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Post subject: Another Champ
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 10:43 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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I wonder how difficult it would be for Fender to reissue the Champ amplifier? Simple circuit with just three tubes. I would like to see it with the 5Y3 Instead of solid state rectification. I almost prefer to see this than have them come out with Gretas, Excellsiors, etc. If they could be a 4 ohm Celestion ALNICO magnet speaker for early breakup, these amps would be a real winner. Two inputs and bass, treble and volume would all you need for these as well. It could happen.


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Post subject: Re: Another Champ
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:54 pm
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Well, they do have the RI Champion 600. Unfortunately, there are some issues with it out-of-the-box. Mods are needed to get the thing to sound like a late 1940'-early 50's model Champion. I happen to have a 1948 Champion 600. Tone is very, very sugary brown. Really nice & slow onset of OD. Not like the tone of the modern re-issued Champion 600.



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Post subject: Re: Another Champ
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 7:10 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Currently they are making the Clapton signature Vibro Champ out of their custom shop. And there seems to be a limited run of the Champion 600. The EC Vibro Champ has the 5Y3GT rectifier

You can find the more recent Champion 600 "reissues" that Beemer is mentioned on ebay and Craiglist. I think I paid $100 for mine. I changed the grill cloth and put in some quality tubes, including a used, but vintage RCA 6V6. That really opened it up. My son has it at college right now. Some people change out the speakers and make mods to the circuit board to get that true vintage Tweed sound. I'm not skilled in any way shape or form to do any mods to a circuit. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Another Champ
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 8:01 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Thinking about this a bit more…. and seeing that you are talking about a Champ reissue ala blackface/silverface Champ with the tone stack split into two controls, I am not sure there would be any marketing value in pursuing that amp as a modern amp. The main reason being you can get those vintage amps for less than Fender could probably make and market them. And if the price point is even in the $400 range such as the current Vaporizer Pawn Shop, why not buy a vintage Champ than a new reissue with a PCB?

That would be my guess as to why we won't see a reissued Blackface or Silverface Champ in the near future.


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Post subject: Re: Another Champ
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:15 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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I have a 78 beat up Silverface VC that I really like. I put a cool Jensen 4 ohm ALNICO speaker in it. I still have the original 5Y3 RCA it came with. I put it away. It has all JJ Electronic tubes in it. The JJ 6V6 is a great tube with lots of balls. Champs are traditional and. I along with others figure they should never have gone away. I never really tried out the new Champ 600 reissues but, I did try out the VC XD and, I like it! It sounds good even with ss rectification. I could see me pickiing up a used one since they don't make them anymore it seems.


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Post subject: Re: Another Champ
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 5:48 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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I just own "student" or small watt amps.

I have 1966 Blackface Champ (Original other than a 3 prong plug) and a 1973 Silverface Vibro Champ with a Weber Ceramic. I have a 1960 Gibson GA-5 with the original Jensen (the "Tweed Champ" for my small collection).

All fun little amps. The "Skylark" is a ratty little thing that can just bark. Set the amp volume at three and dial down the volume on your guitar for cleans….. crank it up for grit. Paid $100 for the Gibby. I have to guard it with my life as my son is always trying to smuggle it back to college.

I owned a Vibro XD and sold it. To my ears it could not replicate the real deal and basically owning the real things it seems senseless to have the modeling map.

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Post subject: Re: Another Champ
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 6:28 pm
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All three of those are great! I really like the Skylark!


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