Fender Champ-Amp 5F1 Tube Amplifier (1963)
LOADING IMAGES
Fender Champ-Amp 5F1 Model Tube Amplifier (1963), made in Fullerton, California, serial # C-20071, tweed fabric covering finish.
This is a somewhat worn-in but vibey late production example of the final tweed-clad version of Fender's Champ; one of the latest-dated one we have so far seen. It has a tube-chart ink-stamp "MC" indicating it was assembled in March of 1963. By that point only the Champ (intended for students) retained its 1950s Tweed livery; the other larger Fender amps were well into their white and brown Tolex eras. Leo never wasted anything and one assumes they used up all the tweed covering in stock before re-designing the model to wear Tolex in later 1963-4!
The serial number is C-20071, indicating Fender had managed to build something like 20,000 examples of this classic model over about 9 years! This 5F1 features the slightly larger cabinet and an 8" speaker, upgrades from original mid-50s models. As with all tweed Champs, it features just one "chicken head" volume knob and a single-ended 6V6-driven power section, yielding a glorious +/- 5 watts of output power. Like pretty much all of them, it looks effortlessly cool and sounds fantastic!
Height is 12 in. (30.5 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) width, and 8 in. (20.3 cm.) deep.
Externally, this cabinet is in solid shape for a nearly 63-year-old amplifier. The rather frail Tweed covering sports an attractive patina with some minor typical edge wear and scuffing overall, including a couple dark spots/burns at the front. The faceplate is very clean, save for some a few scratches and light wear. The grille cloth is in great shape with no notable tears or fraying, save for some light staining. The handle is an attractive high quality leather replacement, and the original, which still has some life left in it, is included with the amp as well.
Electrically, the amp is all original. The speaker is the original 8" Jensen P8R, bearing the code 220-208, dating it to the 8th week of 1962. Both the power and output transformers are the original Schumachers, reading 606-233 and 606-235, dating them to the 33rd and 35th week of 1962, respectively. The amp has otherwise 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 this is a nice and fabulous sounding example of one of the great tweed classics, nowadays the most popular vintage choice for an under-the desk modern home studio rig and always a shop favorite here. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a somewhat worn-in but vibey late production example of the final tweed-clad version of Fender's Champ; one of the latest-dated one we have so far seen. It has a tube-chart ink-stamp "MC" indicating it was assembled in March of 1963. By that point only the Champ (intended for students) retained its 1950s Tweed livery; the other larger Fender amps were well into their white and brown Tolex eras. Leo never wasted anything and one assumes they used up all the tweed covering in stock before re-designing the model to wear Tolex in later 1963-4!
The serial number is C-20071, indicating Fender had managed to build something like 20,000 examples of this classic model over about 9 years! This 5F1 features the slightly larger cabinet and an 8" speaker, upgrades from original mid-50s models. As with all tweed Champs, it features just one "chicken head" volume knob and a single-ended 6V6-driven power section, yielding a glorious +/- 5 watts of output power. Like pretty much all of them, it looks effortlessly cool and sounds fantastic!
Height is 12 in. (30.5 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) width, and 8 in. (20.3 cm.) deep.
Externally, this cabinet is in solid shape for a nearly 63-year-old amplifier. The rather frail Tweed covering sports an attractive patina with some minor typical edge wear and scuffing overall, including a couple dark spots/burns at the front. The faceplate is very clean, save for some a few scratches and light wear. The grille cloth is in great shape with no notable tears or fraying, save for some light staining. The handle is an attractive high quality leather replacement, and the original, which still has some life left in it, is included with the amp as well.
Electrically, the amp is all original. The speaker is the original 8" Jensen P8R, bearing the code 220-208, dating it to the 8th week of 1962. Both the power and output transformers are the original Schumachers, reading 606-233 and 606-235, dating them to the 33rd and 35th week of 1962, respectively. The amp has otherwise 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 this is a nice and fabulous sounding example of one of the great tweed classics, nowadays the most popular vintage choice for an under-the desk modern home studio rig and always a shop favorite here. Overall Very Good + Condition.