would $340 for a 72 vibro champ be a good deal

[fiestabender]

cosmetically beautiful, but the first input is not working. is this an expensive repair or do you think i can do better?

[Joe-Bob]

It depends on what's wrong. For that money everything should be working.

[popthree]

is it a local buy ? i don't think the price is too out of line. i've heard of people getting better deals.. but also of paying more. since it needs a little work you could try and talk the seller down a bit.

[Jerry J]

I think it's a high price since the first input is out, especially if you have to take it to an amp tech to fix. If you have some basic electrical chops though just do it yourself. There are plenty of folks here who could help you.

[muchxs]

Originally Posted by fiestabender

cosmetically beautiful, but the first input is not working. is this an expensive repair or do you think i can do better?

First input not working is a cheap easy repair... unless the amp has a secret like being modded from one end to the other inside. It's either the 1/4" jack or the connection the the preamp tube. It might something as simple as the jack being loose. If the nut is missing it replace the nut. If the nut is loose tighten the nut.

If the amp isn't working 100% you could use that as a bargaining point and beat the seller up on the price. The input is a cheap easy fix out here in the woods, it might cost you $125 just to have someone look at it in L.A..

[fiestabender]

how would you diagnose/ trouble shoot the first input not working ?

[muchxs]

Originally Posted by fiestabender

how would you diagnose/ trouble shoot the first input not working ?

The jack only needs to do two things... it needs to feed signal through the 68k resistor and on to the preamp tube grid and it needs to connect the ground to the ground. It's a switching jack so it needs to connect the input to the ground with the guitar unplugged so if we're counting it does three things.

I've worked on amps where yo-yos have bent the switching tab on the jack for some odd reason. That will make the amp noisy with the guitar unplugged. Bend it too far the other way and the input won't work.

It's probably something simple like the tip of the jack being bent back so it doesn't make contact although you almost have to get in there and deliberately bend it to create that problem.

[Groovey Records]

Grab it for $300

probably an easy fix

there is not much on the chassis

[DMace]

Personally, considering the deals that are out there on vintage amps these days, I would never pay that much for a Champ. I just saw a '62 Deluxe in EX+ condition for sale on craigslist for $1200 and a 70s Deluxe for $750. And those are the asking prices; they could likely be talked down. I wouldn't pay more than $250 for a SF Champ. But that's just me.

[Groovey Records]

Vibro champ is not champ

Vibro Champ arguably has the sweetest Vibrato tones around

I've sold VC for $400 no question asked a few times

No difference between the BF and SF and a BF can go for 5 and above no problem

[DMace]

Originally Posted by Groovey Records

Vibro champ is not champ

Vibro Champ arguably has the sweetest Vibrato tones around

I've sold VC for $400 no question asked a few times

No difference between the BF and SF and a BF can go for 5 and above no problem

Again, just my opinion as to the value. ymmv. But considering vintage Deluxes, Princetons and Vibroluxes are available for a few hundred more- if that- I'd never lay out that much $$ for a Champ, Vibro-Champ or any variation thereof.

[muchxs]

Originally Posted by Groovey Records

Vibro champ is not champ

Vibro Champ arguably has the sweetest Vibrato tones around

I've sold VC for $400 no question asked a few times

The New York metropolitan area is its own market. There are something like 15 million people within a 15 mile radius of Manhattan, maybe more? Out of all those people you can be sure there's one who will throw down $400 on a Vibro Champ.

Try to get someone to drive 45 minutes or so and then part with their money out in the sticks.

'Course, it will take you two hours to drive those 15 miles into Manhattan!

The more I think about it the extra input on that Vibro Champ has probably been disconnected. They both go to the same place so if one works it's no big deal to get the other one working IMO. The only hassle is there's a tricky little circuit w/ the 68k gridstoppers, a 1 meg grid leak and two switching jacks.