I'm thinking about getting a valve amp for use at home and one of the options that has crept up on me is the '57 Custom Champ reissue. I would be interested to hear some thoughts on these. I know a lot of people say they are overpriced. But does the hand wired aspect make them better value than a cheaper PCB Fender? Not to mention the pine cabinet. What is the overall quality like? Reliability?
I've been looking at some of the other 5F1 type amps too. The various self build options along with Rift and Flynn have caught the eye. The Rift with a cover is a bit more than the Fender and the Flynn a bit less, but not a great deal in it. Would re-sale prices be different though? I'm buying with the intention to keep rather than sell, but it's sometimes worth taking these things into consideration. Are there others I should be looking at and how do they stack up against each other?
Comments
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
http://www.honkin-harmonica-shop.co.uk/honkin-toms-super-chump-5w-class-a-valve-harmonica-amp
Big price differential though. From the Juketone and the Honkin' Toms at around £300 to the Honeyboy which is more than the Fender! If the Fender is pricey then what are the more expensive copies?
This throws up the funny paradox for me in that I'm wary of the cheap ones for being too cheap but also of the expensive ones for being too expensive!
Victoria 518 champ would be more on the expensive side.
I've also looked at your kits @Modulus_Amps Half of me is tempted to do a self build. The other half just can't be arsed!
Not had much comment on the build quality of the hand wired Fenders. Are they decent? And how would they compare to the UK buikders quality?
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/129152/rift-tweed-5#latest
But on the other hand I have built a kit from modulus and it fantastic fun, great quality stuff and mike is always able to answer technical questions.
https://www.google.com/search?q=gretsch+champ&num=50&safe=off&client=firefox-b&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=-G-u5v8-aozCOM%3A%2CRyJXCVK-_Vy-yM%2C_&usg=AFrqEzc_91KP4ssUYfU8sq4-dUW1vCW4Gg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjbofCV--7cAhWC26QKHZQvAMwQ9QEwDHoECAEQCA#imgrc=-G-u5v8-aozCOM: