Tubie Newbie

[firstbassman]

All through my guitar-playing life (all of about three and a half years now) I’ve played through a SS amp. And for my playing abilities, they’ve worked just fine.

However, my two guitarists in my band only play through tube amps and that’s all I hear about so I finally succumbed and just bought a (blonde) Blues Junior.

Do I need another amp? No. But I’m hoping to get at least two types of sounds out of it – a rich growly blues with my humbucker guitar and a sweet twang with my Telecaster.

So far I’m not having a great deal of success. I’m kind of there but not really. My rhythm guy has a Jr which he sometimes uses for band rehearsal and it sounds great (with a Tele) but I’m too embarrassed to ask him.

I’ve ordered a TubeScreamer to help achieve the overdrive affect (I guess think Clapton/Cream years).

Any other suggestions? Recommended dial settings?

Ah, playing bass is so much easier.

[sloop_john_b]

If you're looking for a Cream-type sound out of it, a TS-9 isn't really going to get you there. It's more of a SRV sound, whereas i'd classify Cream's sound as straight-up fuzz. I've got a great pedal called the Yardbox (by Prescription Electronics) that nails it. I also have a TS-9 modded to "classic" specs (http://www.analogman.com) and it's a great pedal - I think you'll like yours, even though it may not be exactly what you have in mind.

[rictified]

Turn it up brother! The sound is in your hands with a tube amp, you want it loud enough so that it is fairly clean when played lightly but screams when you play hard, that is a talent that takes time to develop. Clapton used a Marshall amp in the Cream years but I do also think he may have used some sort of fuzz box for some stuff.

[kenposurf]

Bob's got the right idea. Does your amp have a tube or solid state rectifier? A tube rectifier will get you that classic sag and natural overdrive. Early Clapton and Beck did use a fuzz which is very destintive, but you may be happier with a tube screamer set fairly clean...have fun!

[longboard_ric]

You will find everything you need to know about Blues Juniors here with nearly 6700 posts

http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?d ... 0911:40:34

Also have a look at the Bill M mods

http://home.comcast.net/~machrone/bjrinfo.htm

Popular opinion has that they are a great amp.

[bails]

Don't forget to turn your guitar's tone control(s) to 0, and your amp to 10 to get Clapton's famed "Woman Tone".

Play like this on a clean, low volume setting, and it will sound terrible. Play like this with the volume on 10, and suddenly it all falls into place...

[firstbassman]

Yes, Shane, thanks.
I'm a fairly regular poster on the Fender Forum. (Same screen name as here.)

That BJr thread is mostly about mods.

Also, perhaps, it seems that my Clapton reference is over emphapsized.
It was just a quickie reference.
I'm after a warm, thick, sligthly buzzy blues tone.
Sometimes, of course, I'm also after a BB King tone.
I'm never happy.

[longboard_ric]

Hi Mark !!!

You are no different to everyone else...........we are all searching for "that" tone.

Good luck with your quest

BTW have you had a listen to an Orange Tiny Terror.

[rictified]

Tubie get yourself a nice old Super Reverb, those have a great sound, much bigger than the blues juniors. Much bigger price though unfortunately. Old Bassman's sound nice too, the old Marshall's (before they had master volumes) sound great too.

[ken_j]

My Blues Jr. settings:

Master (Volume) 10 to 12
Fat swich ON.
Tone controls to your liking.
Then use the Volume control sparingly to get you from clean to distorted. This will light up the power tubes. If you try to keep the Master down and turn up volume control it sounds like **** IMO.

I will also endorse the Bill M mods. I have installed the tone stack and (dual pot) tube bias mod to my cream board Blues Jr. I have also installed a Eminence Swamp Thang speaker. This has more bottom end. I also play it through a Mesa Boogie 1X12 3/4 back cab.

[charlyg]

I just switched back to SS after having an SVT for about a year. I needed the instant attack of SS to keep the band in tempo (no drummer). I would have liked to keep the SVT, but the B2Re stands up just fine.

I think the thread titile would make a good stage name for a rock god, minus the first ie.....

Tube Newbie......harkens to Juice Newton!

[rictified]

There must have been something wrong with your SVT Charlie, but then again you can't compare the new ones with the old ones, they are two different animals, mine both have very good attack and are way punchier than any SS amp I've ever played.