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Patrick Sweany and Laur Joamets Demo the Fender '57 Custom Champ | Fenderplay button

Patrick Sweany and Laur Joamets Demo the Fender '57 Custom Champ | Fender

Introducing the Fender '57 Custom Series Ampsplay button

Introducing the Fender '57 Custom Series Amps

Fender

collapse expand iconDescription

The Fender '57 Custom Champ 5W 1x8 tube guitar amp is a premium reissue of one of the most popular tube amps in music history. Renowned for its flexibility, ease of use and knockout tone, the '57 Custom Champ provides the classic sound heard on thousands of recordings. Now, guitarists can experience the legendary tone and performance of the original in a meticulously crafted reissue.

Authentic 5F1 Circuitry for Heightened Dynamics and Sweet Overdrive

The '57 Custom Champ features Fender's acclaimed 5F1 circuit, which has become legendary for its heightened dynamic response and sweet-sounding tube overdrive when pushed. A 12AX7 preamp tube matched to a classic 6V6 power amp tube generates the in-demand overdrive that has made this circuit a staple of recorded music. When the volume is cranked, this amp sings with the natural compression and rich even-order harmonics of a power tube working at peak output.

Weber Special Design Speaker for Classic Champ Tone

The '57 Custom Champ is loaded with an 8" 4-ohm Weber Special Design alnico speaker. Specially designed to stay true to the classic Champ sound. Compressing to create a full tone at higher levels, the speaker also ably reproduces the classic tones found at the top of the amp's volume knob.

Authentic Components and Handwired Craftsmanship

The '57 Custom Champ features handwired craftsmanship and modern sourced components chosen for their authentically vintage Fender tone, including yellow coupling capacitors that provide sparkly cleans and creamy overdrive with a smooth top end and round mids. On stage, the amp looks great while retaining the classic Champ's visual appeal—lacquered tweed, leather handle and Bassman grille cloth. In the studio, the 5-watt design means you can explore the full range of available tones without overloading sensitive microphones or your ears.

A Style-Spanning Performer for Any Guitarist

Updated components, hand wired craftsmanship and a classic circuit design combine to create the '57 Custom Champ, a style-spanning performer suited for guitarists of all types.

Open Box Fender '57 Custom Champ 5W 1x8 Tube Guitar Amp Level 1 Lacquered Tweed
Open Box Fender '57 Custom Champ 5W 1x8 Tube Guitar Amp Level 1 Lacquered Tweed

collapse expand iconFeatures

  • Power: 5W (tube)
  • Tubes: one 12AY7, one 12AX7 (preamp); one 6V6 (power amp)
  • Single channel
  • Two inputs: normal, bright
  • Speaker: 1x8 Weber Special Design with Alnico magnet
  • Cabinet Material: Finger-joined solid pine
  • Covering/Grille Cloth: Bassman
  • Handle: Vintage-style leather with nickel mounting hardware
  • Knobs: Chickenhead-style pointer
  • Protective cover included

Featured Articles

collapse expand iconReviews

4.38

21 Reviews

88%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

BIG TONE SMALL AMP
Tone Zone to the Bone
Awesome little amp, really versatile, tons of fun.

Most Liked Positive Review

5

Awesome little amp, really versatile, tons of fun.

Went to check this thing out to compare the 12ay7 preamp tube to the 12ax7 that came in my VibroChamp. Overall construction quality of the build and components still seems top notch. The 12AY7 definitely rounds out the sound a bit and I think makes for a very versatile amp overall. I don't think one sounds better than the other (12ax7 vs 12ay7) it just depends on what your looking for. This amp feels like it breaks up a hair later and does not seem to compress nearly as much as mine does when you push it past 9 or 10 on the volume knob. Like any good champ this thing can do from clean to mean, and everything in between. The amp really excels at showing off or perhaps highlighting your playing dynamics. Pick attack and guitar volume/tone control all have a prominent effect on the noise that come out of this little tweed box. A few hours of playing one of these on 12 will teach you more about your technique than any other exercise I have found. With some practice you can get beautiful singing cleans lush with overtones all the way to honking, compressed and saturated barks just by varying your picking. If you are looking for that classic tweed champ sound for home or studio its had to do much better than this without sacrificing your ability to hear in the long run. I am sure people will complain about that price of these, but remarkably this is the same price as the one I bought some 3 years ago. And compared to all the boutique clones its right on par with market value of a new, hand made, point to point 5F1, and this one comes with a fender badge and warranty. (You may notice these rarely pop up used and for good reason, so get one while ya can...) One final side note, if you like the way these sound new in store, you will love them after a few weeks of playing, the Ted Weber design speaker in these is absolutely wonderful and breaks in beautifully. Mine only seems to get better and better as its gets more and more hours on it.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

2

Quality Control Issues!

I had to send my first one back due to a buzz that only happened when plugged into input 1. After receiving the second one it also had a buzz except this one sounded like something vibrating inside of the amp whereas the other one sounded like a wiring issue. In addition, the bottom panel of the new amp is slightly warped so it rocks a little when sitting on a hard surface. I am not impressed with quality control which is really a bummer considering the price point of these amps. These were obviuos issues that upon inspection these amps should have never been shipped out.

Filters

Best Uses

  1. Home Studio12
  2. Amateur Recording8
  3. Professional Recording7
  4. Performances5
  5. Outdoor Events / Games3

Cons

  1. Buzz at half volume and above1
  2. Limited Functions1
  3. Pricey / Poor Value1

Describe Yourself

  1. Experienced9
  2. Novice4
  3. Professional Musician1

Pros

  1. Easy To Use14
  2. Portable13
  3. Warm / Comfy13
  4. Excellent Sound12
  5. Good Power Output9

Reviewed by 21 customers

  • The greatest! Fender's smallest but best.

    5

    submitted3 months ago

    byHector

    fromTN

    This is the real deal, legendary and for good reason! Pristine cleans, transition into gorgeous distortion effortlessly…. And as volume drops back to cleans. It is magical. Distortion is very harmonic. Amp is tiny and loud. Well crafted. Wanna see it perform? Check out Julian Lage's LA performance. Or listen to it on Layla, La Grange, many Stones recordings, a few Joe Walsh tunes ….

  • Great little Amp

    4

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitteda year ago

    byMark

    fromNashville Tn

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    Great practice amp, classic Champ tone.

  • Excellent portable amp with great tone

    5

    submitted3 years ago

    byCooper

    fromAcworth, GA

    Full disclosure: I am a drummer and this is my first amp. I wanted a small Fender tweed amp for practice that I wouldn't have to upgrade later. I looked at the Blues Jr, Pro Jr, and the Champ. I chose the Champ for the one knob simplicity and the hand wiring. This amp is small but loud. It can do low volume clean for bedroom practice and loud overdriven for recording/rocking out. I was surprised at how loud it can get for 5 watts. The overdriven sound that it gets is amazing and it's all in how you pick the strings. The build on this amp is high quality and very sturdy. I think I will have this for the rest of my life.

  • I Love It!

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byMichael D.

    fromColumbia, Maryland

    The quality of tone resulting from the hand wired architecture imparts a unique quality that responds to you. I have only begun to explore the nuanced selection of available tones from this little magician.

  • Nice amp, a classic; wish I could have kept it.

    4

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted4 years ago

    byBobby H

    fromWashington DC

    Great sounding amp and well made; wish I could have kept it. A bit too hissy and a little bit of a buzz/rattle when I turned it up to 7 and couldn't find where it came from. If I really wanted to keep it I would have invested in a tube upgrade. Had a JAN 12AX7WA and a JJ but the preamp tube wasn't the issue. Guitar is a PRS Paul's Guitar 10 top. May invest ina Swart Spacetone Atomic Jr or a Victoria 518 or 5112.

  • As stated before quality control issues

    3

    submitted5 years ago

    byco425

    fromSacramento Ca

    Amp sounds awesome at low volume. Anything above halfway has an annoying buzz. It is not the speaker or the cab. I connected it to my mesa 4x12 and the buzz was still there. You are not getting that blues breaker sound out of this one with out an annoying buzz. Sent it back unfortunately.

collapse expand iconQ&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • submitted5 years ago

    asked byZach

    fromTacoma wa

    Can I plug headphones into this amp?

    Can I plug headphones into this amp?

    Open Reply - Beau
    Headphones cannot be used with this amp.

  • submitted5 years ago

    asked byKJ

    fromundisclosed

    Where is this amp made?

    Where is this amp made?

    Open Reply - Beau
    This amplifier was made in Mexico.

  • submitted6 years ago

    asked byJoseph

    fromCalifornia

    I'm seeing different specs on this amp. Here it says it has one 12ay7 and one 12ax7, but Fender's website says it has only one 12ay7 tube. I already ordered this amp and I'm wondering if this is a mistake on guitar centers website?

    I'm seeing different specs on this amp. Here it says it has one 12ay7 and one 12ax7, but Fender's website says it has only one 12ay7 tube. I already ordered this amp and I'm wondering if this is a mistake on guitar centers website?

    Open Reply - Kenneth
    Item Dimensions 24 x 14 x 14 in