What's the best small tube amp

paffy · Sea Monkey Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 11

Hi what's the best small tube amp--bang for the buck?

How's the Fender Blues Junior? I think this is tube but the rectifier is solid state. Does that make a difference?

herb · Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 11:02 pm Post subject:

The Blues Junior is a good choice in a modern amp, the Deluxe Reverb RI (or original if you can afford one) is another great choice from the tried and true classics.

paffy · Sea Monkey Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 11

Thanks! is the Deluxe Reverb a heavier amp than the blues junior?

How would you compare the sound and warmth of each?

herb · Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 11:52 pm Post subject:

I don't know a lot about the Blues Junior, the Deluxe is a very warm amp, 22 watts. Used by lots of blues and rockabilly players that make a living with their music.

paffy · Sea Monkey Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 11

Are the Blues Juniors made in Mexico or US?

If made is Mexico-how is quality?

Scott Williams · Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 7:03 am Post subject:

Blues Juniors are around 31 lbs; the Deluxe Reverb is 42 lbs(figures according to Fender catalogs, not taking into account speaker changes, etc).
BJs are currently made in Mexico, but I believe Deluxe Reverbs are still being made in the US.
Both can be very bright amps. The last Deluxe I had(I sold recently) I had to back the treble to 4 to keep it from splitting my head in two, and that's with the bass on 7, plus using a Celestion Vintage 30 speaker, in addition to using a Gretsch 6120 with Dynasonic pickups, renowned for their healthy bottom end.
Solid state rectification does make a subtle difference IMO. The BJ has a tighter bottom end than the Deluxe did to my ears. The reverb was better in the Deluxe than in the BJ(I never really had to go above 3 on reverb on the DR). Of course the DR has the advantage over the BJ on having a tremolo circuit.
That's all I can think of right now where differences are concerned. They're both good gigging amps if that's the direction you're going in.

paffy · Sea Monkey Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 11

thanks. anyone familiar with a pro junior? how are those?

herb · Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 9:27 am Post subject:

I only know the old amps.

SAguitar · Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:02 am Post subject:

Herb, you do have one new Fender amp!

I have a '66 Deluxe Reverb that I love. I've played the Blues Junior and wouldn't mind owning one of those, too. The descriptions above are very accurate, so I have nothing to add there. I've never played a Pro Junior.

herb · Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 1:28 pm Post subject:

Actually, I have two, a Twin '65 RI and the Twin '65 RI Classic 15, so let me rephrase - I only know the old STYLE amps...... Rolling Eyes

95strat · Cobra Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 487 Location: Canada

JohnSS · Tadpole Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 17

The Pro Jr. is a pretty cool amp, though it only has 2 knobs, so its sound is kind of limited. The Blues Jr. is nice, since it has reverb and a fat switch, as well as a 12" speaker. If you want something in a similar vein but with more versatility, the Carvin Vintage16 is worth checking out - it's the same price as the Blues Jr. but has better sound varieties and can be set at different power levels. If you're looking for "bang for the buck" in a tube amp - try the Carvin - it's a favorite of Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam producer/guitarist)

paffy · Sea Monkey Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 11

How is the Gibson GA5 Les Paul Junior amp?

Scott Williams · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:29 pm Post subject:

The Pro Junior and Blues Junior are two different animals. The Pro is considered a "one trick pony", but what a trick!
I actually prefer the PJ to the BJ, even if it does only have a volume and a tone control. FWIW, some compare the BJ to a blackface Fender, while the PJ is compared to a tweed Bassman(obviously not as loud, but the tone is there).
Hope that helps a little...

SAguitar · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject: