So, Decatone = Blues Junior?

[drewl]

So, is the Fender Decatone just a cheaply made Blues Junior in a cheap plastic box?

Anyone ever pull the chassis out?
There a trick to it?

Got it all working ok except reverb has some hum.

[Jazz P Bass]

Pretty short run at 165 units!
"Limited run in 2000 for the NAMM show. Blues Junior Chassis with a 12" Jensen Speaker. Molded plastic enclosure with wider grill."

[drewl]

Thanks.
Really poor wave soldering, but at least it's not lead free solder.

[drewl]

Anyone ever take one apart?

Chassis is hanging up on the top middle, can't see or feel any hardware or where the two piece molded plastic case come apart.

Thanks.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Ohhh, Decotone. Two of these made their way to my repair bench in the early 2000's. One owner was very happy, because the local music store had it for years, and no buyers would pony up for the premium price. They cut a cheap deal for him & off he went with a big smile on his mug. Looked like the standard Blues Junior amp to me, with that fancy moulded plastic box. And, to my ear the plastic box actually sounded better than the wooden cab variety. The thin plastic back panel though, that's cheezy as could be. I think his was already cracked. All it needed was basic maintenance. I put in a trimpot for bias. Maybe a Switchcraft 12A input jack and/or progressive standby/on power switch, common mods to this model. Didn't have to remove the entire chassis so I'm no help with that, sorry.

[nosaj]

Anyone ever take one apart?

Chassis is hanging up on the top middle, can't see or feel any hardware or where the two piece molded plastic case come apart.

Thanks.

How about some pics of what your looking at?

nosaj

[drewl]

Ah, found it.
backwards allen screw at top of chassis.

And reverb tank connections are reversed, hence the hum.

Of course getting to the tank connections required like, tiny, tiny hands.
Easier to reverse the wiring at the board.

[drewl]

Pix you say?

[drewl]

Had to look this up as I forgot what screw is hidden

Do we know for sure the circuit is a Blues Jr?

Owner thinks gain is low and reverb weak.

I can't hear a freakin' difference.

I'll compare with a BJ schematic