In 1964 the Champ's circuitry and cosmetics were changed again. The controls were moved to the front like the other Fender amps of the time, and the tweed was replaced with black Tolex. So in 1964 the Champ became a blackface amp. Some 1964 Champs were built with the 5F1 circuits, tweed-era cabinet
but Tolex covering. Presumably Fender had finally used up its remaining

The 5F1 version of the Fender Champ was introduced in 1956 and had an 8 inch speaker. This version had a slightly larger cabinet to accommodate the bigger speaker. The 5F1 circuit was also more powerfu; than the original Champion 800 circuit, rated at around 5 watts.

In 1954 the Champion 600 designation was dropped and the control-plate logo changed to Champ-Amp. Possibly these first Champ-Amps would have had the 5C1 circuits.

The Champion 600 (now with  a 6" speaker) used circuit designation 5B1. It was rated at about 3 watts, and had a "T.V. Front" style cabinet with two-tone blonde & brown vinyl covering.

The Champion 800 was introduced in 1948. It had an 8" speaker. The naming scheme used for later models suggests this amplifier used circuit designation 5A1. It was rated at about 4 watts, with a greenish tweed covering. It was soon replaced by the Champion 600 model in 1949.

The Champ model used the most primitive design for a Fender amp. It was intended as a budget amplifier for students and begirners, and the typical Champ uses a single 6V6GT or 6L6GC power tube. It has a single-ended power stage with a large amount of second-harmonic distortion. This gives the Champ a sound often described as "soft" and "lush." The Champ's small and cheap output transformer saturates easily and gives a poor low-frequency response. Early Chanps used 6V6GTs, were extremely primitive, with no feedback, while later models have more complex circuits with loop feedback.

In spite of their crudeness these early Champs are now very collectable, with a design has been much copied by others. The Champ's sound is a rock-n-roll standard, typical of many low-cost amps used in those early recordings.

The first Champ was introduced in 1948 and the series was discontinued in 1982 (although an updated version was introduced in 2006 as part of the "Vintage Modified" line). Most tweed and all blackface amps are easy to date, but silverface amps are more difficult. If the amplifier still has the original speaker there should be a code, usually six digits, stamped on it. You should be able to roughly date your amp using this code.

http://hillamplification.com/

Hoyt Harness founded Monster Amplification after experimenting with a combination of bass and guitar amps. Their first creation looked monsterous but the sound it made was the heaviest, most distorted tone they had ever heard come from a musical instrument amplifier.

The Fender Pro Junior Combo amplifier is a small all-tube amp, in the style of the Fender Champ. It gives 15 Watts of power through a 10 inch speaker. It has a unique clean-to-drive volume control, black covering, and chicken head knobs. The controls are basic: an on/off switch, a volume control and a tone control. Playing at low volume gives you a decent clean  sound.

The Specimen Products brand was born in 1981 when student artist Ian Schneller began using the name for his sculptures. Schneller began making instruments in 1984, first for himself and then for friends; before long he was selling Specimen Products stuff to local musicians.

This is the world's smallest prodcution valve amplifier, according to its manufacturers Z.Vex. It is rated at 1.5 amps and is built into an effects pedal box. The low power means that you should be able to get authentic tube amp sounds at lower volumes. It is designed to be used with a 16 ohm (or 8 ohm) cabinet, but it does have a tiny internal speaker - just for fun.

Z.Vex is the brandname for effects and amplifiers made by Zachary Vex. His effects have the hand-made boutique look about them, and he is the guy responsible for the world's smallest tube amp. Watch out though there are some Z.Vex fakes out there .

Oregon-based Sunn Musical Equipment Company was formed in 1965 to provide rock and roll musicians with loud, roadworthy amplification. Sunn amps were used by such '60s bands as Mountain, The Who and the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

This is a category for all items that have not yet been assigned a proper brand name.

The Harmony Company was founded in 1892 by Wilhelm Schultz. In 1916, it was bought by Sears, Roebuck and Co., and was to become the largest maker of stringed instruments in the country. It was a large producer of house-brand instruments, under many brand names (La Scala, Stella, Sovereign, Vogue, Valencia, Johnny Marvin, Monterey, Silvertone are just a few!).