I love how Cooper isn’t afraid to give him unfiltered opinion and always gives his reasoning and admits his biases. I feel it always creates a more informative review, and actually helps people form their own opinions better than trying to be overly impartial
The day I bought my Pro Jr., I took it home, plugged it in, put the volume on 3 - to see how it sounded clean - and pretty much rattled every book of my shelf, and cracked my windows down the middle. Don't buy it thinking it's a practice amp. It's not. It'll rattle your teeth. Maybe the new version is different - mine is a series iii. Put a Greenback in it - holy smokes it'll blow the roof off. Sounds awesome.
This is so ironic. The point is that low wattage amps ar not that loud. Then the first comment raves about how loud the are. And it is right - even five watt tube amps are too loud for almost everything.
He hits the nail on there head though in this vid: I use my Pro Junior in a custom 2x10 cab for gigs where I have it turned up to about 6 for the right state volume, where it sounds incredible. A friend asked me how I was getting such great tone. He owns a Hot Rod which he gigs with at volume on 3. Neither is a home use amp though.
My Fender Pro Jr. IV. The Jensen P10R needed some break in time. I put a Tung Sol 12AX7 in the first tube socket. Best amp I have ever owned. Great playing from you as always.
Excellent playing!I went with pro jr and I am 100 percent glad I did.This little guy is a monster.Nice cleans with my Mia tele,and a beautiful gritty tone with a les Paul standard.Its so simple in its setup,you just dial in the tone and go for it.
Great demo, Cooper. My ears are in line with yours and most of the comments. The Vibro Champ has an edge on clean tones but the Pro Junior sounds awesome cranked. Particularly impressive given the lack of effects.
I have both. The rarer (255 worldwide) Pro Junior IV LTD version (fawn covering but more importantly, with the Jensen P10Q...less bright than the more standard P10R) and just got the '68 Custom Vibro Champ last week. The 10" and reverb upgrades are awesome.
A few years ago, I bought a Kustom V15 Defender, all valve, combo. It's switchable from 15 to 4 watts. It has a direct line out. It has a Celestion G10-N, which I swapped out for a 10 inch Celestion Creamback. It's a great little amp. Small enough to take anywhere, but enough punch to gig with. Keep your eyes open for one.
The Pro Junior is Fender's best kept secret. I had 2 of the older black ones, but the new tweed version is just a little better-- less hiss. I put an attenuator on mine to tame the volume and still crank it-- I get everything from clean to ZZTop dirty just using the volume on my guitar. Use the attenuator as a master volume. I don't know why more people don't use these.
Agree. Got a pro Jr IV (quiet like a mouse) and a tele 2004 am. Std I would like to know what do you use for reverb/ambience/space and which attenuator.
Jeff Beck uses the Pro Junior. That speaks volumes to me… I have a Pro Junior too, but I modded the front-end to sound more like a Marshall 18-watt. I also changed the output transformer and replaced the speaker.
I managed to find a Tweed Pro Junior from the 90s for 300 bucks. I bought a noise gate to solve the hiss and attenuator to use full range of volume. Now I have a fun and capable rig for that classic Fender sound without the weight+real estate investment
It's all about dat tone! I've been a Fender amp guy all of my life and still own the 64 Super Reverb I bought used with paper route money at age 14. It sounds fantastic as SRV so aptly demonstrated but it is plenty loud to get kicked out of every bar and roadhouse in town when cranked up these days. (ask me how I know this) For the last 8 years I have gigged local venues with a Fender SuperChamp XD tube hybrid amp. Real 15w tube output with digital emulation for voices and effects. It really sounds pretty legit and is just loud enough to gig with a drummer who understands dynamics. For large stages or outdoor gigs I may still bring the big dog for glorious stage filling tone but most nights the lil guy gets it done. Cheers!
I have both, the only amps I own. Although my Pro Junior is the rare (1 of 255) Fawn IV. It comes with a P10Q, vs. the brighter P10R. My Vibro Champ Reverb, with its lower wattage, is the one I use at home. Playing out it is the Pro Junior IV. Both are killer amps.
The 57 Custom Champ is amazing. I use that and a hand wired Gibson GA-5 I got for about $500 before small amps were cool and they were blowing them out. They’re spectacular in a wet/dry setup too.
Great demo. Best guitarist on RUclips. My $0.02... The Pro Junior got muddy when turned up and I thought the Pro Junior cleans were thin. I’ve got at ‘68 RI Vibrio Champ Reverb and think it’s fine. I’ve also got a Bassbreaker 007 and love it’s crunch, but the Vibro Champ delivers the vintage Fender tones and handles pedals.
That is what I use the in. The Champ is slightly on the edge (cleans up wonderfully when turning down the volume on the guitar) and the Princeton is my wet amp. Works like a charm.
A great video. The same theory works if you want to "bring the heavy." The little Mesa Boogie Mark V 25 heads are amazing amps - everything from that Metallica "black album" sound to a cool driven Fender tweed and to a pristine shimmering clean, all in a 25 watt package. I think people should really give more consideration to how big of an amp they should buy. If Queen could sell out stadiums and Brian May used Vox AC30's and Michael Schenker conquered the world of heavy metal lead guitar at the end of the 70's on UFO's live album Strangers in the Night with a 50 watt Marshall, why do people that play at home or smaller clubs have 100+ watt heads? Mo' biggerer is Mo' betterer? Crank the volume on a 50 watt JCM 800 and the neighbors for blocks around will be calling the cops. 50 watts is big enough for small club use, even for heavy music and 5 watts is overkill for home. Even the 1 watt Marshall DSL1HR tube head can get stupid loud for home use. 1 watt.
@@nicholasantonis It is. You just need something that can keep up with the drums. I find myself torn between the 25 and 35 Mesa Mark V. The 35 has the Solo alternate Master Volume but the 25 is just right sized. Keeps up with a hard hitting drummer and when cranked for leads, the power section is so nicely saturated for sustain. It's a hard amp on a player. It amplifies what you play in a clarity that other amps don't do and this makes it a task master. You have to play hard and play well otherwise you sound like ass.
That just made me want and get both. I dig the pro Jr.’s tone when it’s dimed. The silver face had it on the clean chicken picken though. I have to thank you for the video, since I just nicked a few licks from you. Great playing.
The Pro Jr is one of the best amps Fender has come out with in the past 30 years (IMO of course). Those little guys just crush in tone, and they get really loud!
Nice demo. I bought the vibro champ last week and it's perfect for me. It's £800 in the UK which is a lot for a 5 watt amp but it's as good as it gets so I happy enough.
@@mark240862saturday i will play in a store a vibro champ, Princeton and a Laney Cube Super 12. Lets see what like more to buy! The champ play well with big muff or some thing like that? Now im in pink floyd style!
Great playing, to start. I think the Pro is the better sounding amp, I found the vibro to get a bit ice picky on the bridge, I assume it could be tamed with the tone knob, but the Jr. just sounded great. I had a Twin for about 6 months in the 90's, and it was way more amp than I needed. The soundmen at clubs were constantly telling me to turn down, and the amp really sounded it's best loud. I went to the Blues Deluxe, and while it was still a very loud amp, I found it much more usable than the twin. Unfortunately I sold it when I quit gigging, and now I just play through a modeling amp. I would love to get a blues Jr, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet. Thanks for the demo.
All I’ve used for years is low wattage tube amps. I’ve played places that hold a few thousand, and never over a 22 watt amp. Small amps are easier to get tone out of, easier to haul around and you can keep stage levels low. Just hang a 609 in front and run it through the house.
If had a ton of amps and only one 'tiny' amp is still in my collection. The DSL1C. Because it has all the features of a big amp in a tiny package. Not counting the distinct Fender Champ voice and classic recordings... It's pretty limited. No fx loop, no master volume (5 and even 1 watt for that matter is still loud), lack of tone controls. Etc. Speaker out. The DSL1C has 2 channel, footswitch included, digital reverb, silent out, full tonestack and a pretty diverse gain range. Speaker out 16 ohm (and 8 internally not connected) and a FX loop. Plus the price point. Winner.
I have a silverface Champ and a Pro Jr IV. Love both. I rehoused the PJ in a deluxe sized cab with a P12Q and it sounds absolutely amazing. I attenuate it and use the volume knob on my guitar to go from clean to nearly fuzz-tones.
I love your reviews, Cooper! Great perspective and super playing to demo the full potential. I was looking for a low wattage tube amp, and in this case, I think you convinced me to pick up the Pro Jr., since I already have a Mr. Black Deluxe Deluxe Plus for verb and trem. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to visiting San Antonio and coming to your shop once travel opens up!
I have a Blues Junior, and I took your volume soggestion using the guitar volume backed off and the amp volume turned up. With the spring reverb, it sounded amazing! If you haven't already, you might try one
I’m. Church player, no HRD for me. I got 5 watt heads with 12” Jensen Alnico’s in VHT cabs . I’m just getting started, I am bass player and pro-sound guy who kept “hearing electric guitars in my head.” I kind of wished I went the small Fender combo direction, esp a Princeton so I like this demo, my VHT special RT (amp 3 is a combo much like a Princeton) does tube trem and spring reverb but it many features bring quirks - I found using pedals in those basic amps seemed almost more organic. I think a part 2 with some basic pedals: I use TC HOF, Mooer Trelicopter, an OD that has bass knob, like a TC Mojo Mojo. Maybe do Boss TR2, RV-5 and BD2-W, maybe add an EQ. To me the goal is to get tube distortion at a low a volume as possible, and mic’ to house. Then take they basic platform so settle on (like this demo supports) and then extend their genre range with pedals. A church band is a cover band, covering hymns to classic rock and lots of ambient, we need flexible low volume rigs - and it helps I’d the tone evoke classic rock that people have good memories of, Fender maybe?
The 5w mono price tube amp, is really nice. My friend who is actually good at playing., came over, I had the amp at full settings, and he got 80s metal levels of distortion out of it. I’m saving up for a 1w amp so I can be less loud with the same amount of distortion.
I tried the blues junior, vibro champ and pro junior, and ended up with the pro junior. Sounds brilliant with a LP junior but incredible with my Tele (American Pro). Ticks all the boxes for playing at home, in the studio, and gigs. At home, I won’t crank it up, because anything past 4 my windows start shattering 🤪, but I use a TC Electronics Mojo Mojo pedal to combat my need for a little (or a little more) drive. Magic amp. Aloha from Scotland, and good video mate.
Absolute fantastic riffs. I have both and find myself leading towards the Pro Jr due to a woodier tone. BUT the reverb and trem are really nice to have also.
I have just discovered the way to tame my hot rod deluxe for home use. By using a JHS little black amp box in the fx loop, I can get my vol up to 3.5 and turn the JHS down to home vol.. It perfect for giving a great amp a master vol on the clean channel
I've had my Pro Junior since 93/94, always gets compliments on it's tone when I take it to a jam night. Taken awhile for a lot of people to cotton on to them as Fender have never really pushed the promotion of it, but I have heard a few high level players mention them lately, especially for recording.
Great video!!! no hesitation for me.... the Vibro Champ sounds way better, I love the fuller sound, just the right amount of bass middle and treble, whereas the Pro Jr didnt have so much middle, giving it a bit more twang, and my personal preference would be to have what I hear as a richer thicker fuller sound in the Vibro. I'm presently using an old Cyber Deluxe which I find cool but not as cool as that Vibro Champ for sure. Hey Great Playing!!!
You can definitely hear Princeton's presence and reverb, but it's the Pro Jr also sounds good. Add some pedals and it's it can keep up with the big boys for a lot less $.
A Pro Junior is a brilliant gigging amp. I use mine in a custom 2x10 cab for gigs where I have it turned up to about 6 for the right stage volume, where it sounds incredible. I've also used it unmiced for outdoor gigs and it managed fine. A friend, who is a guitar teacher, asked me how I was getting such great tone. He owns a Hot Rod which he gigs with at volume on 3. Definitely not for home use though. It will break your china.
I just bought a Pro Jr tweed used. Dang thing is loud enough for gigging. I absolutely love it. I got it for a great price too. I run my Paisley DLX and a reverb pedal and I'm off to the races.
My trick with a Champ is to put a shure green bullet in the back, wedged up against the speaker with an old t-shirt, and run it into just about any larger amps input. Sounds like a bigger champ.
Good review, nice playing. And the best of problems - “I have two really great options, how can I ever choose?” And I totally agree about volume. If you’re in a big room, use your big amp but my little Blues Jr at home practicing, the master volume is sitting at a 3. Thanks for your work.
Both of these amps sound great when dimed! Add in just a few select effects pedals and it just might be the perfect setup for playing at home or a small venue.
I've owned a Laney Cub 8 - great amp. I now have a Blackstar HT5-R. Great amp - 2 channel, 4 voices, reverb, several outputs, 0.5 watt mode. Either are hundred less than $750, so unless you're fixated on the Fender logo on the amp, check out alternatives.
Nah, I started with blackstar ht5 but after I switched to afender blues jr, I hardly use the black star. Ever since then I've been obsessed with trying fenders high range stuff. I'm thinking either this or the champ, also tone king gremlin looks sick
Which one is better? I think it depends on what you want to do with the amp. If you look for an amp for gigging, I think the 15 Watt Pro Junior is the better option. But if you want to use your amp mainly for use at home in an small appartment with thin walls and noise-sensitive neighbours, 15 Watt is to much. In this case the 5 Watt champ is the better choise.
The greatest small wattage tube amp ever is the AC10. They are absolutely glorious! They pack an incredible punch for their size as well and you can get them for less than $400. Vox is basically begging you to rob them. I've got an AC10 and an AC30 and I absolutely adore them both. I've got a Strat, 2 Teles, and a 335 and they all sound phenomenal through the AC10. I HIIIIIIGHLY recommend them!
I think they just sound different that's all. Not all Vox speaks to me, it's hard to dial those glassy highs on most of them without being a bit harsh. Ive not played an AC10 before, how does it compare to the hand-wired (non vintage) versions of AC30?
@@MintStiles An AC10C1 is a modern reissue and it really packs a punch for a 10 watt amp. With a Tele it can go from twang to early Zeppelin and with a 335 it can sound like Clapton era Cream and Paul Kossoff. My buddy was AMAZED at how well it sounded and for less than $400 for a tube amp is insane. It also takes pedals well but honestly it's such great plug and play tone it's totally a tossup whether pedals are necessary at all. They definitely aren't as "trebley" as an AC30 is prone to be though. I think of them as a Bassman with only one speaker since they have 10's and 10's are just naturally warmer to my ears.
@@SimpleManGuitars1973 the Blues Jr., and Pro Jr., both are louder, and side by side, if tweed, it will be likely a Jensen speaker, which will dust the Vox crap reissue Celestion Chinese versions. CCV's I call em'. Look same, but they are in no way same fullness and loudness. Jensen is amazing, by comparison. It has a natural sound in the warmth that isn't in any Celestion speaker. To each their own.
The Pro Jr is an adorable amp that is worthy of your adoration. Mine came with the worst sounding speaker that I have ever heard. I put a Blue Pup in there and it sounds awesome. If you really want to spoil that amp, a Fromel mod doesn't cost too much.
When he says small is he referring to the size or the power because at 15W they're still loud enough to shatter teeth and make your ears bleed. My 5W champ is a beast when you unleash it, that's with an eight inch speaker too
For those looking into the pro Junior. If you’re looking for bedroom levels, just look somewhere else this thing is still loud, and it really doesn’t sound good at low volume with pedals. Had one for a few years tried everything to get it to work for me.
The pro Jr. is actually loud enough for gigging in a small club with the 15 watts. I gigged a 15 watt Blues Jr for years . A raggin Cajun is a great upgrade for the pro Jr. I don't think the 5 watt would be enough with a drummer.
I have always used small tube amps. Better tone, easier to haul, less space, lower stage volume etc….and when I played bigger places, I always had a 609 to hang in front of it.
Great video and great delivery!!! I’m torn??? I love the 2 amps equally for 2 different reasons. The Champ because of reverb and tremolo. It sounded a lot like an early 70’s Pro Reverb I regret selling 40 years ago. The Jr for its tonal bang it gives for blues. If JR had reverb? Then it would be no question I’d choose it because of the Tweed as a bonus.
I love em both but the Pro Jr. i found was a little restrictive without an EQ pedal and reverb. I also think its got too much wattage but i figure they don’t want it to compete with the ‘57 Champ.
I have two Pro Juniors with consecutive serial numbers. They both have the stock Eminence Speakers. If I ever change the speakers I’m going to put Weber speakers in. I have a 20 watt Marshall AVT and I put 10 inch Eminence Redcoat in that amp which was a big improvement. That amp’s clean channel is great for Rock a Billy or Surf music. It has one tube which is a blessing considering most tubes are made in Russia.
Thanks for the information and I appreciate the sound demos. I love Fender amps and have a few. However, I have a Monoprice 15W tube which actually beats the Blues Jr. for a tiny fraction of the cost. The Monoprice also has great real spring reverb and effects loop.
Buy yourself a Bugera for 1/4 the price. Trust me. The Bugera V5 is such a beautiful vintage sound, with built in reverb, and attenuation switch (0.1w, 1w & 5w). Looks amazing too. Trust me and save a pretry penny
I've owned both. And for me the Pro Jr blows away the Bugera in tone. I added in my own attenuator and am loving it. Now the Bugeras are nice, but it all comes to the tone you're shooting for, to each their own.
@TheKingacevedo Agree - The blues Jr. Is such a beautiful tone, and with the actual spring reverb, hard to beat. Bugera looks great, and is fantastic for the cost
Just a great demo video! You can clearly hear how the two amps sound without other tone elements cluttering things up. Great verbal descriptions of the specs. Great demo playing. Great info for the buying public. Thanks.
It maybe overpriced but the Marshall DSL 5 watt with the 1 watt button option . Has reverb , FX loop and ultra gain you can always have it dimed 1 watt or 5 watt so your amp can breathe ! Carbon copy delay on the FX loop and a Duke of tone on my setup and this thing kicks! Still need to add fuzz chorus and compressor pedals.
Could put something like the Hydra trem/reverb pedal in front of the Pro Jr. to get those fx if wanted. Love the tone of the Pro Jr, but Vibro Champ is winner for me. Want the tone control option.
Had one of the first Pro Juniors and it was LOUD! I'd take it to pub jams and mount it on an amp stand angled up aimed at my mic. When I'm singin' my torso blocks the spill. Come solos and tags I'd just step aside and lift the guitar volume and let it bleed into the FOH The Pro Junior was dimed...
I agree that everyone should have a small tube Amp, esp for studio work. Just got my first one, its Harley Benton 15 watt. After a ten minute warm up , the amp is amazing as it uses the spring type reverb but after a little bit of volume, the speaker can't keep up, its a 12" celestion . I have a Fender H.O.T. amp and its my old solid state one , it has a 12" speaker and a spring reverb, i am seriously thinking about putting the Fender speaker & reverb box in it. It has been done and i can't see why not? I'm never going back to solid state amps again. Nice Jamming Btw.
There is a guy I know that does jam nights with a 50’s 5watt champ. The power of modern microphones and sound equipment allows ypu to do that now just fine haha
The clean tone riff is the theme song for when I'm trying to get home after work
😂
Dude was killing that shit, and I know whatcha mean
@@saintrhoads3375gwalior
I love how Cooper isn’t afraid to give him unfiltered opinion and always gives his reasoning and admits his biases. I feel it always creates a more informative review, and actually helps people form their own opinions better than trying to be overly impartial
The day I bought my Pro Jr., I took it home, plugged it in, put the volume on 3 - to see how it sounded clean - and pretty much rattled every book of my shelf, and cracked my windows down the middle. Don't buy it thinking it's a practice amp. It's not. It'll rattle your teeth. Maybe the new version is different - mine is a series iii. Put a Greenback in it - holy smokes it'll blow the roof off. Sounds awesome.
Thanks, this is useful.
Thank you friend
This is so ironic. The point is that low wattage amps ar not that loud. Then the first comment raves about how loud the are. And it is right - even five watt tube amps are too loud for almost everything.
Have played quite a few gigs with my Pro Jr. No lack of volume for small to medium clubs. 🤘
He hits the nail on there head though in this vid: I use my Pro Junior in a custom 2x10 cab for gigs where I have it turned up to about 6 for the right state volume, where it sounds incredible. A friend asked me how I was getting such great tone. He owns a Hot Rod which he gigs with at volume on 3.
Neither is a home use amp though.
My Fender Pro Jr. IV. The Jensen P10R needed some break in time. I put a Tung Sol 12AX7 in the first tube socket. Best amp I have ever owned. Great playing from you as always.
Anytime I see this guy in an Alamo music vid, I must watch.
Always great playing...
I would probably lean towards the vibro champ for the options and versatility, but that Pro Jr sounded great dimed out!!
Excellent playing!I went with pro jr and I am 100 percent glad I did.This little guy is a monster.Nice cleans with my Mia tele,and a beautiful gritty tone with a les Paul standard.Its so simple in its setup,you just dial in the tone and go for it.
How high do you have to crank the volume on the Jr to get that grit?
@@TracyLanebike played one in the store, started to breakup at 11:30. for a real overdrive though it’s like 2:00. Plenty loud
Great demo, Cooper. My ears are in line with yours and most of the comments. The Vibro Champ has an edge on clean tones but the Pro Junior sounds awesome cranked. Particularly impressive given the lack of effects.
I have both. The rarer (255 worldwide) Pro Junior IV LTD version (fawn covering but more importantly, with the Jensen P10Q...less bright than the more standard P10R) and just got the '68 Custom Vibro Champ last week. The 10" and reverb upgrades are awesome.
A few years ago, I bought a Kustom V15 Defender, all valve, combo. It's switchable from 15 to 4 watts. It has a direct line out. It has a Celestion G10-N, which I swapped out for a 10 inch Celestion Creamback. It's a great little amp. Small enough to take anywhere, but enough punch to gig with. Keep your eyes open for one.
The Pro Junior is Fender's best kept secret. I had 2 of the older black ones, but the new tweed version is just a little better-- less hiss. I put an attenuator on mine to tame the volume and still crank it-- I get everything from clean to ZZTop dirty just using the volume on my guitar. Use the attenuator as a master volume. I don't know why more people don't use these.
very nice - what attenuator do you use for the pro junior?
Agree. Got a pro Jr IV (quiet like a mouse) and a tele 2004 am. Std I would like to know what do you use for reverb/ambience/space and which attenuator.
Jeff Beck uses the Pro Junior. That speaks volumes to me… I have a Pro Junior too, but I modded the front-end to sound more like a Marshall 18-watt. I also changed the output transformer and replaced the speaker.
I managed to find a Tweed Pro Junior from the 90s for 300 bucks. I bought a noise gate to solve the hiss and attenuator to use full range of volume. Now I have a fun and capable rig for that classic Fender sound without the weight+real estate investment
Dont know why more people don't use these? Easy because there is better out there.
It's all about dat tone! I've been a Fender amp guy all of my life and still own the 64 Super Reverb I bought used with paper route money at age 14. It sounds fantastic as SRV so aptly demonstrated but it is plenty loud to get kicked out of every bar and roadhouse in town when cranked up these days. (ask me how I know this)
For the last 8 years I have gigged local venues with a Fender SuperChamp XD tube hybrid amp. Real 15w tube output with digital emulation for voices and effects. It really sounds pretty legit and is just loud enough to gig with a drummer who understands dynamics. For large stages or outdoor gigs I may still bring the big dog for glorious stage filling tone but most nights the lil guy gets it done.
Cheers!
That’s great to here. Ya still using it ? Can ya get good low bedroom tones from it ?
How do you know this?
I put a spring reverb and boost pedal on the pro jnr and it sounds amazing at low volumes.
What a growl with that pro junior ! Add a Flint in front and you have all you need for a great sound :)
Just bought a Vox AC4 1x12 4- watt tube amp... love it!🙂
That's some crispy playing brother!
I have both, the only amps I own. Although my Pro Junior is the rare (1 of 255) Fawn IV. It comes with a P10Q, vs. the brighter P10R. My Vibro Champ Reverb, with its lower wattage, is the one I use at home. Playing out it is the Pro Junior IV. Both are killer amps.
Hi, I’m looking at buying both too. Would you say the pro junior is heaps louder?
@@stratslinger3921 A fair bit louder. Played out with it easily...four-piece classic rock band.
Got the Pro Jr in tweed, it came with the P10R speaker in it. Changed out to a Celestion G10 Vintage, and turned it into a rock and roll machine!
Same here, that speaker rips! Thanks, Jim Campilongo.
I have a ‘76 Vibro Champ and I love it at the house.
I have 2 Pro Juniors. On original from 1994 and a recent IV. Great amps.
The 57 Custom Champ is amazing.
I use that and a hand wired Gibson GA-5 I got for about $500 before small amps were cool and they were blowing them out.
They’re spectacular in a wet/dry setup too.
Great demo. Best guitarist on RUclips.
My $0.02... The Pro Junior got muddy when turned up and I thought the Pro Junior cleans were thin. I’ve got at ‘68 RI Vibrio Champ Reverb and think it’s fine. I’ve also got a Bassbreaker 007 and love it’s crunch, but the Vibro Champ delivers the vintage Fender tones and handles pedals.
These amps would probably be a perfect pair for an A/B-Y splitter - with both amps simultaneously, in wet/dry fashion!
That is what I use the in. The Champ is slightly on the edge (cleans up wonderfully when turning down the volume on the guitar) and the Princeton is my wet amp. Works like a charm.
A great video.
The same theory works if you want to "bring the heavy." The little Mesa Boogie Mark V 25 heads are amazing amps - everything from that Metallica "black album" sound to a cool driven Fender tweed and to a pristine shimmering clean, all in a 25 watt package.
I think people should really give more consideration to how big of an amp they should buy. If Queen could sell out stadiums and Brian May used Vox AC30's and Michael Schenker conquered the world of heavy metal lead guitar at the end of the 70's on UFO's live album Strangers in the Night with a 50 watt Marshall, why do people that play at home or smaller clubs have 100+ watt heads? Mo' biggerer is Mo' betterer? Crank the volume on a 50 watt JCM 800 and the neighbors for blocks around will be calling the cops. 50 watts is big enough for small club use, even for heavy music and 5 watts is overkill for home. Even the 1 watt Marshall DSL1HR tube head can get stupid loud for home use. 1 watt.
couldn't agree more the mesa mark V25 us one if my favourite amps
50 watts is still overkill for small clubs
@@nicholasantonis
It is. You just need something that can keep up with the drums.
I find myself torn between the 25 and 35 Mesa Mark V. The 35 has the Solo alternate Master Volume but the 25 is just right sized. Keeps up with a hard hitting drummer and when cranked for leads, the power section is so nicely saturated for sustain.
It's a hard amp on a player. It amplifies what you play in a clarity that other amps don't do and this makes it a task master. You have to play hard and play well otherwise you sound like ass.
That just made me want and get both. I dig the pro Jr.’s tone when it’s dimed. The silver face had it on the clean chicken picken though. I have to thank you for the video, since I just nicked a few licks from you. Great playing.
Great demo, stunning playing. I am scaling down from my blues deluxe. I love the sound and looks of the pair of them. Thanks . Mark Liverpool UK
The Pro Jr is one of the best amps Fender has come out with in the past 30 years (IMO of course). Those little guys just crush in tone, and they get really loud!
When it was dimed, the Pro Jr wins hands-down...
I have the 68 Deluxe Reverb and use it as my studio amp, but I want a lighter, smaller wattage version for gigging. The Vibro Champ looks perfect.
Nice demo. I bought the vibro champ last week and it's perfect for me. It's £800 in the UK which is a lot for a 5 watt amp but it's as good as it gets so I happy enough.
Still like it?
@@Twylightt Yes, very much so. Funnily enough I'm playing through it right now.
@@mark240862saturday i will play in a store a vibro champ, Princeton and a Laney Cube Super 12. Lets see what like more to buy!
The champ play well with big muff or some thing like that? Now im in pink floyd style!
Great playing, to start. I think the Pro is the better sounding amp, I found the vibro to get a bit ice picky on the bridge, I assume it could be tamed with the tone knob, but the Jr. just sounded great. I had a Twin for about 6 months in the 90's, and it was way more amp than I needed. The soundmen at clubs were constantly telling me to turn down, and the amp really sounded it's best loud. I went to the Blues Deluxe, and while it was still a very loud amp, I found it much more usable than the twin. Unfortunately I sold it when I quit gigging, and now I just play through a modeling amp. I would love to get a blues Jr, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet. Thanks for the demo.
All I’ve used for years is low wattage tube amps. I’ve played places that hold a few thousand, and never over a 22 watt amp. Small amps are easier to get tone out of, easier to haul around and you can keep stage levels low. Just hang a 609 in front and run it through the house.
If had a ton of amps and only one 'tiny' amp is still in my collection. The DSL1C. Because it has all the features of a big amp in a tiny package. Not counting the distinct Fender Champ voice and classic recordings... It's pretty limited. No fx loop, no master volume (5 and even 1 watt for that matter is still loud), lack of tone controls. Etc. Speaker out. The DSL1C has 2 channel, footswitch included, digital reverb, silent out, full tonestack and a pretty diverse gain range. Speaker out 16 ohm (and 8 internally not connected) and a FX loop. Plus the price point. Winner.
Awesome little amps for sure
I have a silverface Champ and a Pro Jr IV. Love both. I rehoused the PJ in a deluxe sized cab with a P12Q and it sounds absolutely amazing. I attenuate it and use the volume knob on my guitar to go from clean to nearly fuzz-tones.
What kind f attenuator are ya using ?
I was using a weber mass 100 at the time with a adjustable ohms from 2 to 16. Now I use a Two Notes Captor X 8 ohm.@@benallmark9671
I love your reviews, Cooper! Great perspective and super playing to demo the full potential. I was looking for a low wattage tube amp, and in this case, I think you convinced me to pick up the Pro Jr., since I already have a Mr. Black Deluxe Deluxe Plus for verb and trem. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to visiting San Antonio and coming to your shop once travel opens up!
I have a Blues Junior, and I took your volume soggestion using the guitar volume backed off and the amp volume turned up. With the spring reverb, it sounded amazing! If you haven't already, you might try one
I’m. Church player, no HRD for me.
I got 5 watt heads with 12” Jensen Alnico’s in VHT cabs . I’m just getting started, I am bass player and pro-sound guy who kept “hearing electric guitars in my head.” I kind of wished I went the small Fender combo direction, esp a Princeton so I like this demo, my VHT special RT (amp 3 is a combo much like a Princeton) does tube trem and spring reverb but it many features bring quirks - I found using pedals in those basic amps seemed almost more organic.
I think a part 2 with some basic pedals: I use TC HOF, Mooer Trelicopter, an OD that has bass knob, like a TC Mojo Mojo. Maybe do Boss TR2, RV-5 and BD2-W, maybe add an EQ. To me the goal is to get tube distortion at a low a volume as possible, and mic’ to house. Then take they basic platform so settle on (like this demo supports) and then extend their genre range with pedals. A church band is a cover band, covering hymns to classic rock and lots of ambient, we need flexible low volume rigs - and it helps I’d the tone evoke classic rock that people have good memories of, Fender maybe?
great playing and demo of both amps. i just got a vibro champ and can’t stop playing it.
Did you pay full price?
@@dustinarnold79 i got a discounted floor model and the list price was still $750 back then, looks like they’re $800 now
The 5w mono price tube amp, is really nice. My friend who is actually good at playing., came over, I had the amp at full settings, and he got 80s metal levels of distortion out of it. I’m saving up for a 1w amp so I can be less loud with the same amount of distortion.
1 watt won’t be any less loud than 5.
I have the "new
Pro Jr IV SE and use a Dan Electro EQ pedal and a Flynt Strymon Trem/Reverb up front. All I can say is Fantastic!
I tried the blues junior, vibro champ and pro junior, and ended up with the pro junior. Sounds brilliant with a LP junior but incredible with my Tele (American Pro). Ticks all the boxes for playing at home, in the studio, and gigs. At home, I won’t crank it up, because anything past 4 my windows start shattering 🤪, but I use a TC Electronics Mojo Mojo pedal to combat my need for a little (or a little more) drive. Magic amp. Aloha from Scotland, and good video mate.
Absolute fantastic riffs. I have both and find myself leading towards the Pro Jr due to a woodier tone. BUT the reverb and trem are really nice to have also.
I have just discovered the way to tame my hot rod deluxe for home use. By using a JHS little black amp box in the fx loop, I can get my vol up to 3.5 and turn the JHS down to home vol.. It perfect for giving a great amp a master vol on the clean channel
I've had my Pro Junior since 93/94, always gets compliments on it's tone when I take it to a jam night. Taken awhile for a lot of people to cotton on to them as Fender have never really pushed the promotion of it, but I have heard a few high level players mention them lately, especially for recording.
HAHA! This is a sign! I've been looking at tube amps for a while 😂!
@Noble Failures yup, such an warm soulful tone!! 🙌🏻🎶🎸
Great video!!! no hesitation for me.... the Vibro Champ sounds way better, I love the fuller sound, just the right amount of bass middle and treble, whereas the Pro Jr didnt have so much middle, giving it a bit more twang, and my personal preference would be to have what I hear as a richer thicker fuller sound in the Vibro. I'm presently using an old Cyber Deluxe which I find cool but not as cool as that Vibro Champ for sure. Hey Great Playing!!!
You can definitely hear Princeton's presence and reverb, but it's the Pro Jr also sounds good. Add some pedals and it's it can keep up with the big boys for a lot less $.
Just bought a 15 watt orange that is absolutely amazing for about 700. Fabulous amp
Thank you, sir for confirming that I still suck at guitar.
He's just a different style from me, so I don't compare myself. But... Would be nice to be able to play that fast, I can't play fast.
A Pro Junior is a brilliant gigging amp.
I use mine in a custom 2x10 cab for gigs where I have it turned up to about 6 for the right stage volume, where it sounds incredible. I've also used it unmiced for outdoor gigs and it managed fine. A friend, who is a guitar teacher, asked me how I was getting such great tone. He owns a Hot Rod which he gigs with at volume on 3.
Definitely not for home use though. It will break your china.
I just bought a Pro Jr tweed used. Dang thing is loud enough for gigging. I absolutely love it. I got it for a great price too. I run my Paisley DLX and a reverb pedal and I'm off to the races.
My trick with a Champ is to put a shure green bullet in the back, wedged up against the speaker with an old t-shirt, and run it into just about any larger amps input. Sounds like a bigger champ.
Great video. Your Telecaster playing is second to none!
Good review, nice playing. And the best of problems - “I have two really great options, how can I ever choose?” And I totally agree about volume. If you’re in a big room, use your big amp but my little Blues Jr at home practicing, the master volume is sitting at a 3. Thanks for your work.
Excellent demo. I have both and love them. Killer playing!
Hi there! Which of the two breaks up earlier? Whose distortion is better? Thanx in advance! :)
Love your playing on this video Cooper!!
Thanks for the shred, awesome awesome demo
Great picking, wow!!! Love the Champ amp.
Both of these amps sound great when dimed! Add in just a few select effects pedals and it just might be the perfect setup for playing at home or a small venue.
I've owned a Laney Cub 8 - great amp. I now have a Blackstar HT5-R. Great amp - 2 channel, 4 voices, reverb, several outputs, 0.5 watt mode. Either are hundred less than $750, so unless you're fixated on the Fender logo on the amp, check out alternatives.
Nah, I started with blackstar ht5 but after I switched to afender blues jr, I hardly use the black star. Ever since then I've been obsessed with trying fenders high range stuff.
I'm thinking either this or the champ, also tone king gremlin looks sick
They both sound really nice. I'd probably have to have a reverb pedal with the pro just for an effect sometimes. Mighty fine fast pickin by the way.
I have a Blues Junior and I love that amp.
Which one is better?
I think it depends on what you want to do with the amp. If you look for an amp for gigging, I think the 15 Watt Pro Junior is the better option. But if you want to use your amp mainly for use at home in an small appartment with thin walls and noise-sensitive neighbours, 15 Watt is to much. In this case the 5 Watt champ is the better choise.
You seem to enjoy playing the pro jr the best. I have one and love it. ✌️
Which one is better ???? I love using pedals
The greatest small wattage tube amp ever is the AC10. They are absolutely glorious! They pack an incredible punch for their size as well and you can get them for less than $400. Vox is basically begging you to rob them. I've got an AC10 and an AC30 and I absolutely adore them both. I've got a Strat, 2 Teles, and a 335 and they all sound phenomenal through the AC10. I HIIIIIIGHLY recommend them!
Me too. I have an AC15, but I love using the ac10 whenever I'm at Guitar Center. I'm gonna buy one once I get all the other stuff I want first.
I think they just sound different that's all. Not all Vox speaks to me, it's hard to dial those glassy highs on most of them without being a bit harsh. Ive not played an AC10 before, how does it compare to the hand-wired (non vintage) versions of AC30?
@@MintStiles An AC10C1 is a modern reissue and it really packs a punch for a 10 watt amp. With a Tele it can go from twang to early Zeppelin and with a 335 it can sound like Clapton era Cream and Paul Kossoff. My buddy was AMAZED at how well it sounded and for less than $400 for a tube amp is insane. It also takes pedals well but honestly it's such great plug and play tone it's totally a tossup whether pedals are necessary at all. They definitely aren't as "trebley" as an AC30 is prone to be though. I think of them as a Bassman with only one speaker since they have 10's and 10's are just naturally warmer to my ears.
@@MintStiles I'm not a fan of Vox. Never could understand why they are favored other than if maybe ya like the Beatles?
@@SimpleManGuitars1973 the Blues Jr., and Pro Jr., both are louder, and side by side, if tweed, it will be likely a Jensen speaker, which will dust the Vox crap reissue Celestion Chinese versions. CCV's I call em'. Look same, but they are in no way same fullness and loudness. Jensen is amazing, by comparison. It has a natural sound in the warmth that isn't in any Celestion speaker. To each their own.
The Pro Jr is an adorable amp that is worthy of your adoration. Mine came with the worst sounding speaker that I have ever heard. I put a Blue Pup in there and it sounds awesome. If you really want to spoil that amp, a Fromel mod doesn't cost too much.
Does anyone know how often one will need to change power tubes or preamp tubes on something like a Pro Junior?
My first amp in the late 60s was a black face Champ. Awesome playing.
When he says small is he referring to the size or the power because at 15W they're still loud enough to shatter teeth and make your ears bleed. My 5W champ is a beast when you unleash it, that's with an eight inch speaker too
Is the vibro champ too loud for apartment use? I tried the Vox ac4 and even that was way too loud...
Awesome playing , man. Cool demo as usual👍
For those looking into the pro Junior. If you’re looking for bedroom levels, just look somewhere else this thing is still loud, and it really doesn’t sound good at low volume with pedals. Had one for a few years tried everything to get it to work for me.
The pro Jr. is actually loud enough for gigging in a small club with the 15 watts. I gigged a 15 watt Blues Jr for years . A raggin Cajun is a great upgrade for the pro Jr. I don't think the 5 watt would be enough with a drummer.
I have always used small tube amps. Better tone, easier to haul, less space, lower stage volume etc….and when I played bigger places, I always had a 609 to hang in front of it.
Playing starts at 6:23
Great video and great delivery!!! I’m torn??? I love the 2 amps equally for 2 different reasons. The Champ because of reverb and tremolo. It sounded a lot like an early 70’s Pro Reverb I regret selling 40 years ago. The Jr for its tonal bang it gives for blues. If JR had reverb? Then it would be no question I’d choose it because of the Tweed as a bonus.
I love em both but the Pro Jr. i found was a little restrictive without an EQ pedal and reverb. I also think its got too much wattage but i figure they don’t want it to compete with the ‘57 Champ.
I have two Pro Juniors with consecutive serial numbers. They both have the stock Eminence Speakers. If I ever change the speakers I’m going to put Weber speakers in. I have a 20 watt Marshall AVT and I put 10 inch Eminence Redcoat in that amp which was a big improvement. That amp’s clean channel is great for Rock a Billy or Surf music. It has one tube which is a blessing considering most tubes are made in Russia.
What’s wrong with Russian made tubes?
I have an 18 watt '62 Sulvertone that works for me. The burgundy and silver refrigerator shaped whatever it's called.
Thanks for the information and I appreciate the sound demos. I love Fender amps and have a few. However, I have a Monoprice 15W tube which actually beats the Blues Jr. for a tiny fraction of the cost. The Monoprice also has great real spring reverb and effects loop.
Great demo.
Have a larger selection of different amplifiers is much more important than having different guitars to chose from.
Geez, I sure do love new old new new old stuff.
Vibro Champ sounds brighter but either is great!
Buy yourself a Bugera for 1/4 the price. Trust me. The Bugera V5 is such a beautiful vintage sound, with built in reverb, and attenuation switch (0.1w, 1w & 5w). Looks amazing too. Trust me and save a pretry penny
I've owned both. And for me the Pro Jr blows away the Bugera in tone. I added in my own attenuator and am loving it. Now the Bugeras are nice, but it all comes to the tone you're shooting for, to each their own.
@TheKingacevedo Agree - The blues Jr. Is such a beautiful tone, and with the actual spring reverb, hard to beat. Bugera looks great, and is fantastic for the cost
Thanks, I made the same experience
Just a great demo video! You can clearly hear how the two amps sound without other tone elements cluttering things up. Great verbal descriptions of the specs. Great demo playing. Great info for the buying public. Thanks.
Clean and effortless playing! I want to have your skills!
It maybe overpriced but the Marshall DSL 5 watt with the 1 watt button option . Has reverb , FX loop and ultra gain you can always have it dimed 1 watt or 5 watt so your amp can breathe ! Carbon copy delay on the FX loop and a Duke of tone on my setup and this thing kicks!
Still need to add fuzz chorus and compressor pedals.
Watching this a little late to the game, but... I preferred the Vibro Champ clean tones, but the Pro Jr driven sounds were much more pleasing.
Could put something like the Hydra trem/reverb pedal in front of the Pro Jr. to get those fx if wanted. Love the tone of the Pro Jr, but Vibro Champ is winner for me. Want the tone control option.
Hello I would like to buy an amp to play Stevie Ray Vaughan or Pink Floyd would you have any idea please I have a budget of 700 €
I own the vibro champ and it’s a great amp
Had one of the first Pro Juniors and it was LOUD!
I'd take it to pub jams and mount it on an amp stand angled up aimed at my mic.
When I'm singin' my torso blocks the spill.
Come solos and tags I'd just step aside and lift the guitar volume and let it bleed into the FOH
The Pro Junior was dimed...
Both of these amps sound really good but I think my vote goes for the pro Jr. it sounds warmer to me and I like the tone better.
I love my Pro Juniors. I have my original that I bought back in ‘94, and a IV I bought in 2018.
The pro junior sounds amazing!
Love my lil 1946 Magnatone…. Great tone😎👍
Nice picking Coop. Pro JR with a Fender outboard spring reverb!
I agree that everyone should have a small tube Amp, esp for studio work. Just got my first one, its Harley Benton 15 watt. After a ten minute warm up , the amp is amazing as it uses the spring type reverb but after a little bit of volume, the speaker can't keep up, its a 12" celestion . I have a Fender H.O.T. amp and its my old solid state one , it has a 12" speaker and a spring reverb, i am seriously thinking about putting the Fender speaker & reverb box in it. It has been done and i can't see why not? I'm never going back to solid state amps again. Nice Jamming Btw.
There is a guy I know that does jam nights with a 50’s 5watt champ. The power of modern microphones and sound equipment allows ypu to do that now just fine haha
Cool playing for sure, sounds really good