Opinions on Fender Champion 600

[Mononoaware]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

It's a tough trade-off. The 6" speaker makes it possible to drive the amp into the sweet area without a lot of volume, but it also seems to accept a narrower band of frequencies before it starts to get unpleasant. To my ears, humbuckers sound very congested through the Champ and stress the speaker in a bad way.

But really, don't let us discourage you. YMMV. If you have the opportunity, I'd say take your guitar to a store and give it a whirl with the volume around 12 o'clock.

Your idea to use a lower gain pre might also yield good results. I haven't tried it yet.

 

[ZoSo0789]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

yeah obviously the low input. But I can see where you say the humbuckers would really congest the 6" speaker. Its only that speaker than puts me down about the amp; otherwise it's exactly what I want. Even if it were an 8", I'd be alright with that. All the amps I've ever had were 8 inchers.

But I definatley don't want any speaker fartage. God that sounds horrible

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

The "issue" is when you start getting more distortion from the 6" speaker itself versus the power tube melting down. At least on a lot of SE small amps I've played. I've not played this one, but I'm betting the 6" speaker is not the best.

 

[ZoSo0789]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

thats what I'm worried about. The thing that keeps me looking at is this: I play MUCH MUCH quieter than 99% of people on this forum, and guitarists in general. I play barley loud enough to where I can't hear myself picking, but from time to time I can hear it slightly. I figure if they're trying to get this amp at a volume to about where they normally play, thats already to loud for what I'm asking and that I won't get the problems most people get. On my Marshall MG10 (yeah I know..... don't go there... LONG ago), it never even got turned up 1/4 of the way before it was too loud (according to my parents). On my current Vox AD15VT, with the Bassman selection (volume all the way, and gain up 1/2 way), the master volume usually stays around 1/8 of the way up. And it's pretty much right on that point to where a tick back down makes almost no sound come out and a tick upwards makes the sound come roaring out.

But I do NOT want distortion from the speakers; that sounds absolutely horrible. No the 6" is complete crap at best (if I had to make an assumption), but it might do alright for as low level as I play; especially since it won't be my normal main amp. I just want a decent single ended small tube amp to play with from time to time

 

[ZoSo0789]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

but for the record, I do get to crank it once and awhile, but not often (enough). Just not so cranked to where my Vox's 8" starts farting

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

I wouldn't get too down about it. I love mine and I use it with Humbuckers, Singles and P90's. To my ears it sounds pretty decent for the price. Not to mention it teaches you a lot about natural EQ and using your guitar's controls a lot more since the only knob on the amp is volume.

I may invest in a small 1X12 or 1X10 cab for mine, but other than that I find it a great little amp.

 

[ZoSo0789]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

I'll test it out tomorrow while I'm acoustic shopping. They run 'em at $180 instead of $200 like everywhere else.

And I'd like to work on using my guitar's controls more. I've been getting into that alot more lately. Mainly with the volume knobs though; after I shape the sound with the tone I pretty much leave them alone

 

[Mat]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

Hi,

I've had mine for approx 8 months and find that it holds up well against my 54 and 57 Champs - they are all 3 different circuits but each with a great sound.

Now my caveats on the Champion 600

1. Break the speaker in. Plenty of people seem to have got theirs home dimed the volume on the amp and complained that they fart - small 6" speakers do that when they are new. If you are going to buy one, find somewhere that has a couple and play them all until you find the best one for you. They do vary in sound straight out of the box.

2. I find that humbuckers work well through the low gain input, hi gain tends to overstretch the speaker and can get constipated / farty.

3. If you want to reduce the gain a touch try a good 5751 pre-amp valve. Which brings me to the most important point - factor in some good quality tubes. I'm running a Mullard 12AX7 and a Brimar 6V6, it really is night and day between these tubes and the stock units.

Anyway if you do get one - enjoy.

PS I saw somewhere a mention of the Epiphone Pro Jr, I have one of those but find it's a bit ratty sounding for me (IMHO).

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

I'll test it out tomorrow while I'm acoustic shopping. They run 'em at $180 instead of $200 like everywhere else.

Cool. Let us know how it goes. And keep in mind what Mat just said -- the speaker really does improve a lot.

Also, forgot to mention that a replacement Jensen or Weber would be very, very affordable, and might be another tweak you could do in the future.

 

[ZoSo0789]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

oh I didn't know they made 6" replacement speakers... I've only seen 8" to 15". I'll definatley keep that in mind then. And I was toying around with the idea of replacing the pre-amp with something lower gain; so it's good to see that someone has done that besides me and has seen good results.

Thanks for the opinions so far; they've helped out alot.

 

[ZoSo0789]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

ahhhh I just got back from the store. They sold the only one they had about a week ago, so I didn't get to try it out. Oh well, I'm headed up to Guitar Center early next week to look at stuff, so we'll see what goes one there

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

Hi,

I've had mine for approx 8 months and find that it holds up well against my 54 and 57 Champs - they are all 3 different circuits but each with a great sound.

Now my caveats on the Champion 600

1. Break the speaker in. Plenty of people seem to have got theirs home dimed the volume on the amp and complained that they fart - small 6" speakers do that when they are new. If you are going to buy one, find somewhere that has a couple and play them all until you find the best one for you. They do vary in sound straight out of the box.

2. I find that humbuckers work well through the low gain input, hi gain tends to overstretch the speaker and can get constipated / farty.

3. If you want to reduce the gain a touch try a good 5751 pre-amp valve. Which brings me to the most important point - factor in some good quality tubes. I'm running a Mullard 12AX7 and a Brimar 6V6, it really is night and day between these tubes and the stock units.

Anyway if you do get one - enjoy.

PS I saw somewhere a mention of the Epiphone Pro Jr, I have one of those but find it's a bit ratty sounding for me (IMHO).

Welcome to hte forum, Mat!

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

This one was on clearance at M>F> awhile back for 299.00.
That deal is long gone, but I still maintain the Gibson amp trounces the competition hands down. Of course, they are now 699.00.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Goldtone-Les-Paul-Jr.-Amp?sku=481209

 

[Guest]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

I'm thinking of buying one soon. Haven't played one in a while but I remember it being a great sound even if it got bad if dimed.

Never tried it with a extension cab, how would you describe the sound in that situation?

Also, main reason for buying this amp is that I want an all tube amp that doesn't blow my wallet, thing is, I read it has a diode rectifier. Now, you know I'm not the most knowledgeable guy when it comes to electronics (or much, for that matter) but isn't that something like SS?
If so:
what is the impact on the final sound?
do they become damaged and under what circumstances?
Can they be replaced easily for similar parts or for tubes?

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

i want one just because they are a cool little thing!

 

[Alex79]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

Opinions on Fender Champion 600

****.

A Peavey Valveking Royal 8 kicks it's ass bigtime.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

I like fenders, However i like the Laney Cub 8 for a nice practice amp rather than the champion. It may be worth waiting for the pro jr because it is actually an amp you can gig with whereas the champion is really only for practice.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

I like fenders, However i like the Laney Cub 8 for a nice practice amp rather than the champion. It may be worth waiting for the pro jr because it is actually an amp you can gig with whereas the champion is really only for practice.

+1

Pro Juniors are nice, no BS amps.

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

I just skimmed this, sorry if someone mentioned this already, but I think Weber makes a 6" replacement speaker that's pretty much designed for these kinds of amps...probably sounds a whole heck of a lot better...

Under Signature Series:

https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/

 

[woemoejack]

Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

want a fender champ 600 with an 8" speaker? Find yourself a Silvertone 1481. They're point to point wired as well. Mine has the alnico Weber speaker and its just the best little amp ever.