anbu94
6 posts
Mar 16, 2011
5:34 PM
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I was at guitar center picking up a new harp and I decided to ask about some amps for harps. The guy recommended this amp to me and made it sound like it was the bee's knees. but as someone who has worked in retail, I know he could be blowin smoke to make a sale. Has anyone here heard of or use this amp? and if so, would you recommend it as a first amp?
thank you ^_^
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Champion-600-5W-1x6-Combo-Amp-104298815-i1173138.gc
Last Edited by on Mar 16, 2011 5:35 PM
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shbamac
106 posts
Mar 16, 2011
5:50 PM
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Stock it's an okay amp for harp. I've got one that I put an 8" Weber, a few simple mods and tube swap (a must) and it screams. Has a unique tone.
But for a first amp I might go with the VHT Special 6. Much better stock than the Fender.
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jonlewandowski
16 posts
Mar 16, 2011
5:56 PM
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I agree with shbamac...have played both...own a VHT Special 6...it blows the Champ out of the water for harp!
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LSB
23 posts
Mar 16, 2011
6:14 PM
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And the VHT's Special 6's are showing up on Craigslist now for around $150. barely used. I could have saved 25% if I had waited about 3 weeks and kept searching CL. Still, love mine, even if I did pay the "full" price of $199.
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OzarkRich
412 posts
Mar 16, 2011
9:29 PM
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I have one with a Weber 6", tube swap and bypassed tone stack. I really like it.
If you're coming to HCH II, I'll have three of them for sale, still in the box ($140 each).
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Ozark Rich
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Last Edited by on Mar 16, 2011 9:29 PM
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Matzen
77 posts
Mar 17, 2011
1:49 AM
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I didn't care much for the Fender. I could of had one for $100, but passed it by for the VHT @ $185. I heard that if you swap out the chinese tubes for beter ones they sound ok? I've also heard a lot about noise problems (I think it has to do with the wiring on some)? I think that "Alnicomagnet" on Ebay has some mod kits for these.
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LIP RIPPER
400 posts
Mar 17, 2011
3:45 AM
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I picked one up the other day at the pawm shop, used. I had a sylvania 6v6gt and rca 12at7 to put in it so I swapped tubes out. I really like the break up using a sm57. It doesn't sound that way with my other mics. I'm curious about adding the weber and the possible mods.
LR
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jonlewandowski
17 posts
Mar 17, 2011
4:42 AM
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I swapped the tubes...RI Tung Sol 6V6 and a vintage RCA 12AX7, as well as an Eminenece "Ragin" Cajun" speaker...HUGE difference in tone and projection...
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joshnat
119 posts
Mar 17, 2011
6:00 AM
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I have the Champ and the VHT. The VHT has much superior bottom end but you can't beat the Fender for portability and looks (the VHT is heavy for a 6 watt amp!). Alnicomagnet on the Bay has mods for both that bring a lot of very good bottom end which the Fender really needs. You could actually gig the VHT but the Fender is just too little and too shrill at highest volumes IMHO. Perfect for practice though.
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MJ
266 posts
Mar 17, 2011
8:17 AM
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I own one that I picked up for $70 on Craigslist. I put in an 8" speaker and gutted the pc board in favor of true PTP wiring with a few mods to fatten the sound. It is sounds great and is a very good portable throw and go practice amp.
However from what I have read about the VHT Special 6, It is a good amp to consider. It has eyelet board circuitry and would be easier to work on. It gets good reviews and is not too expensive. I have considered one but really have too many amps as it is.
Last Edited by on Mar 17, 2011 8:26 AM
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LIP RIPPER
401 posts
Mar 17, 2011
9:13 AM
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Are you guys enlarging the speaker hole to fit the 8"?
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HarpNinja
1227 posts
Mar 17, 2011
10:20 AM
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If you EVER plan to play the amp with other instruments, the VHT is a much better idea. I played through the Fender a few times and while it was tonally ok, it sounded awful with a band.
However, if you are just using it to practice at home, the Fender is a good deal.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
Updated 3/17/11
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MJ
267 posts
Mar 17, 2011
12:06 PM
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I built a new baffle-board for my 8" replacement. The speaker needs to be repositioned a bit to fit. It also gives you the opportunity to replace the sound stopping grill cloth with something more efficient.
HarpNinja, you are right in that this is not meant to be used with a band, unless there are no drums and you are playing a coffee house.
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bluzlvr
421 posts
Mar 17, 2011
2:52 PM
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I just played through a Champ the other night at a jam (not sure which Champ it was).
The sound coming from the harp players ahead of me was a little thin to my ears.
I got up there and plugged in my new Shaker dynamic mic for the first time ever. (I bought it as a back- up for my two now non-functioning, need to get repaired JT30's.)
I looked back at the settings on the amp and cranked up the bass a little bit and over all was fairly pleased with the tone I was getting.
It felt wierd to use that little mic after years of using the bullets.
I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a Special 6 after all the raves I've been hearing. I just wish I could try one out someplace.
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myspace
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MJ
268 posts
Mar 17, 2011
3:01 PM
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You were using a regular SF Champ I believe. They are pretty good harp amps, especially after having a Tweed mod done to them. It (the mod) pretty much eliminates the tone stack, changes the feedback circuit, toys with the bypass cap on the preamp tube and a couple of other things. Not the same as the Champ 600 re-issue that anbu94 is talking about. I would say it is a few notches above the Champ 600 IMHO.
Last Edited by on Mar 18, 2011 7:49 AM
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harpoon_man
15 posts
Mar 18, 2011
5:38 AM
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I've played both the Champion 600 and the VHT Special 6, and I'll call a spade a spade here and say the Champion 600 in its stock configuration is a piece of junk to my ears. The tone is one-dimensional, thin, and generally wimpy... not to mention it is not loud enough and sounds underpowered.
On the other hand, the VHT is loud, fat, and full right out of the box.
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Matzen
83 posts
Mar 19, 2011
5:42 PM
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@harpoon_man: I have to agree with you.
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Oisin
769 posts
Mar 20, 2011
2:43 PM
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I have an unmodded Fender champion 600 and I love it. I haven't tried a VHT so can't compare them but I have tried many other amps and I'm very happy with the tone I'm getting from the fender. Some mics do sound better than others through it but then that's the same for any amp.
I do want to get VHT though after hearing so much good stuff about it. They are about the same price as a Fender here in the UK.
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Oisin
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FreeWilly
85 posts
Nov 28, 2011
12:27 PM
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I know, old thread. But a new question!
Is this the VHT everyone's talking about?
http://www.thomann.de/nl/vht_avsp16_special_6_valve.htm?sid=9ef902d0fd59f859f291d0d30aec0c9f
It's 40 euro's cheaper than the Fender Champ 600 or the Gretsch 5222??????
Can that be?
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Calvin
17 posts
Nov 28, 2011
5:35 PM
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I was gonna say that another tube amp you should check out in that price range is the Epiphone valve jr combo.
I got one for around 150. Sounds good to my ears, even unmodded.
But looking online now I can't find anyone selling them. Are they out of production?
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