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Post subject: Fender Champion 30 Help ?
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 6:43 am
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Hi guys. I have a Fender Champion 30 combo which I really do like. I got it in a trade a few weeks ago and while the clean channel is very powerful and sounds great, the Gain channel seems to have lost a bit of it's punch. For example, I only have to turn the clean channel on 1 and the walls in my house are shaking, while I have to turn the Gain channel on to at least 3-4 just to get to the level that I just described with the clean channel. I hardly ever use the Gain because I'm using a Digitech RP-50 effects processor through it, but at times I do like to play direct without it and would like to have the Gain channel the same as the clean. Is there anything I can do to resolve this issue ? I did check the pot and there doesn't seem to be any short in it.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 30 Help ?
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 7:53 am
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You have to use BOTH the gain control AND drive volume (master volume) control to set the levels that you want.

http://support.fender.com/schematics/gu ... ematic.pdf

http://support.fender.com/manuals/guita ... manual.pdf

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 30 Help ?
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 10:01 am
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Bluesky, the Clean and Gain Volume controls on this amp are two separate entities and have nothing in common. There is no master volume on this amp. I do have a copy of both the manual and the schematics and I don't see anything referring to that on either.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 30 Help ?
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 10:45 am
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I suggest you reread the owner's manual and look at the schematic again because you clearly do not understand how to use the controls.

C. NORMAL VOLUME - Adjusts the overall
loudness of the NORMAL CHANNEL.

D. GAIN - adjusts the amount of preamp
amplification in the DRIVE CHANNEL. Cleaner sound is
achieved at lower gain settings; high gain settings
will produce more sustain and distortion. This
control works in conjunction with the DRIVE VOLUME
control (item F) to set the overall loudness of the
DRIVE CHANNEL.

F. DRIVE VOLUME - Adjusts the overall loudness of
the DRIVE CHANNEL.

The drive volume is the master volume control for the drive channel. That is how the amp is designed as you will see in the schematic.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 30 Help ?
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 1:05 pm
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Bluesky, i double checked again and raising the gain level does not increase the volume on that channel at all. I'm thinking that maybe the Pot on the Volume for that channel could be suspect and may be worn out. I just contacted Music Parts Guru and ordered a whole new set of pots for the entire amp just to be safe. They contacted Fender and were able to find out which ones I need for my amp. Better to be safe than sorry.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 30 Help ?
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 3:49 pm
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You have to turn up the drive volume also.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 30 Help ?
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 6:52 pm
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If it's at all like the Champion 110, the pots are probably screwy. On mine the normal channel is louder than it should be, so much so that 0 is quiet practice volume, and 1-2 is loud, and beyond that I don't go.

I'm not sure why it's a big deal to you but if replacing the pots fixes it please let me know. One of these days maybe I'll get inspired to do the same.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 30 Help ?
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 3:47 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
You have to turn up the drive volume also.

Did you not read what I posted ? I did turn up the Gain volume and it's still not as loud as the Volume as that on the Clean Channel. That is why I ordered a set of all new pots for the amp.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 30 Help ?
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:48 am
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Guitar Sam wrote:
bluesky636 wrote:
You have to turn up the drive volume also.

Did you not read what I posted ? I did turn up the Gain volume and it's still not as loud as the Volume as that on the Clean Channel. That is why I ordered a set of all new pots for the amp.


And did YOU not read what I posted? You have TWO controls in the drive channel that interact with each other: the GAIN control and the DRIVE volume. BOTH must be adjusted to match the overall level that you get from the single clean volume control.

Since you clearly do not understand how your amp operates, I'm done trying to explain it to you. Have fun replacing what are probably perfectly good pots. :roll:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 30 Help ?
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:15 pm
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hmm this really isn't all that complicated between the notes in the manual and playing around with all three knobs for five minutes I'm sure Guitar Sam understands how this amp works.

BTW, if you think this amp is good now, try putting in a better speaker. Man. Fender really knew what they were doing with these guys. Sure the pots may be cheesy but they put money into the cabinet and circuitry.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 30 Help ?
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:40 pm
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Wayne2 wrote:
hmm this really isn't all that complicated between the notes in the manual and playing around with all three knobs for five minutes I'm sure Guitar Sam understands how this amp works.


He certainly hasn't proven it as he seems to only recognize and talk about two of the three knobs. But I really don't care anymore.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Champion 30 Help ?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 3:52 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
Wayne2 wrote:
hmm this really isn't all that complicated between the notes in the manual and playing around with all three knobs for five minutes I'm sure Guitar Sam understands how this amp works.


He certainly hasn't proven it as he seems to only recognize and talk about two of the three knobs. But I really don't care anymore.

Bluesky I do understand what you are talking about and I am glad that I ordered the new Pots. I had a friend of mine over yesterday who is very proficient in amplifier repair and after taking the circuit board out and looking at it. he confirmed that my suspicions were indeed correct.
It seems that along with the Volumn Pot on the Gain channel, the one for the Clean has a major short in it along with the Reverb as well, also not to mention that there are only 3 spacers on the entire front panel on the amp as well.
I went to Guitar Center last night and bought a package of Fender spacers for the amp which did fit, thank god. Now I just have to wait for the Pots which should be in by next week. I also bought a new Eminence Rajun Cajun 10" Speaker for it as well which was a mojor improvement also.


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