Victoria 518 vs Cox 5F1 Champ

[Kmaz]

I've been looking at these two amps lately just for something to crank up and wail on and enjoy some nasty distorted Blues.

The Victoria quality is very much established, but at $400 + less, the Cox seems like a no-brainer. Likely some amount of variance in quality, but what do you think?

Victoria 518
http://www.bostonguitar.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/vic-518.jpg

Cox Champ
http://www.coxamps.com/images/100_0358.JPG

Sorry about the big Cox!

[pbradt]

I would buy the Cox. The Champ is an extraordinarily simple circuit. If I were buying from Cox, I'd ask for Mallory 150 signal and coupling caps, Orange Drops, exp the 716s are great for hifi, but crappy for guitar amps.

[Pax]

I own the Cox 5F1. Never tried the Vic so I can't A/B them for you. I heard great things about both before I bought. Went with the Cox, all stock. Does exactly what I expected a 5FI to do, for much less.

[Kmaz]

Appreciate your opinions, fellows.

[silencer eleven]

i own the 5112. it is the champ with a 12 in speaker. i love it, can't get a bad sound out of it. IMHO it is well worth the little extra money for the larger speaker and cab they make a huge difference.

[fender1977]

i own the cox champ, and couldn't be happier

[Kmaz]

Did you guys go for the Orange Shellac option? I think it's an extra $40.00

silencer, does the 5112 make a big difference in volume as compared to the smaller cab?

[Pax]

Did you guys go for the Orange Shellac option? I think it's an extra $40.00

silencer, does the 5112 make a big difference in volume as compared to the smaller cab?

Don't know if he is still doing it, but Brian (Cox) did my vintage finish at no charge.

[sickboy79]

Never heard of Cox until this thread. I do own a Vicky 518. Had her for about 9 years now. AMAZING little Champ repro! To me, Vicky is as good as it gets for Tweed. Mark Baier (Mr Victoria) went to all extremes to do his Tweed thing. He even found one of the original Triad transformer engineers to recreat them. His caps are custom made to his specs. Service is beyond AMAZING. I'm close to the factory and have been there a few times. I bought one of my BF Bassman heads from him and he also set up my Marshall 73 Super Bass. He's good people. High props for Vicky from me!!!

[blues]

What sickboy said