Here it is...the first ever successful point-to-point Champ 600 operation. The patient is doing fine and better than ever. Really!
Based on a modified 5f1. The only weak point is the speaker, but that will be next.
Was the operation necesary, not really it is a great amp as it is, but for $100 and a few hours...the experience was worth way more.
Enjoy!
Last edited by pc; 08-03-2007 at 11:59 AM.
WOW.
Welcome to TFF.
What's the sonic effect of this mod?
s'all goof.
The rectifier added the subtle sag as expected and it seems to have more punch. Imagine a 5F1 kit in a smaller cabinet with a smaller speaker. The stock and even the Jensen mod speaker has to work harder now and needs to be better.
I plugged into a (new) weber 6 x 9 full range alnico speaker that my friend installed in his Champ 600 (new baffle, fits perfect) and that's when it really sounded the way it should. (A great option for those folks wanting more bass response and where an 8" will not.
Regardless...the 6" is also a cool speaker (sonically and tonally) and the amp will be really great with an alnico version with more wattage capability.
Anyway...just had to do it.
It was a great amp before the overhaul.
Mandopicker
Mandopicker
Damn...I put $400 into my 5F1 scratch build. This may come in cheaper in the long run, but mine is a custom cabinet for a Jensen 10".
I can totally imagine how this sounds...this looks great!
"...pray do not imagine that those who make the noise are the only inhabitants of the field;
that, of course, they are many in number; or that, after all, they are other than the little,
shriveled, meagre, hopping, though loud and troublesome, insects of the hour."
-Edmund Burke
To clarify, I did pay just below street price for the original Champ 600.
All I need to do now is change the output transformer to include one with both 4 and 8 ohm taps, add another output jack, and it becomes a cool looking 5F1-type head that will sound great hooking up to anything including a 12" without cutting power terribly. Very versitle and for maybe $30.00 more.
I found the original design to just be to limited.
I really wanted it to be Tweed Champ, but with a 6".
All for just great fun.
Mandopicker
Very nice! Those 600's look too cool, but I'm always afraid of the construction used on modern amps. Looks like you handled that well.
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
Things to make them louder
orange picks
That's not point to point construction. What you've completed is an excellent example of eyelet board construction.
this is point to point construction: http://www.charlestonarea.com/Fender...ollar_amp6.jpg
Thanks for the primer.
Most of the folks here are well versed in eyelet, turret, terminal strip and PTP construction.
Besides, if you know amp folks - most of them will use PTP and hand-wired interchangeably, whether it's correct terminology or not.
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
Things to make them louder
orange picks
What are you getting at, Fez?
there are 2 z's.
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
I did read the post, and that's why I corrected the misuse of terms. Most folks speak incorrectly regarding this subject; this is not a valid reason to accept or encourage sloppy technical jargon.
From a practical standpoint it makes for confusion among those that don't know any better.
"Can you dig it?"
...
I'm sorry, you're far too far cool for me to understand. I'll leave you to happily wallow in your "guitar dude" puddle.
Mandopicker?
Any chance of hearing some clips?
Sound clips would be great.
So long, Dannyboy. You'll be missed like a tumor.
"From point-to-point to where it's rectifiedOriginally Posted by fezz parka
One poster's gone, civility was falling
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and we must bide. "
Ah, that song always gets me.
"Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
Elvis Costello
bye bye
do I look like I know what I'm doing?
See Ya DannyBoy..
Neo, I got a lump in my throat reading those words....
I wasn't sure if it was safe for me to come back...anyway...
My apologies for the misuse of terminology and look forward to more discussion regarding this and many other fine topics to be found on this great site. Thanks to all who understood where I was coming from.
For those who asked, I will try to post some sound clips at some point, but I think you all can imagine an Tweed 5F1. Put it in a smaller yet tightly/well built cabinet with a (hate to say it) but cool 6" speaker for its unique tonal character and its quite cool. I have every other speaker sized amp you can imagine, so this was perfect to add to the collection and tonal pallet.
It feels like a brick but sounds way sweeter. Lots of tonal character breaking up like you might expect. The output trans is probably holding it back the most, but I intend to change that for fun next.
I run it through my pedal board for fun and it is really impressive and can take just about any kind of overdrive to give a real volume boost.
Peace to all and I look forward to more interesting discussion.
Mandopicker
How about an external speaker output, so you could run it through a 10" or 12" if you wanted to?
Just a thought. It's a great-looking mod, and I'm sure it sounds wicked.
"I haven't slept for ten days...because that would be too long." -- Mitch Hedberg
One of my experiments will be to change the output transformer to allow for the use of a 6L6 and to have both 4 ohm and 8 ohm outputs. Hammond offer a great single ended trans. that's perfect for the job. (125 ese)
The end result will be Champ 600 capable of pushing any 4 or 8 ohm speaker with a 6L6 running full class A...pushing about 10-12 watts.
It will be a real screamer. Initial experiments are successful.
Thanks for the interest.
Mandopicker
Mandopicker-
I found this by accident and joined because of this thread! I'm wondering if this is a service you'd perform for others? I saw a guy on eBay doing it a while back, but he no longer is....please contact me? Thanks!
I never thought of that before.
What did you have in mind?
Mandopicker
Well, not sure what can and can't be said here about buying and selling....Is it something you are interested in doing though?
The guy on eBay also installed a Mercury transformer, and if I remember correctly, he charged just over $200....
I agree with playing by the rules as well. Having said that, I would be interested in offering my assistance (with much left for discussion).
It was a fun project, pretty easy...and worth doing. The tone is excellent. (I now use a 6" Weber Alnico in mine.)
Do you feel comfortable sharing your e-mail to discuss possibilities outside the forum?
Mandopicker
No, I don't mind at all.....this seems to be a fairly stable group of people. ;-)
You can contact me at yumalope@yahoo.com. Looking forward to hearing from you. Mando!
Just wanted to bump this to the front as I haven't heard anything from you, Mandopicker....
Thanks for the note....I actually did reply to the e-mail you provided me last week.
No problem...here is my e-mail...
mandopicker@comcast.net
Let me know when you get my e-mail. (Or if you don't.)
Talk to you soon.
Mandopicker
Strange....well, I just emailed you at that address, hoping to hear from you soon!
Awesome work,
I saw that Mandopicker was noted to have a guide up somewhere. Does anyone have a link to that?
Not sure if emails aren't going through or if you're simply busy, Mandopicker....just wanted to touch base with you again. Hope to hear from you soon!
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