Value of a '62 tweed Champ?

skiraly017 · February 10th, 2006, 05:20 PM

A co-worker told me he had an old Fender Champ and today he finally brought it in. "LJ" date code on the tube chart and original down to the power cord. The tweed is dirty but not torn. Haven't played it yet but curious to see what market value is. Any ideas?

Wally · February 10th, 2006, 06:58 PM

Check ebay for that market and gbase.com for dealer asking prices. I haven't kept up with the BF 'narrow panel' Champs. I am told that my tweed 5F1 is in the $1500 range now. The BF you are looking at would be the same amp except for the tolex. "LJ" would be Oct, '61, I think. If you are looking at buying it, make sure the codes match well. IMHO, every guitar player should have a Champ, and the 5F1 is the pick of all Champs.

EDIT: My apologies. Your amp is a tweed, isn't it? As with all vintage, prices depend on condition and originality. My '57 is original with very good/exc cond tweed.

cowboytwang · February 14th, 2006, 04:33 AM

Tweed Champs are pushing up to the $800 to $900 range right now.
I've seen a few advertised for over $1000, but I haven't seen many sell for much over that(unless they are very clean mint condition).

The few that have sold on eBay lately have all been under $850. One was a BIN for

$650
and there is even one auction going right now with a Buy IT Now price of

$850 , also

this one thats at $560 right now.

There is a vintage dealer(Cowtown Guitars) near where I live and he has 4 or 5 tweed Champs all priced around a thousand each, but I havn't seen him sell any at that price. The same four have been there for over a year.

Wally · February 14th, 2006, 12:17 PM

Just some observations about the Champs noted in Cowboytwang's post....each of those amps are compromised to some extent when evaluating for originality...non-original speakers, missing back panels. The one that sold for $650 BIN might have been a good buy, but until one gets a better look at the circuit board it would be hard to evaluate that aspect of it. An all-original and exc cond tweed Champ should bring more money than any of those amps.

February 10th, 2006, 05:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
skiraly017 Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA Posts: 674	Value of a '62 tweed Champ? A co-worker told me he had an old Fender Champ and today he finally brought it in. "LJ" date code on the tube chart and original down to the power cord. The tweed is dirty but not torn. Haven't played it yet but curious to see what market value is. Any ideas? __________________ "But right now I need a Telecaster through a Vibrolux turned up to ten."

February 14th, 2006, 04:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
cowboytwang Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: mojave desert Posts: 1,606 14 Photos	Tweed Champs are pushing up to the $800 to $900 range right now. I've seen a few advertised for over $1000, but I haven't seen many sell for much over that(unless they are very clean mint condition). The few that have sold on eBay lately have all been under $850. One was a BIN for $650 and there is even one auction going right now with a Buy IT Now price of $850 , also this one thats at $560 right now. There is a vintage dealer(Cowtown Guitars) near where I live and he has 4 or 5 tweed Champs all priced around a thousand each, but I havn't seen him sell any at that price. The same four have been there for over a year. __________________ Alvin http://www.myspace.com/alvinblaine http://www.oldbluesound.com/about.htm _________________________ Originality is just undetected Plagiarism!

February 10th, 2006, 06:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	Check ebay for that market and gbase.com for dealer asking prices. I haven't kept up with the BF 'narrow panel' Champs. I am told that my tweed 5F1 is in the $1500 range now. The BF you are looking at would be the same amp except for the tolex. "LJ" would be Oct, '61, I think. If you are looking at buying it, make sure the codes match well. IMHO, every guitar player should have a Champ, and the 5F1 is the pick of all Champs. EDIT: My apologies. Your amp is a tweed, isn't it? As with all vintage, prices depend on condition and originality. My '57 is original with very good/exc cond tweed.

February 14th, 2006, 12:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	Just some observations about the Champs noted in Cowboytwang's post....each of those amps are compromised to some extent when evaluating for originality...non-original speakers, missing back panels. The one that sold for $650 BIN might have been a good buy, but until one gets a better look at the circuit board it would be hard to evaluate that aspect of it. An all-original and exc cond tweed Champ should bring more money than any of those amps.