Vibro Champ XD Amp Crew

[don jon]

Originally Posted by Jack Knife

No problem and again, I wasn't trying to criticize. I know a lot of people like modding their stuff, as do I, and I didn't want anyone to go out and spend extra on a balanced PI tube to put in their VCXD.

PS - I totally dig the '60s hippy look of your amp with that custom grill cloth That's from *ahem* back in my day and we used to do stuff like that all time LOL

Thanks man. I appreciate the correction. I am still pretty much a grasshopper at this electronic engineering stuff and would hate to steer someone wrong.

Yeah that grill cloth was the easiest and most enjoyable mod I performed on my VCXD. I wish it were easier to find custom grill cloth. When I searched the web all I found was replacement cloth that was made to Fender, Marshall, Vox etc. specs. That cloth ran $45 to $100 for enough to cover one amp, and the popular designs were on back order. I found no one that sold custom design grill cloth. So I went to Wally World and thumbed through the discount fabric rack. I found that retro looking cloth which is thick and almost tapestry like for $2 a yard. It took less than 1/2 a yard to cover the amp. I've heard that you should not use just any fabric as grill cloth because it doesn't breathe the same. So I closely compared the original Fender cloth and the retro stuff by ear and on a recording. I could make out NO tonal difference between the two.

And another interesting tidbit. You probably know how expensive tolex is. Well my local Wal-Mart had a large variety of sharp looking vinyl, suede, and tooled leather material that was just as durable if not more so than tolex for $7-$15 a yard. So if you ever get the urge to recover an amp in a cool suede or paisley patterned tooled leather check Wally World before you spend through the nose for brand licensed tolex.

[kappa2583]

I've had mine for a couple months and I think it's great. I figured I should join as the SCXD has a formidable following, and don't want the VCXD to feel like a neglected sibling.

So far my favorite settings are 2,5 and 8.

[kappa2583]

Hey there fellas. I was wondering if any of you fine gents (or ladies) who own one of these fabulous amps are able to coax a nice twangy sound out of it, and what settings you might be using.

I've got a fever, and the only cure is more twang.

[timmer114]

I get a good twang on voice 4, turn up the gain to around 7-8 and peg the bass and treble at 10. The tweed champ setting number 1 is good in the same setting. Set the spring verb around 4. Alot of it is pickups and setup, does your tele twang pretty good with other amps? The Vibro Champ can be a bit dark sometimes..

[kappa2583]

I haven't really tried it with other amps, with the exception of my VT30.

I just got my first tele last week (I'm still quite a novice) and I just wanted to see if I could get a good twang out of my VCXD. Just curious to see what other guys are getting out of this amp.

Thanks Timmer!

[Jack Knife]

I heard somewhere else that the #4 Blackface voice with the Gain on 10 is the same sound as the Super Champ's first Blackface channel. I did a comparo at GC and it sure sounds like it. I compared the first channel on a SCXD to its own #4 voice with the gain dimed and there was no difference I could hear. Then I compared it to the #4 voice on a VCXD and it's the same voice, except the VCXD sounds a little warmer than the SCXD

[RubyRae]

Originally Posted by Jack Knife

Then I compared it to the #4 voice on a VCXD and it's the same voice, except the VCXD sounds a little warmer than the SCXD

Shhhh. Don't tell nobody...

[Jack Knife]

So I went down the GC today to score a VCXD, finally made up my mind between it and the Champ 600. None left! Gotta go back Tuesday

[RubyRae]

Originally Posted by Jack Knife

So I went down the GC today to score a VCXD, finally made up my mind between it and the Champ 600. None left! Gotta go back Tuesday

Let us know how it goes, and how you like it. Definitely worth the wait.

[sacizob]

I just picked up VCXD at Daddy's Junky Music Store for $149.99. Its a trade in, but its just like new.

[Jack Knife]

Life! It always gets in the way. Had a couple things come up so I can't get back to the store until tomorrow (Thu). I hope they keep the one that was coming in. The guy told me he'd tag it for me, but you never know with that place!

[Jack Knife]

Yay! I got my VCXD today! I pounded on it for 3 hours solid at almost full volume at band practice 20 minutes after I bought it It's still working so that's a good thing!

Seriously, I think this is gonna work out great. I used voice 4 almost exclusively tonight, just to get the amp broken in a little. I need to experiment with the tweed sounds. I tried voice 1 just for a short time tonight and it definitely has possibilities!

Just in case the stock speaker doesn't break in well, any favorite replacements emerge for these amps yet? I've got a Jensen C8R, practically new, that I might toss in it. It almost seems you should have a Jensen in a Fender amp!

[Jack Knife]

Here's a pic of the lovely little beastie!

[zag1]

Just got my VCXD a couple of days ago. I've been using voices 1, 4, & 9 mostly, so far. I don't know what took me so long before I decided to get one. It's officially my "bedroom amp". I've moved my SCXD to the living room.

[RubyRae]

Originally Posted by zag1

It's officially my "bedroom amp". I've moved my SCXD to the living room.

This made me laugh. Ya, I actually plan on getting a SCXD someday I think...
Glad you finally got you one jackknife! Looks good with you guitar, and the best thing is you really never grow tired of experimenting the different variations of tone...even with your favorite 4 voices, the possiblities are endless with tweaking volume, gain, etc.

I swear when i use voice 4, blackface clean, (spring reverb effect) and run through my tube screamer and phaser pedal it screams with this warm soulful growl like I've never heard before. Love it.

[Jack Knife]

Thanks, RubyRae! I haven't really even started with exploring the other voices yet. I know there's tons more in this amp. The blackface #4 voice is doing it for me right now. I'll twiddle when I get tired of that one.

I heard the stock speaker break in while I was playing it at a gig on Saturday night. Kind of strange to hear it mellow out all of a sudden, but it's sounding very sweet now.

[Commodore 64]

I grabbed one of these on Friday at GC. I liked it better at the store, I mean I loved it at the store. But this just about hits it on the head for me right now:

Originally Posted by RubyRae

i had been getting some funny, and unpleasant fret buzzing and the amp just seemed to be noisier than usual.

I don't know if it got banged or something on the drive home, but I'm definitely underwhelmed right now. I will definitely order some JJs at eurotubes. I also had been considering a 10-inch speaker. Seems to be the speaker shouldn't fart out when doing some ZZ-Top slides from 3 to 5 on the neck-pickup at medium volume levels. I mean any gain I apply results in farting and nastiness.

The only time this amp sounds good is when it's at a volume level low enough so that nearby people can't heat how bad I am on the guitar (like when I tested it at GC).

So I'm gonna start with a new tube, I'll probably order a 12AX7, a 12AU7, and an 12AT7 to make shipping worthwhile, so I'll have a few to choose from.

[RubyRae]

commodore, not sure what kind of guitar you play, but i play a strat, and it is a nice american, but it needs a set up job as of lately...so a lot of that fret buzz is my guitar. however, with the noise, or buzz i get from the amp, can also be attributed to where i am in the room...so i think it is more my guitar at certain pickup settings it is worse, or goes away when i turn, etc. also could be try a different outlet, or diferent room altogether for comparison purposes. i think the stock speaker is fine...the jj tube was a definite benefit right away. i would put that ax7 in and see what you think.
it could just need some break in time, or who knows with these amps. good think is if it continues or worsens you simply go up and replace it with a new one.

[Jack Knife]

I knew I wouldn't be able to leave well enough alone, I swapped out the stock speaker for a RI Jensen C8R. It's louder and tighter than the stock speaker, doesn't give out the flab on the low end. It's a little brighter too but I have enough bass control in the pot to counteract it so the sound is still great. I need to hammer on it for a while like I did on the stocker to get it loosen up a little. When it does, I think it's going to sound awesome!

[Commodore 64]

I want to run my VCXD to a 12" speaker in my Stage 1000. THe speaker in there is 8 Ohms. I'm about to make a 1/4 plug with some speaker wire. THe back of the VCXD says 4ohm minimum, so I assume it's ok to send it out to an 8ohm speaker?