Fender 57 custom champ

Hootsmon

These perfectly workable even although there is no tone control?

ICBM

Hootsmon said:

These perfectly workable even although there is no tone control?

The tone control is on the guitar .

The amp has a very distinct ‘brassy’ voicing that tends to dominate the guitar, especially when overdriven.

A 5F1 circuit in a 5E3-size 1x12” cabinet - eg a Victoria 5112 - is fuller-sounding and very much more responsive to the guitar, in my opinion.

I did own an original ‘59 5F1...

Hootsmon

John

Is it possible on the RI to unplug the speaker ( it's not hardwired?) and plug into a 8ohm ex cab,is that doable?

i think champ is 4ohm

Hootsmon

Brassy?

ICBM

Hootsmon said:

Is it possible on the RI to unplug the speaker ( it's not hardwired?) and plug into a 8ohm ex cab,is that doable?

i think champ is 4ohm

The Champ is 4 ohm - you risk blowing the OT if you crank it into an 8-ohm speaker.

The 12” speaker 5F1s are usually 8 ohm.

Hootsmon said:

Brassy?

Like a trumpet - raspy and slightly metallic.

Hootsmon

thanks John.......how does the 5E3 circuit

Fender 57 Custom Deluxe 

compare /differ from the  champ?

Hootsmon

no trumpets?

ICBM

It's quite a different amp - the 5F1 is single-ended and the 5E3 is push-pull, so the overdrive character is chunkier and more even, as well as louder (although not that much, through similar speakers). Most of the trumpety sound of the Champ is from the 8" speaker.

Hootsmon

Do folk swap out that trumpet speaker for somethin' else?

munckee

Horses for courses, for home I love a 5F1 circuit, mine is through a 6 inch alnico jensen speaker and sounds great.

ICBM

Hootsmon said:

Do folk swap out that trumpet speaker for somethin' else?

Yes, a 12" speaker in a bigger cab .

I've heard a few different 8s in them and they still sound basically the same - although I've never done anything more unusual, like trying an 8" bass or PA driver...

munckee said:

Horses for courses, for home I love a 5F1 circuit, mine is through a 6 inch alnico jensen speaker and sounds great.

I liked the clean sound of mine at home too - and I liked the trumpet sound for playing 50s-style rock'n'roll and blues lead, but nothing else.

By comparison the Victoria 5112 sounded fantastic both clean and at band volume with a variety of guitars and pedals.

Hootsmon

Does a 12 incher fit in there John?

Question lifted from a John Holmes film

p90fool

I've built a 5F1 into a 12" cab and am running a PA driver, as it's now my bass practice amp at home. 
It's had a variety of 12" speakers from various Celestions to an alnico WGS, and it sounds pretty much like arse with any of them. 

I've since modded it for an EL34 and fitted a tone control and it's now sort of usable, but unless you run totally clean into a deep 2x12 or similar they're just not particularly nice tbh. 

Hootsmon

Is the 5E3 tweed deluxe a gig friendly amp?

I am at a certain age now when I'd like a nice tweedy classy retro amp at home that could double for low key pub gigs

sw67

I have a rift 5f1 with a 10 inch speaker. Sounds great and I understand what ICBM means by brassy. I run mine between 3 and 5 at home and could gig it if miced up 

mattacjones

Hootsmon said:

Is the 5E3 tweed deluxe a gig friendly amp?

I am at a certain age now when I'd like a nice tweedy classy retro amp at home that could double for low key pub gigs

Deffo

Modulus_Amps

5F1 champ and the 5F2 princeton are both 5w output amps, fine for practice but not for suitable for real gigs/pub gigs unless you only want overdriven sounds.

If I was going for a larger speaker then I would go for the 5F2 circuit as the tone control really does help.

5E3 Tweed Deluxe is a good home and gig amp, still not loads of headroom though and depending on the gig you may need to mic it up.

all these are quite light as they are pine cabs normally

1983

Hootsmon said:

Is the 5E3 tweed deluxe a gig friendly amp?

I am at a certain age now when I'd like a nice tweedy classy retro amp at home that could double for low key pub gigs

Purely depends on the drummer! I’ve been in situations where it’s certainly too loud but also gigs were you just can’t hear it next to a loud drummer. Worth it for the tone tho!

on that note, I’ve been taking my blackface champ to gigs (if I know monitoring is good) turn it to 10 and control with the guitar. It’s a thing of joy!

Hootsmon

and last questions guys...;)  what would one expect to pay for a recent(ish) nice clean one?

photek

Hootsmon said:

and last questions guys...;)  what would one expect to pay for a recent(ish) nice clean one?

If it’s a 5e3 you are after, you can’t go wrong with one of these:

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/159761/fs-ft-vyse-tweed-deluxe-575-jensen-p12r-price-drop/p1

Hootsmon

^ that's great man but it's a smaller less powerful tweed i be after...like the champ