What's better than an 80's Fender Super Champ?

Dodge · July 2023

Two of them.

Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4lwyc35ircfslfuk8k9ir/PXL_20230714_155257782.jpg?rlkey=7jexl65d14f9gwj8ejkhzy9u7&raw=1

ICBM · July 2023

Indeed.

I used to gig with exactly that set-up...

I should have kept them, or at least one of them. I had four in total, one by itself and then three (two and a spare).

You'll know if either of them were mine since I modded the last three with an FX loop, the footswitch hardwired into the amp, and a large cooling fan under the power transformer. At least one of them had the 6C10 replaced with a 12AX7 (with the remaining third 'borrowed' from half the reverb driver) since 6C10s were unobtainable between about 1990 and the start of Ebay.

I'd actually like one of my modded ones back - they're most likely worth more to me than anyone else, since 'mods' (however useful) are now though to be universally a Bad Thing.

Dodge · July 2023

Neither are yours @ICBM , the most recent one has has a speaker socket on the back but is unmolested otherwise.

It was filthy though (why do people do that?) but it's had a deep clean bar the metal which I'll do sometime.

I've got 6/7 spare 6C10s so they should keep going well after I'm gone

I just need to match the speakers and I should have a lovely stereo rig. They both had original Pyle speakers but one has a Ragin Cajun, the other is a Cannabis Rex 10.

stylesforfree · July 2023

Hot damn! I thought the super champ was SS though?

ICBM said:

Indeed.

I used to gig with exactly that set-up...

I should have kept them, or at least one of them. I had four in total, one by itself and then three (two and a spare).

You'll know if either of them were mine since I modded the last three with an FX loop, the footswitch hardwired into the amp, and a large cooling fan under the power transformer. At least one of them had the 6C10 replaced with a 12AX7 (with the remaining third 'borrowed' from half the reverb driver) since 6C10s were unobtainable between about 1990 and the start of Ebay.

I'd actually like one of my modded ones back - they're most likely worth more to me than anyone else, since 'mods' (however useful) are now though to be universally a Bad Thing.

If I bought one could I send it to you for mods? Haha.

ICBM · July 2023

Dodge said:

Neither are yours @ICBM , the most recent one has has a speaker socket on the back but is unmolested otherwise.

Yes, I did that to mine as well - I forgot that, it was such a basic thing to do. Why they fitted them with that ridiculous hardwired arrangement when the panel was already drilled correctly for the jack, I have no idea.

stylesforfree said:

Hot damn! I thought the super champ was SS though?

No, the 80s ones are all-valve.

The modern ones are hybrid - digital preamp, valve power section.

stylesforfree said:

If I bought one could I send it to you for mods? Haha.

Sorry, not doing that any more

.

JayGee · July 2023

Dodge said:

I've got 6/7 spare 6C10s so they should keep going well after I'm gone

I just need to match the speakers and I should have a lovely stereo rig. They both had original Pyle speakers but one has a Ragin Cajun, the other is a Cannabis Rex 10.

I have a Tayden Ace 25 (Celestion Alnico “Blue” a-like) in mine, and it’s absolutely lovely.

Sadly I think Tayden have gone out of business now thought - Celestion still do a 10” version of their “Gold” (which I believe is supposed to sound like a “Blue” with a few thousand miles on it) though, and I think that would probably be my first stop if I was lucky enough to pick up another one and needed to replace the speaker…

Dodge · July 2023

JayGee said:

Dodge said:

I've got 6/7 spare 6C10s so they should keep going well after I'm gone

I just need to match the speakers and I should have a lovely stereo rig. They both had original Pyle speakers but one has a Ragin Cajun, the other is a Cannabis Rex 10.

I have a Tayden Ace 25 (Celestion Alnico “Blue” a-like) in mine, and it’s absolutely lovely.

Sadly I think Tayden have gone out of business now thought - Celestion still do a 10” version of their “Gold” (which I believe is supposed to sound like a “Blue” with a few thousand miles on it) though, and I think that would probably be my first stop if I was lucky enough to pick up another one and needed to replace the speaker…

I've ordered another Ragin Cajun which should arrive before the weekend. I tender to favour American-style speakers in American-style amps.

The Rex 10 is is very good indeed in the SC, in fact in isolation it probably shades the Ragin Cajun but the Ragin Cajun is just that bit bigger sounding - bigger bottom and it's brighter too (but not too bright). It sounds more like a 12 than a 10 and accentuates the BF Fender type tone. The Rex 10 has less scooped mids and a more muted treble.

I really do have a soft spot for Super Champs though.

JayGee · July 2023

Dodge said:

JayGee said:

Dodge said:

I've got 6/7 spare 6C10s so they should keep going well after I'm gone

I just need to match the speakers and I should have a lovely stereo rig. They both had original Pyle speakers but one has a Ragin Cajun, the other is a Cannabis Rex 10.

I have a Tayden Ace 25 (Celestion Alnico “Blue” a-like) in mine, and it’s absolutely lovely.

Sadly I think Tayden have gone out of business now thought - Celestion still do a 10” version of their “Gold” (which I believe is supposed to sound like a “Blue” with a few thousand miles on it) though, and I think that would probably be my first stop if I was lucky enough to pick up another one and needed to replace the speaker…

I've ordered another Ragin Cajun which should arrive before the weekend. I tender to favour American-style speakers in American-style amps.

The Rex 10 is is very good indeed in the SC, in fact in isolation it probably shades the Ragin Cajun but the Ragin Cajun is just that bit bigger sounding - bigger bottom and it's brighter too (but not too bright). It sounds more like a 12 than a 10 and accentuates the BF Fender type tone. The Rex 10 has less scooped mids and a more muted treble.

I really do have a soft spot for Super Champs though.

I know it’s not an obvious choice for an amp like that, but (having bought it for another project) it’s what I had to hand when the original blue “Fender special design” unit developed a rub so I gave it a try and haven’t looked back. Bright but never “brittle” and less mid scooped than the original. It’s just lovely. The guy at Essex Amp Repairs who serviced it for me recently when I brought it out of a period of hibernation was absolutely smitten with the whole package…

And yes, they’re brilliant little things. Mine fell out of use for quite a while because it simply didn’t suit the material I was working with (obnoxiously loud pub rock covers band) but it’s absolutely perfect for what I’m doing now and I’ve fallen in love with it all over again…

Petepassion · July 2023

I had a Ragin Cajun in mine. I put the standard speaker back in when I sold it and was surprised how good the standard one was...for that Strat/Fender sound. Wish I'd kept it now

Dodge · July 2023

Petepassion said:

I had a Ragin Cajun in mine. I put the standard speaker back in when I sold it and was surprised how good the standard one was...for that Strat/Fender sound. Wish I'd kept it now

There were two Fender speakers in the Super Champ. The Pyle which is ok, and the Eminence which isn't. ;-)

The Ragin Cajun is a definite upgrade though for me.

RickLucas · July 2023

I'd love a Super Champ. I have a Champ II from the same period and I put a Gold in it. For what I do, I have no need for anything bigger.

Dodge · July 2023

RickLucas said:

I'd love a Super Champ. I have a Champ II from the same period and I put a Gold in it. For what I do, I have no need for anything bigger.

Also wonderful amps - I had one for a period.

marxski · July 2023

Princeton Reverb II is also a great Rivera era amp.

Fez · July 2023

RickLucas said:

I'd love a Super Champ. I have a Champ II from the same period and I put a Gold in it. For what I do, I have no need for anything bigger.

Another Champ II Owner here. I wonder how many there are in the UK?

GoFish · July 2023

Champ II's are plenty loud though, aren't they? Princeton ii's even more so!!

Fez · July 2023

GoFish said:

Champ II's are plenty loud though, aren't they? Princeton ii's even more so!!

Hell yeah. A few weeks ago we played an outdoor gig and to supplement the origin 20 head and 2x12 on my I side I put my Champ II on the other side of the stage and the other guitarist asked me to turn it down lol.

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What's better than an 80's Fender Super Champ?

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