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Post subject: Fender 57 RI Champ Tone
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:09 am
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I was at my local GC yesterday and tried out the Fender 57 RI Champ. It is a sweet sounding amp and breaks up very nicely with a creamy fat smooth tone, but for the $999 they were asking I had to say no thanks. Ironically, Gibson had a similar amp a few years ago, The Gold Tone GA5. It has identical specs as the 57 RI Champ, but with a blond covering instead of tweed. The GA5 is made in the USA, can't confirm if the 56 ri champ is also made in USa. The sound is identical as well. Gibson was selling this amp for about the same price as the 57 RI Champ, but was short lived due to poor sales. Gibson discontinued this amp and vendors started selling it for $299 clearance. It then became a hot seller. You think Fender should of learned from this?

Here is the Goldtone GA5 from MF.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Goldtone-Les-Paul-Jr.-Amp?sku=481209

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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:14 am
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If everybody just waits, the price may drop. It's a sweet amp, but you can build a clone that will probably sound as good or even better for around half that or less if you build your own cabinet or make a head out of it.


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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:34 am
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Or you can buy an Egnater Rebel and get exactly that low-wattage tweed tone and many others besides.


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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:39 am
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I'm seriously gass'in for the Egnater.


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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:12 pm
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Nice specs on the rebels. Like the variable wattage feature. $600 for the 20w head, not bad.

Although this http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/s ... =VINTAGE16 cheaper, could be good.


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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:38 pm
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I played out of one at an open mic night at a local blues club, and I'll tell you what, it was pretty impressive. I was surprised. But, I tried the Rebel at a the local GC and it blows it away just because of the of the tube blending and tight and bright switches. You get everything from Fendery clean to Vox Chime and everything in between. It actually seems to closely mimic amps naturally without using digital effects and amp models. Quite amazing. It seems to be pretty reliable so far too and has a 3 year warranty.

Clean headroom isn't huge to me and seem like it might be tough getting over an aggressive drummer, but dial in a little gain and this thing takes off.
But my definition of clean may be different than yours. I have a Twin that has annoyingly endless clean. YMMV


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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:52 pm
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The reason why I never got a Twin at home, they get too loud before they break up. I'd have to attenuate the crap out of them so much that it would sound like poop. I have several TS pedals but since I switched to a 5w of class A tube goodness I seldom use them. Fender has me with their guitars but I stray away with the amp business. I hear lots of good things with Egnaters.


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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:38 pm
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I do agree about the Twin. Mine's from my glory days when the clubs were huge and the bands were loud. :D

You can't beat a low wattage amp. You can always mic it and take it out.


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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:54 pm
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Low wattage seems to be the trend. I guess PA system got better over the years. I do miss the loud bands though...


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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:03 pm
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Oh yeah they did. That's why the Twin is now my backup. I've already mic'd my Champ the second time the HRDlx failed on stage. I knew where I was playing had a great house system and sound guy.


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Post subject: Gibson GA-5 & Fender Champ
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:22 am
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I have both amps and they DO NOT sound exactly the same nor are they even close to exactly the same circuit design.

The GA-5 is powered by an EL84 versus the Champ's 6V6. The GA-5 has a solid state rectifier and ceramic speaker versus a 5Y3 and alnico in the Champ.

They're both VERY nice low wattage amps, but in the end I'm a sucker for Fender tweed tone.


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Post subject: Re: Gibson GA-5 & Fender Champ
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 12:38 pm
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bbrodie wrote:
LP26 wrote:
I have both amps and they DO NOT sound exactly the same nor are they even close to exactly the same circuit design.

The GA-5 is powered by an EL84 versus the Champ's 6V6. The GA-5 has a solid state rectifier and ceramic speaker versus a 5Y3 and alnico in the Champ.

They're both VERY nice low wattage amps, but in the end I'm a sucker for Fender tweed tone.


Unfortunately I think very few regular players will get to own the 57 Champ RI. They priced it out of reach of most folks. It's a shame too it's a fun amp.
Yes, the price is extremely steep for a RI since you can probably get an actual vintage one for less or equal price.

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