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Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:30 pm
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Probably done for business and marketing reasons.

But ultimately what matters is that it sounds good, it's inexpensive, and it's innovative.

It's the first true cyborg amplifier--you have an organic tube sound augmented with artificial digital prosthetics.


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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:10 am
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Really everytime you run a pod or something into a tube amp you're doing the same thing. Lots of amps mix tubes and digital goodies: the Cyber-Twin, all the Epiphone tube amps with DSPs on board, the new Line 6/Bogner modeling-plus-all tube amps. It's not a new concept at all.

Just that Fender started with a really good DSP chip from the FM series. And blended it with the King of warm, harmonically-rich anti-digital tubes, the 6V6. Plus they know how to build good tube amps to a price point.

The result approaches the best of both worlds at an out-of-this-world price. I have no doubt the XD series is gonna cut deep into PJ/BJ/600 sales, especially with the BJ going up to $449.

I'd like to see a Super Champ XD Pro with 22 watts, a 12" speaker, and a balanced XLR spkr-compensated out. For $399. I know I'm not alone.


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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:57 am
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But I think what's unique is their signal chain. I'm guessing that it's something like:

guitar, tone, amp model, fx model, gain -> dsp -> 12ax7 -> volume amplify -> 6v6

Is that about right Fender? This is just my guess based on what both the Fender guy and that other guy posted about the dsp generating all the distortion. So all those knobs I'm guessing must be inputs to the dsp module. The dsp module feeds this pre-distorted signal to 12ax7 which basically "rounds" the signal to give it tube warmth.

What I'm not sure about is the volume control. That warm signal (I'm guessing) combines with the volume control before going to the 6v6.

So you can get that power tube distortion with the Amp Model 4 and Amp Model 5 selections, just like an old Champ.

But with the other models you get dsp distortion + power-amp distortion.

I'm a software guy, not a hardware guy so I'm probably off, but I think I'm close. And I still think that signal chain is unique.


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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:01 pm
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Bill M says the 12AX7 is doing double duty as both a phase inverter and a preamp stage gain element. And that ALL the overt distortion comes from the DSP, while the tubes add warmth and natural compression, but not classic tube clipping. Hence the larger clean headroom in the SCXD over the BJ. The tubes aren't getting driven to distortion/clipping levels.


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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:37 pm
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I was checking out the Champ AA64 schematic (http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/schem/champ_aa764_schem.gif).

It looks like the first 12Ax7 just buffers the signal. Then you have treble, bass, and volume before the second 12ax7 which feeds into the 6v6 power tube.

So if they followed a similar signal chain in the VCXD, it would be

guitar -> 12ax7 -> dsp (with inputs from all knobs), volume -> 12ax7 -> 6v6

So maybe that's why the Fender guy could get it to sound just like a real Champ because from the signal chain is the essentially the same for Model #4.

(Real tube amp guys are probably laughing at my analysis, but hey, all in fun!)


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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:47 pm
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O ya, sorry, I was in SCXD world. The 12AX7 in the VC isn't a phase inverter since single-ended Class A amps don't need one. Your signal path may be correct there. The 12AX7 is used exclusively as a preamp gain element in the VC.


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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:03 pm
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I've been testing the VCXD in my home studio and I've been very pleased with the results so far.

Has anyone else tried it for recording?


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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:51 pm
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Shane Nicholas said: "the fact that the two models sound very different from each other should tell you that the power amp and speaker are crucial."


I would love for Shane or somebody to unpack this in detail. In what ways do they sound very different? I am still trying to decide which one to purchase. The dollar difference is not that significant, so I am VERY curious if the VC is considered to have better tones at lower volumes or what we are actually taking about in "very different"


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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:47 pm
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You're talking about the difference between a class A and a class A/B push/pull amp. And in the VC, the 12AX7 is used exclusively as a preamp gain stage element, as opposed to in the SC where it's both a phase inverter AND a gainer.

To me, the VC is a bit redundant as I already have an Epi VJ, and same goes for folks with 600s. For an additional $50, the SC gives you basically a poor man's DRRI for $549 less. It's gigable/jamable. That's a whole trainload more utility if you already have a nice little class A home/recording amp in the closet.

(Hey, what're you doin working on New Years Day, Brad???)


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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:40 am
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I bought VC one week ago,and i must say i`m not very thrilled! It hums quite a lot,tone controls are strange(depends what voice i use,but only usable are #4,#6,#10,for me that is):bass at 8-10,treble at 2-1,otherwise tone is real thin.And thats with Strat,too terrified to try Tele bridge pup again...Just swapped the speaker Weber signature:Not much difference.Going to try other tubes,to solve that hum thing,and if there`s no improvement,it`s bye,bye VC!


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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:45 am
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You know, I tried a Matchless at my guitar teacher's store once and I was totally unimpressed. A cold, thin, hard flat tone. Did nothing for me.

True class A amps are not for everyone. You may simply like the class A/B push-pull circuit better. Class A gets way overhyped. But Hendrix, Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Steve Cropper, Mike Bloomfield and SRV were just fine with A/B.

Don't swallow the hype, trust your ears. They are as unique as you are. No two individuals hear things the same way. Albert and BB King played and play respectively solid state amps. My fave amp of all time was an ancient old faded green tube PA amp with the brand name worn off played through two E.U. Wurlitzer PA columns with 6 10's each. Ripped up the house.

Who cares what sounds good to Eric Clapton? He's nearly deaf. You're not. Trust your judgement. It's always expert, and honest, and hype-free.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:17 pm
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My VC is awesome and doesn't hum at all. Have you A/B'd it with other VCs?


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