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Vintage threads from the first ten years

Which Champ is KING ?

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9/20/2000 2:10 AM
frank paxton	Which Champ is KING ? Gentlemen: I want to try my hand at building and I think a little Fender Champ would be a good do-able first project. Is there a kit already on the market ? Which model CHAMP is considered the best sounding or is the most desired ? I heard that Clapton recorded some with a CHAMP..anyone know which one ? Thanks y'all. / frank

9/20/2000 2:39 AM
Deltablues	The tweed champ "Hands Down". More specifically, the 5F1 circuit used in the 56 to 64 era narrow panel champs.

9/20/2000 3:53 AM
Steve M.	Frank, Check with Bruce Collins of Mission Amps. missionamp@aol.com I believe he has a kit called the Soulkicker Jr. It is an ultra-tweaked out version of the tweed Champ/tweed Princeton. I've built one of these, and have demoed a couple that he has built and they are killer. Disclaimer: I'm a friend of Bruce's, but I don't make anything off his sales Steve

9/20/2000 6:48 PM

You really can't lose with Champs no matter which model you ultimately choose. But whereas a tweed Bassman will sound great with almost any guitar in almost any room, you'll find the champs are much more finicky.
More so than any other amp, the tubes used and the size and construction of the room played in will make or break your sound. In a very small room with good NOS tubes, maybe an old 5881 or 6L6 in place of the 6v6 these amps sound huge!

I have a blackface VC that sounds pretty good. I believe Clapton used a Blackface or even a Silverface Champ driving a 2x12 cabinet. Good luck.
Joe

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