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Post subject: Replacement Caps for 66-69 Vibro Champ
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:40 am
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I have this somewhere late 60's Vibro Champ with a silver face and aluminum frame around grill clothe if that says anything about it's age. It's a shocker though. Has original grey 2 prong power chord and is noisy. Since it's believed to be all original and close to new condition I've been hesitant to replace or modify anything. For the ground I'm thinking of adding a separate ground lead from the chassis to the wall socket. But besides that a local amp tech (skill level unknown) told me I might be able to get a capacitor kit from Fender. Anyone know where/how to find that? Again I'm hesitant to change anything on it since it's presumed to be all original. Even has Telefunken 12AX7 preamp tube, Telefunken tremo tube amd RCA 6L6. This amp has been rarely used and has been on the top shelf in closet for most of 40 years.
Any suggestions?
:?


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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 5:06 pm
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Hi Tobias, sounds like you have a collector grade '68. I guess it's up to you to decide, if it's for collecting or playing purposes. If you're going to use the amp, then some of the components will have to be replaced. Very much like necessary maintenance on a car(new oil & air filters, plugs, etc). The replacement parts are like anything else along these lines, there are different quality components to be had. The labor is similar, I wouldn't take my '68 Volvo to a Chevy dealer. You know what I mean? Oh yeah that ground hook-up, I'd try a 16AWG wire with solderless eyelets on both ends. Attaching one end to the clamp claw screw of the 5Y3 tube, and the other end to a grounded screw on the wall outlet. Art

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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 3:54 am
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I agree with you aclempoppi.

It'a 68 amp. The only year they put aluminium trim.

About the ac wire. If the original 2 conductor go throught the panel with a pressure grommet, Maybe you can you replace with a 3 conductors wire with another grommet without damaging original parts.

You may have to make a bigger hole in the new plastic grommet for your 3 conductor wire to fit in the same hole.

You keep original 2 conductors wire and old grommet for collector need and you are a safe amp


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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:01 pm
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I'm only going to use it for playing as I have been. I'm not a collector but it's one of the coolest things I own. I've had it for about 4 years and got it from the original owner who says he bought it brand new at the Fender Store somewhere in Southern California. He never really learned how to play and kept the amp on the top shelf of his closet. I did some restoration on his (original owner) 1962 Factory ordered Chevy Impala and he discovered I was a guitar player and showed it to me. I bugged him for a year until he finally let it go to me around 4 years ago. I've taken it to church gigs about 8 times max and have always been extremely gentle with it. Especially when setting it down on the metal buttons. It's a little noisy but not terrible but if the other musicians touched me or my guitar they'd get zapped pretty bad. If I have to modify it to get cleaner sound/recordings and that modification drops the value to a collector I'd rather sell it to a collector for a good price and get myself a good vocal pre amp and/or a decent acoustic electric guitar. I have a Super Champ XD for my guitars and a Champ 25 Special for harmonica plus a few other amps that I use more often.
I've seen these little Vibro Champ on Ebay for over $400 in not nearly as good of shape and not all original tubes, speaker, etc.. This ones never been serviced or repaired and is all original aside from 1 little scratch on the aluminum face. Never been around smoky rooms either. Do you know a collector that wants it?


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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:15 pm
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HeyTobias, no offense meant by my Volvo-Chevy analogy. The collector, I used to work for, is no longer investing in the amp collection. So I can't offer any direct help. But I would consider using the Vintage Guitar Magazine classified section, if you're not in a hurry. As far as using the amp goes, I'd try that auxillary ground line off the 5Y3 socket screw to a known ground. Some contact cleaner on the tube pins and pots(speaker plug, if it has one) would be all that I would touch. Yeah, I play in church too, but just a mic'd old Guild(gospel- bluegrass). Art

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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 8:11 pm
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If it's similar to the Princeton, your filter caps are in a cylindrical cannister, referred to as a "cap can."

agree on modding can damage amp IF mod is irreversible a good amp tech can swap in a new can with new electrolytic capacitors and add a proper three-pronged ground cord and save the old pieces. That way you have a safe, quiet vintage amp that sounds great and still will maintain its vintage value; for purists, they can restore the cap can and cord back to period-correct stock with the parts you saved.

Just my $0.02. Great amp!

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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 8:54 pm
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Yeah, I'm with you Ned on the proper work and maintenance, if Tobias wants to play the amp regularly. But I was thinking about his amp as an untouched example, and I see it as a hard call. Art

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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:25 pm
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Art - agree with you - tough call on a true "closet classic."

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
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Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


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