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Post subject: fender champion 100
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 4:48 pm
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I don't know if anyone will ever read this but I have a serious complaint that I doubt will ever be acted upon.

Here is the scenario. An almost brand new champion 100 that has hardly been used turns up at my workshop as dead. It comes from a University and sees only sporadic use during the year and although it is outside its warranty looks like it is straight out of the box. As a design exercise I am sure Fender are very pleased with it. Practically no analog electronics carrying good old analog signals in the entire box.

So we have a switch mode power supply. One of the most destructive and worthless designs ever put together as many other manufacturers will confirm (look at the number of failed active pa speakers that there are that end up beyond economic repair!) which will guarantee when it fails will take out the rest of the attached circuitry. In this case it doesn't save power consumption as the whole amp draws the same 310 va as the earlier models so there is no saving in this respect.
We also have a single chip output amp which as it is on the same board as the SMPSU means that if you manage to get a spare from Fender you will be paying for bits that may not necessarily be faulty. I dread to think what Fender will want to charge for a complete board but it is unlikely to be less than half the price of a new amp making its failure almost a worthless repair.
And what if the failure of the PSU has killed the front panel and all that DSP technology? The last Fender I had in with this sort of stuff in it was the Frontman DSP which had to be written off because Fender say they never break down so we don't have spares! Wonderful!

So what is it worth? At the moment about £100 as spares i.e. the case and speakers. The case and the speakers are like new and the DSP and front panel circuit board could be okay so with a little bit of work I could build a proper old fashioned power supply and see if it runs. If it does it is likely going to be 100 times more reliable than with the existing power unit. Unless Fender are supplying a spare part at a sensible price of say £50 inc P&P and VAT then people will cut their losses and buy something else from another manufacturer. Meanwhile this is likely to end up in a recycling center.

What a waste!

This sort of design is fine in the lab but in the real world is fraught with far too many reliability issues which if Fender are not able to provide replacement boards to fix then Fender and its reputation will slip into the dark corners.

As a freelance engineer with over 40 years experience I see all sorts of commercial errors which only result in some very disgruntled customers. I am sure Fender will sell loads of these but there will be a backlash down the line when they all end up on the junk pile!

You will obviously not publish this message. It is a straight forward observation which I am sure you could do something about!


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Post subject: Re: fender champion 100
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 5:46 pm
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I share your sentiments regarding all chicom-made amps......

Image

:evil:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: fender champion 100
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 6:41 pm
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Agreed! And maybe one of the most abhorrent things is to use the name "Champion" on it. Probably one of the most reliable amps Fender ever made.

This could even almost rival putting the names of the Deluxe, Super, Twin, etc., onto those first Solid State POS's they served up.
:evil:
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Post subject: Re: fender champion 100
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 11:15 pm
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What kind of a technician are you. Can't you fix a switching power supply. Check the start up resistors. It's called modern electronics. I agree, it may be difficult to fix for some. I guess after 40 years all you want are tubes, caps, and resistors. Think about retirement, don't judge. If you can't fix it send it to Fender. And if you can fix it-

You have a great sounding amp. Two Fender 12" speakers with a good size cabinet. It does sound good.
Brush up on your electronics skills, don't order the board, order the discrete parts you need.


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Post subject: Re: fender champion 100
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 1:53 am
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+1 jackhammer

You don't even say what the problem is, yet you trash the entire line of amps because you can't figure it out?

This is humorous:

quote = Practically no analog electronics carrying good old analog signals in the entire box.

Practically the whole amp is analog, with the DSP section the only exception.

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Post subject: Re: fender champion 100
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 8:02 am
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I was being harsh, excuse me. I agree, it might be difficult to repair, and the cost of repair a consideration.
Hopefully Fender does support their products, so one can always send it to the mfg for repair. Fender offers a warranty and apparently have repair centers.

I own a Champion 100. I got it new for a great price.
I think the amp sounds great.

shimmilou's got a good point, it could be a simple problem, lets hope. Check the fuse.


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Post subject: Re: fender champion 100
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 8:29 am
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This sounds like a warranty issue rather than a DYI repair. That model was introduced about 18 months ago. At least in my case, Fender took care of a defective Champion 100 with zero questions asked.

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Post subject: Re: fender champion 100
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 12:29 pm
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jackhammer wrote:
Hopefully Fender does support their products, so one can always send it to the mfg for repair. Fender offers a warranty and apparently have repair centers.


Fender doesn't "fix" these things -- they never have. If/when these amps crash and burn within the term of the warranty, they merely give the customer a new replacement and hook-shot the dead one into the nearest convenient dumpster.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: fender champion 100
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 5:09 pm
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I have already fixed it. So I do not need lessons in how to repair things thanks very much. It is still not a good amp. And no most of the pre is dsp.


shimmilou wrote:
+1 jackhammer

You don't even say what the problem is, yet you trash the entire line of amps because you can't figure it out?

This is humorous:

quote = Practically no analog electronics carrying good old analog signals in the entire box.

Practically the whole amp is analog, with the DSP section the only exception.


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Post subject: Re: fender champion 100
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 6:51 pm
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Well, if you just want to rant, might I suggest the facebook section of the forum, known as the Lounge?

Or you might be helpful here, and let us know what you did to fix the amp. :idea:

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