Hi there,
I own a Power Station 2 and have used it to my great satisfaction to make my Fender Deluxe Reverb quieter.
I recently bought a Fender Champ silverface (1980).
I would like to use it for both: to increase or reduce the volume of the signal.
The problem is that the Champ does not have an output socket at the back. The speaker connection is permanently installed.
I asked an amp technician if he could install a connection socket with a plug so that I could connect the PS.
The amp technician told me that this would damage the Champ because, he said, an amp without a load would break.
Have I misunderstood something, and is it not possible to make the Champ louder and thus suitable for stage use via PS via an external speaker cabinet?
(The Champ’s stock speaker would
then not be connected).
You probably want to buy two of these, I’ve used REAN NYS236 1/4" TS 2 pole Female/Female Adapter before.
When you want to use the power station, connect the REAN adaptors to both jack sockets and just use normal speaker cable to hook up with the power station.
I thought the principle was the same as what I did with the Fender Delux Reverb. I went from the speaker out to the PS2 (amp in). From there, I connected the speaker out to this adapter with a speaker cable and then to the combo’s stock speaker cable connected to the speaker. To attenuate.
So I only needed one output jack.
Wouldn’t it be the same principle with the Fender Champ if I want to make it quieter at home? On the other hand, if I want to make it louder via an external cabinet, I wouldn’t need the adapter because I would then connect the PS2’s speaker out to an external speaker. The Champ’s speaker would then not be in use. Am I right?
I think what Dan is suggesting is trying to give you the flexibility to do multiple things. I think this is what he is suggesting and why…
Cut the cable that is currently wired between the output transformer on your amp to the internal speaker.
Solder two Neutrik 1/4 inch TS plugs to each end of the exposed wire. Now you have a 1/4 inch plug FROM the amp and TO the speaker.
To use the internal speaker as normal, use ONE of the REAN FF adapters to connect BOTH 1/4 inch plugs together.
From here you can introduce the Power Station and you can go different ways with this. You suggested using a separate speaker cab. To do that, take the 1/4 inch plug from the amp, connect ONE REAN FF adapter, and connect a regular speaker cable to the other end of the adapter. This cable plugs in to the Amp In on the Power Station. And then you use a regular speaker cable from the Speaker Out on the Power Station to your separate cab.
What if you want to attenuate the cranked sound of the Champ but still run it through the internal speaker? Dan gave you this flexibility. Take the other REAN FF adapter and connect it to the 1/4 inch plug that is wired to the speaker inside the combo. Connect a regular speaker cable to the other end of the adapter and connect this cable to the Speaker Out on the Power Station. BE VERY CAREFUL IN THIS SCENARIO. THE CHAMP’S INTERNAL SPEAKER CAN HANDLE VERY LITTLE WATTAGE. ONLY DO THIS TO ATTENUATE.
@dan If I got this wrong, please correct me. But I’m pretty sure this was your thought process.
Anscheinend ist es zwingend dass der Ausgang des Amps ein Stecker ist und nicht eine Buchse?
Ich dachte es müsste eine Buchse sein dann bräuchte man den Adapter nicht. Deshalb habe ich erst nicht verstanden wie das gehen sollte aber langsam begreife ich nun wie das funktioniert.
Apparently, it is essential that the amp’s output is a plug and not a socket?
I thought it had to be a socket, then you wouldn’t need the adapter. That’s why I didn’t understand how it would work at first, but now I’m slowly beginning to grasp how it works.
My technical understanding is really limited, and I’m sorry for taking up your time. I just want to clarify one last inconsistency:
What exactly is the advantage of making a Champ 2 plug instead of two sockets?
I don’t quite understand. In this case, I would need an additional adapter for the internal speaker and for the power station. To me, that makes it more complicated than simply making two sockets, which would not require an additional adapter for the connection. Am I right?
Or would it also be possible to make a socket on one side (to which I connect the internal speaker) and a plug on the other side that is long enough to connect directly to the power station?
In my opinion, this would be the easiest option for use. Or is that not technically logical?
@calis that’s exactly what I was suggesting — thanks !
@Mike2 you need to share this thread with the tech you work with, if they read it, particularly calis’ steps then they should understand. If you are not a technical person and just enjoying playing then I can understand this is a little bit daunting a modification! For example, I never touch the setup of my guitars because I know I will only make them worse
Yes you could make it two sockets if you want – but these parts are harder to find. You will end up with something that is designed for chassis mounting dandling at the back of your amp with exposed metal surfaces that can short your output stage.
