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Post subject: Re: 1966 vibro champ
Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 10:09 am
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So I picked it up last night before they closed, got home late so I did not have time to go under the hood, and because of that I did not want to play it until I look at its electrolytic capacitor, they could be just about 50 years old. I did play it in the shop, still wondering if I will bond with it, not sure I like the 8" speaker, but before I rule out the 8" I need to make sure all looks good under the hood, play it for a while and see. If I am not happy I will surely make an external speaker cabinet with either a 10" or 12"
This morning I got up a little early so I could take some photo's for you all, not sure when I will get to opening it up as this is busy time at my job and I get home late
From what I can see I think it was assembled April 1967 by the stamp QD and SN. The iron seems to have 1966 codes, not sure how to read the speaker code, and when I open it up we'll see what the pots tell me. Being it might be early 1967 I do not think it make to much difference from a late 1966
mud
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Post subject: Re: 1966 vibro champ
Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 10:17 am
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Looks real good shape. BTW... it's the letters on lower right of tube chart that are important, for date of production.


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Post subject: Re: 1966 vibro champ
Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 10:25 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Looks real good shape. BTW... it's the letters on lower right of tube chart that are important, for date of production.

Yeah and the letters are QD not clear on my photo


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Post subject: Re: 1966 vibro champ
Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 10:32 am
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"QD"......April of 1967. And it is one of the last blackface Vibro Champs ever made. That same month and year, I worked part-time at a music store in Belleville, Illinois and we received a shipment of Champs, Vibro Champs, and Princeton Reverbs. We were all surprised when we removed them from their cartons and discovered that they were drip-edge silverfaces.

Yours seems to be an exceptionally clean example, well worth the asking price. Should you wish to replace the OEM Oxford speaker, keep in mind that the Vibro Champ needs a 4-ohm load to perform at its best. And despite the diminutive 6-watt output, there is ample power to drive even a pair of 15-inch speakers so long as the total impedance is correct.

Rawk on!

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1966 vibro champ
Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 10:53 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
"QD"......April of 1967. And it is one of the last blackface Vibro Champs ever made. That same month and year, I worked part-time at a music store in Belleville, Illinois and we received a shipment of Champs, Vibro Champs, and Princeton Reverbs. We were all surprised when we removed them from their cartons and discovered that they were drip-edge silverfaces.

Yours seems to be an exceptionally clean example, well worth the asking price. Should you wish to replace the OEM Oxford speaker, keep in mind that the Vibro Champ needs a 4-ohm load to perform at its best. And despite the diminutive 6-watt output, there is ample power to drive even a pair of 15-inch speakers so long as the total impedance is correct.

Rawk on!

8)

Arjay


Fine looking amp! Increased cool factor for being one of the last ones! B&G closed a year or so back...another good Mom and Pop Music store gone!

T2

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Post subject: Re: 1966 vibro champ
Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 1:04 pm
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Congrats, looks really clean, put a Kendrick Blackframe in my 76' Champ and some nice NOS RCA tubes in and it's a tone monster, try one of these and put that clean oem speaker in the box to save.Image


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Post subject: Re: 1966 vibro champ
Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 2:05 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
B&G closed a year or so back...another good Mom and Pop Music store gone!


Back in the day, B&G and Bobby Heil's Music Emporium in Marissa were the only two music stores around. I guess Guitar Circus edged them out of business.

:(

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1966 vibro champ
Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 2:17 pm
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my56strat wrote:
Congrats, looks really clean, put a Kendrick Blackframe in my 76' Champ and some nice NOS RCA tubes in and it's a tone monster, try one of these and put that clean oem speaker in the box to save.Image


Thanks I will keep this in mind for sure
mud


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Post subject: Re: 1966 vibro champ
Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 4:31 pm
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Kendrick builds a fine speaker, you could do a lot worse.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: 1966 vibro champ
Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 5:28 pm
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I have a Kendrick Blackframe in my '68 Champ. IMHO the best replacement speaker available for a Champ!

T2

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Post subject: Re: 1967 BF vibro champ
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 8:53 am
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So I edited the subject so I would not be misleading, as the shop that sold it to me was. I had an extra hour before work so I peeked under the hood, and have some pictures. I also looked at the fuse and it was wrong, had a 2 A regular and wants a 1 A slow-blow, I get it, but it is not right, so right now it has no fuse until I procure a proper one
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Post subject: Re: 1967 BF vibro champ
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 6:43 pm
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Seems to have all original parts on the circuit board. Except for the first bypass cap (the one with blue plastic cover).

Is the cap can (GE one) 20/20/20/20. Or 40/20/20/20? One tang is not connected, which is ok. This can is used in the Princeton and PR --- which does connect all four sections.

If the amp hums --- new, replacement cap can are available.

All in all, a very nice purchase! :D


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Post subject: Re: 1967 BF vibro champ
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 8:01 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Seems to have all original parts on the circuit board. Except for the first bypass cap (the one with blue plastic cover).

Is the cap can (GE one) 20/20/20/20. Or 40/20/20/20? One tang is not connected, which is ok. This can is used in the Princeton and PR --- which does connect all four sections.

If the amp hums --- new, replacement cap can are available.

All in all, a very nice purchase! :D


Thank you, it is a 20/20/20/20 and it has a very little hum, so I believe it time to replace, will have to get a tip for my Old Weller solder gun, I think it should get hot enough to get the old can off, and will start searching the net for a new Cap Can, looks like they are only made by CE Manufacturing. I tried searching for a GE Can, I guess it's been a while since they had their name on them . which made me think it might be time to replace.
What about that first bypass cap, should I change them all so the the same or does it matter that much?
mud


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Post subject: Re: 1967 BF vibro champ
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 9:00 pm
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I wouldn't pay much mind to that bypass cap but ripple-free high voltage is imperative for hum-free operation. Change out that cap can as soon as possible.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: 1967 BF vibro champ
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 9:24 pm
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CE is made with old Mallory cap can technology. Very well made. I like using the 525VDC rated can. More electrolyte fluid capacity = longer life. Esp with today's wall voltage.

https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/C-EC20X3-525


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