Fender Vibro-Champ AA-764 Tube Amplifier (1966)
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Item # 11320
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Fender Vibro-Champ AA-764 Model Tube Amplifier (1966), made in Fullerton, California, serial # A-11464, black tolex covering finish.
The Fender Vibro-Champ was the first major evolution of a nearly decade-old predecessor; the 5F1 Champ. Once perfected the circuit on those remained the same from 1955 straight thru into 1964, even retaining the 1950s tweed covering well into the 1960s. The all-new incarnation was revealed in 1964 along with the dramatic cosmetic changes to the entire Fender line of the mid-1960's, following the 1960-63 "Brown era".
After a run of transitional 5F1 models in the old box but covered in black Tolex, the new "black panel" series brought forth a completely new Champ and Vibro-Champ, sharing the updated exterior appearance and the bass and treble tone stack of the rest of the line-up. The Vibro-Champ also featured vibrato, the first appearance of an onboard effect in Fender's most affordable beginner-level/student amps. Originally listed for $79.50 in the '65 catalog the Vibro-Champ offered excellent value with two instrument inputs, volume, treble and bass controls, and speed and intensity knobs 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.
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 one of the nicest of these we have seen in a while, original and simply superbly clean. The black Tolex is beautifully intact with little-to-no scuffing or wear. The chassis straps and handle mounts are very clean with only minor signs of tarnishing and the faceplate is in excellent condition save for a couple very minor blemishes. The grille cloth is taut and free of any tears and the original plastic logo is present as well.
The tube chart code is sadly missing, but the serial number A-11464 indicates assembly 1966. Records show Fender made nearly 8000 Vibro Champs that year alone! The speaker is the original Oxford 8EV-52 is marked 465-509 or 609 (the stamp being too faded to say with all certainty), dating it to either the 9th week of '65 or '66; either way within the typical component date range for a mid-1966 amp. The speaker still retains its original cone and sounds wonderful. The power and output transformers are both original and are stamped 606-608 and 831-6601, dating them to the 8th and the 1st week of 1966, respectively. All visible pot codes date between early-mid '65 and early '66. 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 section 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 evolution of a nearly decade-old predecessor; the 5F1 Champ. Once perfected the circuit on those remained the same from 1955 straight thru into 1964, even retaining the 1950s tweed covering well into the 1960s. The all-new incarnation was revealed in 1964 along with the dramatic cosmetic changes to the entire Fender line of the mid-1960's, following the 1960-63 "Brown era".
After a run of transitional 5F1 models in the old box but covered in black Tolex, the new "black panel" series brought forth a completely new Champ and Vibro-Champ, sharing the updated exterior appearance and the bass and treble tone stack of the rest of the line-up. The Vibro-Champ also featured vibrato, the first appearance of an onboard effect in Fender's most affordable beginner-level/student amps. Originally listed for $79.50 in the '65 catalog the Vibro-Champ offered excellent value with two instrument inputs, volume, treble and bass controls, and speed and intensity knobs 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.
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 one of the nicest of these we have seen in a while, original and simply superbly clean. The black Tolex is beautifully intact with little-to-no scuffing or wear. The chassis straps and handle mounts are very clean with only minor signs of tarnishing and the faceplate is in excellent condition save for a couple very minor blemishes. The grille cloth is taut and free of any tears and the original plastic logo is present as well.
The tube chart code is sadly missing, but the serial number A-11464 indicates assembly 1966. Records show Fender made nearly 8000 Vibro Champs that year alone! The speaker is the original Oxford 8EV-52 is marked 465-509 or 609 (the stamp being too faded to say with all certainty), dating it to either the 9th week of '65 or '66; either way within the typical component date range for a mid-1966 amp. The speaker still retains its original cone and sounds wonderful. The power and output transformers are both original and are stamped 606-608 and 831-6601, dating them to the 8th and the 1st week of 1966, respectively. All visible pot codes date between early-mid '65 and early '66. 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 section 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.