A Champ in any other box/Just a little head case

LPBlue · February 17th, 2006, 08:25 PM

A Champ in any other box/Just a little head case

Due to the disintegration of a 70s mushboard cabinet, I found myself with a spare Champ chassis, hardware etc. so I decided to build myself someting I have always wanted...

a Champ head this one is kind of special given that it is made of a pine board from an old english style bar that my dad RIP, built in the early 60s . Here are a few more views...

This cab has only sanding sealer on it right now until I can figure out what kind of finish it will have but at least it keeps the wood clean for now. I plan on making some more in hardwoods with some fancy twists like inlaid dovetails or contrasting wood cornerblocks. Its all fun and games and if I'm not careful I could make some money too

Caper · February 17th, 2006, 10:32 PM

That is sweet.

red57strat · February 17th, 2006, 10:33 PM

That's really nice!

I've never liked the little speaker/small cabinet of my Vibrochamp and always thought it sounded better through my Vibrolux Reverb's 2-10" speakers.

Maybe mine needs that treatment too.

Scott S · February 18th, 2006, 03:11 AM

A little bit of clear satin polyurethane and that'll be DONE! Looks great man. :)

Rob DiStefano · February 18th, 2006, 07:58 AM

Truly beautiful head box! Congrats! Interesting that your dovetails face the top and bottom, rather than the accepted side placement ... ?

LPBlue · February 18th, 2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

Truly beautiful head box! Congrats! Interesting that your dovetails face the top and bottom, rather than the accepted side placement ... ?

Rob, I was waiting for someone to ask about that. I thought the tails looked a bit nicer on the top and bottom instead of the sides and it being a head unit, there is no weight below the chassis to try and pull it apart like in a combo.

Rob DiStefano · February 18th, 2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LPBlue

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

Truly beautiful head box! Congrats! Interesting that your dovetails face the top and bottom, rather than the accepted side placement ... ?

Rob, I was waiting for someone to ask about that. I thought the tails looked a bit nicer on the top and bottom instead of the sides and it being a head unit, there is no weight below the chassis to try and pull it apart like in a combo.

Works for me!

johnnykf · February 18th, 2006, 09:21 AM

Must sound great thru bigger speakers. Just change the name plate from Fender to something like "Knarltone, Swamptone" or whatever, powdercoat the silver face behind the knobs a different color and you have a $1500 boutique amp head!

Jerry J · February 19th, 2006, 06:08 PM

... works for me - my VC pushing my SFVR w/ an Alnico Blue Pup and Silver Bell speakers. Just wonderful...

LPBlue · February 19th, 2006, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnykf

Must sound great thru bigger speakers.

You know it...actually the chassis in the pics has no pt right now but I built the box for my heavily modded SFVC that resides in the cabinet for the dead one right now. I use that amp with one of my 73 Marshall boxes wired to 4 ohm for it. The amp is wired to be switchable into all incarnations of the Champ from Tweed to SF with features of each being mixable 8) . The sound of a tweed Champ screaming through 4 original greenbacks is sweet indeed.

Thanks very much to all for the compliments on my "test piece" and hopefully the ones to follow just get better from here on in.

J.R.

3StringGuitar · February 19th, 2006, 08:28 PM

Now that's killer, I love the smaller head units like that. I've been tempted to do the same to an older Pro Jr. I have laying around.

JamonHamon · February 20th, 2006, 03:17 AM

WOW Again!!!!!!!!!!!!

February 17th, 2006, 08:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
LPBlue Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Markdale Ontario...oot in the woods Age: 52 Posts: 267	A Champ in any other box/Just a little head case A Champ in any other box/Just a little head case Due to the disintegration of a 70s mushboard cabinet, I found myself with a spare Champ chassis, hardware etc. so I decided to build myself someting I have always wanted... a Champ head this one is kind of special given that it is made of a pine board from an old english style bar that my dad RIP, built in the early 60s . Here are a few more views... This cab has only sanding sealer on it right now until I can figure out what kind of finish it will have but at least it keeps the wood clean for now. I plan on making some more in hardwoods with some fancy twists like inlaid dovetails or contrasting wood cornerblocks. Its all fun and games and if I'm not careful I could make some money too __________________ It didn't make that smell when it was new, PULL THE PLUG!

February 17th, 2006, 10:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
red57strat Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,311	That's really nice! I've never liked the little speaker/small cabinet of my Vibrochamp and always thought it sounded better through my Vibrolux Reverb's 2-10" speakers. Maybe mine needs that treatment too. __________________ Don

February 18th, 2006, 09:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
johnnykf Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Twin Peaks. NY Age: 53 Posts: 493	Looks Great Must sound great thru bigger speakers. Just change the name plate from Fender to something like "Knarltone, Swamptone" or whatever, powdercoat the silver face behind the knobs a different color and you have a $1500 boutique amp head!

February 19th, 2006, 06:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jerry J Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NoVa Posts: 660	What red57strat said... ... works for me - my VC pushing my SFVR w/ an Alnico Blue Pup and Silver Bell speakers. Just wonderful...

February 20th, 2006, 03:17 AM	#12 (permalink)
JamonHamon Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,411	WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW Again!!!!!!!!!!!!

February 17th, 2006, 10:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Caper Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,169 7 Photos	That is sweet.

February 18th, 2006, 03:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Scott S Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW CR IA US NA PE Age: 28 Posts: 1,911	A little bit of clear satin polyurethane and that'll be DONE! Looks great man. :)

February 18th, 2006, 07:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 63 Posts: 4,915	Truly beautiful head box! Congrats! Interesting that your dovetails face the top and bottom, rather than the accepted side placement ... ?

February 19th, 2006, 08:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
3StringGuitar Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 623	Now that's killer, I love the smaller head units like that. I've been tempted to do the same to an older Pro Jr. I have laying around.