schundog Posted September 8, 2012 Posted September 8, 2012 I recently picked up a second Blues Junior in a trade, and somebody asked about the differences between it and my 2006 BillM modded Blues Junior. I thought I'd compare them a bit. The Non-BillM modded BJ has been retubed with JJs, the BillM one has the originals, Sovteks. Both are Cream Board (more recent than the original green boards) This may be boring as hell to many of you, but I will trudge on... So, BillM Modded Blues Junior will now be called #1 Non-BillM somewhat modded Blues Junior wil be #2 This shot is of #2; the second shot, of #1 shows an extra blue cap of some kind. I have no idea what it does. https:// This first shot is of the backside inputs on #2. Footswitch, Speaker inputs. This BJ also had a speaker swap from the original Fender one to a Celestion. The second pic has Footswitch, Speaker input, and a toggle switch for different Ohm extension cabs. I replaced it's speaker with an Eminence Texas Heat, at BillM's suggestion. These two shots compare the OTs on both amps. They both appear to be the larger replacement type. Physically, these are much larger than the original one that Fender uses, and is probably one of the most noticeably (certainly most expensive, at about $100) mods. This first one is of #2; Note that the wiring isn't as neat on #2 as on #1 that BillM modded. A couple other resistors were different colored, as well. Make of it what you will. They sound somewhat different, both pretty good, but I think the different speakers along with the presence mod on #1 make the most difference. For the money, I think a fully modded Blues Junior is hard to beat, especially when you can find one with some of the mods done, used.
kbp810 Posted September 9, 2012 Posted September 9, 2012 Nice comparison review That extra big blue cap appears to be an extra filter cap - in a nutshell, the additional cap can store more charge at the ready for the amp to use; bass notes tend to draw more power, so essentially the additional cap tightens the bass a bit by reducing power sag.
schundog Posted September 9, 2012 Author Posted September 9, 2012 Nice comparison review That extra big blue cap appears to be an extra filter cap - in a nutshell, the additional cap can store more charge at the ready for the amp to use; bass notes tend to draw more power, so essentially the additional cap tightens the bass a bit by reducing power sag. AHA! Good to know, thanks Brian.
DetroitBlues Posted September 9, 2012 Posted September 9, 2012 Sounds like someone took a BillM kit idea and recreated it. Wonder if KBP remembers what mine looked like on the inside?
Hfan Posted September 9, 2012 Posted September 9, 2012 Do your self a favor and label the speaker jack somehow...sharpie works...ah just noticed.. already done and with a neat label. I notice a toggle for 4 or 8 ohms. Extension speaker mod added? I hear these things sound good with a larger speaker cab. Bill recommends losing the grey Illinois filter caps as they are prone to leakage. Looks like the other is a sprague atom. Adding the 2nd one is a simple and gainful mod..they are polorized so don't put them in backwards, will produce maximum smoke. Bill recommends using some kind of silicon adhesive to goop them together and to the PWA, I used GE bathroom silicon adhesive.
Gitfiddler Posted September 9, 2012 Posted September 9, 2012 Connecting a modded or unmodded BJ up to a separate speaker cab gives a whole new flavor to these amps.
DetroitBlues Posted September 9, 2012 Posted September 9, 2012 Connecting a modded or unmodded BJ up to a separate speaker cab gives a whole new flavor to these amps. That would be sweet to turn one into a head cab...
Gitfiddler Posted September 10, 2012 Posted September 10, 2012 That would be sweet to turn one into a head cab... Yep. That's a great idea waiting to happen, especially with all of the used BJ's on the market.
DetroitBlues Posted September 10, 2012 Posted September 10, 2012 Yep. That's a great idea waiting to happen, especially with all of the used BJ's on the market. I almost did that with my old SCXD... Next thing you know, Fender did that
Hfan Posted September 10, 2012 Posted September 10, 2012 Wonder how hard it would be to hook up an extension speaker jack so you could run the installed speaker and a cab? Or is the one in the op already set for that. Maybe Bill has a kit for this?
DetroitBlues Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 Check with BillM, but I suspect it's possible.
schundog Posted September 11, 2012 Author Posted September 11, 2012 Wonder how hard it would be to hook up an extension speaker jack so you could run the installed speaker and a cab? Or is the one in the op already set for that. Maybe Bill has a kit for this? I honestly don't remember if it was like that stock or not, Pete. I can't imagine I would have added that ohm switch to my mod wishlist, but maybe I did. Either that, it's stock, or Bill added it as part of a package of mods. Crap, now I gotta go look at a new Blues Junior to find out!
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