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I'm thinking of purchasing a Fender Blues Jr.
Any thoughts on the black versus the tweed versions? I know the difference is in the speaker, but is it worth the extra bucks?
Thanks
Frank
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Quote:
I'm thinking of purchasing a Fender Blues Jr.
Any thoughts on the black versus the tweed versions? I know the difference is in the speaker, but is it worth the extra bucks?
Thanks
Frank
Well maybe not what you want to hear, and I guess does not answer your questions but....
Think twice before buying the Blues Jr. I had one for a few years and finally got ride of it. It just was not versitile enough for my taste. Kind of a one-trick-pony. If you play-out you will likely have to mic-it since it does not have a lot of horse power. And the growl does not really come on until you push those tubes. But, just my experience.
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Frank, When you're talking small amps, I think you'd be hard pressed to find better amps than the Roland Cube amps. Especially with the numerous "amp models" and effects included. A link to the 60 can be found here. http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=640I have a 30, and it's great, but it's been discontinued.
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Here's a really good demo video of the Roland Cube 60 with Johnny DeMarco. Notice you get the Black and Tweed amps in your amp models. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7J3caoAvXE
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Quote:
Here's a really good demo video of the Roland Cube 60 with Johnny DeMarco.
Notice you get the Black and Tweed amps in your amp models.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7J3caoAvXE
Hard for the poor old Blues Jr to compete with these modern amps with all the possilbe effects. I guess the Blues Jr. is just "old school cool", but like I found after a while it is just "old".
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Hello Frank
Depends on what you want to use the amp for & how much you want to spend.
I have a Roland Cube 30 that I like (I upgraded the speaker to get more bottom end out of it).
But my current favorite is the Fender Super Champ XD ($310 at Long & McQuade).
I wanted something for home or small venues and researched it out on the Internet (mostly YouTube).
It is a tube amp and I play it 98% of the time through the clean channel. I wanted a small clean tube amp. I have other more powerful amps but they actually don't match the sound I can get through the Super Champ XD (for small venues/house)
Also, I have a Boss GT-10 guitar effects processor which I feed into the Super Champ XD. That provides me with any sound that I want from super clean to overdrive & distortion ( which I keep on the light side).
I don't know if I would bother paying for a whole bunch of effects on an amp, when manufacturers keep coming out with better and better effects processors.
Also with the guitar effect processor board you can plug in headphones if you don't want to bother others in the house. There is no headphone jack on the Super Champ XD but the Roland Cubes do have a headphone jack.
So it goes back to what you want to use it for?
Best of Luck
Joseph
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I'll agree, the Cube amps, with COSM effects, sure seem to sell well. A lot of people like it, worth looking at. There's another little one, ZT Lunchbox... about 8" square and 200 watts. That one has sold really well lately in the store I frequent  Gotta scroll down to see it http://www.porthuronmusic.com(Link content may change since I think it's a featured product page) Just Google ZT Lunchbox if it changes. It'll surprise you. If all you need is an amp with tube sound, this is another one worth at least trying out. Don't laugh, I'm serious.
Last edited by rharv; 03/10/11 07:24 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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rharv, I've never heard the amp, and unfortunately with the featured demo, I still didn't get to hear it.  There's alot of good stuff out there now, and I don't know if this amp is "old school", or just REALLY LOUD! Whatever you choose, I'd recommend staying away from anything that requires a lot of pedals to get different sounds or that's "old school" tube. That's why I lean toward Roland. They sound great, give about any sound you want, last forever, and they'll take a beating! Good stuff!
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Lots of youtube vids on it
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Thanks for all the suggestions guys.
I currently own a Roland Cube 20X. Maybe I should stick with it.
Frank
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That ZT Lunchbox is the first guitar amp to interest me in quite some time. Luggin' heavy amplifiers around is gettin' old as I get older and this thing looks to have the potential to keep up without breaking the back if not the bank. 200 watts in a lunchbox.
And if Billy Gibbons is using one, well...
--Mac
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Lots of big names using it. If you haven't heard one in person, it is worth checking out.
I don't need one and was tempted to get one anyway. But then they sold out ... again.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Well here is my baby... Fender Jazzmaster Ultralite Unfortuately, they are no longer marketed so you would have to find someone willing to part with one (...not me)
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Hi SRV King
Just curious. As mentioned I have a Roland Cube 20X. It has a nice Tube Overdrive effect on the 2nd channel. But I was looking for something closer to a Fender "classic" blues sound. Would the Super Champ XD do the trick?
Thanks
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I have a Super Champ XD and it will give you Blackface, Tweed, HotRod... A lot of different sounds in clean through drive. Mine has the eminece Ragin Cajun speaker (little brighter & louder). I Love this little amp! My Strat & Tele sound great through it. Can't believe it's only 15W and $299 is hard to beat. Greg
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Played through a Roland BC60 for a number years and it served me well. Great little amp. It finally started pooping out though, a few years ago, but I was still able to sell it for a good price, as it's a very popular amp. Replaced it with a Polytone MniBrute V. Bought a Twin Reverb last year but now regret it. The dang thing is just too heavy, so for now I'm sticking with the Polytone, and the for the few large venues I do each year, I bring along a Gflex 212 ext cab. More than adequate.
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Hello Frank:
Achordocaster basically replied to your question. I believe it is an excellent amp. Once, when I told a salesperson how much I liked the amp he kind of looked at me funny (like, hey buddy it is a cheap amp, don't let the other customers hear you). But I must say that I do like it. In fact, I will be selling my "boutique" amp because I cannot see why I paid $2400 for an amp when a $300 amp is just as good (for my uses).
For the most part we do get what we pay for but sometimes there is not enough difference to warrant the extra dollars. I have several examples of that with guitars, amps & pickups.
My favorite guitar (right now) is a Ibanez RG321MH ($320 CDN now, $420 when I bought it). I replaced the humbucker pickups with Armstrong P90s (in a humbucker format). I have two volume controls & no tone controls & a 3-way switch. I have way more expensive guitars than this one but it does what I want and I don't have to worry about getting a little (or big) ding on it. I do play & like all my guitars but I play what sounds good (to me).
So if you like it, then that is all that matters. I have a Roland Cube 30 and like it (and still use it) but it was missing some of the sounds I was hearing done by others. The Fender Super Champ XD met those requirements for a very reasonable price.
Have Fun
Joseph
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Hi Joseph,
Thanks for all the info. I brought a Super Champ XD home Friday night. I haven't had a chance to use it much, but so far I love it. It's definately a lot of bang for your buck. A different sound then the Roland Cube, but that's what I was looking for...some of that classic Fender tube sound. I'm playing my favorite new guitar, a PRS semi-hollow body ($640 new by the way), through it. Now I think its time to start dusting off some of the "blues" Real Tracks.
Thanks again.
Frank
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Comparing a Roland Cube with a Blues Jr. is a prime example of comparing apples and oranges.
The only thing they have in common is that if you plug a guitar in and turn it on, you get some sound out of it.
I have nothing against the Roland Cube.
But the Blues Jr. is one of the best small tube amps out there.
It's sort of a cross between the clean Blackface sound and the rough Tweed sound.
The best of both worlds.
For my level of playing a different speaker is not going to mean a lot so I can't comment about that.
At some point, if you're interested, Google the BillM mods for the B Jr.
Some people swear by them.
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Fairly well-documented legend that even in ZZTop's hey-day, they used little tiny amps overdriven and mic'ed through the PA for their 'sound'.
There are lots of images where can see where they are standing in front of stacks of amps - all for show, no go.
Smart dudes.
-Scott
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