waltertore
1123 posts
Feb 25, 2011
10:33 AM
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I have begun fooling around with amplified harp after a 31 year layoff. Back then I was playing in band contexts and used the classic fender, kalamazoo, gibson, tube amps. Needless to say those amps have all left my possession. They weren't classics back then, just good reliable gig amps. I use a princeton reverb reissue for my guitar and hve been running my harp through it these past couple weeks. I like the sound but don't want to invest that kind of money in a harp amp. I have used a real 50's tweed champ in the past and wonder how this amp compares to that and the silver face champs/vibro champs? For $150 the reissue champ looks like a good deal. Thanks. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,600+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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Cisco
176 posts
Feb 25, 2011
11:32 AM
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Walter,
I have a Champ 600 and a 57 Tweed Champ RI. The 600 can be a good harp amp by changing the preamp tube from a 12AX7 to a 12AY7. The 600 has a smaller 6" speaker which can break up nicely but doesn't have the tonal qualities of an 8" speaker. Still for the money it is a great little tube amp. I think it would works for your needs.
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joshnat
114 posts
Feb 25, 2011
11:57 AM
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Hi Walter, I've got a Champ 600 that I've done a lot of circuit, speaker and tube mods to. It sounds pretty good now, but I wasn't too happy with it stock.
I used AlnicoMagnet's mod kit to make it more like a 5F1 champ (also pentode/triode modes, standby switch and others), installed a Weber alnico 6" speaker and am using a 1950's RCA 6v6 and a NOS 12AY7 preamp tube. Ugh, when I think about the $$ I've put into this thing over the last 3 years, it kills me! But I enjoy using it for practice...never for gigs.
For almost the same money new, I think the VHT Special 6 is a much better deal and sounds a million times better stock.
Oh, by the way, my Champ 600 is available for purchase if interested!!
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MJ
255 posts
Feb 25, 2011
12:07 PM
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I agree with joshnat on the fact that the 600 needs a few mods to make it a good harp amp. However a simple tone stack bypass,better tubes than the stock Chinese ones will give you an Ok harp rig for not too much money. That said, I only use mine for practice. I will note that I have also rebuilt mine to a PTP amp with Rectifier tube and 8" speaker. But I digress, you were inquiring as to a stock 600 Champ. The VHT 6 would most likely be a better buy.
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Joch230
432 posts
Feb 25, 2011
12:25 PM
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Another option would be the $169.00 (Musician's Friend) VOX VT30 that Brandon uses. Brandon did a nice review of it too on his YouTube channel. I just got mine two days ago. I like it. Really nice sound options for the guitar too.
-John
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upstate
45 posts
Feb 25, 2011
12:52 PM
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i dont know anything about the vox vt30 except that its on sale now for 129 bucks at guitar center while supplies last
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MJ
256 posts
Feb 25, 2011
1:12 PM
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I have never had great experiences with Vox for use with a harp. A bit too "chimey" and bright for my taste.
I know I had mentioned that the VHT6 would be a good choice, but I would think a 600 would be better than a Vox. Walter, since you are a one man band, you should not have a hard time getting the drummer to not overpower a smaller amp. A Kustom Tube 12A is also an inexpensive good harp amp. I have one and like it.
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waltertore
1124 posts
Feb 25, 2011
1:54 PM
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thanks guys! I play no louder than a speaking volume. I need to play that quiet to keep all the instruments from bleeding into each others mics for my recordings. When I play a small club I have my own small pa and if I play a larger venue things get mic'd. So volume is no issue for me :-) I never have liked the sound of vox amps. I am pretty much a fender guy all my life. I think it is time to go to the dreaded guitar center. I will take a champ vox, and whatever else that is cheap, in a quiet room and see how it sounds. Tonight I am going to try and run my harp mic ($5 homemage tie clip mic mounted on my harp rack with a modified beer can cooler or empty toilet paper roll) direct into a RNP (really nice preamp by FMR). I am curious as to what the sound will be. If it is 1/2 decent I will probably play around that first. I hate guitar centers. Lord I hate those kind of music stores but they are the only show in town that gives you no hassles on returns. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,600+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Feb 25, 2011 1:55 PM
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Matzen
30 posts
Feb 25, 2011
2:06 PM
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I was happy to find a Champion 600 for $100, but I really didn't like the way it sounded (at least not stock). I'd suggest VHT Special 6. It can be had for $185 including shipping and sounds WAY beter than the Fender out of the box.
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