Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: rake on August 22, 2024, 10:07:34 pm

Title: Flea market find
Post by: rake on August 22, 2024, 10:07:34 pm
Bit the bullet last weekend and took the OL to an indoor flea market that she likes. (talk about murdering an entire day)  :dontknow: :think1:
I did find a Silverfaced Champ and got it for $5 at the end of the day. It's in rough shape. Speaker? junk. Box & grill? junk.
I checked the iron and they seem fine. Tubes all tested fair to good. Caps and most everything else? not much there. First thought was just part it out buy
how often do you get a Champ to repair? So, I figured since the chassis and iron are okay, why not build a Herzog? Always been a
Randy Bachman fan so why not get some of his sound? The schematics are in the library and the parts wouldn't be that much.
Maybe get to break it out at one of the local jam sessions!  :think1: :l2: :laugh:
Title: Re: Flea market find
Post by: AlNewman on August 22, 2024, 10:23:20 pm
What's an OL?
Score on the $5 transformers, though.  I bet your OL is reconsidering flea market days.
Title: Re: Flea market find
Post by: passaloutre on August 23, 2024, 12:27:52 am
OL=Old Lady?
Title: Re: Flea market find
Post by: rake on August 23, 2024, 04:18:49 am
OL=Old Lady?

Yup! Otherwise known as the Old Ball and Chain! LOL!
Can't complain, compared to the first two, this one's a saint.
Title: Re: Flea market find
Post by: Kesi from Hungary on August 23, 2024, 09:00:02 am
pictures of the old flea market Champ are very welcome
Title: Re: Flea market find
Post by: kagliostro on August 23, 2024, 09:16:38 am
I like your score

You can build an Herzog or use it as an Herzog but also as a standard Champ and also you can add an input reverb like in the Gibson ga1rt (red and blk wires at the input of the tank are to be connected in parallel with the speaker)

https://el34world.com/charts/Schematics/files/Gibson/Gibson_ga1rt.pdf (https://el34world.com/charts/Schematics/files/Gibson/Gibson_ga1rt.pdf)

This way you obtain a very versatile unit

Franco


p.s.: I don't remember, is the silver face a vibro version ?
Title: Re: Flea market find
Post by: jjasilli on August 23, 2024, 12:36:45 pm
I agree: with a built-in dummyload you can use it both as a Herzog or as a Champ. 


Though I'm nostalgically attracted to the Herzog, the thing is that there were few if any guitar pedals back then. Today an overdrive pedal is a lot easier to carry.
Title: Re: Flea market find
Post by: Willabe on August 23, 2024, 12:38:34 pm
I agree: with a built-in dummyload you can use it both as a Herzog or as a Champ. 


Though I'm nostalgically attracted to the Herzog, the thing is that there were few if any guitar pedals back then. Today an overdrive pedal is a lot easier to carry.

True but a Herzog has it's own sound.
Title: Re: Flea market find
Post by: rake on August 23, 2024, 05:51:45 pm
Great ideas but I still have my brand new Vibro-Champ from my 12th birthday! (1971)  :laugh: :icon_biggrin:
I did have to recap it though!
Title: Re: Flea market find
Post by: mresistor on August 23, 2024, 06:09:17 pm
well yeah    I would think so   if you're playing it regularly and it's not a museum piece..     :laugh:
Title: Re: Flea market find
Post by: rake on August 23, 2024, 07:10:44 pm
well yeah    I would think so   if you're playing it regularly and it's not a museum piece..     :laugh:

It gets played every 6 months or so. It actually does sit in my trophy case!  :l2:
Title: Re: Flea market find
Post by: Platefire on August 24, 2024, 06:40:06 pm
Man rake, as many flea markets as I've been to in the last 25 years and never found a guitar amp of any sort andyou find one for the price of a Happy meal :sad2:
Title: Re: Flea market find
Post by: mresistor on August 25, 2024, 11:16:24 am
Nice find Rake ..   post up some pics.   what's the date codes on the transformers?