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Topic: Fender Champ Issues |
Christopher Hacker
From:
California, USA
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Posted 7 Mar 2011 2:55 pm |
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Hi everyone!
I'm pretty new here been reading a bit here and there as I recently acquired a Fender Champ Lap Steel. Great Site!
I was wondering if you guys could help me diagnose a problem with my champ? The guitar will only get the faintest sound out of it with the volume and tone knobs all the way up and my amp all the way up. Everything seems to be wired up correctly, but I'll post some pics for clarity.
I don't have a proper camera with me right now so if better pics are required I'll re-post with better ones.
Thanks for any and all help or comments!
Chris
Edit: I think I posted this in the wrong section  |
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Jason Hull
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Posted 7 Mar 2011 4:42 pm
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| It looks like it's wired correctly. I would suspect the pickup. Do you have a meter? |
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Christopher Hacker
From:
California, USA
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Posted 7 Mar 2011 5:13 pm
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| Jason Hull wrote: |
| It looks like it's wired correctly. I would suspect the pickup. Do you have a meter? |
Yes I have a meter. I hope it's not the pickup. |
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A. J. Martinez
From:
Ca.
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Posted 8 Mar 2011 5:22 pm
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| Christopher...google...vintage guitars info- fender vintage guitar pickup specs,info |
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William Clark
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Posted 9 Mar 2011 9:34 pm
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| Christopher, I would check the pickup with a digital ohm meter. You want to make sure that your volume pot and tone pot are turned all the way up. The pickup should measure between 5 and 6K. I measured my Champ pickup and it measured 5.56K. If it measures really high or open, then most likely you have a break or a short in the winding. You can also check the pickup by hooking the pickup up to an amplifier at the two solder joints on the bottom of the pickup. I use a standard guitar lead with 1/4 inch jacks on it. One end goes into the amp, and I put the positive tip of the other end on one of the solder joints and the negative on the other. While holding the guitar lead on the pickup with the amp on, tap one of the magnets of the pickup with something ferrous, like a small screwdriver. If the pickup is working properly, you will get a strong pop. |
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Christopher Hacker
From:
California, USA
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Posted 10 Mar 2011 12:23 am
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Thanks for the tip William, I'm heading out of town for the weekend but when I get home I'm going to try this out.
If the pickup is damaged can anyone recommend a good person to rewind these kind of pickups? |
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Paul Arntson
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2011 7:39 am
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| I think Jason Lollar specializes in lap steel pickups. I know his work is real good. |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 12 Mar 2011 3:08 pm
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You might not get a lot of help over here in the Pedal Steel section... 
but, here's a Champ wiring drawing that might help you out.
Those pickups were pretty weak to begin with so if you have to replace it you might try what Steinar did with his Studio Deluxe lap steel.
Link to his thread.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=195118
I'm also working on a Champ project and I'm going to try out a Duncan Surf II high output bridge pickup in it. I love chimey surf tones! 
 |
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Christopher Hacker
From:
California, USA
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Posted 14 Apr 2011 9:19 am
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| Thanks for the help guys! Garry I went with the AlNiCo V bladed pickup from Pete. Thanks for pointing me to that thread. I'll report back once I install it and give it a whirl! |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 14 Apr 2011 2:02 pm
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| I put a Lollar pickup in Gerald Ross's Fender, made for that model. Sure improved the tone in my opinion. |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 14 Apr 2011 10:58 pm
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Gerald's guitar is a CHAMPION and not a CHAMP.
Telecaster pickups fit in the CHAMPION.
Not in the Champ... 
Stratocaster pickups fit in the CHAMP.
 There are a lot to choose from. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 15 Apr 2011 8:51 am
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| OK Garry. Since I'm not a fan of Fenders, I didn't know the difference. Anyway, the new pickup made the guitar sound really good, and not the trebly sound I usually associate with some Fenders. |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 15 Apr 2011 9:02 am
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I posted a recording of my Studio Deluxe after I replaced the stock pickup with the blade single coil from Vintage Vibe Guitars, it really was a 100% improvement over the thin trebly sound of the original.
Here it is again - The Tourist
_________________
"Play to express, not to impress"
Website - YouTube |
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