Snagged a SF Champ today!!!

trag-o-caster · April 30th, 2004, 02:19 AM

It's been modded with a 10" non-descript speaker (I'm suspecting Eminence - looks like it came out of a Peavey Classic before they were called "Blue Marvel"), but it sounds REALLY sweet!

My friend had G.A.S. attack today which resulted in him becoming the proud owner of a used Fender Tonemaster 2-12 cab (Vintage 30's) from Elderly's. I helped him out with the purchase, which resulted in my relieving him of his SF 68 Champ. I'm happy :D !

It sounds REAL good as is. I don't know what has been done to it prior to my friend owning it. It sounds healthy though.

So, what should I concern myself with first, in regard to sweetening this baby up? Ditch the tone stack and the negative feedback? Is that something that I can do myself, or should I take it in? Is running it with both tone controls wide open the same as disengaging the tone stack? That's seems to be where I'm most likely to keep them.

Exactly what does all of this supposed to do tonewise???

Sorry for so many questions. I'm excited though. I like it as is too.

AtomicMassUnit · April 30th, 2004, 02:36 AM

I'd recommend replacing the can cap for reliability's sake. In most cases it'll improve the tone as well. As for mods, first try putting a good speaker in it, especially if the impedance isn't 4 ohms, like the Champ wants to see. You'll lose a good deal of power and tone if it's an 8ohm speaker. Also, put good tubes in it. Champs are really hard on the 6V6, and a good NOS one goes a long way. I like Mazda and RCAs best in my SF. A lot of people like the tweed mod, but the stock amp sounds really good. I was having this discussion with Mr. Marsh from marshamps.com about champs a while back, and he and I agreed that the BF and SF champs sound better stock. There's a lot of design that goes into amps and often they sound best with the stock circuit. The tweed mod makes these things sound a little freaked out, in my opinion. I have the tone controls on a push pull switch, and every time I try it I switch it back to stock setting very quickly. normally I like a lot of overdrive, but the champ sounds smoother and cooler as is, in my opinion. To answer your Q, the tone controls rob a lot of gain, and even with them all the way up, they're still loading down the signal quite heavily. You can always switch them in and out, but I definitely recommend leaving the feedback loop connected. I've used a Champ for countless studio sessions and it always sounds huge and sits perfect in a mix. One of my favorite amps ever! Have fun.

trag-o-caster · April 30th, 2004, 11:30 AM

Leave the feedback loop connected? You're the only person on the WHOLE INTERNET that recommends that (that I've seen so far, and I've searched a bunch!). If it's a case of getting yet more gain out of the amp, I don't think I want it to have more gain. I think I'd like to leave it as is in that department.

What would be a good 4 ohm 10" speaker for this thing? The no name that's in there sounds pretty good. If it is indeed an Eminence like Peavey used to put in their Classic 50/4-10 combo, those weren't bad speakers, I don't think. I have the Peavey 410E cab with those speakers, and I've never changed them by choice. I don't know what the impedance is though.

The can cap looks shiny and new. I think this amp has been gone through already. It sure sounds quite healthy. My friend bought it from Bogners Music, here in Flint, MI and most of the used Fender amps that came through that shop also came from Dave Boze shop first. Dave used to be an original TDP member, and a GREAT Fender amp tech.

I may just leave this thing alone and use it as is.

Jerry J · April 30th, 2004, 12:09 PM

it's recommended by Lew Collins on the Weber board. I am about to order one for my '76 SFVC, though its a tight fit.

Aaron Schiff · April 30th, 2004, 12:09 PM

Congratulation! I was thinking the other day about wanting a SF or BF Champ. Right now I don't have a small amp and I often spend several days a month on the road. It's always tempting to mod an amp, but I tend to like the Champs as they came from the factory.

April 30th, 2004, 02:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,631	Snagged a SF Champ today!!! It's been modded with a 10" non-descript speaker (I'm suspecting Eminence - looks like it came out of a Peavey Classic before they were called "Blue Marvel"), but it sounds REALLY sweet! My friend had G.A.S. attack today which resulted in him becoming the proud owner of a used Fender Tonemaster 2-12 cab (Vintage 30's) from Elderly's. I helped him out with the purchase, which resulted in my relieving him of his SF 68 Champ. I'm happy :D ! It sounds REAL good as is. I don't know what has been done to it prior to my friend owning it. It sounds healthy though. So, what should I concern myself with first, in regard to sweetening this baby up? Ditch the tone stack and the negative feedback? Is that something that I can do myself, or should I take it in? Is running it with both tone controls wide open the same as disengaging the tone stack? That's seems to be where I'm most likely to keep them. Exactly what does all of this supposed to do tonewise??? Sorry for so many questions. I'm excited though. I like it as is too. __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

April 30th, 2004, 11:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,631	Leave the feedback loop connected? You're the only person on the WHOLE INTERNET that recommends that (that I've seen so far, and I've searched a bunch!). If it's a case of getting yet more gain out of the amp, I don't think I want it to have more gain. I think I'd like to leave it as is in that department. What would be a good 4 ohm 10" speaker for this thing? The no name that's in there sounds pretty good. If it is indeed an Eminence like Peavey used to put in their Classic 50/4-10 combo, those weren't bad speakers, I don't think. I have the Peavey 410E cab with those speakers, and I've never changed them by choice. I don't know what the impedance is though. The can cap looks shiny and new. I think this amp has been gone through already. It sure sounds quite healthy. My friend bought it from Bogners Music, here in Flint, MI and most of the used Fender amps that came through that shop also came from Dave Boze shop first. Dave used to be an original TDP member, and a GREAT Fender amp tech. I may just leave this thing alone and use it as is. __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

April 30th, 2004, 12:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jerry J Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NoVa Posts: 660	Try the Weber P10RT it's recommended by Lew Collins on the Weber board. I am about to order one for my '76 SFVC, though its a tight fit.

April 30th, 2004, 02:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
AtomicMassUnit Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 153	I'd recommend replacing the can cap for reliability's sake. In most cases it'll improve the tone as well. As for mods, first try putting a good speaker in it, especially if the impedance isn't 4 ohms, like the Champ wants to see. You'll lose a good deal of power and tone if it's an 8ohm speaker. Also, put good tubes in it. Champs are really hard on the 6V6, and a good NOS one goes a long way. I like Mazda and RCAs best in my SF. A lot of people like the tweed mod, but the stock amp sounds really good. I was having this discussion with Mr. Marsh from marshamps.com about champs a while back, and he and I agreed that the BF and SF champs sound better stock. There's a lot of design that goes into amps and often they sound best with the stock circuit. The tweed mod makes these things sound a little freaked out, in my opinion. I have the tone controls on a push pull switch, and every time I try it I switch it back to stock setting very quickly. normally I like a lot of overdrive, but the champ sounds smoother and cooler as is, in my opinion. To answer your Q, the tone controls rob a lot of gain, and even with them all the way up, they're still loading down the signal quite heavily. You can always switch them in and out, but I definitely recommend leaving the feedback loop connected. I've used a Champ for countless studio sessions and it always sounds huge and sits perfect in a mix. One of my favorite amps ever! Have fun.

April 30th, 2004, 12:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Aaron Schiff Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cedaredge, CO Posts: 347	Congratulation! I was thinking the other day about wanting a SF or BF Champ. Right now I don't have a small amp and I often spend several days a month on the road. It's always tempting to mod an amp, but I tend to like the Champs as they came from the factory.