Is The 5 Watt Champ ENOUGH?

I recently swapped another amp for this lovely hand wired Fender 57 Custom Tweed Champ. It is a small amp, only 5 watts with an 8 inch speaker - but what can you use it for? Is it enough to be your only amp? Let's find out!
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Time Stamps:
0:00 Unusual Amp Trade
0:42 The Champ
1:46 In The Mix
3:29 Great for Recording?
4:23 How LOUD Is it?
6:59 Isolated Demo Les Paul
10:53 Isolated Demo Telecaster
12:42 With Pedals
16:05 Who is it for?
20:31 Protein Pedal Giveaway!
20:57 Pink Protein Raffle for Charity
21:59 Playing out on the Telecaster

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Hey all - please sign up to the newsletter at www.thepinkguitarproject.org/ to find out when the charity raffle will be later this year - there will be a guitar, an amp and a few pedals in the raffle!!

[@hovikmekhjian2464]

I have had a Dr. Z Z-LUX (20/40 watts) for a long time and bought a Carr Original Mercury 8 watt amp about a year or so ago. It has proven to be one of the best gear purchases i have ever made. I play at my church on sundays and always mic everything front of house. They do the stage volume being low thing too. I set my mercury up on the 2 watt setting sat next to me with one ear bud of the in ear in place. It has been the best tone/feel i've had in forever and i wasn't fighting the sound guy or the amp to get it to sound right. Single ended KT66 with a scumback J75 speaker. I still have and love the z-lux, but the small wattage carr has taken me!

[@frantisca]

No wonder the little Champ is one of the studios’ favorite amp. With the LP you sound like Clapton back in the days. I have a Pro Junior Ltd edition modded with a master volume and my goto amp is a Vox Pathfinder with reverb and tremolo. Both take pedals very well. I also acquired recently a BluGuitar Amp 1 with its NanoCab. All these can be switched separately or together via a Radial Headlight to a 2x12 with Celestions Alnico Cream and CreamBack G12M65 in case I need more headroom. Oh: and I also can plug a Marshall Lead 12 fitted with a GreenBack. Great and flexible amps combination. Cheers James !

[@Nine3nine3]

Dude you effin RIPPPPP🤘 I enjoy the licks you’re spitting out.

[@sprague49]

I love low watt amps. For years I've owned a hand wired, 1 watt Red Iron L'il Mo. I currently have it connected to an 8" Orange PPC108 cab. It's 1 watt is plenty for recording, letting the microphone and mic preamp do the heavy lifting. You can dime it without disturbing the neighbors too. Along with other pedals, I always have a graphic EQ in front of it to allow my Strat's snap and glassy shimmer to come through though, since like a Champ, there's no tone knob.

[@stoneglad]

Great and informative video, it sounds great with the pedals in front of it. I have a deluxe reverb which I love, but it’s just too loud for my apartment (my neighbors hate me!)

[@jacoblea5230]

Great review and videos, love how you show how it interacts with pedals too. Could you review the fender 68 vibro champ reverb reissue as well

[@guyicangelo7727]

Really diggin' your videos!

[@ErikSWE]

Great review and really nice playing! Always thought the 5 watt Champ would be perfect with a 12" speaker to open up the sound a bit.

[@canada11]

Great review! Sounds right up my street!

[@fredolsson8016]

man, legendary tones! and that it liked pedals seals it, now i need one...

[@nikdsh]

That solo starting at 1:47 is absolutely KILLER

[@Simon34562]

Love the sound of the small amp!

[@SergioAureo]

Sounds so good!

[@Liam20881]

James, I think you should do whatever you can to find a Benson monarch. I think this amp would suit you very well. I have one of their 1 watt Vinny and the 1 watt dizzy bird which is a Vinny with their tall bird spring reverb combined and they are amazing. I’ve played a monarch at the store and it’s the best amp I’ve played by a mile. Hopefully one day I can get one but the wait list are years :(

[@jeffsutton3674]

Great video, I love my champ!!

[@paultownsend6043]

Man i need to hear one of these in person to see if it actually sounds as good as i'm hearing here. Also love your playing man, don't know the technical terms for it, but sort of stuttery stacatory thing going on, gives it so much feeling.

[@nickjudd62]

Thanks James, nice video. I’ve got the 57 Champ (and EC Vibro Champ) and the 64 Princeton - with the Princeton (playing at home), I’m never quite sure of the sound (sometimes great, sometimes not) so I’m always distracted, plugging things in and twiddling with the controls - with the Champ, it’s pretty much switch on and play, and it sounds so… sweet, and the Tele and Strat sound and feel great. I completely agree with you about pedals (Fuzzrite for fuzz, Topanga for Reverb and Boost, Supa-Trem for tremolo) - pretty much any settings work in some way, so I hardly need to touch them. And just over four on the volume is where it works for me.

[@TheQuinnzo]

Hello, I am Paul. May I ask you a question? I have a 57 Champ, bought recently and I really like it. I would like a bit of reverb and a little more crunch sometimes though so I am considering pairing it up to a vibro champ. Have you ever paired with your vibro champ? If so how is it? I have tried pairing it with some other amps I have (box and Roland) but its isn’t really a good match. Thank you.

[@nickjudd62]

@@TheQuinnzo​​⁠ ​​⁠​⁠ Hi Paul, My Vibro Champ is the Eric Clapton tweed version (with tremolo but no reverb) and sounds very similar to the 57 Custom Champ, so pairing doesn’t provide any contrast. For crunch, I turn it up to about 6 and play harder (it really responds well to that) or I just hit a fuzz pedal. For reverb, it’s the Topanga or now an actual spring reverb (SurfyBear Classic or Compact). I have tried pairing with my Princeton but it’s such a different world, I feel it loses the point of both amps. Since writing my earlier comment, I’ve found what works for me is no pedals - just plug straight in, turn the treble to 8, the bass to zero and make all the tone adjustments on the Telecaster - I really like it - very clean but full. Hope that helps 😊

[@TheQuinnzo]

Thank you. That helps me out a lot. You’re right, two very different amps. I still really like the vibrio Champ so I’ll more than likely end up getting one but I’ll try out some pedals on my 57! I’ll also check out the pedals you wrote about Nice one 🤘🏻

[@Mark-do6te]

Great review James

[@fender0942]

I have a LHC amplifiers tweed super 5f4 handwired clone with nos parts and 2 alnico gold 10” speakers. Love that amp. I like it best at around 3.5-4 on volume and slamming it with a low gain overdrive. Super dynamic and full sounding. I run the bass and treble up pretty good too and that overdrives the amp

[@grankvarv7333]

Amazing video as always, James! Ever tried the Tone King Gremlin?

[@christophervincent8420]

Yeah, the Champs really takes pedals well. They are amazing amps. Especially for recording.

[@johnstca]

Excellent tones!

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Thanks!

[@koalabearslimes5035]

Thank you Very factual and useful

[@steveturner6770]

Fabulous sounds with that Tele. Pure blues perfection.

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Yeah, it hits the spot!

[@hgostos]

True!

[@philallen8935]

Hi James, thanks for making this video. I was using Deluxe Reverb at home through a Boss Tube Expander for recording. I decided to go down the smaller amp route and bought one of these. It has no equipment but I put a Benson pre amp in inffront of it and can roll bass off and manipulate the EQ rolling Bass os adding EQ and it sounds great. I also bought a Marshall DSL 1 watt which can go to half a watt and for recording they work great. I get a natural speaker break up which I couldn't get from the Deluxe Reverb. This amp sound great clean at home volumes...thanks Phil

[@philallen8935]

Meant to say EQ not equipment

[@philallen8935]

Also Benson Germanium Boost really lifts this amp

[@JS-nf1sn]

Great video James. Really showed how good the Champ is.

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Thanks 🙌

[@jorgetome7089]

Nice review and nice ce sounding amp

[@saltydog8913]

I have a 5 watt tweed champ built by a local builder but he built the amp around a cab from a 5E3 Tweed Deluxe with a 12 inch speaker in it. Gives it more headroom and not get so mushy in the low end so early. You should try this amp with a 12 inch speaker if you have any 1x12 cabs. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. My champ rocks with its 12 inch Celestion Blue.

[@jonasjacobsen9702]

After owning this amp for over a year now. I must say, the clean tones you get on channel 1 at volume 3 is absolutely magic. It's obviously well know for the cranked tone at 12 but damn that clean tone is underated. I'm playing in a 90s alternative rock band and it's actually holding up really well so far for small gigs.

[@efstathioszavvos4878]

At volume level 3, is it too loud to use at home?

[@mario25.11]

@hioszavvos4878 no it is barely "hearable" and only sounds huge when mic´d up. i own one and would say "home use" friendly would be input2 volume 4-5 rougly (single coil)

[@jonasjacobsen9702]

​@@efstathioszavvos4878no. Probably the best "high end" amp you could have for home use without using an attenuator on a louder amp. Works great with pedals too at that volume.

[@jonathanbaxter7509]

I have a 1976 champ that I put a new speaker in I love it for playing at home!!

[@channel8H]

Love the 5F1!

[@ericjenks9596]

James, a few months behind, but make sure this has a 12ax7, not the 12ay7 that Fender ships these with. It’s also worthwhile to find a vintage 5y3 to put in the rectifier position.

[@YeatzeeGuitar]

If you ever find a 5f2a Princeton that might be perfect for you. It's basically a champ with a bigger better sounding cab and a tone control. They're not as sought after as the 5e3 and can occasionally be found under 2k.

[@spacebarbus]

I agree. I've had one for a few years now and it is amazing.

[@shafasalsabilasafitri7919]

Love the raffle idea... hope so many people will participate in the charity 🙏 💓

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Thank you 🙌

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Sounds great with 5he Telecaster. I saw a Custom shop version with a 10" speaker, sounded fantastic without pedals.

[@JksGuitarCave]

Check out the Cornell Romany 12. It’s a 10W based on a 57 champ… but it has a 12” speaker and 4 step power reduction to 0.25W (or something).

[@neve4020]

I had the Romany & I have a original tweed deluxe & I have to say that the Romany is in the same league but for a 1/6 of the price

[@fretboarder4752]

They should rubbish like all the cornells do.

[@tobythomson8397]

Whats the noise floor like on the Romany 12?

[@JksGuitarCave]

@@tobythomson8397 Not a lot as far as I’m aware of. There is a few noise sources both at home an rehearsal places, but it’s not bothersome.

[@zhest07]

Hello! This amp is terrific! I Like In`s CLEAN tone. As to my mind it`s a great choice for vintage tipe fender guitars

[@tele100]

I have one and I run it through a 1x12 cab. The difference is night and day!

[@electropentatonic]

That's sounds amazing

[@haloskater24]

Nice playing, great Peter Green feel

[@riteshshahi156]

Congrats for the 7k subscribers mark.

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Thank you! 🙌

[@gazb2069]

They got it right in the 50s , great little amps.

[@zeroamplification]

A champ on 3.5 is a sweet sweet tone

[@JamesOnGuitar]

I think it is 4 on mine 😃 but yeah, totally man! 🤟🏼

[@erikestes8119]

How does this compare to your J10, which one is more satisfying to play?

[@evanrogerson8137]

James what's your favorite flexible combo amp so far you've owned that's capable of being played mainly for home use without sacrificing tone? I've owned a couple two rocks and the like and always feel like you aren't getting near what you would out of them even with a good master volume engaged. Also, what do you do for work that has you able to afford all these amazing amps and guitars as a hobby!?

[@JamesOnGuitar]

I’d have to go with the Lazy J J 10 🙌 love that thing!

[@humplucker2445]

Try a Marshall Class 5 version 3 for your Bluesbreaker needs.

[@neve4020]

What kind of Tele did you use? Sounds dope!

[@ericfarrell1625]

Classic little amp!

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

The best sound demo of this amp.

[@ericjames7680]

I am new to electric guitars as I play acoustic and old 1920's style rag time stuff. When looking for a surf guitar amp, most if not everyone is a club player and insist on a big amp. I will just be playing at home and do not need to replicate the original surf sound, but need something clean and small. Also I was thinking of the Fender '57 Custom Champ 1x8" 5-watt Tube Combo Amp plus I was going to get the Fender 63’ Reissue Reverb Unit Brown Tolex to go with it. How does this combo sound and playing with a Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster - Cobra Blue with Maple Fingerboard? Thank You very much!!

[@ryanbailey6900]

Tweed amps aren’t really the surfy sound. Go for a blackface or silver face fender amp with built in spring reverb

[@ericjames7680]

@@ryanbailey6900 Thank You!

[@mikewolfe9458]

I had one of these for awhile recently and really liked it. Moved it along because I have a gear trading problem 😂 I’ve got a Greer mini chief on the way now, which seems like a pretty darn cool amp in this 5W and under category. Swart makes some really appealing 5W amps as well.

[@GuyNarnarian]

I feel like a Swart with the reverb would be very close. Not sure if they make a 5 watter with reverb though. One thing I have noticed is that these amps have been around for a while and I don't see a whole lot of them up for resale (at least compared to the new Vibro-Champ and other iterations. Seems like a great amp, but I already have a Princeton and a Blues Jr. so I'd have to ditch the Jr. at least if I really wanted it.

[@francobettini71]

Amazing stuff, but i think that if you use a amp-in-a-box like the magma 57 (it's a old magnatone style tone pedal), it's impossible to understand how this amp sounds with a drive pedal. Maybe It was Better to try It with a normal drive pedal. However, with the reverb of the univerb Is stunning!

[@concertodue2145]

This video shows how the Champ really sounds and for what and who it is, congratulations! There‘s only one thing you should have mentioned: the massive hum these amps have (at least some of them including mine). You have to deal with that.

[@pesnevystek]

There should be almost no hum at all - because of the premium components used and Schumacher transformers. Try to swap your tubes with different ones. Start with a power tube in this case..

[@faethe000]

Mine doesn't have any hum. You should have a tech look at yours.

[@TommySG1]

Hey James, My thoughts on this amp are if you’re a pedal freak and you want something at home this will fit the tab. However, if you’re just playing at home a Fender hot rod deluxe for far less and even a bit more headroom will also fit your tab and far less crippling on the wallet haha! Sure… it’s not hand wired but for the price they sound really nice.

[@TommySG1]

PS ~ I still think the sounds you get out of that Lazy J are phenomenal, if my playing was at a higher level to justify it…. That would be the amp I’d buy right now 🤙

[@pugforce8315]

If you’re just playing at home the hotrod is a little too loud, like so close to the perfect volume but annoyingly not there

[@daviddelossantos6075]

Yes

[@sam-ww1wk]

My Champ clone is almost too loud ha ha. Makes me want one with an attenuator...not really. I have to stand back from it when I break it up. Even on clean it gets plenty loud. And, damn, that lp sounds absolutely killer through that thing. I'm a tele guy, but I'm now rethinking things. Killer playing, and very helpful pedal demos. Thanks

[@Danielwilkinson]

Cheers for this! Have it love it just only ever played it with humbuckers. Absolutely loved the tones you were getting out of it with the Tele and pedals! Been sitting in the corner as playing the deluxe as of late so had a chuckle at your other amp recommendation if you have this. Forgot How much I enjoy playing it. Know what I’m doing tomorrow.

[@whenvioletsturngrey9597]

I find that most tubes amps suffer from the “sweet spot” problem. Too loud for the living room &/or too loud/quiet for the rehearsal space. They never seem to be where they need to be, unless you’re recording. & they are really ideal for recording. I’ve moved over to the Tone Master Twin Reverb for most things. I can Attenuate it for whatever situation I need & it sounds awesome. Not getting rid of my tube amps but, they really are only ideal for recording

[@teleguy5699]

My Champ isn't too loud for my bedroom, (and with a wife who hates rock and roll). I turn it up and use my Tele's volume knob to get it within reason not to upset her. I live in the country with 4 acres at the closest neighbor so I don't have to worry about that. Love that little guy. Built like a tank.

[@frankswildyear]

That sad…four acres of solitude and you have to play soft to not bother your wife…

[@neilgaydon5430]

…try an original ‘57/‘58 etc, the transformer/speaker in them makes them amazing

[@nyonmarsolek146]

Hey man what kinda Les Paul do you have? It's beautiful.

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Cheers man! This is a custom shop 59 reissue 🤟🏼

[@teleguy5699]

Tele + Champ. Match made in Fender heaven.

[@billpholde4816]

Good video. Are you related to Adel, you have the same accent she does.

[@JM_Welch]

A year later, I’m wondering… Have you kept hold of it @JamesOnGuitar ?

[@JamesOnGuitar]

No - didn’t need to tbh but if I were recording something where I wanted that cranked small amp sound I wouldn’t hesitate to buy/borrow another

[@joshua0226]

I think amp sounds the best of all your amps lol. Especially with out pedals 2/3rds way up of the dial . I have a bunch of old and botique amps and my old tweed champ gets used the most

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Maybe on recordings, definitely not in the room! Found the same with a princeton - records really well

[@soapboxearth2]

I built a 5 watt princeton and it runs at 100db through a 12 inch greenback. I was suprised

[@aevans692]

the Fender 57 custom tweed champ , isn't a true hand wired amp , and its not entirely how they were made back in 57 , they do have a good sound tho , but these are still printed circuit boards and manufactured wiring looms , a true tweed champ does sound better, if you can't find a vintage one , then build one .. nice vid ..

[@tyleranderson9190]

I want to like a champ, but I find them unsatisfying to play. They sound great on recordings but just don’t have what I want when playing at home.

[@ivanameen7291]

smol but packs a punch!

[@JamesOnGuitar]

It does man! 👊🏼

[@RiotBike]

Prolly not your cup of tea but a nicely modded Epiphone Valve Jr is right up there with this

[@dannyday1984]

I hear MT Power Drum Kit 😉

[@donaldconnolly220]

yah.......its got the sound.......great players. have taste.....good blend of sound and musician.........smokey blues..... NOT A. GIBSON. FRIENDLY. AMP PERFECT. FOR. STRAT.......IT WAS DESIGNED. FOR. FENDERS....

[@teleguy5699]

Love it with my Tele.

[@76seahawk]

Small amps are the way to go.. most gigs your plugging in a PA system anyway… so the big amps aren’t always needed.

[@girotn9065]

Bro, you sound like Jimmy Page. Sweet!

[@melvage7768]

Good enough for Clapton on Layla 😎

[@philomenamusicindonesia3818]

Not my cup of tea but to each their own

[@FakeGlasses]

Audio seems panned far left for a fair amount of the video. Maybe it's just me.

[@user-sx2fg9wl8t]

$1850 u can buy the artist 5 for $200 change the speaker and valves on the artis. 500 all up new green back and russian valves. put the fender to shame.

[@graemero5532]

Sorry James. Too expensive, boxy & small sounding to my ears. For tweed type, I love Paul Stafford Cook's Cornell Romany 12.

[@jpalberthoward9]

People will scream at you to turn it down before you even plug it into the wall. All amps are too loud in the new world order. Earbuds are too loud if you take them out of your ears without shutting off your phone. Soon all speakers will be illegal. Rock and roll

[@7171jay]

@jp Maybe you should consider moving out of your parent's house.

[@jpalberthoward9]

@@7171jay My dad passed from this earth in 1976. Mom left us in 1986. I'm in my mid 60s. i like to post sarcastic comments in order to make fun of the HOA Karen world and to mock the ridiculous Fascist nightmare that 21st century Amerika has become, in the vain hope that maybe there are a handful of people left who have an IQ bigger than their shoe size. Throwing rocks at sacred cows is my way of blowing off steam. maybe you should consider waiting until brain is in gear before engaging mouth. Are you going to say "OK boomer "next? i wouldn't be surprised. it's really predictable and boring, not to mention stale.