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Author
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Topic: Fender Pro Junior for lap steel
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Keith Cordell
Member From: Atlanta
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posted 07 February 2006 03:50 AM
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I picked one of these up for home recording a few days ago as I live in an apartment and was getting noise complaints about my Hot Rod Deluxe. All my effects sounds, including reverb and overdrive, are provided by pedals so I was not concerned with bells and whistles; this amp sounds GREAT with my guitar and gear. I am playing a Ricky B6 through it and I use a TS9, a delay and an MXR compressor. I am really surprised at the volume, the 2 EL84's are plenty of power, the amp is really loud set at about 4 on the volume. This one is the tweed version which came with one of those great Jensen speakers, the blue ones that have a lovely breakup. It weighs almost nothing and could very well become the best amp you ever had for toting to jams, demo sessions, etc. The tone control is very responsive to minor adjustments, I choose to keep it just right of the middle, for a creamy fat tone. For @ 200.00 this is a great buy and should be on your list if you play any overdriven style on lap steel. |
Jon Light
Member From: Brooklyn, NY
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posted 07 February 2006 12:01 PM
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The guitarist on one of my semi-regular gigs carries a Pro Jr. He has some super sounding boutique amps but for small rooms he'd just as soon use this. I understand what you are saying. It has surprising clean volume and breaks up very nicely. I'm impressed. |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 07 February 2006 01:16 PM
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I think these are great amps for low power situations. I've used mine with a full band (sax, guitar, bass, drums, percussion) and had no problems being heard, but I wanted that overdriven sound in that situation. If you want something cleaner, you'll have to try something else, but for rock style lap steel, it's probably one of the best choices out there.
Right now I'm using a silverface 1973 Princeton Reverb, which I think is perfect.[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 07 February 2006 at 01:17 PM.] |
Jason Dumont
Member From: Bristol, Connecticut, USA
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posted 07 February 2006 01:55 PM
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Holy coincedence Batman!
I just bought a Pro Junior last Friday myself!
AMAZING if you ask me. That thang is a tone machine. I love mine. The tone is so sweet you can taste it. |
Ron Bednar
Member From: Rancho Cordova, California, USA
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posted 07 February 2006 02:56 PM
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The Pro Jr and Blues Jr are the shining stars of the Fender line. Good amps to start with and can be make great with an investment of about $40 for a complete set of JJ tubes, you will be amazed at the result. Eurotubes in Oregon is the US distributer. You can call and talk to Bob and he'll ask you what kind of sound you want, fast break, slow break, how much headroom, type of music, kind of guitar etc. and he'll put a set of tubes together for just that sound...great guy. You can take it another step and change the speaker too, especially if it came with the standard Fender Eminence. I went with a Blues Jr and did the tubes and speaker...found a new Tone Tubby ceramic at a local guitar show for a really good price...amazing what those changes did to the sound. |
Keith Cordell
Member From: Atlanta
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posted 07 February 2006 03:20 PM
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Yeah Ron, I got it with all new JJ's and it has the fender blueback speakers, Jensens. Very, very sweet indeed. |
Dana Duplan
Member From: Ramona, CA
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posted 09 February 2006 05:14 AM
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I also have an early tweed PJ, complete with Stringmaster diamonds on the front. I run NOS tubes too. I was experimenting with it for harp, and the thing to do is run lower gain preamp tubes such as 12AU7, 12AT7,7581, etc. to aid in feedback reduction when using a mic. As it turned out, I loved the sound for my steel too--the lower gain tubes cleaned up the sound a bit, and made it less "edgy" which I like. I used that to record my band's new cd and was real pleased with the results. It also works for me live in most situations, as the rest of the band is micing acoustic instruments--plus it's easy to carry around!
DD |
Dave Zielinski
Member From: Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 09 February 2006 08:43 AM
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I had two of these- used them both at the same time for guitar. loved the tone, hated the reliability factor. Those little guys rattle all over the place when you crank them up. i was killing the components solder joints on the printed circuit boards. I used this amp 2-3 nights a week, and had to take it apart every couple weeks to resolder all the joints. I thougt about converting it to a handwired board, but the cost would have been more than the little amp was worth. I sold them and moved on to other handwited amps. They do sound great however!
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Keith Cordell
Member From: Atlanta
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posted 10 February 2006 07:50 AM
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I have heard the same thing about these from others. I have no plan to use them outside the house or a studio, so I won't be banging them around so much; and to me the maintenance is worth it to me for the low cost of the amp. I intend to get another one and trying my hand at handwiring it. |
Dave Zielinski
Member From: Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 10 February 2006 09:51 AM
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Keith, keep tabs on what you spend and how long it takes you. It might prove to be a great project. dave |
Keith Cordell
Member From: Atlanta
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posted 10 February 2006 09:52 AM
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Yeah it would be my first if I decide to do it. I am not concerned about time, but I want to keep the expense down. |
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