Fender Pro Jr. question

totallyfrozen · May 29th, 2006, 04:05 AM

I'm thinking about picking up a Fender Pro Jr. as a second practice amp. I like the fact that it's all tube and can give a true tube overdrive (when cranked up). I haven't had the opportunity to play one (yet). I want something small (lower wattage) but I'm really looking for CLEAN tube tone. I'm afraid that to get good, warm clean tone that's loud enough to play a small venue I'll need more wattage.

Is the Pro Jr. too under-powered to give me a good, warm clean with decent volume?
Should I look for something else instead?
What about the Blues Jr.?

Please share any suggestions or experiences you have.

Brandon Roy · May 29th, 2006, 04:36 AM

if your considering buying this just for practicing then yeah its great for that. i played one and it sounds amazing , but at 15 watts, i'm not real sure you'll be able to play at a venue as it won't allow you to cut through cleanly with a drummer

Old Wood · May 31st, 2006, 10:37 PM

Really nice little amp. Takes pedals well.
It'll hang for a laid-back blues gig but once the drummer gets a few beers in him you're done for.

Brandon Roy · June 1st, 2006, 12:11 AM

while we're talking about amps that can handle gigs and such. im wanting to buy a 65 deluxe reverb reissue, with it's 22 watts, i've heard mixed feelings on whether it can handle a gig.. i just need it for mostly small bars,something i can crank, does anyone know if this can handle a slightly heavy handed drummer?

totallyfrozen · June 3rd, 2006, 01:49 AM

Hijack!

I don't know anything about that amp. Although I thought they were more wattage than that. I must be thinking of a different amp.

But, why don't you start a new thread on that amp? Cuts down on confusion should there be a larger number of posts.

Old Wood · June 3rd, 2006, 03:15 PM

TF,
I just re-read your initial post and caught the reference to CLEAN tone.
The Pro Jr breaks up pretty quickly which is actually one of the reasons that I like it.

For gigs you may need something with a little more clean headroom.

Going to the Blues Junior won't help (same output) and, IMO, the addition of reverb and tone controls
on this amp really steps all over your tone (A/B the two and you'll immediately see what I mean).
For me, the beauty of this circuit lies in it's simplicity.

As always, YMMV.

totallyfrozen · June 6th, 2006, 01:32 PM

I guess I need to do a little more research. To get the headroom with a good, clean tube sound, the only amp that comes to mind is the '65 Twin Reverb Reissue. I'm not too jazzed about that idea because it's in the ballpark of $2,000!

I'm sure Fender has some other tube amp options for smaller, clean amps. I know that I can get good cleans from a solid state amp, but I like the sound of the tube amps. I like a little bit of that "brown sound" too sometimes...just a slight breakup on some loud chords.

Any ideas?

konu57 · June 6th, 2006, 09:39 PM

I'm this close to buying the hotrod deluxe. I already have an amp which I am going to use only for the crunchy - gainy stuff and I'm looking for an amp to use only its (fenderish type) clean channel. And considering the fact that I can only spent about 700 - 750 euro I guess the hotrod will worth the try. But I read everywhere not many good words about the overdrive channels. So if you should want only clean channel I believe the hr deluxe might worth a try.

Brandon Roy · June 7th, 2006, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by totallyfrozen

I guess I need to do a little more research. To get the headroom with a good, clean tube sound, the only amp that comes to mind is the '65 Twin Reverb Reissue. I'm not too jazzed about that idea because it's in the ballpark of $2,000!

I'm sure Fender has some other tube amp options for smaller, clean amps. I know that I can get good cleans from a solid state amp, but I like the sound of the tube amps. I like a little bit of that "brown sound" too sometimes...just a slight breakup on some loud chords.

Any ideas?

$2,000? you must be thinking about the 57 twin tweed reissue..

65 twin reverb reissues run about $1,100 (85 watts, thats really loud cranked)

totallyfrozen · June 14th, 2006, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by konu57

...the hotrod deluxe...if you should want only clean channel I believe the hr deluxe might worth a try.

I wonder if the local Fender shop has one in stock. We have a strange deal here (in my city) we have only ONE authorized Fender shop in town so whatever he doesn't have, isn't available NEW (except for some MIM guitars).

Anyway, I'll have to check here and see if he has one I can play on for a few minutes.

totallyfrozen · June 14th, 2006, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon Roy

$2,000? you must be thinking about the 57 twin tweed reissue..

65 twin reverb reissues run about $1,100 (85 watts, thats really loud cranked)

YES! 85 watts is ridiculously loud! I'm not a 15 year old trying to be the next Pete Townsend...I don't need (and don't really want high wattage). To get a 'brown' sound, I'd have to OD the tubes just a wee bit. That's going to be murder with 85 watts. Sure I could use a pedal, I suppose.

I thought the Twin 'Verb was $1,800 to $2,000. I guess I'll have to look again. It would be great for Jazz (and I love to play Jazz) but the Twin 'Verb isn't small, it's heavy, and @ 85watts it's a monster.

If I could find an all-tube combo with enough headroom to give me good cleans and small gig volumes, but could be coaxed into the brown without making everyone deaf...I'd be pretty happy.
I'm thinking less than 50 watts but probably more than 5 watts.

I already have a 40 watt Marshall combo that I have gigged in (small) bars with and I don't think the volume went above about 1/2. Actually, I'm foruntate because the clean channel on my Marshall is design to go brown when you turn it up above 1/2. Of course the Boost channel is...well...a Marshall...so it sounds like an amp made in Heaven. I know the Marshall sound isn't for everybody...but I like it for what I use it for (Blues and Rock).

I guess my present amp is good...I suppose I should just stick with that.

synchro · September 2nd, 2006, 09:27 PM

Clean and big enough to take on a gig, but not too big huh? I have a Blues Jr. and it'll handle most gigs but a loud drummer can change all of that. I used to have a Deluxe and it was a great gig amp but . . . you can get into natural overdrive in a larger room even if you are playing fairly soft music.

One possibility would be the new SuperSonic combo. It has two clean voicings, 60 watt output and weighs 54 pounds, not much more than a Deluxe. On the clean channel you can switch between a Vibrolux voicing (fairly bright) and a '60s Bassman voicing (a bit darker).

Twins are great but they are big and even heavier than the Supersonic. You will never get a Twin up to where it starts to compress unless you are playing outside.

nvosmeier · September 3rd, 2006, 09:08 AM

I second the SuperSonic. After trying one the other day, I am saving up for one.

bluedwarfhamster · December 13th, 2006, 01:32 PM

I have a Peavey Transtube 212EFX & love it. I traded my Marshall 1/2 stack on it a few years ago...I downsized the amp increased the wattage & gained alot of versatility. Its 85W & has gain & effects options for about anything. I have never gigged with this amp or with my current strat, but I wouldn't have a problem with a heavy handed drummer. If I were to gig with this set-up, I would use the clean channel for the application you are looking for, the dirty channel for the classic broken-up strat sound, & add a tube screamer to boost for solos.

studio1087 · April 27th, 2008, 11:37 PM

I love my Pro Junior but at 4 on the volume it really starts to break up.

If you mic the amp when you play live you may be OK but a Pro Junior is not a good loud/clean amp. Loud/dirty, it's a joy.

StratDen · May 23rd, 2008, 11:00 AM

I owned a Custom shop Pro Jr for a while Mostly just a different cabinet. It was great for home and garage jamming. You could do a small gig with it and a mic in front of it through a decent PA would help as well. The only reason I sold it was that it was part of the NAMM matched set with the CS Strat. I would buy another in a heartbeat. I am considering a small tube right now as well, but Iam undecided.

Oh yeah, it does break up when you turn it up to say over 6+. But it's not a to rashy there.