Fender Super Champ 18W Rivera Era 1982

The 1982 Fender Super Champ belongs to the group of early 1980s Fender amplifiers generally known as the Rivera era. Paul Rivera joined Fender at a time when the company was updating its amplifier range to compete with the higher-gain designs becoming increasingly popular.

The resulting series retained traditional Fender valve circuits and construction methods while adding features such as master volumes, switchable gain stages and mid boosts. The Super Champ was one of the smallest and most successful amps from this period.

Despite its compact Champ-sized cabinet, the Super Champ is considerably more powerful and sophisticated than the traditional Fender Champ. It produces around 18 watts from a pair of 6V6 output valves running in a push-pull configuration and drives a single 10-inch speaker.

The preamp provides the familiar Fender clean response at lower gain settings, while pulling the Volume control engages the lead circuit. A separate Lead Level control determines the amount of additional gain, while the Treble control can be pulled for a mid boost. The amplifier also has spring reverb and a master volume.

The circuit uses a 7025/12AX7, a 12AT7 and a 6C10 triple-triode Compactron alongside the two 6V6 output valves. This combination is specific to the original Super Champ and is one of the features that distinguishes it from later amplifiers carrying the same name. This 1982 example is in great condition and includes the two-button Lead/Reverb footswitch.

A compact Rivera-era Fender with considerably more output and versatility than the traditional Champ format that is now very hard to find and highly desirable.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model: Fender Super Champ
• Year: 1982
• Era: Rivera era / CBS Fender
• Country of manufacture: USA
• Production location: Fullerton, California
• Amplifier type: All-valve guitar combo
• Circuit construction: Hand-wired eyelet board
• Output power: Approximately 18 watts RMS
• Power amp configuration: Class AB push-pull
• Power valves: 2 x 6V6GT
• Preamp valve: 1 x 7025 / 12AX7
• Reverb driver valve: 1 x 12AT7
• Additional valve: 1 x 6C10 triple-triode Compactron
• Rectifier: Solid-state diode rectification
• Bias: Fixed bias
• Speaker configuration: 1 x 10″
• Speaker impedance: 8 ohms
• Standard speaker: Fender-labelled 10″ speaker, commonly blue-label Fender/Eminence
• Optional factory speaker: Electro-Voice 10″ speaker available on some examples
• Input: 1 x 1/4″ instrument input
• Controls: Volume, Treble, Bass, Reverb, Lead Level, Master
• Volume control: Pull for Lead mode
• Treble control: Pull for Mid Boost
• Lead circuit: Switchable additional gain stage
• Reverb: Valve-driven spring reverb
• Footswitching: Lead on/off and Reverb on/off
• Included footswitch: Two-button Lead/Reverb footswitch
• Rear connections: Speaker connection, Line/Recording output, footswitch connections and reverb connections
• Rear adjustment: Hum Balance
• Speaker output load: 8 ohms
• Cabinet covering: Black textured vinyl
• Grille cloth: Silver/black Fender-style grille cloth
• Control panel: Black
• Knobs: Black skirted knobs with chrome centres
• Logo: Raised Fender script grille badge
• Cabinet dimensions: Approximately 42.9 x 35.2 x 21.3 cm
• Typical weight: Approximately 12.2 kg, depending on speaker