Fender '68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb - Ask Zac 78

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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:

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

[fivewattworld]

Wait! That’s not a Deluxe! Nice five watt moment. ;)

[scoobers]

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"!

[FairchlldMusic]

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. 🍻🎸

[Dang...]

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.

[KBYAF]

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. D.

[middle_pickup]

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

[dustinarnold]

I just bought one of these little guys, it is a little beast 5 watts off pure clean fender, perfect for the house

[carlitobrigante]

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.

[Jason-nqil]

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!

[nationalduo]

Love how this episode LOVE small tube amps....they are the beginning of Rock and Roll....I collect the Valco stuff all sound amazing, and are surprisingly versatile..

[jimparker]

I had a 1960s Vibro Champ fifty years ago and it would really shout!

[haydenrab]

We want “Gotta turn the verb down” T-shirts! Lovely amp!

[billnelson]

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!

[cmmnsenserules]

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.

[rustydelorean]

Coffee and Ask Zac. Good way to start morning.

[edwither]

😊I have a 64 Vibrochamp. I love it!...I use a boss 65 FDR pedal for reverb. The original speaker was shot so I put in a Jensen Mod 8"...sounds good & works good for me.I usually play with a lot of overdrive.

[richardross]

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!

[carl-erikeriksson]

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👌

[LoveOneAnotherHeSaid]

I like the Fender Vibro Champ XD a lot - I'll buy from anyone who doesn't like them. Very useful small studio friend.

[piggycity]

Love that rendition of Raunchy, I always use that when I’m trying out old guitars and amps at guitar shops!