Champion 600 Rebuild Thread

[Blackburn]

I decided to destroy my Fender Champion 600 as it came from Asia and am going to do right by it, building it up the way God intended. My new Silvertone made me realize just how much better this 600 could sound. I'll be using the stock trannies and I'm planning on replacing the speaker with an AlNiCo. I'll be posting my progress as I go.

David

[Colossal]

God did not intend for amps to be built in Asia

[Blackburn]

God did not intend for amps to be built in Asia

Yeah, just Chinese food...

[martin manning]

So what do you have to work with and what do you have in mind?

[Blackburn]

Not too much. Just the chassis and trannies in the pic. I'm keeping a bridge rect since it doesn't have a 5v winding, and I don't want to invest in a different PT. I'll probably do something like a 5F1, with a few tweaks here and there, like a cathode bypass switch or negative feedback switch. I'm not ordering anything except the speaker, and just using what's on hand at the moment, so I'm keeping it pretty simple. Anything will be better than the way it was. I'm open to ideas, just nothing way out there.

[Colossal]

I'm keeping a bridge rect since it doesn't have a 5v winding

Resistor in series with the BR to emulate a tube rectifier plate resistance?

[Blackburn]

I'm keeping a bridge rect since it doesn't have a 5v winding

Resistor in series with the BR to emulate a tube rectifier plate resistance?

Interesting. Have you done that before?

[Colossal]

I'm keeping a bridge rect since it doesn't have a 5v winding

Resistor in series with the BR to emulate a tube rectifier plate resistance?

Interesting. Have you done that before?

Nope, I like tube rectifiers and use them when I can. But I figured it might be a fun mod just to add a little compression. 100-220R 10W would do the trick, season to taste (or not!).

Your project reminds me, I've been hanging onto some nice Champ iron and tasty NOS for a winter day.

[Blackburn]

Resistor in series with the BR to emulate a tube rectifier plate resistance?

Interesting. Have you done that before?

Nope, I like tube rectifiers and use them when I can. But I figured it might be a fun mod just to add a little compression. 100-220R 10W would do the trick, season to taste (or not!).

Your project reminds me, I've been hanging onto some nice Champ iron and tasty NOS for a winter day.

Very cool. I wouldn't mind trying that out, but I need to check my stash of 10w resistors. I have a bunch of 5 watters. I'm in the process of plotting things carefully, since space is limited. I need to step up some of the stock holes on this thing, like the vol pot and pilot light, and drill some extras. I don't even know what caps I want to use...

What kind of goodies in NOS do you have currently?

[Colossal]

What kind of goodies in NOS do you have currently?

For the most part, I'm a new part kind of guy, but I do have a penchant for old tubes and have collected a few here and there, when the mood and opportunity strikes. For my 5F1 build I've got some very nice old RCA 5Y3GTs and 6V6s.

[Blackburn]

I've done the same. Getting stuff for no rhyme or reason can be awesome when a project comes along and you have just the thing! I'll be doing another amp in a week or so along these same lines, but with a 5Y3 and a very different cabinet.

[Blackburn]

I was planning on posting my progress as I went, but my phone refused to send anything the last few days. Today, it finally gave in and I had already finished a couple days ago. I've since added a cathode bypass cap on the 6V6, since it had no balls without one and I left the 12AX7 without one on the first half. All that is left to do is to get a nice speaker and she'll be sounding very sweet!

Highly recommended to anyone who likes a somewhat easy project, with the only downside being the bit of metal work needed. Luckily, I've all the right equipment for that sort of thing...

David

[xtian]

Looks nice! Can't wait to hear.

[Blackburn]

Thanks Xtian!

I'm really digging this thing anew. Very fun project this was. I'm going to be shopping for a Weber speaker as soon as the dough is available. Until then, using the stock Jensen isn't that bad. Nice cleans and kinda punchy, but oh how muddy it can get!

[ChrisM]

Looking good

These are fun amps to mod/rebuild.