The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Other Amps: Fender Super Champ XD (aka SCXD)

Fender Super Champ XD (aka SCXD) - just to see if there's a "club".

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- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 2:49 p.m. GearJunky:

Well, I'm newer to the forum, so didn't want to "start" anything, but now the price went up on the XD amps and on this sad note I thought I'd start a discussion

I have the SCXD with Jensen p10r alnico speaker upgrade.

you?
- Rated: 17 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 12:43 a.m. Dr Nyl:

Had one and was really satisfied with it, didnt like the orig. speaker so i ran it with an extarnal Eminence Governor and it was good.

But all of a sudden it just started squeeling when i turned it on, brought it back to the store and via Fender Sweden the store gave me a new which i traded for a Peavey Classic 30 head.

But i sure miss those good Fendery sounds the SCXD brought me. A great amp for home use.
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 1:45 p.m. GearJunky:

sounds like maybe it was just a tube. ah, well.

a lot of people do upgrade the speaker or drive external cabs.

so far i couldn't afford/justify a cab so i tried using the simulated "line out" (pretty good by many folks' standards) into a cheap 1x12 bass amp i have (going into fx-return). This gives me a pseudo-stack - i get true tube tone out of the SCXD and some low-end, punch and presence from the 1x12. The bass amp is missing the top handle, so the SCXD sits nicely on top. It's just a temporary "fix".
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 6, 2008 3:55 p.m. GearJunky:

Wow, not a lot of people have noticed the SCXD yet. At least, not around here.
- Rated: 20 ↑
Oct 6, 2008 4:20 p.m. Mikey:

I have one of the XD's and I love it. I don't play that much through it right now with a new baby in the house, but it does all the tubey stuff I need it to do. I didn't see what the price has gone to, but mine felt like a bargain at $300 CDN.
- Rated: 27 ↑
Oct 6, 2008 4:53 p.m. audiodrome:

What's the difference between the Super Champ XD and the Vibro Champ XD?
- Rated: 15 ↑
Oct 6, 2008 5:00 p.m. Playboy:

I have a Vibro Champ XD and I love it. The best $250 USD I have ever spent on a piece of gear. It sounds great with the single coils in my Tele and Strat, but not so hot with the Filters in my Hot Rod?!? The small 8" speaker I guess. It is the perfect home practice amp - I never thought those kind of Fender sounds could be had at such a reasonable volume. I also use it when I play with a bunch of acoustic players and it is great without being to in your face.

I was thinking about getting the Super Champ, but I already have a 15 watt 10" speaker in my Pro Jr and really wanted something that would go from Scotty Moore to Zappa without bumming out the neighbors or sleeping family.
- Rated: 15 ↑
Oct 6, 2008 5:05 p.m. Playboy:

The SCXD is 15W with a 10" speaker and an extra clean channel. The VCXD is 5W with a 8" speaker.
- Rated: 29 ↑
Oct 7, 2008 7:49 a.m. mark t:

I test drove both the Vibro and Super, and was impressed with both. Some great onboard digital effects....I considered picking one up and using it to drive my other Fender amp (solid state with a pre-amp input), but I bought a 6131 instead with a Digitech Bad Monkey pedal for overdrive. I can't complain about the tone at all, but they're a great buy.
- Rated: 27 ↑
Oct 7, 2008 9:25 a.m. audiodrome:

Sounds good - I'll have to look into one of these amps. They sound a lot more versatile than the Champion 600.
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 7, 2008 1:52 p.m. GearJunky:

oh, yeah. also, SCXD is Class A/B (dual 6V6) and VCXD is Class A - single power tube.

i can't wait to try a nice cabinet with mine.

but i did try driving a bass amp I have from the SCXD line-out into the FX-loop "return" - this way I have 1x12" sound mixed with the 10". The 12" isn't the real tube tone, but simulated, but the 10" is real. Kind of a "pseudo stack". It sounds pretty good and still follows the onboard volumes.
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 19, 2008 9:31 p.m. jukeboxfun:

I went to GC today to test drive a Fender Super Champ XD. That place always makes my head spin. Especially when someone is trying out a drum kit in the back. Anyway when I came home and saw a good deal on a used one on Ebay, I snagged it. Now all I have to do is wait for UPS to deliver. It sounded pretty good to me.
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 20, 2008 1:46 p.m. GearJunky:

a-ha! nice to hear that it continues to impress. Did you get the one for $199? let us know how you like yours.
- Rated: 9 ↑
Oct 21, 2008 5:51 p.m. Rock Lajoint:

I got one of these at the weekend and so far I'm really impressed with it. I used to have a Fender Vibro Champ that I regret parting with but this bad boy has the same clean tone but more volume.

RLJ
- Rated: 13 ↑
Oct 21, 2008 7:17 p.m. farmerbrown:

I had a Vibro Champ XD for a few months and traded it for a Super Champ XD back in July, I just love it, great reverb and delay, chorus, etc... Lots easier to carry around than my original '65 Deluxe Reverb.
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 21, 2008 11:39 p.m. GearJunky:

i especially love seeing people who've had real and even vintage tube amps "cross over" to SCXD
- Rated: 4 ↑
Oct 22, 2008 8:54 a.m. jayb:

I have tried so many practice amps the past few weeks and none can compare to the SCXD. The only other one I have liked is the Champion 600 but it doesn't have the versatility that I was looking for.

I am going to pull the trigger on the SCXD very soon I think.
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 22, 2008 10:54 a.m. GearJunky:

yay!

actually you'll find that SCXD is a very giggable practice amp
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 23, 2008 10:37 a.m. jukeboxfun:

I got my Super champ xd yesterday and I really like it. I am still experimenting with the settings. I notice there is more buzz with this amp when I am not touching the guitar than there was with my solid state amp. Is this normal? Of course when I turn the gain up it is more pronounced. Some voices buzz more than others. Maybe I just need a new & better cable?
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 23, 2008 11:26 a.m. GearJunky:

yeah, the buzz (actually, 60-cycle hum) originates in the guitar and can be remedied by shielding (is this a strat? other single-coil?)

me, i also like metal-covered pickups - they too are shields, you know. mine are quiet even when i split coils.
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 23, 2008 11:31 a.m. jukeboxfun:

It's my G5120. Shielding?
- Rated: 18 ↑
Nov 4, 2008 7:38 a.m. F107plus5:

Fascinating amps, these.

Being a bedroom playing kinda guy; the 5W VCXD would be more than enough volume wise, and I sorta like the idea of the VC being Class A, but I wonder if the difference in sound between the Class A and Class AB is enough to even notice, especially with the difference in speaker size between these two amps?

....and I luv all the good words about the clean channel!

The SCXD has a much larger following of course, and the larger speaker is certainly a plus, but I get the impression reading over at the FDP that the Volume at the lowest settings may still be too loud for the quiet Bedroom Practicing that would be its' primary use?

I wonder.
- Rated: 15 ↑
Nov 4, 2008 8:04 a.m. Playboy:

F107plus5, I was in the same boat as you. I am telling you if you want a bedroom practice amp the VCXD is the one for low volume. From Hank to Hendrix while the family and neighbors are sleeping.
- Rated: 9 ↑
Nov 4, 2008 9:19 a.m. Rock Lajoint:

I chose the Super Champ XD because I have an Epi Valve Jr and it starts to break up at way too low a volume for my liking so I went for something with a little more headroom.

As for bedroom playing, I tend to play after the missus has gone to bed and for some reason she doesn't like me playing '20 Flight Rock' and 'Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie' on my 6120 DSW through an amp in the room where she's sleeping

I have one issue with the Super Champ and that is that there is a vibration/rattle somewhere round the back when I play a low 'A'. I've not yet been able to pin down the source but searching online suggests rattles are a common issue.
- Rated: 3 ↑
Nov 4, 2008 10:38 a.m. GearJunky:

Lajoing, i've read about the vibration (mine doesn't have it) and it's usually the cabinet (or the baffle) and usually people fix it mechanically - by padding the screws or something like that. you just have to find where it's loose/vibrating.