Fender Pro Jr. question

[Perry D.]

I'm needing a small inexpensive tube amp and I was wondering if there is any difference between the older Pro Juniors and the newer ones? I've heard that the older ones used to come from the 'custom shop' factory and now they are part of the 'hot rod' series. Are there any major differences in components or build quality? Are there any good aftermarket mods for these amps besides changing out the tubes and speaker?

Thanks,
Perry D.

[Unburst]

I don't think they were ever "Custom Shop" models excepth for the "Woody" version which is a stock Pro Jnr. in a fancy hardwood case.

They did change the country of manufacture from US to Mexico and I hear some complaints about the newer ones being noisy (hum)

They are great sounding amps for the money, especially if you use a bigger cab (I run mine through a 2x12)

[loudboy]

The Tweed ones had the same blue Alnico speaker that the Bassman RI uses. The newer ones do not.

Loudboy

[Perry D.]

Any mods available for the Pro Junior?... and, if it is present, can the hum be minimized?

Thanks for the replies!

[Unburst]

Originally posted by Perry D.
Any mods available for the Pro Junior?... and, if it is present, can the hum be minimized?

Thanks for the replies!

Most guys use them stock and with good reason, they sound good!

I cured my hum problem by experimenting with tubes.
In my case I had some old Mullard EL84's lying around that reduced the hum so that it's a non issue.

[Bluzsteel]

greatest new amp ever made , I use it on most of my sessions

[Blueser]

My friend dropped a Weber Blue Pup and some good tubes, and it sounds really good. It also takes pedals really well!

[grego7]

I think this qualifies as a mod:



Bad news is that when I sent in the chassis there was none of that well-known pro jr buzz. Now that it's back, there's buzz. Oh well, you don't hear it once you turn the amp up past 2...

And I agree - it does take pedals extremely well. I have a Tim in front of it and it sounds great.

[davebc]

I've heard raves from some great local players who have using them for smaller gigs.
I could be wrong,but I think that Doyle Bramhall was using one in E.C's "Me and Mr Johnson" dvd studio sessions,sounded really amazing.

[CS'56]

I used to have one of these. I thought it sounded very small, boxy and 1 dimensional. Over all I was very disappointed.

[Unburst]

Originally posted by Mark
I used to have one of these. I thought it sounded very small, boxy and 1 dimensional. Over all I was very disappointed.

The internal speaker can sound boxy.
Though a bigger cab it rocks, ask Nels Cline.

[Perry D.]

Originally posted by grego7
I think this qualifies as a mod:



Bad news is that when I sent in the chassis there was none of that well-known pro jr buzz. Now that it's back, there's buzz. Oh well, you don't hear it once you turn the amp up past 2...

And I agree - it does take pedals extremely well. I have a Tim in front of it and it sounds great.

WOW! Your head cab is too cool. Where did you have it done?

[grego7]

Doug Stalters at Vintone. He modified the chassis so that the tube sockets are on top with the face plate pointing out like that. Here's his web-page:

Vintone

[Perry D.]

Thanks!!

[Dave LaP]

Originally posted by Mark
I used to have one of these. I thought it sounded very small, boxy and 1 dimensional. Over all I was very disappointed.

That was my experience in spades when I tried one out at a music store. I really wanted to like it too. Maybe it was the guitar they gave me to try it with or a bad tube, or different strokes for different folks...who knows.