Conversion of a PCB Amp Circuit to Point-to-Point: Fender Champ 600 to 5F1
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2019
- In this video we will demonstrate all the steps necessary to convert a viewer's malfunctioning Fender Champ 600 with Printed Circuit Board into a hand-wired point-to-point Fender 5F1 circuit. The principles shown should be helpful for similar conversions on other models of PCB amps. In addition, a Variable Negative Feedback Loop is designed and installed. A thorough audio test is provided featuring both humbucker and single-coil pickups at different volume and NFB settings using a Shure SM-57 microphone.
We will also see Ollie's new "bed" and a second video featuring the replacement of a bent, leaky radiator in the 1934 Ford hot rod pickup.
If you enjoy advertising-free videos such as this one, then please subscribe to our channel and consider becoming a Patreon patron at: / uncledougsvintageamps or making a PayPal donation to: dldcam@aol.com. Thanks so much for your time and interest.
Wowzers!! That SM57 has completely transformed the sound quality of these demos exponentially! Well done, God bless!
Amazing your 1st impression on the sound quality was the same as mine! I was thinking 'is this Uncle Doug playing...live?'
The SM57 is an old design of microphone, derided by many live and studio engineers because , new must be better. Well... It's not. Shove a 57 halfway between the edge of the coil and suspension, (not right in the centre like some idiots do, that's the magnet that makes no sound) open the channel and what you get, sounds exactly like electric guitar! Same for snare drum, toms, trumpet, trombone, human voice etc...
And as for the conversion/creation. Nice work. Real nice! No WOT demo though? C'mon, I want to hear it sing!
As someone who is planning a 5F1 build I find this tremendously helpful. Thanks so very much for sharing Uncle Doug
How did it turn out
I am really loving the how much more acurate the tone is from the SM57 compared to the camera mic in past video's ... great build! ... now I want one
I get the feeling Uncle Doug greatly improved the reliability of this amp. What a nice thing to have it is now!
Someone's been practicing their playing! You can really hear it with the mic setup on this awesome amp!
All credit goes to Jack & Ollie, 8BB. I'll tell them :)
I own a Champ 600, and have considered doing a p2p. You have given me the courage to move forward with that project. Thanks for always blazing the trail, Uncle Doug!
The demos are sounding so good with the new mic! Bit of T-Rex in there, my first ever 45 single. Sometimes nice to reflect on the really positive side of life - we've never met, but thanks to the Internet I can sit here on a wet evening in England and enjoy music and electronics that we have in common from opposite sides of the Atlantic!
Thanks so much, Ross. I do indeed feel that our viewers are all part of a widespread family.......united by our common interests.
Thank You for taking the time to explain to everyone the finer points of basic tube amp construction once again!
Awesome from beginning to end Uncle Doug.
Got a mic! Sounds really good. This brings so much more to your finished efforts.
Nothing is lost! Sounds awesome.
At first I thought it was a stupid idea, replacing the PCB with point to point wiring. But I was surprised how simple it looked after the conversion. All connectors for the peripherals disappear, and it is as if you look trough the old PCB, and see top and bottom in one overview.
A well done idea. And thanks for pointing out the right way to wire the heaters.
Thanks for seeing the logic in this conversion, Erik :)
Always a good day when we have an Uncle Doug video! Thank you, as always.
Watching you solve problems is always interesting and informative, Uncle Doug. Thank you as always for posting.
Hey UD! Great to see another video from you!! Congrats on the SM57 mic! Awesome conversion.Thanks for sharing!!
The Negative feed back knob is brilliant...
You then can choose clean or dirty but having the option in a small unit like that is really nice...
It really works well, Joe. Thanks !!
Uncle Doug by showing how you make amps step by step in a comprehensive way we are starting to get more courageous with the solders 😊
That's our hope, K :)
I second that we couldn't have a better instructor in amp building uncle doug your the best I've learned more from you in the past year watching your vidios than I've learned from any book keep up the great work were all watching and very impressed thank you
My knowledge of a tube amp tripled from watching this video. Very informative, thanks Uncle Doug.
When i saw the title i was already putting on my war face to tell "It's hardwired not PTP" as most of these conversions are built but then i saw it was by Uncle Doug and knew instantly it was going to be true PTP!
Sounds amazing Uncle Doug! Nice work on the '34 too!
Thanks so much, FJ.
I remember when that style was called "rat's nest".
Is hardwired the same as handwired or are they interchangeable ? Is turret board circuit ptp?I thought ptp was no turret but I m not sure
@@graftongodofmemes 7i
"D shaped" drill bit. Doesn't get any better than that.I had an electronics professor at Rock Valley College who would pull stuff like that & never say it was a joke. I talked to guys 15 years
later who had missed much of his humor, and were stunned to realize that they had thought it was true for all those years. I love it.
Thanks :) I was pleasantly surprised to see a YT video on how to drill a square hole with a drill bit, Mark. It really can be done.
Loved the video. Vvery informative as always. BTW, I mentioned to my wife that I was going to buy one of those aluminum radiators on eBay an put it on display in our living room. She said I had to choose between her and the radiator. Sure gonna miss her.
Good one, Reggie. If you have a nice radiator ornament, like mine, you will miss her even less ;)
Good work again. I did a similar NFB thing with my fender reverb deluxe reissue. Took it out as it seems Leo fender knew what he was doing. SM57 sounds good
Couldn't get that much information in a lifetime let alone in under an hour, Thanks Uncle Doug.
Loved the pic of Ollie lounging in the catnip. 😻
Such complete bliss......we should all be so contented :)
UD the demos sound awesome. The improved setup really shows the amazing quality of this boutique amplifiers you are crafting. Thanks for the vids!
Amazing video as always! The sound is so much better for comparison, I’m really digging the sm57
As always, exceptional point to point explaining.
And nice mic placement! And I see you got a new SM57. ..nice!
You are somebody who my father, who passed away many years would have loved to talked to or watched this. Thanks.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Larry. I too regret that we never met.
Just AWESOME. As an amp builder and a musician, I totally appreciate every second of this video. One of those things that make your life more interesting and fulfilled by watching/listening. Thank you uncle Doug.
Wow....thanks for the nice comments, Admir. We're glad you enjoyed it :)
@@UncleDoug OMG Doug you landed directly on my Magnatone issue here = it sends B plus up an umbilical from a full wave bridge rectifier, set in the cabinet base - but straight AC travels up with it, just for the on off switch, no other reason - this umbilical passes the reverb tank & speaker magnet and constitutes a design flaw on an otherwise ultra cool piece
@@andrewgillis8572 When confronted with this problem in the past, I simply moved the on/off toggle back to the lower chassis, where it belongs.
@@UncleDoug Great, Doug! Surely this will cancel hum, if not the sound of hypergallisc fuel being dumped into a nozzle in the hils above Pasadena, CA. Oh and how great the sound & style of this amp, once complete. The double thick box & tray is smart - non-conductive, for that jack ground, but otherwise, smart - plus how easy to work on. Bravo to both
@@andrewgillis8572 Thanks so much, Andrew.
LOL Same exact solder sucker I have. I'll bet I've had mine since the 70's. That amp will be sweet when it's finished and it IS! Sounds great.
I wouldn’t call that a conversion. That was a creation.
Maybe not a conversation, but definitely a conversion.
Point to point is cool, but the idea that is sounds noticeably better is provably bogus, unless the circuit board is badly designed with supertiny leads. The voltage is high in these circuits, the currents low, you don't need a lot of copper to carry it.
Now, from the output transformer to the speaker is a different issue.
@@RegebroRepairs Agreed, but point to point beats a troublesome, defective PC board with intermittent opens and other ghost problems.
@@barbmelle3136 That's true.
@@temujenbarca1284 That's why there's double blind testing. ;-)
But yes, I agree. The sound qualities are mainly from the design and build, not the technology used.
Well I can say, another fantastic build!!! Love your expertise and dedication to the craft. High praise coming from an old electronics tech from back in the 80's, to now a licensed electrician. Yes, I'm getting back into the game and your videos as well as your UA-cam compatriots have spurred me on to start tinkering again! Thank you!
You're welcome, Duane. Thanks for the nice comments.
I wish your UA-cam channel existed during my late ‘80s engineering college days.
This is just beautiful!
Thanks so much, Saverio.....glad you enjoy our videos.
Wow,Uncle Doug,great point build!Love the clean (at times' a little "Voxy") and the "dirty" sound is pure delta! : )
The clean does have a nice "chime", Charles. Thanks.
Wow...master class in circuit design and a great sounding end result. Doug...really great!
Thanks, ID :)
THANK YOU SO MUCH for making that SM57 buy. I could never tell the difference in tonal quality with the audio from your camera, but now I feel rewarded to watching the video. Great stuff, absolutely love this and I learn new stuff every time.
You're quite welcome, Nat. We try to do our best for our viewers.
Yep, yet another GREAT Uncle Doug video. Very informative. Some nice guitar playing thrown in too.
Fantastic video Uncle Doug. Always enjoy your videos but this was really great to see you built a real PTP - wow
Watched all your videos. The sm57 microphone sounds alot better. Thanks for what you do.
I have just done this point to point conversion on my champion 600, I had a spare power transformer with centre taps and a 5v supply too, so went the extra mile and put in an extra chassis hole and a 5y3. This little amp rocks especially through a 12" external speaker :) Great work Uncle Doug, my cats are rocking out tunes from it now as I type :)
That sounds like a great project, Dr. P. I would have preferred a 5Y3, but buying another PT seemed a bit wasteful.
Really nice conversion. Loved the cat nap and that radiador also. Thanks for sharing!
Haven't even watched this yet but I can't wait. Planning a similar thing for my valve junior so a master class is just the ticket!
Well, I am again fully impressed with the style and creativity of Uncle Doug. Totally cool remodel of an amp. Thank you so much for this demo.
The pleasure was all ours, Mo.
The entire flow of this conversion is outstanding. Your ability to plan ahead on the rectifier to accommodate the original transformer type demonstrates that. The addition of the negative feedback loop was insightful. The tone of this point-to-point champ using humbuckers is rich, and has ample bite, and overtones. I, of course, realize your Ampro cabinet did contribute to the amp's musical character. Thank you for sharing! it was enjoyable, and informative to watch. Enjoy your weekend!
Thanks so much for your very well-worded comment, Alex. I really appreciate your time and interest.
@@UncleDoug Anytime!
Not only did the point to point circuit become a thing of
aesthetic beauty, the sound demo exposes what`s under the hood
lovely clean tones, but that cranked distortion was delicious ,
(i know J J Cale sat in... )you can`t fool me Uncle Doug ,😉😂
excellent radiator replacement too, 👍speaking of hoods ,
Thanks so much for your very nice comments, TS. JJ is a long-time fan of Jack & Ollie and hangs out in the workshop from time to time ;)
$100, damn that’s a good deal! Great work on that amplifier like always. Thank you Uncle Doug.
How did I miss this episode? This conversion was exactly the kind of journey I adore. Thank you for being the perfect Sherpa to scale this mountain properly. Your use of shielded wire for input path is thoughtful in scope, and necessary for signal integrity. Actually, every step in practice you take while performing circuit building is a discipline that I wish all electronic techs would follow. The finished product sounded warm, and touch sensitive! If I may inject my two cents, the negative feedback loop was a more sensible feature than the triode variable selection. Once again you have impressed me far beyond mere curiosity. I'm glad you sequence the steps of these products so anyone can follow along. On a completely unrelated issue...I hope you're doing well during this health scare. The media is making it more intense than it has to be, but it is wise to heed the warnings of the CDC. Be safe, dear Uncle.
Thanks so much for your very thoughtful analysis of this video, Alex. Your kind comments are definitely appreciated. We are tending to stay home the vast majority of the time and look forward to the end of this media-stoked "crisis". Best wishes to you and yours.
Another fantastic sounding amp! I really appreciate your new mic setup. Thanks for that.
Beautiful work Doug. I have a homemade 5F1 in a 5E3 type case that I've built using turret board construction. You've just inspired me to try a PTP version.
I've converted my Gretsch G5222 5W amp to this point-to-point 5F1 circuit. And it sounds great!! Way better than the pc board circuit which sounded noisy. Thank you Uncle Doug for this video. It helped me a lot. And it's surprisingly quiet.
That's great to hear, Kristine. Congratulations on a successful project.
Bless you Uncle Doug, your amazing! Another great educational video!
Thanks so much, F1.
I think this is an amazing video. One of the hardest things I have found in working on these amps is to form a link between the schematic and the parts layout (where components are located -- and why). This is like a lab class where we learn layout by doing layout. Thank you so much.
You're quite welcome, Stuart. I'm glad the video was informative.
Nobody mentioned the brilliant mike stand !!!!! Perfect placement, repeatable. Outstanding performance
Thanks for noticing, Bryan :)
Mic placement looks good and sounds great through my headphones. Nice how to video, like all the rest of your nice how to videos.
Very timely , as I've been thinking about doing a project like this. Thanks again !!
Uncle Doug, as usual thank you for for the wisdom! Placing the SM57 off center slightly like that sure did the trick to make your audio tests sound great.
Thanks, RR. We listen to our viewers :)
This amp is extremely similar to what I plan to build! I'm learning so much so fast from your teachings that I'm a grateful new member to your Patreon today. Thanks Uncle Doug.
Thanks for your support of our channel, JR. We really appreciate it.
Great job on both projects from one Guit-car guy to another.
Impressive - I suppose, besides the massive labour cost savings, the printed circuit gives the impression of more stuff and more value whereas the point to point looks like there's less "stuff" and ought to be cheaper. Less is More is proven once again. Well done - it looks good, sounds great and the mod of the variable Neg Feedback is perfect for those who, occasionally, want a super clean sound.
Beautiful circuit! Looks so much simpler than the PCB original. Sounds great too. Nice job on the radiator!
Hi Uncle Doug. Thanks for sharing this video. Marvelous work on the point to point wiring on that amp. Also, I appreciate your improvements on the recording capabilities you have now, really brings out the Fender tone goodness. You definitely channeled some Billy on your ZZ jams. Cheers.
Thanks, Ray :)
Your getting better uncle doug!! I recognize the music to you know what that means.
Yet another great video Uncle Doug. I do need to pick one nit how ever. JEDEC, Joint Electron Device Engineering Council, in 1958 established the original US numbering system for semiconductors loosely based on the number of junctions in the device. As a result diodes are 1N (one nen) and bipolar devices are 2N. Okay, I feel better now. Thanks and please keep the videos coming.
If I said anything other than one-N, I know better and simply misspoke.
This is one of the best amp projects I've ever seen. The coolest. 👍👍👍
The combo to head mod by the original owner is also slick.
Glad you like it, LS. Thanks so much :)
Enjoyed watching this Doug.Looking at that circuit board I thought there was going to be much more work involved.You made it look doable.thanks for sharing.
Always love a hot rod update, too.
Wow!!! That thing was already a work of art when you received it, but now doubly so! I just started watching your channel, and man I'm loving your videos. Not only is your work very professional and thorough, but your way of explaining things is what people pay good money for at college. My dad was a brilliant electronics tech for many years and taught me how to solder when I was only 5 or 6 years old. I went on to become a mechanical and aerospace engineer, and watching other technical artisans like you is better than any primetime TV for me! :) Thanks again for taking the time to make these videos and sharing your knowledge with the world.
Wow....thanks so much for your very nice comments, 400. they are particularly rewarding, considering your background.
Btw, I approve of the longer format of your video.. nice to spend an hour with you!
Thanks, Aaron. The videos have been getting longer and longer. I really think that an hour should be the max.
This was truly the best lesson explaining what all those marks on a schematic in real life really look like on the operating table. Thank you for spending the time to share all your hard-won knowledge!
You're quite welcome, Steve.
I want to do this to my Fender Pro Junior which I've heavily modified already. 6n2p in the phase inverter, master volume, 3 band eq to my own flavoring as well as a resonance knob that originally was me playing around with a variable negative feedback loop.
Thanks for this video :D
That sounds awsome. Video please!
I have a pair of Fender Champion 600s that I loath - I bought them while living away from home. They are noisy and awful, was considering doing this and adding an EZ80 rectifier too. Can't wait to watch this video - great stuff Uncle Doug! :D
Let us know how they turn out, Prince :) Thanks !!!
What a great sounding amp Doug! This would be an excellent amp for someone to be able to start with, and stick with for some time! It would work great with pedals for some effects and just a bit of controlled input drive. It's somehow very comforting to know that the circuits designed more than half a century ago stand the test of time, still such a valuable tool for a musician!
Thanks, Donn. The simpler.....the better, in most cases, and the venerable Fender Champ is capable of fulfilling all the needs of any guitarist (with access to a PA system, if necessary).
The best video I've seen in mod's, scratch build, or repairs on following a schematic and make the connections. For instance, I was able to follow you as you went along to the point that I knew you hadn't referenced the negative feedback loop. Excellent video.
That's great news, Buck, and exactly what we are trying to accomplish. Thanks !!!
Sounds great! Excellent job young man
That's a beautifully sounding amp Uncle. Perfect job as always. By the way, I would really love to have one of those D shaped drill bits one day, they really are handy. And the placement of those 1N4007s is awesome. Thank you for sharing with us, Uncle.
You're welcome, LS.
i had to pause and search on that one, that was some "this old tony" humor right there
@@m0ck0 If you find a source for the square bits, let me know, Rocko. Mine is getting a little dull :)
Those actually exist, just saw a video on Instagram about them
Thank you for such a great feature. I have a couple of amps I hope one of these days to apply your knowledge to and get back to life and better than ever.
Hi Uncle Doug! Big thank you for making this video. I just did this project for myself. I traded a piece of gear for one of these amps and I got fleeced. It had all sorts of mods and had burned components on the circuit board so I rebuilt mine. I did an eyelet board for the filter cap section, but I wired the rest of the circuit similar to your build here. I couldn't be happier. Thank you!
You're welcome, Sam. It sounds like you got a lemon.....and made lemonade :)
Been a while since I watched an Uncle Doug video - glued at moment and can't wait for the completion
Haha @18:01 a trippy meow
I'd like to do that with a Fender Excelsior sometime. Well done!
By all means, give it a try, Bryan. Thanks !!
That would make a good vijayo !!!
Hey, you spell your name the right way. You cant be all that bad.
This is a project I have been thinking of doing to my Champ 800 and this video is just what I need!
Thanks Unk!!!!!
An interesting bit of Fabrication in that amp and thanks for the information. Also looks like that roadster will be running nice and cool while you are out cruising. Great video
Hi uncle Doug, thanks for sharing your educational mod/repair on this later champ model. I also like how you demonstrated how to use the AB output xformer in a class A setup. You are a wealth of information as always. :-)
It's not a class AB output transformer. It's set up for single ended operation but could be used in a couple or three different amps. The 8K tap is probably for a
6V6 output tube and the 5K tap for a 6L6 output tube.
Thanks , I missed that, I seen the wire colors later in the vid, and thought it was AB class.
@@vhm14u2c A lot of repair shops don't mind spending a little bit for a few feet of extra wire on a transformer... if it means they can stock a few less parts
on the shelves and still get the same number of amps fixed(8-).
DANG, that sounds good! Nice job! :) You just CAN'T beat a tube amp for it's warm sound.
Thanks, Randy. Amen :)
Yep! Seems the simpler the circuitry is, the better the sound.
I've watched this over and over, and learned more than reading many books. absolutely the best teacher on UA-cam
Thanks so much, GA :)
Another top shelf job Uncle Doug. You are the real champ here, your wiring is a work of art
Thanks, Pedro :)
Awesome video, thanks Uncle Doug!
It's our pleasure, S.
Oh man... that hood ornament.
I think it has a crack in it.
Thanks Uncle Doug!
Cheers,
It's my inspiration when driving......like the carrot in front of the donkey :)
@@UncleDoug 😜
@@UncleDoug Oh I thought it was a chic with a nice bum bending over!
In my 40+ year career in electronics, I've been around a lot of techs. I have yet to meet one of your talents and dedication to the craft. I've taken the liberty of sharing your videos with techs I know. I really can't find words to express our amazement. For people not in the trade, this gentleman is the Da Vinci of electronics. He is definitely in the top 1% of techs. He makes it look easy. It isn't.
Wow......Thanks so much for the very nice comments, CH. We really appreciate them and wish you and yours a splendid holiday season.
Thanks Uncle Doug, exactly the video I was hoping for! I’ve been planning to do this for a while. You sir are THE BEST!
Thanks so much, DB :)
From Leo: For those interested, MODkits makes a little 5 watt amplifier kit that is terminal strip based. Gain, volume and tone control. 12ax7 preamp, 6bq5 output. About $200.
Excellent! Thank you Uncle Doug! I am reworking an old Magnavox stereo amplifier (very small chassis, messy layout) and this detailed video answered several questions I had about creating an efficient layout.
Man, those single ended amps sound SWEET! I love this video, thank you, Uncle Doug, Rusty, and the Kitties!
You're quite welcome, Curtis.
43:50 Uncle breaking out the Brown Sugar !! Excellent build. I am inspired...
Apologies to all the diabetics in the audience :)
I intend to build a tube amp at some point. This will be a good reference.
That's, "Some Point to Point". Is that a Pun? :-)
Love the SM57!!!!
I wanted to do this conversion for ages (to 5F1 or to AB764)! Your video is so clear and didactic that I will do it now no problem + enjoy the conversion much more!
Glad it helped, Fernando. Good luck with your project.
Truly excellent Uncle D. Looking at how you dealt with the challenges step by step was illuminating. Your prior Champ video did a great job of explaining NFB, but seeing you go over it again in this one finally made a dent in my ignorance. And I echo the comments on the new mic. Difference between the humbuckers and single coil was very well defined. Now I have to pull out those Champ parts and chassis and finally start working on it. When I saw the cut to the fan dangling like an ugly hangnail over the bumper of the `34 and your comment, I could relate--completely. Great work.
Thanks so much, Carl. It's always great to hear from you.
Nice work Uncle D!!
I was just watching the guitarologist ... he was just advising someone not to do this type of conversion. LOL . . It's a good way of recycling. The hot rods tend to self destruct after time but you can tranform them into Supers or Bassman...
Thanks, SS. I wonder why Brad feels that way ? I'll have to watch and see. In this case, I really think it was quite worthwhile and rewarding :)
@@UncleDoug he was saying it would be more economic to fix it and then buy another amp.. which is fair dues.. just thought it was a happy conincidence!! I'm cabinet building this weekend. Take care uncle d
Wow by golly Ollie...sounds great! Another outstanding video. : ) Peace UD.
Oh my, from an "old" amp to an old Ford. This is definitely a channel for me :)
I've been out of the amp building loop for a while pursuing other interests...after watching this, the itch is back!
It's quite addictive, Iv.