Really useful video Ricky. I've got a few valve amps, but always thought the electronic side of it was some kind of weird voodoo. I'm still going to be taking mine to a tech here in the UK due to my shaky hands and general stupidity, but you've really helped my knowledge and demystified a lot in just a few minutes. If you were around the corner from me, you'd definitely be the go to guy.

Very nice work.

R25, is the G2 supply to one of the output valves. It is an FR (Fire Proof) type resistor and when the EL84 flashes over, it protects the amp from getting too much damage.

I went thru my BJr about 5 years ago and replaced many of the same parts and ive had 0 issues with it since. It also sounded much better after. I find that if the bias is set correctly, you dont need a standby switch. Thanks for the video :-)

Wow, that thing sounds damn good after he got it re-worked.

Hi Ricky, Great video, however although you said you would change the bias resistors, unfortunately you didn't tell us what you set the bias to. Having repaired a number of FBJ's over the years I always replace the 22k bias resistor with a 50k trim pot and ensure the valves run at 70% which not only save the valves from burning out early but also make re-biasing much easier. Although some people say the amp sounds better with a hot bias, I've lost count of the number of FBJ's I've modded in this way and no one could tell the difference and, I don't get them back with blown EL84's. Keep up the good work. Regards Geoff.

Just thought I'd reply to stratcat, yes you are absolutely correct that these old blackface amps do require to make some changes to replacing caps and resistors, but that being said, after I did just that to my Fender Blackface Bandmaster . But one point I would like to make here is the blackface amps are easy to work on and replace caps and resistors. Their circuits are quite simple. I must say that those amps do sound pretty good, but they really are a one trick pony. They do a great clean sound, but not great when it comes down to the actual overdrive tone. Those amps were designed in an era where surf music was the sound and that's what they were looking to produce. In my opinion going with high end amps like Fuchs, Welagen overdrive special, Ceriatone amps, Suhr amps, old Marshalls, you can't go wrong with sound and tone, but when you pay lower prices for cheaper Fender amps and amps of this ilk, you get what you pay for. Also amps and tone are such a personal thing. I think if you like these Fender amps That's fine. I just personally don't care for my Pro Junior. I bought a Mather custom tweed 1x12 cab for the pro junior with a Celestion blue speaker, plus all of the up grades. I still feel the over all clarity and basic tone is pretty bad. But now the next guy might plug into this very amp and say that It's great. I would rather have this amp built with a valve rectifier and 6v6 valves. The way they were originally made, but I only paid $350.00 for this amp. It's made within that price bracket margin. As I said before , I own 3 Fender amps. I'm just not crazy about them. Even my Mesa Boogie Tremoverb combo amp is not bad but after owning this amp since the mid 90's, It's very noisy in regards to the ground floor noise. I even had Voodoo amps in Lansing , New York do their mod to this amp, to the tune of $1000.00 USD, still doesn't sound that good. The two other amps by Ceriatone are absolutely the best sound that I have ever found and I've played guitar for more years than I care to admit. Finally two amps that are point to point wired and dead quiet, no noise floor. Best tone I've ever found. But like we all know tone is subjective.

Can you suggest what it should cost to have a reputable shop do the mods you did in this video?

RICKY TALKS SHOP, for all fender amplifiers when you REMOVE pull out the normal channels first preamp tube, the vibratos channels will have more voltage and wattage plus it changes the tone and impedance any reasons why?

Ricky, could I send you my blues junior, to have you do these mods to it. Beautiful!

The blue cap you suggest has been swapped out is not the case. That cap is from factory. So, technically that amp has probably never been looked at inside.

At 10:39 mins you mention changing the Grid Resistors to a 1 Watt metal film. Are you referring to resistors R35 and R36 (0.5Watt original?). These 2 resistors both failed simultaneously on my FBJ III. The sound when they failed was a raspy distorted sound ("Kinks") as though the speaker had ripped and the volume was low (unsurprisingly) even on max.

Mine used to play crisp and clean. Now it’s muddy ,muffled, and raspy. Only lasted about a year. Changed the 6bq5 tubes made no difference. Some loss of volume. Any suggestions?

Hi, Does the Input jack need insulator bushings or does it/can it go right to the chassis? What specific model Switchcraft jack did you use? This will be a 1st repair attempt sooo, I'd like to have parts in hand before taking it apart, Ha. Thanks alot ;-)

Where are you located?

I know this is a far stretch of a question but I'm going to ask anyway. Maybe someone could help. I just bought a used Fender Blues Junior Tweed. Long story short,, the amp has a type of Buzz or rattling vibration sound coming out of speaker when low notes are played. It has a sound of a blown speaker type of sound but the speaker looks in perfect condition. I've done all the routine checking such as making sure everything was tight. It's just when I hit those low notes it really has a horrible sound. Any advice would be appreciated thanks

GOOD WORK! i just put mine up for sale today, but i messaged Frommel, if he gets back to me? And he can finally help me get this amp to all the hype i hear about...Its definitly one of the most talked about, beloved amps, this is the type of amp thats gonna be 10k in 25 yrs, because theres so much hype around it..Hence, i have no idea wtf eveyone is talking about..I have a VOX AC10CI, and its the quietest, clearest, most reliable little amp ive ever heard or had....My blues jr. has been a problem since day 1, the bias smokes it goes through tubes in like 6 to 8 months, it sounds exactly like a fax or copy machine in progress lol i aint joking, its not loud but its annoying....The reason why im still willing to give it a chance, bc its not like it sounds like a bad or broken amp...It sounds like something is missing in it, tonally...Almost like a slight muffled soung which something is telling me its in the bass frequency, like a cheap pot or caps... Recently, i went head first into making wiring harnesses for guitars, and bc of this, i know how cheap pots or caps can really lead you to believe that a great guitar/pickups etc. is garbage...I just, today, put 12at7's in v1 and v3 and i hear a reasonable improvment...And i know if i sell this amp, im gonna always wished i just spent a few bucks and a few hours to make it better.....ill be subscibing to your channel now.....cheers!

good effort here I detest those IC caps cant count the number I've replaced just FYI for every one! thats not a u on the cap value its the Greek letter Mu(short for micro) so its Mu F not U F cheers

Sup Ricky. Nice work. So it sounds like you recommend modding the amp? Filter caps and bias at a minimum. (And speaker change....) Do you pretty much think the Bill M mods are an improvement over stock then?

Very good your work Plase, What are the components that you replaced? What are the values ​​of the new components that I replace? Thanks!

Link to the parts?

How dose someone discharge the amp?

I did a Billm mod on my BJ3 cream board and it was a huge improvement! BUT THEN...I attempted to revive a muddy-toned early BJ from the 90s and it still sounds muddy. I tested just the head with the BJ3 speaker, swapped the tubes and still nothing fixed it. I did the Basic Kit mod, High-Voltage Preamp mod, Re-Cap Kit, and replaced the input jack. Any suggestions? What I mean by muddy is that is the treble control works but there is no brightness to the sound at all.

#1 all those crappy IC caps gotta go! Those caps have been suspect since the 90's!! But fender likes them because they are cheap!

Bic Lighter

Why buy these?? You can get amp kit made the way fender used to make them!! Build one and find someone like ricky to check it out so you don't burn your house down! Mojotone and Weber is the place to start with down loadable instructions from stewmac!!

Those amps are all biased too hot. A standby switch is unnecessary, cooling the bias is.

Great comment we don hear anything from this guy.

Hard on tubes?....then reset the bias, like every other tech does....a standby switch does nothing to protect tubes.

Just a comparison here, im buying a brand new car and the salesman tells me, off course these are great cars but you will have to replace the motor. What the #####.

My FBJ , bought new, lasted 5 hours ( or maybe less). Pile of crap.

Fender. Please stop putting IC caps in your amps.

Hi Rick, just wanted to add my two cents on all of these Fender amps with these type of circuit boards. I personally own a lot of amps including a Pro Junior with Bill m mods. The amp still sucks. The tone is anything but good. I have never played a vintage tweed Fender, just what I've heard on KZfaq. My personal opinion on most Fenders now is they are garbage unless they're point to point with good transformers. I will never ever invest any money in Fender equipment.I own a 1965 Fender Blackface Bandmaster 2x12 cab. Absolutely the best amp from Fender but then again It's an old vintage amp back when amps were made the right way. Those circuit boards on amps like this blues junior are crap. Don't waste your money on this junk. These amps don't even sound good . I also have a Fender blues Denville from the early 90's. Not a bad amp but not great either. Now on the other hand I also own two Ceriatone amps. HRM and the JTM45 bluesbreaker. Excellent amps . All point to point for $1300.00 US excellent value. Their work is impeccable. Hand wired Vox AC30 and a Mesa Tremoverb amp. All of these higher end amps mine sound great. It's just that when you buy these cheap mass marketed amps are built so cheaply. Valves mounted onto the circuit board and the flimsy jacks and cheap potentiometer. Total waste of money and tone forget it.