Supro 1606 Super vs 57' Fender Champ RI

[Cinegoat]

Hey Guys,

I'm looking for a compact, <5W combo amp to take with me when I'm away from home, jamming at friends, or just generally don't want to lug my 40lb Supro Black Magick Reverb around.

I've looked at the Supro 1606 Super for a while now, but I just got the chance to buy a used but mint 57' Reissue Fender Champ Tweed for the same price as the Supro.

Anyone own/played either and can chime in?

 

[Cjsinla]

Not sure about the circuit in the RI but my tweed Champ clone would be perfect for that.

 

[slagg]

Tough choice, either would be cool

 

[Cinegoat]

Not sure about the circuit in the RI but my tweed Champ clone would be perfect for that.

PM with details on the Champ Clone. I'm curious.

 

[Cinegoat]

Looking at specs, they have the same output tubes, same wattage, same speaker size, and simple, 1 knob circuitry. I want both!

 

[Cjsinla]

PM with details on the Champ Clone. I'm curious.

It was the Mojotone kit but I had them put in a 10 inch baffle and I used a Weber 10a125 alnico speaker.

https://www.mojotone.com/kits/TweedAmpKits_x/Test-Tweed-Champ-Amp-Kit

 

[Cinegoat]

It was the Mojotone kit but I had them put in a 10 inch baffle and I used a Weber 10a125 alnico speaker.

https://www.mojotone.com/kits/TweedAmpKits_x/Test-Tweed-Champ-Amp-Kit

View attachment 335449

Very nice. Did you have them build it for you, or did you wire it up yourself? Any reason you used a Weber instead of a Jensen? Just curious.

 

[Dilver]

I have the 57 Custom Champ and while everyone says it’s overpriced, it’s great, I really love it. I didn’t pay $999 for it, so I have no regrets. And at 5 watts, it’s surprisingly loud. Now that the speaker has broken in some, it’s does that sweet, chirpy tweed thing really well.

I’m not familiar with the Supro 1606, but I do have an original 1960 Supro 1616T, which I also love. But it’s a very different tone; a little rattier, and more ragged.

The Supro sounds best almost completely dimed and it’s really just the one tone. The Champ is the classic tweed tone and if you’re not looking for volume (If you can mic it), there’s all sorts of sweet clean tones in there, too.

Hope this helps!

 

[Cjsinla]

Very nice. Did you have them build it for you, or did you wire it up yourself? Any reason you used a Weber instead of a Jensen? Just curious.

I built it up myself, my first attempt with this type of board. I built the Tube Depot 5e3 Deluxe kit, PCB with a Jensen MOD speaker before that. The 12 inch MOD sounded so bassy and flubby I replaced it with a Weber. The Weber sounded much tighter and brighter. So, I took a chance and bought another Weber for the Champ. Most of the small kits seem to come with inexpensive ceramic speakers that break up early so you can get more distortion at lower volume. I went with alnico because that’s what they used back in the day. The 10 in Weber sounds so smooth and sweet and full I don’t even miss the distortion. Volume at 6 and I get plenty of sustain and harmonic overtones, you’d swear that it’s getting ready to go into feedback but it doesn’t. Alnico speakers have sweeter highs which I prefer in some amps.

 

[Cinegoat]

I built it up myself, my first attempt with this type of board. I built the Tube Depot 5e3 Deluxe kit, PCB with a Jensen MOD speaker before that. The 12 inch MOD sounded so bassy and flubby I replaced it with a Weber. The Weber sounded much tighter and brighter. So, I took a chance and bought another Weber for the Champ. Most of the small kits seem to come with inexpensive ceramic speakers that break up early so you can get more distortion at lower volume. I went with alnico because that’s what they used back in the day. The 10 in Weber sounds so smooth and sweet and full I don’t even miss the distortion. Volume at 6 and I get plenty of sustain and harmonic overtones, you’d swear that it’s getting ready to go into feedback but it doesn’t. Alnico speakers have sweeter highs which I prefer in some amps.

I’ve always preferred alnico speakers myself. Sounds like an awesome little amp. Thanks for the info!