Rock out with the Fender Blues Junior IV: A Review

Choosing the right amplifier and deciding on which one is the best is a debate that has been in the guitar community ever since the first amplifier was introduced. Over the years, there have been many different companies that produced and are still producing amplifiers, but one of the most influential companies is Fender.

Most of the time, bigger is better but nowadays more and more guitarists are looking for an option that will not break their back and give them great tone. While there are many choices available, one of the most prominent has always been the Fender Blues Junior IV, an amp that rose to fame in the mid-1990s and whose fourth version appears to be one of the best on the market.

Fender Blues Junior IV Specifications

Target Audiences For Fender Blues Junior IV

Fender has produced several iconic electric guitars, as well as some fantastic amplifiers to go with them. They created some fantastic vintage tones that are still relevant today, but in 1993, Fender launched the Blues series, and the Bluest Junior IV appears to be one of the most reliable gig amps on the market.

Lately, I have been looking to buy an amplifier that can cover a wide range of tones that will not break my budget. After many attempts and amplifier tryouts, nothing grabbed my attention as the Fender Blues Junior IV.

I find that this is the perfect amplifier option for guitarists that play in smaller venues but here and there have bigger concerts and combining it with a good mic will result in great on-stage tone as well as the front house tone.

What Are The Features Of The Fender Blues Junior IV?

Since the amplifier’s first version, this model will go through some different variations and the latest one is the Mark IV.

The Blues Junior’s charm has always been its simplicity, and the IV appears to be unchanged as a single-channel, all-tube 15-watt combination with a pair of EL84 power tubes and three 12AX7 preamp tubes.

The control panel is no longer mirrored-chrome, but rather a white-on-black textured surface with ivory pointer control knobs. Also, the control panel now faces you as you stand above it, which is a smart alteration that prevents the controls from appearing upside down.

Volume, Treble, Bass, Middle, Master, and Reverb controls are provided, along with a single 1/4-inch input jack, a Fat switch (preamp gain increase that may also be triggered remotely via footswitch), and a power switch.

Fender claims they changed the preamp circuit for a greater body and the spring reverb for a smoother taper, but the most important change is the Celestion 12-inch A-type speaker as its new voice. Other fascinating details include a faintly worn silver grille fabric and a steel-reinforced strap handle.

The Tone of the Fender Junior IV

Most people anticipate that the Fender Blues Junior IV will perform similarly to its predecessor, with a few minor changes. However, this one stood out; it is a brand-new amplifier and a powerful one at that. The preamp tweaks paid off big time here.

Previous models, for example, sounded a touch harsh, but this one sounds strong and mighty, with plenty of character. There is plenty of headroom here, which is convenient. This amp is wonderfully balanced since the mids soar, the lows don’t merge and bleed, and the highs are bright enough to be tasteful.

Using The Fender Blues Junior Iv Live

If you perform frequently, you’ll notice that one of the most common amps on a backline stage is the reliable Fender Blues Junior. Soundmen adore this modest marvel because its low wattage makes volume control simple, and its solitary speaker can be swiftly mic’d.

The best combination for micing would be the Shure SM57 straight to the mixer. It is also a great platform for pedalboard since you can get a wide range of tones with a simple turn of the switch. Guitarists adore it for its small size and single-channel front end, which can be adjusted in for smooth cleans that complement pedals or turned up for squishy overdrive.

Conclusion

There are many different types of models in many different sizes and shapes. Among this price range, the Fender Blues Junior IV holds the best option for a budget-quality ratio. This model truly packs a great punch for a small-sized amplifier.

It takes a special kind of player to stand in front of a wall of quad-boxes and randomly burst eardrums. It takes another, far more confident one to jack straight into a 15-watt box of rock and blows the former out of the water. The Blues Junior, with its deft use of honesty, delicacy, and devil-may-care attitude, is considerably more suited to the latter.