McChanson 5F1 Champ Clone 2

Eric McChanson handwired 5F1 clone played through the 8" Jensen C8R in my practice amp. Guitar is an unmodified US Standard Strat and is plugged straight into the amp.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• McChanson
• 5F1
• Champ

[BluePin75]

Hey I got my Tweed clone from Eric!! WOW,,such an awesome tone, all I can say is that it is HIGH QUALITY, PURE TUBE TONES, and the cleans,,man I have been dreaming of these Fender Tweed type of cleans, but with a slightly more 'Hiwatt' sense of presence and balls! wow,,,what a great investment. I am making a tolex look alike housing for it! Eric is a great amp builder and the model I got has a Triode/Pentode mode switch, hi and low gain inputs, etc...wonderful amp!!

[naylaird]

Yes, they are lovely amps. I use mine every day and it is one of my all time favourites - and at less than 1/10th of the cost of my next favourite amp. Get a Jensen C12N for it and you'll really be in tone heaven. EH and Golden Dragon 6V6s seem to work best with them; JJs are too bright. I use EH or JJ 12AX7s in mine, which also has an octal 6X4 rectifier, not the 5Y3 that I think yours has. The 5Y3 would be a better choice I think, but mine was the first of the 5F1s, so a bit of a prototype.

[BluePin75]

Thanks Naylaird! You've been great and I have starting researchng and learning tube amps! I got this awesome product off Ebay called 'Glow Baby' which is an attenuator. It allows you to really crank your tubes up and volume but at playable levels in the bedroom, My Bugera V55HD came alive!! Wow,,I can't believe the difference and once I change the cheapo harsh tubes, I should be quite a happy dude!! Thanks heaps !!

[naylaird]

Never heard of the brand - is it a real attenuator or one of those things that plug into the effects loop? I use a THD Hotplate on the big amps - it's the red/purple thing sitting on top of the Bluesbreaker in the videos. Makes life bearable as you set the master volume in the amp sweet spot and use the attenuator to set the room sound level. Expensive, but essential equipment for small venues.

[BluePin75]

Out of curiousity V1 is the preamp stage (I have 3 12AX7) and Power Stage is seperate (Dual 6L6). Just getting into valve amps and am addicted already, keen to learn more! Thanks for your help mate!! really appreciate it

[naylaird]

Another reply which seems to have disappeared. In general terms V1 is the first pre-amp stage, V2 controls gain stages and V3 is the phase inverter. 12AX7s are triode tubes and often share functions or are also used do other things as well so the above is a guide only.

[mattisjordan]

*short comment*

[naylaird]

Ah - it's not letting me put up URLs which is why several of my replies aren't there. For useful general tube amp info do a web search for Justin Holton HRD, Eurotubes Bugera and Tube Amp FAQ. For Jensen speakers search for Electric Room Speakers.

[BluePin75]

Ok, will look into the tubes. Bugera has Dual 6L6 valves in the Power Stage, and 3 12AX7 tubes in the Preamp! So I will look very seriously as the Bugera has a lot of potential for the price, just needs fattening up and reducing the harshness! Heres the Ebay item no for the 18/5w model he's doing for me; 120488449437. Nice guy too

[naylaird]

Change the tubes. V1 will affect the clean sparkle and overdrive tone, esp. preamp gain, whereas the power tubes give the general amp tone (dark/warm/bright). In general - TADs are warm and smooth, Winged C crisp, EH are dark, slightly ragged in OD, JJS are bright, smooth OD. Try a JJ in V1 and JJ 6L6s. It probably has rebadged Sovtek 5881s in it like the Hot Rods and they are a harsh tube.