'71 Fender Vibro Champ | An All-Time Classic Practice Amp Comes In for a Loving Restoration

[@Bloozestringer]

Redid my '76 VC last year. Replaced all the electrolytics and the can cap with a 20/20/20/20. 3 prong cord. I put a 1K/10W across the first node and dropped the plate voltage down about 20V, then substituted an 18K in place of the original 1K for the first dropping resistor. Left the 6V6 cathode resistor at 470R. This lowered my screen voltage down about 100V and leaves me right at 12W dissipation with 123VAC mains.

[@nationalduo4945]

I just bought a 1969 DripEdge Champ Amp for $475….people that think 6 tube watts isn’t loud are in for a surprise……great amp….

[@nationalduo4945]

Anyone know how to date my amp….I’m saying it’s a 69 because the seller said it was….but does have aluminum drip edge…any help would be appreciated…

[@ColbyJohnson303]

the drip edge was only used from mid 1967 to late 1969 so its within that time period, other than that you can check the transformer date codes to get a rough estimate. Or check the date stamp inside the chassis, but only do this if you know what you're doing as the filter caps inside a tube amp store a lot of voltage. electric shocks can happen and can be fatal.

[@taylornutt]

I love my 79 Vibro Champ. The tremolo on these amps are really alive.

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

WOW that Tremolo sounds really deep and wavy..it's a "good-un"!

[@matchrocket1702]

I bought a pre-CBS Vibro Champ Amp at a garage sale for $50 back in the 90s. I had it fixed up and gave it to my adult daughter.

[@edwardhannigan6324]

Nice little gem Lyle..Great info and tech advice..Ed..uk..😀

[@WayneMemphisMojo]

Thanks for sharing your work with us, it brings appreciation for these amps & yourself for keeping them going.

[@BrentPhelps]

Really like your videos. The J Castillo stamp inside your Vibro Champ is the same as in my Super Reverb and Bantam Bass amps from the same era.

[@David-ik9yn]

The vibro-champ has a great sounding tremolo. I like to slow it down a tad by changing one of the ceramic disk caps. Also like to twist the heater wires.

[@taylornutt]

The tremolo on my 68 Custom Vibrolux is similar but the Vibrochamp has the edge for me. I made a cheat sheet of different sounds to help me quickly dial in a particular sound.

[@Telecastersanonymous]

Could you do a video on how to check the bias of these?

[@jimshomestudio]

We are almost exactly the same age. 03/71.

[@jefffree6990]

So this originally had 20-20-20 uF filters? I thought 1971 AB764 upped the first filter (on rectifier) to 40uF (?)

[@ericsfc1ea.16]

I have a Bronco of the same year by Castillo, I subbed a 5V4 for the 5Y3, just because I had so many in my stash. Great practice amp and definitely has enough volume for enjoyment.

[@DDE_ADDICT]

best amp ever, they should have made a 25 watt 1x12 version

[@BobBob-dv2qh]

Hi I know this is am old video I hope you read this. Just a quick question you mentioned about 4 way cap giving you more filter options without hurting the rectifier tube. It sparked my interest because I recently pulled apart an old 70s vibrochamp it has a 3 way cap in it 40uf 40uf 40uf all being used, it is in place of the 20 20 20uf named on the schematic. This amp has previously been updates 3 prong cord electrolytic caps etc... however the 3way cap is an old Mallory the age of it appears to be vintage to the amp. I cant seem to find any schematics with 40 40 40uf and only one with 40 20 20. Quick first glance without tracing anything, this amp has been modded the trem circuit has been removed, it would appear they used the trem 12ax7 power for another added gain stage. As well as hacked a 10 inch speaker into it. (Crappy marshall branded) Anyways all other resistor values match the schematic between the filter caps. My question is have you ever come across a 70s vibro champ with this 40uf triple cap? I would like to change it, in order to give more room for a much better speaker upgrade. I found aJJ 40 20 20. Can't seem to locate a 40 across the board. Is this a one off or have you seen it before? PERHAPS it was parrt of the mod. Anyhow how much different will it sound if I put a 40 20 20 in it? Or what impact would that have on the rectifier tube? Or is it possible the 3 40uf already causing stress on the rectifier? The amp runs and sounds pretty good now, except for the crappy speaker in it, The amp belongs to a friend he wants me to install a new speaker. The speaker he bought is a tight fit however if I replace the cap with a shorter profile it will fit. What would you recommend in place of the 3way 40uf?

[@frankorobinson1540]

I had one of these in 1980 with a ltd les paul in my basement at 15 years of age I was a rock 🎸 God lol that little amp would piss my father off something awful 😆 he didn't like my cars or oil leaking dirt bikes in his driveway either lol.i always felt this thing was awsome 👌. Love your indepth channel. Could you recommend a valve amplifier for a 58 year old man looking to relive his electric guitar sound again 😀 looking for very loud but yet quite enough to not piss my wife off at night in my man cave.i like classic 70s 80s metal and classic rock sounds ,something that would take pedals nicely high gain distortion some fuzz and a wah wah for fun 😀 something under 1000 would be nice 👌 my first impression was the Marshall origin 50 combo but a more professional opinion would be greatly appreciated, thanks and have a happy new year.

[@dingalarm]

This amp has the same birthday as me! 😂

[@wsurfn]

Where can I get a loving restoration in Austin,TX like this?

[@GiantPinhead]

Lovely! Mine is a 64 - serial number 504 or something silly early. Probably my favorite amp, once I get past my bias toward volume. Mine might need you to breath on it a little bit.

[@davidjennings9253]

I have a 65 Vibro Champ blackface in all original condition and the only fault its ever had was a cold solder joint on the 1st 12AX7. It still sounds amazing after all these years but would you recommend changing the filter cap?

[@ditchgator1]

Too cool😎👍

[@eddyleger7662]

Hi, love your talent. Q? i own a fernder princeton reverb (new re-issue), got qwik advice?....thank you in advance

[@willc8542]

Is there a tone difference with the 2 µF bypass caps? I'm assuming so from what you said, but what is that difference compared to stock?

[@goodun2974]

That looked to be a ceramic-disc "death cap", which is also a bit unusual; most Fenders used the same blue coupling caps for that purpose as they used in the rest of the amp. I don't recall seeing the snubber cap across the 6V6 socket on an SF champ either (I wouldn't expect it to be necessary; how likely are you to get parasitic oscillation in a simple circuit like this?). Even the tube chart being on the right-hand side of the cabinet is a bit odd, they're typically on the left. Perhaps Mr. or Ms. Castillo, or somebody else at Fender that day, was left handed?

[@BlugubriousMusic]

When you have the chance to make mom angry with loud rock guitar... you take it! Haven't you seen a Twisted Sister video?!?! I kid, I kid. Good looking out for Psimomic

[@goodun2974]

"Turn that down....turn that DOWN! Don't you boys know any nice songs?" F.Z.

[@comajoebuck999]

@@goodun2974 I’m calling the police….

[@goodun2974]

@@comajoebuck999 If you ever heard my attempts at guitar playing, you'd be justified in calling the police!

[@Olivil]

I have a 67 Vibro Champ, I find the tremolo intensity knob does nothing until about 3 on the knob, where it start to get intense quite quickly. Is this standard fare for these amps?

[@void0094]

Do you have any experience with Guyatone Reverb Jazz amplifiers? They are Fender silverface copies. Or old made in japan tube amplifiers in general?

[@fredscott7534]

What did the bypass caps actually measure? Were they still at 1 mfd and 1mfd or had they drifted. The reason I ask, Is that if they drifted far enough the owner might not realize what sound he's used to.

[@PsionicAudio]

They were still appx 1uf each.

[@jtbracknell]

Lyle, what brand can filter cap did you use and recommend for the VC. I have a 79 with the original can cap that needs to be replaced and wanted to get your opinion.

[@PsionicAudio]

I used a CE Distribution cap, as it's about the only game in town without going to a different mounting method. I've had mixed results with the CEs, but fingers crossed.

[@lowqualityguitarvideos]

Have you found death caps in any/many Peaveys?

[@PsionicAudio]

Yes, most have them.

[@BCEpedals]

Is there a quick way of finding the outer foil?

[@BradsGuitarGarage]

Can confirm, not caring is a good start.

[@BCEpedals]

@@BradsGuitarGarage obviously, but it makes a difference in higher gain amps.

[@PsionicAudio]

Yes, out of circuit. Google reveals all.

[@gingercat777]

Oh dear, don't go higher than 470R cathode resistor, a Vibro Champ 6V6 was meant to run at 15 watts min.

[@PsionicAudio]

Hogwash.

[@gingercat777]

@@PsionicAudio Those tubes have been living in a Champ for 40 + years with a 470 cathode resistor. Plus use your ears, drop the dissipation the more sterile the tone.

[@PsionicAudio]

I started to type something longer but “hogwash” remains more succinct.

[@goodun2974]

@@PsionicAudio , perhaps someone has a Time Machine and can just pop down to the drugstore in 1968 every 6 months for a new RCA blackplate 6V6 🤔😁?? Oh wait, perhaps the amp is being powered in 2020 from an extension cord run through a Time Portal to a 1968 wall outlet at 110 to 117 VAC tops? 🤣

[@MichaelSmith-rn1qw]

I had to go to a 1K Ohm, 5 watt bias resistor in my 1979 Vibro Champ just to get the plate dissipation down to around 12.3 Watts, using the original 5Y3 rectifier and 6V6 tube. Using new tubes the plate dissipation was even higher. I also upped the value of the bias cap.

[@luthravin4774]

Are these amps really seeking for $1500-2000 price range…the ones I see on Reverb are even costing more..with some over $3K.. I remember these as being student level amps..and not much more..what am I missing?

[@BradsGuitarGarage]

Can confirm, yes they arem

[@PsionicAudio]

Prices are crazy. If I had to spend more than $500 I’d get a Princeton instead.

[@lionscircle4700]

Point of Information: September 13th,1971 was a Monday. Rule of thumb, avoid production/durable goods made on Monday and Friday. Not that vintage collectors have much choice in the matter. Pull the trigger or lose on the opportunity to own a classic...

[@sgt.grinch3299]

I wish my hearing was more acute. I enjoy your videos, but I can’t hear all the little nuisances that you make. It’s highly frustrating.

[@Swodie_Jeetin]

Lmao "nuisances" 😜 but it's not just your ears to blame, youtube compresses the audio file down to save data and then if you're using Bluetooth headphones there is yet another file compression before your ears

[@PsionicAudio]

That, and some of the stuff I’m hearing is very low-volume stuff. You’d have to turn your playback up >80dB to hear it.