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Post subject: Champion 110 potentiometer problem [RESOLVED]
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 11:20 am
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Hello all,

I'm new on this forum so first thank you for reading me and maybe helping me.

I have for more than 10years now the fender champion 110 for playing room guitar.

I like a lot this amplifier who have a great sound for his cost and work very good with good pedal effects.

The problem i have is that the clean volume potentiometer did not work right, even at "0" minimum, the sound is loud and i have to use a pedal volume to moderate it , but i don't like to use this kind of pedal. This problem is recurrent on this amplifier model.

So my question is, can i change this potentiometer in order to have no volume at 0 graduation and a moderate volume level in the first 0/3 graduation ?
If i can do it, can you tell me what type of potentiometer i have to buy?
This changing will modify the sound of my amplifier?
And then where can i found a fender technician in France who could make this modification?

Thank you very much for your help.

Chess'


Last edited by chessou on Sun Nov 18, 2012 9:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Champion 110 potentiometer problem
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 11:39 am
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chessou wrote:
Hello all,

I'm new on this forum so first thank you for reading me and maybe helping me.

I have for more than 10years now the fender champion 110 for playing room guitar.

I like a lot this amplifier who have a great sound for his cost and work very good with good pedal effects.

The problem i have is that the clean volume potentiometer did not work right, even at "0" minimum, the sound is loud and i have to use a pedal volume to moderate it , but i don't like to use this kind of pedal. This problem is recurrent on this amplifier model.

So my question is, can i change this potentiometer in order to have no volume at 0 graduation and a moderate volume level in the first 0/3 graduation ?
If i can do it, can you tell me what type of potentiometer i have to buy?
This changing will modify the sound of my amplifier?
And then where can i found a fender technician in France who could make this modification?

Thank you very much for your help.

Chess'


Bonjour. I'm glad to hear that there's another Champion 110 fan out there. Mine does the exact same thing. With the clean volume at 0, the sound is comfortable playing level with my strat. If I want to play quietly or use humbuckers though I have to roll back the guitar's volume knob or use a pedal. It seems to be getting worse as the amp ages.

I've thought about replacing the potentiometer and I don't think it would be all that difficult to do. The specs for the pot are on the back of it. But I agree it's safest to have a tech do it both so the amp doesn't break and you don't get electrocuted. The pots look pretty standard to me and any guitar tech should know how to get one or have one in the shop.

In the end I've decided to leave it as is for now. I think it sounds better with a little volume and the guitar rolled back than with the guitar on 10 and the amp made quiet. I've also had the circuit board out once already and am not eager to try it again.

I agree with you too this amp sounds great clean and takes pedals really well. The distortion sounds I get with a Dirty Rat are my favorite. I've also changed out the speaker to an Eminence Lil Buddy, which gave it a more powerful sound with a lot more bass and smoother treble. Good luck.


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Post subject: Re: Champion 110 potentiometer problem
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 12:07 pm
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Wayne2 wrote:
Bonjour. I'm glad to hear that there's another Champion 110 fan out there. Mine does the exact same thing. With the clean volume at 0, the sound is comfortable playing level with my strat. If I want to play quietly or use humbuckers though I have to roll back the guitar's volume knob or use a pedal. It seems to be getting worse as the amp ages.

I've thought about replacing the potentiometer and I don't think it would be all that difficult to do. The specs for the pot are on the back of it. But I agree it's safest to have a tech do it both so the amp doesn't break and you don't get electrocuted. The pots look pretty standard to me and any guitar tech should know how to get one or have one in the shop.

In the end I've decided to leave it as is for now. I think it sounds better with a little volume and the guitar rolled back than with the guitar on 10 and the amp made quiet. I've also had the circuit board out once already and am not eager to try it again.

I agree with you too this amp sounds great clean and takes pedals really well. The distortion sounds I get with a Dirty Rat are my favorite. I've also changed out the speaker to an Eminence Lil Buddy, which gave it a more powerful sound with a lot more bass and smoother treble. Good luck.


Thank you Wayne 2 for your answer.

I will maybe let my father do it because i'm afraid of the price to make it by a technician, but if could find a technician near of my home i will ask how he will take.

I will check what is the type of the pots, if i can i will replace it by a Fender pots...
I will give more explanation if i do it. :wink:

If someone have more details or have already done this modification...???


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Post subject: Re: Champion 110 potentiometer problem
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 12:23 pm
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chessou wrote:
Thank you Wayne 2 for your answer.

I will maybe let my father do it because i'm afraid of the price to make it by a technician, but if could find a technician near of my home i will ask how he will take.

I will check what is the type of the pots, if i can i will replace it by a Fender pots...
I will give more explanation if i do it. :wink:

If someone have more details or have already done this modification...???


I replaced some transistors in mine once. My understanding is that it's very similar to the Champion 30 schematic http://support.fender.com/schematics/gu ... ematic.pdf

The normal volume potentiometer is R22, which is marked 50k15A VOLUME, for what that's worth.

Also consider using an eq pedal like the MXR 10 band to keep the volume down. It has level and gain sliders. I have one and it's a nice pedal for other purposes too and gives you a lot of control.


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Post subject: Re: Champion 110 potentiometer problem
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 12:55 pm
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Thanks.

I have always the schematic. On the champion 110 it is the R13, but i don't know what is it's charactéristics.

I take note for the mxr, but i will prefer change a pots what will cost less, and furthermore didn't put a new pedal (because a pedal plus a pedal plus a pedal...no end!!!).

If i found a technician, i will ask to him if he can put à FX loop in the circuit too, why not... it should be good because that's the only thing that the champion 110 did not have...

:wink:


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Post subject: Re: Champion 110 potentiometer problem
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 1:51 pm
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I'm waiting for some Pots to come in for my Fender Champion 30, which is almost the same amp, but just 5 watts louder. I ordered mine from www.musicpartsguru.com ,they have just about any part that you can think of, for any amp that fender has made in the past.


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Post subject: Re: Champion 110 potentiometer problem
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 2:18 pm
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Guitar Sam wrote:
I'm waiting for some Pots to come in for my Fender Champion 30, which is almost the same amp, but just 5 watts louder. I ordered mine from http://www.musicpartsguru.com ,they have just about any part that you can think of, for any amp that fender has made in the past.


Thanks, i will show on this site too. I'm surprise that for an old amps like the champion 110 no one post something on internet on this pots change, i search a lot but nothing, strange!


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Post subject: Re: Champion 110 potentiometer problem
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 7:06 pm
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I read good the Schematic Diagram of the Champion 110 manual, the pots for the NORMAL VOLUME is the R13 5ØKΩ 15A.

What pot you think i will use to replace it in order to have no volume at 0, linear level volume and keep crunch at high volume???

Thanks! :P


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Post subject: Re: Champion 110 potentiometer problem
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 9:36 am
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Solved!!! :D

Friend who have the incredible Fender Champion 110 and like me have this reccurent problem on the clean volume pots, i have found the solution, and it cost approximately 0$!

I open my amps in order to check the reference beside the clean volume pots (notice well: i have unplug it before).
There was no reference on it :? but i have it on the schematic diagram. I watch and it seems not to be very easy to de-weld (sorry i'm french :lol: ). So i decided to only put KF F2 special contact solution on the pots (witch is a high quality solution use in electonics industry, be carefull, it's a special solution, it can be use on all electronics system, and also when always under power, so don't use low quality solution found in supermarket). I decided to close the amps and reopen it when i will found a new pots.
I try the amps again and now, it's work perfectly!!! When i put the clean volume on 0, no sound, and the sound come more progressively when i put more power. It work now like the drive pots and like when i buy it!!!

I think this potentiometer oxydate with the time, so the only thing you have to do is to put KF special electronic anti-oxydate contact solution on it. Incredible! You have just to ask to a special technician in your city, if he's cool he will lend it for you and in 2min it's resolve. I think maybe you don't need to open the amps, put the amps in order your pots will be at the vertical, remove the button and put KF on the pots, turn it a lot and put again KF. Wait a little bit and now you can test it!

Notice well: don't open the amps if you know nothing in electricity, and if you do it please unplug it before, put power off is not sufficient. Furthermore, the KF solution i used is a special industrial product it can be use on electrical system under power, so if you are not sure of your solution please ask to a technician.

I hope i have help some guy and if you try it and it work, say it on this forum!

Thanks you very much, have a cool day!

Chess'

:wink:


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Post subject: Re: Champion 110 potentiometer problem [RESOLVED]
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 3:54 am
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There are lot of contact cleaner on the market but most of all are "cheap". Those sold at Radio Shack or other popular store. Sometime they do the job but not always. The best contact cleaner used by professional cost $20 the small can of spray.

Deoxit brand is one of the best.


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Post subject: Re: Champion 110 potentiometer problem [RESOLVED]
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 9:30 am
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That's great! I'm glad to hear it works. Did you have to open up the amp, or did you just pull the knob off and spray it in from the front?


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Post subject: Re: Champion 110 potentiometer problem [RESOLVED]
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 12:02 pm
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Wayne2 wrote:
That's great! I'm glad to hear it works. Did you have to open up the amp, or did you just pull the knob off and spray it in from the front?


:arrow:

chessou wrote:
I open my amps in order to check the reference beside the clean volume pots [...] i decided to only put KF F2 special contact solution on the pots [...] I decided to close the amps [...] try the amps again and now, it's work perfectly!!!

[...] I think maybe you don't need to open the amps.


I spray directly on the pot, i think the pots oxydate, so we need to do it sometime, next time i try in the front directly :P .

Pict of the pot with the amp open:
Image


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