Flowmaster_G
Joined: Nov 09, 2006
Posts: 140
Los Angeles, California
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Posted on Apr 11 2007 03:21 AM
In the past I've used my Crate Power Block + 12" celestion cab for practice. You can turn it way down but still sounds good (unlike with a similarly powered tube amp). Can't beat the portability even with the Crate cabinet (small). The Powerblock has an awesome tube-like tone...can't tell it's electronic. And it's the size of a large alarm radio-clock.
g
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Klas
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2310
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted on Jun 02 2007 05:13 AM
Occam
I bought the new Fender Champion 600 which is actually more tweed like but for $200 for a brand new tube amp that looks as cool as it does it's bound to be useful for something but I'll probably still be looking for a nice home surf amp.
image
I too just bought the new Fender Champion 600 "vintage modified" reissue of the 1949-53 original and like it a lot. Very cool and a really good sounding little practise amp with a solid quality feel. They cost a little more than $200 in Europe but still well worth the price.
image
1950 original
— T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S
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WR
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
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Posted on Jun 02 2007 07:29 AM
music store professional webstore has it for E175
nevermind, how's the tone compared to bigger fenders, and hows the volume.
I have one of the small epis and am considering adding another (or rather, the E98 version Thomann is offering now) but Im torn, the Fender is just way cooler.
— Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."
https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/
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Flowmaster_G
Joined: Nov 09, 2006
Posts: 140
Los Angeles, California
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Posted on Jun 02 2007 09:23 AM
Im in Barcelona now and I picked-up a Roland Cube for 110 Euros. Has good onboard reverb (all digital, duh). It's not my 66 Showman nor my 63 bandmaster back home, but it's a great sounding little solo practice amp.
I brought with me a Speedster travel electric guitar; it fit in my suitcase!! The headstock is down where the pu is, in the body and has a removable armrest so it's super compact although the neck is thicker than my VM-110. It's a full-sized nec, very Gibson-like. One pu, bridge-only.
I must say it's a nice temporary rig. The amp stays here until next summer; I have another Cube waiting in storage for me in Berlin for July 
g
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Klas
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2310
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted on Jun 02 2007 10:30 AM
WR
music store professional webstore has it for E175
nevermind, how's the tone compared to bigger fenders, and hows the volume.
I have one of the small epis and am considering adding another (or rather, the E98 version Thomann is offering now) but Im torn, the Fender is just way cooler.
I bought mine from Thomann for EUR 185 ($249) + shipping.
I think the tone compares well with my experience of bigger Fender amps although the small 6" speaker of course has its limitations. The volume should be more than enough for apartment playing when pushed.
— T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S
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WR
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
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Posted on Jun 02 2007 12:28 PM
I see a european type 200 and I assume it's euros. it's 'cause Im a blind dork, you put the $ in front. I didnt see them listed at thomann though, I like buying from them, great store. I use other ones too though, depending on who has what.
thanks for the info. I was actually more concerned it might be too loud, as the epi defintely is. If they both had been available when I bought the epi Id have chosen the fender I think, even for a bit more money.
— Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."
https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/
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Klas
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2310
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted on Jun 02 2007 01:56 PM
It wasn't listed on their Swedish site and I had to buy it from their German one:
http://www.thomann.de/de/fender_champion_600.htm
The reason I used $ was because I was refering to the original poster who mentioned he paid $200 for his.
— T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S
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Occam
Joined: Mar 11, 2007
Posts: 61
Alameda Ca
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Posted on Jun 03 2007 10:11 AM
They're not that loud and they stay really clean even cranked on the low-input. I haven't played the Epi one much but it seemed louder in the store and my only other small tube amp is a 7-watt Matamp which sounds a billion times louder...that thing can be heard over a block away if I leave my window open. I really like the clean tones here...run with a reverb tank it sounds very cool. Not as much snap and that deep bassy "boooong" of a high wattage black face but it makes me quite happy for jamming around the house.
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tenderfoot
Joined: Feb 01, 2007
Posts: 308
Ellicott City, Maryland
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Posted on Jun 03 2007 11:23 AM
I have a Princeton Chorus. I obviously keep the chorus off. But the amp sounds pretty good for a practice amp. You can get them on ebay for about $200 I think. It is solid state which is not the traditional set-up, but it really has pretty nice shimmering clean surf sounds.
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Fripperton
Joined: Aug 14, 2006
Posts: 270
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Posted on Jun 04 2007 10:51 PM
I have an old 1965 Airline amp. It's an all tube point to point wired amp that can generally be had for under $200. It would work great. In fact I have used it on smaller gigs. It uses 2 6V6 tubes and a 12" speaker like a Fender Deluxe and has an amazing tremolo with a great throbbing sound. I lucked out and found mine at a yard sale for $25.
— There is Surf east of Sepulveda.
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Klas
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2310
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted on Jun 05 2007 03:31 AM
WR
I was actually more concerned it might be too loud, as the epi defintely is.
The Champion 600 sounds surprisingly good at really low volumes. Works well with my Weber attenuator, too.
image
— T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S
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Laphillyboy
Joined: Jan 15, 2007
Posts: 107
Lost Angeles
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Posted on Jun 05 2007 06:17 PM
I gotta rave about my fave new little amp - it's a Vintage Harmony H304A - only about 6 watts with a 10" SPeaker (mine has a Weber Classic Alnico) and I gotta say I think it sounds great. Nice and clean til about 3 then nice and bluesy after that. These little Harmony amps actually ARE pretty cheap - I go t mine for $100 but I got a great deal - you see them all the time going for about for $150 - $200 on eBay. The H303 is similar but it only has an 8" speaker and no tone control - it's more like a Champ.
As far as small cheap SS amps - I highly recommend the VOX Pathfrinder 15R - the reverb is not so hot but it sounds terrific and also has tremolo and a speker out and hedphone jack etc. I got mine about 2 years ago and I now have 5 amps so I am selling this one on CL - they go for well under $100 used and are a good deal - they also look pretty cool - very vintagy and small enough to toss in a car or just about anywhere.
Those Princeton Chorus amps sound pretty good too - they're very clean and the reverb is pretty nice for a solid state amp - and i've seen therm for as low as $150 on CL over the years - but if you have the option a litle tube amp really is the way to go. I've got 3 of them and also have a coupls SS amps.
Jim C
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-Bong-
Joined: Jun 16, 2007
Posts: 34
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Posted on Jun 16 2007 10:03 PM
Chopper
Here I go again mentioning the Fender G DEC. For home practice/fun its a blast. Plug a cd player into it with some cool surf cds an have a ball. Details at there website. I'd recommend the 15. Built in tuner, phrase sampler, midi compatability, drums, bass etc.
Its not tube, I know I know!
I got a Fender FM25DSP too so shoot me I love the 'Fender' I get out of that little solid state amp!
I dig playing loud with headphones, at home, along with cds and hundreds of great guitar backing tracks I've accumulated over the years.
Just my 2 cents. My experience with these two amps have been great. If I lived on a farm away from other folks (ie. lotso land) I'd have me a Twin for sure, and a mess of guys over to jam on a weekly basis
Or if I just had a grand sitting around I'd have a Fender tube amp too. Theres gotta be a million like me. These little practice amps are cropping up like weeds. They'll always be the guy in his house who loves to play for a hobby
The pros will tell you you gotta get a tube amp. I'm just a home player and happy, for now, with Fenders solid state amp options. I'd vote Fender either way.
Again, just my opinion. I feel like when I mention Fender solid state here I'm looking for a good flaming lol.
Occam, look around on this site..theres a lot of great advice on amps!
Peace
Chop
I get all the vintage gear smack. We don't all play in bands! If I could afford it... the gear I would buy!
I'm with Chopper here... & the dude who mentioned the little Vox.
I will add another: Roland Microcube. Those little guys are wonderful family room/bedroom players. Lots of tones there (yes, Surf) & they sound great.
I luv teh Surf... anyway I can get it. 
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CC
Joined: Jun 14, 2007
Posts: 20
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Posted on Jun 22 2007 12:50 PM
Klas
Occam
I bought the new Fender Champion 600 which is actually more tweed like but for $200 for a brand new tube amp that looks as cool as it does it's bound to be useful for something but I'll probably still be looking for a nice home surf amp.
image
I too just bought the new Fender Champion 600 "vintage modified" reissue of the 1949-53 original and like it a lot. Very cool and a really good sounding little practise amp with a solid quality feel. They cost a little more than $200 in Europe but still well worth the price.
image
1950 original
I also bought it. Nice pix by the way. I like it and are thinking of build a external speaker, I think two 10" alnicos in 4 ohm. Tested a 12" 8 ohm, but that didnt do it. No wolume at all. Have anyone tryed to use an external speaker?
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jp
Joined: Feb 09, 2007
Posts: 917
Brew City
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Posted on Jun 22 2007 03:57 PM
I use a Fender Pro Jr at our practice space. It sounds good at low volumes and gets loud enough to be used effectively at band rehearsal. No reverb or tremolo, but sounds great with my RI reverb tank and trem pedal.
At home I have a Vox AD15 that can dial in a lot of different sounds and has a headphone jack for those late night bursts of inspiration.
— The Exotics 1994-Current
The Chickenshack - www.wmse.org
www.thedoghouseflowers.com
www.uptownsavages.com
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Mrgreen
Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 351
Toronto, ON
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Posted on Jun 26 2007 12:10 AM
Maybe try the Fender Frontman 15G it has a reverb version but since you got reverb covered you won't need it, I have the 25 watt version with reverb and it works nicely.
— Augusto Vite
www.facebook.com/carne.y.cosas
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gusto
Joined: Sep 22, 2006
Posts: 234
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Posted on Jun 27 2007 06:14 AM
If you can find a Reverend Goblin jump all over it, they sound AWESOME and i think will be collectible.
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gusto
Joined: Sep 22, 2006
Posts: 234
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Posted on Jun 27 2007 06:35 AM
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RobbieReverb
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2392
San Jose, Ca.
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Posted on Jun 28 2007 12:28 AM
gusto
If you can find a Reverend Goblin jump all over it, they sound AWESOME and i think will be collectible.
I second that. I could not be happier with mine.
Bob
— Bob
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Samurai
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2294
Kiev, Ukraine
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Posted on Jul 16 2007 05:22 AM
Got Laney LC15R and Fender Champion 600
so happy with the second one that going to sell Laney, it has some nice surf tones too but nothing compares with Fender...and I can drive it all the was up and the neighbours do not complain:) need to buy some reverb unit, I guess...
— Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine
https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki
Lost Diver
https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin
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