Fender '68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb - Ask Zac 78
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
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Fender recently surprised me with a new '68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb amp. I was honored, yet a little concerned as I had never really enjoyed single-ended (1 output tube) amps because they tended to sound small, boxy, and to have not-so-great clean sounds. I thought about contacting them to send it back, but decided I might as well plug it in. Surprise, Surprise, I was blown away by its big clean tones, fantastic tube tremolo, and sweet reverb. Fender got rid of that "little amp" sound by installing a well-voiced 10" Celestion, and further enhanced it by adding a digital reverb circuit that makes this Champ a killer grab-and-go amp.
To Support the Channel:
Tip jar: paypal.me/AskZac
Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com
Gear for this video
1967 Telecaster
Pick:
Danocaster Medium
Amp:
2021 Fender '68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb
Effects used:
Amp tremolo and reverb
#askzac #vibrochampreverb #telecaster
Wait! That’s not a Deluxe! Nice five watt moment. ;)
Indeed it is!
I love the 5 watt mentality. I sold off all but one of my Les Pauls (had 8 at one time) and sold 3 strats (had 5). But what is the secret to selling my teles. I’ve only been able to sell 2 (of the 6 that I had). I just can’t let go of how they sound through my deluxe....
@@erickmo1188 NEVER sell a Telecaster, unless it is to help someone who is becoming a great musician and pass along the mojo.
@@barbmelle3136 actually one of the two that I did sell was exactly for that... a buddy that I used to be in a band with (who is now starting his own singer/ songwriter thing) was in serious need of another guitar. He has always had the 5 watt mentality and did most of his musicianship with a 2001 Les Paul classic and a Marshall half stack. No other gear. Didn’t want it or need it. But the new stuff he’s writing needed a good tele sound. (The 498 and 500t pickups just weren’t doing it). So I recently sold him a butterscotch tele with 4 way switch and hand wound broadcaster bridge pickup for pennies just to get him where he needs to be gear wise. He makes it sound incredible and I was happy it would get some time on stage again.
I enjoy all of your videos. Here and the “lounge.” Great sounding little amp.
And love the pics at the end!
I learn from the best
@@AskZac Keith is the man... Sweet guy too.
When I played this unit at the store yesterday, I don’t think I’d ever felt more compelled to purchase a piece of gear! Bought the last one in stock. It can do that classy / glassy, but also raunches out nicely at tolerable listening levels. The amp responds extremely well to touch and to playing dynamics. Your video here was one of the ones that got the wheels in motion, and I wanted to thank you for that! Thanks for delivering such high quality content. 🍻🎸
Thank you!
I just got one of these and I really dig it, perfect for when I don’t want to fire up my Twin. At first I felt like it sounded small and boxy, and after running it through my Twin’s speakers, I quickly put it back to the 10” and realized that there is something alluring and cool about having a smaller sound sometimes. Mostly it makes me forget about the amp and fall into whatever I’m playing. Thanks for the video, Zac!
Mine comes tomorrow... I am really looking forward to this amp. I played one of these with a pickup country gig that provided the amp. It was blackface and was perfect for a quiet rehearsal with beausiful tone.
I.agree
How exactly would you play a smaller amp through the twin? I cannot seem to wrap my head around this! I have a 65 trri.
@@sixpicker82 I didn’t play it into the amp of the Twin, just the speakers.
@@Jason-nq2il I gotcha. I wanted to get the vibro champ reverb because I have a Blackface 65 Twin RI and a Tweed 59’ Bassman RI so I need a Silverface to compliment the aesthetic 😒😂🤣. I ended up picking up a used Fender Pro Jr. LTD (laquered tweed) and It is an awesome little 15 watt amp. Cannot say enough good things about it. It’s basically a 1/4 Bassman. Same speaker 🔈 anyhow. Still room in the stable for 5,12, and 22 watt fender amps!!
My favorite amp that I've ever owned was a 1976 Vibro Champ. I loved that I could crank it up unlike my Twin Reverb and get those snotty Stonesey tones that you can only get from a cranked tube amp. I've got my eye on these, its nice to know they have the "Ask Zac seal of approval"!
Coffee and Ask Zac. Good way to start morning.
Enjoy!
That’s how I start my Tuesday mornings also!
Running a bit late today ,not a bad way to start an early afternoon either.
This amp solves the limitations of early Champ/VibroChamp amps. It sounds good, it's more versatile due to 10" speaker and reverb. I've gigged this several times and it works well.
Take well pedals like Big muff?
I remember back in '67 when my dad bought me my Fender Champ amp and how I wished I had the tremolo and 'verb. Your video today Zac brought back good memories. Actually, I thought my dad, being the pastor of the church, was afraid that the sound of a big amp would not sit well with the church people if I played in the worship service (WAY back before what most churches have today). Back then, it was more of just having a pianist and organist only. .....Russell D.
I fell in love with this amp back in September of 2022 when i picked up my Gretsch Hollowbody after my local mom and pop shop converted it to using Dynasonics. It was the amp I tested my guitar our with before going home. Im excited to say I finally bought this amp the other day. The only pedal I will use with it is a Slapback delay. It covers all my bases as a home player focused on 50s RnR, Rockabilly, Country, and Blues. The wait is over!
Very cool!
Love a good champ! I get your opinion that a small amp sounds small IF you're only listening to it in person in a room. From my experience once you mic an amp like a champ or AC4 they can sound just as big as you need in a full band setting. It might not have the extended bass response of a large cab at high volume like a twin or AC30, but experienced players know that those kinds of frequencies are the first thing to get taken out by an engineer anyway. haha
you are 100% correct
Yep. The first thing any engineer is going to do with any single-coil guitar is cut everything below 100 or 150 Hz.
True that. I mic up my tweed deluxe for gigs and its honestly perfect for small bars because I can turn it up till it starts breaking. When I giged with a twin reverb so many times I had to turn down below the sweet spot. And yeah you can get away with a boost pedal or a klon or something. But it still not the same as the tube being able to breath.
Love how this episode differs.....I LOVE small tube amps....they are the beginning of Rock and Roll....I collect the Valco stuff mostly..Nationals/Danelectros/Supros....they all sound amazing, and are surprisingly versatile..
Very cool!
Its amazing how good some of those old "off brand" amps can sound. Can pick them up for 300 bucks and you got a great tone
@@tysonrinker5958 They have some of the best tone I’ve ever heard ! Sadly they have gone way way up in price..I’d buy 20 if I could find em for 300 a piece….but the odd time u will get one for a good deal..
We want “Gotta turn the verb down” T-shirts! Lovely amp!
Me, a surf player.... Sneaks away quietly.
“No charge for the clams!” t-shirt
I just bought one of these little guys ,it is a little beast 5 watts off pure clean fender,perfect for the house
Dude, that this really punches above its weight class.
It really does. Using mine a bunch.
Zac that Tele through that Champ just sings! Great little set up and your playing is always a treat! Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much!
I'm a single-coil bridge pickup type of player, and absolutely love the sound that comes out of most silver face Vibro Champs (primarily 70s-era). There is a surprising amount of top-end sparkle and clean headroom, even with an 8-inch cone. The low-end is not at all anemic either - I in fact keep it dialed back.
Love that rendition of Raunchy, I always use that when I’m trying out old guitars and amps at guitar shops!
Very cool!
"And a cheesy little amp, with a sign on the front said Fender Champ"
-Zappa
Sounds great, really impressed! Of course you always make these amps sound sweet. Love that 67 tele tone!
Thanks, Kyle!
What I always say...can’t understand why he’s not doing session work; he’s got a tone to die for and chops too....😉
Great episode Zac. I still use my red knob, Champ 12 that I bought new in 1988. According to the owner’s manual it’s 10W not 12W. Whatever, it’s just about loud enough for jam nights in a small English pub. A great sound and still my favourite of all the amps I’ve owned.
i think the 12 in champ 12 might stand for the speaker size!
The 18-watt Rivera Champs from the early 80s were outstanding. They had a very nice, sweet overdrive with nice overtones.
This little guy's sound jumped out of my phone. It's all there.
"No charge for the clams"....I can't wait to use that Zac...
I think I got that from Guthrie Trapp
I believe Danny Gatton had a similar saying...😉
We really have a lot of options in small portable amps that sound very good these days. This amp and the Quilter Aviator Cub are pretty dang impressive. Great for the Bad Back Club!
just found your channel, looove your history lessons. You remind me of a professor I had in college, stood up and just told incredible stories. Knowledge+charisma=sucks me in and I'm listening. I love it. Very cool. Like to buy you a beer and listen to some stories. Well done sir.
Welcome aboard!
@@AskZac здравствуйте...zak ! это отличная машинка...мечтаю о такой... только мне кажется...надо поставить туда динамик чуть лучше! если согласны...то посоветуйте -- какой!? привет из израиля...bro!🙂🤣🙂
I had a 1960s Vibro Champ fifty years ago and it would really shout!
You should consider attending Volume&Bassaholics anonymous because a Vibro Champ with an 8 inch speaker puts out plenty of both. The recording engineer will even still need to cut the bass. The Champ amp is the definitive Fender sound and all larger models are designed to do that sound, just louder. That’s where it started and Leo grew it, not the other way around. I should add that I love my outboard reverb tank set to 1,2, or sometimes even 3!
Great sounding amp !! I still have my '68 Deluxe Reverb that I bought from a friend in 1970.
I feel the same way about single ended amps until I started playing with bigger speakers and cabinets...Awesome videos as usual 🍻
Sounds great Zac! I think it's actually kind of nice that you could crank it up to 10 and still sit so close to it without it ripping your head off. The noise floor seemed quite low too. Awesome playing as always - the one take thing never ceases to impress me haha.
Thanks!
Well what a sweet Fender amp, and as you indicated Layla was recorded with the old school versions of these, this one is way practical!
Those old little Music Man amps will get you close too
@BlkonBlkcrimematters only thing digital is reverb I think
That amp actually sounds pretty dang cool. Great tone when cranked too. Also if you have not yet tried one, you should check out the 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb from that series. I own one and it’s a great amp. It has reverb and tremolo on both channels, a Bassman “type” circuit on the normal input channel and the bright cap removed from the vibrato channel.
Glad you mentioned the Champ 25 SE. Almost nobody knows about that amp, but it's a little beast. Sounds just like a Twin. With two 6L6 power tubes and an fx loop, it's great for using as just your power amp with whichever preamp you like plugged into the return.
Just got mine today. For a home studio I cannot imagine a better suited amp. It really sounds amazing in every way. Cleans, breakups, reverb, tremolo, with pedals. And such a dynamic amp, too. It just sounds right to my ears and taste. Don't know how many times I watched your video while waiting for mine to show up, but we're certainly up to two digits++🙂. I was lucky enough to find a mint second hand amp - they're not available anytime soon over here in Norway/most of Europe - the "220V zone". There's talk of November....
Keep those videos coming👌
I will keep them up! Thanks
@Zac: Thanks for sharing the history of the Fender Champ amp and demonstrating the new Fender Vibro Champ Reverb amp. Big improvement over the older Vibro Champ blackface/silverface amps. If I didn't own my Reverend Goblin 5/15 watt 1x12 combo amp, I wouldn't mind buying the 1982 - 1986 Fender Super Champ amp.
Been reading up on this amp. Great demo and pickin’. Killer sounds on the volume swells, too!
He "gave his life for vintage amps". During a twister. Which makes him a "vibro" "champ".
Good video. And remember, guys- never drink and drive, never text and drive! Stay safe.
Good to see the 67’ tele back in rotation..
Yes! The fizziness of this thing's breakup! Sounds like early Zeppelin to me. Yet the cleans are so sweet! I gotta have one for my channel!
Another great episode. I love your videos so much, Zac. You are a walkin' talkin' guitar pickin' Fender lovin' no BS kinda guy. That makes you my kinda guy. Thanks.
Thanks!
Thanks Zac.Fun episode Ive always had a soft spot for the Champ as it was my first amp.
Nice for what it is, just nice. Wished they sent him a pro reverb ri or super reverb.
Hey! Someone at Fender came up with a great idea. One of my 2 home-brews is a Tweed Princeton (5F2-A) circuit with a 10” alnico speaker. Adding reverb, even if it has to be digital, to a Vibro Champ is brilliant. If I were drawing up the design from scratch, I’d rather use something silicon for the tremolo and have a real spring reverb tank with a tube recovery stage. However, this demo sounds really good.
At this price point it should have a tube driven spring reverb, with a digital reverb it should be a third of the price. Fortunately i can (and have) built simple amps like this myself, a champ with trem and reverb is on my to build list. And i know how simple a device like that is, so tat this price point they should make the real thing.
I really enjoy my '75 champ. It's not a particularly valuable one, but I find it really satisfying to just plug my tele straight in.
Very good review. One of the small amps I am currently considering. "Raunchy" is the tune that sealed the deal for George Harrison joining The Beatles. You showed it in the key of A, which is a worthwhile exercise. But, the original is in D, which significantly changes the timbre. And the upstrokes are consistently on the 2 and 4 throughout.
Loving your wooonderfull videos, so smooth and high level informations.
Thank you very much about it!
Good apartment amp. Gotta be me one now. Thank you Zac for showcasing it
No problem 👍
“When I saw that it was a Vibro Champ Reverb, I was a little concerned” Real world guitarist problems! I love it (and feel the same way) Thank you Zac! Great video, as always
Hi Zac, I purchased this little badass because of you! In the past I've been a semi pro musician, i was used to play a fender 1967 dual showman and a 1983 2x10 fender concert. Now that those days are gone I needed to have that fender sound at a moderate volume here in my living room. This little guy does it in an astonishing way! That said I got someting to complain with it. The amp came to my house with many of the screws very loose causing a lot of rattle when pushed. The vibrato sounded fine but was ticking...I was about returning it to the dealer but I was in love with it so I tighten up all the screws and I swapped the preamp tubes with a couple of jj 12ax7 I had lying around. Now everything seems to work fine, but let me say that I'm really upset with fender QC, This is a quite pricey piece of gear and it should be in perfect working condition when it goes to the costumers! I love your channel, cheers from Italy!
Sorry for the issues.
Maybe just a Monday assembled amp loaded with Friday produced tubes. Today I texted fender Italy, let's see what they are gonna say, at least they should send me a new set of tubes, possibly tested. Thanks for your reply, it was really appreciated.
My trem was also ticking at first, changing the preamp tubes solved this
Turn it up to 10 and roll your guitar volume down to about 7 or 8. Big thick clean sound.
Dang, that amp costs as much as the first reissue Deluxe that I bought. For what I like as a practice amp or dropping by a friend’s house to play (sans drums) it would be hard for me to go to that Champ instead of my Yamaha THR-10C. I listened to Jon Herrington play one of these Yamaha amps and was floored. 👍 Try one, used they aren’t at all expensive (mine was $250), they have a connection with your laptop to control an outstanding compressor, a variety of amp sims, multiple effects and ability to store 5 different sounds plus the open active one... all in a pretty 7 pound lunch box with stereo speakers!
I love my pre CBS early 1965 Vibro Champ that I bought at a flea market for $50. It was totally stock but needed new caps, output tube and 3 prong cord. I use it with my $35 Moskey spring reverb pedal. My other cool small tube amp is a 60's 5 watt Kalamazoo model 2. Love the channel Zac!
Thanks!
I only just discovered this channel today, and I’m very thankful!
Although I had initially expected to be bored by all the extra information, by the end I realized it really was quite interesting.
One question (I’m a bit of a guitar beginner myself, thus also why I’m investigating such amps): what would you call the style of music which is played in that nice warm Fender tone right after the intro?
That is late 50s early 60s instrumental rock
I’ve got a ‘69 drip edge and love it. But my pedalboard needs a reverb. And now this. SO tempted. Sounds amazing.
Love the verb on this little thing. Lush and dreamy 🤤
It really is!
Awesomeness as usual. Thanks for being.
My pleasure!
Nice vid and mini lesson !
Little amp sounds good.
Love the Super Champ being mentioned.
One November '06 weekend, a shop has one.
Sounded great. Ask the Missus. Its like $400. Buy it.
Before the next weekend was Thanksgiving. Day after TG day, i stop by.
Its gone. "The seller took it home". Came to his senses i guess.
Bought a first gen 'diamond series' Blues Jr, out of a box (floor model didn't work, spkr ?).
$400 otd. Good amp.
Love my 5f1 clone I made and my 1966 Vibrochamp!
Thanks, a lot of surprises in that amp. I have a '75 Vibro Champ here at home I record through an OX. Thanks for the Buck 1/2 step info too. And thanks for bring out the thick headstock Tele ;)
Thick headstocks have a certain sound for sure. This has made me want to revisit old Champs.
@@AskZac my buddy Scott Platts who makes Stonetree guitars is the only person I know of that's built new guitars with that thickness on purpose ;) I did a record at a fancy studio in Tempe, AZ a couple years back and the guy had 3 guitar amps: a tweed Champ, a black panel Vibro Champ and a Super Champ. It was a very fun experience. Those 3 did the trick for me and sent me on the hunt for a Vibro Champ specifically.
I have the Super Champ XD and the Champ 600. The XD is very impressive 'vintage modified' series of amp, a keeper.
Very nice!
I have the SCXD and it plays very well, and is very reliable. I used to use Channel 2, but now mostly Channel 1 clean or with pedals (which it takes well). I like the sound and features of this new Vibro Champ Reverb, and with the volume up, it has an overdriven sound; provided that is not too loud that would be great. The Channel 1 on the SCXD is not too loud (even at 10), so with drive pedals in front can be played at comfortable volumes (channel 1 stays pretty clean even at 10). This new Vibro Champ Reverb could be my future project; though it costs about four times my used SCXD 😲.
Sounds amazing!
That intro was SOLID.
Thanks!
You' re really a man of good taste, like your videos a lot.
I' m a fan of small fender combos for so long now.
Call them subway amps because you can grab one and go to a club gig by subway.
I agree with you.
First thing I did when I found a good champ changed speaker with a celestion.
My favorite guitars for these amps are Telecaster and Les Paul jr.
Cheers from Germany.
Mesa already did that
Great demo. Thanks
Great demo, Zac, thx!
My pleasure!
Seems to be a really nice amp. Have to check it soon. Superb video. Thanks and greetz ✌🏼
Thanks for watching!
You play really good👍 I think i will buy this amp🍻
I have it and it is amazing
That’s a mouth full of amp to say, good review like you’re playing
Great review Zac. Thanks. I am looking for my first tube amp and this might be it.
What a nice episode. And I did not miss the merch-talk at all ;-)
As a fan of small amps.... this will be my next buy. I have a ‘70’s VC, Riviera super champ, and newer 600 champ with a 8” tone tubby 2 super champ x2’s and a Vibro Champ XD..... love the littles
I sold my Rivera Super Champ when I got a Princeton. I wish I'd kept the Rivera Super Champ--one of the all time great practice/small gig amps.
Same here - love the wee ones! I have a Victoria 518, a Swart STR Tweed, a Carr Raleigh and a Vox AC4 handwired.
Best thing u can do is get a champ kit.. maybe alrdy finished or not. Get a 1x10 Or a 4x10 cab meant for the different amps and apply the champ into any speaker setup. The benefit being the size of the sound. Volume will also increase, and there will be v little headroom which means u can get a good sound w out it being too loud. Id put a tweed champ circut into either a bassman cab w 4x10’s. Just to have a ‘mini’ bassman setup and get it dirty w out hearing loss. The best setup is probably a tweed cab w a 1x10. Perfect recording/rehersal setup.
All the things you said about Champ are true. Wish I was capable of lugging the Super.
You and me both!
It is fun trying to milk some tone from those little amps. I think them the best for studio work.
These are going for around $1200.00 Australian and if I had that spare I'd think about one. I do like 10" speakers, for some reason that I can't quite put my finger on. I must admit that I wouldn't mind finding a boxed up Fender vibro champ delivered up on my front porch. These are the problems we all wish we had, Zac.
Thanks for the episode.
I’ve had 3 or 4 70’s champs, always want another one after I sell one. This may be in the cards.
Who doesn't love a single-ended amp? Champs and Vibro Champs are the best! And I mean the real ones, not this circus board stuff :)
One sweet lil amp!! 🙌🏻🎶 love the tone...very soothing.
Glad you like it!
Glad to find this, I love small amps and your presentation and vibe is wonderful. Def subbed.. ☮️ ❤️
Extremely informative as well.
Awesome, thank you!
Would be great to have this with a 2x12 for bigger gigs
Your ‘67 is my favorite! Sounds like a great little amp. I might have to give it a try.
You should!
Great playing and a great review.
Thank you kindly!
I’m here for the no charge clams!
Hello Zac, I enjoy your show very much !
Very informative and interesting !
Denis from Québec
Thanks for watching!
@@AskZac You made me interested in telecaster I just bought an American vintage 2 51 telecaster, the neck is like peanut butter with this new nitro finish My question is what do you suggest steel wool or sand paper, what would you do ? Thanks for your time love your playing and clean tone by the way.
Was that "Invisible Sun" right after you cranked the 'verb? Sounds great!
My thought exactly!🤙
Ha... heard that too around 14:55. Same 2 chords.
I was just messing around. I do love that tune!
Another good one! Hey Zac, I'm sure this will be a very unpopular notion among your viewers, but: it'd be interesting (to me, anyway) for you to review the Fender Mustang 1 V.2 modeling amp; especially the '57 Deluxe and '65 Twin Reverb settings. Dale Watson sent me.
i have been looking for a small combo for a while & believe i just found it!
I read the review in Guitar Player & your Demo was excellent .
the 10" Celestion seals the deal, it sounds great ! ( & not too small ! )
time to give the Peavy Classic 30 a rest, my wife may even approve.....
Thanks Zac, another great episode , really enjoy your honest, thoughtful videos !!
The reverb sounds like the Catalinbread Cloak shimmer reverb pedal.
I love my Princeton even more than my deluxe. I like it’s small enough to play Ine house. I also tune down a half step on all my guitar because I love the way it sounds I guess
I'm a Princeton Blackface fan, too. It sounds great with teles, strats, and a PRS CE 24.
OUTSTANDING
Sounds great! I have a Super Champ X2. Fun little amp.
great amp
I have a X2 and just picked up a XD model that look new.
Great video, Zac! Nice to see the Sixties Tele make an appearance.
Yeah!
Every amp in the custom line is killer.
Great video! I’ll date myself, my first amp was a champ way back in 1965! Had lots of fun with it. Eventually trade it for a Gibson Scout amplifier.
thx you! good playing
Thank you!
I think the 68 reissue amps are great. I have a 68 Princeton reverb with a 10" celestion greenback and it's my favorite amp I've ever played.
Yes Celestions pair very well with Fender circuits I'm thinking K Richards was one of the first players to try that w his old Fender Twins and such Hats off good comment
That does sound fantastic
I think w the tube tremolo the digital verb is passable The new Pro sounds pretty damn good plus it uses a 15 inch Celestions I just got a Tone King amp and man have to say it's the best amp Fender never made It's a phenomenal amp and I'm very much a traditionalist It has an attenuator as well which I'm not a fan of till I heard that Ironman attenuator You should really check one out And as always great demo Z'man
Dang, gotta go to work here on the left coast. I’ll watch it tonight!
Nice hang - Two of these little rascals for a stereo setup would be fun👍😄!
That would be cool!