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Post subject: "66" Champ with sound issue`s.
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:06 pm
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My Champ makes a loud crackle with an aggressive pick attack, often at its worst when I strike an F on the G string. I will also get a loud pop when amp is on but idle. I have left the amp on for hours so temp should not be a problem and amp is all original except for one tube. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.


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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:21 pm
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Hi there Monkey, sounds like the power tube is arcing. That amp draws the most current at idle. The rectifier tube may also be arcing. With this amp I wouldn't hesitate to purchase quality tested NOS tubes. Which tube was replaced? Art

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Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 7:34 pm
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Hey Art, thanks for taking the time to respond. To be honest I do not know which tube was replaced. The tube closest to the fuse is an RCA [I am guessing the original], the other says 6V6GTA on the bottom. Thanks again, Bruce


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Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:04 pm
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Yeah Bruce, that 5Y3 RCA sounds like it's the original and is probably fine. The 6V6GTA is most likely worn out. I would replace it with a NOS 6V6GTA. The current production tubes won't hold up over the long haul. It would be a good idea to have a tech check the components out, to make sure they're close to spec. That's a very nice amp and worth the effort. Art

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Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:27 pm
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Thanks again Art, will do. I absolutely love this little amp and the way it sounds when functioning properly. It is my first tube amp and am up until now completely clueless regarding how to troubleshoot it. I appreciate your time and help.


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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:15 am
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The only current 6V6 I know of that can handle a lot of abuse is JJ. I just put one in mt 74 Champ and it sounds great. No problems at all.


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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 8:14 am
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Thanks 63supro, I know you are referring to the 6V6tube I do not know what JJ stands for. The brand or tube company?


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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 8:52 am
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JJ is a brand. The 6v6 is the power tube. If that doesn't work and the amp is all original, the power supply capacitors may need to be replaced. A cap job is just routine maintenance. After 43 years, it's probably due.

www.eurotubes.com


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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 9:06 am
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Thanks again 63supro, When I bought my 66 champ I was prepared to have issues at some point. I am going to bring her to an amp tech today and have her checked out. You guys really helped me feel more confident that I will not get jerked around if the tech is unscrupulous. And 63supro thanks for the link, a lot of info to digest and I am looking forward to pour over it and try and glean whatever I can from it. Looks like I will learn a lot. If tech tells me she has a power tube issue I will request JJ`s.


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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:15 am
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No problem. That amp is a piece of Fender history. The Blackface Champs were some of the best ever produced. If the tech replaces anything, tell him to use American made caps and resistors.

I bought my 74 Champ without even plugging it in. It's a really great sounding amp.


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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:18 am
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Great amp!

I've been very happy with NOS Mazda 6V6's in my Princeton and Princeton Reverb. Talk to Mike K at kcanostubes.com and he'll give you recommendations based on your playing style and budget. Great guy.

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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:12 pm
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63supro wrote:
The only current 6V6 I know of that can handle a lot of abuse is JJ. I just put one in mt 74 Champ and it sounds great. No problems at all.


I agree totally. The JJ 6V6 will hold up just fine in a stock champ.


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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:06 pm
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Thanks guys, The cat I bought this amp from is suggesting I don`t change anything, two prong to three prong etc.. I will tell you guys what I told him and tell me what you think. My man is a player/collector/and he even owns and operates a guitar museum ten minutes from me. His perspective is " it is so clean and original if it were me I would not change a thing". Now I don`t disagree with him but I am going to play the s___t out of this amp [ it is my only tube amp ] and I want to be safe [ three prong plug ]. As well I want an amp that works. I don`t like the rice crispys and crackling. I will have the work done professionally and I will save whatever the tech replaces.


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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:13 pm
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Changing the power cord to a three prong and making it safe to play is the right thing to do, no matter what the collector/player says. Getting shocked by your amp isn't fun.


He's also wrong on not changing a thing - filter capacitors dry up after 43 years and can also pose a shock hazard as well as noise - this is again an acceptable change to vintage amps. It also may be the cause of your rice crispy crackling.


Plus, as you're thinking, hold on to the original cord and caps; if someone really wants it to be a stickler for "stock" they can put them back in.

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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:18 pm
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Here's what you do. First and foremost, if you intend to play the amp and not just look at it, get a three prong cord installed. Get it recapped too. Have the tech save all the parts including the original cord and put them in a plastic bag. You can always have the old stuff reinstalled. You need to be safe when you use the amp.. If caps start to fail, you can destroy other components like the power and output transformers. Then you have nothing. Blackface Champs are great, but they'll never reach the huge sums of money like vintage guitars did. Even original 57 Champs don't go much more than a grand.

I would enjoy the amp if it were me. It's useless if it makes all kinds of noise. From what I understand, new caps and resistors, don't devalue an amp but transformers do.

Have fun with it. :wink:


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