Opinions on Fender Champion 600

ZoSo0789

ZoSo0789

New member
What are some general opinions on this thing? For those who don't recognize the name, it's just the $200 Fender all-tube combo amp. 6V6 power tubes with 12AX7 preamp; volume knob and high and low gain inputs.

I'll be running humbucker guitars (vintage output pups, and splittable) with a TS9 and Vox wah into it for low gain Chicago blues. I won't ever have anything high gain (the most gain I've ever used was Jimmy Page Hiwatt era); just a smooth semi-overdrive at most. If I need more I'll use the TS9, and I might even just keep it basically clean and use the TS9 for overdrive and overall use my guitar to control my overdrive.

How is it overall voiced? Is it more of a warm amp (Bassman style), or is it brighter (Deluxe Reverbish)? And is the overdrive sound like a good vintage smooth Fender tweed era overdrive? I've read problem with speaker fartage, but I'm decently sure they're completely cranking it and using cheater cords thinking they're gonna get a $200 shortcut to a Mesa distortion. And this will RARELY be cranked past MAYBE 3 o'clock. If I had to guess, I"ll end up keeping it around 9 to 12 and using my TS9 and guitar to control the amp.
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

well, it's a 3 watt amp into a 6 inch speaker...it'as not loud or full sounding but it's kind of cool...they have a lot more gain than the original 50's champ amps. FWIW, they don't get much louder past half way or a little less and they have no cleans at all to speak of...also the stock speaker is really marginal at best...after a new speaker and maybe a tube tweak they could be alright for bedroom use but not much else at all IMHO...
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

and all I'll really use it for is just bedroom stuff...... I don't EVER get to actually "crank" stuff like everyone else haha It's usually enough to not hear the strings being plucked and thats about it. I think it might be cool for a focused slide sound too
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

are there any kind of tubes for the preamp (variations of a 12AX7) that will make it lesser gain? like a 12AY or 12AT7? (i'm not too familiar with tube variations, I just kinda remember some names that have been thrown at me before)
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

3 watts, 5 watts...whats the difference??? Ya, I know...2 watts!! However you can't hear a watt anyway so it doesn't matter...

Anyway, the tube...a 12AT7, 12AU7, 12AY7 will all be less gain than a 12AX7...
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

hmmmm...... will those lesser variations let you "gain" any noticeable clean headroom?
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

ZoSo0789 said:
How is it overall voiced? Is it more of a warm amp (Bassman style), or is it brighter (Deluxe Reverbish)? And is the overdrive sound like a good vintage smooth Fender tweed era overdrive? I've read problem with speaker fartage, but I'm decently sure they're completely cranking it and using cheater cords thinking they're gonna get a $200 shortcut to a Mesa distortion. And this will RARELY be cranked past MAYBE 3 o'clock. If I had to guess, I"ll end up keeping it around 9 to 12 and using my TS9 and guitar to control the amp.
Click to expand...

I've been running mine for nearly a year now.

The stock speaker does tend to fart a bit if you haven't broken it in or are running full tilt. I'm usually running mine around 12-1, anything past 2-3 is just garbage.

As far as volume goes, the term "bedroom volume" is kind of relative. When I was in an apartment it was probably too loud. Now in my house it's just loud enough. It could do with a 10 inch speaker IMHO.

As far as Bassman vs. DR, I can't really say as I've had no experience with Bassman's.
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

TheProphet said:
As far as Bassman vs. DR, I can't really say as I've had no experience with Bassman's.
Click to expand...

oh you poor deprived soul........
Bassman's are simply amazing. Fat, warm, Full, and smooth

can you tell me where it begins to breakup (noticeably)?
How is the natural overdrive with humbuckers at around 12 to 1 (smooth, harsh, horrendous, etc)?
Does it take pedals well?
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

ZoSo0789 said:
oh you poor deprived soul........
Bassman's are simply amazing. Fat, warm, Full, and smooth

can you tell me where it begins to breakup (noticeably)?
How is the natural overdrive with humbuckers at around 12 to 1 (smooth, harsh, horrendous, etc)?
Does it take pedals well?
Click to expand...

Meh.

Noticable breakup depends purely on your pick attack (for me anyway) but around 1-2

The natural overdrive with humbuckers (depends on the model) with the '59 it's fairly smooth with a bit of grit. Push the amp too far and it gets harsh.

It takes some pedals well. I think my Sparkle Drive works well with it for a little more gain. I generally run the amp without pedals for the most part.
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

I tried one out in Guitar Center, and the one thing that bothered me about it was that it sounded incredibly boxy. It definitely had some sweet, glassy Fender tones, but mostly at fairly low volumes - it started to fart out above halfway on the volume even with single-coils, so I imagine this would be even worse with humbuckers. I'd say it's definitely a bedroom-level amp. However, I couldn't get past the fact that it sounded more like a guitar played over an AM radio than I'd prefer, although that's probably just because of the tiny speaker/cabinet.
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

How about the Gibson GA5? Do they compare? I've not played either. But for 200 bucks, a real tube fender amp? The killer for me is the small speaker. shame they couldn't put that in a 1x10 or 1x12. **** good lookin' though.
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

I feel like I should stick up for the Champ, so here's my review:

I like my Champ 600 quite a bit. I'm going back and forth on whether to sell it -- it doesn't get as much home play as my Traynor and Vibrochamp -- but it has a lot of personality.

It seems to prefer single coils. Most of the comments so far haven't specified which input was used, Low or High. A telecaster through the Low channel, with the volume set in the sweet spot (7 to 8), is a great sound. There's a lot of genuine tube warmth there. To my ears, it's not at all scooped like my SF Vibrochamp; it's a full, throaty clean sound without a lot of sparkle on the top end.

I haven't had nearly as much luck with humbuckers. I've tried low and medium output 'buckers in all sorts of configurations and different volume levels, but have yet to find an inspiring tone. Using pedals (SD-1, Bad Monkey) helps a bit, but I still prefer my other amps for this application. Takes pedals fairly well (much better when plugged into a 12" speaker, though).

The speaker smoothed out after a couple weeks. Initially thought I was going to replace it, but now I don't see the need. It farts past about ten, but then the amp sounds much better from 6-8, so I don't venture higher any more. It obviously sounds boxy, but I've run this into a Weber 12" ceramic Blue Dog with good-to-great results.

In short? I wouldn't want it as my only amp. It's a one trick pony, but does that trick very well: sweet, warm cleans when played with single coils at moderate-to-low volumes. Mojo of a limited sort, I guess.

EDIT: Thanks Scott. Didn't see your posts until I'd posted myself. I think there's a second one for sale in the Trading Post right now, too, but I can't remember who. I've been having second thoughts since I posted that, so I haven't been bumping it. But I might be willing.
 
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Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

so seeing that I don't have a cab, I'll be using only humbuckers (besides when they're split, but that doesn't count), and despite me using a Tubescreamer for most of the overdrive; this amp probably won't do me much good.

I know it's a one trick pony, and it wouldn't be my main amp; thats why I have my Vox AD15VT. I was just thinking this might be something nice to pickup to have as a single ended all tube blues amp at low volumes. But according to the comments, it probably won't be what I'm thinking it might be?
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

Probably not. The speaker limits it in a big way.

My recommendation is, if you can, maybe start looking for a solid, used SF or BF Champ or Vibrochamp. Still 6V6 and they're great for what you're describing.

I kind of stumbled into mine on a trade. It might run you a bit more and require some patience, but if you find a good one, it'll be a keeper.

Along the same lines, you might look at the Super Champ XD that they're making now a-days. Not as cool as the originals, but still all-tube on channel one, I think, and only $300. Jump Marine may still be trying to sell his (check the Trade forum). They get great reviews.
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

I thought about it, but they're not single ended. Those new ones have all that digital junk all over 'em. I just want a single "channel," singled ended all tube amp for $200 and less. Simpler, the better; no channels, reverb, all kinds of switches, 3 band eq, just gain and volume (or better yet, just volume). I just want something to mess around on

So this won't get me something to mess around with at low volumes eh?...... maybe I should look into saving a bit more for a Pro Jr, but that's MORE than likely WAAAY to loud for what I want.
 
Re: Opinions on Fender Champion 600

wait $380 for the Pro Junior..... thats a no. Not even used unless it was for some reason like $250
 
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