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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 6:11 pm
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Just got amp. Maybe, ramp it up later tonight.

:)

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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 4:08 am
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Very nice looking Champ!


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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 7:20 am
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More photos. Prolly won't get around to trying this amp out, until after weekend. Gotta work. :(

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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 8:53 am
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Seems to be totally unmolested.

Nice score!

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 6:50 pm
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Congrats again...still waiting on that family portrait...just sayin...

:mrgreen:

T2

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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 8:51 pm
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Says on the sticker "5E3". :lol:
Nice score!

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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:50 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
Congrats again...still waiting on that family portrait...just sayin...

:mrgreen:

T2


Let me get this puppy cooking. Promise a Happy Champ Family portrait. Some day.

:lol:


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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 3:46 am
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I'm not surprised Leo used a 5E3 chart when they ran out of the correct ones, but wonder why they would not cross off one 6V6GT and the 12AY7 with a pen, supplying incorrect info could confuse customers, and makes the chart kind of pointless?


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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 11:49 am
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OK... broke into amp circuit. Owner complained about "on-off" character of volume control. Ended up someone in the past replaced the original. And forgot to ground third leg.

Notice, this is a 5F1 circuit. Not the usual 5E1, for 1955. Has no choke in the PSU. Two resistors. A 16mfd frist stage cap. Not the 5E1 circuit's 8 mfd.


Before:

Image

After, with third leg grounded:

Image

I was going to stuff new caps into old Astron paper housing, but sizes are too far off and the paper is crumbly. :(

Image

Kinda feel odd, undoing Lupe's original solders. I feel like I should go to Confessional, or something.

:lol:


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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:48 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Kinda feel odd, undoing Lupe's original solders. I feel like I should go to Confessional, or something.


I felt the same angst when I changed out the original filter array in my '64 Pro Amp. I'm certain that St. Leo was not pleased.

:wink:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 2:21 pm
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I really thought hard about re-doing this amp or keeping it OEM. I decided to make it as reliable a daily player as possible. Photos of cap change-outs. I went to F&T 8+8 mfd/450 VDC. See how good they are.

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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 3:55 pm
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Are you leaving that OEM Astron death cap in situ?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 5:36 pm
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Arjay, for the life of me I can't figure out how the "death cap" is working in this amp. There is no ground switch (to change polarity of the AC line). I was trying to Google some reason for this setup.

Just going to remove it.

http://ampwares.com/schematics/champ_5f1.pdf


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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 6:11 pm
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Lytics replaced. Changed cathode-tied resistor on 6V6GT to Mill wire-wound. And resistors in PSU rail and grid-to-ground were within 10% of nominal. Reflowed the old solder. Running about 355-358VDC on B+. 15-18 VDC above 1955 nominal standards. Seems quiet from 1 to 12. See out it sounds like.

Image

Played it. Sounded weak and thin. I don't think the tube in amp is a 12AX7. Looks more like 12AY7. Anyhow, replaced it with an RCA 7025. 5Y3WGT rectifier. And Tungsol (USA) 6V6GT. Much better tone. Rich. At volumes above 7 --- or heavy bass runs... speaker breaks up badly. May have weak VC. Or cone is too brittle. Will look around for a 6-inch to replace OEM one. Bag the OEM and the old caps & resistor.

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Post subject: Re: Tweed Champ
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 6:57 am
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Too bad the paper housing would not fit the new caps. What speaker do you plan to try? does Kendrick make a 6 inch? I really love the black frame 8 in my 76' champ.


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