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Speaking of Low Watt Heads...


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My plan is to dismantle one of my two '80's Fender Champ II amps, and turn it into a Head-Cab rig.

 

The best sounding of these is the least attractive (rust, scuffs, wear n tear, etc.), so it gets selected for the make-over.

 

I've decided to match its new look to my Lacquered Tweed Fender Deluxe extension speaker cab. I know it'll sound great because it is currently connected to it via the 8ohm speaker jack.

 

The head is being made, but I can hardly contain myself in anticipation. So the thread starts here, and with any luck, the finished product will make its way to me...in about a month or two. I chose an extremely simple amp, but with known reliability. Plus its point to point, handwired from Fullerton!

 

Here's the factory specs:

 

Watts: 18 watts
Tubes:

  • Pre amp: 2 x 7025
  • Power: 2 x 6V6GTA
  • Bias:
  • Rectifier: Solid State

 

 

Time permitting, I'll take a BEFORE photo for the build record, but for now, here's a very nice example of a very clean Champ II...

 

Champ_II.jpg

 

 

 

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Excellent idea! I await build updates; please, do keep us abreast...

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This should be good! Keep us posted, Tim. Also, while we wait, maybe you could remind us what OTHER amp casing you had custom built... (Blues Junior.) I never get tired of seeing it.

 

For you, Schundog!!

 

Blues Jr. (Bill M modded); custom cab by the now defunct Sultone, Imperial model with flamed maple and purpleheart.

post-8-0-18650500-1393945841_thumb.jpg

post-8-0-79828800-1393945859_thumb.jpg

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Well, that is probably the slickest looking Blues Jr. any of us will ever see. Classy to say the least. Have fun with that Champ. I've had a bunch of fun on a Rivera designed Princeton Reverb II.

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Well, that is probably the slickest looking Blues Jr. any of us will ever see. Classy to say the least. Have fun with that Champ. I've had a bunch of fun on a Rivera designed Princeton Reverb II.

 

Dell~ Over the last 5 years or so, I really got into the Rivera-era amps. Last year I found a PR II on Ebay and have been 'restoring' it. It was butt-ugly with stains and tarnish on the exterior. But the innards were pristine and still had '80's tubes in it! I dropped in some fresh Electro Harmonix 12ax7's, pulled out that crappy OEM speaker and dropped in an Eminence Cannabis Rex and oh MAN, what a tone!

 

So I know the fun you are referring to. Enjoy!

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Beautiful cab gitfiddler! Now I know why your cab builder went out of business; sanding purpleheart and maple together gets to be a color run problem. She's gorgeous!

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Dell~ Over the last 5 years or so, I really got into the Rivera-era amps. Last year I found a PR II on Ebay and have been 'restoring' it. It was butt-ugly with stains and tarnish on the exterior. But the innards were pristine and still had '80's tubes in it! I dropped in some fresh Electro Harmonix 12ax7's, pulled out that crappy OEM speaker and dropped in an Eminence Cannabis Rex and oh MAN, what a tone!

 

So I know the fun you are referring to. Enjoy!

Now, looks don't mean I'd like the tone... but I gotta tell you, as I have before, that is one HOT looking amp. I really dig the deco look.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Gitfittler, I had a Princeton II that was mint with a special design Weber speaker in it, and I used

to love to punish that amp, and it could take it. I sold it to help fund one of my National Reso

builds and it was something I wish I wouldn't never one. It was a great amp! It didn't really sound

like a real 60's Princeton, as the reverb was weak (and yes I've heard more than just this one)

but it still had a great Fender clean, and the dirt channel, when dialed in, sceamed like a Banshee.

It was more like a Boogie than a Blackface.

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Gitfittler, I had a Princeton II that was mint with a special design Weber speaker in it, and I used

to love to punish that amp, and it could take it. I sold it to help fund one of my National Reso

builds and it was something I wish I wouldn't never one. It was a great amp! It didn't really sound

like a real 60's Princeton, as the reverb was weak (and yes I've heard more than just this one)

but it still had a great Fender clean, and the dirt channel, when dialed in, sceamed like a Banshee.

It was more like a Boogie than a Blackface.

 

Definitely Boogie-like!!

 

To me, these Rivera-era amps are the last of the best from Fender. All are point-to-point, handwired tone monsters, and easy to work on or mod. Most are still a relative bargain, but the word is getting out and prices starting to climb.

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Each time you hum the Jeopardy theme, you'll be 30 seconds closer to accepting delivery.

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  • 1 month later...

Update...

 

Sorry for the drop out on this project. Life happened and there were many interruptions.

 

I will attempt to load photos of the "Fender Champ II Custom Tweed" project from start to finish.

 

 

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