How to Repair dead Fender Vibro Champ guitar amp Bad transformer plus mystery box opening

Yes, another Vibro Champ with a defective power transformer! Seems to be common place these days. I took a different approach to this video. Concentrating on narrowing down the fault rather than taking the parts cannon to it. Many have told me my videos are getting predictable. I plan to shake things up a bit, get down to some basics, hopefully share the right info that you are desiring. Let me know if I'm on track. Special addition, I received a mystery box from a viewer. Lots of cool goodies inside. Many things I can use in the shop. I appreciate everyone's support. Hopefully, things will ease up around June, so I can bring in more repairs and develop more videos to your liking. Doing my best friends.

[@nikkisimpson1835]

I like this new format with the deep dive into failure modes. If we don't understand failure how can we know its fixed?! Shake it up Terry, but don't lose the old format either. Love your content and generous teachings, you are a gem!

[@paulp2089]

Any cabbage can just swap stuff out and hope it fixes it. Understanding WHY means you can apply knowledge to other related faults and save your time and $$$ and keep happy customers. So Terry I appreciate the time and explanations you provide.

[@csxblackmusic]

Loved being able to see how you came to your own determination that the power transformer was bad. LOVE THE APPROACH!

[@ceickhoff]

Hey Terry, another great video. I really like to see how you investigate component failures on amps. Keep up the phenomenal work!

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

Excellent approach to serve both your current and future customers.

[@1truemoose]

Very good. Love seeing how a pro diagnoses a problem.

[@robertw1871]

What’s worse is transformer shorts can be intermittent.... thanks for the video.

[@ianbutler1983]

Thanks Terry. I enjoy all of your videos.

[@AndyZ-hz7oh]

Great approach to sharing the detail around how you identify and locate faults. More please!

[@kendavis8046]

I still want a D-Lab/Uncle Doug collaboration. I know you are separated by miles and miles, but there is this thing called the interwebs that allows people to collaborate online. Thanks, Terry - I always enjoy your amp vids! [EDIT] - Heck, I am older than those amps! I'm hoping I have years to go before parts start failing!

[@donaldfilbert4832]

Love the troubleshooting methodology approach to this video. Please continue !!

[@Fetishom]

We see many so call technicians on the tube. You’re about the only one with a very logical experienced approach. And it is a very good learning for your audience. I especially appreciate your investigation approach, like a private eye on a crime scene. Let’s be frank, many times amps were butchered, murdered…. ;-)

[@MrMrjauregui]

After reading your description I can assure you if you fix fender champs at a rate of three a week I will watch every single video..your videos are the best! Thank you Terry!

[@zbaby82]

I really enjoy your videos. And I enjoy learning.

[@robertstrickland2121]

Thanks! Xfmrs are the hardest thing to diagnose in tube amps, good tip of using the variac to test them.

[@Finom1]

Great educational video Terry. Great approach to educating your community. Bless you.

[@brandonholguin2872]

Love the new format. Please keep sharing your knowledge and wisdom.

[@robertgray3210]

Good video, Terry.

[@DaveGVideo]

Excellent approach, thanks for digging into the details of the failure. As you said, it is easy to shotgun things and either not fix the problem or end up wasting time and money on additional components. I share your philosophy and think you’re doing a great job educating folks that are getting interested in this craft.

[@jonpardue]

This is great Terry!

[@rasjase1]

Definitely like this new approach. Showing failure modes is great

[@electrolytics]

Great stuff. Cool little amp there. Thank you.

[@bluesbondsman]

I would imagine the 124 to 128 wall voltages we now have may be playing a part in the destruction of our vintage amps components too. I got my self a "Tone Preserver" to limit my voltage to around 110 to 114 volts and my Tweeds are much happier !

[@Lu_Woods]

Really enjoyed this episode. I'm the third hand at my buddies amp shop and the more I know the better I can help. Thanks Terry ; )

[@Lu_Woods]

p.s. He likes the Hammond transformers also

[@sski]

5x5 on the approach. I end up with a lot of specific problems as I own a lot of gear, 40% of it tube amplification. It's nice to be able to reference a source such as yourself who has covered a specific topic like this transformer issue. It reminds me of Tech School, which I enjoyed immensely. Everything I learned there 25 years ago continue to help me learn today.

[@Curranproducer]

I like the diag steps and the learning to find the issue steps!!! I am still learning and every little bit of diagnostic training is awesome!

[@Uuuuuuurrgggggghhhhh]

Nice video Terry!

[@CatsElectronics]

Cool!

[@hestheMaster]

Whether it's a transformer from a radio,TV,or amp. Isolating it and powering it up is the true test of its functionality. You may find it is good thus go to the chassis to find the short. Great video there Terry. Like the unboxing part too! I'm sure some of those goodies will come to be used. Classic Tone amps on Ebay are at crazy prices! Not only the age of transformers but that modern line voltages are at 125 VAC instead of 110VAC. That really takes down the older vintage transformers as well.

[@dembydish]

I like this approach. Always something to learn. Thanks.

[@ali2ndmail]

Thanks Terry, this was very useful!.

[@Tonetwisters]

VIbro Champs are incredibly toneful amplifiers. Sweet, city. My sympathies on the ClassicTone situation. And your best, Mr. T ... is plenty good enough.

[@hball6695]

looks like you're on the right track with the new format...detailed, methodical and educational. Great job! Now if we could just get a vid on the Marshall Lead 12 headphone jack I'd be in heaven ;-)

[@NPParisTech962]

great tutorial! love the new routine

[@Curtislow2]

I was engaged once -twice!

[@timmooney7528]

Great video. It's good to see something else fail other than swollen or dried out capacitors.

[@sinecure45]

I find this approach highly instructive, and hope to see more of your "differential diagnosis" techniques. Meanwhile, what happened to the Mojotone collaboration?

[@marsmediapro]

Aha! You got the box; thanks for the shout out!

[@rciancia]

Wonderful job Terry. Love the explanation and demonstration !!! Good stuffs usual my friend !!!!

[@Barracuda48082]

Way to go Terry..keep em coming..and teach Em the tricks

[@RickP654]

Have you ever considered rewinding the failed power transformers? I'm sure there is schematics out there somewhere that you could follow. If nothing else, you could dismantle one and reverse engineer it. Then again, it may not be worth it unless absolutely the last option. Always comes down to money, doesn't it? BTW, that was a great video.

[@f.k.burnham8491]

I believe it is not the age of the amplifier causing the pwr tx failures. I believe it is because of the higher line voltage.. Line voltage was 110 then went to 117 and now is up to 120-125 V at least in my area. I think the higher input voltage causes the rest of the voltages to increase, and the insulation is failing . Just my 2 cents worth.

[@gilbydeluxe8419]

Classic Tone is no more. Magnetic Components is not making them anymore. I just put a Hammond 290AX in a Princeton and I liked it.

[@roblegrange473]

Love the new approach...knowledge is 🤴

[@cheycasters]

Thanks again Sir Terry!! You be the man

[@michaelventi2248]

Love the knowledge. You are a great teacher

[@srtamplification]

Great video Terry!!!

[@edwardhannigan6324]

Great approach Terry, fab tips and information.. Bummer about the dead transformer, not a cheap item..! Thanks for sharing..Ed..UK..😀

[@hallanvaara6106]

Just the right stuff that I need! I got one amp that has some transformer issue that I can't quite figure out.

[@johnnymcquinn6025]

i really like the info. you are an amazing repair man and i appreciate your time. Keep on bringing the knowledge!!

[@kornami8678]

Like the shirt. Northrop Grumman all the way!

[@jyrkiunhola5181]

So much useful information, thank you :-)

[@cousin_ifs_q_music5466]

I was looking for a coil for my whites 5900DI. I notice you work on amps too. I play music and treasure hunt.

[@d-labelectronics]

Sorry, no coils here, best to check ebay

[@geraldcroissant8835]

i like that way you did this show it was nice to see things you do when you are off line it how you do things right and how to see if it good or bad and i like to see more of it and i like to see more of the older shows like how to rerpurpose things this is fun you do not have to do it all the time like one or 2 times a yr to do one it will be fun to see you do one and if you do that one out for a radio and one guitar i know i like to see it happin

[@mp-ov9dh]

great info, i really enjoy the troubleshooting tips. before seeing this i would have tested with a meter and looked for something else! i too have switched to Hammond since Classictone went under.

[@mike60510]

Like the videos!

[@jerrystephenson1172]

Good content!

[@preiter20]

Great troubleshooting tips Terry! I bought the same model Tenma variac you have. It's been great to use.

[@faultlessguitarsandamps1116]

This was a great video . Anything and everything you do is interesting and informative , so just be your good self and carry on . Don't forget the nonsense too , Corn Cobbler etc .

[@gillamb8669]

I’ll watch whatever you upload. 👍 Try another Live show, and another. You’ll get the hang of it. Thanks Terry.

[@d-labelectronics]

Thank you Gil, Yes, I plan another stream once things calm down here a bit

[@garysmith1532]

More like this please Terry! Question, why not use a a megger to test the transformer?

[@naananharper4989]

Have a vibro champ on my work bench,power to pre Amp not to secondary tube.tubes test good

[@dennisflock3958]

Love my silverface champ...

[@eddyleger7662]

Hi, love this channel, a talent i wish i had. Question please???....my epiphone century reissue has a buss, but has tabs for meter and seam to qualify ease of adjust......what to i read and what settings or specs i should observe. Thank you in advance.

[@ross3818]

Yes. More Failure Mode stuff. And mystery boxes.

[@ertreri]

hi can you do a walkthrough a schematic of a tidy power amp such as that of a marshal 8004 power amp explain the different sections of the amp ( for example filter capacitor, input power transformer np transistor etc and explain why certain sections use capacitor certain diodes what they each achieve, how to read the numbers on the schematic and confront such an amp with a valve power amp schematic such as mesa 50 50). reading and understanding schematic s is interesting.

[@christopherreed2694]

dude your fine you have a good pace and slayer uses that rocktron you fixed so your pretty god dam relevant love the show i got one for you fix an line six processor a helix LT i broke the push buttons its a footpedle processor the push buttons control the recorder function its the coolest thing ever please help me i gota gig soon this is goning to suck help

[@CC-te5zf]

Terry - you mentioned that you ranged up the meter for reading resistance on the high voltage leads as they are normally over 200 ohms. I'm troubleshooting and testing a Classic Tone 40-18027 Champ PT tonight. For the high voltage red wires, I'm reading: 191.1 ohms across both, one side to center tap is 98.9 ohms, and the other is 92.5 ohms. I can't locate resistance data on the webaramus - so, I'm wondering what you think of those readings. Thanks much!

[@davidnord1979]

just a question do the cobalt pinstriped or full coballt transformers make a difference in sound on guitar amps??? i use them in my home stereo these arent cheap just wondering....btw they are custom made

[@djbigleg3228]

hello i just got a 77 vibro champ & im wondering has it got blue ajax caps in it the reason im asking is i know someone that has a pile of them tested & i was thinking shall i get of couple of them.but im not sure what the uf is & if they are 200v.glad to see your using a hammond transformer they are a great replacement for not a lot of money so a great choice.but great post most enjoyable to see a pro find the problem & fix an amp the right way.i just brought the vibro champ & a 67 blackface the blackface but it has 3 blue caps missing,so i need the cap uf im sure they are 400v.but im gonna put the original caps back in the circuit & get it back to its former glory.sounds great clean but the treble brake up is lacking so im getting some new old tubes to try off a band mate,but i just put a fuzz pedal in & it roared great post just subbed peace...

[@dan_perry]

Hammond makes very good quality, conservatively rated transformers.

[@sinecure45]

I have an old Traynor YBA-1. Sometimes I turn it around just to look at the transformers for a while.

[@johnwhite6005]

Hey Terry you have great videos. Can you help me find a Motorola power transformer? Just wondering if you can and have time?

[@fiddlix]

Did you have to rebids the amp…??

[@muskymike1885]

just wondering if you can refurbish the power transformer ? newbie here thanks

[@d-labelectronics]

May be able to send it to Heyboer, but rewind is more expensive than a replacement

[@technicalmasternadimji9008]

How are you I am from India.you

[@millycarrington]

Have you looked at a ring tester for transformer testing (not tried it myself yet), here is an example kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXfcg4JqZ6-AmKc Also is it possible to dismantle / rewind a dead transformer or are they fully potted?

[@tubeDude48]

Terry, I'm confused! I show Classic Tone alive at: www.classictone.net/

[@d-labelectronics]

Yes, they are over & out of business

[@tubeDude48]

@@d-labelectronics - You would think they would say so...

[@clintondekock9935]

From what i know, they are getting rid of any existing stock on the shelves thar they might have, so once a specific item is gone, its gone.

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

Works for me...