5 reasons I love the Fender Super Champ Amp
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- Опубликовано: 5 июл 2024
- The Fender Super Champ is sadly overlooked when people talk about small 15 watt amps. I think it deserves more attention, so here are the five reasons I love the Super Champ.
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Great to see people still buying this amp. I recently found out about the X2 and bought the head and 12 inch cab. I'm very happy with the purchase. Just wanted something to play in the living room while chilling out. Never thought I'd ever buy a solid state or modeling amp but since this one has tubes I thought what the heck, it's only for light jamming but now that I have it (2nd day), I like it a lot. I downloaded the software to my windows 10 laptop and set the modeling amps mid settings to 0 now I get the crunchy distortion I prefer. I attached the 12 inch cab to my other tube amp and the sound is full. Sometimes you purchase equipment and you know immediately it's going up for trade. Sometimes you pick a winner. The Fender Super Champ X2 is a winner.
I got this amp in 2011 on sale brand new and I played all the time. It is a treasure. Still plays on original tubes and speaker no problems for all the years of use. Great video.
How funny I should just see this video. My original XD (2007 I think, which I still have and gig with) came flying off my Harley on the way to practice one night after hitting a dip and breaking my bungie. It popped open like a piñata after hitting the pavement. (Yes, I know....I ALWAYS ride a bike and STILL carry practice gear on it. I just can't find enough room to get my pedal board on)
After getting it to practice, I folded it back in place and ducked tape the crap out of it. It has NEVER quit (including original tubes). I just notice THIS weekend that my tape is needing reinforcement.
True story.
I've had mine for about seven years now, great amp, surprised that nobody talks more about it, great value for the money, voice two with a ts 9 its SRV coming back to your room ;), greetings from Spain, great video.
I have a friend that bought a used Champion 40 for very little money just for the cab. The Super Champ chassis fit very nicely and the 12" speaker sounds great. Nice video!
Very cool! That's a really great idea!
Excellent review my friend. Just what I needed. Been sitting on the fence on this one but you have addressed reasons I should go forwarc. Nothing like the voice of experience. Thanks for the 5 reasons which are also mine. Cheers.
Hope you enjoy it!
Very helpful video and live examples for the kids starting out. I wish I had RUclips about 25 years ago. We always went on word of mouth on equipment. Or venturing out to a music store about 50 miles away. Cheers my friend
Thank you for watching!
My brother gave me an amp he got in 1957..You shoud hear this Amp it is heaven to listen to
Should record it!
Really helpful info! Thanks, man
That makes me really happy to hear. If there is anything else you want to know about this amp, please ask. Also, I have a bunch of videos about this amp on my channel so you may like those too. Thank you for watching and leaving me a comment. Cheers!
My guitar buddy suggested this amp for me! Ordered one two days ago! Excited!!
Hope you enjoy it!
To be honest , I like it's size, sound
and configuration I had one like this before , I bought a boss katana but didn't like it so I've returned and order one of this
I love it
Great video, Thanks a lot, I'm looking for a new amp and you give us very good advices
The Tone Master series by Fender is also really versatile. …if you want that Fender sound.
Good amp- I’ve gigged with it for over a year now and I even picked up the fender sc 112 cab at a local pawn shop - i have other fender amps and this one is all I use for every gig - l play it on channel one and run pedals through it -can’t beat it for the price - rock on brothers😎
Love this. This is 100% how I feel. With a 12" extension cab it's a killer amp for bigger gigs, but if you are doing a small solo gig at a restaurant or cafe the 10" is perfect. Channel one is fantastic and great with pedals.
How do you connect to the cab? the line out?
ignore that
Unplug the internal speaker and run a speaker cable to the external cab. You can run the line out into the return of an amp with a FX loop if you were in a pinch.
I agree. I got the x2 special addition from 2 years ago. Paid 300 for it used. Sick amp. Replaced my digital modeling marshall
I had the original 1980s Paul Rivera-era Super Champ and Princeton Reverb II. Great sounding amps. But not loud enough for most clubs without PA reinforcement. My Princeton Reverb II tended to overheat when cranked up. That's why Mesa Boogie was so phenomenal for that era -- the power of a Twin Reverb crammed into a Princeton sized package. The original Super Champ had an incredible sound but used an oddball rectifier that was increasingly difficult to find replacements for by the 1990s. That thing spent time in the repair shop because it too overheated when cranked up too high for too long. But they sure sounded good.
I bought a cabinet that the chassis fit right in and it now has a 12" speaker. Now we are talking love.
Love! Where did you buy the cab to hold the chassis?
I made one for a friend out of an old champ 25SE. It's a heavy cabinet but has excellent resonance. The champ 25 is also an underrated amp that we turned into a head because it has two 6L6 to pump those 25 watts and works way better into a 2x12. It was a win win.
Fab review! Thanks so much.
Great review 👌
Thanks for explaining all of the practical features instead of going through every setting w/ a blues lick. I just need a tiny amp to move around easily for small club gigs, this seems to be it! Rock on
Rock on! I'm glad the video was helpful. Thanks for watching!
I think I might know who you're talking about... :-)
I bought a Super Champ X2 amp head a little over 4 years ago and run it through a gutted 20 year old Fender Princeton 65 solid state combo (now cabinet). Said gutted combo turned to cabinet houses a WELL broken in 12 inch Fender designed Eminence 8 ohm speaker. This improvised rig JUST SINGS and keeps going strong to this day.............
Very nice! ROCK on!
Your videos are great!
Glad you like them!
What external pedal do you guys think is recommended since you can only have one of the 16 effects at the time?
Love this amp too, only thing that bugs me is some buzzing from time to time, especially on the sims. Otherwise, fantastic amp (voice 8 is awesome)
I have this amp, but I am curious how it compares to the 68 vibro champ. What do you guys think?
dropped into a 2x12 Marshall sounds huge ...great amp for price s/hand...small gigs no problem with cab
WoW!! You must be a professional musician, not just a hobbyist. Speaking of amplifiers I have a Line 6 2 head tube type. It is incredibly heavy and you need a movers cart to move it very far. I have a very small Crate that I could throw as far as a baseball (well almost) that I like just about as well. My latest is a Roland Cube. It's very small. Runs on AC or Batteries (25 hours on Batt.)Comes with master, volume, gain, and tone. Also Delay or reverb. It has a flanger, a chorus, tremelo, and six presets from acoustic to grunge. It really kicks and is VERY light. The last two have about made me regret the Line 6 because it's like a Hammond B3...just too dang heavy to mess with. You have a good day, Jeff.
Weight plays a big role in usability. Last thing I want when going to play outside the house is a stiff shoulder and exhausted hands before I play my first chord.
I use this amp for small cabaret sized gigs. It’s a great little amp, with lots of voicing options that cover a wide array of classic tones.
I also love how portable and lightweight it is; I show up to the gig with the amp, my Tele, a volume pedal (and a guitar stand), and I’m set up and ready to go in minutes.
While I don’t think it would be able to hold its own in volume for shows in bigger venues on larger stages where it would be competing with other players with their beefier amps, (then again, I’ve never tried it in those bigger scenarios, either) it’s a fantastic sounding little amp for smaller, more intimate gigs.
The only downside I’ve found, is that the voicings, effects, (and wet/dry setting for effects) all have to be manually adjusted - though for those smaller gigs I’m playing, that’s not a deal-breaker for me, as most of the time I’m sitting right next to the amp, and I can easily just reach over and adjust whatever I want…and, if it did really bother me all that much, I could always bring my pedal board…
As far as reliability, I’ve had this amp for about three years now, using it to gig on average of 2-3 nights a week, and I have never had ANY problems with it whatsoever.
Oh, one last thing…this amp also sounds great in the studio. I’ve used it to record guitar tracks countless times; usually using a dynamic mic (like a 409 or 57) in-tight, right up against the speaker, with a ribbon mic backed off the amp 3-4 feet, and I get great sounding guitar tracks, that generally need very little tonal adjustments in the final mix.
It’s a great amp that’s very affordable, it’s reliable, it’s lightweight, and, it has great tonal options…if you’re wanting a small amp, this one is a serious contender to consider.
😉🙏
If you take this amp to a bigger venue, I think you could easily get away with using the amp on stage as a monitor and then running the line out to a PA. I was really pleased with the results from the line out. I made a video to demo the sound: ruclips.net/video/6EziphHrQVs/видео.html
thanks! u kept it stock???
@@sooparticular yup. Suits my needs fine the way it is. 😊
@@donnythompson408 THANKS!
One of the best vids on youtube about the xd. Thank you! What do you like for a fuller thicker sound for an external cab? 1 x 12? 2 x 12? 2 x 10? and which cabs or speakers? Thanks in advance.
Glad you liked it! I mostly have plugged it into a 1x12 cab. It depended on what Backline cab the venue had. Also, the Line Out feature is really great. It's something I never experimented with live but I wish I had. It would have super useful. Here is a video I recently made about the Line Out feature: ruclips.net/video/6EziphHrQVs/видео.html
@@JeffStarr Thanks for getting back to me. I'm building a hardwood 1x12 cab for my Superchamp XD as I write this. Using a Weber 12F150 25W 8 ohm
Hello, great video. Thinking about get it one. How it is this amp for home recording? About noise floor, Its noisy?
Not noisy at all! The line out feature is very useful for home recording too. I have a video on my channel about this: ruclips.net/video/6EziphHrQVs/видео.htmlsi=5UZAoW5R19KVArIp. The bad news is that fender doesn’t appear to be making this amp anymore and the Fuze software for controlling the effects is no longer supported by Fender either. If you find one used or NOS for a low cost, I recommend picking it up. But otherwise there are some new amps that might be better now.
Great video, thanks. Question - can this run a 4x12 cab? Is there enough power to drive the speakers?
Thanks for watching. While I have not personally run it with a 4x12 cab it should work. The super champ has a min 8ohm speaker requirement. I looked up a standard Marshall 4x12 cab at it was rated for 8ohm. So, you should be fine. I hope that helps. Cheers!
Thanks!
how would you compare this to the champion 20 & 40? Home use?
The Fender 40XL (I believe this was just released) would be a very solid amp and similar to the Boss Katana. The Super Champ has a similar digital modeling to the Champion 20 and 40, but it also includes a preamp and 2 output tubes that will create a more dynamic attack, and additional gain complexities and compression.
Thanks for the review, a total beginner here, I like this amp and I like the Vox vtx series, I want something versatile, because I like all kinds of music, but I for sure want to learn some ACDC and Black Sabbath tunes, blues and funk, what do you think I should get? thanks. Ps this would be my second amp.
I think that if you want a clean pedal friendly amp then the super champ is a great option. But if you want to play loud rock or metal with a bassist and a thumping drummer you may want something with more power and a bigger speaker. If you are looking for something with a lot of versatility and a similar price then it's hard to compete against some of the modeling units like the Boss Katana or the new Fender Mustang GTX. What amp do you have now?
@@JeffStarr I just want something to play at home, but I want good tones, even when I am playing at low volume, right now I am using the one that came with my squire :) an SP10, but I bought me an Epiphone SG pro 1966 limited, you can call it an upgrade. Aren't you fan of the Vox vt20x or vt40x? they have a 100 watts too. I have seen a couple of videos of them and I like their tones more that the Katana's. Thanks.
Hey is this compatible with the GTX-7 footswitch?
I have a X2 and I love it, I had a XD before snd I upgrade to theX2 model, big difference, you can edit your 16 voices.
One of the best amp for the price, you can't beat the clean tone
Agree! It's a shame that Fender discontinued the Fuze software.
Great video. I have the xd. I did a speaker/tube change. (1058/JJ’s) I picked up the x2. All stock. I’m going to do a speaker change down the road. These are great small amps that sound large. I plan on using both amps as a stereo rig.
Cheers
There are fantastic as a stereo rig! What speaker did you swap in?
@@JeffStarr: in my xd... I have an eminence 1058. In the x2...it’s stock. I’m not sure what speaker I want to put in it yet. I looking at a wgs et10 for the x2. Maybe the cannabis rex. Not sure yet. Do you still have your xd?
Nice video!! How do you think about this amp compared to champion 40??
Is the Champ 40 a 12 inch speaker? If so, that would be the biggest difference in how much low end "oomph" you get. The Champ 40 is likely better for quiet at home practicing. The SuperChamp X2 will be more touch sensitive.
Your X2 video is WAY better than mine.
Got the XD today. Great amp
🔥🔥🔥
Nice! I think these will end up becoming little tube/hybrid classics.
What do you think this amp compare to Pro Junior IV and Blues Junior Combo? Which one sounds better? What do you think is the best small amps for 15-20watt?
This is really tough to answer. If you are mostly gigging and playing in a band you might like the Blues Jr due to the bigger speaker. The Pro Jr is amazing and VERY dynamic but in a really loud band may struggle (if you plug it into an extension cab it's fantastic). The Pro Jr is also very basic and doesn't have a lot of extras like reverb, so you need to ask if you need that. What type of music are you playing? That might help answer what amp of the three would work best for you. I don't personally care for the Blues Jr, but people overall love it. I really like the Pro Jr and would like to get one to pair with my Super Champ in a stereo rig.
Funny how this series ( x2 ) kinda considered a more entry level amp , for entry level its miles ahead of others offerings
Yes, most other amps in this price range with these features would be all digital modeling. The fact that this is essentially a digital modeling pedal running into tube amp makes it very unique. I wish they made a 12” combo. It would get a lot more attention if that were the case. The head version with matching 12” cab is also great, but obviously more expensive.
@@JeffStarr + Maybe so but the lack of a 12" speaker should not be a deal breaker totally unless you try it out and lagit not what you had in mind. I have tried out amps with eight inch speakers ( albeit not for gigging ) that had a really good tonal range, ie blackstar htr-1 Marshall Dsl 1 cr but great for recording and practice..a little off topic in the sense you were talking gigging amps but my point is on speaker size. That being said 12" speakers do push a lot of air 😎
@@JeffStarr I have the x2 head with the 1x12 cab and it sounds great. I play everything from heavy to 80's pop to ambient. While it's no mesa/orange/victory for heavy tones, it's not a slouch if you use the right pedal setup. I needed something that worked for a little bit of everything during a gig, this amp is above and beyond for the price.
Daniel Queen you can get similar tone as 70 80 90s bands from like pink floyd to sabbath with or without effect pedals?
@@TheUnpreparedMind Much easier with pedals, because you can just run it through the clean channel and do what you want. But it's capable of all of those without the pedals, you'd just have to do a bit of tweaking and probably hook it up to a laptop. There are over-driven channels built into it that sound fine, but they need some kind of compression or noise gate most likely.
Great little amp. The Boss Katana 50 is what I decided on. Great sound and flexibility + super light weight. You can gig it too, even with a drummer.
Nice choice! I have a Fender Mustang iii but if I was buying a digital combo amp these days I would definitely get the Katana.
You can gig with the Super Champ. It's 15 tube watts.... PLENTY of volume... "even with a drummer."
@@garystackhouse5787 drummers man :)
If you are looking to purchase music gear please contact Joe Schafer at Sweetwater. Joe is awesome and has helped me out a lot when researching gear and making my purchase decisions. Please let him know that I (Jeff Starr) sent you his way. www.sweetwater.com/joe_schafer
I looking forward on buying this amp as a second amp for more tone versatility, also the amp I've have been owning is a Marshall MG15FX. I really love it, but it's a 150€ amp right. So since I love Nirvana and love grunge in general, I wanted to have a Fender and I ended up falling in love with this one.
Since you said it's more like not for drop tunings, metal and so on, do you think I should take a different one? Kurt Cobain played with Fender amps, so I was inspired by that. I do own Fuzz and Distortion pedals, so I was hoping I'd get the right sounds if I'd work with those.
Joan_Nirvana 94 I would check out the fender BassBreaker 15 for more overdriven tones. It’s a an amazing amp and it’s comes with a 12 inch speaker and it plenty loud enough if you are playing with a heavy hitting drummer. I love the Super champ but I think the BassBreaker 15 on the lower gain settings would be a better option for Nirvana sounds. Thanks for watching and I hope that helped!
@@JeffStarr Okay, thanks a lot. Next time I'm gonna be able to go to my music store I'm gonna check both out, which will probably take a while, cause of Corona. Anyways thanks for your help, cause searching amps online and trying to find the right one can take hours and is really frustrating. Keep it up!
Joan_Nirvana 94 I love the superchamp and have even debated getting a second one. That said the bass breaker is very versatile and have some great features for home recording. It’s more money, but not an insane amount more.
@@JeffStarr But definitely a thing I like better on the Super Champ is that the settings are facing me and are not on top, I think that's nicer, but when it comes to tone, I'll need to test them out. I appreciate your time a lot, thanks.
Can you use a mic somehow with this amp at the same time as the guitar? I think probably not but it would be great to know how this could be done if it can be.
Thanks ✨️
You cannot run a microphone into this amp while also having a guitar plugged in.
To record some Guitar track with the line out, i really Need a speaker simulation or can i connect direct the line out to the audio interface and sound good?
Sorry for the delay in responding. I actually have a video that demos this feature. I was really surprised by the results. It's very good! ruclips.net/video/6EziphHrQVs/видео.html
Could you gig with this? I need a small to medium amp to take to University. I’d like loud sound but lightweight, I know it’s a tricky combination but...
You could definitely gig with this in small-medium sized venues.
Great demo! Sounds like it has good headroom. Can you eleborate on it. Thank you.
Absolutely! On channel one this amp will stay clean on full volume with single coils. Here is a quick video I did playing at full volume on both channels: ruclips.net/video/VQWL5FRVXro/видео.html It does get a little harsh turned fully up but if you are playing at that volume level often people like to swap the speaker for a Ragin Cajun. That's a pretty low cost and easy upgrade that you can revert if you don't like it. You can also swap the preamp tube to something with lower gain. I demo a tube swap in this video: ruclips.net/video/asaZBZbZqRc/видео.html
Love this amp !!!!! I got a wine red version 👌
How does this amp aka X2 compare with the small 30W THR or Katana Air type amps from Boss and Yamaha? I am looking for an amp for a dorm room but that could be used in small amateur group practices. Is there a foot switch to switch between voices, turn effects on and off, and for tap tempo?
This amp is likely to loud for a dorm room. At least it would have been too loud for my dorm back in the day.The THR and Katana Air are too small for a group practice. Instead, I would suggest looking at a bigger digital amp like the Boss Katana 50 with a 12 inch speaker or the Fender Mustang GTX50 (also with a 12 inch speaker). Both can be played very quiet or with headphones. Both have the ability to record via USB and both are loud enough for group practices with a drummer. They are also not that expensive. They are versatile too so if you are just getting into amps they have multiple voices so that you can experiment with different styles of amps. If you play metal or other styles of heavy music I would get the Boss Katana. There are a bunch of videos on RUclips where people compare these two amps against each other. I highly suggest one of those. Have fun at school! Stay safe. Wear a mask.
@@JeffStarr Thank you. I play Rock and Blues (no Metal) so I do not need a whole bunch of amp models. Bands like AC/DC, Aerosmith, Led Zepp, Pink Floyd, etc.
I have never used a modelling amp and the digital multi-effects I have used like the Boss GT100, Line 6 Helix, etc have left me wanting partly because it takes a lot of effort to make them really sound good. I'd rather be able to use what little time I have to practice than play with 100s of controls.
I was looking for a small, light, RELIABLE, amp that I could tuck under my desk but would still leave me enough room to sit at my desk. The other option was the Yamaha THR30 II.
The Fender Mustang GTX 50 (12") has 40 amp models the Line 6 Spider V 60 MkII (10") is even more complex. Which is why I was gravitating towards simpler amps like the Blackstar Silverline Standard 20W (10"), Fender Super Champ X2 (15W), and Boss Nextone Stage 40W (12").
What do you think of the Nextone (it is slightly heavy) and the Silverline?
I actually ignored the Boss Katana-50 MkII (12") because I wondered what they could pack in $230 and at the demo it involved playing with concentric knobs (which is a pain if you want a quick change).
Hi,
great review, does the Amp work with overdrive pedals?
Yes it does!
@@JeffStarr thank you 🤟
Hello ! Thank you for the démo !
Can you Say me if thé smaller vibro champ XD is exactly the same but with smaller hp ? I don't find comparaison on RUclips...
It's similar, but I believe the Vibro Champ is only 5 watts and has a very small speaker, definitely not something you would gig with.
@@JeffStarr ok, thank you very much ! Since, i have grab one more important information... The super champ XD have a real clean Channel and the simulation Channel, while the vibro champ XD have only the simulation Channel.
2 years on and I'm seriously considering selling my Tweed Blues Junior iii or Blackstar HT20 head and getting the X2 or XD.
I can get either for less than half of what I paid for the Junior. Decisions, decisions...
Whether or not it can work as a lower volume (or silent via DI, as it has a line out) or bedroom amp is gonna be the clincher.
I've never been a huge fan of the Jr, although I LOVE the Blues Deluxe. The Superchamp and a Blues Jr together might make for a super killer stereo or Wet/Dry rig.
okay, soo i just got into guitar about a year ago and finaly have some money to spend for a decent amp, i manly play Grunge and Rock so would this amp be okay for that ?
What’s your budget? Any specific features you want or don’t want in an amp? I’d be happy to send some suggestions. This amp may be to clean for those genres, although it takes pedals very well so you could always get more dirt from a pedal.
notbadfilms Im dealing with budget of about 250$, and i found the x2 for about 200$ used so that would have been great. but if youe have any better suggestions id be happy to hear them since i havent really been gear focused
That's a great price on the X2. If you are just getting into guitar the X2 will would be a great starter amp, but I worry that if you want to play in a band / gig you might find it under powered. Having toured with my friends grunge & punk bands there were a lot of gigs without a real PA where they needed a LOUD amp to fill the space and sound huge. The X2 would not be that amp. You might want to look into the Boss Katana 100 amzn.to/2CMUnkL This amp is digital, but it's really loud and it would give you a lot of things to play with (different amp models, built in effects) so it can grow with you as you develop as a guitarist. You can also play it super quiet, with headphones and connect it to your computer to record your guitar silently. I'm not sure how old you are, but those would be great features if you're going to college or still living at home and want to practice late at night without bothering everyone. The Katana 100 is a bit more than your budget, but I think it would be worth saving up for. If you want to stay in your budget, I would suggest looking for a used Fender Mustang III amp. It's discontinued now but very well liked. It's a digital modeling amp similar to the Boss but with more options.
The music store near me has an X2 for $224 used but in mint condition. I am looking for something solely for home practice at low volume and some recording (just to record backing tracks and solo over them, etc. for myself). How does the amp sound at *very* low volumes? For reference - years ago I had both a Fender Pro Junior (hated it) and a Blues Junior (loved it) but both were way too loud with the volume past 2...I assume this is similar? Also, how does it sound when plugged in direct via the line out to an audio interface? Is there speaker/cab emulation?
I was all set on just not getting an amp and going with a Boss ME-80 but I tried it in the store and it sounded terrible and kinda complicated : (
This video might be perfect for you: ruclips.net/video/2wAJhNo5wpQ/видео.html I think it sounds great at low volumes. I have been able to get away practicing on this amp in a small apartment and now in my studio by keeping the volume pretty low. The second channel will let you dial in overdrive and lots of gain without needing to crank it at all. I have not used the USB or line out for recording, but I believe they have speaker emulation (I suggest you confirm this though).
@@JeffStarr thanks for the response! I went ahead and bought the Super Champ X2 this past Saturday. I love it. I figured I'd love the clean channel and did right away, because well it's that beautiful Fender clean : ) But the gain channel is really surprising me. Many of the reviews say it's trash but I find it to be excellent and very useful. Some of the models are a bit anemic to my ears but many are quite nice. The effects are a mixed bag to my ears so far but I haven't played with them much yet.
Regarding low volume: YES! It is very good at low volumes. I put it between 2 and 3, usually closer to 3 and it's great. Regarding the USB and Line Out: I can confirm they both have the amp/cabinet modeling. And, shockingly, they sound *exactly* like what comes out of the speaker. True story: I have two audio interfaces and an SM57. I went ahead and created a multitrack to record the following samples:
1. Amp > SM57 > Steinberg UR22 > Audacity
2. Amp's Line Out > Steinberg UR22 > Audacity
3. Amp's Line Out > Apogee JAM > Audacity
4. Amp's USB out > Apogee JAM > Audacity
* The Apogee JAM has only a single 1/4" plug input so no microphone/XLR input to test.
To my ears, the Line Out from the amp to the Steinberg is the best though the JAM is great too. The amp's line out has a higher stock output so I don't need to up the gain on the audio interface or in post like I do with the USB. I do recall seeing "USB Gain" as a setting in Fender Fuse though so I might try that, but for now I'm going to stay with the Line Out as it sounds great.
One issue I found is that, with the Line Out from the amp connected to the UR22, some slight noise comes out of the amp speaker - like there is some interference being transmitted back to the amp. I plan on researching this tonight to see what the deal is. It's very slight. Thanks again! This amp was a steal at the $224 I paid for it.
It also takes pedals very well. I have a BOSS SD-1 that I never liked. I plugged it into this and it's fabulous! But I'll never use it because the gain channel can easily produce the same sound/quality.
I use it at home all the time and it sounds awesome. That’s actually what sold me on this amp. The voicings are great for this. You can adjust the settings to make it sound like it’s cranked if you want as well. It also takes pedals really well. It does kinda get lost live where my band plays mostly in a big open bay type area with shitty acoustics. I’m planning to buy a cabinet to help it spread out a bit live
Using an external cabinet will make a BIG difference.
This is super exciting! I am really thrilled that you like the amp and you paid an absolutely amazing price for it too. Well done! I've used the USB gain setting on the Mustang III amp when recording and it is helpful to balance out the volume.
I’ve got an older, out dated, Super Champ. It’s a 81’ or 82’. It doesn’t have 16 voices but it has 2 channels that sound pretty good.
It has sentimental value to me so I’ll probably just keep using it.
I wish it had a standby switch tho.
Yes, those original Super Champs are classics - although they are totally unrelated to this version. Fender loves to reuse names just to be confusing, I guess.
I have a X2 and i just built a Cabinet and just put a 12 in legend in it today and im going to wire them up in series to run both speakers should be cool any thoughts?
Hi, If you wire the original 10 in speaker with the Lengend 12 in it´s going to sound mostly trouhg the Legend ´cause de 12 in have more sensibility, and the impedance 8 ohm original speaker + say 8 ohm de Legend is going to sum, so the amp is not going to sound the best and CAN be damaged, It´s designed for an 8 ohm speaker and your conecting with 12 or 16 ohm. Probably the best scenario, it´s gonna sound compressed, less power and muffled. I would connect the legend as the only speaker. 1x12 is Ideal for that amp. Hope this helps-
@@gerardoromano3436 You are RIGHT MAN, i just hooked just the 12 cabinet up and WOW! what a difference, ,it BLASS--Thanks GR
what kind of signal is the usb connection recording to a DAW? The Fender manual is not describing it.
Can you explain more when you say “signal?” You you asking what the bit and sample rate are? If so, I’m not totally sure how the Super Champ X2 is handing that. I only have the first generation XD without the USB connector. I do have a Fender Mustang III and that uses USB but I’ve always just set my bit and sample rate in the DAW and never wondered what the Amp might actually be supplying. Good question!!
is it the signal pre fx or post fx?
I had this Marshall for over 10 yrs and its dead, I want to try the Fender, I believe I used this amp at guitar center to try pedals they had on display, and about the 15 watts to me Im thinking I need something more powerful now, more than this Marshall MG series 30DFX 80 watts, but Im still trying to understand about the watts because to me the 15 watts seems pretty loud and solid, I would really appreciate some help on this topic, great review in between. Thank you in advance.
I believe the Marshall you listed is a fully solid state amp. There is a big volume difference between solid state wattage and tube watts. The speaker cabinet you use also makes a big impact on the feeling of volume and tone.
Yes. The fender is louder because it’s tubed. Also, not all wattage is created equal. I’ve had some amps that are the same wattage as others but yet sound way louder. Speaker efficiency also plays a part.
It is a great amp. A common upgrade for this amp is replacing the speaker wih a Eminence Ragin Cajun, which gives it better low end but also sounds louder.
As far as I know, the X2 has a different DSP system and different voice amps, so I don't know if it sounds so good as XD. Haven't tried it
DO NOT upgrade the speaker unless you plan to use clean channel with pedals. It will ruin 3/4 of the voicing options
Darío Benbassat If the X2 uses different software and or display it seems to be the mustang series software.
So is the first channel valve and second channel solid state? Or are channel one and two valve with the second channel allowing digital effects.
It’s valve, but channel 2 uses a digital layer to voice to amp so it can sound tweed, blackface, British, modern, highgain etc.
@@JeffStarr thanks very much for the reply and the video. Looking to get the x2 as a second amp. Ive had the katana 100 which is good for overdriven sounds but doesn't really get those Fender clean tones. I've owned a blues junior but need to have volumes loud before it starts to sound good. This might be what I am looking for. Seems like with dsp added you can get quality sound at low volume.
I think this would be a really great counterpart for the Katana 100. I used mine live in a stereo rig with a Fender Mustang iii. I liked the mid range and upper highs I would get from the Champ’s 10” speaker as contrast to the Mustang’s 12” speaker.
you should have popped for the x2 as you can add effects to customized voices...they should have put the voicing on the Tonemasters along with vol/gain
Yeah it's a shame this amp was discontinued. The Tone Master line is very nice though and great for gigging.
@@JeffStarr you can gig with a SC too....its loud enough for stage volume...if you need more patch it to something that is (I have a Bandit) and us the the SC to get the sound
Hi! How much did this amp costed before it got discontinued? I found it 1 block from home at 190 EUR. It looks like a good amp I want to check if it is a fair price!
Also, have you compared this one with other Hybrid like the Vox VT20X? Im between both!
The new version of this amp (Super Champ X2) sells for $399 USD. You can also check used prices for the Super Champ XD on Reverb.com and you can choose to only see European sellers. That should hep you get an accurate price for your location. I hope that helps!
Javier Vega The Vox only has an 8" speaker and would only be good for home use and practicing. It wouldn't be powerful enough in a live setting or during a loud band rehearsal. You might want to look at the Boss Katana amps if you wanted something with a similar price to the Vox but way better and with louder speaker options.
notbadfilms Thank you very much for your answers!! If I could take a little more of your time, I think the only thing left to check before buying is to know how good the amp takes effect pedals. If I use wah wah, octaver pedals, etc, does the amp take them good?
By the way, suscribed ;)
@@javier019 i have a Vibro Champ XD, the little brother of the Super Champ, and it takes pedals very well :)
As soon as I saw the Fender Super Champ XD in a catalog, I knew it was going to be a classic. I bought one of the first ones out with the foot switch for only $299.99. Later I bought the Limited edition California blonde tolex version for $270 brand new on sale. I had the X2 head later new on sale for $240. However, I was buying a Gibson EB5 bass on a great blowout deal, so I sold the X2. It didn’t sound as good to me as the XD, although I might have been able to tweak it out with the Fender Fusion software. But, I already had other things to play with, so was glad to unload the X2. My first XD has well paid for itself out on about 30 gigs. Forget the extension cabinet, I played in a really loud band with it. The secret is to use the great line out and run it front of house, and back through the monitors if needed. Through the PA and monitors. I never Ran it through the monitors, it was plenty loud on volume four on both channels on the back line. The band all agreed we Wanted to save our hearing, so we kept our back line volume reasonable, full and comfortable, and used FOH for louder volumes to the audience and dance crowd.
The line out is a killer feature. I definitely have not taken advantage of it.
Hi, how often you need to replace the tubes? how much is it each time?
I’ve yet to need to replace the tubes in the amp. Generally tubes will last a pretty long time.
@@JeffStarr so you still on 1st tubes since several years?
Yes.
Great little amp! Had two of them. Now I have blues junior which is also good but less of a blackface type clean.
The blues Jr is a great amp too. When you had the two superchamps did you run them in stereo?
Sorry, but no. I loved my first XD but changed to Mustang III. A couple of months later I realized it was a bad decision and bought another XD. After your video I am searching for my third XD. Katana is also a great alternative but you dont get the Fender sparkling cleans. And I love setting 2, 3 and 6 on the XD digital channel.
I have not tried the new Katana that was just released (Katana Mark II) but the cleans are supposed to be a lot better than the original version.
notbadfilms Nice. It sounds like its more Fendery in the ”alternate” clean. The biggest drawback in version 1 is the rather dull clean.
So I have no interest in high gain here, but if it does a good tweed and bassman tone I'm sold
Owner for about 8 years, great little amp. I own a Peavey Classic 30, and a new Katana 50, but for practice and general play, I use this about 80% of the time. Works for any type of music, channel one breaks up nice at higher volumes. The 16 channels are all useful for me. Love it and would replace it right away if it ever got stolen or went kaput...
Guys, do you know if we can put pedals on it ? Thx
Thx for the answer !
have the X2 head.............LOVE IT
What type of speaker cab do you run it into?
I just bought this amp and as you said it is not a hard rock amp. But it is a great country and rockabilly amp. I just wish it had a head phone jack. For quiet practicing. Really pisses my Wife late night.
In a situation where you only play at home and you have the oppurtunity to buy this Super champ or Boss Katana, which way would you go and why? Thanks
If I mostly wanted clean I would go Super Champ. Katana for those wanting mostly high gain tones.
@@JeffStarr well I already made a deal on Katana xd. We'll see, masbe I'll trade it for the superchamp later on.
Amp is small but looks huge in video for some reason?! Good video!,
Yeah I know what you mean. Some of that is distortion from the camera but it also looks big once you try to hold them next to your face. Ha! I guarantee that once you put it next to a Marshall 4x12 it's tiny. :)
I noticed that too. It has huge tones!
hey man i have an issue with my X2, i know yours is an XD but i'm hoping that maybe you can troubleshoot this problem because i've found absolutely nothing online. i bought the amp used from sam ash in february and i really like it especially for the price i paid. feeling like i found an amp i can be satisfied with for the foreseeable future i decided i finally wanted to buy some pedals to further expand my sound and i started with an Ibanez TS mini. upon taking it home, i noticed that the tube screamer wasn't really adding anything to the sound. at first it was activating the second voice channel, but once correcting that mistake and popping it into the line out port it really did nothing despite the pedal light being on. wondering if it was maybe just the pedal or my space not allowing me to get the effect i wanted i decided to buy a Tone City Tape Machine after deciding i wasn't a huge fan of the amps built in delay, as well as a means of having a more obvious effect to test if there's a greater issue at play. sure enough the tape machine renders absolutely no delay effect no matter how i adjust the knobs. admitting that i'm a novice when it comes to pedals, am i doing anything incorrectly or is there something potentially wrong with my amp? i've already checked to make sure the 9V battery adapter is compatible with the pedals so i don't believe that's the issue.
Hi, sorry for the slow reply. Make sure you are doing the following (and sorry if some of these are obvious)...
1: Make sure you have power for your pedals. Either via battery or a power supply.
2: You have your guitar plugged into the IN on the pedal and then a cable going from the OUT of the pedal into the INPUT on the front of the amp. You mentioned plugging into the Line Out on the amp and that's not for pedals. Pedals need to run into the input on the front of that amp.
good luck!
@@JeffStarr thank you for being the first one to teach me how to use these things properly! not one person in the store could understand i was plugging them in incorrectly. the pedals sound great, you're a lifesaver my friend.
Rock on!
I had no idea that the X2 had the USB for changing the effects. It was my impression that the USB was for easy, external recording.. that makes me wanna buy an X2 and save money from buying a Princeton!
Totally a secret hidden feature!
I was just looking on Fender's website and they've discontinued support for the Fuse software you use to change effects. :-|
Which of the following Amps can I play at home with very small walls and very not acceptable neighbors ? As padel platform.
Fender deluxe twin reverb, fender deluxe reverb 65 and 64, fender hot rod deluxe IV, VoX AC15C1
which one can I play at home of these with the help of a two notes captor ? Or will they still be much too loud ?
Which ones of those got the most silent entry point and which ones I can unplug the speaker and which ones does crank the fastest ?
None of the amps you listed would be good for home use unless you are looking at the fender Tone Master deluxe reverb or Tone Master Twin Reverb. I suggest you check out this video I made about amps with silent recording features: ruclips.net/video/gXZAkQlM4wk/видео.html
What is the weight on this amp, I’ve had 5 back surgeries.
Super Champ weighs 24lbs. You may also want to check out the Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb amp; it weight 23 LBS and is a 1x12.
Im new to amps can I get tone similar to Joe Walsh Black sabbath 70s Rock bands out of this?
I wouldn't use this amp for sabbath tones. I think it's best if you play clean or get your overdriven sounds from pedals.
notbadfilms ok thanks👍
I have a SCXD and I love it for practice and recording. Never found it beefy enough for gigging. Couldn't keep up with the drummer and maintain it's quality of sound. Just no beef. But for recording, I LOVE IT. I will hold on to mine forever, thank you.
The 1x10 speaker can struggle with a full band, I agree. Have you tried it with an extension cab?
@@JeffStarr I have not. But that doesn't make me like it any less. For practice and recording, I love it.
I love my champ Xd I have a hot rod deville 3 410 and I use my xd way more like you said mainly due to easy tote
That’s great to hear! Definitely hold on to that DeVille 410 though. Besides being a great sounding amp, Fender stopped making them when they launched the Hot Rod series 4 amps.
The "original- Super Champ was the Paul Rivera designed all tube 1983 version
Correct! Also a great amp.
I have the super champ xd and the katana 100.....so, the clean and light overdrive is amazing on the xd, but in distortion, high gain, ultra high gain the katana is amazing....im glad to have both, sorry for my english....
Correct, the superchamp is not a great highgain amp. I’m very curious about the new Katana mkII. That looks like it’s going to be a really killer amp.
Hey I have the katana 100 and am curious which ones better ??
This is a great amp....for the money. If you just want the Fender sound you can use Channel 1 for a Blackface sound and Channel 2 for a Tweed sound. Everything else is just gravy
Yep, that's basically how I use channel 2 these days.
does it sound good with pedals ???
Yes! This amp works great with pedals.
How often do the tubes need to be changed?
I still have the originals in mine. It will depend on how often you play and how cranked you have the amp when you play. They should last a while.
@@JeffStarr Cool. Thanks for responding. Not knowing anything about tube amps I had a perception of them needing to be changed once every three months. :)
Just got one myself. Amazing amp.
That’s great! I’m curious to know what type of music you are playing on it. Are you using it mostly clean or dirty sounding?
Does it work with pedals ? Cheers
Yes, I think it's a very good amp for pedals.
@@JeffStarr thank you
Can you use a foot switch with this?
Yes! You can use a two button switch to turn the effect on/off and to toggle between channels 1 and 2.
@@JeffStarr ok nice thanks
can't wait to sell my current h&k amp and buy an X2 , hope I'll get a deal on it around november/december
What H&K amp do you currently have? I've found them to be very nice, although perhaps a little too clean - almost brittle? - for my tastes. I do like their features though and they sure look cool.
it just a 60w solidstate amp the edition blue 60dfx, so nothing fancy. I have never heard what a tube amp sounds like in person(I have never played one), so I think it is finally time to experience that :D I wish that the 2x had an fxloop tho
I agree on the FX loop! That would be a great feature. The super champ is a lot of fun and I think you like like it.
That hair!
when u update the tubes ? . did you change the speaker?
Tubes and speakers and still stock.
i love this amp . but i dont know if i have to change the tubes because when im playing like for a 45min the amp gets saturade....btw what do you think about the eminence 10inch speaker for this amp ?
I'll be making a video soon where I swap out the preamp tube to see how it changes the sound. I have not done a speaker swap but the Ragin Cajun is the most popular option. The Lil' Buddy is a close second. You can also get a low cost 12" speaker extension cab.
How does stack against a vox vt20x or katana 50? Thinking of getting one
Great question! I would compare this more against the Katana 50 (or 100) and the Fender Champion 50 (or 100). The Champion will have very similar features to the Super Champ but is all digital modeling and loses the tubes. In a way the big differences between the all digital amps and the Super Champ hybrid amp will be versatility vs touch sensitivity. The Super Champ is very easy to use and has a real tube sensitivity to the dynamics. The Katana and Champion amps will do a lot more, but the sounds is more compressed. If I was getting my very first amp I would look at the Katana or Champion series. If I knew I wanted a small portable Fender amp that was plug and play easy for small club gigs and excelled at clean tone I would go with the Super Champ. does that help?
@@JeffStarr thanks!! I brought up the vox because its a hybrid too and the guy at guitar center said it was better than the katana.
I haven’t been blown away by the Vox but I’m sure it’s fine. I have heard the Katana used loud and live and was very impressed. There is also the Fender Mustang GT amps. I have one of the older mustangs and like it a lot. There have been mixed reactions on the new GT amps but the firmware update seems to have addressed the negatives people had.
This or the Champion 40???
I might check out the 40XL. Fender seems to be moving in that digital direction when you look at the new ToneMaster amps. With the 40XL you get a 12" speaker for a bit more oomph too.
I LOVE my super champ x2. I would agree that the combo is a better choice. I gig with it a lot as is. Yeah o be fair there’s been a couple times when I had trouble getting drowned by the bass and drums. I now run it into a 2-12 vertical cab and it’s amazing.
Yeah, the combo is so small it’s practically a head. That said, I’m glad Fender makes this as a head. They don’t do many heads and it’s amazing to see that this is a fairly low cost option.
This or the boss katana 50?
Depends on your use but if it's your first amp I would suggest the Katana 50.
notbadfilms ok thanks
no 1.... quality of sound
I just got this b stock for 280 gdp 😁
Nice! How do you like it so far?
notbadfilms I love it man. It really fills the room at home and sounds good at practise levels 😊
My super champ which is at my son in laws house does not all the features yours has. I bought mine in 82. It has spring reverb and a pull out lead button but very different than your setup.
Yes, the new Super Champ amp is really nothing like the original. Fender has it in their Vintage Modified line of amps, but besides the name it doesn't have much in common with the original versions from the 80's.
I have had this amp twice in the last 5 years, and honestly, it sounds good, but doesn't do anything really well. A nice amp, but I found the DV Mark Micro50 through a nice speaker is much richer and gives a great foundation tone. Just my 2cents..but if you can get the Fender SC cheap enough, it's a good enough practice amp
Thanks for the feedback. I think it's important for viewers to also hear complaints others have with this amp. What led you to own it twice in 5 years? Did you come back to it for any specific reasons?
Great amp. Actually I think I get some decent metal tones out of it, too. Channel 9, gain close to 7, turn up the bass, and stack an OD in front of it.
Best part about this amp is that I got it for $180 bucks at a pawn shop.
I got mine for $125 at a pawn shop. Score!
I have one of these amps, and a Squier fretless jazz bass like the one behind you. I jut need to learn ho to use them better.
Practice makes perfect! I also need to practice more.
@@JeffStarr thats right there is no substitute to practice
I have owned two of these in recent years got rid of them both. After a while I can hear the digital aspect of channel 2 and only a couple voices I ever used always. I have a Fender Blues jr III came with the Celestion A type and a new Blackstar 20 HTMK 2..I am sorry but to my ears the Super Champ is a practice toy at best when compared to a quality all tube amp. Just my opinion...
Totally fair opinion! I oddly have had a hard time falling in love with the Blues Jr and I think that’s because I gigged the Blues Deluxe a lot first. When I was looking for a small combo the Jr wasn’t the same experience as the deluxe. But the Super Champ felt like a poor man’s Princeton and I could dig that! I agree about channel 2 not being that usable outside of home practice. I have recently turned channel two volume all the way down and use the foot switch to mute the amp.
Yes superchamp demolishes the jr and blackstar by far!
Mark Kerns are the Blues Jr or Blackstar under 25 lbs and $400? I am looking for a small amp for a dorm room that can also be used for amateur band practice. It has to be light and compact and under $400. I have considered the Yamaha THR 30 and Katana Air as well.
@@navinadv Maybe the Katana is best for what you need...
Mark Kerns the Katana Air?