Fender Vibro Champ Blackface - V Good

F

forumdave

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Handwired in USA. Same circuitry as 60s and 70s models. Serial # dates it to 1980.

The stock output transformer on these was undersized and could blow if the amp was play at full vol for too long. It was replaced w/ beefier one from boutique amp builder Randall Aiken of Aiken Amps. Now you can run this amp balls-out all day without frying the tranny.

Additionally, the replacement xformer has taps for 4, 8, and 16 ohms which is especially good if you wish to upgrade the speaker or use an external cab. (Color code for xformer taps written inside chassis.)

This amp has seen very little use and is in very good condition. No dings in cabinet. Light scuffing of Tolex here and there. One dent along bottom edge of faceplate. (See photo) Minor discoloration/oxidation on steel parts (corners, etc.). No rust anywhere, including chassis. No snags in grille.

$375

Pix: http://s945.photobucket.com/albums/ad296/wherebdave/Champ/
 
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Re: Fender Vibro Champ Blackface - V Good

Are you sure it isn't a silverface? A late one at that.... Blackfaces stopped in early 1967.
 
Re: Fender Vibro Champ Blackface - V Good

Andrew Lamprecht said:
Really? I saw the photos. Blackfaces weren't made in 1980.
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I'm not sure what the confusion is. It's a Fender Vibro Champ w/ a black (not silver) faceplate. Ergo, it's a BF. No?

Fender made this amp from 64-82. Originally BF, then SF, then back to the BF styling in 1980 (when they began a return to BF styling, in general).

The circuitry and construction was the same throughout its run. So, regardless of the color of the face and grille, it's an original, post-tweed Vibro Champ.
 
Re: Fender Vibro Champ Blackface - V Good

forumdave said:
I'm not sure what the confusion is. It's a Fender Vibro Champ w/ a black (not silver) faceplate. Ergo, it's a BF. No?

Fender made this amp from 64-82. Originally BF, then SF, then back to the BF styling in 1980 (when they began a return to BF styling, in general).

The circuitry and construction was the same throughout its run. So, regardless of the color of the face and grille, it's an original, post-tweed Vibro Champ.
Click to expand...

Okay, I looked it up and I guess Fender did go back to the blackface look in 1980. Did not know that, thanks for the info. :nervous:

But it was different circuitry and parts. They were constantly switching stuff around in those amps. There are probably 10 different silverface circuits and I doubt Fender began using all the original blackface parts in the 1980-1982 run of them.
 
Re: Fender Vibro Champ Blackface - V Good

Andrew Lamprecht said:
Okay, I looked it up and I guess Fender did go back to the blackface look in 1980. Did not know that, thanks for the info. :nervous:

But it was different circuitry and parts. They were constantly switching stuff around in those amps. There are probably 10 different silverface circuits and I doubt Fender began using all the original blackface parts in the 1980-1982 run of them.
Click to expand...

It's true that Fender made minor circuit changes to many of their amps over the years. In most cases this involves a tweak here or there. To say they were different circuits isn't quite right, since the basic circuitry is essentially the same. (Most of their amps use the same basic circuitry. Many amps have identical preamp sections, the difference being the output sections and/or speakers.)

For most Fender amps, there are multiple schematics available. But I've only ever seen one Vibro Champ schematic. However even if minor changes were made over the years, to say there were 10 different SF circuits is, at best, a gross overstatement. The SF styling was used for roughly 13 yrs. The idea that there was a need to update any amp--let alone a low-end model--nearly every yr doesn't make sense.

Further, if there were as many circuit changes as you suggest, this quibbling over cosmetics would be even less relevant. The exact date of manufacture would be the only real significant factor. As to your point about Fender using original BF parts in 1980...why not? Assuming that the SF models were actually different from the BF ones, if they wanted to revert to original component values along w/ the original styling, these amps are SO simple they could have done so easily.
 
Re: Fender Vibro Champ Blackface - V Good

Bump for what looks like a cool little amp... wish I could bag it!
 
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