‘57 Custom Champ, Modifications

[heatx]

Picked up a ‘57 Custom Champ a couple weeks ago and couldn’t be happier with this thing. Sounds great fresh out of the box, but I wanted to make a few tasteful changes.

Relocated the power cable strap/clamp to a position that makes more sense (the stock position puts the power cable right up against the tube cage), switched out the speaker to a Jensen P8R reissue, changed the speaker cable to Evidence Audio Siren II (built by Fargen Custom Shop on Reverb), replaced the stock tubes with a full set of NOS RCA tubes (6V6GTA from December '62 and 5Y3GT from January '59), and relocated the labels inside the cabinet to be more period-correct.

Build quality of the Fargen cable is insane. They do great work. Couldn’t really tell a difference in tone between that and the standard cable. Just wanted something a little more beefy… the stock cable is not the best quality.

This amp, with a 12AX7, sounds nearly exact to the vintage units I’ve played. It turns it into a giant, tube driven, fuzz pedal. However, I really do like Fender’s decision to switch out the stock preamp tube to a 12AY7. It allows for more clean headroom and just enough breakup when it’s cranked, even with humbuckers. It allows this amp to be a bit more pedal friendly as well. Super chimey clean tones with just a the slightest hint of tube/speaker compression. It sounds huge, like a mini 5E3. The old tubes really brought this thing to life, much more natural sounding and even more touch sensitive and dynamic than stock.

I do prefer the Jensen over the stock Weber because of the chimey highs, its overall tonality just works for me. I did keep the Weber because the two speakers are completely different and they’re both outstanding.

I picked up 12AY7 and 12AX7 preamp tubes so I have the option to switch it out depending on the situation. Both are NOS RCA.

Overall, I’m beyond thrilled to have the Champ in my studio arsenal. They did a great job with this reissue and stayed true to the original circuit.

 

[JDRNoPro]

I prefer the 12AY7 over the 12AX7 in my 57 Custom Champ too. I'm running a compliment of NOS tubes, but have to say the stock ones that came in mine were surprisingly good sounding.

Your comment about the new Jensen is interesting. I think the Weber is an excellent match for this amp, but we like what we like - glad it is working for you!

I've had a high quality 5F1 clone for a number of years but it never really wowed me for some reason. Despite all the comments about clones being as good or better and the Fender reissue being too expensive, etc., I still wondered about the 57 Custom Champ and finally bought one to satisfy my curiosity. Very glad I did - it's everything I wanted in a Champ. Great tone and build quality.

 

[heatx]

I prefer the 12AY7 over the 12AX7 in my 57 Custom Champ too. I'm running a compliment of NOS tubes, but have to say the stock ones that came in mine were surprisingly good sounding.

Your comment about the new Jensen is interesting. I think the Weber is an excellent match for this amp, but we like what we like - glad it is working for you!

I've had a high quality 5F1 clone for a number of years but it never really wowed me for some reason. Despite all the comments about clones being as good or better and the Fender reissue being too expensive, etc., I still wondered about the 57 Custom Champ and finally bought one to satisfy my curiosity. Very glad I did - it's everything I wanted in a Champ. Great tone and build quality.

Yeah, the Weber is a great sounding speaker, but the Jensen really sounds good in that little box, especially once broken in. I’ve got about 50 or so hours on both speakers and the Jensen just sings. They’re both great though, like I said, and I’ll utilize both. This is mainly a studio amp.

 

[heatx]

Also, regarding the 12AY7 in V1… when switched with a 12AX7, the tone of the amp changes drastically. Obviously it’s louder overall and also breaks up way earlier. I find it to be much “sweeter” sounding with a 12AY7 in V1 and less “I’m going to kick your ass and make your neighbors call the cops.”

Just like the speakers, though, both sound great.

 

[jman72]

Awesome amp- congrats on a great choice! I love my 5f1 clone that I built with my son (as a head and a speaker cab)- it has quickly surpassed my other amps as my favorite and I pretty much have abandoned all my others for the past 18 months or so. I have an old Sylvania 5751 preamp tube in it, which also reduces the gain and gives it a much more usable range and makes it a killer pedal platform (like your 12ay7). I have a Jensen C12N in it, which is a 50Watt speaker, also giving it plenty of cleans. These Champs have a reputation as being mini overdrive beasts, but with the lower gain preamp tubes, they really shine! I think they're pretty much the perfect little all-purpose tube amp.

Enjoy that Champ!

 

[heatx]

Awesome amp- congrats on a great choice! I love my 5f1 clone that I built with my son (as a head and a speaker cab)- it has quickly surpassed my other amps as my favorite and I pretty much have abandoned all my others for the past 18 months or so. I have an old Sylvania 5751 preamp tube in it, which also reduces the gain and gives it a much more usable range and makes it a killer pedal platform (like your 12ay7). I have a Jensen C12N in it, which is a 50Watt speaker, also giving it plenty of cleans. These Champs have a reputation as being mini overdrive beasts, but with the lower gain preamp tubes, they really shine! I think they're pretty much the perfect little all-purpose tube amp.

Enjoy that Champ!

View attachment 891379

I'm considering ordering a 5E3 cab (without cutout for the chassis) and putting a 10" Jensen in there to hear how the Champ sounds with a larger speaker.

 

[jman72]

I'm considering ordering a 5E3 cab (without cutout for the chassis) and putting a 10" Jensen in there to hear how the Champ sounds with a larger speaker.

I actually have a 12" Jensen in mine. I LOVE the larger speaker- maybe not "Champ-like", but absolutely fantastic, nonetheless. And 8 ohm, 12" speakers are so easy to find, I'll likely build other cabinets like the one I built for the Champ so I can mix and match.

 

[JDRNoPro]

heatx:

Any chance of doing sound clips of both speakers playing exactly the same thing for a sound comparison? I must say that although I am very satisfied with the stock Weber, your comments about the Jensen in the 57 CC have me curious.....

Thanks!

 

[heatx]

heatx:

Any chance of doing sound clips of both speakers playing exactly the same thing for a sound comparison? I must say that although I am very satisfied with the stock Weber, your comments about the Jensen in the 57 CC have me curious.....

Thanks!

Sure, I’ll record something this weekend.

 

[JDRNoPro]

Thanks!

 

[heatx]

Just wanted to note; the Jensen speaker is getting better and better. It could also partially be due to the NOS tubes breaking in. I noticed that when I first installed the Jensen, the breakup and compression was super abrasive. This has toned down a ton over the past week or so. It's much smoother and creamy sounding. All while keeping those chimey highs that we all love about the Fender amps.

If anyone has one of these reissues, I'd highly recommend at least giving the P8R a shot. Give it at least 100 or so hours of break-in time before coming up with a verdict. I think both the Weber and the Jensen are great speakers and have their own strengths and weaknesses. I'm considering giving the Weber Sig 8S a shot, which has the ribbed cone.

 

[2L man]

I did run my Champ and Princeton SE amps to many 12" and 10" speakers but when I bought 8" P8R it made them sound just like I have thought they should Low sensitivity speaker makes it possible to open amp more and then there comes more tube distortion.

Now I bought also C8R and it sound great as well.

P10R-F is still my favorite speaker for all Tweed Fender amps for home and low volume group playing. For louder volume it is Tornado 10" but Eminence 1028K is also good for louder vintage sounds.

 

[JDRNoPro]

Isn't the Weber 8s a smooth cone designation?

 

[heatx]

Isn't the Weber 8s a smooth cone designation?

Nope, the Sig 8A S is the ribbed cone version of the Sig 8A. It's a bit confusing, tbh...

 

[Antoon]

I would consider a (small) bright cap on the volume pot.