The FRENZEL  FM - 5E1SS  "Champ Super Sportster" tube amp is the upgraded version of our classic FRENZEL FM - 5E1 "Champ Plus Blackface". It is a very versatile amp. It can be used for a practice amp...or as a multi-tone tube preamp driver for a higher powered amp. For you guys with solid-state amps....this amp will give you great tube sounds.   All the features are descibed below....PLUS WE HAVE ADDED SOME NEW OPTIONS INCLUDING DUAL AND TRIPLE OUTPUT TUBES!! 

The amp is based on the classic 60's Fender 5E1 Champ circuit ...but it is much more than that... It  incorporates mods developed over years of building and fine tuning amps for all of our rock-on guitar buds all over the world. The first mod was to upgrade from the 6V6 to an EL34 in the output. We run the EL34 Class A with a custom Presence control in the feedback circuit.. Along with giving you great high frequency control, the Presence control has a pull switch on it that will defeat the feedback and give you an open less compressed sound with  faster pick attack..... and tones you have never heard from a Champ...but there is a lot more.

The original Champ had no tone control and that really limited it's tonal spectrum. This has been corrected by adding a 3-Band tone stack similar to the one used on the Fender Twin and Bassman amps. This tone stack will allow you to get just about any kind of sound you want. To further enhance the tones,  we have installed dual preamps, one Type F and one Type M, each with its own Input jack and Gain control. This will give you a choice of the smooth bluesy Fender sound or the high-mid rock sound of the vintage Marshall amps. ...or you can use an AB-Y switch and blend them.  We have also added a Master Level control that allows you to crank the Gain controls up and overdrive the preamps without overdriving the output tube. This creates even more tones. Another feature which broadens the use of the amp is the installation of a post output trannie Line Output Jack which allows you to use this amp as an effects box....or to drive a higher power amp with.  If you unplug the speaker, an internal  load is automatically connected across the output to give you loaded output tube distortion.

Something else new we have added is a post output transformer LINE OUT with LINE OUT LEVEL control for driving a higher power amp, or for using this amp as a tube preamp/overdrive on another amp. Has an auto switching internal load if speaker is not connected to give you loaded output distortion.  Please Note: Since the output of the Line Out is post output transformer, you can crank the Master up on the amp and then by  adjusting the Line Out Level control to match the level required for the amp you are driving, and then turning the Master or Volume control down on the amp you are driving, you can get loaded output tube distortion at low power levels. This eliminates the need for an attentuator. The Line Out is also great for using headphones!

Other added features of the amp include, custom output transformer for extended low frequency performance and with 4 - 8 - 16 ohm outputs selectable by a rotary switch, extra long ( 10') three prong grounded power cord, classic knobs, a Standby Switch to turn off the plate voltage during warm-up.

The tube line up is 5U4 rectifier,   (2) 12AX7 Preamps, and an EL34 in the output. For different tones and overdrive sounds, you can substitute a 12AT7 or 12AU7 for the 12AX7. You may also sub 6V6, 6K6, 6L6, KT66, KT77, KT88 etc for the EL34 for different tones. (Please note that with the 6V6 or 6K6 the power output will be approximately 5 watts.) You can also sub a  5AR4, or even a solid state plug in rectifier to control the sag and compression.

The front panel controls are 1/4" Type F Input jack, 1 /4" Type M Input jack, Type F Gain Control, Type M Gain Control, Bass control, Mid Control, Treble control, Master  Level control, Presence Control with NNFB pull switch, Power Control switch. The rear panel has the Impedance Selector,  1/4" Speaker Output jack, 1/4" Line Out jack with Line  Out Level Control, and  Power Fuse .

We checked the amp on the bench and on speakers. It puts out  10 watts which  sounds like 20 watts through a 12" Alnico Tone Tubby.  The amp has low distortion in the clean mode and a flat frequency response with the tone controls centered. If you like to play clean, it will reproduce what you put into it. The sound is clean and crisp. If you like to step on it hard, the amp will  develop three distinct types of  crunch and distortion depending on whether you are overdriving the preamp tubes, output tubes, or both. The three band tone stack and Presence control provide a wide EQ range and creates the unique sound of the early production  tube amps.

The amp is very compact and weighs about 14 lbs.  It is built on a sturdy 12" x 8" x 2" non magnetic aluminum chassis.

All the electrical parts are top-of-the line…..polypropylene caps, metal film resistors, Alpha pots, Switchcraft jacks, ceramic sockets.. etc… This is a rock solid point-to-point hand wired amp with a star ground system and chassis insulated jacks for lowest noise and hum.…. ready for your next gig! 

PRICE:  $695.00   SPECIAL SALE PRICE $ 595.00 includes free vintage steel cage worth $105.00! (Limited time offer)

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