Champ 600 Point-to Point Rewire! The first One?

Mandopicker · 08-04-2007, 08:28 AM

Well...here it is!

I decided to make it like Tweed Champ (5F1) Sounds great, but now the speaker is weak link.

I'll wait for Weber's 6"Alnico.

Slightly less than street for amp, $100 bucks and parts hanging around and its a one of a kind!

Marc · 08-05-2007, 11:15 PM

Is the second pot to tweak the bias?

Marc

Mandopicker · 08-05-2007, 11:56 PM

Yes, it is a 200 ohm pot for bias adjustment.

JJGross · 08-07-2007, 11:15 PM

Very nice!
When I saw the title of the post, I was wondering if you'd done what Fender did on he originals : have everything hard wired together and floating in the air just waiting for something to short out. ;D

Looks great, very clean.

Cheers!

Mandopicker · 08-08-2007, 07:52 AM

Thanks for the Kudos...

Given the weak nature of the early models, as well as the point your brought up, I though just wiring it up based on a 50's tweed.

Recently reverse engineered the PC board and found that it is more like a 60's-70's Champ without the tone controls, I will probably try that schematic in there at some point to be more accurate.

At this point just having fun with the experiment. In its current form, it leaves a lot of room to customize. Next step is the output transformer to allow for 6L6, 4 and 8 ohm speaker outputs. Should be way more versitile.

Regards,

David

HTH · 08-08-2007, 11:27 AM

very nice job, no chance of squeezing an 8" speaker in there?

suppose you could always put a 1x12 under it with a G12H-30, that'd get things cooking.

axpro · 09-10-2007, 12:56 PM

I just ordered the supplies to do a similar mod last night!

Seeing as it was a blackface/silverface type circuit, and i liked the sound (and i already have a tweed champ i love) i decided to go with a blackface circuit. vol, treble and bass. and i ordered a 6" ceramic from weber (Don't want to wait for the alnico!) Once i get the parts i'll wire it up and add a photo.

Mandopicker · 09-11-2007, 06:35 AM

Yes, I actually decided to make it a bit more simple as I already had a 73 Champ.

Go for it...Can't wait to see the photos.

Have fun...

khelstrom · 09-26-2007, 10:23 PM

Is that a 5Y3 rectifier I see in the picture? Also what is that I see to the right of the 6V6?

Mandopicker · 09-27-2007, 05:21 AM

Yes, it is a 5Y3.

Depending upon your perspective, I believe you are referring to the output transformer. (Stock Chinese version) Since the photo was taken, the OT has been upgraded to a proper Champ output transformer to match the (required) new Power Trans. (needed 6.3v fil wires for tube rect.).

You could avoid changing both by leaving the SS rectifier in the circuit.

Sounds perfect!

Thanks for the interest.

khelstrom · 09-27-2007, 08:13 PM

Thanks' Where did you get the OT, Mercury? Dose it make a huge audible difference? I have a vintage 6" alnico speaker I'd like to use but it's 8 ohms. Ive read some places that I could get away with the miss match but I would ultimately would like to get the popper OT.

Mandopicker · 09-28-2007, 02:31 AM

The output transformer I got from CE Distribution.

I also just wanted to be able to bolt the new OT in place. It fits the spacing of the orignal perfectly. Made the swap out a snap! It is much stronger and less "Farty" sounding.

For this experiment, I wanted to keep it 4 ohm, but I am intending to try a multi-tapped OT (4--8-16 ohm.) Try Weber or there is a number of Hammonds that are useful. Doing that, you can wire the amp up for both 4 ohm and 8 ohm. I think that is the real ticket for vesitility. (Though I plug my 600 into my Deluxe and boy is it cool. Makes a great head...and with an 8ohm out...unbelievable!

That said, I really liked the idea of keeping it with a 6" speaker, as I already have at least one of each size in other amps. I do like the tone, and larger size speakers can't really recreate the sound.

FYI
* After my experiment, my buddy decided to use a weber alnico 6 x 9 full range that is just killer. Fits well. He also used the Hammond 125E OT so that he could run a 6L6 and it really rocks. The OT is huge though, so be prepared to move stuff.

Making it pseudo P to P wiring makes all these experiments possible, so have fun!

Howlin' Mad Mac · 11-07-2009, 12:14 AM

Wow! That looks real sharp there. Could you share your schematic with the changes/mods you've added. I like the idea of an adjustable bias although I'm not quite sure how to incorporate it into my design (I'll be posting some pics soon.) I've also noticed what appears to be a silver mica cap hard wired to your volume pot (guessing it's a 250pf or 500pf cap) & thinking that might be something I'd want to try. The original sound of the Champion 600 was ok but I thought very ho-hum. I'm still working all the bugs out of my build but I must say the tone is an improvement but I still feel mine could use a bit more tweaking... You know the old saying: If it ain't broke... TWEAK IT! LOL

CSPRINGER · 11-07-2009, 01:19 AM

When / If my Peavey 5 watter starts to have issues this is the king of build I would like to do. Please provide extensive narrative on the sound impact with each mod....

These tiny tube amps are fantastic.

Peavey Royal 8 valves and mods

08-04-2007, 08:28 AM	#1
Mandopicker Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Ramon, CA Posts: 101	Champ 600 Point-to Point Rewire! The first One? Well...here it is! I decided to make it like Tweed Champ (5F1) Sounds great, but now the speaker is weak link. I'll wait for Weber's 6"Alnico. Slightly less than street for amp, $100 bucks and parts hanging around and its a one of a kind!

08-05-2007, 11:15 PM	#2
Marc Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 113	nice work! Is the second pot to tweak the bias? Marc

08-05-2007, 11:56 PM	#3
Mandopicker Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Ramon, CA Posts: 101	Extra Pot in Champ 600 Yes, it is a 200 ohm pot for bias adjustment.

08-07-2007, 11:15 PM	#4
JJGross Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hooterville, WI 53538 Posts: 127	Very nice! When I saw the title of the post, I was wondering if you'd done what Fender did on he originals : have everything hard wired together and floating in the air just waiting for something to short out. ;D Looks great, very clean. Cheers! __________________ My Momma always said, Stultus est sicut stultus facit

08-08-2007, 07:52 AM	#5
Mandopicker Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Ramon, CA Posts: 101	Like a 50's tweed with a tiny speaker. Thanks for the Kudos... Given the weak nature of the early models, as well as the point your brought up, I though just wiring it up based on a 50's tweed. Recently reverse engineered the PC board and found that it is more like a 60's-70's Champ without the tone controls, I will probably try that schematic in there at some point to be more accurate. At this point just having fun with the experiment. In its current form, it leaves a lot of room to customize. Next step is the output transformer to allow for 6L6, 4 and 8 ohm speaker outputs. Should be way more versitile. Regards, David

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08-08-2007, 11:27 AM	#6
HTH Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Newcastle (UK) Posts: 319	very nice job, no chance of squeezing an 8" speaker in there? suppose you could always put a 1x12 under it with a G12H-30, that'd get things cooking. __________________ HTH - Heavier Than Hell

09-10-2007, 12:56 PM	#7
axpro Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 10	I just ordered the supplies to do a similar mod last night! Seeing as it was a blackface/silverface type circuit, and i liked the sound (and i already have a tweed champ i love) i decided to go with a blackface circuit. vol, treble and bass. and i ordered a 6" ceramic from weber (Don't want to wait for the alnico!) Once i get the parts i'll wire it up and add a photo.

09-11-2007, 06:35 AM	#8
Mandopicker Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Ramon, CA Posts: 101	BF/SF rewire instead. Yes, I actually decided to make it a bit more simple as I already had a 73 Champ. Go for it...Can't wait to see the photos. Have fun...

09-26-2007, 10:23 PM	#9
khelstrom Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 6	Rectifier Is that a 5Y3 rectifier I see in the picture? Also what is that I see to the right of the 6V6?

09-27-2007, 05:21 AM	#10
Mandopicker Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Ramon, CA Posts: 101	Rectifier Yes, it is a 5Y3. Depending upon your perspective, I believe you are referring to the output transformer. (Stock Chinese version) Since the photo was taken, the OT has been upgraded to a proper Champ output transformer to match the (required) new Power Trans. (needed 6.3v fil wires for tube rect.). You could avoid changing both by leaving the SS rectifier in the circuit. Sounds perfect! Thanks for the interest.

09-27-2007, 08:13 PM	#11
khelstrom Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 6	OT Thanks' Where did you get the OT, Mercury? Dose it make a huge audible difference? I have a vintage 6" alnico speaker I'd like to use but it's 8 ohms. Ive read some places that I could get away with the miss match but I would ultimately would like to get the popper OT.

09-28-2007, 02:31 AM	#12
Mandopicker Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Ramon, CA Posts: 101	OT The output transformer I got from CE Distribution. I also just wanted to be able to bolt the new OT in place. It fits the spacing of the orignal perfectly. Made the swap out a snap! It is much stronger and less "Farty" sounding. For this experiment, I wanted to keep it 4 ohm, but I am intending to try a multi-tapped OT (4--8-16 ohm.) Try Weber or there is a number of Hammonds that are useful. Doing that, you can wire the amp up for both 4 ohm and 8 ohm. I think that is the real ticket for vesitility. (Though I plug my 600 into my Deluxe and boy is it cool. Makes a great head...and with an 8ohm out...unbelievable! That said, I really liked the idea of keeping it with a 6" speaker, as I already have at least one of each size in other amps. I do like the tone, and larger size speakers can't really recreate the sound. FYI * After my experiment, my buddy decided to use a weber alnico 6 x 9 full range that is just killer. Fits well. He also used the Hammond 125E OT so that he could run a 6L6 and it really rocks. The OT is huge though, so be prepared to move stuff. Making it pseudo P to P wiring makes all these experiments possible, so have fun!

11-07-2009, 12:14 AM	#13
Howlin' Mad Mac Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lancaster, PA, USA Posts: 29 Member's Picture Albums	Wow! That looks real sharp there. Could you share your schematic with the changes/mods you've added. I like the idea of an adjustable bias although I'm not quite sure how to incorporate it into my design (I'll be posting some pics soon.) I've also noticed what appears to be a silver mica cap hard wired to your volume pot (guessing it's a 250pf or 500pf cap) & thinking that might be something I'd want to try. The original sound of the Champion 600 was ok but I thought very ho-hum. I'm still working all the bugs out of my build but I must say the tone is an improvement but I still feel mine could use a bit more tweaking... You know the old saying: If it ain't broke... TWEAK IT! LOL __________________ Hey you... Yeah you kid... Ya wanna buy some "Magic Beans"?

11-07-2009, 01:19 AM	#14
CSPRINGER Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 12	Beautiful small amp work ! When / If my Peavey 5 watter starts to have issues this is the king of build I would like to do. Please provide extensive narrative on the sound impact with each mod.... These tiny tube amps are fantastic. Peavey Royal 8 valves and mods Last edited by CSPRINGER; 11-07-2009 at 01:30 AM.

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