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Post subject: 1963 Fender Champ
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 3:10 pm
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This is such a crazy story, thought I'd share. About 25 years ago or so, a friend of mine said, "hey, I got this old amp in my closet. Been there forever, but doesn't work. Do you want it?" Of course I said, sure. He brings it over, and I see it is an old Fender Champ. I didn't realize exactly what it was, because I was only like 20 years old.

So I am checking it out, and sure enough, it won't turn on. I look at it a bit, and realize, there is no fuse cap, and of course, no fuse either. Additionally, it was missing two tubes. So I figure out what fuse and tubes it needs, and throw them in there, and it turns on! However, when I put a guitar through it, it just made a sick noise. I took it to the shop, and they said, easy fix, just need to rebuild the speaker, as the voice coil was frozen in place, and the cone was ripped. A week later, they had it working perfectly. When I picked it up, the shop owner offered me $500 on the spot. I said no though.

Fast forward to today, and I still have it. I love to run my American Vintage '56 Reissue Stratocaster though it. It sounds unbelievable. I see them these days on the internet anywhere from $1500 to $3000. Mine is all original except for the tubes and fuse cap. Everything else has never been messed with, including the original capacitors (which isn't necessarily a good thing, but they still sound great). It is excellent "patina" on it.

As I look back on it, I sure am thankful for my friend that just gave it to me. I have long since lost touch with him, but this beauty is a gift that just keeps giving...

Image

[EDIT: Updated title based on my findings later in thread]

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The Fender MIA collection: 4 Stratocasters (1989, 2005, 2013, 2014), 4 Telecasters (2000/2017, 2015, 2016, 2016), 1 Jazz Bass (2013), 1 Champ Amp (1963), 1 Deluxe Reverb Amp (2014)


Last edited by drkato on Tue Apr 25, 2017 4:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: 1961 Fender Champ
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 3:44 pm
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Very nice story! I have two tweed Champs. A 1955 (5E1) and a 5F1 clone. Plus, a 1949 Champion 600. All are great practice amps.

Enjoy them! :D

Image

Image


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Post subject: Re: 1961 Fender Champ
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 4:00 pm
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Wow...that Champion 600. Crazy! Nice pic.

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The Fender MIA collection: 4 Stratocasters (1989, 2005, 2013, 2014), 4 Telecasters (2000/2017, 2015, 2016, 2016), 1 Jazz Bass (2013), 1 Champ Amp (1963), 1 Deluxe Reverb Amp (2014)


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Post subject: Re: 1961 Fender Champ
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 6:12 pm
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Nice heirloom relic......that thing just oozes "Bell Bottom Blues"!

How about some gut shots......chassis, speaker, and cabinet.

8)

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: 1961 Fender Champ
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 8:59 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Nice heirloom relic......that thing just oozes "Bell Bottom Blues"!

How about some gut shots......chassis, speaker, and cabinet.

8)

Arjay


The early tweed Champs and that woody era Champion have the sweetest OD tone. Very controllable by fingering and articulations, alone. Better, than the later BF Champs and VC, IMHO.

Yes, too photos. We love them! :wink:


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Post subject: Re: 1961 Fender Champ
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2016 11:28 am
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Agreed Beemer, the old ones distort asymmetrically. That is, the bottom of the wave is clipped long before the top half runs out of power.
This colors the tone with partial distortion through a large range of volume before full clipping.
The Champion 600 and other more modern Champs have symetrical clipping. That is, they stay clean then clip fully.
They do not have the range of expression as the old Tweeds.
The touch sensitivity of the Tweeds that satisfys an old picker is not exactly what a beginner needs out of a practice amp, though.
But make no mistake, they are not the same animal.


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Post subject: Re: 1961 Fender Champ
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:30 pm
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The 5D1-5F1 also had less voltage placed onto the 12AX7, versus the BF and SF Champs (150VDC versus 200+). I feel this makes for a less strident gain stage OD.

I really like the tone of the 6SJ7 (mil spec 5693) pentode in my 5C1. So responsive to guitar volume and tone settings. Maybe, one day make a DIY 5F1 with octal pentode or duo-triode input tube...

Image


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Post subject: Re: 1961 Fender Champ
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 3:38 pm
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Realized I never added gut shot pics...

Image

Image

Image

Of course now looking at these close ups, I am not sure of the year anymore. I did a quick check, and the number AA0463, stamped in the chassis, and on the back of the speaker, don't seem to translate into something useful. Anyone got any clues?

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The Fender MIA collection: 4 Stratocasters (1989, 2005, 2013, 2014), 4 Telecasters (2000/2017, 2015, 2016, 2016), 1 Jazz Bass (2013), 1 Champ Amp (1963), 1 Deluxe Reverb Amp (2014)


Last edited by drkato on Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: 1961 Fender Champ
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 4:29 pm
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drkato wrote:
Realized I never added gut shot pics...


You still haven't -- your pics are not visible.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: 1961 Fender Champ
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:14 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
drkato wrote:
Realized I never added gut shot pics...


You still haven't -- your pics are not visible.

Arjay


LOL, thanks. Damn Google Photos. Let me move them somewhere else.

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The Fender MIA collection: 4 Stratocasters (1989, 2005, 2013, 2014), 4 Telecasters (2000/2017, 2015, 2016, 2016), 1 Jazz Bass (2013), 1 Champ Amp (1963), 1 Deluxe Reverb Amp (2014)


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Fender Champ
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:25 pm
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OK, figured out photo link posting above, should be able to see pics now.

Also, I think I figured out the mystery after doing some more searching. First, look at this image...

Image

It is very faint, but you can see what looks like a "W A" stamped on the tube sticker. Since "W" doesn't translate in Fenders numbering, I can only assume this is actually an upside down "M", which would say this unit was built in January, 1963.

Then there is this image...

Image

That is the serial number, which I didn't even realize was there because of the gunk on the top panel. It confirms 1963, as the number C19750 falls right into the wheelhouse of 1963 year serial numbers: C19000 - C21000.

This all fits with the number "AA0463" that is stamped inside the cabinet and on the back of the speaker too, possibly stating that the unit was build Jan. 4, 1963.

Learned something new and awesome!

:D :o :D :o

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The Fender MIA collection: 4 Stratocasters (1989, 2005, 2013, 2014), 4 Telecasters (2000/2017, 2015, 2016, 2016), 1 Jazz Bass (2013), 1 Champ Amp (1963), 1 Deluxe Reverb Amp (2014)


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Fender Champ
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:08 pm
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Your forensic evidence is overwhelming -- great job of sleuthing!

8)

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Fender Champ
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 8:15 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Your forensic evidence is overwhelming -- great job of sleuthing!

8)

Arjay


Thanks!

After even further looking at the tube spec label, I now think the M was right side up, and the ink just got on there kind of funny.

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The Fender MIA collection: 4 Stratocasters (1989, 2005, 2013, 2014), 4 Telecasters (2000/2017, 2015, 2016, 2016), 1 Jazz Bass (2013), 1 Champ Amp (1963), 1 Deluxe Reverb Amp (2014)


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Fender Champ
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:21 am
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Nice photos! May want to think about changing out those PSU caps. One seems to be leaking and one has a "pimple" on its side. F&T makes good replacement caps.

:mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Fender Champ
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:36 am
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That's a really good looking original Champ chassis.
+1 on the PSU/bypass capacitor replacement, it would give the amp another 10-20 years of life.


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