Author Topic: Seeking new set up... Opinions on Silverface Fender amps? (Read 4369 times)

.50 Caliber Bob · « **on:** July 16, 2007, 08:42:41 PM »

Hi people,

Sorry for always starting threads, and never actually providing input into anyone else's, I just feel vastly under-qualified thats all!

I'm in the market for a new set up (to replace my Spider II *shudder*)

No matter what my aspirations are, if I am honest with myself it is just going to be for home use (no band jams are even on the distant horizon at the moment!)

I thought I had decieded on a new set up, which was going to be budget but simple & tastefull... Fender Champion 600, with a bad monkey and a verbzilla in front of it. (Also going to get a boss loop station to jam along with myself...)

I was 100% set on this until I did far too much research on the champion 600 and stumbled across silverface fender amps (which I am sure you have all been well aware of for years).

There are a few of these on Evil-bay at the moment, and was just wondering what peoples opinions of them are (or indeed of the champion 600). I am only interested in the smaller ones, the champs or the vibrochamps, as anything else would be too loud for my purposes. I know that they are probably going to be quite expensive, (I'm guessing £300+..., but dont really know).

As always, any input would be great,

Sorry for another "help me out thread", as much as I don't want to be the annoying newbie, I know I always am! :-S

Bob

PS - My guitar is a '62 reissue MIJ non-import strat, and I play indie, and rock. Nothing really high gain at all to be honest, just nice and clean, crunchy, and overdriven.

Elliot · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2007, 09:12:20 PM »

I always considered Silverface amps had a bad reputation - but then again so did 70s telecasters and they are going through the roof. If you want Fender (and I applaud that, so no metal boy snobbery from me) have you considered a Fender Pro-Junior: it can do bedroom, has a 10" speaker, and can go from clean to highish gain well.

I'd love to give views on the Champ 600 - but they'd be all second hand. I have a NOS 6V6 and Jensen MOD 6" speaker waiting for one when they are generally in stock.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2007, 09:53:21 PM »

The earlier Silverface amps are better before CBS totally screwed with them though they can all be modded to Blackface specs fairly easily. I had a SF Twin with JBLs around ten years back and it was a GREAT amp but needed to be cranked to 8 on the volume to sound crunchy (i.e. very loud). Something like a Deluxe Reverb would've be better in hindsignt (only 22w).

Rather than a SF combo, why not go for a tweed-era clone? - a Tweed Champ would satisfy your needs a give you some crunchy overdrive at sane levels.

:twisted:

dave_mc · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2007, 10:37:24 AM »

Quote from: .50 Caliber Bob

Sorry for always starting threads, and never actually providing input into anyone else's, I just feel vastly under-qualified thats all!

doesn't stop the rest of us (i.e. me)! :lol:

I have no idea about silverface fenders...

Brow · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2007, 06:04:07 PM »

If all you're wanting it for is home practise/jamming then I'd seriously consider a Matamp Little Rock or Minimat :)

.50 Caliber Bob · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2007, 06:07:14 PM »

After reading up on the silverfaces, I'm now leaning back towards the little diamond of a Champion 600 (which I played in Soundcontrol the other day, and whilst not "blown away" by the tone, think that for the price it will be the best for me, and as a bonus its really cute too!)

The silverface ones tend to get glowing reviews from what I have read, but for the most part, these are from experienced modders, who tweak the circuit, exchange components, etc etc. As I am a bit scared to even change the tubes when I get a champion 600, I dont really want to be poking around in a 35 year old amp!

Edit: Have considered the Mini-Mat for ages, and whilst I am very tempted by it, its just so expensive compared to the other alternatives, I'd need to get a small cab for it, so I'm guessing the total cost will be £500, where as I can get the Champ 600, Boss RC50, Verbzilla, and Bad Monkey for about £500. It the matamp really worth 4 times the price of the champ...

Though thinking about it more makes me want one more, argh! Not enough money for anything! :-S

Elliot · « **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2007, 06:23:28 PM »

Have you considered this guy's modded Epi Valve Jnrs - if they do what they say on the tin, you get a good bedroom amp:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HOT-ROD-EPIPHONE-VALVE-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-AMPLIFIER-AMP-JR_W0QQitemZ140139335029QQihZ004QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Colin Johnston · « **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2007, 06:36:49 PM »

I love my SF Champ. A great wee amp and because they were so simple they didn't get "improved" by CBS/Fender and didn't suffer too much through cost cutting. If you can get one of these mini tone-machines - do it! It'll be an amp for life and will only appreciate in value.

Philly Q · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2007, 11:21:06 PM »

Quote from: Elliot

Have you considered this guy's modded Epi Valve Jnrs - if they do what they say on the tin, you get a good bedroom amp:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HOT-ROD-EPIPHONE-VALVE-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-AMPLIFIER-AMP-JR_W0QQitemZ140139335029QQihZ004QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If, as you say, they do what they say on the tin I want one! The guy's eBay feedback is flawless so he must be doing a good job. Mind you, pricewise they're not too far from Little Rock territory.