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Vibro-Champ Mystery Amp- what's the deal with this bizzarro amp?

bensmythe
June 30th, 2012, 11:23 AM
About a year ago, I traded a laptop for this amp on craigslist. The guy said it was a custom build of a classic 1960's vibro champ amp. The person who built this used a 12" Weber and hardwired a holy grail. You can control the holy grail levels via the middle pot on the front of the amp. You can control the type of reverb (cathedral, hall, spring (i think)) via the three position switch next to the lamp on the face of the amp. It's powered via the courtesy plug on the back of the amp.
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/557209_3768943235320_695474528_n.jpg
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/528936_3768943075316_96194349_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/554205_3768943595329_1902562770_n.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/582825_3768942675306_124780808_n.jpg
The first knob is volume, second is a single hi/low tone knob, the middle is reverb, and the last two control the vibrato speed and depth.
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/563512_3768942315297_11114547_n.jpg
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/392867_3768941835285_1846821030_n.jpg
Can any of you help me confirm what type of circuit this build was based off of? Also, how do I figure out the wattage? The tubes are: 5Y3GT, 6V6GT (x2), ECC835 (x2). The code on the large black transformer is: 022772 / 8316748.
The smaller transformer code is: 1155-0101 / 6050632. I'm not sure if that info is helpful or not. Thanks in advance!

bensmythe
June 30th, 2012, 11:26 AM
Oh, I forgot to mention how this amp sounds. It is by far the best sounding amp I own. It's great at any volume, and makes every guitar sound better than it should. such a huge sound from a small amp!

keithb7
June 30th, 2012, 11:41 AM
That is very very cool and no doubt, sounds great! It sorta looks to be based on a vibro chmap & silver face Princeton it probably puts out 12W or so based on 2 6V6GT tubes. Yet the 5Y3 is more like a modified Vibro Champ. Looks like someone wanted a Princeton Reverb, and made one by modding a VC. The serial number stamped number on the chasis looks like my 1968 Vibro Champ. So that is probably an original Fender VC chassis with the face plate removed.

See my SN here:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kYFBgScJBjw/TPmUhtnpn7I/AAAAAAAAAZ8/-2_3nDFE4z4/s720/DSCF3405.JPG

refin
June 30th, 2012, 11:56 AM
That is one cool looking amp!

BobbyZ
June 30th, 2012, 11:57 AM
With one tone pot and a 5y3 maybe it's been modded to be a 6g2 Princeton. I'm pretty sure it was a silverface Princeton to start with.
What ever it is it was a good trade for a used lap top.

bensmythe
June 30th, 2012, 01:01 PM
Since this amp is sp strange, I decided to buy a strange face plate i just found on ebay:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Fender-Vibro-Champ-Early-60s-Style-Brownface-face-plate-custom-made-unique-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqVHJF!E-oFUbwjIBP08FOP5U!~~60_57.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Fender-Vibro-Champ-Early-60s-Style-Brownface-face-plate-custom-made-unique-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqNHJC0E-P7m8qEBBP08FH7!(g~~60_57.JPG
Here is what another amp looks like with one. I'll probably put some brown knobs on it, or maybe some brown and gold knobs I have from an old brown sunn mixer form the 1970's.

Alex W
July 3rd, 2012, 01:18 PM
Since this amp is sp strange, I decided to buy a strange face plate i just found on ebay:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Fender-Vibro-Champ-Early-60s-Style-Brownface-face-plate-custom-made-unique-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$%28KGrHqNHJC0E-P7m8qEBBP08FH7%21%28g%7E%7E60_57.JPG
Here is what another amp looks like with one. I'll probably put some brown knobs on it, or maybe some brown and gold knobs I have from an old brown sunn mixer form the 1970's.

Cool amp Ben. I saw that brown faceplate on eBay and thought it was cool. Glad it went to a good home. Looking forward to pics of your amp with the faceplate.