It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:32 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 34 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 12:41 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Dec 26, 2010 12:33 pm
Posts: 11
Hello everyone. Got myself an XD for Christmas, and I'm looking to upgrade it, but I've never done anything like that before.

If I get a new speaker, how do I disconnect the wires from the stock speaker? I was looking t this a bit ago and was under the impression the wires would kind of just pop off, but I was pulling pretty hard and no luck. Are these like soldered in place or something? Is there some sort of trick to popping the wires off? Do I just pull harder? I felt like I was going to rip the speaker apart if I pulled any harder earlier.

Same thing for the tubes. I thought you just pulled tubes out, but they didn't budge when I was playing with them earlier. It looks like maybe the power tubes are screwed in or something, but the preamp looks to just be sitting there.

While we're on the subject, input on speaker/tube swap would be appreciated as well but isn't entirely necessary since there's about 1000 forums discussing just such a thing. I was looking at the Celestion G10 speaker over the Ragin Cajun. Would that work well? I play punk/alternative stuff and generally like American/Mesa style gain if that helps. Is swapping the tubes really worth it?

Thanks


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 3:59 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 2:58 pm
Posts: 2293
Location: Adirondacks
Having a SCXD for a year and a half I would say play it a bit more and let the speaker break in before you do any mods. I have mine stock like when I received it. It seems kind of silly to replace stuff before you have really played it. JMO.
ABS :D


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 5:47 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
If a brand new amp doesn't sound at least "somewhat pleasing" right out of the box, it's not likely that any upgrades are going to improve the tone. If the fundamentals weren't there from the git the only thing that upgrades do is enrich those who make their living selling said "upgrades".

Mebbe you should stop reading all the hype posted on forums like these and concentrate on playing the amp. Learn what it can do and how it interfaces with your instrument and your playing style. Spend a couple of months with it then decide if there's something requiring a bit of fine-tuning.

Gnome saing, mon?

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 6:57 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Dec 26, 2010 12:33 pm
Posts: 11
Yeah that makes sense I guess.

But in the mean time, I would still like to know if I'm missing something when I was trying to unplug the speaker and the tubes.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 8:33 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
Hi RickWall23,

If your connectors have the plastic covers, slide them back off of the connector first. Look closely at the connectors, you may have the ones with a little catch that keeps the connector from coming off. If so, there will be a small lever in the middle of the connector that you must press in before removing. I have these on my C600, and I tried pulling very hard on the connectors before I realized it, lucky that I didn't break the speaker terminal off. :idea:

For the output tubes, you may have retainers that you have to push away from the tubes base before removing. To pull the tubes, pull away from the chassis while rocking in a slight circular motion, and walk the tubes out. :)

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 7:27 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:17 pm
Posts: 1292
Location: Halifax Canada
When I got my SCXD I was very happy with it...then I wondered what I was missing...now I have accepted that it might not be several other big name amps, but it is a great amp in the end...so I guess say get used to it and then if you don't like it, try messing around or just move on to something else.

_________________
CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:40 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
Retroverbial wrote:
If a brand new amp doesn't sound at least "somewhat pleasing" right out of the box, it's not likely that any upgrades are going to improve the tone. If the fundamentals weren't there from the git the only thing that upgrades do is enrich those who make their living selling said "upgrades".

Mebbe you should stop reading all the hype posted on forums like these and concentrate on playing the amp. Learn what it can do and how it interfaces with your instrument and your playing style. Spend a couple of months with it then decide if there's something requiring a bit of fine-tuning.

Gnome saing, mon?

Arjay


+1,000 You need more time to play the amp. Speakers really need time to break in. The forums are full of hype producing, urban legend Parrots who not only create the hype, but sell kits to fix it. Don't let other people tell you you need to mod your amp. If I feel I need to mod an amp, I dump it and cut my loses. I don't have time to try and chase a tone I'll probably never get from that particular piece of gear. I don't buy gear based on hype either. If it works for you and I get curious, I'll give it a try to see what it will do for me. I suggest a lot of gear, but only say to give it a shot. What works for me may not work for you.

As far as tube changes go, hybrids usually don't benefit tone wise too much from tube changes. The DSP effects see to that. There is no "pure tube tone" in a hybrid amp. That's not always a bad thing if that's what you like. :wink:

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:22 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:05 pm
Posts: 6
All:
I just bought an SCXD, and I find it to be a very, very good AMP (got it on sale for $243). Can any one explain to me why Fender would even put tubes in a solid state amp if so many folks say it's not a tube amp.. or tube sound..? So perhaps I'm stupid and got sold on a gimmick? If my ears were the jury, I doubt it. As for the SCXD, I read that this amp is essentially the same thing as integrating pedals directly into your tube amp (not sure how this is any different that dudes who use a full tube amp, yet use solid state, after-market pedals to go through it for distortion and other effects.. Perhaps, I need a lesson from those who know, but I hope I didn't buy a solid state amp for $243 which as a 10 inch speaker and a useless tube pre-amp/triode etc.. Surely the tubes play large role in this amplifier's tone.

As for me, I play 60's-90's, blues, rock and hard rock. I had a solid state Fender Champ 110 before (1996 model) and it sounded really good for what it was. However, the SCXD has warmth that my 110 just didn't have... I suppose that most of the haters of the SCXD might play with light distortion, or clean on their Super Reverbs, Princetons etc,. I don't know, but this amp sounds really nice for what I paid for it. And, it's fairly mighty. I also played the Fender Mustang 2, which I know was fully solid state, and I could easily hear the difference.. (not much presense). I also played, VOX, Tiny Terror, and Marshall (all solid staters - under the $350 range). NONE of them had the warmth of the Super Champ XD. Help me understand, and correct me if I'm wrong. Thx


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 1:35 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
No, you're not "wrong".

The tube output stage in the SCXD does produce some of the warm vibe generally associated with Fender amps. However, the DSP pre-amp seems to attenuate much of the nuance that an all-tube platform produces. I've played around with the SCXD in stores and have found a few "sweet spots" among the presets. But at the end of the day, the amp will never have the mojo of a dimed Princeton Reverb or a vintage Vibro Champ. I think the primary appeal for these ersatz "Champs" is among those new players who crave a tube amp but prefer to let built-in digital effects do the heavy lifting rather than master the intricacies of a purpose-built pedalboard.

JMO

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 6:23 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
Retroverbial wrote:
No, you're not "wrong".

The tube output stage in the SCXD does produce some of the warm vibe generally associated with Fender amps. However, the DSP pre-amp seems to attenuate much of the nuance that an all-tube platform produces. I've played around with the SCXD in stores and have found a few "sweet spots" among the presets. But at the end of the day, the amp will never have the mojo of a dimed Princeton Reverb or a vintage Vibro Champ. I think the primary appeal for these ersatz "Champs" is among those new players who crave a tube amp but prefer to let built-in digital effects do the heavy lifting rather than master the intricacies of a purpose-built pedalboard.

JMO

Arjay


I agree. Personally I don't like some "suit" presetting my tone. It's all "cookie cutter" stuff. All you need is a "cookie cutter" distressed Road Worn guitar and you're all set. YMMV :shock:

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:13 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:05 pm
Posts: 6
Thanks for the response Arjay.. So, to clarify.. Can someone explain how the "DSP" in this amplifier, or any other built-in distortions and effects (on any hybrid amp) impart weakness on any given tube's ability to produce at full potential of tube driven sound. Furthermore, can someone explain that the DSP is a black-hole which somehow sucks power and full ability away from the indigenous tubes?? I welcome the comments, and don't know too much on the subject, and I hope to get more knowledgeable on this. Right now my afforda-bility and my ear gave me the go-ahead on this baby.

Oh, this is not a wine tasting.. seriously.. (63supro). I realize that this amp has presets; thanks for recapping for everyone dude.. your "cookie cutter" comments don't offer any substance, help, or respect to the question. Sounds like typical and snobby commentary, "I've got thousands worth" of gear comments. For me it all boils down to my left hand and the 30 years I've got into my habit; making any instrument talk is what I do and enjoy.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:06 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
I don't have thousands of dollars in anything. It has nothing to do with snobbery either. I even own a GDec 30. Sounds like a POS in my opinion but it's a practice tool, and a beat up 58 Dano that was found in the trash. My Strat is a 72. Most of my guitars areeither old and worn or inexpensive. I played a Twin for 30+ years, had a HRDlx Not loved by many but myself.

You're new and welcome. I'm blunt, honest sometimes rude and can even be helpful at times. I'm also a geezer so that's where the crankiness comes in on modeling amps.

So what happens with the hybrid is the DSP is always in the signal chain. It can limit the full potential of a tube amp. The Champs would have been incredible if they did it without the effects. I always thought Fender should have packaged an outboard effects unit. What it all boils down to is, if it works for you great and that's all that counts.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:11 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:29 am
Posts: 4238
Location: Pgh Pa
There's that Geezer comment again. I love that. Geezers are allowed to be alittle rude we don,t have much time left. :mrgreen:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:23 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
People are so sensitive. tbazzone, the OP in new and I guess he hasn't seen Arjay at his best. LOL
I'm glad there's still some of us with a sense of humor. :lol:

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Super Champ XD Speaker and Tube Swap Help
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:44 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:29 am
Posts: 4238
Location: Pgh Pa
Seems to be alot of that going around lately. I love when people ask for an opinion then don't like what they hear.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 34 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  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: