Agreed, The Fender Champ 40 watt I purchased recently just for what it is! A light $200 or less solid state amp that works for cheap. The Fender Blues Jr. is a great tube amp in my opinion. I’ve been a Peavey amp fan since the 80’s myself and this Fender just works for a working man on a budget.#Fender🎸🔥🔊🤘🏻
I play surf guitar. Really wanted a fender tube amp, but purchased this one instead on the advice of other players. I use an external reverb tank (surfy bear) and a Boss RC5 Loop pedal. I think that this amp is great for the money and ease of gigging. Thanks for posting
4:57 Stock Speaker, Clean Channel 5:40 Stock Speaker, "Tweed Deluxe" 6:08 Stock Speaker, "BF 65 Deluxe" 6:43 Blues Jr 7:13 How to change the speaker 8:09 Jensen C12Q, Clean Channel 8:44 Jensen C12Q, "Tweed Deluxe" 9:14 Jensen C12Q "BF 65 Deluxe" I did not EQ the amps to my personal taste. All knobs (Volume, Gain, Bass, Treble, Spring Reverb) are set to 5 on both amps.
The stock vs. C12Q speaker difference in the tweed Deluxe mode raised an eyebrow for me. That’s quite a change in texture, for the better, in my opinion.
I'm not a huge fan of the Mod series tones compared to the Ceramic series. However, a good speaker will definitely help bring out the good tones of the Fender Champion amp.
This is really interesting and helpful I'm in a similar situation where I have a champ 25, a hybrid amp but the tube half is in the power amp section and although it's only 25watts I can't get it past three before it starts shaking the house lol so I guess no power tube overdrive for me. I normally run it on one. The distortion is horrible on the amp but the clean is good so I've been tubeifying the tone with a tech 21 clone, was thinking maybe upgrading speaker to a Jensen like you've done, the amp only cost me £70 which is prob about the same as you paid for yours. Lots of stuff to think about anyway. Thanks for the informative video. Cheers!
I've played the champ 25 before. They're a cool lesser known Fender amp. I like the champ 40 for what it is: a good reliable, inexpensive solid state with clean tones that takes pedals well. There's a shop by me that has a used Fender pro jr (all tube, 1x10 with Jensen speaker) I'm thinking of picking up. They want $349 for it, which is about half the price of a new one. More than I paid for the champ 40, but probably closer to the tone of the blues jr. I've also heard great things about the "Tone Master" series, but they're $900-1400 depending on which one you get. I just love a good clean Fender tone.
@@puck247e yeah I looked at those tone masters and they seem pretty cool but if your going to spend that much money you might as well go all in on a real Princeton reissue or a Tweed 5e3, you'll just end up comparing it to the real thing anyway lol. Nice speaking to you. Cheers from across the pond!
My pickup selectors are taped down so they're always in the same position. The digital amp voicing really does change up the tone quite a bit. I usually only use the clean channel of the Champ 40 when playing live. Hope that helps.
The modeling on the Champ 40 is not my favorite. The clean channel with the right EQ is much better and really lets the Jensen speaker shine compared to the stock one.
@@puck247e That makes sense. I think the special design speaker has to be a "jack of all trades" to work with the modeling aspect of the amp so there are sacrifices in tone to get there. Thanks!
Tone is one thing but unfortunately, weight is part of the formula for me. I have a a Deluxe which is great but need something very light for travel and can stand falling down a flight of stairs. Ha. But I was also wondering how loud the 40 is compared to the BJr. 40 W solid state should be about 12 W tube but maybe I'm wrong.
The Champ 40 is plenty loud for the gigs we play. The tone will never be as good as a Fender Tube amp, but the weight is nice. For the price, you can drop a few of them down the stairs and not worry about it.
@@puck247e That is what I'm thinking. Solid State = a tank, and light weight, and if loud enough then a winner. I'm willing to sacrifice a bit of tone for that. I guess I don't have to if I wanted to pay for a Tone Master.
I ordered the champion 40 today. I'm putting a 70 watt mojotone greyhound,its a hybrid of a celestion and a jenson(English rock tone meets American clean). I have 2 greyhounds in my fender champion 100,great upgrade but its over 40 lbs and too loud for tge smaller venues.
I felt the speaker change made a significant improvement that your clean playing accentuated. Thanks for this.
Thanks, Bob!
Agreed, The Fender Champ 40 watt I purchased recently just for what it is! A light $200 or less solid state amp that works for cheap. The Fender Blues Jr. is a great tube amp in my opinion. I’ve been a Peavey amp fan since the 80’s myself and this Fender just works for a working man on a budget.#Fender🎸🔥🔊🤘🏻
I've got a Peavey bandit that I use for lap steel/tele. I love a good Peavey!
Great video, thanks for sharing! Even bigger thanks to providing a link to your website!! I listened to a bit of "Cowgirl Surf" and enjoyed it!
Thank you! Really appreciate that. Glad you liked the new stuff.
I play surf guitar. Really wanted a fender tube amp, but purchased this one instead on the advice of other players. I use an external reverb tank (surfy bear) and a Boss RC5 Loop pedal.
I think that this amp is great for the money and ease of gigging. Thanks for posting
Do you have the rack unit or the compact surfy bear? I'm sure the champ 40 and real spring reverb unit sound great together.
4:57 Stock Speaker, Clean Channel
5:40 Stock Speaker, "Tweed Deluxe"
6:08 Stock Speaker, "BF 65 Deluxe"
6:43 Blues Jr
7:13 How to change the speaker
8:09 Jensen C12Q, Clean Channel
8:44 Jensen C12Q, "Tweed Deluxe"
9:14 Jensen C12Q "BF 65 Deluxe"
I did not EQ the amps to my personal taste. All knobs (Volume, Gain, Bass, Treble, Spring Reverb) are set to 5 on both amps.
The champ sounds better than blues Jr. I already knew that though..
You’re the real hero for this
The stock vs. C12Q speaker difference in the tweed Deluxe mode raised an eyebrow for me. That’s quite a change in texture, for the better, in my opinion.
Cool video!!! On my champion 40 I replaced the speaker baffle with a plywood and put in a ten inch eminence hempcone!
I'm sure it sounds great!
Really, I have a 10 " eminence copperhead I might try.
Hi,
Great comparison !
I've champion 20 and I consider Jensen Mod speaker.
I'm not a huge fan of the Mod series tones compared to the Ceramic series. However, a good speaker will definitely help bring out the good tones of the Fender Champion amp.
Great comparison video man! Thanks.
This is really interesting and helpful I'm in a similar situation where I have a champ 25, a hybrid amp but the tube half is in the power amp section and although it's only 25watts I can't get it past three before it starts shaking the house lol so I guess no power tube overdrive for me. I normally run it on one. The distortion is horrible on the amp but the clean is good so I've been tubeifying the tone with a tech 21 clone, was thinking maybe upgrading speaker to a Jensen like you've done, the amp only cost me £70 which is prob about the same as you paid for yours. Lots of stuff to think about anyway. Thanks for the informative video. Cheers!
I've played the champ 25 before. They're a cool lesser known Fender amp. I like the champ 40 for what it is: a good reliable, inexpensive solid state with clean tones that takes pedals well. There's a shop by me that has a used Fender pro jr (all tube, 1x10 with Jensen speaker) I'm thinking of picking up. They want $349 for it, which is about half the price of a new one. More than I paid for the champ 40, but probably closer to the tone of the blues jr. I've also heard great things about the "Tone Master" series, but they're $900-1400 depending on which one you get. I just love a good clean Fender tone.
@@puck247e yeah I looked at those tone masters and they seem pretty cool but if your going to spend that much money you might as well go all in on a real Princeton reissue or a Tweed 5e3, you'll just end up comparing it to the real thing anyway lol. Nice speaking to you. Cheers from across the pond!
My Champion 40 has way too much bass for some reason on the clean channel, the tweed and others are much better but still too much bass.
Not sure. Mine isn't too bass-heavy. Especially now with the Jensen.
"on my left we have my wife"
Yep. On the left we have my wife...'s go-to speaker. You missed the rest of the video with the important stuff tho. Have a great day!
@@puck247e no i did watch the rest that quote just triggered my stupid sense of humor
During the tweed deluxe comparisons, it sounded like a different pickup position was used… weird- any chance that might’ve happened?
My pickup selectors are taped down so they're always in the same position. The digital amp voicing really does change up the tone quite a bit. I usually only use the clean channel of the Champ 40 when playing live. Hope that helps.
I like Jensen speakers but the speaker change didn't help. I wonder if the modeling got in the way.
The modeling on the Champ 40 is not my favorite. The clean channel with the right EQ is much better and really lets the Jensen speaker shine compared to the stock one.
@@puck247e That makes sense. I think the special design speaker has to be a "jack of all trades" to work with the modeling aspect of the amp so there are sacrifices in tone to get there. Thanks!
Tone is one thing but unfortunately, weight is part of the formula for me. I have a a Deluxe which is great but need something very light for travel and can stand falling down a flight of stairs. Ha. But I was also wondering how loud the 40 is compared to the BJr. 40 W solid state should be about 12 W tube but maybe I'm wrong.
The Champ 40 is plenty loud for the gigs we play. The tone will never be as good as a Fender Tube amp, but the weight is nice. For the price, you can drop a few of them down the stairs and not worry about it.
@@puck247e That is what I'm thinking. Solid State = a tank, and light weight, and if loud enough then a winner. I'm willing to sacrifice a bit of tone for that. I guess I don't have to if I wanted to pay for a Tone Master.
It's hard to tell you're playing sucks
only thing that sucks is your attitude. feel free to post a video on your page with you playing. I'll wait.
still waiting...
@@puck247e You’re a legend man haha!
I ordered the champion 40 today. I'm putting a 70 watt mojotone greyhound,its a hybrid of a celestion and a jenson(English rock tone meets American clean). I have 2 greyhounds in my fender champion 100,great upgrade but its over 40 lbs and too loud for tge smaller venues.
@@texasbeatdownmusic1636 Sounds like it's gonna be a fun little ripper!