1975 Fender Champ | Restoration and Cabinet Upgrade | The Electric Lady

Watch me restore a heavily modified Fender Champ! I also replace the filter capacitor can and re-house the amp in a beautiful new cabinet.
NOTE: Thank you for all the great comments! If you have left a comment about a suggestion for improvement, or having me repair an amp for you, please send me an email: [e-mail]
PATREON: / fazioelectric
Thank you all for watching my videos!

[@DeathCapAmplification]

Smashing job on this amp. The best part about this is including a demo by the owner. No one does that. Brilliant! - Mike from Black Cat Amplification (Baltimore, MD)

[@extramolestrial5417]

Hi Mike

[@FazioElectric]

thank you Mike :)

[@pennylessz]

@@9uidin9li9ht2 1

[@9KDRAGON]

@@FazioElectric ....1y.t1w 1 1t 1.

[@shibdoge2977]

apeswap bts

[@edb1149]

You are a much-needed role model for young girls. No longer are electronics repair the domain of we elderly, gray-haired males. Love watching you work; I marvel at your knowledge of old amps.

[@Patrick-857]

These amps were almost entirely built by ladies.

[@michaelsteven1090]

If she was teaching plumbing, you'd like her too, I'm sure..

[@robertinogochev3682]

bonk

[@scienceisgod1]

I found this video very "soothing" as well as educational after a shitty day at work!

[@wilsondunlap]

Yeah I noticed the same thing. Good Bob Ross vibes here.

[@Winterfell1066]

Her voice is so smooth, and she is smart and hyper competent, and she is..... very good looking.

[@DrippiBean]

@@Winterfell1066that wasn’t necessary

[@ianjackson8308]

Hello from Northern Cali!! After watching your “1/4” speaker jack replacement” and “Draining your filter caps” videos I decided to repair my 1978 Silverface Champ myself. I successfully replaced my fuse link, installed a new Jensen speaker, and retolexed the top and bottom of the cab with red sparkle vinyl. I had never heard the amp in the ten years since it was gifted to me! It sounds incredible! I’m sure it could stand to have those old worn caps and resistors replaced and I now have the confidence to attempt the job myself. Thank you for the comprehensive and encouraging videos! Keep up the excellent work, Colleen!!

[@R3TR0R4V3]

You can learn just about anything on KZbin! Gotta love it. No better feeling in the world, the satisfaction you get from learning how to, then successfully fixing your own gear. 😎

[@JC-11111]

Oh snap! Look at this! Uncle Doug would be glad to see someone from the younger generation taking up this lost art. I know I am! Keep up the great work!

[@ben91069]

I learned basic DC and AC electronics when i was around 11 years old then learned RF and digital electronics. This was my hobby as a child. So I highly respect what you are doing. It amazes me that someone your age today has this knowledge. It's a very rare set of skills and knowledge you have today.

[@trbr1799]

Nicely done! I think your videos fill a niche that others don't. You show clearly things like the layout, wiring (well explained) actual soldering work, component function/purpose, and more. This is super valuable for those just learning about amp work and what's often lacking in other amp tech videos. Showing the bias calculation steps (Rob's calculator! ) also great! Thanks and looking forward to future posts as well.

[@Ten80pete]

This is a perfect description of what sets her apart from so many amp repair channels. As a musician that began to take a keen interest in the technology of my gear and wanted to be able to effect smaller repairs about a year ago, it can be very frustrating trying to get a grip on so many aspects, but your explanations are not specially tailored to impress the Go-Go Gadget Cap crowd. I appreciate that you're willing to share your expertise and knowledge. Hope you can do this for a long while!

[@riflelover510]

I’m working on a basket case black face amp I picked up that had beer spilled in it, basically rebuilding the entire circuit for my first ever attempt messing with an amp, and was lost on a few things. You hit, in detail, the things I was unsure about. Thanks for taking time to post this, I really appreciate the info.

[@valeriemanners7796]

My first amp was an early 70's Champ. It is great to have found your channel..

[@bsullivan7]

I really enjoy watching you restore these wonderful amps. You are an excellent Diagnostician and Technician. As a musician who's played for over 50 years, it's a pleasure watching you do your work. 😁 👍

[@JamesMcCutcheon]

Thank you for all the nice videos. I gave my son a 1974 Champ. These amplifiers are amazing.

[@fieldfullofthistles]

Thats what an amp should sound like. The clean tones are just whooaa! Great job as usual Fazio!

[@jimsaint2072]

Those Champs are the Best Buy for the money . I’m in awe of your knowledge .

[@johnrules81]

Your videos are excellent. The work you do is so tidy and logical.

[@blugoose86]

I'm very impressed. I like your "slower pace" and relaxing delivery of your knowledge and explanation. Very meticulous and neat work. Thank you!

[@drdbailey]

I just discovered you. I know nothing, zilch, nada about amps. You are mesmerizing. Just watching you work. I'm 72 and before I head to Jimi's abode, I'm going to build an amp! Thank you!❤

[@rciancia]

I love that you are into this hobby and do it very well. Congrats to see someone young like you so knowledgable.... You go girl !!

[@rciancia]

@@electrofrying1685 I don't want to assume... if its her vocation, even better

[@rciancia]

@@electrofrying1685 well.. I do this as a hobby and I work on customers amps... What is your point ? She is great and I am so happy to see someone so young doing this... Dont try to make it more than I am saying.. thank you

[@TunedupFlat]

I could watch amp restoration videos all day long. Great job!

[@ryangunwitch-black]

Watching you flow solder is so satisfying.

[@jamiemascola6614]

Great restoration to stock! Thanks for including the before and after clips. It's a thing so rarely done, and yet so important to hear.

[@julioperez5588]

I just stop by, to check out on the video and I was mesmerized by it. This young woman is really a pro on what she does. I become a subscriber in a heart beat. Thank you

[@UTubemar25]

Stumbled across your channel by accident and it was a lucky get. Retired electronic/tech/engineer with 38 years experience. Also a guitarist. I still have the first amp my dad bought me. 64 Fender Princeton that I will be restoring. Excellent videos. I was watching this video and just wanted to comment on the part installing the multi cap in the chassis. The choice of not grounding to the chassis. That chassis is s huge heat sink. Lol. We had an iron we called the solder bat for things like that. This is great. I subscribed. Thanks!!!!!

[@iblesbosuok]

if my gear were reconditioned this beautifully, my tears would surely drop every time I play it.

[@rustycalvera977]

I like how you explain the function of various components in the circuit......how nice it is to know those things.

[@Nick-ky3vl]

Respect. You made a messed up old amp sound like a true champ.

[@VlxWIZzZARDxlV]

It sounded fine wdym dude

[@hotlineoperator]

How could someone know so much about old electronics. I'm impressed.

[@waynewayne3709]

She's learning from other techs and it's good to see people interest in analog electronics.

[@AMERICANPRIDE1100]

I love that the young folks are doing this keep this trade alive as long we can

[@jeffreysmith9369]

Thanks for the calculator link. Very handy. Nice work on the amp. There is competency galore around your work.

[@salossi]

Great job, well done! Just two wee tips from my side: Those late 70s cheapy Fenders often have one massive construction failure, that Fender probably came up with to lower production costs: Instead of running twisted leads to the filaments of the tubes and balancing the center either via grounding a centertap of this winding or by adding two resistors (usually 2x 100 ohms @ the pilot lamp), the changed to running one side of the filaments via the chassis - which was a VERY bad idea... This should be modded back to twisted wires, which will result in a significant noise reduction! I did this mod with my 79 Musicmaster Bass amp - and it was a MASSIVE improvement! Also, I would solder the filtercap directly to the chassis, to prevent it from starting to rattle in the future. Check out Mr Carlsons soldering tips - he uses a modded soldering-gun for this purpose - works great! For biasing cathode biased amps, a "Resistor decade" (don't know, if this is the proper word - we call it Widerstandsdekade here in Germany) can be very handy - so you can dial in the resistor values, until you'll find the perfect bias, then replace the item with a proper resistor, and you're done! Greets from Salossi's Ampschmiede :)

[@adhaskym.a9536]

I learn a lot from all these videos. I am not a repair man by profession but I enjoy messing with things. Thank you for all the knowledge.

[@billedwards2657]

Solid! Commenters are right on the biasing. I tend to replace champ filter caps with a 4 node 40-20-20-20 in case they want to use the other version power supply. 40 is technically too high for a 5Y3 but who really cares. The other main mod worth doing is converting the tube filament winding to parallel from series.. especially on speaker changes. Helps cut out the hum. Great video! Keep them coming!

[@carlos2175]

I just wanted to say Thank you for sharing! It is so interesting how you diagnose and bring back to life vintage amps! When I watch you work, I understand more and more about electronics. You really inspire and encourage people! Thank You!!!

[@caryrodriguez7040]

way to bring back that Champ! Keep at it!

[@TrillKump]

Good job letting unintentional asmr showcase your style. Subbed....

[@davidrees1840]

Ah, my first amp, and my favourite. Bought it 2nd hand in 1978, never forgot how good it sounds, as per your customer's demo! Thanks for the memories :)

[@bluwng]

Finally someone who understands electronics.

[@SickOne240]

Great work and nice playing from Taylor.

[@realdocloco]

Thank you for restauring this wonderfull lil' amp to its original state - I have one from the same year and it doesn't need any mod at all!

[@clutch1141]

I have this exact amp. It's so addictive to play on. I'm always blown away how an old school bedroom amp has stood to amps far above it's price range, for decades. Love your channel. I've worked in low voltage for the last twenty years and really want to build my own amp. I've been building transformers and fly back coils for the last year, or. I need to get back to work. Channels like yours are inspiration. Thanks!

[@Ymmoyason224]

I never opend any of my amps ,never have any intrest what so ever whats in there. Then you pop up on KZbin and hocked me right up😀 You are so Good to explain ,and the camera is always perfect placed. All the best to you from Tommy in Sweden 👍

[@rgortega1285]

Your appreciation for respecting original designer and yes thanks for showing all steps involved. As time goes on you will become a true Luther of Amps and I'd assume you are dialed in to the movements of the axe role.

[@bernardcromarty485]

I'm really impressed by your attention to detail! The future of valve (toob) amps is safe in your hands!

[@edmili1129]

Colleen, Another great video with everything explained in detail you're the best in my humble opinion Ed

[@MauriceBorja]

Amazing!! A fan of this person. Her interest and dedication to what she does is a breathe of fresh. Wondering who or what inspired her in this field😊. Thnk you!👍

[@eternalme6077]

So nice to watch you, a young woman who not only has knowledge of electronics and such but is even interested in this to begin with......so Awesome. I'm an old geezer who plays several instruments and this takes me back to a time around 73 - 74 when I would plug in my 67 Gibson SG Jr. into my 74 Fender Champ. You can imagine the sound that single plastic P- 90 pickup strapped in a plank of deep burgundy mahogany in my Champ cranked up to 10......oh HELL YEAH! I know you Guitar player's out there can tell this Deadly combination is nothing short of a ROCK MONSTER, lol.....anyways love this video.....🎸🎸🎸♥️

[@josephmagedanz4070]

And this video got me to become a patron...looking forward to more. Glad to see a new generation doing this work. Keep it up and thanks!

[@bigwavedave8492]

Thanks so much for the knowledge you're passing on... I feel you are demystifying tube amps and its awesome

[@ross3818]

A little tip: use the drill's clutch feature when putting those screws back in so they don't get gnarled. Keep rocking, sister!

[@canaan_perry]

I really appreciate the education about guitar amps. Thanks for making these vids.

[@Finom1]

Just an amazing video. So peaceful with educational content.

[@placeholder7044]

Bless your kind heart for sharing your wisdom with us:)

[@jambajoby32]

Girl you ARE a silver faced champ! :p Love your work and videos ! Thanks for sharing

[@FazioElectric]

Hehe thank you ;)

[@noyd4172]

One of the clearest explanations on the internet of anything technical, let alone amp-related. Keep up the good work! It's so satisfying to see someone know exactly what they're doing.

[@kennethdubard9065]

Thanks for the video. I'm going to make a cap voltage discharge tool so I can get inside of my Music Man 65 and tighten up some pots and take a look around. In an industry that's been so dominated by guys, it's hard not to sound patronizing when I say you are an inspiration.

[@pneumatic00]

Good idea. Always be careful with those Music Man amps---their B+ is often 100 volts higher than Fenders.

[@emilianoranfagni7198]

Hi. Short version :Solder a 220k or 330k resistor in parallel across the first filter cap ( normally ) or across any filter cap from B+ to ground. Better if the resistor is 2 or 3 W . The heater elevation, also does the job. With a value of 220k , a 32uF cap and a voltage of 300 V on B+n you can achieve a safety threshold voltage of 10 volt in maybe 25 seconds. Always check the voltage with a tester before to put the hands in.

[@steveg219]

Cool to have the client demo t her final product- sounds great !!

[@danh.8490]

Nice job, compliments on taking the time to remove the old solder with your solder vac. Makes a cleaner, more reliable connection.

[@brandonthomas2870]

When I have amp issues you will definately be my go to!! Keep up the good work!!

[@kbkman7742]

It's very satisfying to undo strange mods/poor repairs. Love the camerawork

[@Clmkxoxo]

Hi found this by accident when could sleep tonight ... wow great stream and awesome job showing/telling changes you expect to do to restore back! Love it Good job young lady keep on preserving amps !

[@montygore]

I use the same calculator. It sure makes life easier. Thanks for the great videos.

[@svt4001]

This is how you do an instructional video! Great camera shots and lighting; clear, concise descriptions of what you are doing and why; and I really like the supplemental notes added in screen. Subbed!

[@Metalbass10000]

Absof###inglutely! I've been building guitars and basses for about 25 years, playing them and working on them since 1986. I replaced the stock pickups, with Dimarzio pickups, in my first guitar, a Japanese made Kramer Focus 4000, the day after I received it. I replaced the Dimarzio set with a set of Seymour Duncan pickups, which are still in that guitar. All these years later, I NEVER did anything to the inside of any of my amps, aside from replacing tubes, de-ox some pots. This was as good, or better, than ANY work done, and explained, on an amp that I have ever seen. Like you said, clear, concise, and as thorough as I would want it, because I understand everything she's doing, why she's doing it, why it makes sense, and I'm not getting overwhelmed by details and tangential information that isn't pertinent in the moment. Combine that with the relaxed tone of her delivery, good pacing, and easy to listen to voice, and I would feel confident, right now, that if you put that amp in front of me I could follow her video and do that job.

[@AMERICANPRIDE1100]

I suck at soldering lol

[@tomaszdabrowski99]

WOW. Your channel is so great! Greetings from Poland.

[@marcuswilson007]

Nice job. It's great to see a young person working in electronics. Most of the techs I know are over 60 years old.

[@genisphyla]

i like how the insides of old amps smell. Makes me think of the history of the amp and what they might have seen.

[@mozilla2576]

Nice work! You make amp repair look very simple and easy.

[@oldguy5381]

It’s good to see your channel taking off. Your following growing every episode. Thanks for your hard work.

[@analtarofnothing69]

Excellent presentation style. Rushing around inside a chassis is a bad idea and I dig your relaxed, yet to the point attitude. Liked & subscribed - and a reminder I need to give my old '65 VC a service! (and nice to see no misogyny in the comments section too, long may that continue!)

[@chrisdrake447]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video and will now make my way through your other projects. What I particularly liked was the pace of delivery plus the on-screen notes about the function and impact of certain components (and the impact of changing the component value on the sound) on the circuit, and the way you highlight the section you’re speaking about on the schematic and layouts. I feel functionally dyslexic when it comes to understanding schematics etc, and this helps immensely. Thank you.

[@Robert-xn3jb]

Amp sounds great after repair. Great job and I love the videos.

[@TheJammerman]

What a great concept for a channel, good for you

[@danielgregory7200]

Wow!!! What a huge difference!!!

[@mystic638]

Thanks for sharing! Long live Fender ☝🏻

[@leemparry]

Hey! Great job, very thorough. I did notice that the Warehouse is an 8ohm speaker, but the Champ calls for a 4ohm (I think!)

[@tommyfoley]

Eagle eyes Lee Parry.

[@jcool0122]

They make the warehouse speakers in 4 ohm. I have one in my 5f1 copy I built last year.

[@boggsty]

You converted it from a Fender Cramp back to a Fender Champ! Nicely done love it.

[@ancienttech4636]

You do nice work! The only thing I would change would be to make the cathode bypass capacitor a 50 volt part, since you now have 32 volts across it and it needs to be derated further because the 6V6GT is underneath, cooking it. For the electrolytic tabs, I have a beastly 450 watt weller gun! Nothing like a fire-breathing dragon for those tough jobs! 💪 You have tremendous expertise! Keep on truckin'!

[@isgood100t4]

Moving it farther away from the resistor would be a good thing also_

[@erikshen1107]

Absolutely IMPECCABLE WORK!!!

[@jochoui]

Nice video! I really like all the explanation about which parts does what. That helps understanding way better! Cheers from Quebec, Canada.

[@TheyreStillOutThere]

I love the short explanation text that gives us a quick idea of what some of the lingo means and what the components are doing in the circuit, etc. That's really cool. I service my own vintage amps and gear, but I don't actually know what most of the stuff does. I just replace filter caps, replace way out of tolerance carbon comp resistors, rebuild negative bias supply, and clean stuff up while I'm in there. Your vids are rad

[@joelbloggs8212]

Great job. I tried for the first time the other day to change the electrolytics on my 66 deluxe reverb cct board, and found it quite difficult, you make it look so easy. I manged to do the single, but couldnt get the doubles in. lol Will try again when i get the time and have calmed down. Thanks for the tutorials.

[@tremorrs]

Excellent job at showing how to use the layout document and schematic to put a modified amp back to stock!

[@bottomendbliss]

The joy and comfort when a shirt fits just right

[@TheWickerShireProject]

Nice clean Build. Love looking at schematics. Felt good to see it cleaned up and put back to stock. Thanks Fazio Electric! Much Love, "The Shire".

[@rfdave3980]

Nice When you were installing the two jacks, I was thinking please don't use pliers.... and you didn't. Proper nut driver Professional. You are a special young Lady. You have my respect.

[@that_thing_I_do]

I love the smell of solder in the morning...it smells like victory.

[@andrewfindlay9698]

Lady, you are the tops....thankyou Best easy instructional ive seen

[@scottschooling4354]

Very well presented video, thank you. I hope you don’t mind a suggestion, but if you put your drill driver on slow speed it you will bounce less on the screw heads as they are being run in. I use a super slow old black and screw driver that works well. The owner looks happy, and I bet Leo’s ghost is resting easier

[@milesaboveu]

It's not the speed. Its the clutch. If your drill has numbers around the end of the bit, you can put it on 1for delicate stuff and the clutch will stop it from over tightening/stripping.

[@dabsNbrews]

This is the best thing I’ve found on YT in many moons. You are awesome!

[@TravisTellsTruths]

That guy Taylor was pretty good! Awesome work. Sounds much better.

[@BeachJazzMusic]

Great job, amp sounds killer! My first amp when I was 13 was a 1965 Blackface Vibro Champ. There was no distortion pedals back then so I use to put it in the closet with a bunch of pillows and crank it up. Then the 'Maestro Fuzz Tone' came out and I could take the amp out of the closet and play it without driving my parents nuts.

[@Garflips]

Very nice. I had a Champ at least the same age that I modded - blasphemy I know - but no electronic modifications. I put in a heavier 10" speaker. I did have to enlarge the baffle opening as well as carve out a bit more space for the flange of the speaker but I had tested it first and it was definitely the sound I wanted for clean jazz and a browner rock sound with a pedal. I still own an Ampeg Gemini VI (head put in its own cabinet) that is spectacular. It's got the tremolo, reverb pan and an accordion input! Someone should have cloned that amp. Enjoyed the repair and I'll check out others. Cheers!

[@flagemdown66]

By sheer dumb luck, my first tube amp was the very early 1963 Fender Blackface Vibro Champ. I got that amp in the very early 80's for next to nothing and wish I had it today. I plugged my brand new Rickenbacker 360 WB 6 string into the Vibro Champ and that's when the lights went on about the tube tone! A big step up from solid state tone!

[@orionwarren4244]

Nice job, lady! And the customer looks stoked...win-win!

[@Seer_Believer]

Watching her take the mods off was oddly satisfying! Looking for a champ now.

[@shundhem_electrick]

I really like the way you work

[@noone-t8y]

The mods might have been gritty, but this is a greatly improved tone. USEFUL in the studio!

[@SrDeMaFp]

Wish I found this channel sooner! Good stuff!

[@pwman]

Great amp restoration and love the clear explanations of the things you were doing! The resulting amp sounds fantastic!!!

[@seacave853]

I would have killed for this video 10 yrs ago! great walk through.

[@drew945101]

Got to love the creak of those old eyelet boards.

[@harmonsalmon7739]

Am loving your quality and professional attitude to your job. Great stuff Fazio I am your student.