bluzlvr
515 posts
May 24, 2013
1:45 PM
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I was just in my local mom and pop music store buying guitar picks when I spotted a Fender Vibro Champ amp.
He wants $275.00 for it. He dosen't know what year it is, but it looks fairly old and I'm intrigued.
I didn't have my gear with me so I could'nt try it out.
Wish I had taken a picture of it, but if memory serves my right it looks like this:
I'm sure somebody out there knows something about these amps harp-wise...
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myspace
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timeistight
1230 posts
May 24, 2013
2:10 PM
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Snap it up. That's a great price for a black-face champ.
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SuperBee
1135 posts
May 24, 2013
3:13 PM
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Great price for a bf. you sure it wasn't an XD?
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Littoral
877 posts
May 24, 2013
4:27 PM
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Great price. Mine is a truly stellar amp. Pure round tone. It's my go to amp for small venues -and I have A LOT of amps.
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Thievin' Heathen
202 posts
May 24, 2013
5:19 PM
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My wife's got one of those. Sometimes, if I'm real good, she lets me play it. At home.
Last Edited by Thievin' Heathen on May 24, 2013 5:20 PM
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timeistight
1233 posts
May 24, 2013
6:03 PM
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"Great price for a bf. you sure it wasn't an XD?"
Good point. $275 would be too much for a used Vibro Champ XD.
Did it look like this?
Last Edited by timeistight on May 24, 2013 6:04 PM
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jawbone
515 posts
May 24, 2013
8:42 PM
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Hey - It looks identical to mine - mine is a '67. There should be model, serial and all that stuff stamped on the chassis and then look it up on their website. I would say that is a darn good price.
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If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
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barbequebob
2273 posts
May 25, 2013
9:08 AM
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I have one but without the vibrato circuit that's roughly 1965/66 and is great for practice or recording that I bought in 1983 for $65, and it was in the store exactly two hours when I bought it. I still have this amp.
I don't care for the Champ XD at all.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Kingley
2676 posts
May 25, 2013
9:57 AM
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The Blackface Vibro Champ is a great little amp. I've tried the Champ XD too, it's not my cup of tea at all. I can't see why Fender just don't make amps like they used to make them. Given the fact that most of their amps are most likely made in China. They could easily churn out point to point small and mid sized amps for very little cost. VHT do it, so why can't Fender. If they remade say the 5F1 style Champ and put it out at the same price point as the VHT Special 6. It would most likely sell by the bucket load.
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HawkeyeKane
1705 posts
May 25, 2013
11:17 AM
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@Kingley
If I'm not mistaken, the only amp with a true 5F1 based circuit made by Fender right now is the Eric Clapton Signature Vibro Champ. The Vibrochamp XD is gone from the VM line on Fender's website. The Champion 600 is also gone. And the short-lived '57 Champ reissue also went the way of the dinosaur. The Clapton one looks nice, but it's almost a thousand bucks new. I'd imagine a lot of that price tag is a result of the EC badge in the grill. It really is an oversight on Fender's part that they aren't producing any affordable form of what is arguably their most popular small amp of all time.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Kingley
2678 posts
May 25, 2013
11:32 AM
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HawkeyeKane - Yes indeed the EC Vibro Champ seems to be the only one now and as you say much of the cost is no doubt down to the EC badge. I firmly believe that Fender would make far more profit if they made a point to point 5F1 Champ and priced it at the same price as the VHT Special 6. Than they ever will with the EC Vibro Champ. I believe that they would fly off the shelves at that price. I understand that they probably feel they have a brand to protect and therefore price things according to that ethos. Personally though I reckon they're missing out on a big chunk of the market especially in the current economic climate. Given the amount of amps and guitars coming out of China and given that they will improve vastly in quality. It wouldn't surprise me if companies like Fender went the way of the dinosaurs eventually. I know that I'd much rather buy a VHT Special 6 than an EC Vibro Champ given the cost of each respective amp.
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Rick Davis
1853 posts
May 25, 2013
11:39 AM
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Mission Amps is planning on making a tweed 5F1 clone voiced for harp -- The Memphis Mini. It will be a few months. I don't know the price point yet.
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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
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HawkeyeKane
1706 posts
May 25, 2013
12:03 PM
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@Kingley
I think maybe the '57 Champ reissue might have been PTP wired, but again, it's sticker price was nearly a grand. Somewhat assinine in my opinion considering one could get the exact same PTP wired amp in a kit from Mojotone for under half that price. True, the speaker wouldn't be the same model, and you'd have to assemble it yourself. But it's a very simple circuit to build, even for a beginner.
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Hawkeye Kane
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MP
2755 posts
May 25, 2013
4:56 PM
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i've owned three Vibro Champs over the years. the silver face jobs but i think CBS left the black face circuity in the silver faces till the early '70s.
In the late '80s i did an arena show playing harp through a Vibro Champ-(yes, i do things differently than your average player- opening for The Moody Blues. I love good pro sound guys.
those amps are great little buggers. way before the vintage guitar/amp craze they were the kind of amp people gave you or sold for $15. i bought one for $15 in '84.
MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
Last Edited by MP on May 25, 2013 5:00 PM
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paul45
130 posts
May 26, 2013
11:25 AM
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HOLY CRAP!!! I was just coming back from the local hardware and the people moving out down the street had put a silver face vibro champ in their trash heap!! Dirty, crackling pots but working!! My lucky day!!
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Littoral
879 posts
May 26, 2013
12:18 PM
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Very Cool, pic please...
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MP
2756 posts
May 26, 2013
2:38 PM
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Awesome paul45!
once i found a small silvertone in a one day city wide trash pick-up. Jackson Pollok paint job,one 8 alnico speaker,and the tremelo worked too. basically a Vibro Champ but w/ different tubes.
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
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paul45
132 posts
May 27, 2013
7:15 AM
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I got some pix onto photobucket but cant seem to get them onto here. Wheres a dam teenager when ya need one??
Except for the dirty pots the amp sounds great and the vibrato even works.
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Littoral
883 posts
May 27, 2013
7:44 AM
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try the direct link, I think that's it, but I usually have to try a couple before I get it right. It's quick with edit -no captcha
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paul45
133 posts
May 27, 2013
8:35 AM
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http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q757/doozer1961/amps%20and%20mics/GetAttachment2_zps301ffbac.jpg
I GIVE UP!!!
Last Edited by paul45 on May 27, 2013 8:37 AM
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Kingley
2684 posts
May 27, 2013
8:41 AM
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Here you go.
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paul45
134 posts
May 27, 2013
8:52 AM
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thanks Kingley!
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Kingley
2686 posts
May 27, 2013
8:54 AM
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You're welcome.
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