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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 6:03 pm
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I doubt that there'd be any hazard, thompal. But keep in mind that the 8-ohm driver will be restricting the amp's output -- likely to between 2.5 and 3.0 watts. However, that might actually be a good thing in terms of limiting the volume to something manageable for practice.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 8:09 pm
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It will handle an 8 ohm but, the spec on my 79 VC says something like 3.2 ohms (?) . I just would not go below that. I run 4 ohms ALNICO magnet Jensen PR8 in mine. It sounds great. I'm going to fire it up tomorrow.


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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 8:34 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
I doubt that there'd be any hazard, thompal. But keep in mind that the 8-ohm driver will be restricting the amp's output -- likely to between 2.5 and 3.0 watts. However, that might actually be a good thing in terms of limiting the volume to something manageable for practice.

Arjay



Yeah, I'm not at all concerned about max output on this amp. I use it for practice in an apartment. I'm more concerned with how it sounds. I replaced the OEM speaker (which was blown when I got it) with a Jensen MOD 8". It's not bad, but kind of thin. I doubt that any 8" speaker is going to really sound much better. I have a 10" Eminence laying around, but it's 8 ohm, and before I went to the trouble of making a new baffle for the Champ and installing it, I figured I'd ask if I was going to fry the OT by doing that.

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 10:24 pm
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thompal wrote:
I doubt that any 8" speaker is going to really sound much better.


+1

An 8-inch Weber or something like it *might* be an improvement but the surer bet would be a larger driver.

Be advised that all Fender amps from 1971 onward have a permanently-installed (ie: glued-in) baffle board. Once you enlarge the hole in yours to accommodate the Eminence 10, there's no going back unless you convert the cabinet to a screw-in type baffle by adding the necessary interior cleats then fabricating a new board.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 10:33 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
An 8-inch Weber or something like it *might* be an improvement but the surer bet would be a larger driver.

Be advised that all Fender amps from 1971 onward have a permanently-installed (ie: glued-in) baffle board. Once you enlarge the hole in yours to accommodate the Eminence 10, there's no going back unless you convert the cabinet to a screw-in type baffle by adding the necessary interior cleats then fabricating a new board.

Arjay


Ahh. That's something I hadn't even thought to look at. I THINK my Champ is a 73, based on a stamp on the inside of the chassis I found when I was going through it and making some mods.

I'll have to lay the Eminence on the baffle with it centered on the 8" hole, and see if that is going to work.

Thanks

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 10:36 pm
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If the grill cloth is affixed to a separate frame that is held fast to the cabinet via velcro strips, then you have a glued-in baffle board.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 11:49 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
If the grill cloth is affixed to a separate frame that is held fast to the cabinet via velcro strips, then you have a glued-in baffle board.

Arjay


Ok. I do. Darn it.

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 2:30 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
thompal wrote:
I doubt that any 8" speaker is going to really sound much better.


Be advised that all Fender amps from 1971 onward have a permanently-installed (ie: glued-in) baffle board. Once you enlarge the hole in yours to accommodate the Eminence 10, there's no going back unless you convert the cabinet to a screw-in type baffle by adding the necessary interior cleats then fabricating a new board.

Arjay


thompal...going the route of creating a new baffle and cleats is relatively easy if you have just some basic tools and can measure. I have created two different baffles for Bantam Bass Amps I have refurbed and the only issue that might make this difficult is just the small size of the Champ cab. That ten inch driver will certainly give you a fuller tone.

FWIW

T2

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 7:52 am
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I put a Weber Sig 8 in my 76 Champ and it made a huge difference once the speaker was broken in. It actually made it a bit louder. My guess it just might be more efficient, but that's why they have volume controls. My only concern with a ten might be the possibility of it sounding a little boxy. I had a Mod 8 and thought it sounded horrible so it wound up in a cigar box amp. The Weber is really nice so are the Kendrick Black Frame 8's.

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 5:09 pm
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63supro wrote:
I put a Weber Sig 8 in my 76 Champ and it made a huge difference once the speaker was broken in. It actually made it a bit louder. My guess it just might be more efficient, but that's why they have volume controls. My only concern with a ten might be the possibility of it sounding a little boxy. I had a Mod 8 and thought it sounded horrible so it wound up in a cigar box amp. The Weber is really nice so are the Kendrick Black Frame 8's.



+1...My '68 Champ has the 8 inch Kendrick Black Frame and it is a very efficient speaker and has a Jensen type vibe to it. The OP has some great choices here!

T2

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2015 6:01 am
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He sure does. I could never bond with the Jenson MOD series. I had an 8" in my Champ and quickly got rid of it. My 5e3 kit came with a 12" MOD and it was horrible too for that application. I put a Weber Alnico 12A125A in that one. The MOD 12 sits in a cheap 1x12 cab and I use it for a 8 watt kit I built. That one is EL84 driven and it seems better suited for that. Still not that efficient compared to a Celestion, Weber, Kendrick or some Eminence speakers.

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2015 6:52 am
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Jensen's have never been known for their efficiency, be they vintage or contemporary. Most fall within the 93 dB to 97 dB range.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2015 7:06 am
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Yep, that's for sure Arjay. both the MOD series I have seem to not have any special character. They work, but nothing special. The Italian made Jenson's from do nothing for me either. It's a shame, Jenson's were my favorites. I was a poor $@! kid that always drooled over the JBL's, but just couldn't afford them.

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2015 7:54 am
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I enjoy the JBL's but with vintage Jensen's, I find I can drive the amp a little harder (for the equivalent volume) and as a byproduct, allow the amp develop some OD and harmonic compression along the way.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1976 Fender Champ
Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2015 7:07 pm
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I put a set of MOD 12's in my 2x12 Bantam and the more they broke in the better they sounded, especially for the money. Where they as good as vintage Jensens? Nope, but few are, they were a good solid choice. No one was more surprised than me. I got em because they were relatively cheap and I planned to sell the Bantam after I refurbed it.

T2

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