CG-MayJun16-ISSUU

sure if it was because it was my first amp, or
radar are the 1963-64 models that still maintain
tube amp.
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because it always worked and sounded great.
the 50’s chassis with the controls on the top,
Then, one day, someone made me an offer I
but were covered in the new black tolex. They
The Champs pictured are my personal ones. All
couldn’t refuse. $100. Wow! That amp cost me
have a unique look and they sound great.
narrow panels that range from 1958 to 1964
50 bucks five years ago, and now someone
except, of course, the Super Champ. This
was offering me $100. I was playing a 100-watt
I do have to mention one later model that I have
particular Super Champ came from a friend of
Marshall at the time, so it seemed a no-brainer
become very fond of over the years: the “Super
Paul Rivera and I was told was a prototype. It
to sell the Champ. It was at that moment that
Champ”. In the early 80’s, Paul Rivera designed
has a metal mesh grill and an unusual rubber
something clicked in my small teenage brain:
a number of new model amps for Fender. One
covered on/off switch, as well as the standard
“Maybe there’s something to buying and selling
model that really shined was the Super Champ;
Fender 1/4 inch speaker jack input in the back,
musical gear!” I never seemed to really lose on
a small, very potent tube amp with reverb and
as opposed to the hard wired speaker used in
anything I bought or traded for, and if I hung on
channel switching. These Super Champs came
the production ones.
to it long enough, I could actually make money.
in a few configurations. It could be ordered
Wow! What a concept!
with a 10” EV or the standard Fender specially
And just for fun, I had to throw in the Selmer
So, for a number of reasons, the memory
of that Fender Champ has stuck with me.
So much so that a while back, after letting a
number of my larger amps go, I began focusing
on smaller combos, especially late 50’s, early
60’s tweed Champs. I love all the various
Champ configurations and you can find lots of
info on all of them. My favorite ones (or what
I consider to be the best sounding ones) are
the late 50’s thru the early 60’s tweed models
with the controls on the top. Collectors refer to
designed speaker, as we’ll as a limited version
that had a wood cabinet and the EV.
Over the years I probably had a half dozen of
these, although I have never come across one
with the wood cabinet, so I can’t comment
on how those sound. I can tell you from my
experience, the ones with the Fender specially
designed speaker sound the best to me
and have the most authentic Fender sound.
Although the EV will give you more power
and headroom, it will also add a lot of weight
“Little Giant” in the lower left corner. Not only
do they look awesome, but they sound like
a killer tweed Champ, only with that added
compressed sweetness that comes with
British amps.
Writing this article has given me a chance
to reconnect with my past, as well as an
opportunity to dust off my Champs and take
them for a test drive. Each one has its own
unique tone and vibe. There really is something
to having just having one knob to turn. I really
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these as “narrow panel” models.
and take up every inch of the inside of the
like the combo of a Les Paul Jr. and a Champ.
cab. Dollar for dollar, I’m not sure I have ever
Only 3 knobs to worry about. Just turn it all the
Some of the models that have gone under the
come across a more compact or versatile small
way up and work the volume control on the
guitar. Need I say more?
In my eyes and ears no other amp embodies
the term “keep it simple” quite like the tweed
Fender Champ does.
This article is dedicated to Mr. Al Licausi, the
man my father negotiated with almost fifty
years ago.
It recently came to my attention that Mr. Licausi
passed away in 2014. Mr. Licausi started
Farmingdale Music Center in 1945 in the
original house his parents moved to in 1923.
It is Long Island’s oldest music store and has
been run by Al’s son Frank since 1982 when
his dad retired. The store is still in its original
location, and children who once took lessons
there now bring their children and grandchildren
for lessons. Rest in peace, Al.
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30 May June 2016
CollectibleGuitar.com
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