Ryan's Gig Guide

www.ryansgigguide.com 20 rgg May 2018 The Blues Junior IV is the latest rendi- tion of the popular amp which has been part of the Fender line up since 1995. It is a single channel valve amplifier with a nifty 15 watts of power. Its combination of portability, power and sound quickly threw the amp into the hands of gui- tarists looking for something a little more manageable.There is no sign of a decline in its popularity and with a promising future ahead, Fender has de- cided to make a few tweaks to ensure it meets the demands of the modern musician. The controls remain unchanged, they are simple to understand and it is nearly impossible to find a setting that results in an unusable sound.The spring reverb is not an emulation but created in a re- verb tank.The reverb has received some updates; the voicing has been tweaked to be smoother while retaining the clas- sic sound you would expect from a Fender Amp. Also, in an attempt to achieve more clarity there has been a small pre-delay added. By creating a slight delay between when a note is played and when the reverb tail is heard, you get more separation between the two sounds thus avoiding a mushy com- bination of both. The new pre-amp circuit is another sec- tion that has received some modifica- tion, it now allows you to push the amp a bit harder, but do not expect thunder- ing distortion as this is not what has been envisioned for this box. Maybe the biggest change to the overall sound is a change of speaker. The new Celestion 12 inchA type speaker has added a new dimension which is noticeably different from the former Jenson, however, the characteristic Fender mid scoop is still clearly identifiable. Don’t worry, even with the changes in place the Blues Jr IV still retains the tonal qualities that make it desirable to pedal lovers, acting as a canvas for their palette of pedals. The Blues Junior’s compact physique should make it a main contender when looking or an unobtrusive companion on stage.The aged grill cloth gives a vin- tage amp aesthetic without the price tag or reliability issues. The Fender visual REVIEW: Fender Blues Junior IV By Adam Roberts