Fender Champ

[jordanchristie]

Whats the deal with Fender Champs? Are they good little amps?

 

[killermeteor]

I've owned a number of Silverface Champs (and Vibro Champs) and a couple of Blackface Champs throughout the years and I wish I would have kept at least one of them. I really like 'em a lot. Nice low wattage amps. The Champ has been used on numerous recordings- I believe that Clapton used Tweed Champs on the Layla album. I don't know anything at all about the newer ones, but the I really liked the older ones that I had.

 

[Guitar Dave T]

My 1959 Tweed Champ was one of the best amps I've ever owned, and I've owned some really nice amps over the years. Articulate, sweet, could be driven hard and sound like a big Marshall in a tiny package, touch sensitive as all getout.

Blackface Champs I've played have had a similar vibe.

 

[Pietro]

My silverface champ is awesome. I sometimes think about selling it, then I get ahold of myself and don't.

 

[drewl]

Just like any Fender amp, they come in the usual flavors, Tweed, Black and Silver!
Somehow I had a couple Vibro Champs as a teen, of course they weren't loud enough for me back then
And luckily I got one for $5 a few years ago that I'm keeping this time, now that I'm older and wiser!
Lots of tweaks for these, you can bypass the tone stack like the tweeds, some nice old tubes and they sound great, perfect for recording.

 

[StratTone]

Just like any Fender amp, they come in the usual flavors, Tweed, Black and Silver!
Somehow I had a couple Vibro Champs as a teen, of course they weren't loud enough for me back then
And luckily I got one for $5 a few years ago that I'm keeping this time, now that I'm older and wiser!
Lots of tweaks for these, you can bypass the tone stack like the tweeds, some nice old tubes and they sound great, perfect for recording.

Hey does your champ have the stock cap value of 20/20/20 or 40/20/20?

 

[kingjoemom]

Yeah they are cool little amps, and for 100 bucks I guess you can't afford not to own one.

The stock speaker breaks up before the amp does, I was playing a Slash Signature while demoing it, so I had Seymour Duncan buckers in em. But I'm sure SC's would't be AS harsh on it. The folks that have switched the speaker in em to a Weber 6" Alnico reported having wonderful results.

I hear Fargen Amps mods em to where they sound AMAZING
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPxQAKWsUd0

Theres the link to the demo.

However in the stock 5 watt category my Blackheart Little Giant eats it alive

 

[soundchaser59]

And you can get Jim Frenzel at frenzeltubeamps.com to do a restoration on the Champ if necessary, caps etc., for between $200-300 bucks. He builds tons of awesome clones, so he knows what the amp is supposed to be....

 

[dandythomas]

I recently picked up a stock '64 Champ for $200 and invested another $40 for new electrolitic caps. It is a great little amp for playing at home and recording. I am surprised how good that little 8" speaker sounds. Sounds great with dirt pedals too. It is a keeper for sure. I find this little amp gets better low volume sounds than any big amp turned down.

 

[wopr]

+1 for champs and recording.

 

[karma1]

I owned a 70's silverface Vibro Champ and I really wanted to love it, but it just didn't do it for me. The main problem was lack of clean headroom. Even after trying a Weber Alnico Sig 8 speaker and a variety of tubes, it started breaking up really early. If that's the kind of tone that works for your style, great. A lot of people really like these amps. I've read a number of user reviews that said theirs stayed relatively clean up to 8 or 9 on the volume knob. Mine started getting distorted around 4, so maybe it was just characteristic that particular amp. I sold mine and got a Super Champ XD, which may not have the mojo of a vintage Champ, but it works better for me.

 

[huskerjohn]

I owned a 70's silverface Vibro Champ and I really wanted to love it, but it just didn't do it for me. The main problem was lack of clean headroom. Even after trying a Weber Alnico Sig 8 speaker and a variety of tubes, it started breaking up really early. If that's the kind of tone that works for your style, great. A lot of people really like these amps. I've read a number of user reviews that said theirs stayed relatively clean up to 8 or 9 on the volume knob. Mine started getting distorted around 4, so maybe it was just characteristic that particular amp. I sold mine and got a Super Champ XD, which may not have the mojo of a vintage Champ, but it works better for me.

I've had two 70's era Silverface Champs in my life. The one I had back in the 70's stayed clean with single coils up until 10 and with HBs would break up at about 8. My current Silverface Champ starts to break up between 4-5 with HB's and about 6 with my strat. Both amps were stock, so I don't know what's different except for about 35-40 years of use for my current Champ.

I love my Champ and would never ever sell it.

 

[bradinnm]

I have a 70s Vibro Champ that I had Bruce Collins at Mission Amps perform several mods on. He replaced a transformer so that I can run a 6L6 with a plug in SS rectifier if desired and (it now has both 4 and 8 ohm taps), placed a variable negative feedback loop pot in the back, added a volume pull out tone stack bypass, and put it all into a very nice head enclosure. It is one of my very favorite amp and I will never part with it. I will see if I can get some pics up for you all.

bradinnm

 

[Shnook]

I recently picked up a stock '64 Champ for $200 and invested another $40 for new electrolitic caps. It is a great little amp for playing at home and recording. I am surprised how good that little 8" speaker sounds. Sounds great with dirt pedals too. It is a keeper for sure. I find this little amp gets better low volume sounds than any big amp turned down.

I couldn't agree more. Here's quick clip of my '65 Champ and my Tim pedal. Perfect at home volume.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lt4PWMi1K8

 

[drewl]

Hey does your champ have the stock cap value of 20/20/20 or 40/20/20?

Don't remember, haven't opened her up in a while.
A new speaker really opens these up, I have a Weber in mine and it really stays together better when pushed, no more flabby bottom.

 

[ispunk]

Love my all original (even tubes) 1972 Champ. Sweet little amp that you can actually crank at home and not disturb the whole neighborhood.

 

[jordanchristie]

Thats a great demo. That thing sounds great. I just scored a champ for 200. I'm picking it up tomorrow. Im stoked.

 

[Rick360]

Howdy,

I love my '68 Vibro Champ. It's a fantastic little amp for raunch. The trem is the best I've ever heard.

Rick360

 

[tambokgt]

Whats the deal with Fender Champs? Are they good little amps?

oh yeah... this amp is good for recording and as a bedroom amp.

 

[StratTone]

Don't remember, haven't opened her up in a while.
A new speaker really opens these up, I have a Weber in mine and it really stays together better when pushed, no more flabby bottom.

I did a home brew of one and have a Jensen C10R in it and it still isn't a champ for some reason. haha

Its funny I have made much more diffecult amps and much higher wattage and had great success but this little champ just don't sound like a Champ. I made another one for a guy and he loves his. They both sound the same but to be honest I still don't think they sound like champs.