Super Champ XD

TG · May 2nd, 2008, 01:37 PM

OK. Enough time has passed so that the honeymoon period is over.

What do people think of them now?

Billm · May 2nd, 2008, 02:12 PM

I've got two of them. One to mod and one for reference, so I don't make it sound worse.

It's a versatile little amp, and I can't think of anything in the sub-$300 modeling/effects category that's better.

Things I especially like:
The Fender voices--Champ, Tweed, wailing Bassman, Blackface, Jazz King, Acoustasonic--are the best. Not much use for most of the others.

The clean channel has that wonderful Blackface quality that everybody tries to emulate.

The speaker looks cheesy, but puts out prodigious amounts of bass without farting out.

The effects can't be tuned (fixed rates, although several steps for chorus, delay, tremolo, etc.), but the chosen rates are pretty useful.

It's loud enough for small gigs.

Rubber feet!

Things I don't like:
The amp is hissy. There's a fair amount of background noise. Not noticeable when you're playing, but definitely not an amp that you want close-mic for recording delicate fingerstyle passages.

The case and baffle are kind of thin. The whole thing vibrates on the lows. Some owners have had problems with buzzes and vibration, mostly curable by repositioning the chassis in the cab so that the faceplate doesn't hit the grille cloth.

The speaker could be brighter.

The amp is a little "slow" -- somewhat unresponsive to pick attack, no incisive bark from the speaker.

It could have had a headphone out and a way to switch off the tube section entirely. (The line out is before any of the tubes, and sounds fine.)

Things I've modded:
Souped up power supply to run 5881s for another 12-15 watts of output power. Definitely louder, faster, more attack-responsive, crisp.

Eminence Ragin Cajun speaker. More volume and crispness. Speaker swaps are not really mods in my book, but the RC is a "guitarist's speaker" that gives any amp more bite and loudness.

Swapped out the cheap op amps for premium Burr-Brown 2132s. Lots of effort for minor reward, but helps in the crispness and highs department.

In conclusion:
I don't know of another amp in this size and price range that has more clean loudness, plus all of the distortion voices and effects. The SCXD is a winner, as attested by the persistent out-of-stock condition.

Billm · May 4th, 2008, 07:30 AM

No other opinions?

Sheesh. I should change my name to "Threadkiller."

pchilson · May 4th, 2008, 08:33 AM

I love my Super Champ XD. I'm not good at putting sounds into words so I can't give a lengthy description of the sound variety available from this amp but just let me state it is bountiful. Best amp purchase I have made to date.

mikespe · May 4th, 2008, 10:34 AM

I can chime in on my VibroChamp XD which is similar to the SCXD....

For my needs it's perfect. I live in an apartment so I can't crank it up much. The nice thing about the VCXD is that all tones/voicings are usable at low volumes. This makes it great for recording. I haven't noticed any hissing on the VCXD but then again I don't crank it. Like most people I found a couple favorite settings and usually mostly use those. Right now I am in Strat-mode and have been using my SX Ash strat. I love the neck/middle position with voicing 1 (clean blackface tone) and position 8 with the gain turned up a bit (a very bluesy crunch great for rhythm playing).

When I decide to get a 15 watt amp I will go for the Blues Jr. I think. I would like a Deluxe Reverb but it is out of my price range and above my ability level to justify it.

Anyone considering either the VCXD or the SCXD you won't regret it a bit.

emisilly · May 4th, 2008, 02:06 PM

Just played mine this morning and, as always, I'm flat out astounded by how good it sounds, especially at conversation levels. I can play it when the entire family is home and bother no one. I've jammed with a couple of buddies at a good amount of volume and I was not only shocked on how loud it gets but on how GREAT it sounds when pushed. Digital components or not this thing is tube tone and tube feel. Play it vs. a Line 6 or Vox Valvetronix and there is simply no comparison. Not even close.....

BillM is correct about the speaker. It doesn't look like much, and I expected to change it soon after I bought the amp. I think I'm leaving well enough alone. I like it's inherent warmth, and it doesn't fart. I also have no use at all for the high gain settings. But for classic Fender tones I simply cannot imagine having an amp that nails so mainy for such little cash outlay. That clean channel is 90% of what a good Princeton Reverb will get you.

I do wish the line out did not bypass the tubes. Seems like it would make for a better tone when fed into a mixer/digital recorder, etc. But, all things considered this is a very small complaint given how much this amp dishes out.

Scott57 · May 4th, 2008, 05:40 PM

I've had this amp since early February (birthday present from my wife) and I'm amazed by the sounds I can produce from this thing. Like Billm, I've noticed a small amount of hiss from it but only if I lean up close into it and I prefer to play my Martin acoustic/electric through the jazz voice rather than the Acoustic voice but all in all I am totally happy with this amp.

superchicken_VI · May 5th, 2008, 09:37 AM

The other guitarist in my blues band bought one a month or so ago. Sounded great, we thought his search for a more manageable amp had ended. Great in rehearsal, and he gigged it. Before the gig, he tells me it cut out on him a few times practicing the night before. All of the tubes are seated properly, speaker is connected properly--not sure of the problem. So, we get through the gig incident-free. He exchanges it for another one. Within an hour of getting it home, the new one changes the amplifier model on its own. Then starts adding and deleting effects. He does his own amp work, having built a 5e3 and done a handful of amp mods--he knows what he's doing, it's not operator error.

He now has a Blues Deluxe on order, with the SCXD returned for store credit toward the Blues Deluxe.

Dennis68 · May 5th, 2008, 12:01 PM

Super Champ XD vs. Vibro Champ XD? Anyone have an opinion on the differences of the two for the $50 or $60 price difference? Both seem to get raves, but i haven't seen them compared to each other really.

Dennis68 · May 5th, 2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superchicken_VI

Within an hour of getting it home, the new one changes the amplifier model on its own. Then starts adding and deleting effects. He does his own amp work, having built a 5e3 and done a handful of amp mods--he knows what he's doing, it's not operator error.

He now has a Blues Deluxe on order, with the SCXD returned for store credit toward the Blues Deluxe.

That's troubling. I wonder if it's a design issue or just a defective part, etc..? First time reading about it. Guess I'll wait and see if this becomes a common occurence or not.

Billm · May 5th, 2008, 01:42 PM

An integrated circuit in there continually polls the control knobs to see where they're set. It sounds like that part wacked out. I'd chalk it up to "infant mortality." Generally if a semiconductor part makes it through burn-in, it'll last a long time.

Or it could be something as simple as a bad solder joint. Noise on the line that's sampling the front controls would give you very random behavior in the Super Champ.

Fender's warranty service on these amps is straightforward: They swap them out. No field service. The authorized service center only ascertains that the amp is broken and that it doesn't just need a fuse or a tube.

mikespe · May 5th, 2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billm

An integrated circuit in there continually polls the control knobs to see where they're set. It sounds like that part wacked out. I'd chalk it up to "infant mortality." Generally if a semiconductor part makes it through burn-in, it'll last a long time.

Or it could be something as simple as a bad solder joint. Noise on the line that's sampling the front controls would give you very random behavior in the Super Champ.

Fender's warranty service on these amps is straightforward: They swap them out. No field service. The authorized service center only ascertains that the amp is broken and that it doesn't just need a fuse or a tube.

Bill, before you say this you may want to refer them to my thread regarding this. I know my problem was not standard procedure from an authorized dealer but just in case.

tele-martini · May 5th, 2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikespe

Bill, before you say this you may want to refer them to my thread regarding this. I know my problem was not standard procedure from an authorized dealer but just in case.

Mike,
I came by this thread late and read about the ordeal you had with HOG. Probably part of the reason I haven't bought gear there in the last 20 years.
Gene

mikespe · May 5th, 2008, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tele-martini

Mike,
I came by this thread late and read about the ordeal you had with HOG. Probably part of the reason I haven't bought gear there in the last 20 years.
Gene

He Gene! Long time no see! However, I wouldn't put the name of the place on the board....but at least I know OTHERS have had similar experiences with them.

geddins · May 7th, 2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikespe

He Gene! Long time no see! However, I wouldn't put the name of the place on the board....but at least I know OTHERS have had similar experiences with them.

Why not put a name on the board if the truth is being told? I'm not trying to be advasarial, but I do not understand this line of thinking. If people are protected by their victims then they stand no chance of paying the consequences.

I say give them a chance to do the right thing, then out them if they don't.

Money talks in my book.

JMO, YMMV

mikespe · May 7th, 2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geddins

Why not put a name on the board if the truth is being told? I'm not trying to be advasarial, but I do not understand this line of thinking. If people are protected by their victims then they stand no chance of paying the consequences.

I say give them a chance to do the right thing, then out them if they don't.

Money talks in my book.

JMO, YMMV

If anyone wants the name I will GLADLY give it to them via PM. In this case I don't think it's proper to post it here. Besides, most of the members that live in my area have probably already figured out what shop I am talking about. It is VERY well known around here (and quite known around the country).

FirstBassman · May 7th, 2008, 05:11 PM

Anyone know how the modeling n' effects on the two XDs compare to the Cyber Champ (which I have)?

Is it the same technology just "prettied up" or completely different (other than the tubes of course).

Dennis68 · May 7th, 2008, 05:12 PM

Mike, sorry to hear of your ordeal. It's too bad the local shop treated you that way, despite the fact they were still receiving payment for the warranty work. I know sometimes I spend more with tax included at my local dealer here in downstate NY, but anytime there was a problem they have always done the proverbial "bending over backwards" to make things right. Fortunately, I only had to call on them twice ever. Once for an amp problem (no power) and once for a problem with a potentiometer on an MIM esquire. Both solved painlessly. Glad you finally got your back in working order.

dandd · May 7th, 2008, 06:22 PM

Recording and rehearsals.

Acoustic channel works great for recording electric bass. Nice and clean with good eq.

Samples of my SCXD...
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...id=281 530148

DanDD

mudbean · May 7th, 2008, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandd

Recording and rehearsals.

Acoustic channel works great for recording electric bass. Nice and clean with good eq.

Samples of my SCXD...
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...id=281 530148

DanDD

Very interesting - is that DI, or recorded with a mic?

mud

Billm · May 19th, 2008, 06:29 AM

I've noticed on other forums that the Super Champ XD and Vibro Champ XD are popular, as you would expect, with first-time amp purchasers or first-time tube amp purchasers. They often think they can plug headphones into the line out jack and unplug the speaker so they can use it as a practice amp, or that they can plug headphones into the speaker jack.

Unplugging the speaker or running headphones instead of a speaker will damage the amp. Tube amps need a proper load, and "proper" in this case means between 4 and 16 ohms, even though Fender specifies 8 ohms minimum. Headphones are high impedance and have no power handling capability. The amp will burn them out. Then the amp will be unloaded, which is damaging. The other alternative, running with the speaker unplugged will cause the tubes and output transformer to overheat, shortening the life of both.

A proper load doesn't have to be anything fancy. An 8 ohm aluminum power resistor in a project box will do.

markw51 · May 19th, 2008, 10:28 AM

I like my Super Champ very much.

I was considering buying a Vibro Champ too but was not impressed with it at all. All of the channels are effects channels - there is no clean channel and sound wise, it just does not come close to the Super Champ.

Billm · May 19th, 2008, 10:47 AM

Actually, voice 4 of the SCXD or VCXD is the same as the SCXD's channel 1. If you turn the gain up all the way, you get the same tone.

The amps do sound different because of the smaller speaker, less power, and the single-ended output on the VCXD. I believe there are some minor voicing differences in the ROMs, too.

T-bone Tone · May 19th, 2008, 12:35 PM

I bought mine back in 1982.

It's one hell of an amp.

Seriously, though, folks. I tried one out in the shop and was astonished. As an owner of an original Super Champ from '82, I never thought anything would come close. For the money, the new Super Champ is a marvel. God bless them chinese, eh?

Canuckcaster · May 19th, 2008, 10:14 PM

I picked up one of these on the weekend. I'm enjoying the vast array of tones that I can get from this little unit. I'm just wondering if I really love it. Can anyone tell me how long the stock speaker takes to break in? I've only ever had one tube amp before, (a Peavey C-30) and I find that I can get better OD tone from it.(I realize that they are two completely different beasts) The clean on the other hand is better on the SCXD, but not as amazing as I was expecting. I have 30 days to make up my mind, so I'll take as much time as I can to decide.
I'm glad you folks are enjoying yours though.

Cheers,
CC

May 2nd, 2008, 01:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
TG Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beside a bog in the west of Ireland Age: 46 Posts: 4,329 7 Photos	Super Champ XD OK. Enough time has passed so that the honeymoon period is over. What do people think of them now?

May 4th, 2008, 05:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
Scott57 NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 2	The honeymoon is still going on... I've had this amp since early February (birthday present from my wife) and I'm amazed by the sounds I can produce from this thing. Like Billm, I've noticed a small amount of hiss from it but only if I lean up close into it and I prefer to play my Martin acoustic/electric through the jazz voice rather than the Acoustic voice but all in all I am totally happy with this amp.

May 5th, 2008, 12:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dennis68 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hudson Valley Posts: 757	Super Champ XD vs. Vibro Champ XD? Anyone have an opinion on the differences of the two for the $50 or $60 price difference? Both seem to get raves, but i haven't seen them compared to each other really. __________________ -Dennis

May 7th, 2008, 05:12 PM	#18 (permalink)
Dennis68 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hudson Valley Posts: 757	Mike, sorry to hear of your ordeal. It's too bad the local shop treated you that way, despite the fact they were still receiving payment for the warranty work. I know sometimes I spend more with tax included at my local dealer here in downstate NY, but anytime there was a problem they have always done the proverbial "bending over backwards" to make things right. Fortunately, I only had to call on them twice ever. Once for an amp problem (no power) and once for a problem with a potentiometer on an MIM esquire. Both solved painlessly. Glad you finally got your back in working order. __________________ -Dennis

May 2nd, 2008, 02:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Billm Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey Age: 61 Posts: 224	I've got two of them. One to mod and one for reference, so I don't make it sound worse. It's a versatile little amp, and I can't think of anything in the sub-$300 modeling/effects category that's better. Things I especially like: The Fender voices--Champ, Tweed, wailing Bassman, Blackface, Jazz King, Acoustasonic--are the best. Not much use for most of the others. The clean channel has that wonderful Blackface quality that everybody tries to emulate. The speaker looks cheesy, but puts out prodigious amounts of bass without farting out. The effects can't be tuned (fixed rates, although several steps for chorus, delay, tremolo, etc.), but the chosen rates are pretty useful. It's loud enough for small gigs. Rubber feet! Things I don't like: The amp is hissy. There's a fair amount of background noise. Not noticeable when you're playing, but definitely not an amp that you want close-mic for recording delicate fingerstyle passages. The case and baffle are kind of thin. The whole thing vibrates on the lows. Some owners have had problems with buzzes and vibration, mostly curable by repositioning the chassis in the cab so that the faceplate doesn't hit the grille cloth. The speaker could be brighter. The amp is a little "slow" -- somewhat unresponsive to pick attack, no incisive bark from the speaker. It could have had a headphone out and a way to switch off the tube section entirely. (The line out is before any of the tubes, and sounds fine.) Things I've modded: Souped up power supply to run 5881s for another 12-15 watts of output power. Definitely louder, faster, more attack-responsive, crisp. Eminence Ragin Cajun speaker. More volume and crispness. Speaker swaps are not really mods in my book, but the RC is a "guitarist's speaker" that gives any amp more bite and loudness. Swapped out the cheap op amps for premium Burr-Brown 2132s. Lots of effort for minor reward, but helps in the crispness and highs department. In conclusion: I don't know of another amp in this size and price range that has more clean loudness, plus all of the distortion voices and effects. The SCXD is a winner, as attested by the persistent out-of-stock condition.

May 4th, 2008, 07:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
Billm Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey Age: 61 Posts: 224	No other opinions? Sheesh. I should change my name to "Threadkiller."

May 4th, 2008, 08:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
pchilson Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Loveland, Colorado Age: 50 Posts: 608	I love my Super Champ XD. I'm not good at putting sounds into words so I can't give a lengthy description of the sound variety available from this amp but just let me state it is bountiful. Best amp purchase I have made to date.

May 4th, 2008, 10:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
mikespe Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Western New York Age: 41 Posts: 960	I can chime in on my VibroChamp XD which is similar to the SCXD.... For my needs it's perfect. I live in an apartment so I can't crank it up much. The nice thing about the VCXD is that all tones/voicings are usable at low volumes. This makes it great for recording. I haven't noticed any hissing on the VCXD but then again I don't crank it. Like most people I found a couple favorite settings and usually mostly use those. Right now I am in Strat-mode and have been using my SX Ash strat. I love the neck/middle position with voicing 1 (clean blackface tone) and position 8 with the gain turned up a bit (a very bluesy crunch great for rhythm playing). When I decide to get a 15 watt amp I will go for the Blues Jr. I think. I would like a Deluxe Reverb but it is out of my price range and above my ability level to justify it. Anyone considering either the VCXD or the SCXD you won't regret it a bit.

May 4th, 2008, 02:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
emisilly Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 471	Just played mine this morning and, as always, I'm flat out astounded by how good it sounds, especially at conversation levels. I can play it when the entire family is home and bother no one. I've jammed with a couple of buddies at a good amount of volume and I was not only shocked on how loud it gets but on how GREAT it sounds when pushed. Digital components or not this thing is tube tone and tube feel. Play it vs. a Line 6 or Vox Valvetronix and there is simply no comparison. Not even close..... BillM is correct about the speaker. It doesn't look like much, and I expected to change it soon after I bought the amp. I think I'm leaving well enough alone. I like it's inherent warmth, and it doesn't fart. I also have no use at all for the high gain settings. But for classic Fender tones I simply cannot imagine having an amp that nails so mainy for such little cash outlay. That clean channel is 90% of what a good Princeton Reverb will get you. I do wish the line out did not bypass the tubes. Seems like it would make for a better tone when fed into a mixer/digital recorder, etc. But, all things considered this is a very small complaint given how much this amp dishes out.

May 5th, 2008, 09:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
superchicken_VI Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Monroe, NC Age: 35 Posts: 1,056	The other guitarist in my blues band bought one a month or so ago. Sounded great, we thought his search for a more manageable amp had ended. Great in rehearsal, and he gigged it. Before the gig, he tells me it cut out on him a few times practicing the night before. All of the tubes are seated properly, speaker is connected properly--not sure of the problem. So, we get through the gig incident-free. He exchanges it for another one. Within an hour of getting it home, the new one changes the amplifier model on its own. Then starts adding and deleting effects. He does his own amp work, having built a 5e3 and done a handful of amp mods--he knows what he's doing, it's not operator error. He now has a Blues Deluxe on order, with the SCXD returned for store credit toward the Blues Deluxe.

May 5th, 2008, 01:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
Billm Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey Age: 61 Posts: 224	An integrated circuit in there continually polls the control knobs to see where they're set. It sounds like that part wacked out. I'd chalk it up to "infant mortality." Generally if a semiconductor part makes it through burn-in, it'll last a long time. Or it could be something as simple as a bad solder joint. Noise on the line that's sampling the front controls would give you very random behavior in the Super Champ. Fender's warranty service on these amps is straightforward: They swap them out. No field service. The authorized service center only ascertains that the amp is broken and that it doesn't just need a fuse or a tube.

May 7th, 2008, 05:11 PM	#17 (permalink)
FirstBassman Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 802	Anyone know how the modeling n' effects on the two XDs compare to the Cyber Champ (which I have)? Is it the same technology just "prettied up" or completely different (other than the tubes of course).

May 7th, 2008, 06:22 PM	#19 (permalink)
dandd TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Detroit Posts: 22	Recording and rehearsals. Acoustic channel works great for recording electric bass. Nice and clean with good eq. Samples of my SCXD... http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...id=281 530148 DanDD

May 19th, 2008, 06:29 AM	#21 (permalink)
Billm Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey Age: 61 Posts: 224	I've noticed on other forums that the Super Champ XD and Vibro Champ XD are popular, as you would expect, with first-time amp purchasers or first-time tube amp purchasers. They often think they can plug headphones into the line out jack and unplug the speaker so they can use it as a practice amp, or that they can plug headphones into the speaker jack. Unplugging the speaker or running headphones instead of a speaker will damage the amp. Tube amps need a proper load, and "proper" in this case means between 4 and 16 ohms, even though Fender specifies 8 ohms minimum. Headphones are high impedance and have no power handling capability. The amp will burn them out. Then the amp will be unloaded, which is damaging. The other alternative, running with the speaker unplugged will cause the tubes and output transformer to overheat, shortening the life of both. A proper load doesn't have to be anything fancy. An 8 ohm aluminum power resistor in a project box will do.

May 19th, 2008, 10:28 AM	#22 (permalink)
markw51 Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: rockville, md. Posts: 231	I like my Super Champ very much. I was considering buying a Vibro Champ too but was not impressed with it at all. All of the channels are effects channels - there is no clean channel and sound wise, it just does not come close to the Super Champ.

May 19th, 2008, 10:47 AM	#23 (permalink)
Billm Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey Age: 61 Posts: 224	Actually, voice 4 of the SCXD or VCXD is the same as the SCXD's channel 1. If you turn the gain up all the way, you get the same tone. The amps do sound different because of the smaller speaker, less power, and the single-ended output on the VCXD. I believe there are some minor voicing differences in the ROMs, too.

May 19th, 2008, 12:35 PM	#24 (permalink)
T-bone Tone Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 301	I bought mine back in 1982. It's one hell of an amp. Seriously, though, folks. I tried one out in the shop and was astonished. As an owner of an original Super Champ from '82, I never thought anything would come close. For the money, the new Super Champ is a marvel. God bless them chinese, eh?

May 19th, 2008, 10:14 PM	#25 (permalink)
Canuckcaster TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta Age: 38 Posts: 31	I picked up one of these on the weekend. I'm enjoying the vast array of tones that I can get from this little unit. I'm just wondering if I really love it. Can anyone tell me how long the stock speaker takes to break in? I've only ever had one tube amp before, (a Peavey C-30) and I find that I can get better OD tone from it.(I realize that they are two completely different beasts) The clean on the other hand is better on the SCXD, but not as amazing as I was expecting. I have 30 days to make up my mind, so I'll take as much time as I can to decide. I'm glad you folks are enjoying yours though. Cheers, CC