I love this guy ... he's all nonchalant and he's like shooting flames with his guitar ..cheapo gear and ..he's like no ego...sorta like a mechanic telling you stuff he rules
I spent most of today doing just that and ran several overdrive pedals, both generic and "boutique" through it. Yes, they sounded good - this is one of the best practice amps I've ever seen. The amp responds well to having the tubes driven, and was warm and expressive, both with chords and single notes. Its small speaker size and limited output, ideal for a practice amp, take away a bit of the "character" of the pedals, but that is part of the trade off of not getting blown away by my Twin.
Thanks for a great amp review! You did a superior presentation without the usual dabbling on with useless facts and information; much appreciated. The audio clarity was also good enough for me to accurately "test drive" the amp voicing, too. Too bad Fender didn't provide a simple foot-switch for two select-able gain settings; say a gain knob for each of the two settings so that you could at least run lite and heavy. That would have made it more versatile, but it's still a great amp! UPDATE: I purchased a used cherry Vibro Champ XD and I like it. I do have some "quack" at certain settings and levels with an SG Pro, but I think a speaker upgrade will improve that; also looking at the tube selection and upgrade on the pickups, too. Fenders are typically voiced, via the gain stage blocking capacitors for more treble and they preference single coil pups. Anyhow, I'm still very happy with the amp.
thats a total of $400.00 worth of gear... Just proves people spend to much time worrying about gear and not enough time practicing!!!!! Good job brother great Demo
These are really nice little amps. They were only made about 3 years but if you can find one certainly worth buying. Voice 1 compares very well to vintage Champ tone. Great demo and playing.
i just got this amp yesterday. i plugged the cable for the speaker into my Marshall cabinet 4X12(JCM 800 LEAD-1960) and sound is outstanding! more defined... Perfect for my apartment. I will keep this combination forever. Cool thing is that it is so easy to plug the combo speaker back for night time playing.The cleans are way more colorful than my 100 watt Marshall Valvestate head that was previously plugged into the cab. I LOVE this Vibro! Go TUBE!!!
fantastic demo, i bought this amp just because of this demo. literally finished watching it and went straight to guitar center's website and ordered one. secondly, you are a fantastic player. really great stuff, i wish i could see your hands better so i could see what your doing exactly.
Bought one after watching this. The head nods sold me. Sounds killer though. Swapped the speaker. Biggest downside which really isn't is the overdrive channels have to be fairly loud to get a kick ass tone imo.
Damn!! This is actually the best amp review ever! He is just showing the amp, and not playing expecting we say "wow such a great guitar player", he seems just think "such a great amp sound"!! PS.; He is a great player. Loved the vid guy! Cheers!
They are blowing this discontinued model out for about $150. I bought two. One for the studio, one for the living room. I love 'em. Get 'em before they are extinct. BTW: They come with a Fender 12AX7, which is an edgy Sovtek 12AX7WC with extra selection, and a Groove Tubes GT-6V6-C, which is a selected Chinese V6V. Together they dial in mellow clean to scorching hot. I just ordered a couple of Tung Sols for one of them and Genalex Gold Lions for the other. Can hardly wait to hear them.
haha amazing... the first clean tone could just as well be a 2000 dollar boutique amp :) had this amp for a while, but didn't have enough experience to praise it enough... Really the best 5 watt amp out there, esp on voice number 4. took pedals like anyhting :) will buy one again for practice :) for reference, I have been through really anything, and have settled on a vibrolux for live use.. this is close at much lower volume :)
Dude thats not the best review for a fender amp ...... its the best review i`ve ever seen. Awesome playing (good amp by the way - just bought one). Every video is worth its time. Thanks for pos(t)ing ;)
If you ever heard a vintage Kustom Solid State amp, you'd know that solid state is not unlike tubes. Remember, tubes are also just filaments of wires in a vacuum. The real magic is not in tubes, but in contemporary modelling. And it costs a whole lot less too...
@ragingLIAM Yup I even use it for jazz. Just a heads up to everyone that reads this though, you can't use this amp with a drummer. Not loud enough for a whole band. But I still love it, great tone(s).
@joriszsz I assume you mean the XD models, as a Vibro Champ and Super Champ do have a few differences. The Vibro Champ XD and Super Champ XD though are pretty much the same in my books. Aside from the 10 watt difference, the VC XD has a smaller 8" 4 ohm speaker, the Super Champ has a 10" 8 ohm. The Super Champ also has a straightforward clean channel, which I believe is pure tube, but I've heard everything on that one haha. The tones might be slightly altered due to speaker size, both are great
Ha, was that a little of Paul Gilbert's "Frenzy" you were playing there towards the end? Nice demo. Methinks I might just go out and get me one of these.
I like how you went from gain 5 up to gain 10 every so often but am left wondering how the gain at 2 sounds for the voices. Oh, well, clean guitar's out of fashion and I want this amp anyway.
Even in a real vintage Champ, the sag isn't caused by the rectifier. In class A operation the tube runs at 100% all the time and there is no current lag from the rectifier no matter how cranked/hard you play.
Awesome demo man. Thinking of getting this, but the only thing holding me back is the lack of a headphone jack... Does it sound good on really low volume?
@bluesclaudio056 O.K.....I just came back. Cool is relative, right? I am an old dude and I think it is cool. Your mileage may vary. But, it is loud enough for my wife to hear in the yard, but not obnoxious. You don't have to crank it way up to get it going, either.For me, it is the best of all worlds without having to spend a ton of money on a ton of gear. Hope this helps! Go try one out in the store, if you can.
is the Vibro XD considered a hybrid? I've read that only the Super XD is hybrid. I'm a bit confused. Maybe the DSP and the amp simulations circuit act before the pre amp valve. Am I missing something ??
@1984acl if fender hires him, we won't be able to listen how $200 non-fender could sound so good. instead we'll see like a relic or custom shop strat that cost 15 times more than one shown in the vid :( ....and troll over it
Would I be crazy to say you can better buy this amp instead of a tubescreamer/blues pedal even though its a few 100dollars more especially if you dont want more watts...
hey people someone know if it's possible to connect a footswitch for the channel to this amp ? cause I want to buy it but I need to connect a footswitch
@gjdud12 yea...i spent so much on my american guitars...and I knew what Ibanez sounded like...but like most Americans..I shop by price tag...if it costs more...IT MUST be better!!!??!!???
Mark Chaplin 4-5 watts RMS can still be loud. You could always put a 6k6 tube instead but you'd have to change the cathode resistor to something bigger like 1k.
Gabo Palacios , I use this with a "bad monkey" tube overdrive. I swapped the 8" speaker with a Fender 10". I tried with my 64 Fender Strat Plus and my Les Paul Studio with 490 pickups. I love this little beast. Clean tones sound great, lots of vintage voices, and overdrivrn tones are mind bending. Love this little beast.
well it all depends on the player but that ibanez is cheap so cheap i have the same amp and use cheap guitars fender mustang squier cyclone and a ibanez omar
I love this guy ... he's all nonchalant and he's like shooting flames with his guitar ..cheapo gear and ..he's like no ego...sorta like a mechanic telling you stuff he rules
snuffelsuf haha love it “shooting flames from his guitar” ! I love how he is feeling it! I am looking to get one of these second hand.
I spent most of today doing just that and ran several overdrive pedals, both generic and "boutique" through it. Yes, they sounded good - this is one of the best practice amps I've ever seen. The amp responds well to having the tubes driven, and was warm and expressive, both with chords and single notes. Its small speaker size and limited output, ideal for a practice amp, take away a bit of the "character" of the pedals, but that is part of the trade off of not getting blown away by my Twin.
Thanks for a great amp review! You did a superior presentation without the usual dabbling on with useless facts and information; much appreciated. The audio clarity was also good enough for me to accurately "test drive" the amp voicing, too. Too bad Fender didn't provide a simple foot-switch for two select-able gain settings; say a gain knob for each of the two settings so that you could at least run lite and heavy. That would have made it more versatile, but it's still a great amp! UPDATE: I purchased a used cherry Vibro Champ XD and I like it. I do have some "quack" at certain settings and levels with an SG Pro, but I think a speaker upgrade will improve that; also looking at the tube selection and upgrade on the pickups, too. Fenders are typically voiced, via the gain stage blocking capacitors for more treble and they preference single coil pups. Anyhow, I'm still very happy with the amp.
This guy has a good ear for amp technology !
thats a total of $400.00 worth of gear... Just proves people spend to much time worrying about gear and not enough time practicing!!!!! Good job brother great Demo
this guy is awesome at what he does,show you the actual abilities of the amp,instead of noodling aimlessly for hours.
These are really nice little amps. They were only made about 3 years but if you can find one certainly worth buying. Voice 1 compares very well to vintage Champ tone. Great demo and playing.
Voice 4 is a very nice deluxe reverb sound too. I've always heard that on the 1 channel versions, that voicing 4 was basically a bypass.
@@BreadandFaxes bypass is 16 I think
im a Marshall stack guy but im getting one of these, nice!!! awesome amp to warm up with , great sound
i just got this amp yesterday. i plugged the cable for the speaker into my Marshall cabinet 4X12(JCM 800 LEAD-1960) and sound is outstanding! more defined... Perfect for my apartment. I will keep this combination forever. Cool thing is that it is so easy to plug the combo speaker back for night time playing.The cleans are way more colorful than my 100 watt Marshall Valvestate head that was previously plugged into the cab. I LOVE this Vibro! Go TUBE!!!
fantastic demo, i bought this amp just because of this demo. literally finished watching it and went straight to guitar center's website and ordered one.
secondly, you are a fantastic player. really great stuff, i wish i could see your hands better so i could see what your doing exactly.
Bought one after watching this. The head nods sold me. Sounds killer though. Swapped the speaker. Biggest downside which really isn't is the overdrive channels have to be fairly loud to get a kick ass tone imo.
A great watch!!!..really enjoyed it!!
Damn!! This is actually the best amp review ever! He is just showing the amp, and not playing expecting we say "wow such a great guitar player", he seems just think "such a great amp sound"!!
PS.; He is a great player. Loved the vid guy! Cheers!
nice job pal,
it convinced me this is the way to go.
good one.
They are blowing this discontinued model out for about $150. I bought two. One for the studio, one for the living room. I love 'em. Get 'em before they are extinct. BTW: They come with a Fender 12AX7, which is an edgy Sovtek 12AX7WC with extra selection, and a Groove Tubes GT-6V6-C, which is a selected Chinese V6V. Together they dial in mellow clean to scorching hot. I just ordered a couple of Tung Sols for one of them and Genalex Gold Lions for the other. Can hardly wait to hear them.
I picked one of these up on CL here in Austin for 70 bucks. GREAT little amp.
Great demo, thank you! Great playing and great sounds!
thats a great demo, I want that box!
Man this guys demos are awsome. dude! let that hair grow down your back you know you want to!
haha amazing... the first clean tone could just as well be a 2000 dollar boutique amp :) had this amp for a while, but didn't have enough experience to praise it enough... Really the best 5 watt amp out there, esp on voice number 4. took pedals like anyhting :) will buy one again for practice :) for reference, I have been through really anything, and have settled on a vibrolux for live use.. this is close at much lower volume :)
Dude thats not the best review for a fender amp ...... its the best review i`ve ever seen. Awesome playing (good amp by the way - just bought one). Every video is worth its time. Thanks for pos(t)ing ;)
Great review and amp
Got one yesterday...Sam Ash $149 less a $15 coupon...can't be beat.
This guy is so rock he points at stuff like that 🤙
I love my Champ. I can't play like this demo, but it makes me a better man. :^)
If you ever heard a vintage Kustom Solid State amp, you'd know that solid state is not unlike tubes. Remember, tubes are also just filaments of wires in a vacuum. The real magic is not in tubes, but in contemporary modelling. And it costs a whole lot less too...
I have one and my only wish is it needs a headphone jack and a little more control over the F/X
7:10 is awesome! :D Love this guy.
@ragingLIAM Yup I even use it for jazz. Just a heads up to everyone that reads this though, you can't use this amp with a drummer. Not loud enough for a whole band. But I still love it, great tone(s).
i'm buying one cause of this. :) Agree with 1984acl, you should get hired. :P
this is a good "spam" thanks for a great demo
Love my XD!!!
Thanks for great review.
wow that guy rocks out..cool
@joriszsz
I assume you mean the XD models, as a Vibro Champ and Super Champ do have a few differences. The Vibro Champ XD and Super Champ XD though are pretty much the same in my books. Aside from the 10 watt difference, the VC XD has a smaller 8" 4 ohm speaker, the Super Champ has a 10" 8 ohm. The Super Champ also has a straightforward clean channel, which I believe is pure tube, but I've heard everything on that one haha. The tones might be slightly altered due to speaker size, both are great
yup i just bought one because of this guy.
he is so stoned :D great tunes man yeah!
Great demo
Great Job !!!!!!!!!!
great demo
Ha, was that a little of Paul Gilbert's "Frenzy" you were playing there towards the end?
Nice demo. Methinks I might just go out and get me one of these.
he looks that he smells something bad when he plays
many thanks
I like how you went from gain 5 up to gain 10 every so often but am left wondering how the gain at 2 sounds for the voices. Oh, well, clean guitar's out of fashion and I want this amp anyway.
Even in a real vintage Champ, the sag isn't caused by the rectifier. In class A operation the tube runs at 100% all the time and there is no current lag from the rectifier no matter how cranked/hard you play.
WRONG!!! BUTNICE TRY....LOLOL
great
Awesome demo man. Thinking of getting this, but the only thing holding me back is the lack of a headphone jack... Does it sound good on really low volume?
@CampfireHedphaz thx. and yeah, I meant the XD models...
Sweet !! Thanks.
you rock!
Very good review. Thanks a lot. Great tone.
You think this amp can handle a rehearsal with drums?
@bluesclaudio056 O.K.....I just came back. Cool is relative, right? I am an old dude and I think it is cool. Your mileage may vary. But, it is loud enough for my wife to hear in the yard, but not obnoxious. You don't have to crank it way up to get it going, either.For me, it is the best of all worlds without having to spend a ton of money on a ton of gear. Hope this helps! Go try one out in the store, if you can.
is the Vibro XD considered a hybrid? I've read that only the Super XD is hybrid. I'm a bit confused. Maybe the DSP and the amp simulations circuit act before the pre amp valve. Am I missing something ??
@1984acl if fender hires him, we won't be able to listen how $200 non-fender could sound so good. instead we'll see like a relic or custom shop strat that cost 15 times more than one shown in the vid :(
....and troll over it
what amp voice was you using at 8:40? thx excelent review.
Would I be crazy to say you can better buy this amp instead of a tubescreamer/blues pedal even though its a few 100dollars more especially if you dont want more watts...
Hi, you still have it today?
How do you feel it is holding up against it's modern digital competitors like the Katana, Code etc?
this is pretty much a tube amp with amp modeling, right? you still have to change the tubes and whatnot, correct!
what's wrong with using it for a gig?
damn... it made ma want that cheap-ass motherfer
hey people someone know if it's possible to connect a footswitch for the channel to this amp ? cause I want to buy it but I need to connect a footswitch
How does this amp react with a overdrive like a tubescreamer?
Can this take a wah FX pedal?? Wanna know before I buy one!
@gjdud12 yea...i spent so much on my american guitars...and I knew what Ibanez sounded like...but like most Americans..I shop by price tag...if it costs more...IT MUST be better!!!??!!???
This dude looks like Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys
WHO IS THIS GUY :ROCK ME LIKE A HURRICANE...lol....Im serious :he's a rocking mothereffer
does anyone know exactly what guitar that is????
I only use mine for #16acoustic and #2baseman
just bought one, no sound any diagnosis sites recommended
8 minutes in and he finally makes a sound? no...
Is the Vibro Champ the same as the Super Champ, just 10w less?
@Nimrod9458 at least it has 15 instead of 5 watt
@superlou1s John Frusciante? Geez. if you don't like his looks there's no need for name calling.
What is the guitar ?
Do they sound good at sensible volumes (bedroom level)?
Mark Chaplin 4-5 watts RMS can still be loud. You could always put a 6k6 tube instead but you'd have to change the cathode resistor to something bigger like 1k.
How many watts is this amp?
have you tried this amp with overdrive pedals? did you like the sound of it?
Gabo Palacios , I use this with a "bad monkey" tube overdrive. I swapped the 8" speaker with a Fender 10". I tried with my 64 Fender Strat Plus and my Les Paul Studio with 490 pickups. I love this little beast. Clean tones sound great, lots of vintage voices, and overdrivrn tones are mind bending. Love this little beast.
well it all depends on the player but that ibanez is cheap so cheap i have the same amp and use cheap guitars fender mustang squier cyclone and a ibanez omar
is the super champ xd better than this?
@matty2time
relax ;)
go to the local shop and play some 200$ ibanez with hss setup
@frodobaggins2012 i believe 5
Too many umm
Can you get an authentic tube overdrive with this amp?