Champ SHOOTOUT! Fender 57 Champ vs. 68 Vibro Champ Reverb Amp
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
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Welcome to this Fender Amp Shootout! Putting the 68 Custom Vibro vs the hardwired 57 Tweed Champs. Which do you prefer? Using the BRAND NEW Fender Player Plus Stratocaster, a Gibson ES-345, and a Wampler Tumnus Deluxe.
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went with the 57 champ......your vid help with makeing up my mind....thanks....
I liked the 68 better across the board both clean and saturated. I’m going to buy one.
My 57 Champ is my home practice amp. It has a nice full tone and plenty of power for 5 watts.
I have them both and they are both amazing.
The '57 sounds like a toy...
Vibro Champ all the way!
10" speaker, much better tone + reverb and tremolo: a no brainer choice...
Iv'e had both amps and I stuck with the Vibro Champ. I am a big fan of both the tweed sound and the Princeton sound.
After some trial and error, I ended up swapping and in the end I have a Fender tweed Pro Junior with external attenuation and the Vibro Champ reverb. I was never able to get a satisfactory clean tone from the 57 - but it was so cool that I wanted it. But perhaps I wasn't able to get what I needed from it even though there may have been ways to do that. I was not able to figure that out. I live in an apartment and that is also a factor here.
The pro junior has more wattage, but I was able to temper that with a Bugera PS 1. The Jr. has a tone dial and that helps a lot. The Vibro Champ does strike me as a Princeton Jr. and that works out quite well for me. The reverb is not spring, but I happen to have a Boss Fender Spring reverb pedal that I bought long ago should I miss that sound terribly. Lastly I do use to low input jack so that I can push the tube sound a little bit.
Thanks-
I think the "3 rule" works for a 12ax7. For a 12AY7, 4-5 is a great clean tone on the 57 Custom. And agree that the Vibro Champ reissue really is at its core a mini Princeton.
Have the Champ. Super fun with pedals. Always clean boost with my Klon clone. And of course, cranking it up a bit is very tasty. Definitely going for the 68 for my office. Sounds excellent. Great demo and explanation. Cheers.
I have two Vibro Champ XD's that Fender put out for a few years 10-15 years ago. love it. I have several high $ Mesa's but recording with the Champ yields better tones for some applications. Way better for practice also.
I sell both amps in my job as a guitar gear salesman at the largest music store in my state. I bought the '68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb.
From Leo: I would go 68 Vibro Champ all the way. Lots more options on the tonal palette. The old amp filled up the mid range from the weak single coils. I never cared for how they handled a higher output humbuckers, or Filtertrons. Enjoyed your presentation.
I really enjoy your playing on this comparison.A lot of players when playing these types of amps are too heavy handed and it kind of chokes the tone.Thank you.
Fender 57 Champ, because it is the mother of all amp´s.
I like that you use the word “invest” when talking about buying new gear…ver optimistic !
You should check out the tone king gremlin. It’s basically a mix between the two minus the reverb and with a tone control. It also has a built in attenuater for when you crank it. One channel for tweed/lead and one for the more 60’s tone with high headroom tone. Pretty versatile bedroom amp.
I bought one and ended up selling it, my blues Junior blew it away.
You should try the 57 with a 12ax7 or at least a 5751. I just got one and pretty quickly popped in a vintage rca 12ax7, ge 5y3, and a vintage tung sol 6v6. It really wakes up the dynamics of the amp.
Even putting a 5751 in the preamp spot makes a huge difference. It's a nice balance between the smooth 12AY7 and the harsh 12AX7
The Vibro-Champ for me for the versatility.
Excellent comparison video. Tweed tone is very mid-rangey. The '68 VCR can get that by turning OFF the treble/bass knobs, but can also do the more scooped modern BF/SF sound with more shimmer. The 10" speaker is a plus too. I've gigged with the VCR, works great.
EXACTLY. I turn down the bass and treble to 2...or less...and crank the volume to 8 to 10 on my new '68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb and get no flub. Just a great fat overdrive.
I am comparing your 57 tones to a Line 6 HD500x model of the champ and It actually has that vibe that comes from the real amp and 8" cab, I dig it. I don't know but it's a magic sound I like it a lot. Thanks for the tones.
Line 6 is great for amp modeling. I use Native to record quite a bit
57 Tweed champ all the way..................And the mid range growl you'll ever want.
The sweet spot is between clean/dirty on the guitar volume tone and your fingers.
68 Vibro for me. But I’d be more than happy with either
Sod it get both
I have that 57 and adore it
Excellent video and very interesting comparison. I do not own either amp and going in thought I would be partial to the Vibro Champ simply because of the added features (especially since I think reverb in a pedal in front of an amp is not all that great sounding) 'but surprisingly enough, I thought the '57 Champ sounded better in every context including clean. It may be less versatile but its one sound, to me, is way better than any sound on the Vibro Champ. YMMV, thanks for the video, cheers!
I agree that the 57 sounds better. It has more clarity for clean sound, However considering the price difference the, the 68 Champ wins bigly, clarity of the the 68 maybe 2 or 3 degrees clearer. So, I think I need both of these little monsters
i meant the 57 champ is several degrees better in clarity
@@Theguy-y2y the true correct answer!! Totally agree.
@@Theguy-y2y I think the 68 would have been as clear if he turned off the reverb.
Stick a tonestack bypass switch on the Vibro, and you'll be amazed how tweedy it can sound.
Great comparison. I'm leaning towards the '68 for the reverb and vibrato options. You gave me a bunch to think about though. Appreciate you, thanks!
What did you finally get? I'm in a similar position, considering '57, it's time in a capsule.
@@timetraveler_0 I ended up buying a '65 Princeton reissue instead. It also has reverb and vibrato. It's a great amp though pricier than the 57 or 68 Champ, also 12W so a different beast. I would still like a 5W Champ but got sidetracked with the Princeton haha!
I have both and would not part with either one, only problem is deciding which one to plug into when I pickup the guitar!
Have you tried both through a a b y pedal? I think that’s my goal…
A good thing to remember is that when you buy a vibrochamp reverb or a Vibro champ even though CBS took control in 65 you can still buy a silverface 66-67 Champ and they were using the same parts they were in 65 so you’re getting basically the old parts just with a silver face !
I thought CBS took over in 1965…
@@internetselling thank you ! Wow my timeline was off. I’ll switch those years on my reply.
Hands-down, the 68 wins. The narrow panel is one trick pony
The subscriber is really the winner here
Excellent review.
I would love to see a review of Supro amplifiers. The Robert Keeley's (1968rk) or 1970rk) or the 64' reverb....
Congratulations, excellent and detailed information I get from you channel.
😉😉
I have the 68 with my tele and es 335 top!!! Plus pro junior iv with topanga reverb and soulfoul top top
After long, thoughtful consideration and many sleepless nights, I have to go with … the Champ.
I think I like the Champ better 😛
In all seriousness - maybe the 57 Champ sounds slightly better to my ears, but the difference is not big enough to matter, and the 68 Vibrochamp has vibrato, reverb, bass and treble controls, and is slightly less expensive.. I just think it’s a better overall package.
Totally Agree
I’ve used my champ for small to medium gigs with no problem
Picked up a 76 Champ last night and it sounds great. Haven't let the tubes cool enough to get a good look at them yet.
I have a '78. I built a 4ohm 2x10 extension speaker for it and Look Out! Sounds so great with more speaker.
I have both of these amps. The 57 is the better tone for me. Its a thicker, creamier tone and I can get all the eq. I need from the guitar .The Weber speaker is so good. Its also a little louder and doesn't break up as easily as the 68.Someone here said you can turn off the bass and treble pots on the 68 to get more mids out of it and that's correct. The Celestion is a poor choice for the 68 amp. Its sounds so much better with a speaker upgrade. My vote is the 57.The tweed sound must be my thing, the blackface sounds a little brittle to me.
Same here. I bought the 57 for that thicker 60's blues rock sound. To me, you can get the Silverface Fender cleans on a lot of Fender amps. I also have the Sweetwater speaker upgraded Super Champ XD but my little champ is it. I was even playing the Monoprice clone before I pulled the trigger and that's a nice little bedroom amp too.
Good to know. I live in Asia and don't have much choice for gear. Had heart set on the Vibro Champ but can only get the tweed Champ. I might get a Strymon Flint to make up for lack of reverb and tremolo.
Really glad I watched these videos on your Champ amps. If I do get one, I'd probably go for a no frills Silverface Champ or Vibro-Champ from the 70s or 80s. I think the 57' sounds great but its too expensive. Plus I have a Princeton wioth a 12" speaker so I don't want to get redundant. Thinking I need something that can do high gain well.
Throw a touch of reverb on that 57 and game over 57 wins. Tone for days
I rather have a real extern reverb tank like a surfy bear. When your recording and it goes somewhat loud you will hear the spring vibrating even when its off.
They both win
Jepp.... i agree... both are good but the 57 got a little extra in the tone...
I wish that made a version with built in tube driven reverb. I hate using pedals. I don't know why Fender can make a hand wired tweed amp with reverb these days,, really?
Myself, well...I'll stick with the Champ.
Great video Jack. I liked the cleaner tone with the 345.
For the 57 buy a Boss Fender Legends Series with all the buttons that the Amps have and you will have more sounds
Hello from Ireland. 🇮🇪
Thank you for this review and your other reviews I find your videos very helpful and informative.
I bought the 57 custom, it’s a great amp. Like you say though the vibrio champ is more versatile.
I am seriously considering getting a vibrio champ to use alongside my 57 on a A/B pedal. Do you think this is a good idea or should I think about something else.
I like a bit of reverb.
I have an original 57 Champ. Can hear hitting strings on vol 2/3 but I sort that out via pedals. From what I've seen via YT the reissue 57 doesn't sound much like an original but that's without ever trying one myself. Based on what I've seen, if I were buying this type of amp online today, I'd get a Rift Amps
I have owned a couple of each...tweed reissue. 60's BF & 70's SF I wish I'd never sold anything! I miss the tweed the most. I currently own a 73 3 knob version Silver Face Champ
All I have to say Celestion Ten 30 sounds wonderful
I was really rooting for the tweed, but I have to say the 68 custom vibro champ reverb seems tangibly more useful based on what I was hearing.
I love them both but for all practical reasons I agree with you - I “wanted” to like the tweed more. But the 68 is just an awesome little amp.
Man, talk about abusing the word "tangibly". You said "tangibly", but you meant the very opposite of tangibly.
I'm not that sentimental. '68 for the win no question.
Sorry for all the hand wired snobs out there but for me, the vibro champ sounds better than the 57 reissue. Just my personal opinion. I have just bought the vibro champ reverb ant it sounds awesome in flesh.
The strat seems to like the tweed champ and the gibson likes the vibro champ to my ears! Great shootout...I love Champs but never had an older one....I've had two newer versions...the one with the RCA stereo inputs and now I'm playing the Mexican made Champion 30 DSP which only has one preamp tube....the older one was all tube but I kept having issues with that amp so I sold it. I have a Crate club V5 pure tube amp that I run with a splitter box along with the Fender and love the combination of sounds...5 watt tube amps are great of those two I like the vibro champ
I have a Victoria 5112 5 watt with a 12” Jensen. PRICELESS
Both are winners.
Great Video
I have a Vibro Champ Reverb and I really like the amp. I need to get a new speaker though.
The comment on volume setting at 3 for the original champ may have to do with the taper used in the original pots. I believe the 1M pots used in the originals were linear taper and the current production are audio taper (logarithmic). Just a guess.
Buy both and you are the champ 🤠
I am having that Champ GAS, but I am leaning to the head version of a Tweed Champ that Gries Amps offers. I was impressed by the Gries 5 Combo that the other guitarist in my band used for the recording we just did. Also, with a head I can change out the choice of speaker very easily. (Celestion Blue or G12H30?).
The Vibro Champ Reverb sounds pretty good with your ES-345.
That Vibro Champ is an awesome little amplifier
@@JackFossett I really like all your amp demos, you make all the amps sound greater than usual!
Hello after some long time trying them out I say go with the champ
Really? I’d argue you should go with the Champ, but to each their own.
Nice amps, but pricey and limited in capabilities. I'll take my used Fender Super Champ XD any day. What's not to love? Tubes, 15 watts RMS, two channels you can foot or button switch,, 2 band EQ, 16 amp models, 16 effects, 10" speaker (can disconnect to push a 8 ohms cab), and a great line out for FOH on big gigs. Used one on about 30 gigs, always does very well. The line out is a secret weapon to use it at any gig. I never had to run it higher than 4 on the two volumes out live on the backline, to keep the stage volume reasonable.
The Super Champ XD is one of the best value amps out there IMO.
@@JackFossett spot on, Jack. I always enjoy your videos, you do a great job.
Both amps are totally different . The XD is a decent hybrid amp . Power amp is all tube but the single 12ax7 is split and is used partly as a phase inverter for the 2 power amp valves and also in the pre amp . But due to the above all the overdrive and distortion sounds are solid state . That's how the different " models " are achieved . But if it sounds good and does a job , that's what matters 👍
I like the vibro champ
I have the 57 and love it. My pedalboard is setup for two amps and I’m trying to figure out which second amp to add. The vibro may be the one.
I am new to electric guitars as I play acoustic and old 1920's style rag time stuff. When looking for a surf guitar amp, most if not everyone is a club player and insist on a big amp. I will just be playing at home and do not need to replicate the original surf sound, but need something clean and small. Also I was thinking of the Fender '57 Custom Champ 1x8" 5-watt Tube Combo Amp plus I was going to get the Fender 63’ Reissue Reverb Unit Brown Tolex to go with it. How does this combo sound and playing with a Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster - Cobra Blue with Maple Fingerboard? Thank You very much!!
A better comparison is to use a Les Paul for the cranked overdrive. The guitar you used is just too anemic. I have a 1960 Champ Amp and found that Genelex 12AX7, JJ 5Y3S, and Tung-Sol 6V6-RT tubes work very well. What sort of tubes were you using in the test amps? That can make a huge difference if you were using different types of tubes between the two amps... I much prefer the '57 amp in your comparison. The '68 is noticeably lacking in mid-range and seems a bit tinny in comparison. Nice try but the '68 just does not deliver that 50s and early 60s Fender tone accurately. It sounds like it cannot decide if it wants to be a Champ or a Blackface and ends up being neither.
Got it. Get both.
Hey Jack, love your videos! Where did you learn to play guitar?
I know people hate this point, but which has the better resale value? Don't know about the 68, but I know I can play my 57 for years and get my money back if I want to sell. Especially if they stop making them like the Clapton series. Would have been nice to have heard these with a Tele too, but thanks for the demo.
True, but I wonder if the Vibro Champ is already a lot cheaper and more useful, while the 57 Champ is a bit niche.
@@WS-bk7uu Depends on what you want it for, but yes, I believe you can find the Vibro cheaper. I wrote that above knowing that I hate when people bring up resale value. These tweeds do hold their value, but they are a niche sound, (which I love btw).
@@teleguy5699 Thanks, good point though. The tweed stuff is probably more collectable
I like the ‘68 better. Still going to keep my little Champion 600, though. I prefer that to either of these for practice and studio sessions.
Right on
I really wish my local GS or Sam ash would get the vibro champ in. I really want one but I need to play it first and see if I it will work for me.
Great comparison! Could you here a noticeable higher idle noise on the 57 compared to the 68?
Your Strat is beautiful and your system sounds good! I just bought a burst Strat! It's the first electric guitar with burst! I absolutely love Fender amps over Marshall, Black Star!!
What's the story behind your ES-345? Gorgeous guitar!
Nice! I prefer the Champ! I don’t understand why they changed the preamp tube on the ‘57
Right? I like the Champ better too.
So I've seen greater Amp Tech minds than mine debate the preamp tube change.. some for it, some against it. I dunno. I just play 'em!
The 12AX7 is the highest gain (output) of all the tunes in that same family like the 12AY7 12AT7 12AU7. These other preamp tunes are drop in replacements for a 12AX7 so you can use any of them without needing to mod the amp in any way. The tweed Champ has quite a bit of gain with the 12AX7 so the other 12A__ tubes allow more headroom and a cleaner sound which is desirable to some people depending what kind of pickups you use and how exactly you like to gainstage things. Swapping preamp tube types is a cool easy way to change the response of your amp and it's just as easy to return it back to original if you change your mind. The tweed Champ because it has no tone controls (passive tone controls suck up a bunch of gain) is quite hot with a 12AX7, probably Fender back in the day thought this was a good thing for their guitars which were lower output than Gibsons with P90's and later Gibsons equipped with humbuckers. Input number 2 is yet another very useful way to get more headroom and less gain on the front end of the amp but it does load the pickups more than input 1 resulting in some high frequency loss so for some people going with a lower output preamp tube is a better way. It's all a matter of taste and what you happen to like so try both out and see what works to get you what you are after.
No Fender champion 600 reissue what do have against the Chinese Champ? It’s the only Champ in my house
Nothing against it, they don’t make it anymore and I don’t have one.
That intro was tasty- Any chance of a lesson video? Enjoy your channel
That’s interesting the strat sounds warmer with the 57 champ but it seems like the Gibson much prefers the vibro champ. I have an SG so I guess the vibro champ would be better.
5:10 Maybe the volume pot is logarithmic, but linear, so it takes some turning of the knob way past 3 to get more volume? The Blues Junior is pretty loud straight away, though that one is... 15 W?
Yeah the Blues Jr is 15 watts
Vibro 68 all the way. Tweed is a 100 percent one trick sound
The high gain on the 57 is a little too buzzy but nicer on all other tones, at that price point I'd probably buy a ToneKing Gremlin
nice sound, I have the champ 57.
Can I ask the height of all at your pickups? I like them as a starting point, I can’t set my properly in my strat…
Thanks a lot
Beutiful gibson es guitar you have.never seen them in that collour.
They made them for a few years at the Gibson Memphis factory before it closed. Seafoam green and a Pelham Blue. Beautiful finishes!
Has anyone tried to pair up these two amps with a AB/Y pedal?
I'm surprised that I like the Vibro Champ better; superior bottom end to my ears. Not much difference, though.
Hi, can you do a rehersal with a band, without micing the amp?
Nice guitars bro
For strictly home use would you recommend the 57 champ 5w amp or a 15w tweed with master volume turned down and an overdrive pedal?
Do you mean like a blues jr? I think the Blues Jr is way more versatile but the 57 is an all around better amp.
Jack I have a friend that wants to sell me his 68 Vibro Champ Reverb at a really good price. I just don't know if that amp is going to be loud enough to gig with . The drummer is a finesse drummer for sure but he's still a drummer. Do you think this amp is loud enough to get the job done?
Jack, some feedback - when comparing amps, use the same guitar. It's hard to get a fair comparison otherwise. Peace x
I did
Beautiful! Any pedal suggestions to get the Champ tone?
I find this does the trick through my deluxe
I’ve never really tried any pedals that I thought got the champ tone to be honest - I mean other than modeling like HX Stomp. But that’s different.
@@JackFossett As to modelling, Fender's Mustang amps also have the "Fender '57 Champ" which is very nice.
Catalinbread formula 55 has a nice 6v6 tone.
The Roland Blues Cube Stage and Artist are voiced like 6L6 fender amps and with the Ultimate Blues tone capsule you can change for 6V6 but the capsule is about 200 bucks. For instead I would buy the Catalinbread Formula 55 which is their 6V6 pedal. And it is portable you can use it with different amps.
Is vibro champ reverb 68 similar in sound to princeton 65 or princeton 68?
I would prefer the 57.
A nice shootout would be Fender 65 Super Reverb (6v6 22W 1*12) and the Supro Keely Custom (6v6 25W 1*12).
For 6L6 sounds: Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue (6L6 40W 1*12), Fender Bassmann 59 ltd (6L6 45W 4*10) and Roland Blues Cube Artist (6L6 voiced solid state 80W 1*12 or 2*12).
57 all day!
Hi, Thanks for this vid. I have a Super Champ XD. How does it compare to the 68 Vibro Champ?
Probably pretty similar to the clean channel at least.
@@JackFossett Thanks I found this Fender Champ amp from the 70s online but there has already been offered 750 euro for it...Seems to be too pricey right?
Perhaps unwittingly you gave a nod to Alex from Rush while cranked up.
Yeah but I coulda been a contender!
came for the amps but can't take my eyes off that gibson
68 vibro
Can I ask Jack what’s the hum like on the Vibro Champ as I’ve heard a lot of complaints about the 68 series about noise
I’ve never had noise problems with this one, nor a 68 Princeton I’ve used.
@@JackFossett from what I hear it’s 68 deluxe reverb and bigger amps I want a deluxe reverb but it’s a lot of money for me and don’t want to regret buying it for that much money
@@JackFossett Thank you for making these vids, Jack! My 68 Princeton has no hum either, except when you crank the reverb, but that is to be expected. My five watt is the EC Vibro Champ, which I play exactly as you described, with the volume on 6 or so. I don't like cranking this amp. And BTW, in my guitar dreams I play as well as you and make the same jokes. Take care!
You and your dad humor lol
What is the difference between input 1 and 2 on the 68?
I believe input 2 breaks up earlier.
Ya’ gotta’ beat the champ to be the champ…
Does the vibro champ get really hot after a couple of hours playing ....my Flynn champ does ! .....
No I haven't experienced that with it, and I've used it at several long gigs