Fender Champ 5F1 Amplifier Build From Scratch

Now for something completely different. This is from Mr. C's bench. A Fender "Champ" 5F1 amplifier built from scratch. This is my first foray into working with Tubes. It was a lot of fun to build. Hope you enjoy my little montage of the project.

[@jakeblues3676]

Can’t turn you loose was the perfect song!! Love the Blues Brothers!

[@rapidsqualor5367]

What if the wood sides incorporated handles ? Like a serving tray but a serving of tone ?

[@sunnyray7819]

Nice work!

[@bluesbondsman]

Very nice build !

[@mr.csgarage9409]

Thanks

[@Tom-th1oy]

Really nice build… I like the aluminum panels… Maybe would have liked to see it in a head or cabinet completed.. Also a little demo would have been nice, but a champ is a champ is a champ… I built something similar a few yrs ago, only with 1950 transformers, and a 6SL7 instead of the 12ax7.. also I found the industrial 6087 rectifier instead of 5y3 a little nicer due to it’s indirectly heated cathode (like a GZ34). For some reason people haven’t picked up on these… You can still purchase NOS examples from the 60’s for less than say a similar vintage 5y3.. Nice build though

[@midboost2750]

Nice build. Would’ve been nice to have a quick demo with a few chords at the end!
A lot of build demos don’t show the finished item in use.

[@JoziasMiguel]

Would you have a step-by-step video on building this amplifier? Thanks!

[@mr.csgarage9409]

Sorry for the delay, I hadn't looked at my channel in a long time. I do not have have a step-by-step. But this amp is probably the simplest and most common to build. Kits are available from a number of suppliers and it's a simple scratch build. A search will find a lot of videos on the 5F1.

[@juana1483]

Did it sound clean when you first fired it up? Ty

[@mr.csgarage9409]

I wouldn't call it clean. It definitely has that Fender high gain crunch/distortion. Its a fun amp. I set it up with a Ted Weber 8" alnico speaker.

[@tamasmaksza6450]

Looks like you used a chainsaw to cut that preamp tube socket hole.....

[@mr.csgarage9409]

There was a learning curve. The bit caught the metal and tore it out. I don't have hole punches. I learned if you clamp the metal between a couple pieces of plywood It'll drill through cleanly.