Official Champ Thread

[ratherdashing]

Tweeds, blackfaces, silverfaces, with or without vibrato: whatever you like. Let's talk about the world's most famous small combo: the Fender Champ.

Does anyone own one, or have you played through one? It's well known as a studio amp, but has anyone had any success with it live? What is the tone like? Can you plug it into a bigger cab with any success?

I saw a silverface Vibro Champ in the local music shop. They have a knack for getting some really cool stuff. I'll definitely give it a try when I have the chance.

Tell me your Champ stories!

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Official Champ Thread

I've come so close to buying them.

A silverface.

Because silverfaces look cooler

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Official Champ Thread

My limited experience with them has been favorable. They'd probably sound a little better with a 10" speaker, but otherwise a great amp. They're perfect for pedals, too.

the guy who invented fire has some good Champ stories, but I'll let him tell them so I don't get them wrong.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Official Champ Thread

I've come so close to buying them.

A silverface.

Because silverfaces look cooler

I'll +1 that. BF and tweed look nice too, but the SF Champs have that nifty retro look that just says "OLD SCHOOL GUITAR AMP!!!"

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Official Champ Thread

I had a SF and loved it. I think a lot of the magic is the single 10" speaker. I don't really equate it to the Trace Elliot Velocette/Gibson Goldtone style amp, where you want to run it both ways. I like it just as it is. I traded it away sadly, but I probably got more use out of the guitar I traded it for.

If you can find a half rack Hughes & Kettner Blues Machine, they're pretty Champy. You can run them into any cabinet, plus they load down internally so you can use them as a preamp or direct recording device without a speaker load. I had one of those, and I think that's why I wasn't so sad about losing the Champ.

I wouldn't use one live, unless it was with something else, like I split my signal. I would just use it for tracking. Live it would be okay, but it's pretty "singular sounding" so unless you are a 1 or 2 sound guy live, I'd bring something more versatile.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Official Champ Thread

I have owned close to and maybe over a dozen of them over the years...BF, SF, and one tweed (kit) both vibro and non vibro versions. They are cool amps but more of a novel toy than anything, the stock speaker is just a pain in the ass since it sucks and even a "good" replacement still kinds of sucks. My fav Champ BY FAR was a SF that I modded with a different speaker (a 10 inch Jensen from the late 60's that I had reconed for 4 ohms) and tweaked it for a little more gain...no clean sound to speak of but KILLER crunch and not too loud. Bottom line is Champs are cool as is but can be made to be even cooler with a 10" speaker.

 

[Shnook]

Re: Official Champ Thread

I own a '66 BF Champ with Weber speaker and NOS tubes. Tonewise, it sounds better than any other amp I own. It's the only amp I currently have that I don't have to run some type of pedal(Tim/Timmy/RC Boost for example) into it to 'enhance' things just a bit. Sounds awesome as is. In fact, I don't like to run pedals with it. Just mucks the true tone up. However, it has it's limited uses. But for what it is, I can't imagine anything in the same size/price-range sounding better.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Official Champ Thread

I've come close to trying to make one, since it's one of the simplest tube amps, but I haven't gone for it yet. I'd probably nab Doberman's kit if I went for it.

 

[Rushfan2112]

Re: Official Champ Thread

I might build one of these from a ted weber kit in a few months.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Official Champ Thread

I had a Champ 12 That I had to part ways with to fund my homebrew 2204.
I put a Alnico 12" speaker in it with some good NOS Tube$. That Lil' sucker sang sweet when cranked.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Official Champ Thread

I have a 65 blackface. I've been wanting to put a bigger speaker in it, but I've just left it. I love the way it sounds just the way it is. All by itself, it's a fantastic recording amp. I don't think I'd ever gig with it only because I don't know if that tiny thing could handle being cranked all night all the time without frying.

I love to use it in stereo with a 65 Univox U45B I have. Just a killer combo for classic sounding rock n roll & hard, Zeppelin type blues. When using it this way, the Champ doesn't have to provide all the bottom, which it doesn't do well imo.

 

[gripweed]

Re: Official Champ Thread

I have two SF Champs. I normally agree with TGWIF, but this time I disagree. Some of the best guitar tones ever were recorded with a Champ. If you don't believe me check out Derek and the Dominoes or a host of Rock 'n Roll recordings from the 1950's.

I know Frankfalbo says he wouldn't use one live. I've never done it, but I'm so tempted to take both of mine out on a gig sometime (not that I really gig all that much anymore) and crank the lil mothers. Anyone ever gigged with one (or two )?

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Official Champ Thread

Buddy of mine just bought a late 50's Gibson Skylark for harmonica and it's basically the exact same inside as a Fender champ....great sounding harmonica amp!