1950s Danelectro Challenger Series C Vintage 1x15 Tube Amp Vibravox 6V6 w/ ftsw

Up for sale, a 1950's Danelectro Challenger 1x15 vintage tube amp in excellent condition and in perfect working order. This rare Dano amp delivers both robust cleans and smooth overdrive, complimented by the Vibravox tremolo circuit. The amp is powered by a quad of 6V6 power tubes, and this unusual configuration capitalizes on the sweet midrange character and smooth low end of this particular power tube design, with more power and headroom than your typical dual 6V6 amp. Although a two band EQ (Treble and Bass) seems quite simplistic by today's standards, in the '50s this was a pioneering tone circuit, and these knobs each have a wide frequency sweep to dial in the perfect amount of low end growl and twangy treble.

The circuit is largely original and recently serviced, with stock transformers and a professional recap of the main power supply with Sprague Atoms. The power tubes are a quad of Tesla/JJ 6V6s. For the speaker, this amp is loaded with an Eminence alnico 15" driver which dates to 1969, and this speaker is very similar in both output and tonal character to the Utah speaker which would have originally come in this amp.

Cosmetically, the amp retains its original gold and reddish brown two-tone covering, while the grillcloth was replaced with Fender-style silver sparkle thread. The faceplate retains all of the original bakelite brown pointer knobs, and the original orange silkscreen graphics are still mostly intact as well with some notable scuffs and wear particularly around the knobs. The two-tone covering has its fair share of modest surface wear as well, although for the fragility of this original covering, the amp has weathered the decades quite well. The leather handle is a modern replacement and the Danelectro logo is still visible on the lower edge of the face of the amp.

The original wedge footswitch for controlling the tremolo is included.