Members Karma1 Posted January 14, 2007 Members Share Posted January 14, 2007 I'm looking at small lightweight portable tube amps and have been considering a Pro Jr. However I was at the Calif Guitar show yesterday and saw a number of 1970's Champs and Vibro Champs in the $250- $350 range. I'm still leaning towards the Pro Jr. but wondering how they compare. I'm more interested in the clean tones at moderate volume, rather than how they break up at higher volume. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members laker Posted January 14, 2007 Members Share Posted January 14, 2007 Well I 've never played though a Pro Jr. But I have a 76 sf champ and I love it. The cleans are the best i've heard, it is a small class A amp that is great at low to moderate volume, but I dunno about giging with a champ. Honestly my strat sounds better though that champ than any other amp i've ever played though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members utterhack Posted January 14, 2007 Members Share Posted January 14, 2007 Well, at 15W vs 6W you'll definitely get a lot more clean headroom from the PJ. But if you can find a decent Vibro Champ in that price range, I'd hop on it on general principle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members laker Posted January 14, 2007 Members Share Posted January 14, 2007 Champ= A simple,pure,beautiful clean tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hudman Posted January 14, 2007 Members Share Posted January 14, 2007 I love the Pro Jr. It sounds amazing. I wish it had a reverb tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paulintheuk Posted January 14, 2007 Members Share Posted January 14, 2007 I'm never selling my Champ, that's for sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DenverDave Posted January 14, 2007 Members Share Posted January 14, 2007 I had a SF Champ - sold it, and I have been kicking myself ever since. They are killer amps!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jerry_picker Posted January 14, 2007 Members Share Posted January 14, 2007 Well I 've never played though a Pro Jr. But I have a 76 sf champ and I love it. The cleans are the best i've heard, it is a small class A amp that is great at low to moderate volume, but I dunno about giging with a champ. Honestly my strat sounds better though that champ than any other amp i've ever played though. I have eight sf Champs, and love them all! I often gig with a pair of them. They are surprisingly loud with efficient speakers in them, and mic'ing them to the PA is a snap. Here are Harrison and Clapton with a 4-pack of Champs at Concert for Bangla Desh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wyatt Posted January 14, 2007 Members Share Posted January 14, 2007 I think the Champ is the better sounding amp by far (and I like Pro Jr.'s), but I won't pay $250+ for a SF Champ. I can still find them for $100-200 from time to time in brick and mortar stores. The Vibrochamp does usually command a $250-325 price though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Karma1 Posted January 15, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 15, 2007 Thanks to all for the replies. Looks like there's a lot of Champ fans here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jerry_picker Posted January 15, 2007 Members Share Posted January 15, 2007 Thanks to all for the replies. Looks like there's a lot of Champ fans here. It isn't that Champs don't have possible issues. Being 25-50 years old, they are likely to require a recapping and a speaker upgrade. I have been very happy with Ted Weber's speakers in mine, and gig with the ribbed ceramic 8" speakers with excellent results. Champs are very easy to work on, *IF* you are comfortable with basic electronics and know the rules of safety. (They are also easy for your tech to work on.) A freshly recapped Champ with good tubes and a decent speaker is an epiphany! It's no wonder these have been and are used in the studio as a standard. Although clean specimens have risen into the $250-300 range, consider that a similar modern US-made, hand soldered point-to-point guitar combo may run almost $1000 (the Victoria 518 is now $995 http://www.victoriaamp.com/models.htm.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members laker Posted January 16, 2007 Members Share Posted January 16, 2007 Jerry show him that pic of your champs that you used to post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted January 16, 2007 Members Share Posted January 16, 2007 I'm looking at small lightweight portable tube amps and have been considering a Pro Jr. However I was at the Calif Guitar show yesterday and saw a number of 1970's Champs and Vibro Champs in the $250- $350 range. I'm still leaning towards the Pro Jr. but wondering how they compare. I'm more interested in the clean tones at moderate volume, rather than how they break up at higher volume. Any thoughts? As everyone else has said..the Champ and or Vibro champ are "Gems". That said, I think the Pro Jr. will fit your needs better. You will have no problem getting cleans at moderate volumes with the Pro. The Champ might not do it for you. Especially if you have higher output "pups". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jerry_picker Posted January 16, 2007 Members Share Posted January 16, 2007 Jerry show him that pic of your champs that you used to post. 6/8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted January 16, 2007 Members Share Posted January 16, 2007 6/8 Always cool seeing that pic'. Good stuff:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members angus_old Posted January 16, 2007 Members Share Posted January 16, 2007 they're made of pressboard and have dinky 8" speakers; they aren't worth more than a couple hundred $$ IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jerry_picker Posted January 16, 2007 Members Share Posted January 16, 2007 they're made of pressboard and have dinky 8" speakers; they aren't worth more than a couple hundred $$ IMO Lets do all we can to keep prices down! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted January 16, 2007 Members Share Posted January 16, 2007 they're made of pressboard and have dinky 8" speakers; they aren't worth more than a couple hundred $$ IMO They all aren't made from pressboard. I don't recall the year they started making them that way though. My guess would be about 76' onward. What are the Pro' Jr. cabs made out of these days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CrackerD Posted January 16, 2007 Members Share Posted January 16, 2007 Since I got my SF Champ, I have never plugged into anything else since! SICK. I wish I could pick up a nice Princeton to go with it, but I am broke right now. You might be able to find a nice Princeton for 350-400 or so, if you need a bit more headroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gorebuc Posted January 16, 2007 Members Share Posted January 16, 2007 I think its like deciding if you want a 60's or a new Mustang. Advantages and disadvantages to both. Two totally different types of investment, imo, as I think jerry_picker was saying. That said, I'm really happy with my Pro Jr as a practice/jamming amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Karma1 Posted January 16, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 16, 2007 6/8 I've seen Marshall stacks before, but now I can say I've seen a Champ stack. Very cool - nice collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paulintheuk Posted January 19, 2007 Members Share Posted January 19, 2007 Jerry, everytime I see that photo I get lustful thoughts... Be thankful you're in the states though, Champs over here are silly money and getting worse. I was lucky with mine but it's putting a real crimp on getting a Vibro! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kickash_strat Posted January 19, 2007 Members Share Posted January 19, 2007 Just won a 65 BF VibroChamp off ebay for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jerry_picker Posted January 19, 2007 Members Share Posted January 19, 2007 Just won a 65 BF VibroChamp off ebay for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members laker Posted January 20, 2007 Members Share Posted January 20, 2007 Just won a 65 BF VibroChamp off ebay for Wow good deal. You'll love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.