$200 tube amp: Champ 600 vs Crate V50-112

[Ed McG]

I'm new to the forum and just starting out on the Tele--having really only played some basic fingerstyle (John Hurt, etc). Now I'm looking to learn how to play a little blues,twang and rock a bit (Muddy,Buck, Creedeance, etc). So, I got a real good deal on a Mexican Tele and need an amp. I want a simple tube amp, none of the effects on the solid state stuff ,some reverb would be nice but not essential. $200 budget. No Purchase immediately. But I played a Champ 600 at GC and liked it a lot. I see an on line store has the CrateV50-112 50W
with a 12 inch speaker for the same price as the Champ: $200. Now I will never play out, I'll be in the basement my whole life but the kid could probably use the wattage some day. Butwith the bigger amp do I have to go way louder to get the tone--or any other issues to consider . I really know nothing re electric guitar and amps. thanks
Ed

[Guitar_Ninja]

At 50 watts the Crate will be twice as loud as the Champ, but 5 watts is more than enough for playing around the house. In fact, it'll probably be too loud for a lot of bedroom playing.

(The way it works is, doubling the wattage increases the volume by ~3dB, and an increase in volume of ~10dB sounds to the human ear like it's twice as loud. So 5W x 2 x 2 x 2 = 40W, which is essentially 3dB+3dB+3dB, or a 9dB increase. Nearly twice as loud.)

I'd say go with the Champ. At the very least the Fender name will get you a much better resale price if you ever sell it. Unfortunately a lot of the lower-end SS stuff Crate puts out has really tarnished their brandname for a lot of people.

[Artemio_Cruz]

dont know about the sound of those, but what i knoe its the crate is got equalizer, reverb and some other controls that may be useful for nailin different sounds, and its bigger.

and the champ, its a fender, it looks nice, and its more portable

depends on what you want really, and im not sure about the loudness tone relation on an amp, but you can always use an attenuator(is that how you say it?)

hope i was some help
oh and welcome

Mario

[skeksis]

I'd go with the Fender...

You may need something else someday, or decide you want to play with a band... but it should suit your needs for a good long time. I have a handful of larger amps, but play that champion 600 at home more than the rest. Sounds very good, doesn't bother the wife or scare the pets (much).

plus, by then you'll have spent enough time on this board to be quite the cork-sniffing gear snob... (welcome!)

[rangercaster]

get the Crate ... you'll be glad you did ...

[Tdot]

Originally Posted by Ed McG

But I played a Champ 600 at GC and liked it a lot.

There ya go.

I like a bargain as much as the next shopper, but only if it's something I like.

The Crate looks like a good deal but I don't know anything about it. I'm another "600" owner, and I think it's a fun amp.

• tiny enough to easily tote around the house.
• cute enough to leave in the living room.
• sounds good enough for a home amp.
• even takes pedals well.

I'd go for the Fender and a cheap pedal like the Danelectro Corned Beef.

[patrickhowell]

The Epiphone Valve Junior sounds a lot better than the Champion 600 IMO. A 6" speaker is just too small... Also, there's a huge community of people modding them to make them even better. I've got a VJ combo and I love it.

[Bill Ashton]

My son got a Crate V50 in early October and it stopped working on November 18th...outside of the internet site's return window...groan!...warranty time...

Crate has been a pleasure to deal with, and as we speak a new (actually upgraded) amplifier is on its way to him.

The V50, for better or worse, is Crate's take on a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, approximately. Two 6L6 power tubes and three or four 12AX7's if I remember correctly.

[charlie chitlin]

Originally Posted by patrickhowell

The Epiphone Valve Junior sounds a lot better than the Champion 600 IMO. A 6" speaker is just too small... Also, there's a huge community of people modding them to make them even better. I've got a VJ combo and I love it.

My Valve Special showed up in the mail today.
Very different amp from the Champ 600 I sold to finance it, but the VS will definitely be used for rehearsal (I play with 2 very quiet drummers) and there's no way the 600 could be heard at a rehearsal.
I haven't had much chance to fool with it yet, but it seems extremely cool.
The digital reverb is even pretty darn nice.
I think it's a great little amp for the $$.
Got it off Ebay. Under 200, delivered.

[FenderGuy53]

The Fender Champ or a Crate V18-112 for $150, delivered.

[dqami]

I have the Crate V18 which has a nice thead on this forum and just got my 600 yesterday. Two totally different animals but both are fun. The Crate weighs a lot so if portability is an issue, then go with the Champ. Both need some tweaks to make them more playable tonewise. Mainly, some tube swapping. I'm really digging the Champ vibe as it looks like a toy but plays like a tone monster. It's a one trick pony compared to the Crate (has a separate gain control so you can get clean or tube OD) so that may also be a factor for you. For me, the Champ is a keeper but I enjoy the Crate for when I want to shake the windows ;)

[Twangthang]

Originally Posted by dqami

I have the Crate V18 which has a nice thead on this forum and just got my 600 yesterday. Two totally different animals but both are fun. The Crate weighs a lot so if portability is an issue, then go with the Champ. Both need some tweaks to make them more playable tonewise. Mainly, some tube swapping. I'm really digging the Champ vibe as it looks like a toy but plays like a tone monster. It's a one trick pony compared to the Crate (has a separate gain control so you can get clean or tube OD) so that may also be a factor for you. For me, the Champ is a keeper but I enjoy the Crate for when I want to shake the windows ;)

I have the Crate and a Gretsch 5220 ( The Fender 600's kissing cousin) and I find that for around the house I get a lot more use out the the little amp... but the Crate is fun when you want to wake the neighbors

[nomadh]

If you might ever play with a drummer consider the v50. I have the V30. Also the 50 is a bargain right now. That helps the resale. I like to buy at prices I can usually sell at. More like free rental if I need to. I like the fender 600 alot. It will probably always be sweeter at low volume if you are sure thats the max. If so try the valve jr. Its also very likable and usually cheaper. $200 is no special price for the 600 so there is no hurry. Keep an eye out this season for at most $150 maybe find $100 used.

[<jbc>]

The idea of buying a new $200 tube amp gives me the willies!

Lots of players have multiple amps, and would perhaps like to sell what they're not playing given the times.

Check the pin-board at your local music shops, and ask around.

Are there any Pawn shops in your neighborhood?

For $200 you just might find something halfway decent someone is moving up from.


Good luck.

[theraygun]

For $200, snag a Champion 600 and a Blackheart or Valve Jr. cab off of ebay. Use live search cashback. It can be done, I got this set up a few weeks ago. That amp wounds really great with a 12" speaker. I had the Crate V18 and couldn't get rid of it soon enough. If you played the amp and liked it, that's the most important thing. I've certainly been guilty of chasing a "good deal" only to end up disappointed.

Also, check out a Fender Super Champ XD. I know it's DSP preamp, but it is a great sounding amp that is very flexible. Otherwise, maybe a Fender Musicmaster amp. You could score one on eBay for just a little more than your budget.

If you haven't looked at the live search cashback deal (live.com/cashback), check it out. Right now it's at 20%, which could bring some amps into your price range (Peavey Classic 20, Traynor Guitar Mate). Also, Music123 has 15% off certain brands right now.

[Ed McG]

Thanks for all the thoughts. I'm pretty much leaning toward the Champ 600, esp like the idea of pairing it up with the blackheart cab (eventually). But thinking about it, the portability and simplicity really appeals to me. The VJ has a lot of appeal but its out of my price range--although the combo model might work--but no music store around me has the combo. anyone have experience with those ( I'll check the threads) still thinking but getting closer,

Ed

[Tdot]

I have the VJ combo also. And it's another fun little amp, not much bigger than the Champ 600 and should be the same price.

That's a tougher comparison because they are very similar spec'd, and both would fit your needs, but they're quite different in tone. You may want to search Youtube for examples.