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Fender

Blues Jr III

SKU: # 328472   |   Model: # 223-0500-000   |    Product Reviews16 Reviews  Write a Review
Fender
Blues Jr III

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Reviews 16
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The worlds most popular tube amps just got better!

Fender Hot Rod series amplifiers are found on every stage in the world, large and small, and are used by guitarists from all walks of life. Hot Rod amps deliver unmistakable Fender tone and are the perfect platform for musicians to craft their own signature sound. These no-frills amps are affordable, reliable and loud, and they pair extremely well with stomp boxes. The Blues Junior III is a 15-watt warm-toned, longtime favorite - the perfect grab-and-go tube amp for stage and studio. It is known for the fat mid tones characteristic of EL-84 output tubes, warm 12AX7 preamp tube overdrive, real spring reverb, simple control layout, footswitchable FAT boost and external speaker capability.

Features:
Black control panel with front-reading text
New badge
Vintage Fender dog bone handle
Vintage-size jewel light
Sparkle circuit mod
Rattle-reducing shock absorbers for the EL84 tubes
Highly sensitive Fender Special Design 12 lightning bolt speaker by Eminence
Heavy-duty set-screw chicken head knobs.


Electronics
Voltage: 120V
Wattage: 15 Watts
Inputs: One
Extension Speaker Jack: External Speaker Jack
Channels: One Channel
Rectifier: Solid State Rectifier
Controls: Reverb, Master, Middle, Bass, Treble, "Fat" Switch, Volume

Hardware
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Pilot Light Jewel: Red Amp Jewel
Handle: "Dog Bone" Handle
Front Panel: Black Front Panel
Grill Cover Cloth: Black Textured Vinyl Covering with Blackface Style Black/Silver Grille Cloth
Input Impedance: 1 M Input Impedance
Output Impedance: 8 Ohm
Amplifier Length: 9.18" (23.31 cm)
Amplifier Width: 18" (45.72 cm)
Amplifier Height: 16" (40.6 cm)
Amplifier Weight: 31 lbs. (14.06 kg)
Effects: Spring Reverb

Speakers
Speaker: 12 inch, 8 ohm, 50 Watt Fender Lightning Bolt speaker by Eminence

Tubes
Pre Amp Tubes: 3 x 12AX7
Power Tubes: 2 x EL84

Miscellaneous
Unique Features: Black control panel, New badge, Rattle reducing shock absorbers for EL84 tubes, Fat Switch

Accessories
FootSwitch: Uses Optional 1-Button Footswitch, p/n 0994054000
Knobs: Chicken head-style amp knobs

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Reviews

3.149.255.162
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Running fine five years in. 0 of 0 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Calgary Chinook, Alberta
Great tones. Used 4 or 5 hours a week for 5yrs and no problems.
Posted by Scott on Jun 14, 2018
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So much lighter for those jam sessions. 12 of 13 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Calgary Chinook, Alberta
I've owned a lot of amps, but I'm an old guy now. Moving around my Blues Deluxe was becoming a strain.(Original issue, never a problem, best tone ever!) To me, it is was pretty close to vintage tone.It is a fine sounding amp. I'm not sure if I hear vintage tones, but I do hear good ones. And you can take that from a fool who sold his vintage amplifiers before idiots drove the prices up. Please do not ask me for a list unless you wanna see a grown man cry.
Posted by Brian on Mar 30, 2017
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Bloos Joonya 4 of 4 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Kingston, Ontario
Love the amp.. I got one used for $400 and it was steal. I play anything from hard rock to blues and this thing is killer. Only issue I had with it was the bottom end when I played my Les Paul, but I pair it with a tube screamer now to cut the lows and boost mids a bit and it's perfect (EQ pedal could do the trick too). Now I can get anything from old Cream/Blues Breakers and Zeppelin with a Les Paul, to SRV and John Mayer with a Strat. I play with a 4 piece band and have no problems being heard in rehearsal or small bars. I use it at home too, but it might be a bit loud if you live in an apartment. Pros: Loud, Great Sound, Compact, Light Cons: Bass With Some Guitars, Cheap Handle, No Headphone Jack or Standby Overall it's worth the price, especially if you get a deal on one used. Would recommend to anybody that plays classic rock or blues at smaller gigs/jams. Especially someone looking for their first tube amp, you will never get rid of it.
Posted by JamesMarshall on Feb 17, 2017
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TERRIFIC AMP - REVISITED 5 of 5 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
After owning this amp for about 3 years now, I thought it would be useful to people checking the reviews to comments again. Do I still love it after this time of have I gotten tired it and moved on? I love it more today than when I first got it! This amp is my tone and I love the fat sound and the reverb. I also love how the amp has broken in over the year. I've actually rated it higher this time. It has great power for any gigs I play and if it's a huge spot, there's usually a PA to mic through. It's also small enough to use as a practice amp in my bedroom. I'd definitely still recommend it to someone.
Posted by pb on Aug 14, 2016
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Nice little amp. 6 of 7 customers found this review helpful
Features  
Quality  
Value  
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Mississauga, Ontario
I have owned this amp for over a year now. It is my main practice amp and I've gigged with it a handful of times. Overall I am pleased but if you are more than a bedroom musician it might leave something to be desired. Pros - Beautiful Fender clean tone. Best in the business in my opinion. Nice reverb. Great natural overdrive from one channel. The added master volume allows you to get good break up and crunch from the amp without getting you kicked out of your apartment. Consequently, it takes pedals well. Set the amp to just on the verge of break up and get a good overdrive pedal and you are getting some high quality tones. Loud - Don't get it twisted this thing could get you kicked out of your apartment. It turns up a lot louder than I expected and stays clean for a long time. Cons - The handle strap is made of poor quality rubber and not leather. It broke on me the second time I took it out of the house. I have other much larger and heavier amps that i gig with and their straps hold up. I was quite annoyed by this especially at the price point. Regardless of how loud this thing can go, sometimes a 1x12 speaker just does not cut it. A loud rhythm section can give this thing trouble if you are not mic'd to the PA. Price - I feel like you are paying a lot for the name brand here. Its not crazy expensive but for a few extra hundred you could get something a lot better in my opinion. I have a Traynor 80 watt 4x10 which is my mainstay and it cost me about as much as this.
Posted by Pedro on Feb 22, 2016
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Blues Jr III - reverb maybe 11 of 11 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Ottawa, Ontario
It is very common on this amp to have trouble with the reverb. There is a capacitor that has a bad solder job, the RCA cable from the amp to the reverb tank also has issues and then the reverb tank itself is questionable - being sourced from new locations every time Fender wants to save a buck. I bought my BJIII three years ago at $499. Fender wasn't very bright to increase their prices the same year the CDN dollar went in the tank. So, at $719 I would never tell anyone to buy this amp. Instead, I would say save up for a Pro Sonic 22 if you like overdrive and a black face 65 Deluxe Reverb instead. Both of these 22 watt options are still suitable for playing in a small room without blowing your ears out of your head, but are also light weight enough to transport to a gig. The BJIII can't play a gig unless you mic it through the PA. I am not trying to say the BJIII is a bad amp. I just think at $719 there are better places to put your money.
Posted by Will Senger on Oct 7, 2015
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My practice amp 1 of 2 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Calgary Royal Vista, Alberta
If you actually have to read a review you’ve never owned one terrific amp killer tone for little cash. Someone is playing this amp at a gig in your town right now. There's a reason for that. I think the best feature is the Master and Volume knobs that complement each other. Using these you can really crank your amp up for some classic overdrive tones. Great amp, excellent build quality.....plain and simple, exactly Small, light, and the great warmth of a Tube amp. It's not the same as my Deluxe Reverb, but it's also half the price. What I wanted.....clean warm tone This model has the Celestion Vintage G12 speaker. It has that great fender clean tone and it takes pedals well. Great tone, nice overdrive, perfect amp for someone playing small venues.
Posted by anonymous on Sep 5, 2015
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Fender Blues Jr. lll 0 of 0 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store   Burlington, Ontario
Great amp, excellent build quality.....plain and simple, exactly what I wanted.....clean warm tone....and NOT made in China!
Posted by Randall on May 4, 2015
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would look at something else 5 of 7 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Vancouver, British Columbia
This amp has some positive features. It is relatively lightweight and easy to transport. I also l this like the master volume, all Fenders should have this. You can turn up the volume and it will distort nicely while keeping the volume down with master. The down side, it will not do loud clean, it will break up when you don't want it to. The el84 tubes fo this. The sound is very boxy and there is zero bottom end, likely because the cabinet is small. I had to replace the reverb tank (under warranty) whick took over a month to fix. I also have a blues deluxe and it is also a single 12" speaker but it really sounds do much better. If you want a loud clean amp, this is not for you.
Posted by anonymous on Aug 25, 2014
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If you actually have to read a review you've never owned one. 3 of 5 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Calgary Chinook, Alberta
Someone is playing this amp at a gig in your town right now. There's a reason for that. I just bought my second one. Old one lasted a decade, toured Canada, and played 1000's of gigs. It still works and sounds great. Using tubes a little fast after all the years.
Posted by CL on Jul 15, 2013
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Fender Blues JR. III 3 of 3 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Toronto (Bloor St.), Ontario
Considering the size of this amp, it gives you a lot of juice. A great sounding reverb as well. The best feature being the Master and Volume knobs that compliment each other. Using these you can really crank your amp up for some classic overdrive tones.
Posted by anonymous on Feb 8, 2013
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Fender FSR Blues Junior III 1 of 1 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I've tried it
Closest Store   Calgary Chinook, Alberta
This model has the Celestion Vintage G12 speaker. I had it on a month long rental to see if I would like it. This amp is plagued with terrible amp hiss and hum. Maybe it needed new tubes but I was not prepared to take it back. If I was buying it and new tubes or a replacement amp was the same I would pass on this. I'd go for a Traynor Dark Horse instead, 12 watts, switchable to 0.8 for home and it is better from a noise perspective.
Posted by anonymous on Feb 3, 2013
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Terrific Amp 2 of 2 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
I love it!, Great tone, nice overdrive, perfect amp for someone playing small venues or practicing.
Posted by PB on Oct 14, 2012
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Fender BJ, killer tone for little cash 2 of 3 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Vancouver, British Columbia
Coming from a guy who owns early 60's vintage Vox and other el84 tubed amps, the BJ is a killer combo. Loud enough to gig, fantastic for recording or home, much more user friendly than most vintage stuff. I had a bj years ago, sold it and regetted it. Just picked up a slightly used BJ III brown & wheat, love it! Carry with one hand, fits in tiny trunks and tiny apartments and doesn't sound like a traditional fender amp which is good IMO. If you want paint peeling fender like highs, get a princeton. If you want vox like tones, get a BJ.
Posted by anonymous on Oct 11, 2012
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Blues jr 3 1 of 1 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Scarborough, Ontario
Good value. It has that great fender clean tone. It takes pedals well. It has a nice overdrive, however if metal is your thing you might find it lacking. A stand by switch would be a nice addition. Its built tough, a nice studio amp. Suitable for small venue gigs. Recommended!!
Posted by ron on Oct 8, 2012
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My Practice Amp 1 of 3 customers found this review helpful
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Lethbridge, Alberta
I love the Master / Volume controls on this amp to get some crunch without needing an effects pedal. Small, light, and the great warmth of a Tube amp. It's not the same as my Deluxe Reverb, but it's also half the price.
Posted by anonymous on Jun 5, 2012
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This product is normally available for rental. Please contact your preferred location for further information.

1 Day from $10.00

1 Week $20.00

1 Month $40.00

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Protect your investment with the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty

A warranty can be a very important factor when making a buying decision. Because repairs can be very expensive in terms of parts and labour costs, manufacturers usually only provide one year limited warranties that generally only cover items that malfunction due to a manufacturer’s defect. With an important purchase such as a musical
instrument or piece of studio gear, however, many people want to have the peace of mind in knowing that their investment will be protected should the product no longer be performing at 100%.

Because of this, Long & McQuade provides our customers with a FREE one-year Performance Warranty on most of our products. The Long & McQuade Performance Warranty supplements the manufacturer’s warranty to ensure that our customers receive complete “no hassle” warranty coverage within their first year.

How does the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty differ from most manufacturers' warranties?
  • Performance Guarantee: Normal wear and tear is covered, so your product will be performing as well as the day you purchased it for the entire duration of the coverage. Band and Orchestral Performance Warranty does not include replacing pads or cleaning for woodwind instruments, unless deemed necessary by our repair staff. Ultrasonic cleaning for brass instruments will be provided if deemed necessary by our repair staff, but is not routinely offered under the Performance Warranty.
  • Product Replacement: If your product cannot be fixed or costs too much to fix, we will replace it with the equivalent model for no additional charge. If this is not possible, a full refund will be provided.
  • No Lemon Policy: Your product will be replaced should the same problem occur multiple times.
  • Convenient: Easy drop off and pick up of the product at any Long & McQuade location.
  • Guitar Setup: Guitars purchased at Long & McQuade come with 1 free setup, to be redeemed within 1 year for new guitars and 90 days for used guitars.
  • Loaners Available: A loaner product may be given while the product is being repaired.
  • Power Surge Protection: Your product is covered even if damaged from a power surge.
  • Accessory Coverage: Any peripheral devices or accessories that come with your product (i.e. foot pedal, case) are also covered.
  • Commercial Use Coverage: Music and recording professionals who purchase gear for “heavy-use” commercial purposes will still be covered.
 

Long & McQuade reserves the right to restrict the purchase of additional years of Performance Warranty. Used products come with a 3-month Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Some products (i.e. computers, software, cymbals and other items) are covered only by the manufacturer‘s warranty. Consumables (i.e. strings, reeds, drum sticks, batteries, tubes, cross faders) are excluded as they are designed to be replaced. Cosmetic Damage, Accidental Damage, or problems caused by Humidity or Temperature Issues are not covered. Speakers damaged by overpowering are generally not covered. Our coverage does not provide compensation for loss of use. As of June 2018 the Performance Warranty is no longer transferable. The warranty is only valid in Canada.

Purchasing additional years of coverage

Some manufacturers provide warranties for longer than 1 year; however, these are usually limited warranties that do not provide the same coverage as the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Customers interested in more complete and convenient (but not necessarily longer) coverage are still able to purchase additional years of the Performance Warranty.

If you are interested in receiving this coverage for longer than one year, you have the option of purchasing additional years of the Performance Warranty. The pricing is as follows:

  • NEW products: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.
  • USED products: 4% of the current new selling price to increase the warranty from 3 months to 1 year. 4% for each additional year.
  • GUITARS: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year. $45 maximum. An additional free setup is not included with additional purchased years of Performance Warranty.
  • BAND and ORCHESTRAL instruments: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.

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