents an airport can give it. I carry it in my luggage when i travel.

Have to have the reciept for everything. I just go do repairs third party, and sometimes myself.

I've been playing for a few years and I owned many amps, and this and my Super Reverb is the best I've owned. If it were stolen, I would not buy a new one, maybe buy the tweed model. Or make a new one by scratch. or build a tweed deluxe. Sounded better than the cyber twin cause of the tube power amp than solid state the CT has. The best bang for buck fender offers. I could cut through lead with this amp. I played with people that used 80-100 watt rms amps and this cut right though it (barely). The loudest 15 watt amp in history for being class AB.

Hey there! My name's Pete and I'm a bass-aholic. I bought my Pro Junior when I was 16, so that's about 1996. There was a sale on them at my local music shop (John Bellone's) and they had about 10 or so. I paid, I think around $320 for mine (plus selling a 50 watt Traynor head towards it... kinda wished I still had that beast. Too heavy! Needed something portable.) and let me say that it's NEVER let me down! The tubes are still the originals, but I think some fresh ones may do some good. Also, it has that real cool tweed covering. So, at the time I wanted it for guitar purposes, but who would have known if you unpluged the internal speaker and connected it to a 2 x 15 cabinet, add a bass guitar, that the little bugger would prevail as a monster!

Granted, the amp is simple, but it has balls! I really like how the higher volume increases overdrive response. Personally, I prefer having one tone control then a 3 band or graphic EQ's. Less fiddeling with knobs is such a relief! I don't mind if i dosn't have reverb or more then one input. I have a 70's silverface twin reverb for that kind of stuff, plus vibrato. For what it is, it can't be beat! I wish there was a more powerful model of this amp. It's big enough for jamming or small gigs, but with a good microphone in front, you could play... well, anywhere.

I play a Fender P/J bass, so, to those of you who are ignorant, that means it's a precision bass with a jazz pickup in the bridge. I'm more reliant on the P bass pickup for my growly tone, but the jazz adds some nice high end deffinition and clarity to the overall sound. With bass, the little 10 inch, 30 watt speaker is fuzzy. Too fuzzy almost. So as I said before, I have it play through a 2 x 15 cab (Traynor with force speakers), and that really helps. The amp output is 8 ohms, and the cab is 16. I set the volume to 4, and the tone more or less the same. It dosn't get much louder past 5 anyways, just more dirt, and with a precision humbucker, it won't take much to rock out! All my guitar knobs are maxed out. I can match my heavy handed drummer on a sonic level.

The great thing is the response to how I'm playing. The tone is cleanish when I'm driving the song along, but as I get into it, it dirties up beautifully. I play rock, so that's a good benifit. The only thing that stinks is that the vibrations from the internal speaker make the tubes rattle. It's like, annoying and stuff. Maybe new tubes would fix that(?). The tone is 'cream-y'.

The Pro Junior is reliable, and tough! It fell down a flight of stairs once, and all that happened was the handel bracket doo-dah bent a bit. Big deal! But I think I may live with that, hehe. The tweed is kinda dirty now, but I don't think I'll put it in the laundry machine.

My Pro has never needed to be fixed, so i havn't needed customer support. If anything does go wrong, I know a guy who fixes amps as a hobby/ small business out of his basement. I guess Fender would help me out, but I've never delt with them.

I've been playing for at least a decade now, and have accumulated a bunch of stuff along the way. I own a few guitars, pedels (I only use my Dunlop wah whenever), the Pro junior (with cabinet) a twin reverb, and enough cabels to play in the next town without moving the amp there. My guitars: Fender bass, 80's Jap Strat with humbuckers, a regular stratocaster, an accoustic (with an output... Feedback hell with the Junior), and a Gibson SG. I don't really play 6 string guitars anymore. Bass is where it's at! And by the way, it is a very powerful instrument. I lead the band! Guitars? You can keep 'em. I let other people break strings!

If my amp was stolen, I'd be pissed! A replacement would be okay, but they don't make them with the cool tweed and oxblood grill cloth anymore, just the less appealing black and silver.

I love this amp! It cuts the mustard! I just wish it was more powerful, say 100 watts or so. It is loud enough, but hey. I was so excited when I bought my Pro Junior. It had a great sound, only weighs 20 pounds, looks cool, and is a no brainer, which is good.

If you have an adventureous bassist, or lucky enough to know one at least, let 'em try it out. Bigger speakers make it sound, well, bigger and better! The Pro makes me sound like we don't even need a guitar player in the first place! I'm very happy to own my amp.

Not a whole lot of knobs-- that's for sure. I have a distortion pedal and a chorus pedal so I'm covered there and otherwise, the existing controls are surprisingly satisfying.

With my telecaster (with SD Custom Custom in the bridge), I can get sounds as varied as The Animals, Nirvana, Guns and Roses, Weezer, and Radiohead. The clean sound is absolutely amazing. It must sound at leaste 3x as good as my Marshall Valstate did! I own a Sansampt GT-2 and it did really well getting a full distorted sound which I didn't expect from a Fender amp!!

Don't do much gigging and only have owned it for a short while.

Never dealt with them.

Extremely impressed and feel that I've found the amp that's always been looking for!! For the affordable price that it is, I wish I had bought one 5 years ago!!

There are so few features on this amp that it's hardly worth me describing them! (As the guy below said "I think one of the knobs makes it louder!" Like your style man!)

This is not a versatile amp, but then that's hardly the point. I play blues guitar and harmonica and use a variety of amps for each job , depending on the venue and what I fancy using (For harp - Fender Blues De Luxe modded with 2x10" blue Jensens; Fender Super Champ; plus for guitar Fender Hot Rod De Luxe , Fender 75 head plus 2x12 cab, '71 Fender Bandmaster built into a "pseudo-Super 4x10" combo, Matchless Chieftain plus 4x10" cab; Trace Elliot Speed Twin). The Pro Junior is a small, compact, lightweight handful for casual gigs and sessions where you dont want to show up with a huge amp.

Having been a long-time Super Champ fan, I'd always fancied a Pro Junior for recording/small gigs etc as a slightly different flavour. Actually, I really like the Trace Elliot Velocette/Gibson Goldtone small amps, too, so I was looking forward to putting the Pro Junior up against one of them, for comparison purposes as well (see below).

Mine is the later black Tolex one and I wish it was tweed or blonde, as they look so much cooler! Reverb would be nice, too and so would tremelo - but then for #150 what do you expect?

A couple of other thoughts: I'd like to see some retaining/screening cans on the preamp tubes, but then that's a criticism that can be levelled at all the amps in this series. It would also be good to see protective corners fitted to stop the vinyl getting ripped in transit. I know this would go against the "vintage tweed" vibe, since the of Fifites amps never had 'em, but then mine isn't a tweed amp anyway! I've ended up fitting Fender-style chrome protectors to the bottom corners of my De Luxes - that's where they take the knocks - and I'll probably do likewise with the P-J when I get round to it.

When I first got this amp (I bought it, used, in an E-Bay auction from someone who lived about 100 miles from me and a friend collected it for me) it sounded absolutely terrible! It had very little volume and no clean headroom at all - in fact it was about as toneful as a #20 battery-powered micro amp! Fortunately, I knew this was not how it should sound - a combination of H-C reviews and the fact that my good friend Gordon Russell gigs his Pro Junior with the excellent Two-Timers (http://www.drfeelgood.de/2timers/) and gets a GREAT sound. Fortnately, the vendor was not only an honourable person, but worked in a music ship with its own amp repair man, so I shipped it back to her and she fixed it for no extra cost. Nice one Kathy!

I play blues guitar and harp in bands and at jams and in the studio. For guitar, I mostly use Strats and Teles, sometimes with an overdrive (Voodoo Labs Sparkledrive is the current favourite) Nobels Tremelo and a Danelectro Rocky Road Leslie simumator (with the mod suggested by H/C reveiwers).
For harp I use an Astatic JT30 mic.
This amp is surprisingly loud on its own and while the amount of clean headroom is not enough to gig everywhere without mic'ing through the PA, you could play small gigs very easily, if you were happy to live with a bit of grungy overdrive. (A big plus iin my book!)
I was curious to see how this would shape up alongside my Super Champ and I have to say that it's not quite so loud, but it's not far off. Obviously it's nowhere near so versatile, tonally and the overall sound is rawer and much more edgy.

Against my mate Dave Werewolf's Gibson Goldtone GA15 /Velocette 10, the Pro Junior held its own very well. Ostensibly these are similar amps - both have one volume, one tone, two EL84 power tubes and a ten-inch speaker. The Gibson/Trace is class A. (I don't think the Fender is, though I would be happy to be corrected on this point.) Anyway, there was very little to put between the Gibson and the Fender in terms of volume, though the Gibson sounds "bigger" somehow and less middly - it does have a bigger cabinet, which probably accounts for some of it, though I also think the "typically Fender" voicing on the Pro Junior also makes it rather brasher-sounding.

(NB: If you like small tube amps, check out the slightly larger Gibson GA15R or the Trace equivalent, Velocette 15R, which has a beautiful Fendery reverb and a 12" speaker and is for my money, the best small amp on the market bar none. You can gig these babies easily!)

Anyway, back to the plot... I've used Pro Junior for harp on several studio sessions and also live at a few smaller gigs and it has worked pretty well, though the inherent "boxiness" of a single 10" speaker in a small box does make the thing rather prone to feedback, especially with a very bright mic like the JT30. All the same, it's great to turn up for a gig with this in one hand and my harps and mic in the other and not break sweat!

For guitar, it's great for using around the house - it's taken over from the Super Champ (which is currently ailing and needs the attention of Dennis Cornell, my tech, when I get around to taking it to him) as my "house amp. I've also used it on a couple of gigs and for one studio session as a second amp, in tandem with my main amp, to add a bit of edge to a higher-rated main amp. It's great for this - use it with something like a Hot Rod De Luxe or a Twin, running reasonably clean , with the Pro Junior almost flat out overdriven and you've got a HUGE sound at a (fairly) manageable volume!

The extension speaker socket is useful (I had to fit one myself on the Super Champ!) and hooking it up to one of my extension cabs (a Matchless4x10 and a custom-bult open-back 2x12, both loaded with Celestions) makes a huge difference to the quality of the sound. You lose that boxiness and the thing just seems to "breathe" a lot more easily and give your playing much bett

This amp seems pretty well built. I'm not all that keen on the way the tube sockets are fitted through the chassis, or the fiddly retaining cradle for the power tubes, but apart from that and my comments above about screening cans for the preamp tubes, it all seems pretty solid.

A couple of weeks ago, I managed to drop my Pro Junior about two feet onto its back on concrete. I was expecting a dead amp on power-up, but I'm pleased to say it still works perfectly! Well done you chaps at Fender

My amp guy, Dennis Cornell, also works for Arbiter , the UK Fender importers and he knows everything there is to know about fixing and maintainging Fender amps. (He also designs and builds some pretty mean amps of his own) I know other people have reported bad experiences with Fender in the UK, but my experiences have all been very good.

I have been playing for about 25 years and own a heap of gear, including about ten tube amps, maining Fenders.

If this were stolen or lost I would look out for a similarly-priced P-J and buy it if the price was right. I would not, however, pay more than #200 - mainly because I would still have the Super Champ to fall back on, so I could live without it.

I love the compactness, the light weight, the simplicity and the basic edgyness of the sound . I don't like the fact they don't make 'em in tweed any more, the lack of reverb and the fact that the sound gets boxy at higher volume settings.

I bought this because it was cheap, looked cute and I was curious to compare it with the Super Champ and Dave's Gibsons, all of which cost a lot more. For that reason alone, I would always find a place in my heart for one of these babies...

Doesn't need more than the volume and tone it boasts.

This is an update to my review last year. These are the later tweed models.

It still sounds great - so great that I bought another one and run them stereo. I played a jazz gig the other day with my Greco L-5 copy into a single Pro Junior and the sound was so traditional jazz...everybody commented on the tone...even my friend who gets the baddest tone!

I get more compliments on my tone than ever! I run an es-335 or my strat thru a Boss GT-3 and into both stereo and have never wanted for more volume. I could use a little more bass, so I may swap out the speakers and put some high-end tubes in to really tweak them.

When I bought the first one I played it side by side with a Blues Junior and I just LOVED the tone better.

Never had a problem, and I gig regularly.

Never dealt with them

I've been playing for over 30 years, have owned Fender Princeton, Super Champ, various Marshalls, Rivera, an early Boogie Mk I, have a Fender ProSonic that sits in the closet, and I think these are the best sounding amps I've owned. If they were stolen, I'd get more.

1 input: Volume: Tone: 10" Speaker: 2 x 12AX7s pre-amp tubes: 2 x EL84s power tubes: Solid State rectifier

Built 1995/6 (guess)

My Mod 1: Added DI line out (#28)
My Mod 2: Swopped the 12AX7s for 12AU7s
Possible third MOD: swopping the EL84s for NOS tubes
Possible fourth MOD: replace speaker with Weber or Jensen

As I am a harmonica player, playing though a variety of crystal mics, I got feedback from the amp with the volume at 2-4. With the pre-amp tube swop I can get a little more volume out without better control of feedback.

Wishlist features: Standby switch: reverb: headphone jack

I love how easily pportable this amp is.

I bought my Blond Pro Junior about six years ago. It was a shop demonstrator (had a couple of minor scuffs) and was sold below the list price. The sound is very nice and warm. Just right for the blues I play. The variety of sound really comes from which mic I plug into it. I tend to play with the volume and tone at 5-6. It is NOT noisy. It's just not loud enough by itself. Just mic it up or have a line out fitted and place it high up on some beer crates or some such. I play with a delay or delay/reverb pedal in front of it which livens it up right for me, my instrument and ears.

The speaker broke within one year. I like to travel light so I wouldn't carry a spare amp. I carry spare tubes but of it was unusable I'd simple play through the PA.

Roka's (now World of Music) in Denmark Street, London, replaced the speaker and it has worked fine ever since. I've had no dealing with Fender on this amp. It's only a one-year warranty in the UK - not the five you get in the USA. That's disappointing.

I do like the sound. Very nice in a small handy package. I've been playing about 10 years but only gigging regularly for the past three. I'm now using a 59 Bassman RI to gig with ? it just has more of everything: tone, bottom end and you can always be heard. The line out fitted to the PJ works well, but the Bassman wins hands down. I use the PJ for quieter gigs, jams, practise and where there is little stage space. I have also lent it to a depping guitarist (it is much louder for guitar). I might use the PJ for recording. If the Pro Junior were lost or stolen I might replace it with the Blues Junior, for the added reverb and FAT swith, or maybe a Marble MAX amp (Dutch amp) or a classic valve Champ.

Who needs features?!?!?! You plug-n-play.

I play harp through my Tweed Pro Junior. In the beginning, I had the typical feedabck problem but solved that by changinh out the two p[re-amp tubes to 12AU7's or 12AT7's. Presently, the number#1 tube is a 12AU7 and the other is a 12AT7. This works best for me.
After playing through the Pro Junior for about two years, I started changing out the two EL84 power tubes. I found a matched pair of NOS GE EL84's. What a difference.
In addition to the tube change outs, I also replaced the stock speaker with an Eminence Legend 102 Blue Frame. Again what a difference. I have achieved the "Quest For Tone."
I use both Green Bullets and Astatic JT30's through this amp. I get a nice thick buttery tone to a thin buttery tone depending on what mic I use.
Some times a use a reverb pedal. I usually put the Volume control to 8. My main volume adjustment is achieved with the mic's volume control. I change the Tone control setting according to the song and mic being used.

This amp has held up beautifuilly. It even took a header and still played. Just get rid of those Fender tubes to get quality tone.
I purchased this amp from a music store. It was brand new in the unopened box. They just wanted to off it. Thank you Jesus.

Who needs Customer Support?!?!?!?

I've played through other tube amps. This is my main amp because of portability.
Geez, I just need the sound tech dude to mic the darn thing, then I set my volume and tone controls, decide which mic I'm in the mood for, and I'm ready to go.
I might attempt to play it through a 2x10 or 2x12 cabinet.
If it were stolen, I'd get another in a heart beat.

As previous comments.

This is just a tip for those who find the Pro Jr (like most all the Hot Rod Series - Blues Jr, Deluxe, Deville) leaning towards the stiff side tonally. A VERY simple mod (better that tube/speaker swaps - I've tried) is simply to diconnect the negative feedback loop. Disclaimer - I take no responsibility for damage to equipment/injury to persons etc etc...this is just a tip I found on the web and am passing it on, cause I liked what it did.

The mod - There are 3 wires on the output jack. Two from the output transformer and one from the board. The one from the board is the negative feedback. Removing it will loosen up the sound a bit, make it break up a little more. The amp losses a bit of clean headroom, but what you gain in terms of tone/touch is worth it, IMO. Warmer, looser and a bit more "raw". Plus, the amp at full tilt is a seriously rocks out. Even sounds good with the stock speaker (a Weber C10Q still didn't do it for me in this amp before I modded it)...I imaging hooking it up to a 2x12 or 4x12 would be pretty fun! Distortion excpectly is not metal/hi-fi, but definitely punk/grunge. You clever sorts can put this mod on an on/off switch for more versatility.

6 as stock, and 8 with the mod (I've now got a Winfield Thomas Super Reverb clone, the Elizabeth, which the PJ cannot touch...see my review for that amp).

With the mod, only used it for a few gigs so I can't say, BUT jammed with it at full tilt (vol and tone both on 12) for a few hours one afternoon, held up OK.

This probably voids the warranty, so comment is irrelevant

Been playing for 13 years, teles and strats primarly, owned Les Pauls and 335s, mainly blues with soul, funk, swing thrown in, tho I did use to play more rock styles. If it was stolen, I would get something from Winfield Thomas, or similar. The tone difference is there. I do love the PJ's portability/tone/price package. All up great value for money, but I'm still searching.

Features? We don't need no stinkin' features!

Basically it's "cord goes in here, sound comes out there."

One input, one volume knob, one tone knob. Tube circuitry; 2 x 12AX7A preamp tubes, 2 x EL84 power tubes.

I was lucky enough to find one covered in the cool blonde tolex/oxblood grillcloth configuration.

I use this as a bedroom/practice amp with a stock 1990 Fender Standard (Japan) Stratocaster. I'm a completely different player when I plug directly into the amp sans effects. I get a wonderful vintage Strat "bell" tone, and the Strat begs to be fingerpicked. It's great when using outboard gear, too, as it doesn't color your sound too much; there's nothing to get in the way of your tone.

It's rated at 15 watts, but HOLY RECTIFIER BATMAN that's a LOUD 15 watts!

Two issues: it tends to have a slightly "boxy" sound, and at very low levels, I pick up a bit of stray RF.

No issues at all. I suspect that I'll have to retube it eventually, but under the circumstances that I use it, (low levels, short time periods) I'm sure that I won't have to deal with that too often.

Never had to deal with Fender support.

I still shake my head at the fact I got this somewhat rare blonde Pro Junior for $140. For this fact I'd rate it's value at 12 (like the volume knob)

Still, even at regular retail price, this is a great way to get some Fender TUBE tone in a cool little package.

Picked it up #175 which was a deal - I was looking for an amp to use in small pubs and bars. I sing and play solo - it turned out to be an ideal choice - The amp is as versatile as your own playing

1960 Strat with fralins - suggest you use with a compressor MXR Dynacomp or a Texas ranger means you just turn up the guitar when you want distortion - overdrive pedals suck the tone and defeat the purpose.

It's a bit noisy and crackly - change the stock tubes to improve tone and reliability

Fender SUCK!! Especially the bitch that runs the Australian operation.

Been playing 30 years - this a pro's amp - sorry guys - you can't hide behind pedals with this little baby - unless you want to sit in your bedroom for the rest of your career. It's a great gigging amp for a soloist and manageable for band rehearsal. However it can be noisy which is why I give it an 8 rather than a 10

This amp virtually has no "features", switch, tone, volume, that's it.
You can use an extern speaker if you plug out the one which is build in. Very basic, very easy, just plug and play!
I appreciate that.

This little bastard got soul. Wen you turn it up, overdrive increases, versatility comes with guitars and and the way you play. Sound is allways honest and reliable. I use it with my tele loaded with fender noiseless pickups, preferably nothing else. It sounds best if the volume is turned up midways - very dynamic with overdrive if I hit the strings. This setting is too loud for a domestic situation but perfect for rehearsals. For gigging you need a PA system. In my opinion it is versatile as it reacts to the way I play - but it is definetely no amp for metal or loud and clean rhythm playing. There are other amps for that. If you want natural overdrive at the right volume and an amp which transfers your personality you should try it.
It is a bit noisy, though - but not as noisy as our PA.

So far no complaints

I E-mailed fender germany to ask them about the noise. They answered within a day.

I've been playing for 25 Years and had a lot of heavy amps. This little bugger is such a practical thing. With a luggage cart you can even take it into the subway. And for me it just sounds right - so I live with the noise. I still own a Mesa Boogie but I find myself using the little fender more and more because it is so convenient and down to earth.

I am still trying to figure those two buttons.... I thing one of them is use to increase the volume.

It sound very good but it is not the warmest amp availble but it still sound very good and is very fun to play around with. I used to hate it with 12AX7. I even changed them a couple of time but I did not like the result so I went to a TV repair store and got myself two 12AU7 and that did it. Suddenly the amp became more musical but there is no more overdrive but with a proper overdrive pedal XXL by Tech21 it is still a very loud 15 watts but now I can use it at home with the volume at 5 instead of 2. Once I put one of the speaker from my Fender Bassman 4 X 10 and with those tubes it sound very old.

so far so good

Have you ever try to find fender email. Good luck...

I just wish that it would have a loop ti toy with. I know that I could get one install but...just don't feel like it. I love mine.

I have a 1994 first gen tweed Pro Junior with the blue anico speaker, made in the USA. It's a no nonsense 15 watt all-tube workhorse, similar to the old Fender Harvard. At some point I plan to replace the Chinese made Fender tubes with some NOS American tubes (2 x 12AX7 & 2 x EL84).

I play mostly '50s and '60s rock'n'pop, and some blues. I use it only for rehearsals and recording, as it isn't really loud enough for most gigging situations unless you want a lot of overdrive, which I don't. That said, it is plenty loud for its size! In band rehearsal I don't go past 4 or 5 on the volume scale, and it cuts through just fine with the perfect amount of overdrive. I haven't used it in a blues situation yet, but I would imagine that it would be an amazing blues amp. Add a Fender Reverb tank (I have a '63 reissue) for even warmer, richer tones.

No problems whatsoever.

I use a '62 Gretsch Tennessean, a variety of Rickenbackers, and a '65 Silvertone/Danelectro with this amp. It has that great Fender sound, but in a smaller package. I've heard that the newer Pro Juniors (with black tolex and ceramic speaker) sound like crap, but this early version is a wonderful little amp. The vintage tweed covering and chome plated contol panel are really sharp looking. I mainly bought this because it was the only tubed practice amp available, and I've grown to really dig it. The originals can still be found on eBay for around $250-275, and are well worth it.

I'm going to say GOOD things about this amp. But we must be realistic. You bet it's limited on features, but that's part of the beauty of this amp. Don't buy a baseball bat if you want an Uzi!

This amp has the Fender tone. Don't doubt it. I can't say for sure about whose "overdrive" tone it has, but it is great overdrive tone. Completely natural, not at all industrial. I never used to like overdrive until I bought this amp. It has the purest, warmest overdrive I've ever produced. Whether you're talking single or double coil pickups, it produces a great OD tone. And for a 15 watt, 10" speaker amp, this little baby sounds huge! It's not big enough for a gigging amp (without a miked PA), but it's a fantastic practice amp, living room amp (fits under your end table), and it has been used by some top professionals in the recording studio. But it is the overdrive sound I love. It will overdrive in the most natural, warmest manner I've ever heard. Since I know I'm far from having heard everything, I'll only give it a 9, but for the dollar value, it's a definite 10. I think everyone, except pure clean tone folks, need one in their arsenal. (There's no way to shut off the OD tone as you crank the volume.) But you must also put a Boss RV-3 Reverb/Delay pedal in front of it. That adds another $150 to the set-up. But then it is sweet sounding when played at the lower volumes. It will fill your living room with a very full spatious sound in this setup without the OD starting to roll in. So classic Fender tone on a smaller scale (i.e. not 65 twin) is there in this little Titan, along with the ability to provide sweet overdrive at reasonable listening volumes. But you will be surprised how loud it can be.

Had to bring it in after about a year and a half for new tubes. Had to be re-biased as well. Don't know much about this stuff. I thought it would be like changing a light bulb, but I guess that's not usually the case. Cost about $100 for the maintenance. No unusual problems have ever arisen. With only four tubes, the simplicity of this amp takes a lot of the fear out of owning a tube amp. This is one of three tube amps I own, and you don't fear letting this one sit and cook like you do with the bigger tube amps all lit up like a Christmas tree.

I was surprised that exact Fender replacement tubes weren't available so I could just stick them in and play on. The re-biasing threw me for a bit of a loop. But again, they say that's typical of any tube amp.

If I lost it, I would want to replace it, BUT I might look at its slightly bigger brother, the Blue Junior. That gives you a couple more on-board controls, reverb and maybe a "fat" switch(?) and a 12" speaker, but the same 15 watt amplifier. But I must say this little 10" unit with the tweed covering, brown leather handle, chicken head knobs, is damn cute, nostagically quaint, and sound great!.. If you're a metal head, keep looking, it can't peel paint, but if you like classic rock overdrive and want to keep some of your hearing, get one of these for fun. I've got to give it a ten, because I think it does exactly what it was designed to do.

Mine is a mid 90's model finished in tweed. It has the blue alnico 10 inch speaker. Leather carrying handle and two simple controls - a volume and a tone. Small cabinet and light weight. A pair of 12AX7 preamp tubes and a pair of EL 84 power tubes giving it 15 watts of output. Not much for features. Just the basics. I recently sold mine and picked up a Blues Junior.

The basic sound of this little amp is good. But it's very limited. The clean sound at low volumes is good for recording. As you turn the volume past 5, it begins to overdrive. The OD tone is NOT Fender-like at all. It isn't bad, it just sounds too gritty for my taste. And that's all there is to say about the sound of the PJ. Decent clean, but only at low volumes; gritty, almost harsh overdrive at higher volumes. Don't expect even a drop of versatility. But if the sound appeals to you, it could be the one.

I owned it for three years. No serious problems. It did have an annoying tube rattle that would show up randomly and nothing I ever did would get rid of it. Changing tubes, changing speakers, removing the power tube retainer, tightening all screws in the cabinet - nothing made any difference. Very frustrating and it's the reason I finally sold it.

I tried calling, I tried emailing, and Fender just ignored me. Over the years, I've purchased thousands of dollars of Fender items. I'm extremely disappointed in their policy of ignoring customers.

Compared to other Fender tube amps I've used over the years, the PJ is at the bottom of the list. This doesn't make it bad, since Fender tube amps are generally very good. It just doesn't compare favorably to their other offerings. For a few dollars more, you can get the Blues Junior, which is a much better sounding and more versatile amp.