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Post subject: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 7:42 pm
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This question has probably been asked to death, and forgive my ignorance, but I am looking to upgrade my tone and am considering either the Blues Junior III or the Super Champ XD. (If money were no object I'd have an MIUSA strat and a Hot Rod Deluxe III) I play a MIM Standard HSS Strat with the humbucker replaced with a DiMarzio PAF Pro. I play mainly in a small church that seats about 200 and occasionally a small gig at a local songwriter's night. Right now I'm using and old Digitech RP-100 through a Hartke Keyboard amp (I know yuck.) I also have health issues which keep me from lifting very heavy amps. I really want tube shimmering cleans and creamy tube overdrive and want to be able to keep up with the drums, keys, etc. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions maybe even an amp suggestion other than the BJIII and SCXD?

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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:04 pm
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I own both amps and like each of them but if you have drums to contend with the 10" speaker in the SCXD will have a tough time keeping up. You can always run it through a 12" extension cabinet but that defeats the "lightweight" approach you indicated you want. The BJR is probably a better choice between the two but you might also look at the Peavey Classic 30 and the Carvin Vintage 16. Both are all tube, have 12" speakers and made in the USA. If you can move up to the DRRI you'll never have to buy another amp. Good luck with your search.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:18 pm
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You might want to check out the Egnater Tweaker. I was considering the BJr. & the SCXD at one point & this one seemed to have all the things the other 2 didn't have. No 1st hand experience mind you, it just looks really promising. Worth a look anyway. cheers


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 11:37 am
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I own both amps, just bought both of them on a whim thinking that I would sell the one that I like least. Long story short, I can't part with either of them.

The Blues Jr III gets me an amazing overdriven tone when I use my Fulltone OCD through it. This might be the best tone that I have ever played with. I like the built in reverb, and the amp gets plenty loud to get over drums, however I imagine in a church setting, I'd probably rather mic it.

The Super Champ XD has many more tone options. So if you wanted to set the Digitech aside, you can get a huge array of tones without having to use stompboxes. I bought my worship leader a Super Champ XD a few weeks ago, and he immediately sold his Vox amp because he loves it so much. We mic it and he gets a great sound from it.

I am a Pastor of a Church Plant and we meet in a room that holds about 200ish, and our best sound comes from putting a mic on a guitar amp. We turn the amp facing backstage to give us more sound control. The Super Champ has been really perfect in this application.

Both amps are really amazing, I love both of them.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:20 pm
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paztormike wrote:
I own both amps, just bought both of them on a whim thinking that I would sell the one that I like least. Long story short, I can't part with either of them.

The Blues Jr III gets me an amazing overdriven tone when I use my Fulltone OCD through it. This might be the best tone that I have ever played with. I like the built in reverb, and the amp gets plenty loud to get over drums, however I imagine in a church setting, I'd probably rather mic it.

The Super Champ XD has many more tone options. So if you wanted to set the Digitech aside, you can get a huge array of tones without having to use stompboxes. I bought my worship leader a Super Champ XD a few weeks ago, and he immediately sold his Vox amp because he loves it so much. We mic it and he gets a great sound from it.

Both amps are really amazing, I love both of them.

Here, here, Paztormike! I also own both of the amps and I also won't ever part with either of them. Like you, I think for raw versatility, the XD is the way to go - but if you are looking for superb clean tones, which is what I want most often from my Blues Junior, the BJ will do fine. There's always the price factor as the BJ is a couple bills more, making the XD look a little more suitable, perhaps. Great amps! Agreed!

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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:24 am
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I should also mention that the Guitar Center near my home had a new Super Champ xd on clearance for 249 yesterday. I'm not sure if they are clearing all of them out or what. Maybe a new line of tube/modeling combos is coming soon?

But you can find new ones for 249 and used ones under 200 on Craigslist. Such a great deal.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:33 pm
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I almost got talked into one of those Peavey Vypyr tube 60's until I played one side by side with the Blues Junior. Even though the hybrid's have power section tubes, nothing beats the "cut through the mix"-ness of a true tube amp. I think I'll probably end up with the BJIII until I can come up with the money for a Deluxe Reverb.

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Vox V845, PaulC Timmy (surf green), Fulltone OCD, Dunlop Volume, Strymon TimeLine, T1M Mini A/B


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:45 pm
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TonyMealer wrote:
I think I'll probably end up with the BJIII until I can come up with the money for a Deluxe Reverb.


I think that's a wise choice. I've never heard what I consider to be a decent tone from the Vyper.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:07 am
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TonyMealer wrote:
I almost got talked into one of those Peavey Vypyr tube 60's until I played one side by side with the Blues Junior. Even though the hybrid's have power section tubes, nothing beats the "cut through the mix"-ness of a true tube amp. I think I'll probably end up with the BJIII until I can come up with the money for a Deluxe Reverb.

Let us know how it works out for you. Great amps.

About the Deluxe Reverb. I saw on another forum that a guy picked up a used '65 reissue for $500. I'm sure that's a pretty rare steal from someone who was desperate for cash, but keep in mind that a used Deluxe might not be too much more expensive than the BJ III.

Whatever you decide you can rest assured that all of those amps are great. Have fun choosing.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:19 am
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Hell, for five bills I'd buy another one "just because"!

:mrgreen:

I've been wanting to build another DRRI conversion for quite some time.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:15 pm
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I saw a wise piece of advice. I believe I'll just save up about six hundred bucks and try to find a used DRRI on ebay. That way I won't ever have to buy another amp.

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Fender Standard Strat w/ DiMarzio VVHB2 Bridge and Area 67's neck/middle
Gibson 2014 SGJ
Fender DRRI with Weber 12F150 50 watts light dope
Vox AC15C1PL stock
Vox V845, PaulC Timmy (surf green), Fulltone OCD, Dunlop Volume, Strymon TimeLine, T1M Mini A/B


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:52 pm
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Keep an eye on your local C/L ads as well, Tony. I've seen many DRRI's priced at $600 -- even less in a few cases. You'll save on S&H plus have the benefit of a test-drive before you buy.

Arjay

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"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


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:37 pm
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I guess it all boils down to how long I can stand playing through a solid-state keyboard amp while I save/wait for a true tube amp. And of course I have to watch out for that sneaky "all-tube" hype the hybrid amp makers put out. I'm learning Digital and Tone just don't mix very well together usually.

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Fender Standard Strat w/ DiMarzio VVHB2 Bridge and Area 67's neck/middle
Gibson 2014 SGJ
Fender DRRI with Weber 12F150 50 watts light dope
Vox AC15C1PL stock
Vox V845, PaulC Timmy (surf green), Fulltone OCD, Dunlop Volume, Strymon TimeLine, T1M Mini A/B


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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:07 pm
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:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Blues Junior III or Super Champ XD?
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:05 am
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How does the HRBD compare the the DRRI? I thought I might go with a Blues Deluxe if it has the shimmering tone I'm looking for...

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Fender Standard Strat w/ DiMarzio VVHB2 Bridge and Area 67's neck/middle
Gibson 2014 SGJ
Fender DRRI with Weber 12F150 50 watts light dope
Vox AC15C1PL stock
Vox V845, PaulC Timmy (surf green), Fulltone OCD, Dunlop Volume, Strymon TimeLine, T1M Mini A/B


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