NAD! 1973 Bronco Amp!

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mkt3000
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NAD! 1973 Bronco Amp!

Post by mkt3000 »

This popped up yesterday and it's still available.

http://www.clasificadosonline.com/UDMis ... er=4757278

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translated text says:

This is a tube amp, everything works, only collectors or serious people who know about vintage equipment.

He wants $300. Too much? Just right? Buy it NAO!? Going by the pic, there's rust on some of the expose metal bits, but if the chassis is ok, then I'm not worried.
Last edited by mkt3000 on Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
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taylornutt
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Post by taylornutt »

Get it. That amp is exactly like my Fender Vibro-Champ with a different name. It's a Fender Champ Amp with tremolo. They sold these amps as a package deal with Fender Bronco guitars, which is why they are called Bronco Amps. The tremolo is amazing.

$300 is a pretty good price. I would go after that. You don't see them very often. My Vibro-champ was going for about $450 (I traded a guitar for it). That Bronco amp sounds like a pretty good deal.

I found this regular Champ on CL for $275 (without the tremolo) http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/msg/3032584885.html

more info here: http://vibrochamp.org/

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Post by mastermorya »

Agreed. That's a good price. The word is out on the silverface vibro champ, which can run as high as $500 in insane markets like Boston, $400 in places like Sacramento. The Bronco is exactly the same.
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Post by mkt3000 »

Good to hear. If I'm lucky and there's a client check in the mail tomorrow, it's mine tomorrow. If not, hopefully it's still available on Tuesday.
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Post by mkt3000 »

I spoke to the seller a few minutes ago and hasn't had much interest from "serious buyers", so he thinks it'll be available next week for me to check it out and buy it. He asked me for my email to send me more pics of the amp as well.
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Post by taylornutt »

You won't be sorry if everything works on the amp. I would love a Bronco Amp just to have a matching pair.
J Mascis Jazzmaster | AVRI Jaguar | Tuxedo-stang |Fender Toronado GT |
Squier FSR Sparkle Jaguar | Squier CV Mustang |1971 Fender Bronco| Baja Telecaster |
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Post by mkt3000 »

And pics from the seller!

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Post by taylornutt »

Looks good. My Vibro- champ is missing the top cross piece in the back.
J Mascis Jazzmaster | AVRI Jaguar | Tuxedo-stang |Fender Toronado GT |
Squier FSR Sparkle Jaguar | Squier CV Mustang |1971 Fender Bronco| Baja Telecaster |
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Post by mkt3000 »

And... it's mine! The speaker has a small hole in it which (I believe) is causing it to distort at all volumes, and the pots need to be cleaned. So I got it for $200 :D

Time to figure out the speaker's ohm rating to source a replacement, and clean out the pots.. but otherwise I'm happy with my purchase. Original tubes, vibrator works perfectly, not loud, but definitely a noisy little shit.
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Post by taylornutt »

Sweet. I am glad you got it.

make sure to check out this website for sourcing parts or general info: http://vibrochamp.org/mojo-tips
J Mascis Jazzmaster | AVRI Jaguar | Tuxedo-stang |Fender Toronado GT |
Squier FSR Sparkle Jaguar | Squier CV Mustang |1971 Fender Bronco| Baja Telecaster |
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Post by mkt3000 »

taylornutt wrote:Sweet. I am glad you got it.

make sure to check out this website for sourcing parts or general info: http://vibrochamp.org/mojo-tips
Thanks for that link! I'm a bit low on patience, so tomorrow I'm gonna call the local music shops to see who's got an 8" 4 ohm speaker. If nowhere, then ebay on Monday.
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Post by benecol »

mkt3000 wrote:Time to figure out the speaker's ohm rating to source a replacement...
Congrats on the great amp. Now go here and buy one of these: best thing you can do for your champ.

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Post by SGJarrod »

also check Wharehouse Guitar Speakers
lorez wrote: I'm a fuzz lover so my clean is another man's crunch ;)
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Post by mkt3000 »

I just dropped the amp off at my friend's studio for the time being, but I have a feeling that's where it's gonna spend most of its time. This amp is in too good a shape for having spent its entire life on this island, and it needs to remain that way (a little bit of surface rust, needs new tubes, and a tiny hole in the speaker - no rust on the chassis, and the wood panels aren't rotting, that's amazing). The studio will provide climate control that my house doesn't have, and a source of income if anyone recording there wants to rent it. And I have a key so when I need it, it's always there.
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Post by mkt3000 »

Alrighty.. just got off the phone with the studio's tech who took the amp apart.

Preamp tubes are good, needed a new power tube and a new fuse. Also needed to be recapped, since the humidity on the island destroyed them.
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Post by benecol »

Yep, I replaced the electrolytics and the cap can on mine; best to do it before they pop and take out more expensive components. Webber sells the cap cans too, fwiw.
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Post by benecol »

Also, Filtercap's epic Vibrochamp thread is required reading for any Champ owner, and should be Hall of Fame'd.
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Post by mkt3000 »

Small update. I'm getting this amp's cousin tomorrow :D

http://www.clasificadosonline.com/UDMis ... er=5223967

$80, and I've been speaking to the seller for almost 20 minutes on the phone, and he leveled with me. It sounds amazing, but has cosmetic issues. But for $80, I won't even haggle. As long as it sounds good, I'll take it as is.

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Post by taylornutt »

Absolute no brainer. Do it.
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Squier FSR Sparkle Jaguar | Squier CV Mustang |1971 Fender Bronco| Baja Telecaster |
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Post by SGJarrod »

8=======D
lorez wrote: I'm a fuzz lover so my clean is another man's crunch ;)