TRUSTY STEED

Compact, affordable and full of Fender DNA, the Blues Junior celebrates 30 years as one of the company's most iconic and celebrated valve amp designs. Senior product manager, Rick Heins, joins us to mark the milestone

- Words Charlie Wilkins Photography Phil Barker

When Fender unveiled the Blues Junior in 1995, few could have guessed it would become one of the company's most enduring designs. The 15-watt model launched as part of the Fender's 'Tweed Series', alongside the Blues Deluxe, Blues DeVille and Pro Junior, and was conceived as a compact, affordable way for working players to experience true Fender valve tone. With its EL84-powered circuit and simple controls, it quickly became the go-to amp for gigging guitarists who needed something portable yet versatile enough to handle blues, country, rock and more.

Now, with 30 years of continuous production and a devoted following, the Blues Junior has become a phenomenon. It is no longer just the 'affordable little brother' of the Fender amp family and is arguably Fender's bestselling valve amplifier of all time, appearing on countless stages, in studios and bedrooms and carving out a unique place in the company's history. For some, the Blues Junior will have been - or will become - their first valve amp; for others, it's a trusted partner they've carried from gig to gig for decades.

To celebrate, Fender has introduced the Blues Junior IV 30th Anniversary (reviewed in full on page 8 of this issue), dressed in Western-tooled vinyl, '59 Bassman grille cloth, a leather handle and loaded with a Celestion Creamback. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel and it doesn’t need to. Instead, it celebrates what has made the Blues Junior so successful: portability, affordability, versatility and that unmistakable Fender tone.

To reflect on the history, legacy and future of this modern classic, Guitarist sat down with Rick Heins, Fender's senior product manager, for a deep dive into three decades of the Blues Junior.

Rick, take us back to the beginning of the process. What was Fender's vision or mindset while the Blues Junior was being designed back in the mid-90s?