Fender Vibro-Champ AA-764 Tube Amplifier (1967)
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Fender Vibro-Champ AA-764 Model Tube Amplifier (1967), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 17189, black tolex covering finish.
The Fender Vibro-Champ was the first major evolutionary revision of its nearly decade-old running predecessor; the 5F1 Champ. Despite some cosmetic changes that circuit had remained largely unchanged from 1955 right up into 1964. The next major Champ incarnation was revealed along with Fender's new cosmetic look of the mid-1960's, having skipped the "Brown era" of the early 60's. After a year of the transitional old-style 5F1 models covered in black Tolex, the new "black panel" series brought forth a completely revamped Champ and the all-new Vibro-Champ, sharing the updated exterior appearance and the bass and treble tone stack of the rest of the '64 line-up.
The Vibro-Champ of course featured vibrato, the first appearance of an onboard effect in Fender's most affordable beginner-level/student amp. It originally listed at $79.50 in the first CBS/Fender '65 catalog, which was a very good value by the standards of the day. The now front mounted control panel offered two instrument inputs, volume, treble and bass knobs as well as speed and intensity for the tremolo effect. A single 6V6 Class-A power section driving a single 8" Fender-branded Oxford speaker yields around 5-6 watts of power, keeping with Champ tradition. The Vibro-Champ has been a favorite recording and home amp since then, with all the sonic goodness of the classic Champ and a bonus nice rich trem.
Height is 14 in. (35.6 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) width, and 7 in. (17.8 cm.) deep.
This little black-panel beauty is nicely original and impressively clean. The black Tolex covering is beautifully intact with little-to-no scuffing or wear. The chassis straps and handle mounts are shiny clean and the faceplate is in excellent condition. The original grille cloth is taut and in great shape, with only one notable puncture towards the top right. The plastic logo is intact as well.
Electrically, the amp is also nicely original. The tube chart is stamped "QF", indicating assembly in June 1967. The speaker is the original Oxford 8EV-52 is marked 465-709 (dated to the 9th week of 1967). Both power and output transformers are original and date to the 18th week of 1967 and 52nd week of 1966 (reading P831-6718 and 606-652), respectively. Visible pot codes date to 1966. The amp has been professionally serviced, including our standard replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, removal of "death" cap and a three-prong power cord installed, as well as cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks and power tubes biased to spec.
Other than this maintenance required to keep it running for the next century the amp remains fully original and a stellar-sounding example of an early CBS-era Vibro-Champ with a strong output and a nice growly sound when cranked! Overall Excellent - Condition.
The Fender Vibro-Champ was the first major evolutionary revision of its nearly decade-old running predecessor; the 5F1 Champ. Despite some cosmetic changes that circuit had remained largely unchanged from 1955 right up into 1964. The next major Champ incarnation was revealed along with Fender's new cosmetic look of the mid-1960's, having skipped the "Brown era" of the early 60's. After a year of the transitional old-style 5F1 models covered in black Tolex, the new "black panel" series brought forth a completely revamped Champ and the all-new Vibro-Champ, sharing the updated exterior appearance and the bass and treble tone stack of the rest of the '64 line-up.
The Vibro-Champ of course featured vibrato, the first appearance of an onboard effect in Fender's most affordable beginner-level/student amp. It originally listed at $79.50 in the first CBS/Fender '65 catalog, which was a very good value by the standards of the day. The now front mounted control panel offered two instrument inputs, volume, treble and bass knobs as well as speed and intensity for the tremolo effect. A single 6V6 Class-A power section driving a single 8" Fender-branded Oxford speaker yields around 5-6 watts of power, keeping with Champ tradition. The Vibro-Champ has been a favorite recording and home amp since then, with all the sonic goodness of the classic Champ and a bonus nice rich trem.
Height is 14 in. (35.6 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) width, and 7 in. (17.8 cm.) deep.
This little black-panel beauty is nicely original and impressively clean. The black Tolex covering is beautifully intact with little-to-no scuffing or wear. The chassis straps and handle mounts are shiny clean and the faceplate is in excellent condition. The original grille cloth is taut and in great shape, with only one notable puncture towards the top right. The plastic logo is intact as well.
Electrically, the amp is also nicely original. The tube chart is stamped "QF", indicating assembly in June 1967. The speaker is the original Oxford 8EV-52 is marked 465-709 (dated to the 9th week of 1967). Both power and output transformers are original and date to the 18th week of 1967 and 52nd week of 1966 (reading P831-6718 and 606-652), respectively. Visible pot codes date to 1966. The amp has been professionally serviced, including our standard replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, removal of "death" cap and a three-prong power cord installed, as well as cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks and power tubes biased to spec.
Other than this maintenance required to keep it running for the next century the amp remains fully original and a stellar-sounding example of an early CBS-era Vibro-Champ with a strong output and a nice growly sound when cranked! Overall Excellent - Condition.