Fender’s Blues Jr. is a great little tube amp that’s very popular among blues guitar players (Warren Haynes uses one in the studio from what I’ve read.)
It sounds great right out of the box, and there are also many popular and fairly easy (and some not so easy) modifications to improve the tone even more.
There used to be a great little website with a database of Blues Jr Settings, but it seems to have gone offline so I uploaded my copy of the PDF file from that site and you can download these Blues Jr Settings any time you want 🙂
Now admittedly I don’t like to run my Blues Jr. wide open on the Master the way the document recommends. I tend to run it in the middle and adjust as needed.
You have to use your ears as most amps have a sweet spot where volume and tone kind of meet. As you turn up the master, you probably will notice the sound gets fuller, but at some point it won’t anymore and that’s probably where you’ll want to stop.
Next to my Nace Amps, my Blues Jr. gets the most use around the house and has a great tone.
Here’s an older video I did about that particular amp with some pedals I was using at the time. I have virtually these exact same pedals on my floor as we speak (and apologies for not having shoes on… I was just hanging out at home and didn’t even think about it.)
11 replies to "Blues Jr Settings"
Griff, I have a new Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb amp and would like your tone setting recommendations for blues playing? BTW I’m using a Fender 70th Anniversary Strat.
Basic Rule of any Tube Amp with a Master Volume: If you want the maximum breakup = Crank the Volume + Use the Master Volume to control the overall Volume.
The Blues Junior is my main gigging amp. For most clubs, you do not need much more power than what the amp provides. You won’t get drowned out by the Hard Hitting Drummer. I changed out the speaker for a Canibus Rex and this is the most important Mod you do to the Amp. I also added the Fender Tilt-Back legs so it projects better. I am extremely pleased with my Tone, and how the amp reacts to the volume knob on the guitar. It takes to Overdrive pedals Amazingly well, so GOOD singing sustain, is not a problem. Because it’s a small 1 x 12 combo, I usually fine myself cranking the Mids & Bass. But Tone settings ALWAYS depend on which guitar you are using, and what kind of room you are playing in. I don’t think you can just use a chart, and be done with it. I Set all Tone settings to 5, and then use your ears …….. then add whatever is needed if anything.
Great TUBE Amp !!! Very portable, Powerful, Pleasing to the Ear.
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I also have the Fender Blues Jr amp (Tweed model with Jansen speakers) and it’s definitely a wonderful amp. At “only” 15W it can keep up with many higher wattage amps, and I also installed the “legs” on either side so it can be set at any angle up to about 45 degrees, and then it REALLY projects! I am so happy with that amp, that I really can’t see myself changing to any other one in the foreseeable future.
Great post Griff! The Blues Jr is a fantastic amp. Expanding on the settings that you posted, check out The Ultimate Fender Blues Jr Tone guide over at http://www.bluesjr.com. You can get the ebook that gives a detailed list of easy mods to make and where to get them that takes the Blues Jr from a good amp to a great one
I know this is an old thread but do you have a copy of the ebook. It seems the website is no longer functional
Hmmm. Practically speaking, that’s almost a clone of my board. I don’t use a volume pedal at all, but everything else is pretty much the same. Different OD pedals, but Wah -> OD -> minimal modulation. I do use reverb (TC Electronic Arena) though, and when I use delay it’s slap-back 90% of the time. When I want phase or flange I use a TC Electronic Dreamscape.
Really great gear demo, awesome playing and really informative about how you get different tones, thanks!!
interesting view and info on the use of delay…thanks…later.
cowboy