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Post subject: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 3:04 am
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Hi.

I just purchased a Champion 600 through eBay, the 'Little Blondie' version. I like the tone a lot, but just thought I'd post here to try and clear something up. Obviously I expect the amp to be quiet considering its low wattage and small speaker, but I have to dial in about 5 on the volume on Hi-Gain until I can hear anything.
Therefore I was just wondering if there is any more potential to be had, is it normal for there to be no volume before hitting this range.
If it isn't normal, what could the problem be? I don't have any humming or buzzing of any kind by the way. Is it possible I need new tubes, or specifically new 6v6? Everything seems to be completely stock.

I'm a complete noob with amplifiers, so any help is appreciated! :) Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 3:24 am
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5 watts amp , you may hear something before volume at 5 .

New tubes are the first thing to try .
If tubes are good , trouble in power supply ? Speaker ?

Buy on e bay , ask the seller a refund or lower price


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 3:28 am
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stratele52 wrote:
5 watts amp , you may hear something before volume at 5 .

New tubes are the first thing to try .
If tubes are good , trouble in power supply ? Speaker ?

Buy on e bay , ask the seller a refund or lower price


+1

As well, if the tubes were removed for safekeeping during shipment, be sure that you've correctly re-installed them and that they are fully seated in their respective sockets.

Arjay

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"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


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 3:56 am
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Thanks for the replies. The tubes were not removed and came installed with the guitar. Could this problem be caused by the tubes being out of position or something? Or perhaps damaged on shipment (bear in mind, I still get a sound from the amp and no buzzing/humming).

Just received this reply from the seller, who confirms that something has changed with regards to the volume:

Quote:
In direct answer to your question, I have not know it to be like that. I was playing it the other day and it was the same as it always is, that is to say there was an audible sound from 1 upwards and it was pretty loud (i.e. shaking the table level) at maximum.

There is only two things i can suggest. Firstly, (and massive apologies in advance in case you are an experienced player) have you turned the volume knob on your guitar up? You could replace the tubes, I have not exactly played that amp to death (I also have a VOX AC30) so I don't think it is because the tubes are knackered. I suppose they could have been knocked in transit. How knowledgeable are you with valve amps? It may be worth taking into a local guitar shop for them to have a quick look at it and give a diagnosis.


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:55 pm
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everythingisone,

check tubes as Retroverbial write


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 3:05 pm
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I checked the tubes. The Black tube (6v6) appears to glow. I think it is the 12ay7, or the tube with the metal cover that doesn't glow at all, in the same place underneath where the black tube glows. Is this supposed to glow?


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 3:17 pm
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everythingisone wrote:
I checked the tubes. The Black tube (6v6) appears to glow. I think it is the 12ay7, or the tube with the metal cover that doesn't glow at all, in the same place underneath where the black tube glows. Is this supposed to glow?



Both must glow , look in the dark . If 12AX7 do not work ( glow ) you wont have any sound .

Tubes always glows ( if they are sitting in their socket :lol: ) This do not mean they are good ,

It is not a bulb light .


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 3:29 pm
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On closer inspection it glows, just a lot more subtle.

I get sound.. but I can't hear any sound at low volume levels, definitely not audible at level 1 as the seller suggested.

What could of happened in transit to cause this loss of volume?

Are there any more specific ideas about what the problem might be?


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 6:48 pm
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" I think it is the 12ay7. "

I think this should be a 12AX7. 12AY7 maybe too low gain for this amp. Not enough swing to drive that 6V6GT.

Try that. Good luck.


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 1:04 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
" I think it is the 12ay7. "

I think this should be a 12AX7. 12AY7 maybe too low gain for this amp. Not enough swing to drive that 6V6GT.

Try that. Good luck.


+1
schematic said it is a 12AX7


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 2:20 am
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Yeah it is a 12ax7, it was late and couldn't read it properly. Anyway, I'm not 100% sure the silver tube (I assume the 12ax7) is seated correctly as it does wiggle a bit out and in (though not sure if this is just normal). I'm starting to think however this could be a problem with my guitar, being a complete noob to guitar related maintenance, I've just remembered that I haven't changed the 9v battery for my EMG pickups ever (bought in 2006), so it could be that these are dying out. Also I've got an issue with the input jack where the cable only works halfway in, so I'll fix that later, add a new 9v battery and if that doesn't help, I'm getting a MIM standard later day so I'll be able to make sure of this!


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 3:23 am
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Yeah ,,, you must have a good working guitar , and cable and....before supect the amp.

Don't you have another amp ? Don't you use your guitar before ?


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 6:04 am
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No other amp, I have been using the guitar on my PC with Amplitube and it has worked fine.


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 12:25 pm
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everythingisone wrote:
No other amp, I have been using the guitar on my PC with Amplitube and it has worked fine.



Check your guitar with your PC . Can you say if guitar volume is too low with Amplitude ?


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Post subject: Re: Troubleshooting Fender Champion 600 - Help!
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 4:13 pm
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All solved. It was the battery for the pickups. DOH! Just got a MIM strat and it sounds fantastic through the amp. Very happy 8) .


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