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mooseherman « Practice amp, nothing more. Not your Dad's champ! »
Published on 08/23/11 at 11:22This is a solid-state amp designed to simulate a classic Fender amp. The original champ was all-tube, and was many players' beginner amplifier in the earlier days of Fender. There is a double 1/4" input, as well as a 1/4" footswitch input and a 1/4" external speaker output. As indicated by the name, the amp puts out 30 watts. The amp is two-channel (Normal and Drive). The Normal channel has one volume knob while the drive has knobs for Gain and Volume. There is a switch on the amp to change channels as well as footswitch capabilities. Rounding out the amp includes a three-band EQ and a spring reverb knob.
UTILIZATION
This amp is really a practice amp, or an amp that can only be used when playing rhythm for a jazz group that plays cocktail music. Simply put, it's a quiet amp. Therefore it's great for practicing, especially if you are in an apartment or anywhere where noise is going to be an issue. With both channels it does a decent job of covering a wide range of tones. Obviously pedals are necessary if you want any effects besides reverb.
SOUNDS
This amp doesn't really sound all that great, however. It's solid-state and doesn't have a whole lot of wattage to make up for its lack of tubes. Everything sort of comes out thin and lifeless with this thing. Even with pedals this amp really doesn't quite cut it tonewise for me. I would never, ever think of gigging with this amp or recording with it. This is simply for plugging in so you can hear yourself rehearsing a song or running scales. For that purpose, it's sufficient.
OVERALL OPINION
I like the convenience and portability of this amp. I don't like its tone one bit. As I said before, I don't know if there could be any reason for a seasoned pro to buy this unless they wanted an amp in every room of their house, or their child was learning how to play. It's not an expensive amp to buy, especially used. I've never heard of one being blown out or worn out either, so it's definitely durable as well. Overall, I'd say only purchase if you need an amp strictly for practicing and already have your gigging and/or recording amps on lockdown.
UTILIZATION
This amp is really a practice amp, or an amp that can only be used when playing rhythm for a jazz group that plays cocktail music. Simply put, it's a quiet amp. Therefore it's great for practicing, especially if you are in an apartment or anywhere where noise is going to be an issue. With both channels it does a decent job of covering a wide range of tones. Obviously pedals are necessary if you want any effects besides reverb.
SOUNDS
This amp doesn't really sound all that great, however. It's solid-state and doesn't have a whole lot of wattage to make up for its lack of tubes. Everything sort of comes out thin and lifeless with this thing. Even with pedals this amp really doesn't quite cut it tonewise for me. I would never, ever think of gigging with this amp or recording with it. This is simply for plugging in so you can hear yourself rehearsing a song or running scales. For that purpose, it's sufficient.
OVERALL OPINION
I like the convenience and portability of this amp. I don't like its tone one bit. As I said before, I don't know if there could be any reason for a seasoned pro to buy this unless they wanted an amp in every room of their house, or their child was learning how to play. It's not an expensive amp to buy, especially used. I've never heard of one being blown out or worn out either, so it's definitely durable as well. Overall, I'd say only purchase if you need an amp strictly for practicing and already have your gigging and/or recording amps on lockdown.