Members jjang1993 Posted August 15, 2016 Members Share Posted August 15, 2016 Hey everyone, I'm thinking of purchasing this Rivera Era Champ II for $800 on craigslist to replace my modern Super Champ XD. I've learned that I prefer 10 inch speakers much more than 12 inch speakers. To owners of any of the Rivera Era Champs (the II or Super Champ), is the fixed bias cold or hot? I had a blues junior that had a fixed bias that was hot and it burned through power tubes like crazy. Did you experience this phenomena that I'm experience with my Super Champ XD, where speaker vibrations on certain notes cause filaments in the tube to rattle which then cause unwanted noises and kiw overtone like sounds? I was thinking of buying a Vintage Sound VSA 15, but they only come with 12 inch speakers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted August 15, 2016 Members Share Posted August 15, 2016 Hey everyone, I'm thinking of purchasing this Rivera Era Champ II for $800 on craigslist to replace my modern Super Champ XD. I've learned that I prefer 10 inch speakers much more than 12 inch speakers. To owners of any of the Rivera Era Champs (the II or Super Champ), is the fixed bias cold or hot? I had a blues junior that had a fixed bias that was hot and it burned through power tubes like crazy. Did you experience this phenomena that I'm experience with my Super Champ XD, where speaker vibrations on certain notes cause filaments in the tube to rattle which then cause unwanted noises and kiw overtone like sounds? I was thinking of buying a Vintage Sound VSA 15, but they only come with 12 inch speakers, Wow man. You have more issues with that than anyone I've ever seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jjang1993 Posted August 15, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 15, 2016 The only issue I care to resolve is finding an amp that sounds like the Super Champ XD but without any microphonics or filament feedback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted August 15, 2016 Members Share Posted August 15, 2016 I'd look at an actual Rivera, rather than one made within the constraints of mega corp. I've never heard a less than stellar one and never heard of one that needs new tubes every 1000 miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Hey everyone, I'm thinking of purchasing this Rivera Era Champ II for $800 on craigslist to replace my modern Super Champ XD. I've learned that I prefer 10 inch speakers much more than 12 inch speakers. To owners of any of the Rivera Era Champs (the II or Super Champ), is the fixed bias cold or hot? I had a blues junior that had a fixed bias that was hot and it burned through power tubes like crazy. Did you experience this phenomena that I'm experience with my Super Champ XD, where speaker vibrations on certain notes cause filaments in the tube to rattle which then cause unwanted noises and kiw overtone like sounds? I was thinking of buying a Vintage Sound VSA 15, but they only come with 12 inch speakers, I have a early 80s Super Champ and a Princeton Reverb II from the same era. Neither is biased particularly hot, but some modern 6V6's can't handle the higher plate voltages that some Fenders ran at. It's generally not a big issue unless you go with el cheapo Chinese tubes. I have not had any issues with burning through tubes with either amplifier. PS Just because an amp is fixed bias doesn't mean the bias resistor can't be swapped... especially on the P2P Fenders. That Champ II is from the last generation of standard Fender amps that qualifies as P2P, and it's super-easy for a tech to do. PPS I'm not that up to date on the prices, but the Champ II isn't the most desirable amp from that era - the Super Champ is. $800 seems like it might be a bit on the high side for a Champ II, but maybe they've gone up since the last time I checked on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Not mine, and I have no association with the sellers, but FYI: https://reverb.com/item/2534659-fend...FQataQodB_MNtg http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fend...kAAOSwCfdXplxy http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fend...8AAOSwtnpXn~db Unless that local Champ II is exceptionally clean and was signed by Paul Rivera or something, I think you might be able to find a better deal... or maybe use these auctions to negotiate with the seller for a more realistic and fair price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members speakerjones Posted August 15, 2016 Members Share Posted August 15, 2016 $800 seems way steep to me for that amp, Rivera-designed or not. They may sound good, but old Fenders can be money pits. I would keep your eyes open for an Allen Amplification Accomplice or Sweet Spot model (both available in 1x10). They give you all that lovely Fender tone, but are hand-made with great components, and offer the reliability of a modern amp. Try to find one that's actually built by David Allen (they will be signed and serialized by him). Koiwoi's got a good point too. Check out a modern Rivera amp. I think they made a Clubster model in a 1x10. Mesa put out some 1x10 amps. The Subway Rocket was a relatively simple design. I see them go for $500-600 on Craigslist now and again. And what about a Princeton? That's pretty much what those Champ II's were anyway. I'm sure you could find a modern reissue, or even a silverface one in good shape for $800. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted August 15, 2016 Members Share Posted August 15, 2016 I wouldn't pay that much but I'm cheap anyway. Since you're willing to spend that much, here are a couple of other possibilities:Fender Vibrolux Reverb $600 http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/msg/5701677301.html. 2X10 40 Watts so it may be more amp than you want: http://ampwares.com/amplifiers/fende...brolux-reverb/. (If you check this one out, be aware that they have a reputation for being noisy.)Fromel Electronics Sneaky Pete also $600 http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/5724966793.html. 1X10 20 Watts. I don't know jack about this amp but it meets your criteria and it 's certainly cool. Looks like they're a pedal company that's local to you: http://www.fromelelectronics.com/. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jjang1993 Posted August 16, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 16, 2016 I'm steering clear of any modern Fender amps as the bass knobs are not responsive at all, and the PCB boards are very unreliable. The cabinets are poorly built too. I played a brand new Twin Reverb and with the bass knob at 0 and the volume at 2 and speaker cabinet still rattled. I'll likely be looking at a boutique Princeton clone, likely a Vintage Sound 20 amp. I also agree, looking around on the web, $800 is on the high side for the Champ II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted August 16, 2016 Members Share Posted August 16, 2016 If you haz a lot of cash, I like these. I demo'ed a used on back a few years ago, and the Carr Mercury. The Carr I didn't think all that much of, but the Falcon was pretty cool. However I was testing out some Gretsch guitars and really wasn't interested or did I want another amp. Mesa had a subway blues amp at one time. The Clubster 25 1x10 is gone. Both the Subway Blues and Clubster are out there in the used market. [video=youtube;rzxwurDxo9s] Someday I'm gonna hoe out some amps and put the coin towards a Swart Atomic Space tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted August 16, 2016 Members Share Posted August 16, 2016 He's already looked at a Subway Blues and eliminated it but thanks for trying. We'll find the right amp for this guy yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members onelife Posted August 17, 2016 Members Share Posted August 17, 2016 Once again (as promised) I'm going to suggest the Yamaha DG80. There are three versions of the amp - 1x!2", 2x10" and the 2x12". The 2x12" is big and heavy like a Twin Reverb and, although it is the same amplifier it is called a DG100. Here ya go...https://maine.craigslist.org/msg/5733756068.html It's on the east coast but for that price, you can afford to have it shipped. Some reviews of the DG80 here...http://www.geocities.ws/oasysco/yamdg.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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