Replacing tubes for Fender Champ?

[siegelc]

Hey guys

I have a 1976 Fender Champ which seems to have a little buzzing/rattling or possibly "farty" noise on the lower notes. After quickly inspecting the amp, I've found one of the tubes is quite loose and looks like it could fall out easily. While this might not fix my problem, I'd like to replace the tube - I'm wondering what kind I can purchase to replace it with? The tube says on it "5Y3 GT USA". Also does anyone have any recommendations on what the issue could be?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[pabloman]

I believe that's rectifier tube. And you sir have a sloppy socket. I've heard tubes rattling in new Fender amps and it sounds like that's the problem. I would fix that before I did anything else.

 

[Cagey]

Hey guys

I have a 1976 Fender Champ which seems to have a little buzzing/rattling or possibly "farty" noise on the lower notes. After quickly inspecting the amp, I've found one of the tubes is quite loose and looks like it could fall out easily. While this might not fix my problem, I'd like to replace the tube - I'm wondering what kind I can purchase to replace it with? The tube says on it "5Y3 GT USA". Also does anyone have any recommendations on what the issue could be?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Pablo's right. That's the rectifier tube, which is a major component of the power supply that feeds your pre and power amp tubes. It's not likely it needs replacing, but the socket certainly does. Sockets are cheap - figure $1 to $3 - but installing one might run you $25 to $50, depending where you go.

Sometimes, the socket's pins can be tightened up without replacing the socket. But, you have to pull the chassis to do it, and by the time you've gone that far you may as well just replace the thing instead of trying to gain a little time on a worn part.

 

[siegelc]

Hey guys

I have a 1976 Fender Champ which seems to have a little buzzing/rattling or possibly "farty" noise on the lower notes. After quickly inspecting the amp, I've found one of the tubes is quite loose and looks like it could fall out easily. While this might not fix my problem, I'd like to replace the tube - I'm wondering what kind I can purchase to replace it with? The tube says on it "5Y3 GT USA". Also does anyone have any recommendations on what the issue could be?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Pablo's right. That's the rectifier tube, which is a major component of the power supply that feeds your pre and power amp tubes. It's not likely it needs replacing, but the socket certainly does. Sockets are cheap - figure $1 to $3 - but installing one might run you $25 to $50, depending where you go.

Sometimes, the socket's pins can be tightened up without replacing the socket. But, you have to pull the chassis to do it, and by the time you've gone that far you may as well just replace the thing instead of trying to gain a little time on a worn part.

Thanks for the tips guys. Is replacing the socket difficult? And are you guys sure that's the problem? I had a very loose tube on my Fender Blues jr. before and after I bought a new tube and pulled my old one, I saw the pins were all bent into a weird position. Once I put the new tube in, it fit snugly unlike the old tube, without replacing the socket.

 

[pabloman]

Then pull it out and check.

 

[mayfly]

Hey guys

I have a 1976 Fender Champ which seems to have a little buzzing/rattling or possibly "farty" noise on the lower notes. After quickly inspecting the amp, I've found one of the tubes is quite loose and looks like it could fall out easily. While this might not fix my problem, I'd like to replace the tube - I'm wondering what kind I can purchase to replace it with? The tube says on it "5Y3 GT USA". Also does anyone have any recommendations on what the issue could be?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Pablo's right. That's the rectifier tube, which is a major component of the power supply that feeds your pre and power amp tubes. It's not likely it needs replacing, but the socket certainly does. Sockets are cheap - figure $1 to $3 - but installing one might run you $25 to $50, depending where you go.

Sometimes, the socket's pins can be tightened up without replacing the socket. But, you have to pull the chassis to do it, and by the time you've gone that far you may as well just replace the thing instead of trying to gain a little time on a worn part.

Thanks for the tips guys. Is replacing the socket difficult? And are you guys sure that's the problem? I had a very loose tube on my Fender Blues jr. before and after I bought a new tube and pulled my old one, I saw the pins were all bent into a weird position. Once I put the new tube in, it fit snugly unlike the old tube, without replacing the socket.

I've seen this problem on other champs - as others have mentioned, chances are very high that the socket is toast.  Pins on an 8 pin octal base are not going to get bent very easily, so I don't think that's it.

BTW - this tube has the direct secondary winding of the power transformer going to it - it's got some serious voltage on it, and has some significant current passing through it.  If you are not comfortable replacing the socket yourself, please have a qualified tech do it.

 

[Superlizard]

Hey guys

I have a 1976 Fender Champ which seems to have a little buzzing/rattling or possibly "farty" noise on the lower notes.  Also does anyone have any recommendations on what the issue could be?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Quite possible the speaker is coming loose... check that it's screwed in tightly.

If that doesn't do it, then it could be the electrolytic "can" caps adding funny sounds to your tone - they dry out when they get old,
and don't filter efficiently as when they are newer.

 

[-CB-]

You dont need to replace the socket... jeeze....


You might need to tighten it, but you'll have to drain the power capacitor (3 section) first.

Tighten the socket by easing the metal clips together a bit.  Thats it.  I use a tiny jewelers screwdriver, that I broke the tip off of years ago.... filed it down, works fine.  You could use finishing nail.

MAKE SURE THE CAPS ARE DRAINED

Also, rectifiers have four pins.... sometimes a fifth pin is added, its a do nothing.  That means... its only grabbing by half the pins of say... a 6V6.

If you want, you can add a spring retainer to the socket screws, and that will hold it in place really well.  Use a dual spring/metal cap type of retainer, and futz with the cap and springs until if fits the 5y3 you have in your champ.    add the same to the 6V6 as well, and you're done

 

[siegelc]

How exactly do I drain the sockets?

 

[Cagey]

How exactly do I drain the sockets?

Well, you can do it yourself, but it's a lot easier to just take it to Jiffy Tube.

That's what she said!​