The Champs' Club

A club for all the Champs out there--Tweed, Blackface, Silverface, and even the clones. I guess we'll also let the Champ 600 folks in, but they'll have to pay a door fee since they have their own club.

Here's my 73 or so SFVC
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/523/fender-family-3.jpg

im in with a champ 12...no pics ...i really should take a pic or two

I love Champs.

My favorites have been at least tweed "circuited" (I put a Torres $8 kit into my last SF Champ), and love the Victoria 512 version.
My last SF VibroChamp didn't seem to need any tweed kit for some odd reason. It just worked and sounded fine as-is.

I've built so many Champs I can see the schematic in my sleep!

Great amps. Most of them I've since modded, but the one that is closest to the original tweed circuit gets a lot of use in my home studio.

If the mods want to move my posts to here I have no problem combining the 2 threads if you guys don't mind.......didn't mean to leave out the other Champs, just posting on what I had :oops:

I love my modded 600:

Here's my Champ with the Tweed mod via a push/pull pot.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/xStonr/Champ-front4.jpg

Home-brewed Champ - now has a 10" speaker

http://guitarpete.net/images/champtele.jpg

"Tweed" Champ. Had a 10" speaker from the get-go. You can just see the Eminence 105 Legend peeking out. This one has an NOS '60s Schumacher OT that makes "boutique" transformers beg for mercy. :twisted:

Great lil' amp.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b237/open-g/Tele%20Projekt/Champfront.jpg

"Tweed" Champ. Had a 10" speaker from the get-go. You can just see the Eminence 105 Legend peeking out. This one has an NOS '60s Schumacher OT that makes "boutique" transformers beg for mercy. :twisted:

Sweet, brownie Champ! :mrgreen:

I'm in! Got a 68, with a ten inch speaker already, the 8 Ohm speaker was holding the amp back. I switched the 8 ohm, P10Q like ceramic speaker, out for a Jensen RI P10R, 4 Ohm. Luckily the gamble paid off. The Little VC got much louder, that tube break up is awesome at the top end! I also looked at the Jensen, Mod, 50w 10 inch speaker. That 4 Ohm speaker was less expensive, but I shied away from the higher wattage. Got the
P10R at Vintage Speaker, Joe Scinta, no relation, good service and the best prices!

"Tweed" Champ. Had a 10" speaker from the get-go. You can just see the Eminence 105 Legend peeking out. This one has an NOS '60s Schumacher OT that makes "boutique" transformers beg for mercy. :twisted:

Very nice brown Champ.

Here's my '64. What a great little amp.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/539/medium/DSCN0074.JPG

A club for all the Champs out there--Tweed, Blackface, Silverface, and even the clones. I guess we'll also let the Champ 600 folks in, but they'll have to pay a door fee since they have their own club.

Here's my 73 or so SFVC
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/523/fender-family-3.jpg

Here's my '69 silverface. Replaced the original blown Oxford with a Weber alnico Sig 8.



http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/telechamp/69FenderChampre-s.jpg

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/telechamp/ChampSig8re-sPB.jpg

I have a clone champ "TVL5 B1uesboy" with a 12' Jensen P12q thanks to Victoria Amplifier Co

Here's my '64. What a great little amp.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/539/medium/DSCN0074.JPG



That is sitting on top of an old Silvertone, isn't it :)

Yep, a 1482, which is another mighty cool amp.:cool: I know you got one. Are you enjoying it?

Well I guess I must like em as well as I have the following

54 5D1 Champ
56 5F1 Champ
65 Blackface Champ
71 Vibrochamp
07 Champion 600

All great and more importantly all different! Definitely not one trick ponies

I've got a SFVC and a "blackface" Champ from the Rivera era. For me, they're the perfect home practice amp.

I've got a 73 SFChamp, tone as nice as anyrhing I've ever heard.

i'm in....

my bone stock '73:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb37/maestrovert/Robs73Champresized.jpg

Hopmebrew here with a Vibro champ and a 12 inch weber....niiiice amp...:lol:

Cheers
ce24

My blackface Champ-amp is date-stamped "OB", Feb 1965. It's been recently repaired, I put a new output transformer in it, and a Jensen P8R, and it's screaming again.

Here's my '68 - lousy picture of a great little amp.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/539/medium/222Set_091.jpg

I've got a 73 SFChamp, tone as nice as anyrhing I've ever heard.

I have a '69 SF Champ. It had the original Oxford speaker up until a couple years ago when the Oxford finally went kaput. So after some research on a good replacement speaker for a Champ, I ordered a Ted Weber alnico Sig 8 and put it in. It didn't sound all that fantastic (as compared to the old Oxford), but I figured the Weber just needed some time to get broken in. Well, two years later, and I'm still not totally happy with the sound. I put in new Groove Tubes thinking that might help things out. Nope. So then I had new capacitors put in. Again, still doesn't have that "magic" that it used to have.. Not really a "bad" sound - just no Fender sparkling clean tone anymore - more of a solid state sounding tone - a little sterile sounding, for lack of a better description...

I really want to love this Champ again. I just can't figure out why the tone isn't happening anymore...

I have recently played three or four Blues Juniors in the stores trying out new guitars, etc., and I have got to admit that I like their tone a lot more than my '69 Champ's now...
My Champ's tone is not exactly super crappy, but it's just not the killer sparkly clean tone machine it used to be...

Any suggestions for what might be wrong? I've put a couple hundred in her now in the last year or so, and am hesitating to put much more in...

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/telechamp/69FenderChampre-s.jpg

I have a '69 SF Champ. It had the original Oxford speaker up until a couple years ago when the Oxford finally went kaput. So after some research on a good replacement speaker for a Champ, I ordered a Ted Weber alnico Sig 8 and put it in. It didn't sound all that fantastic (as compared to the old Oxford), but I figured the Weber just needed some time to get broken in. Well, two years later, and I'm still not totally happy with the sound. I put in new Groove Tubes thinking that might help things out. Nope. So then I had new capacitors put in. Again, still doesn't have that "magic" that it used to have.. Not really a "bad" sound - just no Fender sparkling clean tone anymore - more of a solid state sounding tone - a little sterile sounding, for lack of a better description...

I really want to love this Champ again. I just can't figure out why the tone isn't happening anymore...

Any suggestions for what might be wrong? I've put a couple hundred in her now in the last year or so, and am hesitating to put much more in...


Well, I'd find another Oxford speaker and drop that in.

I have a run-of-the-mill mid '70s Champ.Great small jam and recording amp.

I just put a Weber 8A125-O in my 73 SFVC. Mostly likely the new speaker is a bit overkill, but I really don't plan on selling the amp. The old speaker was a non-original Fender.

One thing with the Vintage Series of Webers is the baskets are a bit bigger and I had to rotate the speaker a bit to clear the cap can. Not a big deal at all, just something for folks to be aware of when installing them.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/amp-central-station/28168d1246503240-new-speaker-day-weber-2-jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/amp-central-station/28169d1246503252-new-speaker-day-weber-3-jpg

70-something VC with a weber 10F150. use it a LOT at home, gig with it occasionally. LOVE it i want another

I have a '69 SF Champ. It had the original Oxford speaker up until a couple years ago when the Oxford finally went kaput. So after some research on a good replacement speaker for a Champ, I ordered a Ted Weber alnico Sig 8 and put it in. It didn't sound all that fantastic (as compared to the old Oxford), but I figured the Weber just needed some time to get broken in. Well, two years later, and I'm still not totally happy with the sound. I put in new Groove Tubes thinking that might help things out. Nope. So then I had new capacitors put in. Again, still doesn't have that "magic" that it used to have.. Not really a "bad" sound - just no Fender sparkling clean tone anymore - more of a solid state sounding tone - a little sterile sounding, for lack of a better description...

I really want to love this Champ again. I just can't figure out why the tone isn't happening anymore...

I have recently played three or four Blues Juniors in the stores trying out new guitars, etc., and I have got to admit that I like their tone a lot more than my '69 Champ's now...
My Champ's tone is not exactly super crappy, but it's just not the killer sparkly clean tone machine it used to be...

Any suggestions for what might be wrong? I've put a couple hundred in her now in the last year or so, and am hesitating to put much more in...

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/telechamp/69FenderChampre-s.jpg

I put just the same speaker in my 78 SF Vibrochamp (today actually). I found that a JJ ECC83S brought back some of the sparkle, however, not all of it. I think I'll get around to re-coning the original speaker someday.

I put just the same speaker in my 78 SF Vibrochamp (today actually). I found that a JJ ECC83S brought back some of the sparkle, however, not all of it. I think I'll get around to re-coning the original speaker someday.

You know, that might not be a bad idea (re-coning the old Oxford..). I really am shocked at how much better it made this Champ sound...

I had done some research and the Weber Sig 8 alnico seemed to get good reviews as a replacement Champ speaker, but in my case, it just doesn't sound good in this amp...

Well, I'd find another Oxford speaker and drop that in.

Good idea. Or maybe I'll get the original Oxford re-coned as IdahoPicker said..

'59 Tweed/ '65 BF Champ....


http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q196/Noitpure/IMG_0287.jpg

Good idea. Or maybe I'll get the original Oxford re-coned as IdahoPicker said..

Or try a Jensen?

Here's my newest boy...I hope I'm not in too much trouble for double-dipping in the Hotrod club as well....

I put just the same speaker in my 78 SF Vibrochamp (today actually). I found that a JJ ECC83S brought back some of the sparkle, however, not all of it. I think I'll get around to re-coning the original speaker someday.

Well, I wonder then if the Weber alnico Sig 8 is just not a good match for a Champ... ?? That's at least two of us now who aren't happy with the Sig 8's sound in a Champ... And it's funny - that speaker (Weber Sig 8) is highly touted as a replacement Champ speaker... :confused:

Or try a Jensen?

I'm up for anything at this point. Can you recommend the type of Jensen I need for a Champ? Thanks -

I put one of the Jensen re-issue C8R in a '75 Champ that I had and was quite pleased with it. It was a great improvement over the stock blue label Fender speaker. I guess it was an Oxford, but not sure.

I put one of the Jensen re-issue C8R in a '75 Champ that I had and was quite pleased with it. It was a great improvement over the stock blue label Fender speaker. I guess it was an Oxford, but not sure.

OK, I'll do some research on this Jensen C8R and maybe give it a try...

I've had 3 Champs, a 75, a 64 and a '71 Vibro-Champ. My experience was that for whatever reason, I could never make the VibroChamp get into tones that matched the other two. Both of the Champs are fantastic sounding amps. I put the Jensen RI C8R in the '75 and it was a great sounding Champ. The '64 has it's stock speaker in it and it is even better than the '75. But the VC just never had it. I even pulled the tubes out of the other two amps and put them in the VC to see if that would help it and it did not. Soooo, my point is sometimes an amp just might be an old maid and nothing you do can help it very much. Just sayin...that may be something you have to consider with your amp.

I'm up for anything at this point. Can you recommend the type of Jensen I need for a Champ? Thanks -

ya know I had a problem with the 68 I got and looking at the speaker it had when i got it, figured the thing was way overkill. thought it was 8 ohm also. it was already modded to take a 10 incher so...i put a P10R in it. great sounds now. i kept wondering how to get the thing to awaken as so many have said the little amps can keep up with a gentle percussionist and band in thr right conditions...i get it now! look at the speaker first! then work back through the chain from there. try "vintagespeaker.com

Clicky-http://www.vintagespeaker.com/search.html?selectsub=8%20inch%20speaker&selectmain=Speaker

Good prices and service, less "ouch!" Doug

PS-you know to get the 4 ohm right! just checking, I think the owner before me missed that crucial thing and let loose a great little guy:grin:

I've had 3 Champs, a 75, a 64 and a '71 Vibro-Champ. My experience was that for whatever reason, I could never make the VibroChamp get into tones that matched the other two. Both of the Champs are fantastic sounding amps. I put the Jensen RI C8R in the '75 and it was a great sounding Champ. The '64 has it's stock speaker in it and it is even better than the '75. But the VC just never had it. I even pulled the tubes out of the other two amps and put them in the VC to see if that would help it and it did not. Soooo, my point is sometimes an amp just might be an old maid and nothing you do can help it very much. Just sayin...that may be something you have to consider with your amp.

Well, I might think that might be the case if the amp hadn't sounded fantastic before the speaker change.. After the speaker change (to the Sig 8), it was never the same... And, like I said, I replaced the tubes and caps and still no mo-jo. So I'm having to think at this point, that it just doesn't like the Sig 8.

I may try your suggestion on the Jensen to see if anything good happens. If it still doesn't do the magic, I'm stumped then...

I've had 3 Champs, a 75, a 64 and a '71 Vibro-Champ. My experience was that for whatever reason, I could never make the VibroChamp get into tones that matched the other two. Both of the Champs are fantastic sounding amps. I put the Jensen RI C8R in the '75 and it was a great sounding Champ. The '64 has it's stock speaker in it and it is even better than the '75. But the VC just never had it. I even pulled the tubes out of the other two amps and put them in the VC to see if that would help it and it did not. Soooo, my point is sometimes an amp just might be an old maid and nothing you do can help it very much. Just sayin...that may be something you have to consider with your amp.

There is some documentation to support this, that the factory wiring for some reason, does not strictly follow the schematics on some of the Fender amps. As if that day some hourly worker messed up a little and several owners go through an amp not fully satisfied. Wierd but true...

ya know I had a problem with the 68 I got and looking at the speaker it had when i got it, figured the thing was way overkill. thought it was 8 ohm also. it was already modded to take a 10 incher so...i put a P10R in it. great sounds now. i kept wondering how to get the thing to awaken as so many have said the little amps can keep up with a gentle percussionist and band in thr right conditions...i get it now! look at the speaker first! then work back through the chain from there. try "vintagespeaker.com

Clicky-http://www.vintagespeaker.com/search.html?selectsub=8%20inch%20speaker&selectmain=Speaker

Good prices and service, less "ouch!" Doug

PS-you know to get the 4 ohm right! just checking, I think the owner before me missed that crucial thing and let loose a great little guy:grin:

Well, I was under the impression that this new Sig 8 was a 4 ohm. The old Oxford was a 4 ohm too, I'm pretty sure.

But yes, I have heard that a 10-in. will liven things up in a Champ and that's definitely something I might be interested in. What mods do you need to do to the amp to put a 10-in. in?

Well, I was under the impression that this new Sig 8 was a 4 ohm. The old Oxford was a 4 ohm too, I'm pretty sure.

But yes, I have heard that a 10-in. will liven things up in a Champ and that's definitely something I might be interested in. What mods do you need to do to the amp to put a 10-in. in?

Sounds like you have a Champ with the removable baffle. I do to. On mine the previous owner had enlarged the baffle, roughly, so the change is permament.

The removable baffle can be replaced with a baffle for a 10 incher. Only problem is changing over the original cloth if you go that route, or you can get a baffle with a near match on the cloth. I'm thinking about $60 or so on ebay. Some folks have just put a 10 inch speaker on a baffle for a 8 incher with good results expressed.

Me, I would retain the original baffle as is and box it up for resale value if I ever sold the amp and go with a baffle for a 10 incher with cloth if I ever have to. Changing the cloth to a new baffle is something I could royally screw up!:oops: And it is a forty-one year old darling...gasp

But so many people get a great and BIG sound out of the proper 8 incher...maybe you got a great deal because someone else was weary from messing with it, or not comp[letely satisfied? Good Luck! Doug

Sounds like you have a Champ with the removable baffle. I do to. On mine the previous owner had enlarged the baffle, roughly, so the change is permament.

The removable baffle can be replaced with a baffle for a 10 incher. Only problem is changing over the original cloth if you go that route, or you can get a baffle with a near match on the cloth. I'm thinking about $60 or so on ebay. Some folks have just put a 10 inch speaker on a baffle for a 8 incher with good results expressed.

Me, I would retain the original baffle as is and box it up for resale value if I ever sold the amp and go with a baffle for a 10 incher with cloth if I ever have to. Changing the cloth to a new baffle is something I could royally screw up!:oops: And it is a forty-one year old darling...gasp

But so many people get a great and BIG sound out of the proper 8 incher...maybe you got a great deal because someone else was weary from messing with it, or not comp[letely satisfied? Good Luck! Doug

Actually I've had the amp since 1990 - and bought it off a friend of mine ($25!! ha). But like I said, it has sounded fantastic all these years until the original Oxford blew, and when I put the new Sig 8 in, the tone left town also...

The 10-in. conversion sounds like something I don't want to try doing myself, and I am tired of putting money into this amp, so I may just try a different speaker.

I can't figure out why this Sig 8 doesn't sound good tho - especially since the research I did before I ordered it was very positive towards this particular spkr as a Champ relacement speaker... I guess speakers sound different in different amps, tho - -

Actually I've had the amp since 1990 - and bought it off a friend of mine ($25!! ha). But like I said, it has sounded fantastic all these years until the original Oxford blew, and when I put the new Sig 8 in, the tone left town also...

The 10-in. conversion sounds like something I don't want to try doing myself, and I am tired of putting money into this amp, so I may just try a different speaker.

I can't figure out why this Sig 8 doesn't sound good tho - especially since the research I did before I ordered it was very positive towards this particular spkr as a Champ relacement speaker... I guess speakers sound different in different amps, tho - -

I have the impression that the way you wire the speaker may or may not matter...try switching/reversing the wires to the speaker? Could it be that easy? You're right those 8 inch Sig's have a good rep for this application...what gives? The changing of the baffle is easy to remove and replace if doing the baffle and grill cloth as one piece, just not really neccesary for you obviously. You should be able to resell that speaker on the bay easily enough or in the TDPRI classifieds.

I have the impression that the way you wire the speaker may or may not matter...try switching/reversing the wires to the speaker? Could it be that easy? You're right those 8 inch Sig's have a good rep for this application...what gives? The changing of the baffle is easy to remove and replace if doing the baffle and grill cloth as one piece, just not really neccesary for you obviously. You should be able to resell that speaker on the bay easily enough or in the TDPRI classifieds.

OK, will try that - who knows? Otherwise, I'll try looking for another speaker ~

Considering the mixed reports that the Italian-made Jensen speakers get, I've been quite pleasantly surprised by the P8R in my Champ. It's plenty lively enough.

Considering the mixed reports that the Italian-made Jensen speakers get, I've been quite pleasantly surprised by the P8R in my Champ. It's plenty lively enough.

Somebody else recommended a Jensen, too - a C8R. I'm assuming the C stands for ceramic, and the P8R??..

Somebody else recommended a Jensen, too - a C8R. I'm assuming the C stands for ceramic, and the P8R??..

Well the P stands for "permanent" as in permanent magnet. It's AlNiCo. I wonder if the two models have the same cone and voice coil?

They started using the P designation to differentiate the AlNiCo permanent magnet speakers from the earlier models with field coil electromagnets.

Well the P stands for "permanent" as in permanent magnet. It's AlNiCo. I wonder if the two models have the same cone and voice coil?

They started using the P designation to differentiate the AlNiCo permanent magnet speakers from the earlier models with field coil electromagnets.

cool info David...the P10R in my 68 ghamp breaks up at the right spot and the speaker seems louder/more sensitive than the specs belie...hell of a lotta fun in that little SFVC, gotta say

I don't know much about the Jensens, but since the Weber isn't doing it for you, a Jensen might be worth a listen.

P8R (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Jensen-P8R-25W-8-Replacement-Speaker?sku=665010)

MOD8 (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Jensen-MOD820-20W-8-Replacement-Speaker?sku=665015)

C8R (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Jensen-C8R-25W-8-Replacement-Speaker?sku=665001)

My champ.. 94 I think..


http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk62/hiitsbsj/CIMG1959.jpg

'76 Vibro, recent CraigsList find ... new tubes, caps, Weber Sig 8.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/539/medium/1976_Fender_Vibro_Champ.JPG

mud

I don't know much about the Jensens, but since the Weber isn't doing it for you, a Jensen might be worth a listen.

P8R (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Jensen-P8R-25W-8-Replacement-Speaker?sku=665010)

MOD8 (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Jensen-MOD820-20W-8-Replacement-Speaker?sku=665015)

C8R (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Jensen-C8R-25W-8-Replacement-Speaker?sku=665001)

Well, PROBLEM SOLVED! I cannot believe I didn't think of this sooner...

Since I put the new Weber in, I just wasn't getting my old sound back - not even close. So I got to thinking today, and remembered that I also replaced the old tubes at the same time I put the new speaker in. I had put new Groove Tubes in at the same time I put the new Weber in. Well, today I took the GT's out and put the old tubes back in: a very old RCA 6V6, a very old GE 6V6, and a very old (so old the label is worn off) 12 AX7 - I'm assuming it's either an RCA or GE.
WELL, the amp came back to life!!! It was the new Groove Tubes that for some reason dulled the sound - that's the only thing I can surmise. This is surprising to me because I just re-tubed my Hot Rod Deluxe a couple months back with Groove Tubes and they sound great in that amp... Go figure..

Goes to show you how good those old RCA and GE tubes were... Now, I know these old tubes will go at some point, so I just hope that when that happens, that I can find some replacements that sound close....

Thanks for all suggestions ~ Wow, if only I had thought of this sooner... duh :oops:

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/telechamp/ChampandStratPB.jpg

Well, PROBLEM SOLVED!

Very nice! Good to hear... :)

My 1965 VibroChamp - I've had this thing since 1988. The first tube amp I've ever owned and my intro to vintage Fenders.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b164/erksin/65VibroChamp.jpg

It looks like the Champ has been making a comeback in popularity these days. They are wonderful sounding, so it shouldn't be a surprise :rolleyes:

I bought my one & only Champ 10 years ago at a vintage guitar show in Pasadena Ca, from Tim Page, of Buffalo Brothers. The intent from the very beginning was to build a new cabinet using maple & purple heart my step-dad & I purchased earlier that day.

The project didn't get off the ground until last Oct/Nov. We realized how short on wood we were, so back to the lumber yard for more maple. The purple heart was put aside, and we used rosewood instead. A few parts from MoJo and we ended up with what you see here~

~Randy

Very nice! Good to hear... :)

Thanks - It's back to sounding like its old (awesome) self now! I really like the Weber Sig 8 in it now...

My 1965 VibroChamp - I've had this thing since 1988. The first tube amp I've ever owned and my intro to vintage Fenders.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b164/erksin/65VibroChamp.jpg

Wow, that thing looks brand new!!!...

Wow, that thing looks brand new!!!...

I definitely got lucky - its was covered in dust at the back of a pile of amps in this music store. The dude sold it to me for $165 out the door. Granted this was 1988 prices, but was still a pretty sweet score for the time.

:wink:

I definitely got lucky - its was covered in dust at the back of a pile of amps in this music store. The dude sold it to me for $165 out the door. Granted this was 1988 prices, but was still a pretty sweet score for the time.

:wink:

That sounds a lot like the deal I got on my '69 SF Champ. I bought it for $25 in 1990! A friend of mine sold it to me, and obviously he gave me a pretty good deal!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/telechamp/69FenderChampre-s.jpg

'79 SFVC here, with a Weber Ceramic Blue Pup. That speaker is like an Oxford on steroids--clean and chimey, very late breakup. Exactly what I wanted out of this amp.

I love the trem and use it constantly. Fabulous little amp.

Considering the mixed reports that the Italian-made Jensen speakers get, I've been quite pleasantly surprised by the P8R in my Champ. It's plenty lively enough.

+1.

I got the same speaker and like it plenty. I don't know why folks bad mouth them Italian Jensens. Maybe the larger speakers aren't up to snuff or exact enough copies, but I get along great with my P8R.

I don't know much about the Jensens, but since the Weber isn't doing it for you, a Jensen might be worth a listen.

P8R (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Jensen-P8R-25W-8-Replacement-Speaker?sku=665010)

MOD8 (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Jensen-MOD820-20W-8-Replacement-Speaker?sku=665015)

C8R (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Jensen-C8R-25W-8-Replacement-Speaker?sku=665001)

I liked the C & P fine, but didn't like the MOD series one at all. I would suggest you go the extra couple bucks and get one of the other two. Just IMO, YMMV, etc. & co.

I have a '72 Champ with faux Blackface Panel & 3 prong plug and Jensen 8PR. I got it off a really solid dude on this forum. Just a nice guy heard me pine-ing (hahah) for a champ and he had to unload his (too many amps) and gave me a shout out. He even waited till payday for me to send the getus and sent the original speaker along too.

I love champs. Crank 'em up!

just got one of those Fender 57 Tweed Champ F 51 Handwired...


ill post pics in a bit...its AWESOME!!!!!!

all USA...all handwired...all point to point...very serious!

my ron kirn barn buster sounds AMAZING thru it

here are some pics of my baby...

http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/mrnewhaven/IMG_0587.jpg


i took the grille and the tube cage off...
http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/mrnewhaven/IMG_0590.jpg

http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/mrnewhaven/IMG_0582.jpg

here is a couple more...

http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/mrnewhaven/IMG_0588.jpg

5F1 I built in the cab/chassis from an '80s SS Harvard reverb:
http://npaflas.googlepages.com/Lacquer1.JPG/Lacquer1-large.JPG

I tweeded and lacquered it. It's running through a Weber 10A125-O. I've replace the faceplate since the pic (with a $5 roll of aluminum flashing I got at Home Depot.

Thanks - It's back to sounding like its old (awesome) self now! I really like the Weber Sig 8 in it now...

Cooleo...you are welcome!

1974 SF Champ that my Dad gave me for my 16th birthday. Still 100% original.
Probably time for a new speaker and caps. I love it, one of the greatest products Fender ever created.

Here is my old '66 Champ, bought around 1988 for $100. It was all original at the time, but I have replaced the multi-section filter cap, lowered the B+ voltage from 415VDC to 360VDC and put in a switch on the rear panel that lifts the tone stack for an "almost tweed" sound. I still have the original Oxford speaker in a box, but this amp uses a Weber Sig8.

Great amp. The voltage dropping scheme eliminates virtually ALL hum and runs the 6V6 at much happier bias/dissipation point (note that the BF Champ schematic calls for about 350VDC at the plate, but many Champs run at 400VDC and more). It sounds warm and big at low volumes, I use it in acoustic settings and studios.

Oh, and the pilot light is green. I don't know where I put the red one.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/539/medium/66Champ.jpg

Before I start a new thread...Does a Super Champ count?

Sorry...Posted too soon.

Found the Super Champ thread.

Anyway, you guys have some sharp looking amps.

just got one of those Fender 57 Tweed Champ F 51 Handwired...


ill post pics in a bit...its AWESOME!!!!!!

all USA...all handwired...all point to point...very serious!

my ron kirn barn buster sounds AMAZING thru it

Do you have any sound or YouTube clips?

Here are some links to really excellent sound clips of a Tele
with ToneRider pickups through a Vibro Champ clone (Ceriatone).

http://tonerider.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/groove_no_4.mp3
http://tonerider.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/groove_no_1.mp3
http://tonerider.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/groove_no_2.mp3
http://tonerider.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/groove_no_3.mp3
http://tonerider.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/groove_no_5.mp3


See original thread at http://ceriatoneforum.com/index.php?topic=49.0

Do you have any sound or YouTube clips?

unforunately not at the moment...

i have gotten both my kirn and that 57 about a month month and a half ago...and since then

i have probably only played a few hours on the amp...

i have a pignose 7-100 and a modded champ 600 (Mercury Magnetics upgrade)
and i also have an MIJ Rosewood Tele...
the mij and the champ 600 have been taking up most of my time...

i plug in and chicken pick a little on my 57 tweed...im still trying to break it in a little...but all and all it sounds soooo utterly fantastic! i cant even begin to tell you!

if you look on youtube and even the fender website...they made at least 4 different 57 tweed videos...

in the next month or so as soon as i close on a couple of deals i will spend some time and get acquainted with the amp and i will record a few samples and share with you great people!

Here's my first Fender tube amp, a '74 VC I picked up on eBay. The cabinet was so mildewey and rotten when it arrived that it practically fell apart, but the amp was perf. Made a new, bigger cabinet to handle a 12" speaker. Added an old '58 Oxford alnico and I now have what you see. Great little amp.

http://http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Powdog562/American%20Amps/housepaint005.jpg

http://http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Powdog562/American%20Amps/housepaint008.jpg

I'll try loading these pics again.

http://http://s452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Powdog562/?action=view&current=Champpics003.jpg

http://http://s452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Powdog562/?action=view&current=Champpics004.jpg

I just scored a 1971 Champ on a trade and I think I've found true love.
I have owned way too many amps over the years not to have already owned one of these.
I'll post a pic after I get the instructions for the secret handshake.

I just scored a 1971 Champ on a trade and I think I've found true love.
I have owned way too many amps over the years not to have already owned one of these.
I'll post a pic after I get the instructions for the secret handshake.


Congratz! Nice amp, ain't it?! I've got a '69 SF w/ original RCA tubes still cranking out that sweet tone... :grin:

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/telechamp/RWstrat2PB.jpg

'73 Vibro champ heading my way. First old Fender anything (guitar or amp) for me so its pretty cool.

I write couple of lines about my "vibrochamp" (Vibrochamp REVERB, actually :-)) . It is not the real Fender vibrochamp ( so i understand if this post will be removed from here), but it is a pretty interesting animal.

It is based on 1964-1967 5w Fender Vibro Champ AA764 circuit (difference is, that its got just tone instead of treble and bass ), is handbuilt (real hand wired, with solid copper ground terminals etc) , has decent tube driven tremolo. 10" alnico jensen p10r. It has been built by Mr Kaido Kasak (http://tartu.postimees.ee/100708/tartu_postimees/uudised/339565.php) ( sry for estonian language :-) ). The ultimate thing is, that by now, it´s got onboard tube driven reverb (no solid states, only caps and resistors), but the digital reverb module instead of a possibly fittable short 9,25" and not the best sounding real spring-tank (Belton (http://www.uk-electronic.de/PDF/BTDR-1.pdf)) . It may have (one of the) first time(s) in whole history when such thing has been installed in such kind of amp by such way (no op-amps or anything...) . And it sounds pretty darn good ! One more cool thing - Mr Kaido Kasak is officially ´certified to recycle old radios´ ( it is a special enviromental certificate :-) :-) ) . ´Cause that´s how he started - by building tiny and small tube amps from recycled components of old tube radios .

The amps built by Mr Kasak carry name "ROMU" , which in english means something like "old junk" :-)

here it is - the gray one on the right on this pic (the guy with tele is not me)
http://imgcash6.imageshack.us/Himg524/scaled.php?server=524&filename=img7411.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=480

some sound samples ( not played by me ) (http://romuland.weebly.com/index.html) before the reverb mod was designed.

Just picked up the Fender 57 tweed champ a couple of days ago and it rocks with my Gibsons and my Fenders .

Great touch sensitive amp solid as a rock just as the Fender deluxe amp they are both in a class of thier own .

Theres no mods required its all there .

It looks like the Champ has been making a comeback in popularity these days. They are wonderful sounding, so it shouldn't be a surprise :rolleyes:

I bought my one & only Champ 10 years ago at a vintage guitar show in Pasadena Ca, from Tim Page, of Buffalo Brothers. The intent from the very beginning was to build a new cabinet using maple & purple heart my step-dad & I purchased earlier that day.

The project didn't get off the ground until last Oct/Nov. We realized how short on wood we were, so back to the lumber yard for more maple. The purple heart was put aside, and we used rosewood instead. A few parts from MoJo and we ended up with what you see here~

~Randy

Outstanding

Has anyone photos of the rig where a guy wired together 16 champs into one stack?


I saw it on ebay

BF SF and Broncos all wired together into one input


Very wild