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Post subject: Super Champ (Rivera Era): Thoughts and comments.
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 5:35 am
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I am looking to add an amp with reverb to my "sonic arsenal" (to paraphrase Retroverbial). :D

As I am saving up for the purchase (and hunt), I already have the Princeton Reverb and Deluxe Reverb on my list of potentials. Of course those come with a pretty hefty price. But looking at the Fender Field Guide and remembering what others have said about the Rivera Era amps, I am thinking I should probably consider a Super Champ to my list of potential amps.

The Super Champ seems to be close in wattage (18 watts) to the PR and has the 10" speaker. The pre-amp and power tubes are the same. Bias is the same, but has a solid state rectifier. (Which means nothing to me since I don't work on the amps - I just play the damn things. :lol: Remember - I'd probably solder my wedding ring the to damn chassis if I was to work on any of my amps. :lol: )

I already own a '69/70 Princeton non-reverb - so I already have Tremolo.

I figure the Super Champ might be a way for me to get an amp with reverb and not break the bank..... I like the smaller watt amps and I am a cheap SOB. :lol:

Any thoughts and comments appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: Super Champ (Rivera Era): Thoughts and comments.
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:14 am
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Rivera-era Super Champs typically command a hefty premium due to the limited production numbers during the time the amp was available, usually in excess of $800. For that money, one could easily afford a nice used DRRI or a PRRI. The SC is a respectable unit but only if a stacked-and-cascaded gain-stage pre-amp is required a la Mesa-Boogie or Dumble. They really don't do traditional blackface Fender tones very convincingly. JMO, YMMV

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Super Champ (Rivera Era): Thoughts and comments.
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:19 am
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Arjay -

Thanks. Know you'd be able to give me some honest feedback.

I have thought about keeping an eye out for a used DRRI or PRRI as a fallback in lieu of a vintage DR or PR. If one comes up..... I have to pull the trigger. Till then, I'll just keep saving my pennies. :D


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Post subject: Re: Super Champ (Rivera Era): Thoughts and comments.
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:26 am
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Respective of my previous remarks, if a SC priced at $500 or $600 came my way I'd jump on it.

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: Super Champ (Rivera Era): Thoughts and comments.
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:31 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Respective of my previous remarks, if a SC priced at $500 or $600 came my way I'd jump on it.

Arjay


That's what I am thinking. They look to command $800-900, which I can just go another $200 and get a silverface PR. Silverface DR's seem to be commanding about $1,200-$1,300. The local shop has had a couple of SFDR's the last month or so for $1,299. I honestly don't know if I need that much amp for playing around the house. One of the Deal sisters (I think Kim) grabbed one of those SFDR's as a living room amp :shock:


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Post subject: Re: Super Champ (Rivera Era): Thoughts and comments.
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:04 am
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I use a Super Champ exclusively - I have a SFDR (73) and a lovely 64 Vibrolux Reverb that I dearly love, and haven't used either of them live in years. I can't praise the SC enough. I rarely use the boost features, although I do use the pull-out mid-boost on occasion, which gives a Strat a more humbucking-like darkness. I have another thread here with a video done in Oct 09 where I am playing a Strat through the SC with no pedals, just guitar, cord and amp. It is miced with an EV ND408, and the master is on 10, bass, treble and volume are all about 7. I did take out the stock speaker and installed a Celestion Vintage 10 in 1990. Another subtle mod I tried was to replace the 6V6 power tubes with 6L6's, and re-biased to match. This gave me the ability to run the amp at a higher volume before it breaks up. Note that I said it was subtle - it doesn't make a big difference, but I like it.
I am sold on the benefits of small amps that deliver; easy to move (same amp for rehearsal and gig), easy to get in the mix (house soundman will love it) and it's small enough to put on the floor in front of me to use like a monitor.
I am thinking about trading the SFDR for another one if I can find one. They come up from time to time; I've seen as high as 1200.00 for a clean one. Ouch! And be aware that there were two similar Rivera models that aren't quite as pricey yet, the Princeton Reverb II, and Deluxe Reverb II. Just looked at a DRII for 800.00 w/ cover and footswitch.
I tried to put a link to the video thread, but can't figure it out, so here's a direct link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbKwQ-s_ ... re=related

If you pause the vid at 2:40, you can see the amp in the lower left corner of the screen. It is tipped back, facing stage right.

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Post subject: Re: Super Champ (Rivera Era): Thoughts and comments.
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:44 am
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Hey, phansford, here's a "negative" point I forgot to mention: the SC uses a hard to find oddball preamp tube, the 6C10. They can be as much as $40.00 if you can find them. If you get the amp, be sure to get at least one 6C10 as a backup. Unusual tubes are not getting easier to find as time goes by...

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Post subject: Re: Super Champ (Rivera Era): Thoughts and comments.
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 12:08 pm
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Yes......I forgot to mention that 6C10 triple triode. Very obscure, even "back in the day". Only a handful of Fender's ever used that specific tube -- I think all of them were Paul's designs. At the time it was the only practical method of adding another tube to an already-crowded chassis.

These tubes are still available as NOS although they are not plentiful.

+1 to keeping a couple of usable spares on hand (good call, ashtone!).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Super Champ (Rivera Era): Thoughts and comments.
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 12:57 pm
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Thanks for the info and input. I don't know if I will see one come up, but I wanted to know if it was a good amp to consider when I start to serious look for a vintage Fender amp with reverb.


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Post subject: Re: Super Champ (Rivera Era): Thoughts and comments.
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:30 pm
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phansford wrote:
Thanks for the info and input. I don't know if I will see one come up, but I wanted to know if it was a good amp to consider when I start to serious look for a vintage Fender amp with reverb.


I would consider it so but with the caveat that if you're expecting vintage blackface vibe you will be disappointed, despite the amp's age and cosmetics. It's more along the sonic vein of a Fender 30 or Fender 75, both of which date to the same era.

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: Super Champ (Rivera Era): Thoughts and comments.
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 5:02 pm
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Yeah... I am thinking the best bet is to just save up and get the PR I really want. :wink:


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