Fender Blues Junior or Hot Rod Deluxe ???

tmlesko · #1 10-26-2008, 08:58 PM

I have the chance to buy either a Fender Blues Junior or Hot Rod Deluxe at about the same price, $320, $350 respectively. I know the Hot Rod Deluxe sells for a lot more but I wonder if it is overkill for me. I am just getting back into guitar and can barely play. I am looking for a nice mellow, clean amp to use with my semi-hollow body guitar for smooth jazz and blues. If anyone can help, I would appreciate it. I now have an older Peavey 20 watt Backstage solid state that I don't especially like.

Tom L.

Little Jay · #2 10-27-2008, 03:59 AM

Hi there,

I think both amps are perfectly suitable to play jazz with. (I own a Blues Deluxe amp, the 'low gain' version of the Hot Rod).

Keep in mind that a Blues Jr is a small amp (15 Watts?) that will start to break up (i.e. overdrive, distort) when the volumes get higher. Therefore for clean jazz it is more limited to low volume situations and with a louder drummer, especially when using sticks instead of brushes, it will sooner reach it's limits of clean volume.

The Hot Rot Deluxe is a much more versatile amp, that can cover most situations, from small club gigs to bigger stages, being 40 Watts. But I think it weighs more, so for the versatilty you loose some portabillty.

So you decide what you need: clean volume versus more portability. Myself I would go for clean volume and versatily in this case, since the Blues Jr is not realy portable either I think. For real portability and the small jazz gigs I purchased a small Roland Cube 30x that I am very happy with, 'cause on low volumes it sounds a good as my Blues Deluxe (to my ears). Together with my Blues Deluxe this is a combination that covers almost every situation.

Hope this helps!

greetz,
Jasper

Jake Hanlon · #3 10-27-2008, 06:55 AM

get the Deluxe. I have played a lot of Blues Jr and a lot of Deluxe. I have yet to play a Blues Jr I would play on a gig and I play my Deluxe on just about every gig I've had in the last 4 years with a few exceptions.

mr. beaumont · #4 10-27-2008, 10:04 AM

i'm a blues junior fan, but $350 for a deluxe is a great deal. do it.

just remember, 40 tube watts thru a 12" speaker is A LOT OF AMP.

bluemood · #5 10-27-2008, 10:34 AM

I love my little Fender hot rod deluxe...I modified mine tubes(bias 68mv) JJ6l6GC ,speaker Weber Alinico 12A150, reverb mod sounds great to me very easy to mod...45 lb nice size I love the bass in it... plenty of power and headroom,after the mods(tubes bias)even the drive sounds good and useable...It comes stock with Groove tubes 6l6B they don't give you the full 40 watts and the amp does not live up to its full potential... I had a chance to pick up a fender 65 twin RI for $500 and after trying to put it in the back of my SUV I passed on it don't regret it a bit.

tmlesko · #6 10-27-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

i'm a blues junior fan, but $350 for a deluxe is a great deal. do it.

just remember, 40 tube watts thru a 12" speaker is A LOT OF AMP.

Thanks all for the input, I am going to see them in the next day or two. I like the size of the Blues Jr. but for the money I am leaning towards the Deluxe. I won't be doing ANY gigs since I can barely play. the simplicity of the Jr. is appealing, right now I just want a simple, very mellow, soft blues/jazz sound, but will I want to "grow into" the Deluxe? Who knows. Thanks again for the input.

tmlesko · #7 10-27-2008, 08:22 PM

Does the Deluxe have to be played LOUD in order for it to sound really good???

Thanks,
TL

Jake Hanlon · #8 10-28-2008, 06:15 AM

no.

They start to break up nicely at around 4 or 5 on the volume. But most instances you'll never need to turn it up past 3.5 unless you're in a big room.

Subsequently at around 6 these puppies are awesome blues amps. I used one also for Rock and had it around 7 and it screams.

But mostly I keep her at 3 and adjust my needs on the guitar. Never had a problem being heard or being overbearing.

derek · #9 10-28-2008, 10:21 AM

If you are talking about just a bedroom amp, 40 watts of tube power is a ridiculous amount. However, if you do plan on joining a band at some point, it is more realistic. I am of the opinion that when you grow as a muso, you will become dissatisfied with the Blues Jr.

While a bunch of amp in a small package, most everyone I know who has one has modified it, as it sounds small and boxy. There are a number of sites that specialize in modding them and the Pro Jr. Here is one:

Tonedog GuitarWorks -- Home of the Pro Junior Upgrades!!

Both the Blues Jr and Pro Jr are pretty popular, as they are price right, and have potential.

tmlesko · #10 10-28-2008, 11:02 PM

Thanks to all for the information! I picked up the Hot Rod Deluxe today, on trial basis, and answered that question, it sounds great even at low volume!

It has a problem however, the reverb does not work. I spent 4 years in the Air Force fixing sophisticated tube equipment but that was almost 40 years ago so I think I will defer to a good tech in Boston at the Berklee school shop. The seller has agreed to pay for any/all repairs and the price is still the same. If I am happy with it, I keep it, if not, he takes it back - can't lose.

Couple more questions: There is a 1/4" jack inside on the chassis next to the output tubes, along side a jack that has the speaker wire/plug in it, anyone know what that extra jack is for? The manual is no help.

Also, is there a way to use headphones with this amp?

Tom L.

Little Jay · #11 10-29-2008, 05:26 AM

I think it's the jack for an external speaker.

This is a realy cool site for Hot Rod Deluxe Owners:
http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/

Greetz,
Jasper

tmlesko · #12 10-29-2008, 09:55 AM

THANKS!!! That is an awesome site!

Tom L.
Boston, MA

tmlesko · #13 11-01-2008, 08:45 AM

FYI, I decided to dig into the reverb problem and in the process educated myself in the workings of the Deluxe reverb circuitry. It turns out that the reverb tank has an open transducer, that little device that turns the vibrating springs into electrical signals. From the Deluxe Amp web site Jasper mentioned http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/, and from Music Electronics Forum I was able to get information on the circuits and info on ordering a new tank, which, with S&H was $38.

Just started working with a teacher, I am just a rank beginner at guitar, and 'maybe' one day I can make that amp sound good!

Tom L.

Little Jay · #14 11-01-2008, 10:36 AM

Good luck man! May the guitar force be with you!

ruiner54 · #15 12-10-2011, 11:56 AM

Little Jay, i also have a roland cube and a hot rod deluxe and the cube can get a great tone. if you want to try something cool patch a cable from the hot rod preamp out into the cube input. You get the hit rod warmth with the cube clarity. i sometimes add a touch of chorus and delay so that you get two tones that work nice together. I will also unplug the HRD speaker and just send it through the cube speaker so that i can use the hot rod with headphones. using different channels and settings on each will give a huge tone palette.

if you have already been doing this then please disregard the entire msg

ruiner54 · #16 12-10-2011, 12:01 PM

i just bought my original hot rod used for a very good price but i find my tone extremely dull and muddy even at low volumes. i am also getting a small rattle from what I assume are the tubes. Since i have had limited experience with any new HRD i am wondering is this normal or do i need to replace tubes or the speaker . the speaker doesnt sound particularily blown but just dull. I am playing a solid body tele with a lollar cc neck pickup so i should be able to get a punchy tone.

Any experience with this or suggestions? Thanks a bunch.

bluemood · #17 12-10-2011, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruiner54

i just bought my original hot rod used for a very good price but i find my tone extremely dull and muddy even at low volumes. i am also getting a small rattle from what I assume are the tubes. Since i have had limited experience with any new HRD i am wondering is this normal or do i need to replace tubes or the speaker . the speaker doesnt sound particularily blown but just dull. I am playing a solid body tele with a lollar cc neck pickup so i should be able to get a punchy tone.

Any experience with this or suggestions? Thanks a bunch.

First I would check your bias it might cold easy to do on the HRD .
Then I would take a pencel with a eraser use the eraser part and tap all your tubes (rattle). that's a good place to start. HRD is a bright amp and not dull also your knobs don't work the same as most amps turn your bass knob down , turn up your mids.A lot of people don't like the speaker it's ok, I put in a Weber speaker big change in tone (12A150) removed the blanket. JJ 6l6GC power tubes and preamp tubes sound good ,but I didn't like JJ's in the phase inverter grovetubes sound better in there.

ruiner54 · #18 12-15-2011, 10:48 AM

Thanks for the advice bluemood. It turns out that my preamp tubes were rattling. One was pretty bad, another so so and another one in good shape. SO i did a little reading up and ended up putting the good tube in V1, the next best in V2 and the crappy one in V3. Now, I do plan on buying new tubes in the next two weeks but need to wait until payday.

Once I get the new tubes in I can then decide whether I want to change the speaker for tone. I also forget sometimes that I am playing a solid body (MIM Tele with a Lollar CC bridge).

After the Xmas craziness passes by I will get myself an archtop again. I have been looking at Ibanez AK95, PM35 or maybe a Godin Kingpin. Anyone have any suggestions here? I also found a used epi Joe Pass for sale for around $550, which seems a little high for used, but I have also had terrible luck with epiphones (previously owned a Les Paul Special and a DOT).

I will be spending between 500-1000 for a jazz box. Suggestions welcome

oldane · #19 12-15-2011, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruiner54

I also forget sometimes that I am playing a solid body (MIM Tele with a Lollar CC bridge).

Certainly nothing wrong with that.

girevikdavid · #20 01-26-2012, 11:07 AM

[quote]I will be spending between 500-1000 for a jazz box. Suggestions welcome/QUOTE]

I just got an Ibanez AF125 from Guitar Center and couldn't be happier with it - tone, craftsmanship, aesthetics, "feel" - everything is there in spades and for less than $1,000.00.

Let us know what you end up with and how you like it.

David

Ibanez AF125
Les Paul Custom Black Beauty
Loar 700 (not quite yet, still in transit)