It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:38 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 20 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Super Champ XD
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:04 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 8
I just brought one with foot switch home at lunch yesterday. I plugged it in intending to 'see how it sounds' and played for 6 hours. Now my boss is pissed :)

I've had many amps, but this one is hands down my favorite. I can hear all the harmonics! It really sings! I used a BYOC 5 Knob compressor in front of it and that's all. Channel one is just gorgeous sounding with my DIY Carvin Bolt through that compressor. The Taylor T5 sounds wonderful, too, as does my PRS. My favorite is the Bolt, though, as it is single coil.

Channel 2 is extremely versatile. I particularly liked preset 4 (Bright Blackface clean) and 7 (British Top Boost) when I cranked the Gain to about 7. The acoustic preset (16) sounded great with the Taylor in acoustic mode, and the Jazz setting (15) with neck pickup and backing the tone down is beautiful and round. The scooped metal stuff is cool, and so are the Hot Rod presets.

The effects are less versatile since you can only adjust level. That said, Fender picked pretty good settings for the most part. I liked the Fender Spring Reverb and the slow Vibrotone in particular. The delays are good, but at a fixed tempo. The Tremolos are nice, really old school sounding, not choppy. I'm neutral on the chorus presets.

I bought this locally (San Diego) for $299.00 with the foot switch. I consider that a STEAL for what this amp is!

Mike


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:43 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 634
How about volume? Loud as a Blues JR? Loud enough for a small bar gig?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:58 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 8
Don't know about the Jr., I've never played one. On it's own, I think it might be loud enough for a small live gig. But with the Line Out you can put it through a louder clean amp (I've tried this with a Carvin Acoustic Amp and a PA) and you can get the necessary volume. Also cool: plugging in the Line Out does not disable the speaker!

Mike


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:43 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 634
Slight problem: the line out is merely the output of the DSP, no tubes involved. Which kind of defeats the whole purpose.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:25 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 8
Hmm, I'll have to go back and give it a listen again. I was only checking for loudness :) Still, you could mic it too....


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:55 pm
Offline
Fender Staff
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:59 am
Posts: 89
Yes. Mic it! The snap of the 10" speaker is definitely part of the sound, and the output tubes too, of course.

Thanks,
Shane


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:33 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:44 pm
Posts: 9
So, if I use line out into another amp, the XD will still play as normal, but the preamplified signal will also input to the second amp, and then get amplified there, and allow me to play "in stereo".

Correct?

And the line-out on XD uses a standard guitar cord (tip and ring)?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:36 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 8
Yes, but apparently the line out does not include the tube path, just the output from the DSP. Still, a little creative patching could give you a stereo background with the full on Champ in the middle. I'll have to try that tonight...

Mike


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:30 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:22 pm
Posts: 17
Location: SW Washington State, USA
mmarsh said, "but apparently the line out does not include the tube path"

Are you sure? I thought I had read somewhere else the line out takes advantage of the tube circuitry. Shane???? anyone know for sure?

As for the line out into another amp for stereo....yes this does work. I have the VOXAD30VT, and when you engage the line out, the speaker disengages - which is not a plus in my book. So, I am intrigued with the VCXD and SCXD for that feature. I tried the VCXD at the local store, ran a line out into a Bassman RI, and it sounded great, plus still had the sound of the VCXD - so the stereo is very possible. Plus, I would imagine you could run the line out into effects before line in to another amp giving some very nice stereo possiblities.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:26 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 8
Actually, no, I'm not sure, but that is what was mentioned earlier in the thread. It does sound great either way, though...


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:32 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:21 am
Posts: 47
ok, i'm not familiar with this amp at all... but generally speaking, a line out jack will take the signal before the power amp section. It may or may not have speaker emulation (a preset unchangeable EQ curve to simulate a miked speaker).

As for "stereo," it will only be true stereo if the signal from the line out jack is 1 half (left or right) of the stereo DSP signal. And I really don't see them doing true stereo on an amp with only 1 speaker and a mono power amp section.

*************************************************************

OK, now that i've looked at the pics and read the description... (and correct me if i'm wrong), it seems that they took a solid state preamp, added DSP effects and ran it into a tube power amp section.

The only reason I can think of for doing it this way... is to be able to turn up the amp loud enough (past 5 on the volume knob) to get the power tubes to saturate.

The only reason you'd really want to use the line out, would be to slave into a larger (more powerful) tube amp and speaker, to get the advantage of the SCXD's preamp and digital FX while running a different amp and cabinet (like a 412 for more low end and tighter bass response)

Besides, if you were playing this thing live in a venue large enough to require a bigger amp, just put a mic on it and run the signal back thru your stage monitor. Even better, prop the amp at an angle in front of you, next to your monitor... your band mates will thank you for that one.

_________________
93 Blues Deville 212
05 MIM Strat with 96 Am. Std. "Delta Tone" and Dimarzio Virtual Vintage pickups
98 Carvin Bolt with Dimarzio and Duncan pickups
Muzique.com Mini-Booster and MOSFET Booster
Ibanez TS-9 Reissue (TS-808 and flat-mid mods)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:46 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 8
Yes, that sounds right. Maybe the reason I was fooled a little was because of the Voicing part of the DSP/Preamp - this emulates the character of various amps and apparently does a pretty good job! More critical listening tonight: it's certainly not the same tone you get from the speaker, but it is good and could be useful for interesting stereo tricks both live and in the stu-stu-studio.

Having the DSP/Preamp before a tube power stage is really no different than using pedals in front of a tube amp (with the caveat that an all-tube amp will have a tube-based preamp). And this DSP/Preamp combined with the 12AX7 and the 6's sounds REALLY GOOD. :lol:

I agree with mic'ing for live situations - with a small amp I use an angled stand to get it off the floor and so I can hear it, as you suggested. It's an interesting idea to angle it like a monitor...toward me and away from the audience. I'd be pissed of though, if I were in the audience. I always want to scope out settings!

Mike


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:58 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:21 am
Posts: 47
the 12AX7 is most likely being used as the phase inverter, it is splitting the signal and inverting the phase of one half... so each 6V6 is actually amplifying half of the waveform (actually more than half in class A/B operation). The phase inverter will also saturate and distort to some extent, tho generally you want to choose a tube based on your own preferences. Obviously, a "clean" 12AX7 will distort less than a "dirty" one... and will color the tone more. Which is great if you're going for that power-amp saturation kind of thing.

As for the amp kicked back in front of you... as a soundman, this is great, but only if you have monitors and house PA loud enough to make up for the fact that the stage volume is that much lower. In fact, I have my practice area set up like this, with my amp leaning back against a wall, the pedalboard in front of it... that way its blowing directly at my face... tho you do get some hi-frequency "beaming" from the center of the cone.

If you really want to hear what the amp will sound like to your audience... and have the equipment, put the amp in another room (or closet) turn it up to gig level volumes, put a mic on it, run the mic into a mixer and listen thru a monitor or headphones... If possible, compare this to the actual tone coming off the amp.

Play with mic placement: center of cone, halfway to the edge, pointed straight at the cone, angled or any combination of those. Pointed straight at the center of the cone will be the brightest, most direct, almost harsh if you're not used to it. Start with the mic directly on the grille, then try moving it back a few inches at a time to get more "room" sound.

If you really want to hear what's coming off that "line out" jack... plug it into a DI box, then into a mixer... be ready for a surprise... you'll realize how much a tube power stage and speaker affects the signal.

_________________
93 Blues Deville 212
05 MIM Strat with 96 Am. Std. "Delta Tone" and Dimarzio Virtual Vintage pickups
98 Carvin Bolt with Dimarzio and Duncan pickups
Muzique.com Mini-Booster and MOSFET Booster
Ibanez TS-9 Reissue (TS-808 and flat-mid mods)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 11:18 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 8
I did record it using the line out (the first night I got it) but through a tube preamp - it sounded good but for a critical recording I would add a little of that to the mic'd cab. I use an SM57 or a Senny 451 (depending on how much thud I want) on my old Silvertone (actually, Sears labeled!) or my Carvin Bel Air just slightly angled but pointing at the cone about 6 inches away. Each amp is a little different and it also depends on the day. I fool around with the position of the mic a lot, and sometimes add a little large diaphragm condenser further away for ambiance. I haven't yet recorded the cab of the Champ, that's this weekend's project.

Live sound is tricky. Depends on walls, air (with or w/o smoke :shock:) people, speakers, sound guy, etc. Some nights it's "yeah, Baby!" others it's "WTF?"...mostly it's somewhere in between and that's OK.

Mike


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:52 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:01 pm
Posts: 13
Ok, so I have a few questions that this recent thread has brought up.
1. If I record the amp with the line out, will I get any of the tube sound? Or will it only be the modeling and effects?
2. If I use the line out into a cab, say a 2x12 for live use, without a head, will I get the tube sound?
3. Could I unplug the Champ's speaker, and plug a cab's larger speaker right into the speaker input of the Champ? This seams like my best option, if it is do-able.

These were the main reasons I wanted this amp, it sounds great just playing it, but its much easier for me to line out my amps because my mics aren't very high quality, and my room is very "echoey". And if I can use it as a head with a cab, then it would double as my live amp as well, with a respectable cab under it.

Of course I could mic it for both of these, but a PA system isn't always readily available, whereas if I had a cab it would cut costs for me a great deal.

Another option for me is line-out to my Triggerman 60 watt solid state amp, which uses a 12" speaker. Would it be better to plug the Champ into the 12" speaker directly, or to plug the Champ into the input of the Triggerman itself?

Sorry for the wordy post, but this amp seems so great that I want to be %100 sure of it before purchasing, it seems too good to be true!

Thanks, Boyko.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 20 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: