Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
13
Time Required
15 minutes
Sections
1
- Volume Pot
- 13 steps
Flags
Member-Contributed Guide
An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.
BackFender Champion 600
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications
Introduction
One of the issues it had was a malfunctioning noisy crackly volume pot. Today I’ll show you how to replace it if yours has this problem too.
What you need
Step 1
Volume Pot
- If you’re an experienced iFixer - it’ll take you about 10 minutes to get it done.
- Check the list of gear needed for this project. I offered the tools that I used but it’s absolutely doable with less or some other similar tools.
- Important: disconnect an amp from the power outlet!
- Please be careful - tube amps can hold a serious amount of electrical charge that can cause injuries or even death. Avoid touching any wires or contacts with your bare hands or instruments that have no reliable insulation.
If you’re an experienced iFixer - it’ll take you about 10 minutes to get it done.
Check the list of gear needed for this project. I offered the tools that I used but it’s absolutely doable with less or some other similar tools.
Important: disconnect an amp from the power outlet!
Please be careful - tube amps can hold a serious amount of electrical charge that can cause injuries or even death. Avoid touching any wires or contacts with your bare hands or instruments that have no reliable insulation.
1024
Step 2
- Let’s start by removing the rear chassis screws. All of the screws we are going to deal with work nicely with a PH2 bit.
- Then remove two side screws that also hold the amp chassis in place. Those are 4x30 mm btw.
Let’s start by removing the rear chassis screws. All of the screws we are going to deal with work nicely with a PH2 bit.
Then remove two side screws that also hold the amp chassis in place. Those are 4x30 mm btw.
Step 3
- Below the chassis you’ll find 4 more phillips screws holding a rear cover in place - remove them as well.
Below the chassis you’ll find 4 more phillips screws holding a rear cover in place - remove them as well.
Step 4
- Now it’s time to remove the nuts on the input jacks and our broken volume pot - I used pliers to do that, but it is advisable to use a small adjustable wrench in order to avoid any unwanted scratches.
Now it’s time to remove the nuts on the input jacks and our broken volume pot - I used pliers to do that, but it is advisable to use a small adjustable wrench in order to avoid any unwanted scratches.
Step 5
- Next let’s remove the volume knob - you’ll need a flat 2.5 bit for that. Carefully insert the bit into the hole on the rear side of the knob to undo a tiny screw inside of it.
- That’s it - chassis is free 👍.
- Hint: use a plastic tray or a magnetic mat to safely store all of those screws and nuts. You can even write where all those parts come from.
Next let’s remove the volume knob - you’ll need a flat 2.5 bit for that. Carefully insert the bit into the hole on the rear side of the knob to undo a tiny screw inside of it.
That’s it - chassis is free 👍.
Hint: use a plastic tray or a magnetic mat to safely store all of those screws and nuts. You can even write where all those parts come from.
Step 6
- Slightly lift it up and pull towards you with just a hand to access the internals.
- That’s it - the amp’s chassis is right in front of you.
Slightly lift it up and pull towards you with just a hand to access the internals.
That’s it - the amp’s chassis is right in front of you.
Step 7
- Disconnect the panel that holds the input jacks and our volume pot. For this you may either use your fingers or an IC Extractor/Connector Puller.
- Then lightly push one of the input jacks inside of the chassis to remove the panel.
Disconnect the panel that holds the input jacks and our volume pot. For this you may either use your fingers or an IC Extractor/Connector Puller.
Then lightly push one of the input jacks inside of the chassis to remove the panel.
Step 8
- Here’s our panel safely removed from the chassis - front and rear view.
Here’s our panel safely removed from the chassis - front and rear view.
Step 9
- Now let’s replace a broken volume pot. For this we are obviously going to need a soldering iron, a flush cutter and a desoldering pump.
- Hint - I used flush cutters to cut a broken pot off from the PCB and then used a desoldering pump to clean the mounting holes in order to get them ready for a new pot.
- Also a good PCB holder may come in handy as you may see in my example.
Now let’s replace a broken volume pot. For this we are obviously going to need a soldering iron, a flush cutter and a desoldering pump.
Hint - I used flush cutters to cut a broken pot off from the PCB and then used a desoldering pump to clean the mounting holes in order to get them ready for a new pot.
Also a good PCB holder may come in handy as you may see in my example.
Step 10
- After removing a broken pot and preparing a PCB for the replacement put a new pot into place.
- Add more flux - don’t be shy there - and solder a new pot in place.
After removing a broken pot and preparing a PCB for the replacement put a new pot into place.
Add more flux - don’t be shy there - and solder a new pot in place.
Step 11
- Clean any flux residue with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab.
Clean any flux residue with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab.
Step 12
- Connect a fixed PCB to the amp’s main board and assemble everything back together.
Connect a fixed PCB to the amp’s main board and assemble everything back together.
Step 13
- Check if everything works as it should - plug in your guitar and adjust a volume - if it works and it’s smooth and quiet…
Check if everything works as it should - plug in your guitar and adjust a volume - if it works and it’s smooth and quiet…
…congratulations - you’ve fixed it 🏆.
Cancel: I did not complete this guide.
Author
in_sympathy
Member since: 07/01/2013
203 Reputation
2 Guides authored
Badges:
9
+6 more badges
