Fender Vibro-Champ AA-764 Tube Amplifier (1965)
LOADING IMAGES
Fender Vibro-Champ AA-764 Model Tube Amplifier (1965), made in Fullerton, California, serial # A-08416, black tolex covering finish.
The mid-1960s 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 Champ 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 rear-panel box but covered in black Tolex, the new "black panel" series brought forth a completely revamped Champ and the new Vibro-Champ sharing the updated exterior appearance (finally with the controls on the face) and the bass and treble tone stack of the rest of the line-up. The Vibro-Champ of course 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 Fender's 1965 catalog the Vibro-Champ offered excellent value for the price 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, including a small scratch near the pilot light. The grille cloth is taut and free of any tears as well.
The tube chart code reads OL, indicating assembly in December of 1965. Records indicate Fender made nearly 8000 Vibro Champs that peak guitar-boom year alone; that is one successful amp! The speaker is the original Oxford 8EV-52 marked 465-504, dating it to the 4th week of 1965. It still retains its original cone and sounds wonderful. The power and output transformers are both original and are stamped 606-540 and 606-539, dating them to the 40th and 39th weeks of 1965, respectively. Visible pot codes date to early '65 as well. 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 mid-1960s 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 Champ 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 rear-panel box but covered in black Tolex, the new "black panel" series brought forth a completely revamped Champ and the new Vibro-Champ sharing the updated exterior appearance (finally with the controls on the face) and the bass and treble tone stack of the rest of the line-up. The Vibro-Champ of course 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 Fender's 1965 catalog the Vibro-Champ offered excellent value for the price 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, including a small scratch near the pilot light. The grille cloth is taut and free of any tears as well.
The tube chart code reads OL, indicating assembly in December of 1965. Records indicate Fender made nearly 8000 Vibro Champs that peak guitar-boom year alone; that is one successful amp! The speaker is the original Oxford 8EV-52 marked 465-504, dating it to the 4th week of 1965. It still retains its original cone and sounds wonderful. The power and output transformers are both original and are stamped 606-540 and 606-539, dating them to the 40th and 39th weeks of 1965, respectively. Visible pot codes date to early '65 as well. 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.