CHAMP ELECTRONICS -" THE VINTAGE VALVE AMP HOSPITAL"

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND

 

    SERVICING A FENDER VIBRO CHAMP COMBO

 

 

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This came all the way from Wales, UK, owned by a gentleman, Ged. On his initial phone call, Ged explained that there was a loud hum and also that he couldn’t seem to get the tremolo foot-switch to work?


 

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When I powered her up she came on fine…..no hum and, throughout all the testing there was never a hum! I think Ged had a guitar lead problem!
 


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Moving on to the foot-switch problem, and a close examination of the underside soon got to the root of the problem.


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The RCA (phono) tremolo foot-switch socket had never been wired…….from new! Can you spot the genuine piece of Fender “white wire” [ha-ha] that I ripped from a scrap chassis I have lying around?
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The chassis mounted; RCA (phono) tremolo foot-switch socket…….has never been soldered too! Nice, simple, straight-forward job…………Done!




Copy of the Email received from Ged, the owner of the Vibro Champ, after he had received it back from me:
"Hello John,
 
The Vibrochamp really does sound good now, all buzzes and crackles have been banished, and it's sitting happily on top my Cornford Harly. A combined 12 watts that sounds really good courtesy of a Roger Mayer Crossroads AB box to avoid earth hum. I'm dead happy. I'm still using my old leads, so I'm sure the problem must have been down to the loose strand of wire you mentioned in your email. Anyway, thanks again.
 
All the best, Ged."

Footnote to Ged's e-mail:
 
Having read Ged's e-mail/testimonial I remembered there was something else; that I had forgotten to add to the photos' text. I did find a single strand of wire, stuck between one pin of an ECC83 socket......to chassis (ground)! This could easily have been causing some problems. Below is the e-mail that I sent to Ged when the amp was finished. John.
 
"Hello again Ged, OK, all done for you now. As I said on the phone.....the foot-switch socket has never been wired in the first place!!
 
I've sorted that & now your switch & cable work fine. Also, I found a single strand of wire lying from one of the tube base pins to the chassis. I noticed the tremolo kept stopping on its own & with a loud crackle.....not sure if this was your problem but I've removed that wire too. I still think it best for you to bring a guitar and lead with you when you collect so we can be sure?
 
All the controls and valve bases have been cleaned & the amp has had a basic full service & test. All the valves are OK.

Cheers, John."

 

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