Fender Super Champ XD - opinions?

voided3 · November 12th, 2007, 02:26 PM

Hey, I just noticed this today when I was poking around:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...mbo?sku=483075

I have considering a small, lightweight amp with some balls and I think this fits both my weight and versatility needs. I was also looking at a Blues Junior or Pro Junior, but this seems to have a lot more features at a lower price. Any thoughts? Thanks!

TDPRI · November 12th, 2007, 02:41 PM

We're giving away one of those in the Fundraiser/Giveaway this year and it just came in today.

I was just about to post a mini-review of it when I saw your post.

I'm pretty impressed. It sounds great and is perfect for the bedroom player. I liked the "vintage" side better than the "moddified" side, but really both were very good.

It's not as loud as a Princeton Reverb, but not as limited as a Champ. I'm about to pronounce it as my new favorite "Bedroom or Practice Amp."

voided3 · November 12th, 2007, 02:49 PM

Do you think it would hold up OK for a rehearsal if it was sitting up on a chair/stand? I almost always have the option of micing it too. They look like they'd have room for a 12" speaker as well if I made a new baffle (I have a spare Jensen 12" at home).

TDPRI · November 12th, 2007, 03:05 PM

With drums? I'm not sure. Micing would be fine. A larger speak may help too. But I played it in my spare bedroom on 8 and it was loud enough to scare the dog, but not rattle the windows. It was about 70% as loud as my Princeton Reverb on 8. I didn't try it on ten as that seems excessive for all but occasional use.

Tdot · November 12th, 2007, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voided3

I was also looking at a Blues Junior or Pro Junior, but this seems to have a lot more features at a lower price. Any thoughts? Thanks!

I really like my Blues Jr, but I'd definitely want try the new Super Champ and Vibro Champ models. I think they are the most interesting boxes that Fender has put out in ages.

Hoodster · November 13th, 2007, 09:12 AM

Did you see this thread--I posted a longish review from another forum toward the end:

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-centr...tml#post981987

If you're worried about volume, the SCXD has the ability to plug in an extension cab. Even with just an average size 1X12 cab I imagine this thing would be more than enough for any jam/rehearsal, and probably a lot of gigs. At 24 pounds it's lighter than most heads.

BTW, even the vintage side is digital--it's one of the Blackface models from the Cyber series according to Shane at Fender R&D.

[webmaster edit]I edited your link to go directly to the review you mentioned.[/edit]

RetroDaddy · February 25th, 2008, 10:02 AM

I own a Superchamp XD and have about ten hours of play time on it. I also own a Blues Junior which is my favorite tube amp...until now!

This is one of the best designed and best thought out tube amps I've ever played. The clean tone is exactly what you would expect from a high quality Fender amp. The volume is about 85% of what you can get from a Blues Junior. This amp is plenty loud enough to be heard over a loud drummer and for gigging everywhere other than the largest outdoor venues.

You would have to spend about $1,000 in high end pedals to get all of the onboard effects Fender gives you with this amp and the effects you get are not throw aways or useless. The effects on this amp are all usable and many are OUTSTANDING! A brilliant combination of old school tube tone and solid state modeling technology.

This amp comes with chorus, reverb, delay, tremelo and clean boost which are all very very usable. On top of that this amp does a fantastic job of modeling the voices of many of Fender's most sought after vintage amps. Because of the engineering of this amp the modeling all comes with that great Fender tube tone. This amp does a very passable job of making your tele sound like an acoustic guitar. By combining chorus, delay and one of the amp voicing options I was able to make my guitar sound like a Lesley Organ.

The volume pots are engineered properly so you don't have the classic Fender problem of being at gig volume when the master volume dial is on 2 before you even hit the sweet spot of the tubes. The tone on this amp is fantastic when you're playing with a band because your volume level is set between 5 to 7 so the tubes are being pushed enough to be in their sweet spot for great tube tone.

This little beast is tons of fun and it's the perfect grab and go amp that can serve as a practice amp, jamming amp and gigging amp and if you generally don't like pedals other than for overdrive and boost the on board effects are great because you can dial in the specialty sound you want for certain songs at the amp without carrying around and messing with a pedal board. This amp should be a major home run for Fender barring future disclosure of a design flaw or manufacturing defect that can't be fixed inexpensively.

I bought mine brand new for $315 and after playing it for 10 hours and seeing what it can do it is my new favorite amp and I would pay more to own this amp if I had to - but I'm glad I didn't!

Gary in Boston · February 25th, 2008, 08:44 PM

I tried this amp @ GC.........

I can't believe not more noise has been made of this.

It sounded great!

Lots of different tones. I guess the pre amp modeling section is what makes the difference. It does it in a very concise, repeatable way.

The ext. cab jack only makes it better. Plug this baby into an effeciant 12" speaker and oh boy.

Gary

eddiewagner · February 26th, 2008, 02:21 AM

i had one for a while and became not overly enthusiastic about it after a while. i found most of the voicings extremely unhelpful, specially the acoustic. there was a lot of noise in a lot of voicings too. the clean channel sounded good, but really not as wonderful as i hoped it would. i found it lacking of "sparkle". maybe it was just a bad amp, because a lot of forumbrothers are really exited about them. it was pretty loud! do yourself a favour and check it really well out before you buy one. my 2 cents.
eddie

November 12th, 2007, 02:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
voided3 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 647	Fender Super Champ XD - opinions? Hey, I just noticed this today when I was poking around: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...mbo?sku=483075 I have considering a small, lightweight amp with some balls and I think this fits both my weight and versatility needs. I was also looking at a Blues Junior or Pro Junior, but this seems to have a lot more features at a lower price. Any thoughts? Thanks!

November 13th, 2007, 09:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
Hoodster Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 332	Did you see this thread--I posted a longish review from another forum toward the end: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-centr...tml#post981987 If you're worried about volume, the SCXD has the ability to plug in an extension cab. Even with just an average size 1X12 cab I imagine this thing would be more than enough for any jam/rehearsal, and probably a lot of gigs. At 24 pounds it's lighter than most heads. BTW, even the vintage side is digital--it's one of the Blackface models from the Cyber series according to Shane at Fender R&D. [webmaster edit]I edited your link to go directly to the review you mentioned.[/edit] Last edited by TDPRI; November 13th, 2007 at 09:48 AM.

February 25th, 2008, 08:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
Gary in Boston Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 479	Super Champ XD I tried this amp @ GC......... I can't believe not more noise has been made of this. It sounded great! Lots of different tones. I guess the pre amp modeling section is what makes the difference. It does it in a very concise, repeatable way. The ext. cab jack only makes it better. Plug this baby into an effeciant 12" speaker and oh boy. Gary

February 26th, 2008, 02:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
eddiewagner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ROCK!linghausen/germany Age: 49 Posts: 3,783 27 Photos	i had one for a while and became not overly enthusiastic about it after a while. i found most of the voicings extremely unhelpful, specially the acoustic. there was a lot of noise in a lot of voicings too. the clean channel sounded good, but really not as wonderful as i hoped it would. i found it lacking of "sparkle". maybe it was just a bad amp, because a lot of forumbrothers are really exited about them. it was pretty loud! do yourself a favour and check it really well out before you buy one. my 2 cents. eddie __________________ My Drum/Guitar-Duo: www.myspace.com/captaintwangandhisrhythmcat

November 12th, 2007, 02:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
TDPRI Administrator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: TDPRILAND Posts: 5,400 36 Photos	We're giving away one of those in the Fundraiser/Giveaway this year and it just came in today. I was just about to post a mini-review of it when I saw your post. I'm pretty impressed. It sounds great and is perfect for the bedroom player. I liked the "vintage" side better than the "moddified" side, but really both were very good. It's not as loud as a Princeton Reverb, but not as limited as a Champ. I'm about to pronounce it as my new favorite "Bedroom or Practice Amp."

November 12th, 2007, 02:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
voided3 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 647	Do you think it would hold up OK for a rehearsal if it was sitting up on a chair/stand? I almost always have the option of micing it too. They look like they'd have room for a 12" speaker as well if I made a new baffle (I have a spare Jensen 12" at home).

November 12th, 2007, 03:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
TDPRI Administrator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: TDPRILAND Posts: 5,400 36 Photos	With drums? I'm not sure. Micing would be fine. A larger speak may help too. But I played it in my spare bedroom on 8 and it was loud enough to scare the dog, but not rattle the windows. It was about 70% as loud as my Princeton Reverb on 8. I didn't try it on ten as that seems excessive for all but occasional use.

February 25th, 2008, 10:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
RetroDaddy TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Middletown, CT Posts: 85	I own a Superchamp XD and have about ten hours of play time on it. I also own a Blues Junior which is my favorite tube amp...until now! This is one of the best designed and best thought out tube amps I've ever played. The clean tone is exactly what you would expect from a high quality Fender amp. The volume is about 85% of what you can get from a Blues Junior. This amp is plenty loud enough to be heard over a loud drummer and for gigging everywhere other than the largest outdoor venues. You would have to spend about $1,000 in high end pedals to get all of the onboard effects Fender gives you with this amp and the effects you get are not throw aways or useless. The effects on this amp are all usable and many are OUTSTANDING! A brilliant combination of old school tube tone and solid state modeling technology. This amp comes with chorus, reverb, delay, tremelo and clean boost which are all very very usable. On top of that this amp does a fantastic job of modeling the voices of many of Fender's most sought after vintage amps. Because of the engineering of this amp the modeling all comes with that great Fender tube tone. This amp does a very passable job of making your tele sound like an acoustic guitar. By combining chorus, delay and one of the amp voicing options I was able to make my guitar sound like a Lesley Organ. The volume pots are engineered properly so you don't have the classic Fender problem of being at gig volume when the master volume dial is on 2 before you even hit the sweet spot of the tubes. The tone on this amp is fantastic when you're playing with a band because your volume level is set between 5 to 7 so the tubes are being pushed enough to be in their sweet spot for great tube tone. This little beast is tons of fun and it's the perfect grab and go amp that can serve as a practice amp, jamming amp and gigging amp and if you generally don't like pedals other than for overdrive and boost the on board effects are great because you can dial in the specialty sound you want for certain songs at the amp without carrying around and messing with a pedal board. This amp should be a major home run for Fender barring future disclosure of a design flaw or manufacturing defect that can't be fixed inexpensively. I bought mine brand new for $315 and after playing it for 10 hours and seeing what it can do it is my new favorite amp and I would pay more to own this amp if I had to - but I'm glad I didn't!