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Post subject: Red knob Champ 12 Mods, upgrades?
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 9:42 pm
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Hello all,
I'm kinda the new guy I guess and I am just learning to play, or I should say been just learning for the last few years. I've also been studying tube amps for a lil while but, I've read enough here to know there are folks here that are top knotch, in the field. I got a great deal on an American made Strat, the seial number starts off Z4 so that mean's it was made in 2004, but it has no 50th. Anniv. markings. Regardless its a great sounding ax. Id like to know if anyone can tell Me what pups came in the plain American Standard Strat in 2004.
Also part of the deal was a red knob champ 12 that on clean sounds pretty good to Me but the reverb I intend to adjust per the shematic, and I've ordered the Torres mods for the original Mod, the gain and volumn pot mods, and the adjustable bias kits. I've also looked at the Ray Ivers Mods schems, and wondered what it would result in tone wise? I'm also thinking of maybe a new speaker Weber 12A125, or Jenson P12R? WHat say you good folks? Any help and advise is apreciated except throw it in the trash, I hope. Thank you, in advance.









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Post subject: Re: Red knob Champ 12 Mods, upgrades?
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 9:54 pm
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The single-ended Champ 12 is self (cathode) biased -- I think an aftermarket bias-mod kit would be pissing into the wind IMO.

As for a speaker upgrade, the best-suited driver will favor your playing style. For traditional blues and rock, the Weber 12A125 would be ideal-- as would a vintage (made in Chicago) Jensen C12Q. If your tastes run to more modern rock genres, I'd recommend the Celestion Vintage 30 or a blackframe Kendrick. Another possibility is one of the new offerings from WGS though I have not yet personally tried one. Supposedly, they sonically resemble the Celestion V30.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Red knob Champ 12 Mods, upgrades?
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 10:19 pm
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Hi Copperhead69,

The Z4 was used from 2004 to early 2005, so it seems that it might be a 2005 model since it has no 50th Ann markings.

Adjustable bias? The Champ 12 is Cathode biased, single output tube amp, and unless you want to use another type of tube like a KT66, or 6V6 or something other than a 6L6, an adjustable bias is unnecessary. Do you really want to change the sound of the amp by using another output tube type?

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Post subject: Re: Red knob Champ 12 Mods, upgrades?
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 10:58 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
Adjustable bias? The Champ 12 is Cathode biased, single output tube amp, and unless you want to use another type of tube like a KT66, or 6V6 or something other than a 6L6, an adjustable bias is unnecessary. Do you really want to change the sound of the amp by using another output tube type?


That is apparently the purpose of this mod kit:

http://torresengineering.stores.yahoo.n ... 12red.html

The total cost of the mods that the OP is considering is $100 plus labor. Personally, I would recommend selling the Champ as is and putting the money towards a newer amp like maybe a Blues Jr.

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Post subject: Re: Red knob Champ 12 Mods, upgrades?
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:17 am
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I guess retroverbial is right about the cathode bias amp and the adjustable bias mod being an unnessecary. I was thinking of maybe trying a 5881 as well as the 6L6. I like the tone of the 6L6 but, I've read that the 5881s which I know are the same class of tube as 6L6, but apparently have some tone differences. I didn't know they would not need bias adjusted, or not, to swap from 6L6-5881. Is it just a simple swap tubes and yes I am going for the bluesy tweedish sound.
Has anyone had experience with the orriginal Torres Mod kit, and the difference it makes, or the Ray Ivers Mods?
I also read that guitar could be a 2005 with a Z4 serial number, any idea what pups these would have had or features? So that makes Me thinks maybe a set of pups like CS54's, or fat 50's, could be in order for the future, what you Fellas think?
Thanks in advance.


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Post subject: Re: Red knob Champ 12 Mods, upgrades?
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:02 am
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I am a big fan (and user) of the Fat '50s pickups. They positively growl through my '64 Vibroverb.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Red knob Champ 12 Mods, upgrades?
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:11 am
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+1 on the Fat 50s. They sound great on a '74 Vibro Champ also. The Am Std pups are usually their own unique style, sort of "plain-jane" pups that sound decent, unless you got something special such as in the 2012 Am Std that comes with Fat 50s stock. BTW, with this particular amp, Cathode biased Champ 12, the modern 5881s should drop right in place of the 6L6 with no adjustment needed.

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Post subject: Re: Red knob Champ 12 Mods, upgrades?
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 12:04 am
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shimmilou wrote:
BTW, with this particular amp, Cathode biased Champ 12, the modern 5881s should drop right in place of the 6L6 with no adjustment needed.


+1

Just be certain that your 5881 is a modern re-issue tube. The vintage bottle will never survive a B+ in excess of 400VDC (the Champ 12's typical plate voltage approaches 480VDC).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Red knob Champ 12 Mods, upgrades?
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 12:11 am
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Thank you all for your input. I think I'm going to be ordering some fat 50's soon. Do they come with pots and a tone cap? If not, any suggestions for some good crunchy sweet blues?
Nobody hip to the mods I listed for the Champ 12, or there results? Well except the obvious, that that the cathode biased critter don't need adjustable bias. Thanks for that one. The 5881 is the only other tube I had thought of trying because I read that Eric Clapton preferred their tone in some of His amps. I also do like the smooth break-up of the 6L6. I truly do apreciate all I learn here and you folk's help.


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Post subject: Re: Red knob Champ 12 Mods, upgrades?
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 12:17 am
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The Fat '50s set furnishes only the pickups. They require standard 250K volume and tone pots, which your guitar likely already has. I'm fond of the Vitamin Q paper-in-oil .022 ufd tone cap from Mojotone but a .033ufd or .047ufd might also yield excellent sonic results. These pickups come stock with white covers but any of Fender's accessory parts may be used to coordinate the visual vibe with the other plastic on your Strat.

HTH

Arjay

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