The Old Ironsides Pro and Old Ironsides Champ are tube amps constructed using old timber left over from constructing the USS Constitution in 1794. The storied frigate fought naval battles against France in 1797, against the British in 1812, and subsequently sailed around the world before becoming a museum piece 1907.
The two showpiece amps are encased in age-old oak cabinets with hand-rubbed oil finish and brass detailing. The 26-watt Pro model is based on Fender’s ’57 Custom Pro combo and the 5-watt Champ on the ’57 Custom Champ. Both combos feature hand-wired circuitry, custom modded components and US-made speakers.
The oak beams used to repair the historic frigate were found at Charlestown Naval Yard and where Fender acquired a portion of the stockpile directly from the Navy. These are strictly limited to single examples, outside of NAMM it is unlikely most of us will get a chance to purchase of play with these amps, but they sure do look good.
Fender is distributed in Australia through fender.com.au.
