The Champ name has appeared on a Fender amp every year since 1948. Until 1982, the name identified a simple amplifier with three tubes: one rectifier in the power supply, one low-power tube in the preamp and a single medium-power tube served as the output stage driving an eight inch speaker.

This one was made in the late 70s. The only difference in this amp and #A 774279, of the early 70s, is the color of one of the threads that are used in the speaker cloth and the Made in U.S.A. which appears on this amp beneath the Fender name on the grill logo.

The comprehensive guide to Fender amplifiers is Fender Amps: The First Fifty Years by John Teagle and John Sprung. This large book provides a thorough history of the Fender line, with separate chapters for each of the vintage model names. It also has a lot of color photos of vintage models and advertising literature, with reference sections that detail changes in appearance features, such as knobs and grill cloth, over the years. Anyone thinking of buying an older Fender amp (and `Rique says every guitar player should) needs to read this book before shopping.