Fender Blues Junior Differences?

[djlogan33]

Is there any difference between the following two Fender Blues Junior amps:
- Fender Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar Amp Tweed covering
- Fender Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar Amp Black Textured Vinyl

Other than the coverings...

 

[Jason]

Tweed is made in USA, black is made in Mexico?

 

[Es Paul]

the speaker

 

[JMV]

Of the two in the pics, the Tweed's made in USA and the black is made in Mexico, but that's not a general rule. Plenty of both models were made in both places.

If you can find one made in the USA, get that one. I've heard they hold up better than their Mexican counterparts.

Here's a Good source of info. Bill Machrone knows Blues Juniors.
Blues Junior Revision History

Oh and the tweed model does have a Jensen speaker. Better than the stock Eminence, IMO.

 

[djlogan33]

Oh and the tweed model does have a Jensen speaker. Better than the stock Eminence, IMO.[/QUOTE]
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What I have heard from everyone is that the main difference between the tweed & black covered Blues Junior is the Jensen speaker, other than made in Mexico - made in USA.

Two questions:
- Is the Jensen speaker that much better than the stock Eminence speaker?
- where is the best place to get a 12" Jensen speaker & how much $$$?

 

[L.Campionero]

I have a blck on made in Mexico (of course!)....its a great amp! It makes my fender telecaster sound great! Of cours it also makes my Stratocaster sound like a Telecaster.

 

[passingtime]

Although the made in USA's are more sought after I had a standard MIM that was fine.

I also believe the big difference between the tweeds and the black ones is the speaker. I've never A/B'd them but by all reports I've read the speaker in the tweed ones sound better but a speaker upgrade is not a major project.

If you're looking at used black ones the newer ones w/ the creme colored curcuit boards are preferred and are supposed to have better reverb.

 

[mattymel]

neither one has real tube reverb. the reverb is kind of wack. and the mods help a little, but the main issue with the amp is the shape of the cab. you cant escape the boxiness factor. tried it with different speakers, mods, tubes. could have bought a better different amp by the time is sold it. that amp is quick sand...

 

[djlogan33]

Can anyone verify this?

I read:

The Tweed-version has a tube rectifier whereas
the Tolex-version has a solidstate rectifier.

 

[djlogan33]

Is there any difference between the following two Fender Blues Junior amps:
- Fender Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar Amp Tweed covering
- Fender Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar Amp Black Textured Vinyl

Other than the coverings...

Found more details:

Specifications
single channel 15-watt all-tube amplifier
one 12-inch, 15-watt, 8-ohm Fender designed driver
most Blues Junior speakers are manufactured by Eminence Speaker for Fender, most resembling model Legend 125
NOS Lacquer Tweed Limited Edition Blues Junior speakers are manufactured by Jensen in Italy, as model C12N
other speaker models may be in use
Fender spring reverb
Bass, Midrange and Treble tone controls
"FAT" tone boosting circuit (with pushbutton switch, operable through optional footswitch)
independent preamp and master volume controls for tube overdrive management
"chicken head" vintage styled control knobs
two EL84 "Groove Tube" output tubes
three 12AX7 tubes - two preamp tubes (which use only 3 of 4 triodes) and one for phase inversion
solid state rectifier
one ¼-inch input jack
monaural 1/4 inch phone jack output for internal or external 8-ohm speaker use
foot switch jack for remote toggle of FAT circuit (foot switch sold separately)

Varying Editions
Like many Fender amplifiers (particularly in the Hot Rod series), many limited edition versions of the Blues Junior have been manufactured since its introduction in 1995. The original circuit board underwent a major redesign in 2001, when production moved from the US to Mexico. The earlier circuit boards are green in color and are noted for a "darker," more bass-inflected tone. Many green board models have excessive noise in the reverb circuit, as the signal is inserted into the reverb after the master volume. The later circuit boards are cream or tan colored and sound "brighter" or more treble-oriented, with the reverb situated before the Master volume.

Lacquered Tweed editions, as the name implies, feature a cabinet upholstered with a lacquered tweed fabric. Some of these have been artificially aged from the factory and are known as Lacquered Tweed "Relic" editions. The "Blonde" and "Brown Tolex" Blues Juniors feature traditional Fender Tolex upholstery in their respective colors, while the Sunburst Ash edition features an ash cabinet with a sunburst stain. One edition was issued with a forest green colored cabinet, had a United States flag on the cloth speaker grille, and had United States Air Force markings detailed on the cabinet in yellow.

The standard Blues Junior is dressed like a traditional black Fender amplifier, with black Tolex upholstery and a silver cloth speaker grille.

Although they differ in their external visual aesthetic, all variants of the Blues Junior for a given year are produced with the same electronics, apart from the speaker/driver. Limited editions may use varying driver models, such as the Jensen C12N found in the NOS Lacquered Tweed Blues Junior or the Jensen P12R found in the Relic edition. Groove Tubes EL84's are relabeled Sovtek tubes and are used in all versions of the Blues Junior. Fender does not always include these limited edition versions in their updated catalogs (or on their website) either because too few were produced (only a few hundred in some cases) or perhaps because of exclusive retailer agreements.


Trivia
Guitarist and singer-songwriter John Mayer was using a Blues Junior when he appeared in a sketch on "Chappelle's Show" in 2004.

 

[tele52]

I've got a great one for sale if you're interested. Mercury Transformer, Eminence Swamp Thang speaker. Bill M mods. Cover, extra set of matched tubes.
Cream Board

 

[ES350]

They are all SS rectified...it is the same circuit since they changed it back in 2000-something. They swap in a different speaker, slap tweed or cheetah skin on it and charge more $$$. It's still a cheapo price-point PCB design with sub-par components, a boxy-sounding cab, and has a hybrid BF/tweed tone stack and power tube compliment that renders it neither fish nor fowl. I have done many of the well-known mods (tone stack, OT, B+ drop, etc) to one that I have and it really didn't make much difference. You can only polish a t**d so much...sell it and buy an old Ampeg Gemini; be happy.