Fender Champ

[Mudder]

The Champ to get IMHO is the superchamp. Those are little fire breathers, thank you Paul Rivera.

I was looking hard at silverfaces last summer but couldn't come to grips with $300+ at the time. I suppose they're escalating in value every year...

You do realize that the SuperChamps are going for ~$750, right?

Oh yeah, and I couldn't justify that purchase either.

 

[argonaut4]

No matter what champ I would get I would make a new baffle and leave the stock one alone. I heard its the grill cloth is just stuck on the baffle, if its on there like a normal amp I could just get some more grill cloth and cover the new speaker baffle.

See, there lies the problem. The baffles on the BF/SF Champs are glued in place. They're actually set in a dados that run up the sides and bottom of the cabinet. In other words, it's part of the cabinet; and the reason for the grill cloth being on a separate frame and 'velcroed' in place. It's not the typical Fender baffle with the grill cloth stretched over the baffle and the entire thing is held in place with a few screws.

 

[argonaut4]

The Champ to get IMHO is the superchamp. Those are little fire breathers, thank you Paul Rivera.

I was looking hard at silverfaces last summer but couldn't come to grips with $300+ at the time. I suppose they're escalating in value every year...

You do realize that the SuperChamps are going for ~$750, right?

Oh yeah, and I couldn't justify that purchase either.

Haha, right on.

I agree with you, though, a SC would be a killer little sleeper amp to have.

 

[stephen sawall]

A freind of mine found it next to the dumpster at his complex. It was very clean ,did not work. I cleaned the volume pot and it worked perfect. He owed me 80, told him he owed nothing. The little thing rips. I do not think I would buy one. I do not want to sell the one I have.I think Victoria has a tranny that well let you put any power tube in it. I think the weber speaker is what I am going to do.

 

[blackba]

Is it considered ruining a collector quality amp if you replace the caps and power chord? The '67 Champ I am looking at is in really good shape. I would put a new baffle in if I went to a 10" speaker which I plan to do....

 

[stephen sawall]

Some people would say yes. Leo Fender said the things he made were to be used. He felt collecting them was to use them, not to hide them. If you can make them better do it. I have mixed feeling about this myself.

 

[Mudder]

There are some good safety reasons for changing out the power cord, and I think plenty of collectors accept it. Other things like the speaker, at the very least keep the old speaker around.

 

[blackba]

'67 Blackface champ is on its way and I talked him down a bit

 

[blackba]

I got the Champ in. The stock speaker works, but I am not digging it that much. I just hope I can squeeze a 10" in there with a new baffle... Here are some pictures. I think its a '66, not a '67 based on the chassis and transformer codes

 

[Mudder]

Before you chop up the baffle try some smaller speakers. Part of the Champs tone comes from the small speaker. Weber has several great small speaker options I'd try first.

 

[blackba]

Before you chop up the baffle try some smaller speakers. Part of the Champs tone comes from the small speaker. Weber has several great small speaker options I'd try first.

I am not going to "Chop" up the baffle, I was going to make a replacement baffle and put new grill cloth on it, thus leaving the stock one in tact.

I thought about getting a Weber 8A125 1st, and then swapping it for a 10" with a new baffle later. Not sure if I would get the 20Watt or 30Watt option. Only issue with doing that is I would have nearly $200 in speakers by the time I am done. Other option is the weber signature series, but I am not sure how those are, but they are cheap....

 

[blackba]

Anyone use the Weber Signature 8 or 8S. It seems like a nice speaker to try for not a lot of coin....

 

[Mudder]

Try asking about speakers for this at the gear page. Lots of vintage dudes there with Weber in their back pocket.

 

[blackba]

I think I am going to go with a Weber alnico signature 8S, its gotten some good reviews and is cheap. I will look at getting a 10" when I get some plywood in for some other cab projects....

 

[blackba]

I tried my champ through a 212 with 2 Oxfoxd's last night. the amp sounded 10X better. that stock speaker is worse than I thought

 

[stephen sawall]

I kind of like the speaker You need to dime the volume for it to get the punch. No low end to speak of.

 

[blackba]

I kind of like the speaker You need to dime the volume for it to get the punch. No low end to speak of.

I tried that, it just sounds really ratty to me.

I notice on the picture of that Bronco amp that is says the speaker is a 3.2ohm speaker. My '66 champ doesn't say that, should I get a 3.2ohm speaker or a 4ohm speaker?

 

[stephen sawall]

That speaker break-up is what I like. It is one flavor, but I think it is cool. Could be a very different speaker in mine. I ripped my speaker pulling it. I want something with more bass, but do not want to mod for a 10. I am going to mod the guts some. You well be safe with a 4 ohm. I do belive that much differance well not make that much differance.

 

[blackba]

That speaker break-up is what I like. It is one flavor, but I think it is cool. Could be a very different speaker in mine. I ripped my speaker pulling it. I want something with more bass, but do not want to mod for a 10. I am going to mod the guts some. You well be safe with a 4 ohm. I do belive that much differance well not make that much differance.

They talk about the 3.2ohm and 4ohm on weber's FAQ page

Going with a 4ohm, my stock speaker is 4ohms....