Hw does Fender '68 Custom Pro Vibro Champ Reverb compare?

[Spider Dave]

I've been looking at buying a smaller practice tube amp. And despite feeling like they're overpriced, I've decided on the Fender '68 Custom Pro Vibro Champ Reverb. My main amp is a Fender Deluxe Reverb RRI, love it. But I want something smaller for all the usual reasons of volume and mobility. I also have a Yamaha, Crate, Marshall Acoustic, Fender Mustang Modeling amp and a decent enough pedal board with all the usual pedals. I mostly play blues and rock. I like a little grit and breakup, but do love me some clean too. I've been looking for a long time, and tired of just not knowing and I'm not able to go and look as much as I'd like to. I was set on a Princeton with 10" speaker, and using my pedals. But I kept reading people talking about how piercing it can be? 57 Champ sounded good, but seems too quiet and limited on cleans - though what it does it does well. And I plan on building one sometime to find out for myself.

None of the local shops have a VCR to try out. I'm curious how it's tone is perceived to people? So I thought I'd ask around here to see if I could get some opinions on it's tone or even how it sounds compared to a Deluxe Reverb, as a control or base example? (Becasue that's the amp I know best.) Or just some idea what I'm in for, because I'm nervous spending that much so blindly. I have read a lot about it, but don't feel like I'm hearing what I'm looking for. Just hoping for some opinions from those who might have their own idea or give me things to think about? Mostly I think I just need to talk myself into taking the leap because money's tight. Ha hA!

Thanks in advance if anyone helps out! Have a good one.

 

[Mike M]

I've had one for years, and love it.

Brighter than a DR, more like a toned down Princeton.

Has Tube Bias Tremolo, my favorite, and the digital hall reverb sounds really good, and give the small amp a lot a depth.

If you order direct from Fender, I think you can easily ship it back if you don't like it.

 

[Uncle Daddy]

Eric does a great demo with one on YouTube.

 

[Spider Dave]

Thanks fellas. I think I'm mostly concerned it might not be so different that I'd be buying a smaller version of what I already have? IDK. I have listened to a most the video demos for what they're worth (especially when most are mic'd right up to the speaker), and kind of put together what I think it could sound like. Still, opinions are a big part of the equation for me, so I appreciate it.

 

[spud3]

I love mine. Give the speaker some time to break in. Mine sounds even better after about 30 minutes of playing it, so taking that to mean the speaker just needs some hours before it is really loosened up.

You won't get the full depth of your DRRI, but that's the nature of a smaller cab combo. But the cleans are unreal for an amp this size/weight. As noted above, the trem is really sweet, and I think the digital reverb is...good enough... and it works great as a pedal platform.

It's the perfect bedroom/small jam amp, IMO. Certainly a bit over-priced, but if you like the sound, it's worth it. I played mine against a Katana and Supro Delta (both of which get a lot of love around here) and I thought the Fender beat them both hands down.

If you're worried about not liking it, get it from Sweetwater as they have a fine return policy.

 

[Spider Dave]

I love mine. Give the speaker some time to break in. Mine sounds even better after about 30 minutes of playing it, so taking that to mean the speaker just needs some hours before it is really loosened up.

You won't get the full depth of your DRRI, but that's the nature of a smaller cab combo. But the cleans are unreal for an amp this size/weight. As noted above, the trem is really sweet, and I think the digital reverb is...good enough... and it works great as a pedal platform.

It's the perfect bedroom/small jam amp, IMO. Certainly a bit over-priced, but if you like the sound, it's worth it. I played mine against a Katana and Supro Delta (both of which get a lot of love around here) and I thought the Fender beat them both hands down.

If you're worried about not liking it, get it from Sweetwater as they have a fine return policy.

Great input, really appreciate it! I've been wanting a small tube amp for practice & portability for along time but just didn't have the funds yet. The way you and @Mike M describe it, I'm definitely getting one and have a feeling I'm gona love this amp. I was thinking Sweetwater too. Until today I found a used one in a shop 80 mins away. A bit of a drive, but would save me $'s. So I'm considering that vs new, but also hesitant buying used after waiting so long to get an amp. It would just be my luck to grab the only one with an issue. Ha!

My DRRI's very quiet, so are my others, so I don't feel like I have anything to compare to a single ended amp. My amp knowledge is decent at best, not where I'd like to be. But I do know good tone when I hear it. I say that because I've read where people discuss some airy hiss or hum in the VCR? (which I understand is normal on higher volumes and not exclusive to the VCR.) That you don't notice when playing. Yet others say it's dead quiet? Rattles that are easy to fix, etc. I've also read about one tremolo tick or reverb hiss. That's not to say anything bad about the amp at all, production flaws happen, no big deal, still sounds like a great amp to me. I've found plenty of demo videos, but the only time I can even get a hint of a background hiss for a reference, is so short I'm not sure what I heard. I just wish I could have some idea what to expect before playing the amp. Any idea or descriptions for reference or what to expect? One video said it didn't really have background hiss until about 6-7 vol.? Thanks again!

 

[pbenn]

IMO getting a sound out of a Champ is a 30 minute process as well.
Like heating up a soup.
Then you play with the sag by touch on the strings.

 

[spud3]

Mine has a very slight hiss after about 6 or 7 on the volume and it's made more prominent with more reverb, but it's not really that noticeable. And frankly, I rarely play mine louder than 5. In my experience, most tube amps have a bit of hiss when you start getting up in the volume levels, but you only really hear it when you're not playing.

I guess deciding on new vs. used you just need to ask the question: is the price difference worth the peace of mind that you have knowing you can return it if you don't like it? I had just tried out a TMPR and didn't like it, so I was really glad I bought from a place where I could just box it back up and get a full refund. It was worth the extra couple hundred bucks to not have to hassle with selling it myself. YMMV.

I have toyed with the idea of making mine into a little project where I have a good amp tech go to town and swap out the cheap parts for good ones; transformers, caps, etc., like I did with my PRRI. That amp is now my gold standard for tone - sounds as rich and full as any DR to my ears.

Yes, there's a few threads on the forum with guys that have had manufacturing defects, but keep in mind these things have been out for a while now, and the vast majority of us who have one have had no issues whatsoever, and think that they are killer little amps.

 

[Highway 49]

I've been looking at buying a smaller practice tube amp. And despite feeling like they're overpriced, I've decided on the Fender '68 Custom Pro Vibro Champ Reverb. My main amp is a Fender Deluxe Reverb RRI, love it. But I want something smaller for all the usual reasons of volume and mobility. I also have a Yamaha, Crate, Marshall Acoustic, Fender Mustang Modeling amp and a decent enough pedal board with all the usual pedals. I mostly play blues and rock. I like a little grit and breakup, but do love me some clean too. I've been looking for a long time, and tired of just not knowing and I'm not able to go and look as much as I'd like to. I was set on a Princeton with 10" speaker, and using my pedals. But I kept reading people talking about how piercing it can be? 57 Champ sounded good, but seems too quiet and limited on cleans - though what it does it does well. And I plan on building one sometime to find out for myself.

None of the local shops have a VCR to try out. I'm curious how it's tone is perceived to people? So I thought I'd ask around here to see if I could get some opinions on it's tone or even how it sounds compared to a Deluxe Reverb, as a control or base example? (Becasue that's the amp I know best.) Or just some idea what I'm in for, because I'm nervous spending that much so blindly. I have read a lot about it, but don't feel like I'm hearing what I'm looking for. Just hoping for some opinions from those who might have their own idea or give me things to think about? Mostly I think I just need to talk myself into taking the leap because money's tight. Ha hA!

Thanks in advance if anyone helps out! Have a good one.

If it helps, I’m always struggling with my ‘64 Princeton hw at home with volume (it is a bit loud for home), stiffness (great for garage crashy sounds but can be a bit stiff/cold with the Tele - for some reason it seems to like the Strat better), and I can’t get it to really work well with fuzz. But a lot of that will just be me, so don’t give it too much credence.
My 57 Champ is, for me, the opposite of those things - great at low volume, lovely warm clean sounds (note: warm so maybe not to everyone’s taste), and takes fuzz brilliantly. A good spring reverb/pedal helps against inherent darkness. Just a whole lot more manageable at home volume, and great for everything from jazz to blues to garage-punkiness
I’ve not played the 68 VC so can’t say how it compares with 57 - all demos I’ve heard sound good though.

 

[Torren61]

Is it cheaper than this? Because if I were given an option, I'd pick this 1960 Ampeg Jet over most new entry level amps any day.

Ampeg Jet 1960 - Vintage tube Amp | Reverb

..1960 AMPEG JET TUBE GUITAR AMP Beautiful Killer little blues amp.FREE SHIPPING IN THE USA 48 states. .. Has new tubes , original tubes included Tremolo is not functioning..Have had this amp in family since mid 60’s was my Dads violin amp.So there’s a new handle, a new AC cable, it was re- ...

reverb.com

 

[Spider Dave]

IMO getting a sound out of a Champ is a 30 minute process as well.
Like heating up a soup.
Then you play with the sag by touch on the strings.

I've heard that before somewhere too

Mine has a very slight hiss after about 6 or 7 on the volume and it's made more prominent with more reverb, but it's not really that noticeable. And frankly, I rarely play mine louder than 5. In my experience, most tube amps have a bit of hiss when you start getting up in the volume levels, but you only really hear it when you're not playing.

I guess deciding on new vs. used you just need to ask the question: is the price difference worth the peace of mind that you have knowing you can return it if you don't like it? I had just tried out a TMPR and didn't like it, so I was really glad I bought from a place where I could just box it back up and get a full refund. It was worth the extra couple hundred bucks to not have to hassle with selling it myself. YMMV.

I have toyed with the idea of making mine into a little project where I have a good amp tech go to town and swap out the cheap parts for good ones; transformers, caps, etc., like I did with my PRRI. That amp is now my gold standard for tone - sounds as rich and full as any DR to my ears.

Yes, there's a few threads on the forum with guys that have had manufacturing defects, but keep in mind these things have been out for a while now, and the vast majority of us who have one have had no issues whatsoever, and think that they are killer little amps.

Perfect description, thanks! Yep,.. I know you're right on the 'new vs used' talking points there. I've given that same advice myself many times. Originally I'd planned on just buying a Princeton or 57 Champ kit from Boot Hill, and build one. (I'd really like to have both of them!) Thanks again for all the great info, that seriously helped out a lot.

@Highway 49 how's your Champ for volume? I'd imagine once you get up there for some breakup its getting louder but what about the clean? 57 Champ was originally my starting point, at one time I was determined to get a kit. Can you get a good volume on the cleans and maybe with a little hair on it a little more than talking levels? I know it's not a loud amp for say, just curious how much so.

@Torren61 Ya, he wants $640.00 but I'm not getting a great vibe from the seller. Speaking of vibes, I'm diggin' that Ampeg. Never heard of that one before, but I did check out some demos on it. Besides the nice warm vintage tones, lots of reason to like that amp.

 

[Torren61]

I've heard that before somewhere too


Perfect description, thanks! Yep,.. I know you're right on the 'new vs used' talking points there. I've given that same advice myself many times. Originally I'd planned on just buying a Princeton or 57 Champ kit from Boot Hill, and build one. (I'd really like to have both of them!) Thanks again for all the great info, that seriously helped out a lot.

@Highway 49 how's your Champ for volume? I'd imagine once you get up there for some breakup its getting louder but what about the clean? 57 Champ was originally my starting point, at one time I was determined to get a kit. Can you get a good volume on the cleans and maybe with a little hair on it a little more than talking levels? I know it's not a loud amp for say, just curious how much so.

@Torren61 Ya, he wants $640.00 but I'm not getting a great vibe from the seller. Speaking of vibes, I'm diggin' that Ampeg. Never heard of that one before, but I did check out some demos on it. Besides the nice warm vintage tones, lots of reason to like that amp.

I have a 1960 Ampeg Rocket R-12. It has the exact same tubes as that Jet. The 6SL7s are preamp tubes. They are easy for any tech to work on them and they sound GREAT. Mine and that one also have tremolo. You're not going to get crunchy overdrive from it. For that, you'll need to put a pedal in front of it. But they just sound so full. Ampegs are the next amps to gain value, imo. They're still affordable now but they won't be when the next wave hits. I should be buying up all of them I can get for under a grand. I saw a '65 for around $600 but they use 7591 tubes. Stick with the 6V6 power tube ones.

 

[Highway 49]

@Highway 49 how's your Champ for volume? I'd imagine once you get up there for some breakup it’s getting louder but what about the clean? 57 Champ was originally my starting point, at one time I was determined to get a kit. Can you get a good volume on the cleans and maybe with a little hair on it a little more than talking levels? I know it's not a loud amp for say, just curious how much so.

At 3-4 played softly, it has a kind of woody clean - it’s never really pristine. If you hit it harder it starts to break up and gets quite a bit louder. At that point, people in the house are going to start to notice/maybe start telling you to turn it down.
Turn it up a little more and hit it hard, it becomes basically a nice distortion box, and is pretty loud.
Turn it to max and it’s really quite loud and sounds like it’s going to explode.
Overall, the sound is very dependent on volume and how hard you play, and I guess I tend to think of it’s lovely cleans because I’m often playing very softly.
I can see why people use modelling amps in place of tube amps - you can choose how you want them to sound at each volume, I guess - but for all it’s impracticality, I’d be happy playing just my Champ for ever, backed up only with fuzz, reverb and tremolo pedals, and an E609 microphone on the cabinet for playing gigs (note: the singer/guitarist from Alvvays plays a mic’d silverface Champ live, and it sounds fantastic ).

 

[Maguchi]

I've been looking at buying a smaller practice tube amp. And despite feeling like they're overpriced, I've decided on the Fender '68 Custom Pro Vibro Champ Reverb. My main amp is a Fender Deluxe Reverb RRI, love it. But I want something smaller for all the usual reasons of volume and mobility. I also have a Yamaha, Crate, Marshall Acoustic, Fender Mustang Modeling amp and a decent enough pedal board with all the usual pedals. I mostly play blues and rock. I like a little grit and breakup, but do love me some clean too. I've been looking for a long time, and tired of just not knowing and I'm not able to go and look as much as I'd like to. I was set on a Princeton with 10" speaker, and using my pedals. But I kept reading people talking about how piercing it can be? 57 Champ sounded good, but seems too quiet and limited on cleans - though what it does it does well. And I plan on building one sometime to find out for myself.

None of the local shops have a VCR to try out. I'm curious how it's tone is perceived to people? So I thought I'd ask around here to see if I could get some opinions on it's tone or even how it sounds compared to a Deluxe Reverb, as a control or base example? (Becasue that's the amp I know best.) Or just some idea what I'm in for, because I'm nervous spending that much so blindly. I have read a lot about it, but don't feel like I'm hearing what I'm looking for. Just hoping for some opinions from those who might have their own idea or give me things to think about? Mostly I think I just need to talk myself into taking the leap because money's tight. Ha hA!

Thanks in advance if anyone helps out! Have a good one.

I bought one a the Fender '68 Vibrochamp Reverbs about 2 or 3 years ago before the prices went up and I really like that amp. 1968 was early in the Silverface era, so the circuits on these amps sound quite similar to the Blackfaces. I have a Blackface Fender '65 Princeton Reverb reissue and the two amps have a similar sound. Great cleans, very nice tremelo, the VC breaks up a little faster and easier than the PRRI. Both have 10" speakers. Oh BTW, that brings up an important point. The Vibrochamp took a little longer to break in than some other amps I bought before. But about 2 or 3 weeks of playing it every day and the speaker and amp really opened up and sounded great.

 

[Axean naexA]

.
First off, I don’t think Fender offers a ‘68 Custom Pro Vibro Champ Reverb, just the regular ‘68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb.

Anyway, it kind of sounds to me that you’re sort of trying to find a way to justify getting another amp, which is totally fine, although the Fender Mustang you mentioned above already seems like a suitable “practice/small gig” amp.

But to answer your overall question;

I’ve owned two Fender ‘68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb amps and both sounded equally great. *The first one blew an output transformer so they replaced it with a whole new amp (which I still have).

Soundwise I must admit that I really don’t care much for how it sounds when the volume knob is set below 6 or 7, which makes low level playing less than doable (for me). It starts rapidly losing a satisfying amount of brilliance below that point in my experience.

That said, mine sounds best with the volume around 8 - for a cleanish “edge of breakup” tone. The tone really comes alive with rich vibrant harmonics that are lively, clear and dimensionally airy.

When cranked to 10 (especially with a hotter pickup) it morphs into a really nice crunch zone. Add a little boost and suddenly you’re in screaming sustain heaven!

Riding the guitar’s volume control works well within this range.

So, needless to say, I personally think they are an awesome choice overall.

BUT!

Since you already said how much you love your Fender Deluxe Reverb RI, might I suggest considering (for about the same price) getting a Fryette Power Station PS-2 and keep on using your beloved Deluxe Reverb with total control over its perceived output levels.

The Fryette Power Station goes between the amp’s output transformer and the speaker. It’s often compared to any number of passive attenuators but is far more flexible and highly transparent, therefore far more musical, providing excellent control over your amp’s volume levels while fully retaining its precious tone.

I actually use the (higher priced, higher powered) Fryette Power Station PS-100 with my Fender ‘57 Custom Deluxe and I couldn’t be happier with it.

Of course this solution won’t help to address any portability issues (actually adds to it) but you can be assured that the tone you already have is still going to be available at a wide range of volume levels (higher or lower). I try to think of it more as “adding an effects pedal to the back of the amp”, which makes it seem somewhat less cumbersome that way.

Just something to consider.

Anyway, if you’re really itching to get another amp, I have practically nothing but good things to say about my Fender ‘68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb - except!;

Keep in mind that, in order to get a really awesome pushed-tube tone you may have to crank it pretty high - and even at 5 watts this little amp can still rattle the windows, get the neighbor’s attention, wake the baby, irritate the wife, etc. So there’s that…

Good luck!

.

 

[Mike M]

.
First off, I don’t think Fender offers a ‘68 Custom Pro Vibro Champ Reverb, just the regular ‘68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb.

Anyway, it kind of sounds to me that you’re sort of trying to find a way to justify getting another amp, which is totally fine, although the Fender Mustang you mentioned above already seems like a suitable “practice/small gig” amp.

But to answer your overall question;

I’ve owned two Fender ‘68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb amps and both sounded equally great. *The first one blew an output transformer so they replaced it with a whole new amp (which I still have).

Soundwise I must admit that I really don’t care much for how it sounds when the volume knob is set below 6 or 7, which makes low level playing less than doable (for me). It starts rapidly losing a satisfying amount of brilliance below that point in my experience.

That said, mine sounds best with the volume around 8 - for a cleanish “edge of breakup” tone. The tone really comes alive with rich vibrant harmonics that are lively, clear and dimensionally airy.

When cranked to 10 (especially with a hotter pickup) it morphs into a really nice crunch zone. Add a little boost and suddenly you’re in screaming sustain heaven!

Riding the guitar’s volume control works well within this range.

So, needless to say, I personally think they are an awesome choice overall.

BUT!

Since you already said how much you love your Fender Deluxe Reverb RI, might I suggest considering (for about the same price) getting a Fryette Power Station PS-2 and keep on using your beloved Deluxe Reverb with total control over its perceived output levels.

The Fryette Power Station goes between the amp’s output transformer and the speaker. It’s often compared to any number of passive attenuators but is far more flexible and highly transparent, therefore far more musical, providing excellent control over your amp’s volume levels while fully retaining its precious tone.

I actually use the (higher priced, higher powered) Fryette Power Station PS-100 with my Fender ‘57 Custom Deluxe and I couldn’t be happier with it.

Of course this solution won’t help to address any portability issues (actually adds to it) but you can be assured that the tone you already have is still going to be available at a wide range of volume levels (higher or lower). I try to think of it more as “adding an effects pedal to the back of the amp”, which makes it seem somewhat less cumbersome that way.

Just something to consider.

Anyway, if you’re really itching to get another amp, I have practically nothing but good things to say about my Fender ‘68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb - except!;

Keep in mind that, in order to get a really awesome pushed-tube tone you may have to crank it pretty high - and even at 5 watts this little amp can still rattle the windows, get the neighbor’s attention, wake the baby, irritate the wife, etc. So there’s that…

Good luck!


View attachment 1217246
View attachment 1217247

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Some great points, but to me, even clean at around 4-5 it sounds really good.

 

[Axean naexA]

Some great points, but to me, even clean at around 4-5 it sounds really good.

It may just be the voicing on mine, but the loss of gain when turning down to 4 or 5 is enough for me to notice a loss of both girth and brilliance.

Of course, like I said, that may just be mine.

But at 8 and above it’s near perfect (for me).

Could be a production line / component tolerance thing in the batch that came out during that period, who knows.

I’m not saying it sounds terrible below that level, but to me it’s far more enjoyable when turned more like three-quarters the way up…


.

 

[Spider Dave]

I have a 1960 Ampeg Rocket R-12. It has the exact same tubes as that Jet. The 6SL7s are preamp tubes. They are easy for any tech to work on them and they sound GREAT. Mine and that one also have tremolo. You're not going to get crunchy overdrive from it. For that, you'll need to put a pedal in front of it. But they just sound so full. Ampegs are the next amps to gain value, imo. They're still affordable now but they won't be when the next wave hits. I should be buying up all of them I can get for under a grand. I saw a '65 for around $600 but they use 7591 tubes. Stick with the 6V6 power tube ones.

Ya, the fullness on the demo vids I watched was the first thing I noticed. Pretty easy to look at too. I can definitely see why you think so highly of them. I even checked around to see if there were any locally thinking I might just check on out for the hell of it. But nothing yet, I'll keep an eye out.

@Highway 49 and @Maguchi a big thanks for the great reads and LOTS of usable info there for a laymen like me. I jnow I keep saying it but I do seriously appreciated it form all you guys. And I've been thinkin' more about that '57 Champ now, again. ha! I love the look of a tweed cab, but I always planned on buying a '57 Champ amp kit becasue I think it would make a great suitcase amp.

@AxemanVR you're totally right, that dawned on me last time I was doing searches on it. I'd copy/pasted from the page (lazy) and the word 'pro' came along for the ride. You're right and thanks for pointing that out. Might've kept me from embarrassing myself down the road. Nah, I'm not so much justifying the purchase of another amp, as much as I'm justifying which one to get first. Heh! I'm after a little variety too. And gettin' longer in the tooth with old injuries catchin' up to me, my days of lugging 2x12's (or even 1x12's some days) are about over - that's all I've ever had. I've downsized with no neighbors to worry about, I enjoy the boxy tones of some smaller amps on the demo videos and figured it was about time I had one, or three. My Fender Mustang IV 2x12 is surprisingly great at lower volumes, but it's not a grab-n-go amp. I don't prefer to risk lugging the DRRI around. My SS modeling amp's great, but I love me some glowing tubes a lot more. Great idea on the Fryette PS-2 BTW, I did a lot of reading and talking to folks about attenuators here, for my DRRI. (I like that stand you have yours on) Once I got overwhelmed and uncertainty kicked in, I went back to what I know and checked out smaller amps instead and was really diggin' what I heard. Plus, it'd be nice to grab a small amp & guitar and head out to the shop or jam with my neighbor in his barn. Sorry, I rambled on there didn't I? Ha! And thanks to you too for all the help here. Great advice, I like the way you think and will keep ALL that in mind.

You guys are awesome.

 

[Axean naexA]

…it'd be nice to grab a small amp & guitar and head out to the shop or jam with my neighbor in his barn.

Well, in your defense, that is exactly why I chose the Fender ‘68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb and it’s definitely my “grab n go” small gig amp.

One last FYI; The footswitch isn’t included, which will set you back another $50 bucks if you decide it’s a must have.

I got one for mine mainly for toggling the tremolo off and on.

It also comes in handy when switching from a dry signal to a heavily drenched reverb.

But since a footswitch probably already came with your Deluxe Reverb, it should also work for the Vibro Champ - although I’d still get one for each myself - just to keep from having to go back and forth all the time…

.

 

[Spider Dave]

Well, in your defense, that is exactly why I chose the Fender ‘68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb and it’s definitely my “grab n go” small gig amp.

One last FYI; The footswitch isn’t included, which will set you back another $50 bucks if you decide it’s a must have.

I got one for mine mainly for toggling the tremolo off and on.

It also comes in handy when switching from a dry signal to a heavily drenched reverb.

But since a footswitch probably already came with your Deluxe Reverb, it should also work for the Vibro Champ - although I’d still get one for each myself - just to keep from having to go back and forth all the time…


View attachment 1217463

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Awesome. Thanks for the heads up!