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Post subject: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 7:51 pm
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I have been playing guitar for about a year now and I've been thinking about getting this amp. I have a Marshall MG15 and have wanted a tube amp for a while now. I play mostly blues-rock and classic rock.

Would this be a good amp for a first tube amp? And how is it from people who have tried/own one? Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:21 pm
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IMO it would be a good "first tube amp" if you were to buy a kit and build it yourself.

There's not much to them and it would give you some "hands-on" with both tube amp construction and theory of operation.

Honestly there's just not enough to these amps to justify the MSRP.

JMO

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:56 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
IMO it would be a good "first tube amp" if you were to buy a kit and build it yourself.

There's not much to them and it would give you some "hands-on" with both tube amp construction and theory of operation.

Honestly there's just not enough to these amps to justify the MSRP.

JMO

Arjay


I seriously wish someone would have recommended this to me when I bought my first tube amp. He is 100% correct


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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 10:11 pm
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Hi money4nothin,

I bought 2 of these little amps, each on sale for $100 new at GC. The stock amp sounds like the intro rhythm guitar sound on the original "Layla" by Clapton. The amp has a warm, early breakup, class A sound. The stock grill cloth is restrictive and doesn't let much air move through it, but it is part of the sound of the amp. The amp really shines when used with an external 12 inch speaker (it has a speaker jack), the sound and volume are surprising with the 12. There are also lots of good ideas for modifications on the internet. A popular change is to install a new speaker, like the Weber Sig 6 Alnico. I used that speaker for one of the amps, and changed the grill cloth, and it really changed the sound, much louder and clearer, like a completely different amp. I'm not really a fan of Chinese amps, but for the price this amp would be hard to beat, and seems well built. :)

The one on the right has the stock grill "cloth".
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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 1:07 am
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Those are some very cool looking amps. However, I must agree with Arjay. Building an amp will save you a lot of money in the long run for a good sounding amp. And, the knowledge you gain is an added plus. I learned the hard way by spending thousands on amps and effects over the years, and now I just play through one or two and and no effects.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:12 am
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I also agree with Arjay. The 600's do nothing for me. They're pretty boxy sounding and get raspy sounding when you push them. By the time you change the lousy stock tubes and upgrade the speaker, you could build a 5F1 Clone kit. Check out Snowy's post. He did a great job. If you don't want to do that, I'd look for a clean 70's Silverface Champ. Sounds way better and has tone controls.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:21 am
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An amp kit, including cabinet, speaker, tubes etc, for $100 sounds great, you all have my interest peaked! Anyone have a link to one of these kits? :D

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:40 am
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Last I looked, They're $149.99 Unless you get them on sale. I wouldn't bother modding them.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigati ... ampion+600

We're not talking cost, we're talking a high quality great sounding amp and a learning experience. Here's a kit for $179. You can make it a head and drive a speaker cab of your choice. http://store.triodestore.com/5f1kit.html

IMO the 600 isn't worth even $100. It's a cheaply made boxy sounding amp. You usually get what you pay for but in this case you don't. He'd be better off with a VHT Special 6. It's hand wired with a 10" speaker, sounds great and is only 50 bucks more.
http://www.vhtamp.com/avsp16.htm
Sounds like the original Layla? :lol: :roll:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:03 am
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The Champion 600 seems to have a following... and changing out the speaker and the grill cloth seems to be common modifications. I have found this amp (or the ones I've tried) to be anemic - maybe if I could find one cheap enough I might try the same mod.

You really need to try out the amp yourself - take your guitar and cable in to test it out. Then test/compare with some other small watt tube amps. You might find Vox's little 5 watter more to your liking. If you can push your budget up - I would look into the Pro Jr.

Just don't do what I did.... I purchased a Hot Rod Deluxe. It was just too much amp. It went from zero to ear-splitting. I liked the tone, but just too loud for home. Keep focused on the small watt stuff.

Nothing against the guys who like to build amps.... I just don't have the time, tools, or experience. Plus I'd probably solder my wedding ring to the damn 6v6 and then I'd be had. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:06 am
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If you push the envelope a little further, the Egnater Tweaker is pretty sweet. Too. Also the Jet City amps are great for the money. You can seriously do a lot better than the 600 for not much more coin.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:07 am
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http://www.fender.com/community/forums/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=9819

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:28 am
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Heres a pretty good sound sample on you tube that gives a good idea of what the amp sounds like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g17aBYNduyM

I own one and it holds its own as a solid, reliable, and great sounding practice amp. The sound of the amp is very subjective. Try all the amps recommended here, if you can, and then decide. All the amps discussed on this thread sound great. But its not the amp that defines you, it's your tone, as you hear it and how you apply it to the type of music you are playing. :wink:
I'm sure you're going to have alot of fun trying to figure out exactly what sound your looking for, as I'm sure many on this forum have. There will be days when you feel like pulling your hair out cause you can't decide which amp to get, and inevitably will end up with more than one amp to fullfill your needs. All I can say is enjoy the journey and good luck.

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Last edited by socal323 on Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:38 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:34 am
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So what's the point. It usually starts out, "I love this little amp but............."
Fill in the blank, the tubes, the speaker, the grill cloth...........
I'm wrong because I suggest something that not only sounds better, is built better and has more versatility and a better value for the hard earned buck? :roll:

This horse is now beaten to death. :roll:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:39 am
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shimmilou wrote:


I do think its a great amp as well but I really just wish I would have built an amp in the first place instead of waiting till im in my 20's. IMO you cant go wrong with a Champion 600. I've never been disappointed with mine and sadly I tweak everything I get its just part of being a musician.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 600?
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:42 am
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63supro wrote:
I also agree with Arjay. The 600's do nothing for me. They're pretty boxy sounding and get raspy sounding when you push them. By the time you change the lousy stock tubes and upgrade the speaker, you could build a 5F1 Clone kit. Check out Snowy's post. He did a great job. If you don't want to do that, I'd look for a clean 70's Silverface Champ. Sounds way better and has tone controls.


Thank you! I'd read nothing but stories where guys were wetting themselves over these amps. I finally plugged into one in the store and thought, "huh?" It's ok... I guess. My 73 Champ sounds about 1000x better though.

And yeah, I even saw one dude on Youtube who replaced the speaker... and the tubes... and almost all the caps and resistors... and the grille cloth... litereally sunk $300 into it. Just buy yourself a SF Champ already.

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