It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 3:53 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: VibroChamp XD Problems
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:24 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:21 pm
Posts: 5
Okay, I'm just an occasional jammer who has a little 5 amp vibrochamp xd that I fiddle with in my bedroom. I have had a lot of fun with the amp, but today, I heard a pop, and now all the amp does is hum. I have never tried to repair an amp, and this is the first amp that I have had that has had tubes. I checked the fuse, and it seems to be intact, but what do i know.
So I was wondering, does this sound like I blew a tube, and if so, which one?


Last edited by InvictusManeo on Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: VibroChamp Problems
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:34 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2010 12:00 pm
Posts: 1389
First take care, unplug your amp before any manipulation due to lethal voltage in valve amplifiers.
Does you amp hum without guitar plugged in?

Does your supply plug has 2 or 3 pins ?

I know 2 kind of vibrochamp Blackface (AA764 + oscillator connected on the cathode of V1b) and the Silverface (? I never see the schematic, Retro could help I believe), which one is it ?

It could be a valve but also a cap that is unconnected due to a bad solder joints.
If you have no experience in electronics, it should be better to contact a tech.

_________________
Tissan

*'52 Telecaster RI, '57 Stratocaster RI, Gibson ES175 RI, Washburn Hawk 1980, Epiphone Casino MIK 2000, 57' Deluxe Knotty Alder, BDRI ...*
https://soundcloud.com/pierrou
http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzenfamille


Last edited by Tis-san on Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:52 pm, edited 3 times in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: VibroChamp Problems
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:41 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:21 pm
Posts: 5
Thanks for the reply and thanks for the reminder about unplugging before fiddling. I did unplug before poking around, but only just. You never can be too safe.

I just turned the amp back on, and it is quiet for about 15 seconds, and then starts to hum. It has always had a bit of a hum, even without plugging a guitar in. But there is no change when you plug in the guitar, just the same hum.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: VibroChamp Problems
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:42 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:21 pm
Posts: 5
oh, and this is a blackface VibroChamp xd purchased new about 2 years ago.


Last edited by InvictusManeo on Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: VibroChamp Problems
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:59 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
InvictusManeo wrote:
purchased new about 2 years ago.


The 5-year warranty is your friend.

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: Re: VibroChamp Problems
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:01 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Do you have any idea when (if ever) the filter cap can on the power supply was last changed? Sounds like you may need a "50,000 mile" cap change. FWIW... new cap cans are still available for the Vibro Champ. AES carries a couple of brands in the value range of the VC.

Wait... you bought this amp NEW two years ago? Oh boy! Sure helps to read the post COMPLETELY before making a complete idiot of myself.

Yeah, follow Arjay's lead. Warranty. You may wish to try some contact cleaner on the tubes and sockets. Sometimes, a little oxidized goobah gets bewteen the contacts and causes noises. Worth a try, if you have a can...

http://tubesandmore.com/


Last edited by BMW2002Ti on Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: VibroChamp Problems
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:05 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2010 12:00 pm
Posts: 1389
If it is an old ??? product???, handwired, I do recommand to contact a tech, otherwise as Retro said, a new product is 5 years under warranty !

_________________
Tissan

*'52 Telecaster RI, '57 Stratocaster RI, Gibson ES175 RI, Washburn Hawk 1980, Epiphone Casino MIK 2000, 57' Deluxe Knotty Alder, BDRI ...*
https://soundcloud.com/pierrou
http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzenfamille


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: VibroChamp XD Problems
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:18 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2010 12:00 pm
Posts: 1389
I didn't read "XD" --> warranty :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink:

_________________
Tissan

*'52 Telecaster RI, '57 Stratocaster RI, Gibson ES175 RI, Washburn Hawk 1980, Epiphone Casino MIK 2000, 57' Deluxe Knotty Alder, BDRI ...*
https://soundcloud.com/pierrou
http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzenfamille


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: VibroChamp XD Problems
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:24 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:21 pm
Posts: 5
I called fender in regards to the warranty. They said that the amp has a 5yr warranty, but the tubes are only warrantied for 90 days.

Is there any way I can tell if the tubes are bad without having to lug the amp to the warranty center which is probably about a 45min drive away from my house?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: VibroChamp XD Problems
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:36 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Do you know of anyone nearby that has a set of spare tubes? Same flavor that came in the amp. Doesn't have to be same manufacturer. If you can find some good tubes, swap them into the amp one-at-a-time. Should be able to narrow down the culprit (and you don't even need a stinkin' DVM or tube tester).

Try the contact cleaner, in any event. Darn spray usually fixes half of the problems that crawls up onto the work bench.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: VibroChamp XD Problems
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:24 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:54 pm
Posts: 49
For about $34 you can get new tubes, and they are something that need periodic replacing anyway, so why not just buy some new tubes?

Here is one place that sells them.

http://thetubestore.com/sba-fender-vibro-champ.html


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: VibroChamp XD Problems
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:28 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 12:13 am
Posts: 1174
The 5 yr warranty is your best bet. The XD is not like a vintage amp with tubes, it has a lot of other "electronics" that could go bad. Let Fender pay for the tubes and any repairs. If it's not the tubes you'll need to use the warranty any way.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: VibroChamp XD Problems
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:30 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:21 pm
Posts: 5
I took the amp to a fender authorized repair center as was recommended here. The guy working there said that the they are not supposed to do any work on the VibroChamp XD. He contacted Fender about it and they are sending a new amp my way. They say the tubes only have a 90 day warranty and it is likely that they are causing the problems, but I guess thats not my problem if they are sending out a new amp anyway. Thanks for all of the help and recommendations you guys have given. Before posting here I was assuming it had only a 1 year warranty, so you guys definitely saved me some time and scratch.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: VibroChamp XD Problems
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:37 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Post a sitrep once the new amp arrives.

I hope your fortunes are better this time.

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: Re: VibroChamp XD Problems
Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 10:21 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2011 9:41 am
Posts: 1
I am wondering what the voltages off the main transformer are suppose to be?
Transformer 620G Voltages i am getting unhooked
Green to green 7.5 volts
Brown to brown 9.5 volts
Red to red 310 volts
blue to yellow 17.8 volts
blue to yellow 17.8 volts


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: