Page 1 of 2

NAD! 1973 Bronco Amp!

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 4:58 am
by mkt3000
This popped up yesterday and it's still available.

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

Image

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.

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:50 am
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/

Image

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 7:10 am
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.

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:52 pm
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.

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 4:14 pm
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.

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 8:50 pm
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.

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 2:37 am
by mkt3000
And pics from the seller!

Image
Image
Image
Image

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 2:41 am
by taylornutt
Looks good. My Vibro- champ is missing the top cross piece in the back.

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:18 am
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.

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:33 am
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

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:57 am
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.

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:49 am
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.

Image

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:51 pm
by SGJarrod
also check Wharehouse Guitar Speakers

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:52 pm
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.

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:56 pm
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.

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:17 pm
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.

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:19 pm
by benecol
Also, Filtercap's epic Vibrochamp thread is required reading for any Champ owner, and should be Hall of Fame'd.

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 1:40 am
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.

Image

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 1:42 am
by taylornutt
Absolute no brainer. Do it.

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 1:53 am
by SGJarrod
8=======D