After reading all the comments on here, last week I took the plunge and picked up a Super Champ XD, what a surprise, I purposely ignored the X2 versions due to lack of software support.
So far I’ve gigged it twice, firstly with another guitarist and bassist playing mainly country rock covers, using just a volume pedal, lead breaks cut through superbly in a medium sized hall, with volume to spare.
Second time was at a loud jam session, using the same settings but with the volume flat out, it was obviously on its limits. This is something I’m rarely going to do, but the question is, would an upgrade to a Rajin Cajun, or similar, give me that extra lift in output volume, doesn’t have to be a massive amount.
As a light, portable amp solution, I don’t think I could say anything else negative about it, for the price I paid a speaker upgrade wouldn’t be out of the question. Thoughts please.
Comments
It's great to know that you're finding the Super Champ XD useful. I hope you don't mind my asking a few questions about it – I am considering getting one at the moment due to its minuscule size (for a Fender).
- Can you get grit from channel 1 using a boost pedal?
- Did you get power valve grit when you ran it with the volume flat out?
- Is it light?
- What's the cab made of? Ply? MDF?
- How long does it take to respond from power on? In other words, does the digital part take a while to respond or are you normally waiting for the valves to warm up?
- Is the spring reverb emulation OK?
Thanks!
Jon
My trading feedback: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/210335/yorkie
Because of what was going on around me, I’m not sure whether there was any extra drive from the valves.
Its an easy one hand lift, I have a long garden path to the drive, with a gigbag over the shoulder, amp in one hand and guitar in hard case in the other, my arthritic limbs coped without any issues, same at the gig end.
It powers up much quicker than my other 100% valve amps.
Not sure if it’s ply or mdf, at the price point I would guess mdf.
Not usually a fan of inbuilt digital effects, but I have to say the rev+delay, set at level 3, sounds pretty good to me.
I have a TC Sparkboost out at a friends studio, where I keep a lot of my stuff, won’t be out there until next week sometime, but I will bring it home and try it out.
Hope this all helps, for my purposes, it really is hard to fault, Mike.
I use either a boost or a drive with the non FX channel and gives great rocking tones and I only use the FX models sparingly and my preferred order of Tones are : #6 #2 and #4 with Reverb #1 - often with external pedals to colour and shape.
I do however use the other great modulation patches for doubling up in stereo with other amps. Running the Chorus with my Roland Jazz Chorus 50 for added Chorus overload or the brilliant Vibratone with a driven amp for great sense of dynamic 'movement'. In effect, I use it like this as a large FX unit!
Stick it on an Amp stand if using it on its own.
Best demo I saw for these was from this guy... albeit with some undoubted post production...
My trading feedback: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/210335/yorkie
My trading feedback: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/210335/yorkie
My trading feedback: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/210335/yorkie
Been listening to all the shootouts on YouTube and, while there are some lovely sounds to be had with a number of Eminences and Jensens, the most Fender speaker of them all is, at least to me, the weak and pathetic looking stock speaker.
Seems there’s a lot of YouTube guitarists looking to beef up the Marshall-esque tones on that amp?
My trading feedback: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/210335/yorkie
I'm a fan of the CRex 12, but the 10 had probably a bit too much treble roll off when I tried it in my 80's Super Champ. The Ragin Cajun was a nicer speaker all round. I'd avoid the Lil Buddy which basically has no treble whatsoever!
Glad you're still enjoying it! The pickups in that thing are epic.
I do not need more volume from the SCXD but a bit more bass wouldn't hurt. The tones I've liked the most came from Jensens rather than Eminences.
My trading feedback: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/210335/yorkie
Has anyone tried a C10R or a C10Q?
My trading feedback: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/210335/yorkie
The Eminences are probably more versatile for more modern styles of music (more distortion), though.
My trading feedback: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/210335/yorkie
My trading feedback: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/210335/yorkie