Fender Champ-Amp 5F1 Tube Amplifier (1964)
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Fender Champ-Amp 5F1 Model Tube Amplifier (1964), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 22147, black tolex covering finish.
This is a very well preserved example of the rather short-lived initial black Tolex Fender Champ, still in the tweed 5F1 configuration but covered in the new Tolex covering that gradually spread across the Fender line in the early 1960s. The Champ had been the last of the tweed survivors; Fender never threw anything away so the factory used up stock of the tweed covering on their lowest grade student amp until it was exhausted!
This amp represents the swan-song of one of the longest standing circuits made by Fender, virtually unchanged from 1955/56 till 1964. In the fall of that year it was finally replaced by the AA764 Champ and Vibro-Champ, more aesthetically in line with the other "black panel" models. The last year or so of the 5F1 featured a black Tolex-clad exterior, indicating Fender still had plenty cabinets and chassis' to use up!
The serial number on this particular amp is 22147, indicating Fender had so far built over twenty thousand examples of this classic model in just eight years! In fact, the latest known numbers are near 23000, meaning this is likely one of the last few hundred Fender made. It has a tube-chart ink-stamp "NE" indicating it was assembled in May of 1964. As with any 5F1 Champ, it features just a "chicken head" volume knob and a single-ended 6V6-driven power section, yielding about 5 watts of output power into a single 8" speaker.
Height is 12 in. (30.5 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) width, and 8 in. (20.3 cm.) deep.
Externally, this amp has some very minor typical wear. The black Tolex covering is in great shape, with only some very minor scuffing on lower corners. The faceplate is very clean, though some of the stenciled lettering has worn off, particularly around the volume control. The grille cloth is taut and shows no notable signs of tearing or fraying. The handle appears original as well.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original; the speaker is the original 8" AlNiCo CTS EV-29. It has been professionally reconed and sounds great. Both the power and output transformer are the original Schumachers, reading 606-407 and 606-349, dating them to the 7th week of 1964 and the 49th week of 1963, respectively. The amp has received routine maintenance, including standard replacement of electrolytic caps, as well as a grounded 3-prong power cord and cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks as well as biased to spec.
Overall a clean and fantastic sounding example of one of the great classics; one of the last of the '50s tone monsters to escape from Fullerton as the '60s designs took over. Excellent Condition.
This is a very well preserved example of the rather short-lived initial black Tolex Fender Champ, still in the tweed 5F1 configuration but covered in the new Tolex covering that gradually spread across the Fender line in the early 1960s. The Champ had been the last of the tweed survivors; Fender never threw anything away so the factory used up stock of the tweed covering on their lowest grade student amp until it was exhausted!
This amp represents the swan-song of one of the longest standing circuits made by Fender, virtually unchanged from 1955/56 till 1964. In the fall of that year it was finally replaced by the AA764 Champ and Vibro-Champ, more aesthetically in line with the other "black panel" models. The last year or so of the 5F1 featured a black Tolex-clad exterior, indicating Fender still had plenty cabinets and chassis' to use up!
The serial number on this particular amp is 22147, indicating Fender had so far built over twenty thousand examples of this classic model in just eight years! In fact, the latest known numbers are near 23000, meaning this is likely one of the last few hundred Fender made. It has a tube-chart ink-stamp "NE" indicating it was assembled in May of 1964. As with any 5F1 Champ, it features just a "chicken head" volume knob and a single-ended 6V6-driven power section, yielding about 5 watts of output power into a single 8" speaker.
Height is 12 in. (30.5 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) width, and 8 in. (20.3 cm.) deep.
Externally, this amp has some very minor typical wear. The black Tolex covering is in great shape, with only some very minor scuffing on lower corners. The faceplate is very clean, though some of the stenciled lettering has worn off, particularly around the volume control. The grille cloth is taut and shows no notable signs of tearing or fraying. The handle appears original as well.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original; the speaker is the original 8" AlNiCo CTS EV-29. It has been professionally reconed and sounds great. Both the power and output transformer are the original Schumachers, reading 606-407 and 606-349, dating them to the 7th week of 1964 and the 49th week of 1963, respectively. The amp has received routine maintenance, including standard replacement of electrolytic caps, as well as a grounded 3-prong power cord and cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks as well as biased to spec.
Overall a clean and fantastic sounding example of one of the great classics; one of the last of the '50s tone monsters to escape from Fullerton as the '60s designs took over. Excellent Condition.