57 Custom Deluxe vs 57 Custom Champ

[jmr986Fender]

So my LGS shot me a great price on a 57 Champ. He has 11 in stock and is dealing. I want a tube amp, and currently have a Super Champ X2, so I'm thinking of treating myself. Was thinking If I can get a great deal on the Deluxe, maybe I should go that route, but it may be more than I really need. It will be used as a bedroom amp, no gigs, no bands, just looking for pure clean sounds. I can do all the modeling with the SCX2. Something to compliment my new Tele Pro II and Gibson ES 335. Looking for some "bluesy" type tones. Probably just get a reverb pedal. My only concern with the Champ is not so much the 5 watts, but the 8" speaker. I know a speaker is a fairly easy upgrade. Should I splurge on the Deluxe, or get the Champ and have plenty left for a speaker/tube upgrade?

 

[BB]

I would go the Deluxe route....but that's just me. Many people love Champs, but not near enough clean headroom for my tastes.

Of course, your tastes nd what you want to hear are probably way different than mine. However, if you ever do decide to gig, the Deluxe will handle things quite well.

Good luck with your search!

 

[sloppychops]

If you're going to use it as a bedroom amp, don't worry about the Champ not having enough clean headroom. You'd have to turn it up way past bedroom levels to get it to break up. I use an OD pedal with mine because I can't turn it up enough in my place to get any grit without a pedal.

I love my 57 Champ, but you'll probably hear a lot of complaints here about it. If you do get one, give it some time for the speaker to break in. Mine sounded kind of sterile at first, but it's great now.

 

[HolmfirthNJ]

My 57 Champ works really well for clean, low volume bedroom tones - it can go very quiet and still sound good. I find amp placement is trickier - I generally get it up off the floor when playing quiet. And for me, the Catalinbread Topanga matches brilliantly with the Champ - even with the reverb off, the built in boost just brings the amp alive that little bit more.
But I’m also wondering about a Custom 57 Deluxe…
Hope that helps

 

[Dacious]

The Champ is clean until about 5 with single coils and 4 with humbuckers. If you keep the guitar volumes down its possible to get jazzy tones.

Being two amps with no or limited negative feedback you don't get much pristine clean.

A Deluxe is too much amp for bedroom use unless you have very tolerant neighbours and housemates.

 

[jmr986Fender]

I have a house, so the neighbors are not an issue, usually. Wait for the wife to go out then I can play with the amp without irritating her.

 

[AxemanVR]

.
The Fender ‘57 Custom Deluxe is kind of a waste at lower levels.

I mean, it “can do” lower levels (clean) but that’s not where it really shines - especially if you’re going for the sweetest cleans - since it really doesn’t open up until it’s cranked a bit… which is usually well beyond what most people would consider to be “acceptable” volume levels for home use.

That’s why I ended up getting a Fryette Power Station PS-100, so I can revel in its glorious tones at any volume I desire, day or night, without disturbing others.

This setup comes at quite a hefty cost though.

Not only do you risk being psychologically and socially crippled by the potentially overwhelming obsession to continuously play it, but it’s also going to set you back some $3400 overall!

But for me it was totally worth the risk of literally loosing any and all connection with the real world…

.

 

[Tone Chase]

Doesn’t the Champ allow you to pull the plug on the speaker in the cab? Then plug into a larger speaker in another cab, if you feel that you need that. My tweed 5 watt is the EC Fender Vibro Champ. It is the same, if I keep the effect switch off. It takes pedals well.

I use either an EQ pedal, a clean boost pedal, or a Klon type of drive
pedal with any of my 5 watt or less amps that have 8 to 10” speakers. You get a full, big speaker sound, no problem.

I also had thoughts of buying a larger Tweed amp, and the opportunity to buy a Mesa California 4:40 became available at a great price. I now spend most of my time on the 2 to 20 watt settings on this amp. This has a 12” Alnico Blackbird speaker, a tone stack that is extremely effective, effects loop, and real spring reverb. It takes pedals extremely well.

I find satisfaction with all of the options. There’s no wrong answer. As always, try before you buy whenever possible.

 

[Lowspeid]

…Should I splurge on the Deluxe, or get the Champ and have plenty left for a speaker/tube upgrade?

I’ve had both reissues, so I’ll give my experience. I bought the Champ thinking it would be a great “living room” amp. It gets loud. Real loud. Louder than you can imagine an amp that small can get. I really disliked the stock weber speaker, even after 60+ hours of playing. The Champ always sounded “boxy” in the room, but recorded amazingly. I sold it because it was too dark, too boxy, and either too loud or not loud enough.

The Deluxe has a KILLER clean tone that is manageable at living room levels. It’s different than a BF/SF clean, but it’s amazing all the same. In order to get it to break up, which is what most of us buy one for, is uncomfortably loud. Like, I wear earplugs and make sure the neighbors aren’t home loud. I’ve had the ‘57 reissue side-by-side a Victoria 20112 with a Jensen P12Q RI, swapped cabs/speakers, and hands down the Vic sounds a little “better” to my ear. It’s a little more detailed, and a little more “firm” in the low end. But both sounded like a 5e3 “should”. I love the way the 5e3 sounds with my Telecaster and my R8.

So, in my biased opinion, I’d pony up the cash for the Deluxe, and if you can find a Victoria 20112 even better (they are a couple hundred less than the Fender, as well).

 

[Cali Dude]

I also have the EC vibro champ. It's great for home use. Since you won't be playing in a band setting, the champ should be great for your needs. If you expect to gig a bit in the future, then the deluxe would be a good choice. A champ probably won't hang with a drummer.

 

[snottyboy]

Deluxe if you are set on Tweed. Tweed Champ is loud, too. Deluxe more versatile and ultimately...satisfying.

 

[Les Paul lover]

I wouldn't go for an amp with an 8" speaker.
Once you've had 12" speakers, an 8" just doesn't have the low end and sounds underwhelming, it just doesn't fill a room like a 12" does at equal volume.

 

[Digger73]

I have both in the handwired Custom versions. I have replaced speakers in both amps with Fat Jimmys. The Custom Deluxe with an Alnico A1260 and the Custom Champ with a C825. That was at least 3 years ago so I can’t remember the stock speaker comparison in detail. But, in a living room or “bedroom” setting I find the Champ plenty of amp. The C825 really brought the small amp to life as the Fat Jimmy webpage stated it would. Growls, coos, chimes at 4-5 and I have it in a small studio room set up for me by my wife. I was playing in there today with a Tele Custom with the new Fender CuNiFe neck pickup and it was just the most splendid presentation of complex harmonics. You know, panty throwing on the stage stuff. It is much more than I would have expected from an 8” speaker.

The Custom Deluxe also is an incredible amp. I played out this last week and lugged it along for a smallish venue. I used an American Fat Tele, the Tele Custom, and a G&L ASAT Special with Rio Grande’s. It was a couple hours of blues backing a very bluesy female artist and it was very well received by the audience. Someone mentioned her KILLER tone and that it has. It is the first time I had taken that Custom Tweed out….trying to protect it from damage? But, we had spent time at the studio practicing with it, so it fit with her style.

And, brought the amp back in great shape….but I believe I contracted Covid there, brought it home to share, so we are both on our asses now. But, back to the fight soon!

 

[havlma1]

I have both Fender 57 Champ RI and Fender 57 Deluxe reissues and if I had to choose one, it would be a though decision. Both have its place.

Anyhow 57 Deluxe is probably far more versatile amp, the clean sounds on its low volume (and controlled by guitar's volume pot) are amazing. You can use it as a clean platform even for bedroom usage. It is a solid reliable amp with amazing tone. If you turn volume up and maybe kick it with some overdrive or distortion, it is super loud and screams. It is a playground for your experiments.

57 Champ is another playground, great amp, but compared to Deluxe bit boxy and far more sensitive to tubes you use and speaker. Fun platform, nice sound.

You can't do wrong with any of them. Since I acquired them a year or two ago, I have stopped searching for any other amp, my amp GAS is on hold now

 

[SixDemonBag]

I have a champ. Always wondered about a deluxe.

took me a while to get into the champ. Couldn’t live without it now. Just so mat ‘honest’ tomes in there. I still like adding a touch of reverb. Boost here and there. Just a really rich amp