It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:50 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Missing "fuse box" on SF Champ, HELP!
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:27 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:53 pm
Posts: 4
I just rec'd a 1978 Fender Champ amp with an empty hole in the chassis where the fuse should be. I opened her up but did not find the fuse inside either. What is going on here? Would the circuit function without a fuse? Is this evidence of modification? Fire Hazard? Risk to electronics/blown amp?

Please help with some fundamental Champ circuit technical knowledge! I cannot decide whether to get a refund or to bring her in to a tech, or to leave it as is. The amp works and sounds good. (it seems a bit hot-but just got her so not sure).

:?: :cry: :? :oops:


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:50 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Removing a fuse-holder assembly from an amp is a deliberate act and nobody does that casually without some ulterior motive.

The purpose of the fuse is to protect the amp's major components within should some catastrophic failure occur. Without it, it's at the mercy of potentially lethal amounts of voltage -- lethal to both the amp and an unwary user.

That amp needs to see a compenent amp tech, and PRONTO!

Best of luck, HTH

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:04 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:53 pm
Posts: 2252
Location: Harvard IL
IMO , you should return the amp ! The amp maybe safe, but I think this exhibits some shoddy workmanship. No telling what else has been done to the amp in this fashion. There maybe a fuse relocated in the amp, but Arjay said it all with,"PRONTO". Art

_________________
None of Us are free, if One of Us is chained !


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:30 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:53 pm
Posts: 4
Much Obliged Fine Fellows!

I will take her in tomorrow and see what is going on.

It is hard for me to believe that it was a malicious act--certainly it wasn't with me in mind anyway. But the seller said he gets this stuff from a guy who goes to and from Mexico....perhaps chicken heads replaced the standard fuse box for its previous owner...who knows. The speaker appears to be a CTS from 1984 stamped "Mexico" on it (172-8409). Seller claims to have no knowledge of amps etc., but did say it should have a fuse and offered to refund when I contacted re: this. Thing is I got it thru ebay for a decent price, so to return would cost me minimum shipping back across the country, and I might not get another as cheap. So, (I hope prudence and not greed tells me) the thing to do is bring her in to the tech and see if this is the only problem and can be fixed cheap and easy. If so, great...if not then I'll return it. Guess this is a lesson on internet buying..I just kinda assumed no one would be likely to mess with a Champ since they sound so good stock. Guess they are cheap and common (especially years ago) so they can be prime trial and error material for amatuer tech's.

I need to bring in a SF Pro Reverb to be overhauled and blackfaced as well anyway.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:11 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
It still may have a fuse just with a different style holder tucked inside the amp. If you slide the chassis out you'll be able to tell. I'd still send it back if you can. There are plenty of vintage Champs around on the "Bay" that are clean and unmolested. If you got it really cheap, you pretty much got what you paid for unfortunately. It may cost a few bucks to get back into proper shape, but if the fuse is bypassed completely, there may be more trouble than it's worth. Without a fuse it is a fire/safety hazard.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:27 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:53 pm
Posts: 4
Thanks, I didn't see any fuse inside but I am less than virgin here. This is only my 2nd vintage amp. Wasn't ridiculously cheap...a good price in today's market for a good condition unmolested Champ. While it is hard for me to believe this seller is as naive as he seems to be implying, for now I will take him at his word because he appears legitimately suprised and has offered to refund. He has plenty of excellent feedback.

I am praying that the tip I got on this amp tech is accurate and he will point me in the right direction reliably. I hear he is more "scientific" and a numbers guy more than a "mojo" philosophy in style--which would be a plus in this situation. He has been around awhile and shoould be plenty familiar with Champs. But I do not need to dig this hole any deeper!

Regards. Thomas


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:22 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
You may have already checked, but some Champs have their connnections (to speaker, for instance) & the fuse holder facing downwards, on same side as the tube sockets. If you take off the top back cover you'll see it.

Sorry, if I'm being redundant.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 6:52 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:53 pm
Posts: 2252
Location: Harvard IL
Where are my manners ? Welcome to the forum, Tatittle ! Hope this all works out. Beemer, very cool. Didn't know the fuse block would be on that side of the chassis. Never seen that. So the hole could still be punched in the old location, but the fuse located underneath ? Art

_________________
None of Us are free, if One of Us is chained !


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 7:56 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
I'm curious about that myself, Art.

The only things I've ever seen on that side of a Champ chassis are the RCA jacks for the speaker output and the trem footswitch.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:09 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Thanks, guys for welcome! Most SF Champs and VC's I've had or worked on have fuse, speaker, and pedal plugs on same side as the tube (facing down.... see link).

I have worked on some BF Champs and VC with fuses and plugs on back side, like most Fenders. And yes, I have seen chassis with holes punched out for fuses and connections that were not used and placed elsewhere. I get the feeling that especially in the later stages of CBS era that they used just about any parts lying about, which would work for their amps.

I own a SF Vibro-Champ with fuse on bottom. And an early BF Champ with fuse on the back.

Note the arrows pointing to each connection/fuse in the link:


http://i.ebayimg.com/20/!B)nqvq!CGk~$(KGrHqYOKnMEvyFrzmUrBMOTmFqdt!~~0_3.JPG


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:43 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:32 pm
Posts: 329
I HAVE THE SAME AMP,IT WILL FUNCTION ,BUT SOMEONE JUST BYPASSED IT.IT'S A SAFETY FEATURE AND WOULD HAVE IT REPLACED VERY QUICKLY.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:53 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
BMW2002Ti wrote:
I own a SF Vibro-Champ with fuse on bottom.


Indeed!

I just checked my '68 Bronco and the fuse is located on the same side as the tube sockets, trannies, cap can, etc (ie: facing downward).

So that begs the question posed by the original poster. Perhaps that hole at the rear of his chassis was drilled to accommodate some now-reversed mod performed by a previous owner.

Hmm......?

Good call, bimmerman!

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 3:36 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:32 pm
Posts: 329
i would keep it,mine sounds fine too.My fuse holder was broken it was a $4 part


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 6:09 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Why anyone would bypass a fuse is beyond me. To quote an old song, when fuses blow "it's Nature's way of telling you something's wrong."


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 6:57 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
BMW2002Ti wrote:
To quote an old song, when fuses blow "it's Nature's way of telling you something's wrong."


I loved Randy California's playing.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: