Fender 5F1 Champ (1960)
Vintage
It's not every day that you encounter a piece of musical equipment from this era that gets to be this age without something having been replaced. A screw? A capacitor? Not this one! Every single component is original to this amplifier, including the tubes! This preservationist's dream of a Tweed Champ was likely completed as 1959 drew to a close, with everything but the actual tube chart stamp showing late '59 manufacturing date codes throughout. Shirley wired up this Champ with caps dating to the 47th week of '59 and installed its power tube dated to the 48th week of '59.
We're so impressed by this amp's originality and condition that we've elected to leave it exactly as we acquired it. The only wear it presents is quite obvious - some light contact scuffs on the cabinet. The chassis, faceplate, handle, screws, and grill cloth are exquisitely clean. There's no doubt that a simple cap job would set it up for modern-day use, but we'll leave that up to the next owner.
Vintage Fender aficionados take note - this Champ is a true closet classic in every sense of the term.
| Power | 5 Watts |
| Controls | Volume (On/Off) |
| Switches | Power On/Off |
| Inputs | 1/2 |
| General | Finger-Jointed Pine cabinet / Tube chart 'JA' dating to January 1960 |
| Covering | Original Tweed - Original grill cloth |
| Tubes | (1) 6V6 | (1) 12AX7 | (1) 5Y3 |
| Speaker | Jensen 8J11 |
| Transformers | Original |
| Service History | None |
| Dimensions | 13½" x 12" x 7½” |
| Weight | Approx. 20lbs |
| Serial Number | C 12460 |
Every instrument is thoroughly checked and set up before shipping fully insured via UPS with tracking to your door. We reuse boxes and materials to cut waste when they meet our protection standard.
Inspect it, play it, and if it isn't right, contact us within 48 hours of delivery to arrange a return or one-time exchange. Returns are subject to a 5% restocking fee, and the buyer covers shipping both ways.
Pricing
We price vintage instruments using current market trends and our extensive in-house sales history, ensuring each piece is accurately valued and fairly positioned.
Tasteful Restoration
When restoration is needed, we approach it with respect and restraint - always in service of preserving the instrument’s integrity and extending its musical life for decades to come.
Accurate Listings
Every vintage guitar we list is authenticated by our seasoned team and photographed in high detail, with clear, honest descriptions that show exactly what you’re buying - no surprises.
Shipping
With decades of experience shipping high-value guitars, we know how to pack and protect vintage instruments so they arrive exactly as they should: safe, sound, and ready to play.