Fender Superchamp X2 vs Blues Jr

**Arnesto** · 09-27-2012, 08:56 PM

Hi, I have a Fender frontman 212r, I love the sound but It´s very big.
I'm looking for changing it for a of smaller size tube amp.
I saw the super champ x2 but his 10" speaker worries me, Does this have enough volume to play in small clubs?
The other option is the Blues Jr but it´s very expensive in my country.
Sorry for my english and thanks!

**Russ Kapp** · 09-28-2012, 12:23 PM

I have been using the new Fender Super Champ X model with my L5 CES Gibson at small dinner venues and it gets the job done. I'm finding I actually like 10" speakers better for the bass range than 12" speakers......more punch and tighter low end if you like that advantage.

**billymac** · 09-28-2012, 02:24 PM

that.s good to know. i too am considering this amp for some upcoming nursing home gigs. would be using my squire tele and gretsch g100 with it.

interesting that it has a jazzmaster ultralight model. any opinions on that model? or other favorites?

thanks!

**Doctor Jeff** · 09-28-2012, 04:54 PM

I like the SCXD--I have just started playing with a group (piano, acoustic bass, not-too-loud drummer, singer) and find it's quite loud for that purpose. Solo in a small club or restaurant you should be fine.

When playing by myself at home I use the clean setting or the JazzKing (not JazzMaster!) setting but with the group I used the Blackface setting so I could turn up the gain for a little more compression and volume.

I would love a Deluxe Reverb but the SCXD is lighter and cheaper!

I have never owned a Blues Jr. but have played one. Nice amp, I've heard it criticized for lack of clean headroom, but some people swear by it. Pricier than the SCXD, heavier, more tubes than the SCXD so more tube issues. I used to have a Peavey Classic 30 that was similar but too heavy and too loud, so I find the smaller amps suit my purposes better.

**Anandbhat** · 09-28-2012, 06:45 PM

Have a SCXD that I really like.
Had a Blues Jr. that I traded in a couple of years back. Way too bright and metallic for my ears.

**monkmiles** · 09-28-2012, 06:51 PM

The Super Champ XD and X2 are cool amps. 15 tube watts is more power than you might expect. I've done a bunch of trio gigs with a Super Champ XD and was very happy with it (though no longer have it). I would love to have one in the blonde colored cabinet.

**Elias Graves** · 09-29-2012, 08:05 AM

The blues jr is a very dirty amp. My son uses one and breakup kicks in way early.
The superchamp uses 6v6 tubes and sounds much more Fender-y than the BJ does. If you're worried about volume, look for the head and can version. It has a 12" speaker.

**billymac** · 10-03-2012, 07:41 AM

well, i ordered the x2 ...should be here by weeks end. i.m expecting a big
improvement in sound ovr my little vox da5. the improvement in my playing...not so easil accomplished!

and it looks like there is ajazzmaster ultralight model...tho i.ve nver played a real one.

glad to hear folks are pretty happy with the sound for small gigs.

cheers.

**jorgemg1984** · 10-03-2012, 07:54 AM

The blues jr is not enough even for some duo gigs (no drums)... and it's voiced to always sound a little agressive, not a jazz amp. I recorded with it at low volumes and sounded fine but not a good gigging amp imo... no matter how much you mod it!

The jazzmaster ultralight is great! I wish the stock cab was a little less boxy and the reverbs were a little better... still an excellent amp!

**Doctor Jeff** · 10-03-2012, 08:28 AM

I jut realized that the SCX2 has a JazzMASTER model, whereas the SCXD has a JazzKING model. I like the JK sound but the JM is highly regarded, so it would be nice to have that available. Also you can update models and effects via the web, which is a cool feature as well.

I played a gig last night with a small group and used the JK setting for accompaniment, then switched to the clean setting for leads (more treble). It worked out well.

**HighSpeedSpoon** · 10-03-2012, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff

I jut realized that the SCX2 has a JazzMASTER model, whereas the SCXD has a JazzKING model. ...

Are there other differences between the XD and X2 that you guys think are significant? I notice that the X2 seems to be newer (??), but newer is not necessarily better.

-- Thanks.

**Doctor Jeff** · 10-03-2012, 02:22 PM

The effects are the same but you can set delay time by tapping. You can also apparently update or download effects via USB.

The amp models are similar--Tweed, Blackface and British combos. No Hot Rod or Acoustasonic emulations on SCX2. The jazz amp is JazzMaster, not JazzKing. I think you can update amp models as well.

I would think this would be just as useful as the previous model--pretty much the same functionality, plus the ability to update via USB. For $100 more.

**BEACHBUM** · 10-04-2012, 01:23 AM

I haven't tried the X2 but I absolutely love my SCXD. I'm sure you won't be disappointed with either. If you need additional volume you can always add an extension cab. I went with a 12" Eminence C-Rex. With the 12" speaker I'm liking this amp every bit as much as the Deluxe Reverb I used to own and it's got a whole lot more headroom.

**Anandbhat** · 10-04-2012, 05:46 AM

Cool!
Beachbum,you seem to have the perfect set up for the SCXD.Does the Fender cab come with that speaker (eminence C-Rex) or was that an upgrade?
Any more volume than that the XLR out on the SCXD straight to the PA would probably be the best option IMHO.

**Anandbhat** · 10-04-2012, 08:38 AM

Never mind. Checked Fenders website. The cab for the X2 comes with a Celestion 12".

**Flyin' Brian** · 10-04-2012, 09:57 AM

I have a SCXD rehoused in a slightly larger cabinet with a 12" speaker in it. I play in a weekly jam session where I'm sort of known as the "quiet guy", usually backing a male and female singer doing Nora Jones, James Taylor type songs with a bass player and a drummer who knows how to use dynamics. It does the job all the time, however the biggest surprise was when one of the "blooze" guys wanted to use my amp. It held together very well at much higher volumes than I'd ever use. I also used it in a quartet with a grand piano, drums and bass and it has never faltered. The cabinet came from J.D. Newell and the speaker from WGS.

**rickshapiro** · 10-04-2012, 10:06 AM

I just picked up and X2 combo last night. Played with it for about 4 hours since. I know its kind of early but I love this thing. Definitely needed the FUSE software to get things right. I wanted something smaller to practice and record on, my other tube amps are way too much for this purpose. I bought it hoping I could get some great jazz tones with my hollow-bodies, which it does. I am more blown away about the other models including the higher-gain amps, they are all usable the Sonic is great. The effect with tweaking are highly usable. It is really a shame there our folks that listen to it in the store with its presets and assume that is all there is.

I think my Cube 80X is going onto craigslist.

**rickshapiro** · 10-04-2012, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by BEACHBUM

I haven't tried the X2 but I absolutely love my SCXD. I'm sure you won't be disappointed with either. If you need additional volume you can always add an extension cab. I went with a 12" Eminence C-Rex. With the 12" speaker I'm liking this amp every bit as much as the Deluxe Reverb I used to own and it's got a whole lot more headroom.

Did you disconnect the 10 inch speaker to run it into the cab or are you running both with some sort of splitter?

**BEACHBUM** · 10-04-2012, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Anandbhat

Never mind. Checked Fenders website. The cab for the X2 comes with a Celestion 12".

I put this one together myself before Fender came out with the X2 and it's matching extension cab. I bought an inexpensive "Kustom" speaker cab ($99) from MF and got the grille cloth and logo on ebay.

**rickshapiro** · 10-04-2012, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by BEACHBUM

I put this one together myself before Fender came out with the X2 and it's matching extension cab. I bought an inexpensive "Kustom" speaker cab ($99) from MF and got the grille cloth and logo on ebay.

Understood, but how are you connecting the second cab, there is only on speaker out on the combo?

**BEACHBUM** · 10-04-2012, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by rickshapiro

Did you disconnect the 10 inch speaker to run it into the cab or are you running both with some sort of splitter?

I'd love to figure a way to do that. Before I got the extension cab I put a Ragin Cajun in the amp cab and it would be interesting to hear both speakers together. I've researched the net trying to find a way to accomplish it. I'm guessing the way to do it would be to devise some sort of cable to tie the two speakers together that could be easily unplugged but then I'd have the problem of having an 8 ohm amp running two 8 ohm speakers which equals 4 ohms. I finally decided that the whole thing was way above my pay grade.

**BEACHBUM** · 10-04-2012, 01:14 PM

Sorry about all the deletions but I'm figuring this out as I go. To make a long story short it can be done by using and external cable to wire the speakers together like a 2 speaker combo amp but you would need two 16 ohm speakers to do it. The down side of course is that you would no longer be able to play the combo by itself.