Fender Champ 5F1 Tube Amplifier (1959)
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Fender Champ 5F1 Model Tube Amplifier (1959), made in Fullerton, California, serial # C-09098, tweed fabric covering finish.
This is a well-used and rather 'smoked' example of the classic late-1950s tweed Fender Champ 5F1. It has a tube-chart ink-stamp "IB" indicating it was assembled in February of 1959. The serial number is C09098; Fender had so far built over 9000 examples of this classic "student" model in just five years! This 5F1 features the larger cabinet and more reliable 8" speaker, an upgrade from earlier models. As with any tweed Champ, it features just one "chicken head" volume knob and a single-ended 6V6-driven power section, yielding about 5 watts of output power. This one has "took a likkin' and kept on tikkin" and sounds great now 65 years along.
Height is 11 3/4 in. (29.8 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) width, and 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm.) deep.
Externally, this amp's cabinet has sure seen its share of wear; the tweed fabric covering bears a heavily lacquered and "burnt" looking patina. This appears like a combination of wear and additional lacquering at some point in its lifetime. Beyond the surface finish, there's only typical wear to be seen, most of it lacquered over. Following suit, the faceplate is heavily worn as well, showing deterioration to the plating and heavy pitting. The grille cloth is nicely intact with some typical staining and wear but no notable tears or signs of fraying. Miraculously, what appears to be the original handle is still nicely intact with plenty of life left in it.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original. The speaker is the original Oxford 8EV-29, dating to the 47th week of 1958 (465-847). Both the power and output transformers are the original Triads, reading 66079B and #106, respectively. The volume pot/switch bears the code 304-814, dating it to the 14th week of 1958. 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. It was wired up by Lily, and has her masking tape signature still intact. Now, it may be superstition but we think this prolific Fender employee made some of the best amps of the 1950's, and we'd like to salute her long-ago labors!
Overall a fairly ragged-but-right, still fantastic sounding example of one of the great tweed classics, always a shop favorite here! Very Good + Condition.
This is a well-used and rather 'smoked' example of the classic late-1950s tweed Fender Champ 5F1. It has a tube-chart ink-stamp "IB" indicating it was assembled in February of 1959. The serial number is C09098; Fender had so far built over 9000 examples of this classic "student" model in just five years! This 5F1 features the larger cabinet and more reliable 8" speaker, an upgrade from earlier models. As with any tweed Champ, it features just one "chicken head" volume knob and a single-ended 6V6-driven power section, yielding about 5 watts of output power. This one has "took a likkin' and kept on tikkin" and sounds great now 65 years along.
Height is 11 3/4 in. (29.8 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) width, and 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm.) deep.
Externally, this amp's cabinet has sure seen its share of wear; the tweed fabric covering bears a heavily lacquered and "burnt" looking patina. This appears like a combination of wear and additional lacquering at some point in its lifetime. Beyond the surface finish, there's only typical wear to be seen, most of it lacquered over. Following suit, the faceplate is heavily worn as well, showing deterioration to the plating and heavy pitting. The grille cloth is nicely intact with some typical staining and wear but no notable tears or signs of fraying. Miraculously, what appears to be the original handle is still nicely intact with plenty of life left in it.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original. The speaker is the original Oxford 8EV-29, dating to the 47th week of 1958 (465-847). Both the power and output transformers are the original Triads, reading 66079B and #106, respectively. The volume pot/switch bears the code 304-814, dating it to the 14th week of 1958. 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. It was wired up by Lily, and has her masking tape signature still intact. Now, it may be superstition but we think this prolific Fender employee made some of the best amps of the 1950's, and we'd like to salute her long-ago labors!
Overall a fairly ragged-but-right, still fantastic sounding example of one of the great tweed classics, always a shop favorite here! Very Good + Condition.