Overview:

 

Vintage Champ  Class A single-ended tones with  dual preamp voices. The FRENZEL  FM - 5E1SS1  "Champ Super Sportster SS1" tube amp is the upgraded version of our classic FRENZEL FM - 5E1BF "Champ Blackface". It is a very versatile amp designed to used for small venues or as a  low volume practice amp. It comes standard  with all the features Frenzel amps are known for. 

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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 single 6V6 output tube to  an EL34   for more power, more overhead and  more tones. We also added a bias switch to allow you to use a 6L6 in place of the EL34 for even more tones. We run the output tube 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.

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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 also added an extra stage of gain for soaring overdrive; and  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.

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Another feature which broadens the use of the amp is the installation of a post output trannie Line Output Jack with a Line Level control which allows you to record or to  drive a higher power amp or go direct to a PA.  If you unplug the speaker, an internal  load is automatically connected across the output to give you loaded output tube tones. 

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We also beefed up the power supply with a larger transformer and a 5AR4 rectifier in place of the original  5Y3. This gives you more power, less sag and faster pick-attack.

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Other added features of the amp include, custom output transformer for extended low frequency performance, standard IEC plug-in three prong grounded power cord, classic knobs, a Standby Switch to turn off the plate voltage during warm-up.

 

The tube line up is 5AR4 rectifier,  (2) 12AX7 Preamps,  and one  EL34  output. For less  overdrive you can substitute a 12AT7 or 12AU7 for the 12AX7. You can also sub a   5U4 rectifier if you want more sag or a  solid state plug-in rectifier for a no sag tight response.

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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 a   1/4" Speaker Output jack, 4-8-16 ohm speaker selector, 1/4" Line Out jack with Line  Out Level Control,  Power Connector and Fuse. 

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The "Champ Super Sportster SS1" puts out  10 watts and 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 faithfully 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 tube, 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...plus a lot more.

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The amp is very compact and weighs about 15 lbs.  It is built on a sturdy 12" x 8" x 2" aluminum chassis and has a lightweight steel retro cage cover. Overall dimension with cage cover is 12"W x 12"D x 8"H. All the electrical parts are top-of-the line…..polypropylene caps, metal film resistors, Alpha pots, Neutrik jacks, Micalex 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! 

Standard Features:

• Normal (Type F) Bright (Type M) inputs with separate preamps and Gain controls for the unique smooth Fender Deluxe warm tones or the Marshall Plexi great high mid-tones....or you can use an AB-Y switch and create your own distinct tones.

• Bright Pull Switches

• Bass Deep Pull Switch

• Classic Bassman 5F6A style 3-BAND TONE STACK for extended flexibility in shaping your tone.

• Master level control so you can crank the GAIN's up and overdrive the preamp without overdriving the output tubes.

• Presence control  - used to adjust the high-frequency response and damping factor of the power amp section.

• Boost - Unique NNFB "Edge" boost switch on the PRESENCE control that transforms the power amp section into a No-Negative-FeedBack style amp for soaring dynamic leads. 

• Line Out - post output transformer LINE OUT with LINE OUT LEVEL control for recording or driving a power amp, Auto switched internal load to simulate speaker if speaker is  not plugged in. Inject great tone directly into the PA system with the Speaker Simulated Direct Interface.

• Custom heavy duty output transformer for extended low frequency performance with 4 - 8 - 16 ohm outputs selectable by a rotary switch.

• Class A single ended cathode biased. 

• Ultra fast heavy duty high voltage solid-state rectifiers provide sharp pick attack and dynamic bass.

• EL34/6L6 Bias Selector Switch - Allows you to use either 6L6 or EL34 power output tube.

• Standby Switch - Protects tubes from cathode stripping during warm-up. 

• Tube Complement: comes standard with 2 - 12AX7,  1-EL34, but you can substitute 12AT7's or 12AU7's in the preamp and driver for different tones and overdrive sounds.  

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Electrical Specifications: 

• Input Power  120 VAC 50-60Hz - 155 Watts Standard IEC plug-in three prong grounded power cord. (230 - 240VAC available. See Upgrade Options) 

• Output Tube - Class A Single-Ended EL34 - Cathode  Bias

• Output Power  - 10 watts RMS

• Speaker Output Impedance Selector Switch - 4-8-16 ohms.

• Line Out Impedance - 10K ohms

• Instrument Input Impedance - 1 Megohm

Physical Data: 

• Retro Vintage Cage Mini Head  - heavy duty lightweight steel mesh cage provides protection and excellent ventilation for tubes. Comes with easy carry Fender style strap handle. Overall Dimensions - 12" Wide x 10" Deep x 10" High 

• Open Chassis Dimensions - 12" Wide x 8" Deep x 2" High. (Add 6" clearance for tubes)

• Weight - 15 lbs. 

• Chassis - Heavy gauge aluminum with welded corners.

• Rock solid point-to-point hand wiring with military style tie-wrapped wiring harnesses for long life and reliability.

• DC on filaments to eliminate 60 hz hum.

• Star ground system to eliminate induced current chassis noise.

• Input and Output Jacks isolated from chassis for low noise, eddy currents, and hum.

• Components - Only the highest quality parts are used including heavy duty transformers, low noise tubular polypropylenes capacitors, metal film resistors, Micalex sockets, Neutrik jacks. All parts are rated for commercial high use conditions. Wherever possible we use parts made in the USA.

• Front Panel Controls - F Input Jack, M Input Jack, F Gain/Bright Pull Switch, M Gain/Bright Pull Switch, Bass/Deep Pull Switch, Middle, Treble, Presence/Edge Boost Pull Switch, Pilot Lamp, On-Standby-Off Power Switch

• Rear Panel Controls -  Power Cord Connector, Fuse,  Line Out Level, Line Out Jack, Speaker Output Jack,  Speaker 4-8-16 Impedance Selector Switch 

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