NAD: Fender Champ II

[ColonelK]

Back when I was playing shows and recording a lot (Washington DC, 2007-14), I had a Silverface Fender Champ for jamming and practicing at home. I sold that amp a few years ago and I've been itching to replace it for a while. Over the last 6 months, I've been reading a lot about the Rivera era Fenders, more specifically the Champ II, the Super champ, and the Princeton II.

I was kind of interested in a Super Champ, but people wanted way too much money for those. I also gave up on amp reverb ages ago.
Fellow OSG user OffYourFace recommended a Vox AC15C1. But I landed on the Champ II and lurked Craigslist, Reverb, etc until I found one at a reasonable price. Found one, made arrangements to meet the seller in Orange County and made an afternoon of it.

The amp came with a couple of upgrades. A Jensen p10r speaker, replaced the hardwired speaker output with a 1/4" jack, and heavy duty rubber feet so that the amp doesn't slide around on the floor. The power tubes are a pair of Genalex Gv6gt Gold Lions, while the pre-amp tubes are a Gold Lion and a Mullard.

I got to play it for a bit today, before the wind and rain hit Southern California. It's a massive upgrade from the Silverface Champ I had. Not only is it loud, it's got some grit to it. Sounds, really, really good w/a compressor.

Photos links below. Two apologies:
1. I have no idea how to embed an image from Imgur)
2. I know, I know...I need to work on my cable management in my office

https://imgur.com/a/50VcaXS
https://imgur.com/a/CN1lSjV
https://imgur.com/a/a2H5MiC

[BoringPostcards]

Cool amp for sure.
I’ve never tried one before, or any of the other amps from that line.

[ryland]

I won't lie, this post has sent me down a rabbit hole researching these 'II' series amps. I need to keep a lookout for a Champ II or Princeton Reverb II...

[luau]

Nice! I've got a Twin II and have always wanted a smaller one to go with.

[cestlamort]

Congratulations on the Champ. The II series were pretty great. I loved my Concert (II). Super champ (of course) but also deluxe and Princeton are all top notch (but no longer overlooked).

Note that the adjacent series (Super 60, Fender 75) aren’t as cool. I’ve had both, trying to get the bargain bargains, so to speak.

[Unicorn Warrior]

Never played one of these. However, I did once own a Rivera Bassman 20. The quality of the amp was amazing as far as fender is concerned. Hand wired and all that. The amp itself was a little underwhelming in terms of sound. But the one thing I could get it to do was sound really wooly like Queens of Stone Age. It was perfect for that kind of thing like nothing else I’ve had. And I was really into them when I got it so it worked out.

[ColonelK]

Never played one of these. However, I did once own a Rivera Bassman 20. The quality of the amp was amazing as far as fender is concerned. Hand wired and all that. The amp itself was a little underwhelming in terms of sound. But the one thing I could get it to do was sound really wooly like Queens of Stone Age. It was perfect for that kind of thing like nothing else I’ve had. And I was really into them when I got it so it worked out.

I have a Bassman 20, actually! I only use it at home for bass guitar (1978 Mustang Bass) and for that it's really good. Did you use yours for guitar or bass? (Or both). Ever use it live?

[OffYourFace]

nice, congrats! I love the Super CHamp but yeah, waaaaay too expensive now.

[JSett]

I have a Bassman 20, actually! I only use it at home for bass guitar (1978 Mustang Bass) and for that it's really good. Did you use yours for guitar or bass? (Or both). Ever use it live?

I've been after a Bassman 20 for so long. Absolutely impossible to find here in the UK though

[Unicorn Warrior]

Never played one of these. However, I did once own a Rivera Bassman 20. The quality of the amp was amazing as far as fender is concerned. Hand wired and all that. The amp itself was a little underwhelming in terms of sound. But the one thing I could get it to do was sound really wooly like Queens of Stone Age. It was perfect for that kind of thing like nothing else I’ve had. And I was really into them when I got it so it worked out.

I have a Bassman 20, actually! I only use it at home for bass guitar (1978 Mustang Bass) and for that it's really good. Did you use yours for guitar or bass? (Or both). Ever use it live?

I used it for guitar for what it’s worth. I didn’t even own a bass. Never played it live though.

[ColonelK]

FYI: There's quite a few Champ IIs and Super Champs available in the eBay Auctions, Craigs List ads etc section