Tip o' the week - Don't forget about old amps

A recent question from a BH member has prompted this tip: if you are in the market for an amp, don't overlook vintage stuff. I recently bought a seventies Fender Champ for $280. Yes, it was no beauty contest winner and it needed a speaker, but this a top quality hand-wired amp that will give a lifetime of service. One peek inside the chassis of a new entry-level amp and the inside of an old Fender will reveal the shocking truth: new amps can sound great, but they just can't compete when it comes to quality of construction. The plastic input jacks that are used on new stuff are a great example. They are easily broken, but not so easy to repair! Last but not least, an old amp doesn't lose value the minute you get it home.

Skip Simmons