You Can DIY!: Revisiting The Remaking of a Champ

In this article, Mark Driedger revisits “The Remaking of a Champ,” inspired by Kirk Elliott’s original article for Glass Audio (1992). The Fender Champ is considered “the” classic tube practice amplifier and it has been remade a few times over. Driedger created his own version, including a provision to easily try different output tubes. This article was originally published in audioXpress, January 2016.

Our special January 2016 “Music Focus” issue is full of practical projects oriented toward music amplification and recording. Read the interview with Philip Graham, the founder of Ear Trumpet Labs, our Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2015 show report, and a review of the iSEMic 725TR microphone. Learn even more about SPL measurements and audio networking.

Introduced in 1948, the Fender Champ single-ended 5 W guitar amplifier is “the” classic tube practice amplifier and it has been remade a few times over. In 1992, Kirk Elliott shared his take on the design, transforming the stock Champ into a quieter, safer, and more reliable studio amplifier. This article was originally published in Glass Audio Volume 4, Number 2, 1992.