Oahu Sunshine. The Magic of Inflation. 1956

This amp was in need of a detective (like I'm Sam Spade over here), so I learned that this 5-watt sunshine was indeed sold as a set with a matching lap steel for the princely sum of $69.95.

Now don't turn up your nose.

Cheap? Not at all.

Through the magic of inflation, $69.95 in 1956 is equivalent to roughly $856.00 today. Considering the average wage at the time was about a George Washington, a quarter, and a dime per hour, that was a considerable amount of money to lay down.

About this amp?

This little 5-watt dynamo is exactly what you'd expect from a Fender Champ, tone-wise. This two-knob wonder breaks up beautifully through that 8" Rola speaker and, of course, sounds very much like those Valco-built amps you know and love.

As for the cosmetics? No doubt this one has aged remarkably well. I mean, I hope I look this good at 70.

Now on to the final portion of our show: functionality.

This amp was just serviced. The capacitors have been replaced, the cord has been updated.

In closing, if you're looking to complete the set with the matching lap steel, or you simply want an amp with a little bit of swagger without spending a whole lot of cake, then I think you've found what you're looking for.