Fender Super Champ XD

Stevebol · #1 10-27-2011, 12:04 PM

Has anyone gone to the trouble of replacing the cabinet to accomodate a 12" speaker on one of these? I'm looking for a small amp and I'm trying to narrow down my choices. I'd love a Princeton but they're way out of my price range. The XD seems to be a good value.
I like the sound of an open-backed 12" speaker.

On second thought, if I get a Super Champ I'll leave it alone. Many people prefer the stock speaker. If it ain't broke..........

dmorash · #2 10-27-2011, 12:55 PM

It's a good question. I have one with the stock speaker and the sound is very focused not balanced and broad like my deluxe reverb. The champ is so portable as it is though.

Doctor Jeff · #3 10-27-2011, 01:25 PM

I just got one last week--so far very pleased. I'm comfortable with the sound and wouldn't plan on changing the speaker. You could hook it up to an external cabinet if you need a "bigger" sound for gigging.

Of course the clean channel is excellent for jazz, with a little bit of reverb. I am starting to like the Jazzmaster voice as well--very different, darker tone.

Stevebol · #4 10-27-2011, 03:24 PM

I'm used to having a mid pot but from what I've read you can dial in what you want on the XD. It should be interesting to hear my Patrician, which I finally got the pickup for today, through a nice amp.

Gitarguy · #5 10-28-2011, 12:20 AM

I have one. The stock speaker, to me, was too loose in the bass registers. I prefer 1.) better bass response, and 2.) better controlled bas tones. I put in a better speaker, and it's a much more useable and versatile unit now.

Flyin' Brian · #6 10-28-2011, 06:28 AM

I have a SCXD with a J.D. Newell pine cabinet and a 12" speaker. It does an amazing job, stays clean at any volume I play at, including with a fairly loud drummer, keys, bass and sax. The effects and modeling are quite useful as well, but the clean side alone is great for jazz.

mambosun · #7 10-28-2011, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyin' Brian

I have a SCXD with a J.D. Newell pine cabinet and a 12" speaker. It does an amazing job, stays clean at any volume I play at, including with a fairly loud drummer, keys, bass and sax. The effects and modeling are quite useful as well, but the clean side alone is great for jazz.

Thanks for the inputs, quite interesting.
Is the transformation easy to do?
Which 12 " speaker did you select?

Flyin' Brian · #8 10-28-2011, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mambosun

Thanks for the inputs, quite interesting.
Is the transformation easy to do?
Which 12 " speaker did you select?

It's very easy. I didn't select the speaker, I got the whole package used. It has a WGS ET-65 in it.

hallpass · #9 10-28-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyin' Brian

I have a SCXD with a J.D. Newell pine cabinet and a 12" speaker. It does an amazing job, stays clean at any volume I play at, including with a fairly loud drummer, keys, bass and sax. The effects and modeling are quite useful as well, but the clean side alone is great for jazz.

I was going to say JD Newell has a 12" combo cabinet for the SCXD available.

For speaker choice, I think a good one would be an Eminence Lil Texas because it's very light and sensitive/efficient/loud (good for clean headroom). I have one of these in my PRRI.

Stevebol · #10 10-28-2011, 12:27 PM

I'm looking forward to trying one of these amps if I ever get my ax together.
This is tempting, but I shouldn't-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220882084247... 4.m1438.l2649

mambosun · #11 10-28-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinopass

I think a good one would be an Eminence Lil Texas because it's very light and sensitive/efficient/loud (good for clean headroom). I have one of these in my PRRI.

Looking at the spec (measurement curve), it seems rather bright and more suited to rock/blues than jazz.

http://www.eminence.com/pdf/Lil_Texas.pdf

But maybe, this curve has nothing to do with the real sound of this loudspeaker?

Flyin' Brian · #12 10-28-2011, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mambosun

Looking at the spec (measurement curve), it seems rather bright and more suited to rock/blues than jazz.

http://www.eminence.com/pdf/Lil_Texas.pdf

But maybe, this curve has nothing to do with the real sound of this loudspeaker?

I used to have an old Fender Vibrolux Reverb with 2 JBL 10 inch speakers in it. I played an Epiphone Howard Roberts through it and it was as mellow as I ever wanted it to be. JBLs are usually considered pretty bright.

hallpass · #13 10-28-2011, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mambosun

Looking at the spec (measurement curve), it seems rather bright and more suited to rock/blues than jazz.

http://www.eminence.com/pdf/Lil_Texas.pdf

But maybe, this curve has nothing to do with the real sound of this loudspeaker?

To be honest, I never looked at its measurement curve, but using it for many gigs amd reheasrsals I've never noticed mine to be bright. I've found it to be fairly neutral to my ears, but maybe the way I EQ the amp and the tone knob on my guitar is playing a bigger role. I do use my Lil Texas in both jazz and rock situations.

Stevebol · #14 11-01-2011, 05:58 PM

I tried a Super Champ today at GC while a guy was working on my pickup install. Love it! What a nice little amp. Also tried a Blues Jr. but didn't care for it. I'll try a couple more amps but I'm pretty much sold on the SCXD.

Gitarguy · #15 11-01-2011, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevebol

I tried a Super Champ today at GC while a guy was working on my pickup install. Love it! What a nice little amp. Also tried a Blues Jr. but didn't care for it. I'll try a couple more amps but I'm pretty much sold on the SCXD.

It's not the best sounding amp out there, but it's perfectly acceptable for a wide variety of uses. It's light, portable, and versatile. I get alot of use out of mine.

Stevebol · #16 11-03-2011, 08:15 PM

I went with the Super Champ. Also picked up my Harmony guitar with the KA neck pickup installed. Sounds very nice and unique. I tried a bunch of other amps- Vox's, Egnator(quite good) and a Blues Jr. Hot Rod Delux NOS that was superb, but out of my price range.

edit

Well, I spent some time with the Super Champ at home. My guitars will have some feedback issues having floating pickups so an amp with more watts might make a difference. The salesman at GC said for jazz, you don't want the Line 6, etc... I'm not sure about that so I'll have to try a couple more amps, including solid-state.