Got photos of my finished Lil' Dawg Champster Special

Man, am I ever glad I was patient enough to wait for him to add more coats of laquer. It looked great when he sent the original photos of it constructed, now it looks amazing. It gets shipped out tomorrow.


http://www.evilrocknroll.net/champster_01.JPG
http://www.evilrocknroll.net/champster_02.JPG
http://www.evilrocknroll.net/champster_03.JPG

That's a really sharp amp. What ohm speaker did you get? Can you detail the options you got? I am planning getting mine from Jim real soon.

8 ohm speaker. The "Special" is 14 watts.

The extra options I got where the ext. speaker out, and a tone control added. They are at an extra cost, but a very small extra cost.

It was actually done about a week ago, but when I first started emailing him he sent me photos of a version with lot's of laquer on it, so I decided to be patient and wait for more coats. It was well worth it from the looks of the photos.

Scwhinnng! That looks awesome. I've been trying to resist, but I don't know how much longer I can hold out...

I *LOVE* my Champster Special. Two thumbs up and major kudos to Jim - his Fender clones are top shelf!

Mighty fine looking amp.
Congrats. :lol:

Telejammer...

Jim made me a de-lux, had it about a month. Fantastic little amp. He got my color perfect. Luv the tone. Built like a tank. Get one while you can!

My Champster Special arrived today! I just finished giving it it's first test with my 52' RI Tele and my Gibson Melody Maker.

I honestly can't even describe how great the amp sounds. It just sends chills up my spine.

I am glad I got the 14 watt version. It breaks up at a really nice volume.

So far I honestly don't hear any shortcomings with the stock speaker. I have a Weber 12F150 and I will try it out to see the difference, but I think the stock speaker sounds great so far. Especially when the amp overdrives.

Jim included a 6V6 and 6L6 tube to try out. So far I have only tried the 6V6.

One other note, I have never recieved an item in the mail with so much care put into the packing. You could drop the box of a building and nothing would likely happen to the amp.

Hey tdu,

I hope you're happy with your Champster Special. I got mine a couple of days ago from Jim and it's a kickass little tube amp. I didn't have the tone control or the extra tubes that Jim gave you. The sound of my guitars, a couple of pedals and the Champster with no tone control gives me a pure beautiful sound. An old thread, but I wanted to compliment Jim on his amps.:grin:

Guitar George

Heya. I do love the sound of the amp, but I have issues with it that don't relate to the quality in any way. I am kind of wishing I had bought a model with a little more power. I LOVE grit tones....but I also love the clean tones this amp puts out. And for my playing situation, I can't get those clean tones at any sort of volume.

Again, my problems relate in no way to the quality of the amp. The quality and tone are incredible. This was my first experience with tweed amps though, and I don't think I bougth the right model for my needs.

I am thinking about putting a ceramic speaker in it, and a 12AT7 to see if I can increase that clean headroom a little.

Hey tdu,

Have you considered a different type of tweed amp with higher wattage or are you leaning towards the blackface Fender amps? You don't sound very happy with your Champster Special.

Guitar George

Heya. I do love the sound of the amp, but I have issues with it that don't relate to the quality in any way. I am kind of wishing I had bought a model with a little more power. I LOVE grit tones....but I also love the clean tones this amp puts out. And for my playing situation, I can't get those clean tones at any sort of volume.

Again, my problems relate in no way to the quality of the amp. The quality and tone are incredible. This was my first experience with tweed amps though, and I don't think I bougth the right model for my needs.

I am thinking about putting a ceramic speaker in it, and a 12AT7 to see if I can increase that clean headroom a little.


Depends on how much "clean headroom" you need, and just how squeeky clean the "clean" needs to be - and all of this stuff at the volume you require.

If you thought that a souped up, un-mic'd Champ would deliver reliable clean volume for bar gigs in a rock/blues band ... what were you thinking?

I have the first Champster Special chassis that Jim built - it was built to my spex and I gave it the "Special" name tag. It's my most fave amp; it has a three way switch for off/standby/on, a Fender pilot light, a single vol pot and a single input. It has big iron and the OT is 8 ohms. The idea was to take a "tweed amp" circuit up a notch or two and allow some more clean headroom. I prefer to run it with a 6V6/5Y3, but it definitely cleans up more with a 6L6/GZ34. I built a large pine box for the chassis and stuck in a 30 watt Weber 12F150. It's really loud with a Tele loaded with Keystones - easily loud enuf for small blues/rock bar gigs with the right drummer. This kinda loud is overdriven but not fuzzed out loud. It doesn't "tweed out" 'til around 3/4 volume and 1/2 volume is my sweet spot for a Tele or a Melody Maker w/dog ear P90, where the notes have a bit of "hair" on them and aren't squeeky clean. I've even played jazz standards with it (6L6/GZ34) in a trio setting and plugging in a humbucker 335 clone - real jazzy clean, but at much lower volumes.

If you need lots more clean for gigs, you'll need a *much* more powerful amp, and the right speaker(s). I have the 25 watt 6L6/GZ34 D-Lux w/15" Weber 15F150, and IMHO, that amp is Loads Louder than the Champster Special but it will not deliver a huge amount of clean headroom at gigging volumes - to do that, you need at least a 40-50 watt tube amp. And to get decent clean you'll be running that bigger amp at 1/4 to 1/2 volume, tops - and that means the amp will be delivering a different kinda tone than when driven harder, louder. YMMV.

Depends on how much "clean headroom" you need, and just how squeeky clean the "clean" needs to be - and all of this stuff at the volume you require.

If you thought that a souped up, un-mic'd Champ would deliver reliable clean volume for bar gigs in a rock/blues band ... what were you thinking?

I have the first Champster Special chassis that Jim built - it was built to my spex and I gave it the "Special" name tag. It's my most fave amp; it has a three way switch for off/standby/on, a Fender pilot light, a single vol pot and a single input. It has big iron and the OT is 8 ohms. The idea was to take a "tweed amp" circuit up a notch or two and allow some more clean headroom. I prefer to run it with a 6V6/5Y3, but it definitely cleans up more with a 6L6/GZ34. I built a large pine box for the chassis and stuck in a 30 watt Weber 12F150. It's really loud with a Tele loaded with Keystones - easily loud enuf for small blues/rock bar gigs with the right drummer. This kinda loud is overdriven but not fuzzed out loud. It doesn't "tweed out" 'til around 3/4 volume and 1/2 volume is my sweet spot for a Tele or a Melody Maker w/dog ear P90, where the notes have a bit of "hair" on them and aren't squeeky clean. I've even played jazz standards with it (6L6/GZ34) in a trio setting and plugging in a humbucker 335 clone - real jazzy clean, but at much lower volumes.

If you need lots more clean for gigs, you'll need a *much* more powerful amp, and the right speaker(s). I have the 25 watt 6L6/GZ34 D-Lux w/15" Weber 15F150, and IMHO, that amp is Loads Louder than the Champster Special but it will not deliver a huge amount of clean headroom at gigging volumes - to do that, you need at least a 40-50 watt tube amp. And to get decent clean you'll be running that bigger amp at 1/4 to 1/2 volume, tops - and that means the amp will be delivering a different kinda tone than when driven harder, louder. YMMV.


You guys kind of misunderstand what I am saying. I love really gritty tones, and that is really what I bought the amp for. And it delivered. But I found the clean tones on the amp are so nice, that NOW I am wishing I had something a little powerful so I could get those tones at a higher volume.

Also I am not talking 100% clean. I have it setup with the 6L6, GZ34, and a 12AT7 tube right now, and running my Reverend Charger 290 through it, it's my absolute dream sound. I just wish it was a little louder. And I am not talking a LOT higher volume. I get the feeling if the amp ran 2 6L6's, that would be perfect for me. Basically, I'd love the simplicity of the Champster Special design, but with just a little more power.

I am basically learning about amps as I go here. Amps like these are normally so far out of my price range that I never had a chance to try them. Thanks to Jim, I can actually own one though.

You guys kind of misunderstand what I am saying. I love really gritty tones, and that is really what I bought the amp for. And it delivered. But I found the clean tones on the amp are so nice, that NOW I am wishing I had something a little powerful so I could get those tones at a higher volume.

Also I am not talking 100% clean. I have it setup with the 6L6, GZ34, and a 12AT7 tube right now, and running my Reverend Charger 290 through it, it's my absolute dream sound. I just wish it was a little louder. And I am not talking a LOT higher volume. I get the feeling if the amp ran 2 6L6's, that would be perfect for me. Basically, I'd love the simplicity of the Champster Special design, but with just a little more power.

I am basically learning about amps as I go here. Amps like these are normally so far out of my price range that I never had a chance to try them. Thanks to Jim, I can actually own one though.


In that case you should have ordered the 25w D-Lux.

Are there any tweed models with that much power that have a simple control layout like the Champster?

I am just curious because a D'Lux chassis ALMOST fits in the Champster cab (talked to Jim about it before). The control panel layout is just a little too big on the D'Lux. So if there was something with less knobs and inputs then a D'Lux, I could just order a chassis and be able to swap them. Which would be pretty neat.

I don't think it's an issue of the control panel as it is with stuffing all the D-Lux components (trannies, sockets, etc.) into such a small box as the Champster chassis. Besides, you really do want the benefit of the dual channel D-Lux and it ain't much larger/heavier than the Champster Special. But, maybe Jim can build you a hybrid single channel D-Lux ....

Rob, ya it's kind of a cost issue :( . I could squeeze a chassis into the budget, but not a full amp.

I have tried selling the Champster locally with no luck, and I don't want to get into a situation where I would have to ship it.

Plus, I really like the Champster for bedroom playing and small jams with my buddy who plays acoustic bass. It would be nice to have the more powerful chasis to swap in when I have a gig or a situation where I need more power :). Swiss Army Lil' Dawg.

But you are right. I should just sell it and get a D'Lux. I was put on Jim's return customer waiting list awile ago. I emailed him today, and when I find out what find of timeline I have I might give selling the Champster another shot.

Yep - put a deposit down now on a D-Lux so you can get on the waiting list,and sell the Champster Special in the meanwhile.

You'll find that the interplay between the two D-Lux channels will give you excellent bedroom level tones without resorting to a pedal or attenuator. I run my D-Lux with the following JJ's - 6L6 matched pair, GZ34, ECC81/AT7 for V2 ("instrument") and ECC82/AU7 for V2 ("mic") - I do believe this is precisely the kinda volume and tone sweep yer after for any kinda playing venue, bedroom or gig. The only mod I might make to a D-Lux is to add in a switch to allow for either adjustable biasing or cathode biased ... as is, the cathode bias setting that Jim tweaks in during the build is really really good.

Gotta love the D-Lux. :twisted:

Rob, ya it's kind of a cost issue :( . I could squeeze a chassis into the budget, but not a full amp.

I have tried selling the Champster locally with no luck, and I don't want to get into a situation where I would have to ship it.

Plus, I really like the Champster for bedroom playing and small jams with my buddy who plays acoustic bass. It would be nice to have the more powerful chasis to swap in when I have a gig or a situation where I need more power :). Swiss Army Lil' Dawg.

But you are right. I should just sell it and get a D'Lux. I was put on Jim's return customer waiting list awile ago. I emailed him today, and when I find out what find of timeline I have I might give selling the Champster another shot.

Hey tdu,

At least you know you want a tweed amp with a higher wattage. I would agree with Rob that maybe a D-Lux 25 or 60 might be for you. You can get Jim to tailor the output of the amp to your liking, if you choose to. If I were you, I would contact Jim of Lil' Dawg Amps and let him know your Champster Special is for sale. He can probably direct a prospective buyer to you without having the buyer being on a waiting list. Everyone benefits from it. You get the money for a bigger amp and the buyer gets an amp they want.

Guitar George

Hey tdu,

At least you know you want a tweed amp with a higher wattage. I would agree with Rob that maybe a D-Lux 25 or 60 might be for you. You can get Jim to tailor the output of the amp to your liking, if you choose to. If I were you, I would contact Jim of Lil' Dawg Amps and let him know your Champster Special is for sale. He can probably direct a prospective buyer to you without having the buyer being on a waiting list. Everyone benefits from it. You get the money for a bigger amp and the buyer gets an amp they want.

Guitar George

I agree, getting an order in with Jim ASAP is always a good thing and that gives ya time to sell off the Champster Special.

Since you want the best of bedroom and gig volumes - both with great tone that's got some valve hair on the notes - I'd suggest the 25w, not the 60w.

Good luck!

You guys kind of misunderstand what I am saying. I love really gritty tones, and that is really what I bought the amp for. And it delivered. But I found the clean tones on the amp are so nice, that NOW I am wishing I had something a little powerful so I could get those tones at a higher volume.

Also I am not talking 100% clean. I have it setup with the 6L6, GZ34, and a 12AT7 tube right now, and running my Reverend Charger 290 through it, it's my absolute dream sound. I just wish it was a little louder. And I am not talking a LOT higher volume. I get the feeling if the amp ran 2 6L6's, that would be perfect for me. Basically, I'd love the simplicity of the Champster Special design, but with just a little more power.

I am basically learning about amps as I go here. Amps like these are normally so far out of my price range that I never had a chance to try them. Thanks to Jim, I can actually own one though.

might not running it into a 2x12" cab give you the vol increase you're seeking ? i think i'd be inclined to give it a try anyways...

a big +1 on the D-Lux
I was looking for more clean headroom on mine and jim suggested a bigger tranny. the combination of the 1x15 and the 35 watt tranny was perfect. jim felt a little more power was needed for the extra headroom.
either way, just tell jim what your after....he said mine was #155 on the year for what he did in 2006. he knows his amps and how to tailor the sound to what your needs are. along with that....just one of the best guys you would ever want to deal with.