Epi Valve Jr. or Fender Champ 600?

[NortyFiner]

I am working towards getting a six-string (most likely a Squier Tele) in the relatively near future, and with that I need a guitar amp.

I am just a hobbyist, so I don't need a large amp. I am a rhythm/chord player far more than a lead shredder, so a good basic tube sound would make me plenty happy.

With those things in mind, I have narrowed my choices down to two: the Epiphone Valve Junior, and the Fender Champion 600. I would really like to hear what people think of these two amps...or others, if you have some recommendations for a good, basic amp that won't cost me a car payment.

Obviously, this is a Fender-oriented board, so I know I will get some biased responses...

Thanks in advance for your input.

[Flannel Pat]

VJ. I have a Champ 600 and I don't dig it at all.

[Stratsrgood]

My Strats, JM and Tele sound good through the VJ but the LP is far too dark. I use that amp a lot around the house (at about 1/4 volume) but prefer the micro cube. I have tried a Champ but didn't think it that much different to the amp I've got.
Best of luck making your choice!

[eugenedunn]

Budget? And do you already own effects, like pedals? if not, you might wanna check out the Fender SuperChamp XD with built-in effects and low enough power that you can crank it up like the Champ 600 and Epi.

[voided3]

Well, if you mean the VJ 1x12" stack I would say yes, but I also own a C600. I haven't tried the VJr. combo, but from owning the stack, it seems to take very nicely to 12" speakers. I think the C600 has a more sparkly clean sound but the VJr. has a nicer overdrive tone. The C600 gets nice overdrive tone with my darker-sounding Boss OD-3 though and my VJr. likes my brighter sounding Boss DS-1 since it's a darker amp. Two different beasts. I think the C600 wins in the portability department if that is an issue. If you can spring for it, go for the VJr. stack.

[Chito]

You should include the Blackheart Little Giant in your poll. I have both the VJ (version 2) and a Blackheart heads and between the VJ and the BH, I'll take the BH anytime. Also if you decide to take the combo, the BH is the only 5 watt combo that I know of, that comes with a 12 inch speaker. These amps are loud. And although I've not used it in a gig, I've rehearsed with it in a full band setting (2 guitars, bass and a loud drummer) and it was loud enough to compete with the rest. Not a lot of headroom though when played clean but that's just normally what you get out of a 5 watt amp.

[Rob DiStefano]

IMO ..

If you want a one-and-only small tube amp for at-home playing and jamming, save up yer money, spend double or more of yer amp dollars, get a hand wired tube amp such as the GA-5 (when and if they return to MF), or a vintage silverface Champ, or any good used 5F1 circuit hand wired amp. These kinda amps offer considerably more quality for your dollar, are easiest to maintain, and will not lose in value over time.

[varakeef]

Gretsch has jumped in the little tube amps scene too. Haven't tried it but it looks cool. http://www.thomann.de/fi/gretsch_g52...ic_compact.htm

I like Epi Jr, is darkish sounding but I think it's a good match for tele just because of that. With JJ tubes it sounds pretty good.

[Doug Ferguson]

I like the VJ, and was seriously considering getting a VJ head. But the Blackheart Little Giant's stolen my heart. I like the onboard EQ, for one thing, and they sound great to boot. It's now on my wishlist.

[rhh7]

I just bought this little amp at my Fender dealer, as they were out of the champs. Supposedly the exact same amp. I really like it!

[markw51]

Originally Posted by eugenedunn

Budget? And do you already own effects, like pedals? if not, you might wanna check out the Fender SuperChamp XD with built-in effects and low enough power that you can crank it up like the Champ 600 and Epi.

Ditto. I have an XD and it has great tube sound.

[wetland10]

The valve jr head (which I own) is much better than the Champ 600. I think it has a much better tone, can get louder if you want to (I think you can even gig with it) and you can run it through a 12 inch speaker. The Champ 600 is not a great amp, in my opinion. Looking at each one stock, the better amp is the valve jr.

Wayne

[eugenedunn]

Well, here's my current ultimate solution that I don't think you'd grow tired of or lose the need for:

Spend about 250-300 on a late 70's Fender Champ. Substitute the stock 12AX7 for a lower gain 12AY7, so you get much improved clean headroom that works incredibly well with pedals, yet still gives the Class A grind when the amp and guitar are dimed. Finally, slap in a $80 beefy Weber 8-inch like this 8F125 (big 30 oz. magnet). The farty breakup of these little vintage amps is contained..... What you get is a LOUD 6-watt amp that can hang in a considerate rehearsal with drums and bass, goes well with pedals, by itself the tone is so interesting because you dime it on volume and control everything with your guitar's knobs.

You can even uplug the main speaker and throw it on top of a 4-ohm 2x10 cabinet and really push air. Now that's versatile for about 400 bucks.

[markw51]

[quote=eugenedunn;1170041]


Well, here's my current ultimate solution that I don't think you'd grow tired of or lose the need for:

Interesting reverb setup you have there. I also have an Alesis Nanoverb - one of the newer models apparently. Does it work well with a guitar amp?

I use mine in the effects loop of a keyboard amp for vocals and drum machine and it works well with that but have wondered about plugging a guitar into it directly.

[Gee]

Originally Posted by NortyFiner

With those things in mind, I have narrowed my choices down to two: the Epiphone Valve Junior, and the Fender Champion 600. I would really like to hear what people think of these two amps...or others, if you have some recommendations for a good, basic amp that won't cost me a car payment.

You can't go wrong with either. Just make sure you get a version 3 VJ if you go that route. The VJ has more gain and is much louder. The Fender is more pretty.

Choose either one, play the hell out of it and then sell it when you know what you really want.

[eugenedunn]

Hey Markw51,

I have used Alesis Microverbs, Microverb II's forever. I think I had 3 of them at one time!!! They're like the Swiss Army Knife of reverbs. I used to use them in the effects loop of my big tweed 4x10 Blues DeVille, not only to lush-out the weak reverb on that amp, but as a "volume-box" to control the overly sensitive volume knob on that LOUD amp.

In my non-reverb Champ, it's perfect. As you can see, I just plug it into the powerstrip in the back and it's ready to surf.

[mudbean]

Love the built in power strip on that Champ!

mud

[eugenedunn]

Yeah..... the powerstrip.... finding one small enough and cool enough is the trick...... It makes using the Champ for rehearsals or anything where you might need extra power (pedalboards, etc....) a breeze.

I do that wherever possible and I also make a 6 foot heavy duty extension to add to the power strip cord so the total length is around 10-12 feet..... more than enough for most jams or gigs.


Check out my gallery sometime for bigger pictures of the other stuff.
Geno

[markw51]

Originally Posted by eugenedunn

Hey Markw51,

I have used Alesis Microverbs, Microverb II's forever. I think I had 3 of them at one time!!! They're like the Swiss Army Knife of reverbs. I used to use them in the effects loop of my big tweed 4x10 Blues DeVille, not only to lush-out the weak reverb on that amp, but as a "volume-box" to control the overly sensitive volume knob on that LOUD amp.

In my non-reverb Champ, it's perfect. As you can see, I just plug it into the powerstrip in the back and it's ready to surf.

Do you just plug the guitar directly into the verb unit?

[eugenedunn]

Hey Mark,

I take the mono jack output from the Microverb with a short George L cable into the input of the Champ. I plug my geetar into the mono jack input of the Microverb. I adjust the Microverb input so I only get a red overload LED on the wildest open chord strum I can muster. I adjust the Microverb output for unity gain (equal to volume that I'd get with just the guitar plugged straight into the amp).

I usually use one of the larger room reverb settings (like the second or third largest), but only blend a little in for depth.

Between that and the fact that I still get natural overdrive with the 12AY7 preamp tube, it's killer.

[metulmykul]

I have the Epi and am just discovering all of the mod information out there for it.
Gets my vote for sure.

[BradKM]

I'm turning into a small amp junkie.

I've got the Epi head and I'm still seriously considering picking up the Champ 600 at some point.

I've also got a SF Champ and Princeton Reverb.

If you can find an old Champ for short money, go with that.

If not, both the 600 and the Epi are so inexpensive that I wouldn't consider the money spent on either one wasted.

I love running my Champ through a 2x10 cabinet.

It's my favorite sound out of the bunch.

I bought the Epi so I'd have a head that I could run with pretty much any speaker configuration. It's got a good tone, but doesn't really seem to shine until it's cranked.

I've liked what I've heard from the Champ 600s that I've played around with in stores and have tried to justify buying one, but haven't convinced myself yet. I'm sure it will happen at some point.

[eugenedunn]

Hey Brad,

We have some similar amps for sure! Likewise, a 79 Champ, 69 Princeton Reverb, 1946 Princeton 8 and a 1948 Gibson BR9. I sold my big amps too.

I am having a 2x10 cabinet built also..... I really wanna run my Champ through one of those. Your comment is really inspiring about that. I also wanna put my SFPR through a 2x10 cab. What kind of 2x10 do you use? Gotta picture?

Has anyone put lower gain preamp tubes in C600's of VJ's to get a cleaner vintage voice out of them?

[bowlfreshener]

I say go with the Epi Valve Junior Head. I own 2 of them, and I also own one of the combos, and I say the head is best because its has the most flexibility. I haven't modded mine, I prefer them stock with JJ EL84s and EH12ax7's.