Info on Champs (any model)

How do Champs sound, both clean and dirty? (with no effects, just sraight in). I have heard a download on my computer, and while the playing was good, the tone seemed a little raspy, which is something that I'm not interested in. How much headroom do they have with a decent set of tubes? Lastly, how hard is it to build one of these things? Are there any step by step. easy to understand kits? Thanks for any info!

How do Champs sound, both clean and dirty? (with no effects, just sraight in). I have heard a download on my computer, and while the playing was good, the tone seemed a little raspy, which is something that I'm not interested in. How much headroom do they have with a decent set of tubes? Lastly, how hard is it to build one of these things? Are there any step by step. easy to understand kits? Thanks for any info!

Both Clean and Dirty they sound great. If the tone is too raspy or muddy that can EASILY be tweaked.

The headroom is NOT usually enough to play any normal sized gigs with, unless you mic em up - they're 6 watts. You can also EASILY tweak this by building a "Double Champ" with two 6V6's running side-by-side (still in Class A, so it's still not as loud as the 2x 6V6 Deluxes - it's about 12watts like this). I tweaked mine to run a 6L6 or an EL34 as well for 6watt or 10watt modes.

There are a ton of kits available, easy instructions, plenty of help on sites like 18watt.com and actual chassis layout drawings from Fender still available to download from some folks' sites (like Ampwares.com, in their Fender Field Guide page).

I'd suggest building it with a bigger speaker - perhaps a 12"... sounds like that will instantly cure isome of your concerns about tone (raspiness) and loudness... I cured speaker issues by building it as a head unit.

Put a Tubescreamer in front of it for a little bit more "modern" type of overdriven sounds... I like mine with or without OD (mostly without) and run into my closed back cab with two 12" Celestion Vintage 30's and a 6L6 power tube.

With a 6V6 you can easily get that "Johnny B Goode" sound (on about 6 or 8 on the volume), dime it and it's like Johnny B Bad!

I like the Paul Riveria desgin Fender Champ II. There a few things that I don't like. Like the Push-pull Treble/Mid and no effects loop.

Who needs an FX loop in a champ? Aren't they meant to be simple?



Alec

Yeah...

Most of the Overdrive on a Champ is coming out of the power amp section as well, so inserting an effects loop between Pre and Power amp sections won't make any giant differences... especially due to the minimal gain stages of the preamp (compared to modern amps, which need effects loops due to their massive preamp gain).

Thanks for the info guys...Hey, JohnnyCrash, got any pics of your Champ? And, how's it sound with the EL34?
Thanks again everyone!

I just saw your other thread. Nice job!

Ok far enough on the effects loop. How about changeable power tubes from 6V6 to 6L6.