Fender Blues Junior - Common Problems & Solutions Pt1

Рет қаралды 19,207

2 жыл бұрын

This is one of the most common amps under the sun.
It's weaknesses are the same across all generations so far.
Here, we take this thing apart and go over them in the process.
Stay posted for the next episode where we address them and give it a test.

Пікірлер: 63

@PsionicAudio 2 жыл бұрын

I ain't never had a problem with my Blues Junior. I think the smoke makes my gigs more atmospheric.

@BradsGuitarGarage 2 жыл бұрын

That's just like, an opinion man. What's wrong with a bit of smoke for ambience, eh? After all, that's what the punters go out looking for. That and to get wasted.

@gben2457 Жыл бұрын

Funny.

@TNTales Жыл бұрын

Fascinating video. I always wondered what makes a good vs bad PCB. Also not surprised to learn that there are so many Aussie euphemisms for fucked.

@guitarampbikernerd 2 жыл бұрын

Love your videos Brad

@goodun2974 2 жыл бұрын

Those look like nice sockets for hand tightening or loosening of pots and jacks, with the *knurled" grip (that's the word you were searching for). I have a set of double-ended Hozan sockets for this purpose, but ordinary deep sockets will work if you rough up the outer chrome with a Dremel for better grip, or put rough textured, non-slick heatshrink tubing on the socket. There are special plastic "Rocket Sockets" on the market but I've heard that they are kinda soft and wear out.

@braddietzmusic2429 Жыл бұрын

The Canibus Rex is the STOCK speaker in this amp: The FSR Blues Junior with this particular Tolex and speaker Grille cloth covering. The Canibus Rex came from Fender with this speaker installed. Fender did other small “special runs” of Blues Juniors with different speakers, different Tolex and Grille cloth coverings, also as FSR amps.

@BradsGuitarGarage Жыл бұрын

I had no idea, thanks mate. It's literally the only one I've ever seen or heard about.

@dannyjohnson2228 Ай бұрын

Thanks! I had the speaker plugged into the footjack…….

@theguitaramptech 2 жыл бұрын

Another great video, Brad. Yes, I have worked on a cathode biased Blues Junior IV…and a fixed biased Blues Junior IV. I don’t think Fender can make up their mind. I’m loving your replacement valve mount PCB. So much better than Fender’s. I’ll hit you up for one to keep on the shelf.

@BradsGuitarGarage 2 жыл бұрын

Deadset! Hit me up with some photos and any stories you'd like to tell if you have time, mate. I'm yet to see one. It sounds just as hazy as I'd expect these days from Fender!

@theguitaramptech 2 жыл бұрын

@@BradsGuitarGarage you bet. I’ll give you a call next week.

@CRUNCHCOLE 8 ай бұрын

I remove the screws that hold the tube board in and take both boards out at once. It is much easier for me to have the boards on the bench and not bending the ribbon cables too much. Great video

@rjschmirler3794 2 жыл бұрын

Love the video Bradley! I'm commenting before I've watched part 2 so... Have you ever upgraded the O/T to possibly a !8watt style Marshall type? Maybe something with an 8K5(ish) input impedance?

@BradsGuitarGarage Жыл бұрын

Sorry for the late reply, mate! The budget has never allowed for OT replacement unless one had gone catastrophically wrong. However, that could be another avenue for improvement and experimentation, should someone have absolutely nothing better to do. Lol!

@guitaring1 6 ай бұрын

thanks for suggesting I take my amp to a tech before I burn it out dinking around thinking I know what I'm doing when I can't even understand half of what you're saying. But the take it to a tech part was nice and clear ;)

@BradsGuitarGarage 6 ай бұрын

I don't want to discourage people from getting into it, however if you're not interested in making electronics a lifetime interest and you just want your amp to perform again quickly, for the long term, the cheapest and quickest alternative is definitely a tech.

@DR-G-Radio 4 ай бұрын

Omg I just bought one and no sound is coming out of it and it’s popping loudly at random times! RETURNING FOR

@marccarter1350 Жыл бұрын

What you like is your choice. We all like a different sound when it comes to speakers.

@BradsGuitarGarage Жыл бұрын

Absolutely.

@guitarampbikernerd 2 жыл бұрын

I think more people looking at Blues Juniors, but on a budget, should consider the Laney VC15 or LC15R

@bebop502 2 жыл бұрын

Cool video, I’ve got a blues jr on the bench right now … fun ….. anyhow where could one go about getting the nice little pcb to add the trim pot onto the board , that’s a nice looking solution. Cheers Bebop

@BradsGuitarGarage 2 жыл бұрын

Look up Keld Ampworks in the UK.

@bebop502 2 жыл бұрын

@@BradsGuitarGarage Thx Brad :)

@valleywoodstudio7345 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting that that has a v rating of 240. In the Uk I've switched mine - a buster I'd been given for free to fix up - to 240 - it does have the tap available. Where we are in Leeds the mains can be up to about 250 easy.

@BradsGuitarGarage 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, in hindsight, I think this one was set up for an actual 240v but that is rare. This is probably why the plate voltage wasn't way off the high end on this particular specimen. More often the international amps are sold as 240V input, but you look at the service manual and transformer specs (if available or printed on the transformer itself) and it actually says "220v" or "230v" input.

@giarebig474 Жыл бұрын

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

@russellesimonetta3835 2 жыл бұрын

I think you should design up a replacement main board that turns that hotrod series truly great reliable and great sounding! There are hundredes of thousands of them things out there!

@BradsGuitarGarage 2 жыл бұрын

There are great people that already do that, let me look it up and get back to you.

@theguitaramptech 2 жыл бұрын

Noooo!! Fix the Hot Rod series and the world’s Techs go broke 😂

@funeralparties 9 ай бұрын

Link for purchasing that PCB?

@phillvisnaw1037 4 ай бұрын

I'm going to pick up my blues junior today from repair but I am not happy with the price but it seems everything is fried.. Arc is probably the initial contribution to the end result of frying an amplifier that's never left my bedroom plus has never been above volume levels that would awake or bother my neighbors. Hence I'm in an apartment building so the levels have been low... However, according to this repair shop, the entire amplifier is shot.. been playing fender amplifiers my entire life. I'm 70 years old now and gigged for 30 years with fender apps.. what the hell happened to this company?

@markdeffebach8112 Жыл бұрын

we also call them cable ties

@user-hd8ev8gn5x Жыл бұрын

Hey Brad what are the values you use on the C1 position please? ....something to 4.7 is what I heard couldn't make it out. I have a gibson hollow body. Do I want a lower or higher value? I'm finding it breaks up too early. Thanks man!

@BradsGuitarGarage Жыл бұрын

Aim somewhere from 0.47uf to 4.7uf according to taste. Higher values will have a lower frequency cutoff point.

@computerdocbc Жыл бұрын

Ok so higher values will break up earlier? Thanks Brad!

@BradsGuitarGarage Жыл бұрын

The values of C1 are not directly related to "breakup". Read this: www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwirg4GP_ej9AhWw3jgGHV7MD5IQFnoECAoQAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvalvewizard.co.uk%2FChoosingBypassCaps.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2c3w-37e_iAU7j1qswoEZM

@BradsGuitarGarage Жыл бұрын

And simpler graphical examples here: www.valvewizard.co.uk/OtherStuff.html

@MrCacciLLo Жыл бұрын

Is it possible to buy your PCB for the valve sockets? Thanks

@BradsGuitarGarage Жыл бұрын

$50au ea + P/H. Flick me an email.

@roccomarino8431 8 ай бұрын

hi! i just have a problem with my Bls jr, pratically it turns on (so he got current) but it doesn't sound, what can be? thanks a lot

@BradsGuitarGarage 8 ай бұрын

Could be a dozen or more reasons. You need a technician. Let me know where you are and I'll see if there's anyone nearby I know of.

@okidoke-xe8gj 2 ай бұрын

I switched my BJr. 3 on after a year not using it and the outer power tube (next to speaker out) flashes up white followed by a nice purple light show.and noise...switched it off and on again...there also was a strange smell in the air after the white flash I could shortly hear my guitar for a few seconds before the noise started...in hope it's just a tube

@BradsGuitarGarage 2 ай бұрын

While it was likely just a tube initially, the fact that you could smell something likely means that the amplifier has suffered significant damage. Time for a tech inspection, mate. If a new valve PCB is required, I manufacture and sell upgrade boards on my website www.bradsguitargarage.com.au

@okidoke-xe8gj 2 ай бұрын

@@BradsGuitarGaragethanks man, it was most likely just a bad tube...Everything looks fine on the boards,no burnt spots/smell etc I switched both tubes (outer "lightshow" tube to the inner slot) and the amp worked fine, but the bad tube didn't glow in the inner slot (the good did)...I will put in a new matched set... HAPPY END: I put in an unmatched NOS EL84 (from a hughes&kettner amp) I had lying around and both tubes glow like christmas and the amp is dead silent and sounds good...I leave it on now for an hour and see if everything stays fine

@robertleto6692 Жыл бұрын

Do you have any suggestions for Blues Jr Harp mods From NJ USA

@BradsGuitarGarage Жыл бұрын

I don't know much about tuning to harmonica, but I've heard that generally unruly 5-ish watt single ended amps with with no neg feedback, 8" drivers, with limited bandwidth are preferred. So I'd suggest perhaps lowering the first stage bypass cap to below 1uf, perhaps some different bypass and coupling cap values downstream, either playing with feedback values, or switching or completely disabling it. Also, take into account what the mic output impedance is and modify the input stage to suit if required. Could be a fun project.

@JonRayRunawayVealMusic 3 ай бұрын

What’s a good alternative with 15watts that does cleans and break up ….not looking for an amp that does super high gain

@BradsGuitarGarage 3 ай бұрын

AC15's are fantastic (once they're modded to not eat EL84's, anyway!), Orange do some good stuff too, around the same price range as the BJR.

@JonRayRunawayVealMusic 3 ай бұрын

Cool. Thanks. …rather not have to mod more than a speaker ….especially since I can’t mod myself it just raises the cost

@notomo Жыл бұрын

Comprehensive man Where you based in aus ?

@BradsGuitarGarage Жыл бұрын

Emu Plains NSW, mate.

@notomo Жыл бұрын

@@BradsGuitarGarage well I’ll know who to call if my blues junior cooks it 👍

@sshnrub Жыл бұрын

My Blues Junior crackles when the lead moves in the Jack. Then it goes really quiet. Anyone have an idea what the issue is? Would appreciate it

@BradsGuitarGarage Жыл бұрын

Likely a cracked solder joint, mate. They can be replaced by hardwiring a more reliable switchcraft chassis mounted jack.

@sshnrub Жыл бұрын

@@BradsGuitarGarage thanks a lot pal

@dennisrohm6372 9 ай бұрын

Guitar amp manufacturers, stop setting bias so hot! I had to replace output tubes in my Marshall Origin 50 (less than 2 yrs old) because of hotter than needed bias.