David Olney's 1971 Fender Champ 

For anyone curious, the volume on my amp was on 8, the treble was on zero and the bass was on 10. It's a really bright amp, so I rolled the highs off. I explained all of that on camera and then played some guitar with the treble on 10, but I edited it out of the final. This thing is long enough as it is. RU-vid's compression did a number on the guitar parts and left a bit of distortion here and there. None of that existed on the uploaded video. Live and learn, I guess. Either way, thanks for watching and sharing this with your friends! : )

This is a great little video. Thanks for this.

Aww man.. I hadn’t heard about his passing. “If my eyes were blind” and “Jerusalem Tomorrow” were my favorite Olney songs.

A Champ demo and some personal stories and life lessons thrown in, from a guy that clearly has a warm heart. Best amp demo ever.

Great story teller. About 20 years ago I drove by a yard sale in Seattle and stopped for a guitar on display. It was an unusual hohner semi-solid body electric classical for $75 - “oh and it comes with this little fender amp”. The little fender was a ‘65 black face Champ. Pristine condition. Didn’t really know the value but suspected any tube fender was worth having. My son treasures it now.

great amp demo and great stories. I may have a chance to grab one of these this weekend. This helped me make up my mind.

You are a fine man. Love the stories from the heart. And the music!

Great tribute to David Olney and lovely playing on his old Champ. Great that you could take it and continue making music with it.

Otis, this video of yours from two years ago inspired an experiment out here at my old place in Reno. I have a 10 year old 15 watt Super Champ X2 that I haven’t played very much. It’s got 2 channels - one clean and the other is loaded with effects and amp modeling, etc. Well, the clean channel I guess is voiced like the old blackfaces and has just a single volume control. I never pushed that channel to breakup until today! Man what a tone! The tubes warm up and it just sounds great! It’s the best thing about this amp. I threw a reverb pedal in front of it and wow - a completely new yet old palette of sounds! So thank you! An amp that was gathering dust is about to get a workout tonight!

Wow ! This was a treat ... I came to see the amp... and stayed for Otis rocking out on his LP. Awesome !!!!

Hey Otis, love the Champ! You remind me of a good friend of mine from Mississippi. Thanks for the demo, I have one on my radar and I might go pick it up tomorrow.

I just bought a 1964 Vibro Champ last week. I love it. Great video. You and the amp sound great.

Hi Otis. Great segment. I have 2 of these BUT did something cool with one of them (also a '71). The chassis fits a Musicmaster Bass Amp perfectly. I was able to then install a Jupiter (WGS) 12" 4 ohm speaker into the cabinet. Have freakin' mercy! This is the ticket. I have many Fender vintage amps including 2 1954 Wide Panel (5D3) Deluxes, but keep coming back to the MM/Champ. It sounds and feels like a Champ with 15-20 watts. The Jupiter Speaker was an excellent choice for this. I am no longer active in a group setting (70 years old), but would not have hesitated to bring this thing out for every venue from Strip Malls to Festivals. It sounds that good, Otis. Again, great segment. I agree with all of your comments.

What I love about your 'gear reviews' is that gear is secondary to the stories surrounding it. At the end of the day, it's people and their contribution to the world that's most important, and you clearly get that.

Man , I wish I would have known about you years ago. I think so much along your lines and can really relate. Great stories and so much knowledge. Going through a tough solitary time and thinking of Indianapolis and Indiana as a place to find a home because of you. I know this is an old RU-vid whatever you call it but if you get this, just want to let you know that you are really affecting people in the right way. Way to go. Like Robert Henri said, I’m butchering it but something like, “ you pass people on the street, some are for you and some are not, or you can pick up a book and in the first paragraph know that you have met a friend, even if long ago dead.”

Hi Oits Im looking at the champ and looking for some demos and BOOM there you were lol. Thanks as always my friend. I absolutly Love the channel . Always here when I need ya. Thanks for that

Just caught this video. Otis I have a Blues Deluxe Reissue and I immediately made changes. Replaced some of the electronics, tubes and then called Weber speakers. They asked me about the amp and what I played. Came back on the phone and said Vintage Ceramic and I bought it. This is a completely different amp. Responsive, not as loud so you can turn it up to 6-8 for breakup and the drive channel is fantastic. Love your channel and love your stories.

Thanks for giving us your musicians insight on David’s passing, I’m not a musician but I do agree that it would be much better to be surrounded by family and friends when I pass.... thanks for playing that great amp and guitar for us, love your style!!!

Thanks Otis - not a guitar player but a big fan of David (and Sergio) My wife & I host house concerts in Rochester NY and hosted David & Sergio a couple of times. David stayed with us the last time he played in Rochester at a local club. We were ale to go to the tribute show in Nashville. Miss him greatly.

On point and sounds amazing!

Such a good story, sir! I'm on my way to check out David Olney's music. I have a friend holding a mid 70's champ he wants me to have, with a pretty good history behind it as well. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Those little Fenders sound amazing! Lately, I started using a tweed blues Jr, and love it.

Smooth, like a glass of ice tea on a Texas summer day. Thanks friend. Hope all is well and to see you in Houston one of these days. Thanks for the story and keep them coming. - Brent

Thanks for sharing the Silver Champ story. I've been strumming acoustics for a few years and never had much interest solid body guitars & amps. Watched your last "Fender" video and it brought back memories of my favourite cousin Chris who had a blond Telecaster back when I was a pre-teen (very early 1970's) - I thought he and his guitar were so amazing & he looked so cool. (Thinking back he played the intro the Smoke on the Water mostly... LoL). Anyways - I'm rambling - thanks for bringing back a memory of Chris & his Telecaster - cheers !

My favourite you tube channel - love David Olney - women across the river is one of those pieces of perfection that will stop any songwriter in their tracks

I have a 67 Drip Edge Twin. Sounds so good. I saw you were in Corydon Indiana yesterday Otis. That's under 10 miles from me. Love your channel. And your Champ sounds great

1:11 that is the truth. I got a 1969 silver face for $50 in 1982, along with an old MXR overdrive pedal. I hadn't powered the it up for a few years, but one day I pulled it off the shelf in the garage and plugged in a Strat. Magic! I'd been playing regularly through either solid state amps or emulators for a few years but these things are the real deal, the sound is unique, not a Princeton, Not a Deluxe Reverb, but it is its own thing and nothing else does it like this, and certainly the emulators, not even the really good ones come close. 8:10 I had a drummer who really knew how to play the room. He knew how to play with an amp like this. Thanks for the cool history lesson, loved listening, fun and informative.

Okay mr. Gibbs a month ago I never heard of you but I was scrolling through RU-vid and I said that guy looks a lot like Steve Earle so I checked out one of your videos and I love your storytelling and I love the way you play that guitar very cool. Please keep the stories and playing coming. See you on down the road.

Thank you Otis.

Wow what a great story behind that amp and about Dave Olney. Came here for the amp, stayed for the story!

Hey great vid and thank you for sharing 👍

your great OTIS I love your channel and this story is really wonderful I'm gonna check out mr olney's music he sounded like a great guy as well I have a 65 fender vibro champ and yes these amps are perfect such great tones and so versatile and you remind me of my first and only guitar teach who also was a great guy

I have a warm spot in my heart for Silver face Champs too and Bassman heads, Bandmasters etc.... I've had a bunch on my bench and when they left they sounded o so sweet !!! Being a fellow Hoosier and Weber speaker nut, I can tell you you cant go wrong with either. Thanks for the stories.

Good story 👍 Great people involved. Weber speakers 👍👍

Yeah, got a '71 Vibro Champ with a Weber speaker. Guitar and cord is all it needs. Thanx for everything Otis...keep on keeping on...

I was looking for the date of my Champ and found you. I also have a 1970 Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop stock! Couldn’t believe you have both! Sounds great!!!

Shoot Otis, I remember that amp. Hell yeah! Townes gigged with that amp a few times.

The champ and your playing sound awesome!

The more I've matured as a picker, the fewer watts I've needed. 5w really is where the magic lies.

Just found this channel and felt the vibe vintage guitar...Never clicked subscribee so hard. Ccheers!

Aren’t the great? I love mine. Sounds great and never lets me down. Thanks for the vid 🤙

I always liked the champ but never owned one. I had a princeton that I loved in the 70s I have a 1974 deluxe silverface in excellent shape that is fantastic. but my favorite amp out of collection is a 5e3 fender deluxe that I built from a Weber kit. It is simple like the champ and touch sensitive like the champ. It is my number one go to amp. by the way Weber speakers are awesome.

I'm originally from Kokomo Indiana was born there awesome channel

These little guys had soared in value…when you said 200 I thought I’d buy 10 at that lol…..I just bought a 1969 Champ Amp for 475 usd…which is a steal now….they seem to go for 1000 +….times they are a changin…..great video…

Great video and story about your Champ. The Silver Face Champ just hit my radar and I'm hoping to get one. I'm trying to get as much info (and demos) as I can find on YT. Yours sounds great. Other than getting them serviced, a speaker upgrade (usually to a Webber) is a good idea.

I grew up around Kokomo...haven’t thought about Weber’s in a long time.... Thanks for the memory....nice Champ sounds great and a amazing story

So very Cool. Thankyou.

Man, I hate to hear that David passed away. My dad and I saw him at the Railroad Blues in Alpine, Texas about 10 years ago and we became instant fans. He seemed like a great guy.

Sounds great! I have a 68 drip edge, great amp!

You made me get my Vibro Champ out of the closet. I heard that Jesse Ed Davis liked to record with a Champ. Cheers from the Micronesia Blues Society on the island of Guam.

Thanks Otis. I looked up to see which Ronstadt song that David Olney wrote, and it's "Women Cross the River". Her version is really pretty! Great song, great stories! And "1917" too?? Wow that one is WILD. I prefer Emmylou's voice with some age on it. Also I love your tone with the little Champ. Have a good week.

Can't like this twice and I'm mad as hell about it!

Thank you Otis. Such a touching story. My favourite amp is my 1969 drip edge Vibro Champ. My wife insists that I should never part with it. I’ve played gigs with a drummer using it too. I rigged it up to accommodate an extension cab. The only pedal that I ever use with it is a Boss DM-3. Thanks again, and hope to see you playing in England later this year.

Otis, this channel is so rad! Man I have a mint 74 Silverface Champ I traded a $400 Tele for and it’s incredible. I had JJ’s put in it and Jupiter Speaker and I’m like you just plug straight in and let it rip! I believe Joe Bonamassa loves these amps as well. I do hear a rattle in mine at time when there is a lot of low end going on but none the less I love it!

I really liked your video. Nice combo of playing and story. I have a 57 Custom Champ (new) and 1975 Silverface Champ. I jump the inputs and play them together. The tweed has more low mids and bass (which is really surprising given its size) and the silverface has more highs, but together they sound amazing. This is for playing at home.

Hi Otis, I just discovered you and love your music and stories and guitars, amps, etc. I will now glorify your wonders throughout New Zealand and hope that one day you can come and do some gigs here!! Perhaps you already have? I have seen Steve and Justin here a few times. I know Tony Joe White used to come here and have a great time fishing after his gigs if you're into that.

Love it. I saw David solo in Winnipeg around 2001. Had never heard him or of him before that night. I was well in to my cups arriving at the show and he literally blew my blown mind back to sober. No exaggeration. Incredible performer with AMAZING songs. If It Wasn’t for the Wind, Jerusalem Tomorrow, God Shaped Hole, Deeper Well, Millionaire etc etc etc. He was a complete craftsman. I went for the CD and autograph after the show and then he let my drunken ass carry his guitar to the taxi for him. I asked him “Can I carry your guitar for you? I don’t think you should be hauling your own gear sir” He said “Alright” asked my name, we chatted a little and then away he and his wife went off into that good night..

I have a 1971 champ as well. It's a great amp. I put a Celestion speaker in it . I like to plug my p90 melody maker straight in, crank everything on the amp , then use the controls on the guitar to get about everything you would want

Mad love on fender amps

man brother, could not agree with you more..I also have had friends pass away on stage....to me, perhaps the most lonely way to go...

Great amp. Also love the 'goof hider' Deluxe :)

Huge props for using a '71 Deluxe to demo the '71 champ. 🥰

Just recently have seen your channel and subbed, good stuff! I had a 50,s tweed champ and a 75 silverface. Currently have 2 super champ xd,s that I really like one with a 10 and one with a 12.

That Champ sounds great! 🔊🏆

I'm looking at an early 70s SF Champ in immaculate condition - but it's 900 bucks. We don't get cheap vintage gear in Australia but damn if it's gonna sound even 25% as good as yours I'm spending the dough! Dead-set legend, you are. Wonderful tone, playing, and conversational style. Subbed. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of the Champ :) Mr. Olney sounds like a very fine and decent human being. Gonna check out his music, thank you. I do have a cheap, MIC Champ clone (vintage specs, tube rectified, decent Celestion 8" speaker) I use a Maxon TB-09 tube boost, an Australian made germanium Fuzz called a "Neo Fuzz" made here in Sydney, and an MXR Carbon Copy Bright for some Slapback and even a little modulation (the CC Bright has a nice, subtle mod switch). I just got a Vox AC15 and the Champ with the Vox sound amazing together! However, the clone has a sub-par cabinet. It doesn't resonate like the old Fenders. It's a little too small and tends to "choke" the highs. Can't imagine how good that 70s Silverface might sound..have to wait until Monday! It's still there, I checked the window on my way home from work. They open 9.30 Monday am and I'll be waiting at the door with my 335 to test the 70s SF, and a Blackstar amp I don't use for a trade-in if the SF Fender turns out to be a winner. Wish me luck,all. Cheers!

Wow that sounds good!

I had a 1950 ES-150 for a while which was basically the 125 but with a 17” body and LP style inlays. The guitar is gone now but that P90 is still the best guitar pickup I’ve ever played.

I’ve always loved this ’65 black face champ I have. It’s hard like you said to really hear it on gigs but I love to just play it. Thanks for video

Sounding Great Otis

I have had '67 blackface for about 30 years. It is a fantastic amp. I have recapped it, replaced the tubes and re-biased and cleaned all of the pots. I recently changed the speaker to a Warehouse G8C. This amp has never sounded better. Sweet break up just past 5. These amps are gems.

Your the man!

Great video, man. Back in the early 70's, my 7th grade band mate had a Champ that we cut in half to make a "head" out of it -- because "heads" and big cabinets were cooler than tiny combo amps lol! Plugged it into a home made cabinet intended for 2-12's, but only had the original 8" speaker installed in it. Went to garage sale maybe 12 years ago, bought a nice Samick SG-450 for $100, went directly to the local Guitar Center to trade it on something I'd rather have, and there was a '69 drip edge Champ-Amp sitting there in all original condition. They took the guitar and $75 for it. Pretty good deal like you.

Really good, thank you Otis. I got to know David after he played a series my wife and I had in Fort Worth for about 10 years. David played for us often. Treasure(d) our friendship, he was one of the best. I also love your podcasts.

Had one. First amp and a red Sterling SG bolt on. Use to run an Electro Harmonic LPB-2 through it.

great video keep up the good work you doing great with these vids. beautiful Les Paul , guessing it's a 70's Deluxe with mini humbuckers, if you mentioned in video sorry I missed it, Peace !

I love champs for small gigs and practices, they're great for church gigs especially because the sound people usually want me to be amplified though the PA, but I explain the champ is quieter than an acoustic guitar and that usually pleases them. Great amp!

Hello love the vid man. I'm a big lover of the champ, I have a couple of fender champion 600s a fender blackpanel 1981 champ a fender vibro champ xd and a custom fender 57 champ, way hay

I have a Weber and nos American 50's preamp and poweramp tubes in my champ and love it! I use a J. Rockett Squeegee compressor, a J. Rockett Immortal echo set for a slap back delay, a Boss Tremolo that I modified, and if I want to dirty it up a tad, I use an ancient Full tone Full drive 2, with the drive set at 9:00. Hardly enough just to have a little grit if I dig in with my pick/fingers

Mini's with that amp sound great!

Bought mine cbs 1981 still have original valves changed the valves to jj last year and Jensen alnico original was damaged from new. Oh boy sound just went up I’m 62 still got it ❤

Hello Otis, nice to see your video and hear you talk about David Olney. Ive seen you both live at the same place but not the same time. Immanuelkyrkan in Halmstad/Sweden. It was a Great show and im a huge fan of your music since then. I have many original songs on my channel, feel free to check them out. Best wishes/PH.

Great Brown Sugar tone Otis. Jimmy Johnson has a great story of the recording of that during the December ‘69 Muscle Shoals sessions. It’s somewhere here on the ‘tube, but Keith was playing a Fender Twin of some kind, turned up to 10, and it was breaking up the board, so Jimmy had to put some kind of limiter in the chain, rather than tell Keith to turn it down. 🤣

Nice little amp man .. love silver-face. Those r a fortune “Down Under” (tyranny of distance). Being a jazzer, I play my 355 clone thru a Fender FM-25R real nice spanking clean sounds .. gr8 with my Kalamazoo Howard Roberts! A mate of mine has a Fender SuperChamp I envy .. the old ones .. no bloody digital modelling .. but I’d like 2 havva a little silver-face champ like urs.

Wow! That is really swampy!

I grew up poor living in Hendersonville tn through 1970 to 80 .My father for Christmas bought me a new 1977 fender vibrio champ I had the best amp in the neighborhood. I played it with a 1963 hagstrum III . I wish I till had both of them today....

Hey Otis... that amp does sound good, although I must admit I’m an acoustic guitar fan myself.... I got to know about David Olney after he passed, and just got absolutely blown away by his music. Watched all of his you tube videos from his “You’ll never Know” series, and I can’t say I have a favorite song.... I love his “The Stone” CD. I now have about 8 of his CDs, and love watching his live gigs on you tube with your friend Sergio Webb. Anyway, stay healthy man, love to you and yours ❤️

Sounds good, Otis! Yeah I let out a huge groan when I read about how David died, he even apologized for stopping mid-song. People thought he was snoozing! The one song of his that stands out is Jerusalem Tomorrow.

Had me the tweed version of the same Champ. Pawned it for change.

My ears perked up when you mentioned Townes Lol ! I often wonder if he ever picked up an electric his finger picking was so proficient I can't picture him playing an electric instrument

I had an old reverb (not a twin) a long time ago, rarely used it cause am an acoustic picker. Sold it but wish would have hung on to it.

I bought a 70 vibrochamp and a 55 les paul jr amp for 70 bucks still have them my 72 deluxe sounds just great through them

I enjoyed this video, Otis. I will offer a a bit of a different perspective on David's death. One of my parents had dementia and died in nursing home. My mom died in hospital during pandemic (though not from SARS Co-V-2) and could have no family with her. And I've spent some time as a hospice volunteer, too. Very few people get to pick the death they would choose, the "good death". So, as a person who makes a little homemade music myself, I'd rather die how Dave Olney did than how either of my folks went. Sending all good wishes and thanks for the videos!

Great mojo in that amp!

I had a 79 that got the best Hendrix tone....I was always surprised by that

That's the best way to play a Les Paul through a champ plug it straight in and turn it up let the tubes create your Overdrive... you put a pedal in front of it it actually takes away from the natural sound of the Les Paul and the champ mixed together in my opinion but I've owned over eight or nine Champs my favorite was a 1965 vibro champ that I got for $500 2002 when I brought I'd been wanting one for so long and I never had enough money on the ride home from Music Go Round Here in a Louisville Kentucky I literally had tears in my eyes for some reason something just came over me I've never really told anyone that I don't know what it was but that was a very special amp and I've never heard another sound the way that one sounded so they are magical instruments just like the Les Paul and the paf pure mystical Magic in my opinion

Yeah if you ever want to sell that champ you get a hold of me love it Otis love the way you play that guitar man Keith Richards better look out

i had an amp just like this and pawned it for a pesky dope habit i had...what a great amp to play harmonica through!

Just going back through your old posts. I love gear stories! That champ sounds great! I prefer Blackface Fenders at this point, but I have friends (Country Dudes) who all prefer the early 70's Silverfaces. I may have to break down and get one. I want a Deluxe Reverb really bad but can't let go of the 4k they want for the clean ones. So maybe an early Silverface Deluxe Reverb will be in store...Actually they are getting top dollar too.

Otis! hi there, in the early 90's I was privleged to be able to purchase a 1965 Fender Champ, yup! blackface, and as much as that silverface is sweet sounding, I'd like to think that the blackie is a degree nastier, but that's neither here nor there. Also I dig the axe, my number one is a 74 Les paul Custom, and while it may sound llike I'm some sort of silver spoon cat, it's all been dumb luck, hard work, and providence I guess you could say. Anyway thanks so much for your stories, wisdom, and insight, I really enjoy it and I hang on each new video all the best!

Hey Otis Great Video My Old Amp Is A Fender Bronco My Little Brother Got Me At A Flea Market It Needed A Tube And A New Power Cord It Is A Rough Looking Amp For A 1975 Model But Sounds Really Good On 10 With A Mic On It Iam 69 Years Old An Thankful He Thought Of Me To Buy It For $ 20.00