McChanson 5F1 Champ Clone 1

Eric McChanson 5F1 Champ clone played through the 2x12 Jensen P12Ns in my Bluesbreaker cab. Guitar is an Epi Goldtop fitted with a Mick Brierly Alnico V neck and Duncan Ceramic bridge pickup. Effects are via a Boss ME50.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• McChanson
• 5F1
• Champ
• Jensen

[BluePin75]

hi mate,,about a year ago i was communicating with you about the McChanson amp and after about 8months I sold it, now I regret it BAD!! I have a ValveTone (made in Newcastle by Darryl Hoy) which is handmade, but McChanson amps can't be beaten,,so you still use his simple Tweed clone? Great,,,I am going back to one of those and sticking with it!!

Regards Andrew H

[naylaird]

@BluePin75 Yep, still have it and it is still going strong and in daily use. I'm running it with a single Jensen Alnico 50W in a small cab, Golden Dragon 6V6 and TAD 12AX7 at present. I'll eventually get some more clips up of some of the amps here; never seem to have the time lately. I've come across the Hoy amps - very nice. See if you can get some NOS RCA or GE tubes; a bit expensive but worth the money.

[TheStrataminor]

@naylaird Hey mate,,long time no comment!! How is your McChanson amp going?? Or what are you into now?

[naylaird]

@TheStrataminor Hi, there. Still have mine. I fitted a Eminence speaker in place of the Jensen alnico a while back to sharpen it up a tad. It's currently running as a 2x12 with the Eminence and a original Greenback in another cab. I put a JJ 12AX7 and an EH 6V6 in as the NOS tubes were getting microphonic. Not as 'liquid' as the NOS tubes, but still nice. Still a lovely amp. I also often use a Frontman 25 for practice now - very nice cleans and very portable.

[TheStrataminor]

@naylaird Thanks for the reply and glad to hear you still have yours!! Smart man. I must admit I am surprised you have a Fender Frontman, after hearing McChanson's lovely tone. What are your thoughts on a solid state Fender tone? I am really struggling to try and find something I can settle down with!! sigh!! Help!!

[naylaird]

@TheStrataminor SS amps are great for the styles I play; jazz, swing, light blues etc, being tonally consistent. Good for home, practice, or coffee shops but they don't have the 'cut' for larger venues. Fender 65 and 90 Princetons are good, and if you see a Stage 100DSP, buy it. Sessions are good but rare and the Tech 21 amps are also very good. Fenders - set all tones on 5, reverb at 3, guitar tones on 7-8 for Strats/Teles. I mainly use the gain channel, set on 2-3 so it is almost clean.

[naylaird]

@TheStrataminor By the way, in case you haven't already seen them, there are a couple of clips I put up of the Frontman 25 on my channel. Still trying to get the time to set up the camera and do some with the Laney Lionheart. The SS amps are better with single coils - my 335 and Les Paul don't sound their best without tubes.

[naylaird]

@drscooticus The LP Specials also came with P100 buckers - make sure your's has proper P90s. Keep an eye on the fret finish too - I had several and they were so bad I ended up buying that Epi '56 copy. Oddly enough, a much better guitar and worth looking at. A good Special is superb. I played an original '62 for 30+ years until the neck was totally irreparable. If you can afford it see if you can find one with the bound neck. Expensive but worth it. Fadeds sound OK but the necks are awful.

[naylaird]

@drscooticus Genuine Gibson P90s aren't very hot, so breakup around the midpoint; my Epi has hot P90s, so around 10 oclock. In the clip, guitar on 4, tone 10, amp at 11 oclock. With Vol on 10 it would break up immediately. You can tame it using different power/preamp tubes - a 12AY7 and a colder 6V6. A 5F1 will clean up with a Strat/Tele, but buckers or P90s are just too beefy - it is a pretty simple circuit. You might prefer a 5E3 style as they are a lot more controllable. Regards, Dave

[drscooticus]

Nice clip and playing. Your Strat clip on the 5f1 was killer, too. At what point does the 5f1 start to break up on the dial when using the LP with P-90s? At what volume did you have the amp at? And how does the amp clean up when rolling back on the guitar volume? Sorry for all the questions but I'm considering a 5f1 and a LP Special with P-90s...and I gots questions!