Restoration of tube amplifier. Challenger CHA10. Vintage amp overhaulin & #039;
Restoring a battered Challenger CHA10 tube amplifier from the 1950s: new paint, knobs, a guitar input, fresh tubes and a brighter, revived sound.

This article does not have much preamble ... The thing is that, as I was already in the wave of vintage amplifiers, I decided to restore one of them that was quite deteriorated: A Challenger CHA10 from the 50s or 60s.
The original idea was to work only on the paint, but then it occurred to me to change the knobs, add a fuse (I didn't have one), change the position of the logo, add a guitar input using a 1/4 jack and additionally touch up some components. electronics to add more shine, because the original sound is quite opaque ... Well, finally I also decided to change the tubes as I get them.
Researching the internet I came across a photo of what the amp must have looked like in its prime. The truth is I didn't like the colors so much.

Mine, however, was not in such a good state of preservation. This is how the cage was.

Here are some photos of the chassis.

As can be seen in the following photo (here I had already dismantled the transformer) use 4 empty tubes, including an EZ81 as a rectifier and a 6L6 in the power amp. It is a "single ended".


Here is a photo of the amp after the painting process, while testing the color of the knobs (where I am now).

More photos of the restoration can be seen on the Polestar blog:
http://www.opendireito.com/tecnologia/item/49-challenger-cha10-restored.html
Like reviving valve gear? See another restoration of an old amplifier and learn how a tube amplifier works. More in Electronics.
Categories
The books · born from this blog

Atahualpa con su abrigo de pelo de murciélago
y otras 49 historias verdaderas que parecen mentira
Available on Amazon
Tocar madera
Pequeña historia de las supersticiones que el mundo no ha podido soltar
Available on Amazon
100 futuros
Cien escenarios del mundo que viene con la inteligencia artificial
Available on AmazonYou may also like

Restoration of an old tube amplifier (valve).
Restoring a 50-year-old Bogen J330 tube amplifier into a guitar amp: paint close to the original, new capacitors and valves, plus before-and-after photos.

How does a vacuum tube amplifier work?
How a vacuum tube amplifier works, explained stage by stage through a beautiful 1950s Pathfinder amp, from the rectifier to the power output.

How to replace a vacuum tube with solid state components
When a dead vacuum tube proved impossible to find, I rescued a 1950s Bogen amp by swapping the rectifier valve for simple silicon diodes.