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Topic: Blues Jr. vs Blues Deluxe |
Alvin Douglas
From:
Prince Edward Island
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Posted 29 Dec 2013 6:17 am |
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Hello All,
I have been reading threads about amps suitable for PSG and notice that some players use a Fender Blues Jr. I play a telecaster through a tweed Blues Jr. but assumed I would need to shop for an amp to dedicate to PSG. The good news is that at least in the short term, my Blues Jr. appears to be acceptable for double duty. I have always thought I should sell the Blues Jr. and replace it with a Blues Deluxe since the sweet tone of the Blues Jr. disappears as the volume comes up. However, I have not read that anybody is using a Blues Deluxe for PSG. I assume the reason is that the price of the Blues Deluxe is higher than most amps that are especially well suited for PSG such as the Peavey NV. In addition, the weight advantage of the Blues Jr. is lost on the Blues Deluxe. In a perfect world, I would use 1 amp for both lead guitar and PSG. Is the Blues Deluxe a reasonable choice or should I keep the Blues Jr. and focus on something to dedicate to PSG?
All advice and comments are welcome.
Alvin |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 29 Dec 2013 7:00 am
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easy answer..Blues Jr is a 15 watt/12 " speaker amp...I have one, like it a bunch even use it at small rehearsals and practice. Power tubes are EL84's...
The Blues Deluxe is a 40 watt/single 12 " speaker amp which grew into the Hot Rod Deluxe. Power tubes are 2x 6L6. Two totally different an unrelated amps.
You may possibly be able to live with a Blues Deluxe or Hot Rod Deluxe on a small to moderate gig before you run out of headroom. The Blues Jr will run out of headroom way before that point.
I own a HR Deluxe and use it on small gigs now and then but understand it's limitations for the gig.
The main difference between the HR Deluxe and the Blues Deluxe is the extra overdrive stage Fender added to the Hot Rod series.
Both the Blues Deluxe and the Blues Jr are excellent amps, but both serve different masters. My opinion would be that the Blues Deluxe would serve a better "dual duty" purpose overall but may still not be the answer if the Steel player seeks more headroom.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Clyde Mattocks
From:
Kinston, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2013 8:16 am
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Good advice from Tony. I used a Hot Rod Deluxe for steel in church for a few years before trading it for a 78 Deluxe Reverb. I jumped forward for guitar but went backward in steel tone.
_________________
LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro |
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Alvin Douglas
From:
Prince Edward Island
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Posted 29 Dec 2013 10:37 am
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Thanks for your help. At this time, I think I will try to make the Blues Jr. do both jobs. We mic everything on stage so I don't need a bunch of power. I use compression, delay and blues driver pedals with guitar. Really looking forward to experimenting with a pedal steel. Thanks again for your help.
Alvin |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 29 Dec 2013 12:03 pm Blues Jr for Steel
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There are quite a few mods you can do on the Blues Jr to get more headroom and make it more steel guitar friendly.
I use mine with PSG and non-pedal, but I don't play in a band with a really loud drummer and haven't had any problems miked or not.
Check out billm's website:
http://billmaudio.com/wp/ |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2013 3:06 pm
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Never tried a Blues Deluxe, but I have a Hot Rod Deluxe and a Blues Junior, both completely dead-stock earlier models from the USA. For pedal steel, I prefer the sound of the BJ hands down, although the HRD is acceptable. As a gigging amp, neither has adequate headroom for playing with a loud drummer, however. They may be fine mic'd up, although I've never tried.
For a low-volume practice amp, the little Pro Junior may just be the best of the bunch for pedal steel. Just add reverb (optional). And for lap steel, it's killer. |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 29 Dec 2013 5:59 pm
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I owned a Hot Rod Deluxe for several years and it was great for telecaster. Not good for steel IMO...
The open back and 40 watt amp just became muddy and would not cut through the mix in a band situation.
I have several solid state amps (65 and 100W and even bigger 200W+ Peaveys)that work for steel at higher volumes.
Dom
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3 |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 30 Dec 2013 3:56 am
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As stated, regarding the Blues Deluxe and HR Deluxe , I do not recommended them for regular Steel duty for all gigs. However, for lite duty they will be fine but you can't push them, they will exceed headroom in a NY Minute. Tone wise they are pretty good, bright, nothing like a PV amp. I used a HR Deluxe (late 90's) for about a year as my ONLY amp for double duty, tried everything known to the human race to resolve the headroom issue, tubes, speakers etc...I did finally resolve the issue , I sold the HR Deluxe and acquired a HR Deville. Significant headroom increase.Still have that amp.
These are all fine amps for a selected purpose.Once you step past what they can do on their own merit you will know it. They are not to be compared to a PV Steel amp or a bigger Fender amp such as a Twin, you will be chasing headroom in an endless race.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Alvin Douglas
From:
Prince Edward Island
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Posted 30 Dec 2013 5:01 am
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Thanks for the info. While I have used my Blues Jr. for guitar on stage, it is mic'd (SM57) and run over the monitors and main speakers. The amp does the job and is light, small and has the right tone for the music we play. I have always had an interest in moving to the blues deluxe but the weight and size increase hold me back. Soon I hope to own a pedal steel. I expect to purchase an amp especially for it but thought I might try the blues deluxe if it would do double duty. In view of the advice I am hearing, I am inclined to keep the blues jr for guitar and look for the right amp for PSG. What model of currently available Peavey amp is the right choice for PSG?
Alvin |
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Alvin Douglas
From:
Prince Edward Island
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Posted 30 Dec 2013 5:27 am
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Never mind. Answered my own question. Peavey Nashville 112 is currently available. Nothing cheap about it but its available. I see some talk about the Roland 80XL which is not available. Now it appears to be 80GX. No idea what the difference is. Back to step one...purchase a pedal steel. Thanks to all who offered comments and advice. Really appreciate your help.
Alvin |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 30 Dec 2013 4:48 pm
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| It may prove worth your while to wait for the release of the new Quilter 'Steelaire' amplifier. There are videos on Youtube which use six string guitar (Telecaster) as well as both non pedal and pedal steels to demo the amp and it handles them all very well. Great sounding unit IMO. |
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Kerry Hutcherson
From:
Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Posted 10 May 2014 7:15 am
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Hey Alvin,
I use a Blues Jr. for pedal steel (as well as standard-tuned and baritone electric guitars), and I love it. I don't understand why so many people think the amp doesn't have enough headroom. It's got a master volume and preamp volume, so if I want a loud, clean tone for steel I just crank the master and keep the preamp volume low. When I want the amp to breakup earlier, I crank up the preamp volume and turn down the master. The two knobs interact with each other quite well.
I play in a band with a loud drummer, and a guitarist who is sometimes loud. I've not had a problem hearing myself, and I always mic my amp at gigs, so getting an audible clean tone in a band setting live has not been a problem for me with the Blues Jr.
One thing that I should mention is that I replaced the stock speaker with a Celestion Seventy 80, and I'm using JJ tubes. Speakers and tubes make a big difference. I actually swap out the preamp tubes from time to time depending on how much headroom I want. I found it to be really easy and effective in adjusting the overall output of the amp and always adjusting the point at which the amp starts to give me output tube breakup, which I use more for non-pedal steel stuff.
I agree with the folks who said the Blues Junior's reverb is wimpy. It's a small amp, so the reverb pan is similarly small. I got a T.C. Electronics Hall of Fame reverb pedal, and I absolutely love it. There are lots of other great reverb pedals out there, so I wouldn't stop using the Blues Junior just because the stock reverb is lackluster.
Finally, before switching to the Blues Junior I tried several different Fender tube amps for pedal steel. I found that the Fender Twin Reverb and Fender Hot Rod Deluxe were simply too loud for my needs. I was constantly feeling like I had to turn down in order not to drown out my band. Once I started using the Blues Junior I was relieved to be able to actually crank up the amp and get a nice fat tone without overpowering everyone. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 10 May 2014 2:15 pm
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| Kerry Hutcherson wrote: |
Hey Alvin,
I use a Blues Jr. for pedal steel (as well as standard-tuned and baritone electric guitars), and I love it. I don't understand why so many people think the amp doesn't have enough headroom. |
Maybe because it doesn't have the same headroom as the big brother amps. Thats not a theory. The amp was not designed to compete with it's big brothers. I am not dissing the Bjr, I love mine but not in a 5 pc band setting which can be a bit assertive. I don't like any amp that can't deliver more than adequate headroom " on it's own merit" for Pedal Steel guitars.
Now I would also agree that not all bands are the same. I fill in with a 4 pc band on Bass now and then and sometimes I have to turn around to confirm that there actually is a drummer behind us. He has sticks but I think they are foam rubber...
Oh and lets make this clear as well, not all bands mic instruments and neither do all venues, for that reason alone we should carry gear that matches the gig or show. We all know there is nothing worse than playing a 3 or 4 set gig and you have the wrong amp behind you.
If the B Jr works for some, great, if it doesn't, then not great...
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Kerry Hutcherson
From:
Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Posted 10 May 2014 4:21 pm
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| You're right, Tony, the Blues Jr. definitely doesn't have as much headroom as the higher wattage amps in the Fender family. It's a 15-watt amp, after all. I also agree that it's important to make sure that your gear is serving your needs in a variety of circumstances. In my case, the Blues Junior is working well for pedal steel, but I can see how it might not cut it for others. Anyway, it sounded like Alvin was looking for some examples of steel players who have had success with the Blues Junior, and I have. |
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Scott Appleton
From:
Ashland, Oregon
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Posted 11 May 2014 10:22 am blues jr 3
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I use the blues Junior 3 for steel and tele .. works great and on most stages i get the sound man telling me I'm too loud .. that little 15 watts really cranks .. for steel i turn down the gain and turn up the master .. for guitar the reverse .. or i use a gain pedal for guitar and an ab switch .. I like my vibrasonic with a 15 when i need to do more swing stuff .. the 15 has the tone to die for .. I have also lately been using the Kemper profiler .. i can get any amp and speaker sound dialed in from my collection of amps and just click on the one i want ... it is amazing light weight
and has a direct out to the board which in my opinion makes having large amps on stage a thing of the past .. sell one vintage DR and buy a Kemper .. the profile for the DR in the Kemper is spot on .. then you'll have 200 amp profiles and can make as many as you want from your collection .. I love the BJ3 for just throwing an amp in the truck and showing up at a gig with a tele and a steel .. less set up time .. |
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Edward Rhea
From:
Medford Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 11 May 2014 8:23 pm Hot Rod Deluxe
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FWIW, I've been running a HR Deluxe for my steels, and love it! But honestly I replaced the stock fender(celestion knock-off) with a very nice full-ranged Bugera speaker. The chasis produces plenty of volume & tone for my needs, but I found the stock speaker inadequate...especially on the low end. Granted, both of my steels are equipped with single coil pickups, so I don't have any idea how it would sound w/humbuckers on a modern steel.
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“TONESNOB” |
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