Destin
57 posts
Aug 05, 2013
2:52 PM
|
I have not tried it but I bet this is a sweet amp for harp.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ECVibroChamp?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=none&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CK2J7bWj57gCFatj7Aod4zUA6A
It's a fender with an 8 inch speaker
|
Harpaholic
320 posts
Aug 05, 2013
11:42 PM
|
I'm sure its a great amp for guitar, and might be good for harp, but 1K for a bedroom amp? I don't see the logic?
|
Kingley
2978 posts
Aug 06, 2013
12:12 AM
|
It's a Fender Eric Clapton Vibro Champ. Basically a normal champ with an added vibrato circuit. Very expensive, but then of course you're paying for the name. A champ is a great little amp for harp. You can buy secondhand Fender Champs for anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to a couple of thousand. You could also buy a Harpgear HG2 for $840 or you could buy a VHT Special 6 for $240. They are all variations of the basic Fender Champ circuit.
|
HawkeyeKane
1932 posts
Aug 06, 2013
9:00 AM
|
What kinda pisses me off is that the EC Vibrochamp is the ONLY true Champ circuit still being manufactured and sold by Fender right now. All the others (Champion 600, '57 Reissue, Vibrochamp XD) have been discontinued, and the only new Champ available now is a grand. Fender better either have something in development, or rethink their marketing strategy on this one.
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
Rick Davis
2196 posts
Aug 06, 2013
9:12 AM
|
The Champster from Lil Dawg Amps
I know Bruce Collins at Mission Amps is planning on producing a pure 5F1 tweed amp for harp called the Memphis Mini. It will sell for less than the Harpgear HG2.
----------
-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Aug 06, 2013 9:18 AM
|
Kingley
2984 posts
Aug 06, 2013
9:28 AM
|
Fender could easily have a tweed 5F1 built in China with point to point wiring and retail it for the same price as the VHT and still make bucket loads of profit. Of course they never will because they want people to pay a premium for the name. Even if they decided to build a 5F1 point to point wired in China. They'd be unlikely to sell it for much less than a HarpGear HG2. If I were buying a Champ style amp today my money would either go to VHT or on an amp kit that I could build and tweak myself.
|
HawkeyeKane
1933 posts
Aug 06, 2013
9:49 AM
|
There are a few other Champ clones for sale out there right now. The Special 6 and Ampeg GVT5 come pretty close too. Still, it seems silly of Fender not to continue selling one of their most popular amp circuits of all time.
Blues Luggage - The Sonny Boy
Chickenhead Amps - F51 Little Juke
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
Rick Davis
2197 posts
Aug 06, 2013
9:52 AM
|
I've played the Blues Luggage Sonny Boy amp. It's fun; sounds good. It's made by a friend here in Denver, Buzadero's bro.
----------
-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
|
Rick Davis
2198 posts
Aug 06, 2013
9:53 AM
|
Clark and Victoria both make very fine Champ clones.
----------
-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
|
HawkeyeKane
1934 posts
Aug 06, 2013
9:53 AM
|
Kendrick makes one too, don't they Rick?
EDIT: Nevermind. Found it.
Kendrick Model 118 Practice Amp
----------
Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Aug 06, 2013 10:04 AM
|
Rick Davis
2199 posts
Aug 06, 2013
10:05 AM
|
Lots of good choices out there, but nothing from Fender.
----------
-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
|
HawkeyeKane
1935 posts
Aug 06, 2013
10:17 AM
|
"Of course they never will because they want people to pay a premium for the name."
Well, in this case, I can KINDA see the method behind that. It's probably not so much the Fender name as it is the EC badge. But remember the '57 Reissue from a few years ago? It went for the same damn price!
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
Kingley
2985 posts
Aug 06, 2013
10:25 AM
|
"But remember the '57 Reissue from a few years ago? It went for the same damn price!"
Because Fender want you to pay top dollar for the name Fender. The same way that Levi or Apple do. They want you to believe that you're buying into a piece of American history and a certain lifestyle. When all you're really doing is making their corporate shareholders richer and letting them have the last laugh on you. The reality is that most of their products are made extremely cheaply in the Far East. Fender simply make even more profit out of it, than someone like VHT do. The only way to reverse that trend is to stop buying their products. Over the years I've bought a few new Fender amps. I won't be doing that again. I'll support small companies making good products like VHT if I ever buy another new amp. The only way I'd buy a Fender amp now is if it was secondhand and a bargain price.
Last Edited by Kingley on Aug 06, 2013 10:33 AM
|
HawkeyeKane
1936 posts
Aug 06, 2013
10:33 AM
|
The only high dollar Fender I might consider these days is the '57 Bandmaster reissue. Tons of class behind that thing.
On another note....one Fender amp I don't think I've ever seen mentioned by anyone on here is the Vibro-King. Has anyone ever tried one with harp?
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
