zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Sound:
This little amp gives nice smooth overdriven tones and also produces an awesome clean tone with virtually no hum or noise. This 5-watt class A tube amp is very loud for its size.
Feature:
Not a lot of features here. This is a simple amp that does an excellent job.
Ease of Use:
Can't get any easier, just plug in, hook up the guitar, turn it on and play.
Quality:
Very nicely put together. Looks like it is built to last. It seems heavy for its size. Dosn't feel cheap.
Value:
$199.00 is an reasonable price for an amp of this quality.
Manufacturer Support:
I've owned several Fender guitars, basses and amps over the past 30+ years and never needed to call Fender support. Their website provides many resources.
The Wow Factor:
I own it.
Overall:
It looks and sounds great. The fact that this amp is so quiet (no hum) means it will make an excellent studio recording amp.
9 of 9 people
(100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Sound:
10/10 in this context is really easy to give it because it's an incredibly simple circuit put together in a way that I believe will last. You can build a Champ yourself for less money, but putting one in an enclosure and covering it to match would probably cost you more than buying this little guy. It sounds like a Fender Champ 600! They were originally made as practice amps, then got famous thanks to their great, squawking overdrive sound and simplicity. Miking up a Champ 600 couldn't be easier, and they take overdrive and fuzz pedals really well, too. You won't really get convincing BRUTAL DISTORTION out of one, but come on, it's a 5W tube amp. If you run a high-gain pedal through it, turn the bass down or you're likely to flub out the bottom end. And, also, you're doing it wrong. :)
Feature:
It recreates what was good about the later runs of the Fender Champs back when they were first made. This is the later model of the circuit, and it includes a new somewhat boosted "High" input now (in addition to the regular input) to make it easier to get that rippin' crunch that it can do when you really push it, but it's a more or less faithful recreation of the 12AX7 preamp based Champ 600. There were other preamp tube based Champs, some say they sounded better. Most of those tubes are only available as NOS these days, hardly amenable to mass production, so it makes sense for them to have gone with the 12AX7 type instead. The original didn't have tone controls or anything really fancy, and it would be silly for this to have them. You're not buying this because you want a super duper sophisticated tone machine. The farther it gets from the original, the lower a score it would have here, as far as I'm concerned.
Ease of Use:
It has two inputs, one that has a boost. It has an on switch. It has a volume knob. Heck, most PEDALS have more control than this. If you can't figure out how a Fender Champ works, you're probably not ever going to be in a position to read this review.
Just plug and play - and enjoy, because it sounds lovely.
Quality:
Well, it is mass produced in China, but I don't know if that's necessarily a mark against it. The outward construction is good, and its innards are also well put together. It's so simple, I don't think there's a lot of room to screw it up, really. This is my second Champ 600 Reissue, and the other one lasted through a lot of moving around. Never gave me the slightest bit of trouble. I expect the same from this... But, I can't say with certainty that it'll last as long as the most robustly constructed amps. Frankly, though, you're not paying as much as you would have to pay to afford that kind of quality. So I'm going to compromise and give this amp an 8/10 on the quality scale, due to good experiences with one I had for a few years but with the knowledge that it is made in a factory where they're mostly concerned with cranking them out as quickly as possible to satisfy demand and sometimes corners get cut.
Value:
You can build a Fender Champ 600 circuit for around $60, give or take... But getting a speaker, getting a box to put it in, covering the box in an attractive material (let alone pretty good and visually "period correct" material), you can easily run higher than the purchase price of the amp. Of course, if you especially value your own hand-wiring over a PCB construction amp imported from China, then your idea of its value might be different, but the fact that they are selling them for less than you can make one even though it's a very simple amp speaks well of its value to me.
Manufacturer Support:
No experience with Fender beyond buying their products. I guess that's a mark toward reliability in itself, but it does mean I don't have any clue about their support.
The Wow Factor:
How many reviews have to mention the stupidity of asking about the, and I quote, "'sex appeal' of the product" before Zzounds re-words this criteria? Sigh.
To the point, though, it is a good looking little amp, very vintage vibe and sound. It's simple, easy to use, fun to use. I don't know if, uh, amp fetishists rank it against other amps in terms of how much it excites them, as the question seems to imply, but from an ordinary perspective I think it looks great!
Overall:
Glowing reviews are rarely warranted and too often and easily given. However, this sets out to do something simple - recreate the classic Champ 600 - and accomplishes it perfectly. If you're an aficionado who demands hand-craftsmanship then I suppose this isn't for you, since it's built on PCB, but for those of us who don't care what path the electrons take (and, for that matter, the electrons themselves, who don't care whether they're zooming down a conductor on a printed circuit board or on the surface of a traditional wire); for those of us who know exactly what we're looking for in this amp, it's a 10/10.
3 of 3 people
(100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Sound:
High input sounds great, low is a bit mild but still very good for clean sounds. Obviously, this amp makes one kind of sound. Just one, so don't go looking for variety here, and definitely play one before you buy it to see if you like that sound. I sure do though.
This would be a pointless amp for anyone who wants to play metal or hard rock. Its more suited for jazz and blues. Although I have a grilled cheese danelectro pedal which sounds great on it.
Feature:
Obviously it only has a volume knob. But the sound is so well balanced I don't feel the need for more.
Would have been nice to include gain and reverb, but thats just not the point of this amp.
On the nice side, the internal jack for use on a bigger cabinet is a great idea. And the faux-sued screen really helps the sound.
To get a ten, this amp would need gain, reverb, and a power cable that seperates from the unit.
Ease of Use:
How hard can it be? switch it on, turn it up. Takes a second to warm up, the price you pay for great tube sound.
Oh yeah, don't forget to plug it in I guess.
Quality:
So far so good for me. Never had a problem. Fender didn't cut corners to save themselves money on this one, they just made it tiny to save you money.
Value:
Amazing price for a tube amp. But I saw the Epiphone blues junior thing for 40 bucks less. Haven't gotten a chance to try it out but I usually like epiphones.
Manufacturer Support:
The best support is not needing any.
The Wow Factor:
I love the look. Took points off because I don't get why the volume and input are on the backside of it, maybe so you can point it towards others. It makes it look weird to me.
Overall:
This is NOT the only amp you'll ever need by a long shot. At some point, you will need something bigger and with more features to fully explore the sounds your guitar can make.
That being said, this is a great supplement amp if you've already got some big guns and you want a fantastic little amp, and a tube amp at that, to tool around with.
13 of 14 people
(92.86%) found this review helpful. Did you?
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Sound:
Wow - nice sound from a little 6" speaker. No tone controls, but it's nicely balanced straight up the middle. Surprisingly warm; gives great "Fender cleans" with my '56 Les Paul Junior.
Feature:
It gets a "10" here because it does its one job -- being a sweet little tube amp -- so well.
If you're looking for a lot of controls, effects, models, etc., this amp is not for you.
Ease of Use:
(1) Plug in guitar. (2) Turn on amp. (3) Adjust the one knob (volume).
Quality:
Feels very solid. Although it's not American-made, like my other Fender tube amps, it's sturdy and very attractively finished. I've never had a problem with any of my other Fender amps, and I doubt I will with this one.
Value:
$200 for a Fender tube amp.
The Wow Factor:
Nice vintage vibe, great tone.
Overall:
The sound quality of this tiny amp is surprising. It has a smooth breakup with my Les Pauls in the high-gain input jack. The 6" speaker kind of limits the throatiness/growl of the sound, but if the stock speaker isn't your thing, the amp can drive external speakers. (That's a nice added feature -- the external speaker jack.) It's loud, warm, and perfect for practice or recording. Great little amp.
9 of 10 people
(90%) found this review helpful. Did you?
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Sound:
It's a reissue or tribute of a vintage product and does that vintage sound perfectly. Although it is not hand wired, it has hotter tubes to allow it to be overdriven more. My other amps and effects are gathering dust.
Feature:
It has everything the original had and more.
Ease of Use:
You can get an amazing variety of sounds from it by varying inputs, volume knobs on the amp and guitar and your guitars tone knob(s). Beginners would do well to learn how to control their tone with these rather than relying on pedals, buttons, and knobs. Learn to create your tone with your fingers. You can always recognize the greats regardless of what they are playing.
Quality:
It's a Fender and I expect to keep it for many years.
Value:
There's a few small tube amps out there now. Some people might prefer a particular sound over this one, but this is the coolest, smallest, and it's a Fender.
Manufacturer Support:
I've owned several Fender products and never needed support. That's the way I like it!
The Wow Factor:
I bought it after quite a bit of research.
Overall:
If you want true vintage tube tone without spending an enormous amount of cash, get one.
2 of 4 people
(50%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Sound:
Considerable hum even with the no input connected, level at zero, and tubes warmed up -- useless for recording. Tone is not that great -- rather muddy. Possibly I just got a bad one.
Feature:
No features, really. I can live without tone controls but it needs a standby switch to protect the tube life.
Ease of Use:
Not much to it, just a level control.
Quality:
Okay for the money.
Manufacturer Support:
Haven't tried Fender Support.
2 of 2 people
(100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Sound:
Has one sound... Bad! I expected so much more! This is one Fender that let me down!
Feature:
Very limited
Ease of Use:
Two knobs... how hard can it be
Quality:
Built nice...Looks great... Just let me down
Value:
Better amps for less out there
1 of 6 people
(16.67%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
Questions? Our gear experts can help!
800-zZounds(800-996-8637)
Mention Reference
Number
L2T4VJ7 When You Call.
Toll Free En Español: 800-460-7976 m-f 9AM to
5PM EST
Follow zZounds on:
Customize Search Results for Your Location
A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.
A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.
enlarge