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Post subject: Re: wow not much going on in here
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:29 pm
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Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 8:40 pm
Posts: 107
I received and have been playing my new blond Super Champ X2 for a few days now and thought I would give my thoughts.

To set the stage, for the last 6 or 7 years I have been playing thru Native Instruments Guitar Rig directly into my recording software or feeding the output into a really clean little 20 watt solid state amp when playing out. This has given me the ability to play thru what I felt were very nice amp sims. Man what an eye opener the X2 has been.

I really did not realize how much I was missing the natural compression and sag that tubes impart on a guitar's tone. The sims got me close but once you get to a serious volume the X2's tubes really join with your personal dynamics to make the amp become part of the performance.

I am an old guy and am lucky enough to have built up a decent selection of guitars over the last 40 years and playing thru the X2 has been like rediscovering them. The really funny thing is that my 1990 American Strat Plus has become my favorite axe again.

I do love the clean channel, the Strat, my Epiphone Dot. and the Rick 650 each have a really distinct, usable tone here. Played at volume there is a richness that I cannot wait to try and record. I will say that my daughters Aria LP clone is probably my least favorite thru this amp. It has some hot, metal Seymore Duncans in it and the X2 just doesnt have the right high gain settings for it. On the other hand I was able to channel some serious Fab Four when I broke out an Epi Riviera P93, the X2 just allowed those single coils to dig in and bark.

I have also found a few of the 2 channel's presets that are way too much fun to use. Right now the Champ, Bassman, and Twin channels are rocking my world. I have a lot of playing to do here to test and fine tune all of the presets, however I ran into a problem with my PC and FUSE. I have a home built computer which I upgraded from VISTA to Win 7 and there seems to be problems with .NET Framework. More on this once I figure it out.

About the only negative so far is that this little bugger is way LOUDER then I was expecting. Looks like I am going to need to move my music room to the basement ! ! !

More to come,
Harry


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Post subject: Re: wow not much going on in here
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:40 pm
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Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2012 9:50 am
Posts: 1399
For a while I just preferred the clean channel with the natural tube warmth adding that magic to every note and chord. Last week I added an Eminence Red Fang 10" alnico speaker to it and everything has changed for the better. This speaker is still not broken in and it may be some time before that happens but it still does things with guitar sounds that are unique to it. It is a super articulate speaker but still has color.
With the chimey sound the English 60's setting are way fun now. Before they sounded OK, now they sound authentic. The 2000 metal setting howls with harmonics and musical feedback even with the volume on 2. The rich harmonics and great articulation of the speaker allow for the DSP to reproduce well while the harmonics provide a tubey warmth. I am so happy with my speaker purchase/upgrade. Given the cost, that is a good thing. :lol:

Knowing the speaker will only improve with age is something else to look forward to.

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I have some Fender gear.
(Telecaster, Jaguar, Villager 12 String. Mustang l, Bronco, SCX2, Rumble 350, HRDIII, Rumble 2x8 Neo Cab)
http://www.reverbnation.com/modwiz


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Post subject: Re: wow not much going on in here
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:06 pm
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Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2012 9:50 am
Posts: 1399
I wonder if it is the reliability of these amps that make this section so quiet. 3 new tubes and speaker replacement and we're done. I am thinking about putting in a new output transformer from BillM's site. It seems it would make the amp a tad more robust. If drilling holes was my thing I'd go with the transformer that can handle full time 4 ohms as well. Since I have my red fang loaded in, there won't be much call for 4 ohms.

Keeping this super champ section moving takes dedication........and finding things to say. I wish Andygutmonkey was posting his songs.

_________________
I have some Fender gear.
(Telecaster, Jaguar, Villager 12 String. Mustang l, Bronco, SCX2, Rumble 350, HRDIII, Rumble 2x8 Neo Cab)
http://www.reverbnation.com/modwiz


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Post subject: Re: wow not much going on in here
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:08 pm
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Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 6:30 am
Posts: 375
I own one of these, in the vintage looking surf green. Excellent amp! I'm also a clean channel guy, with added pedals. One thing I noticed- the clean channel is REALLY clean. I wound it up to 8 or 9 on the volume pot one day, and it was still clean! Ridiculously loud, but still not crunchy.

On ch2, I think my favorite voice is #3, the dirty/pushed deluxe. I just love that pushed/barely crunch sound, and if you wind up the gain, or push it with an od pedal, it gets REALLY good!

I also love the spring reverb, and the deep chorus settings.

I have not bothered to hook it up to Fuse yet. There's plenty of fun to be had with just the onboard knobs! The M III does have it beat for physical control panel useability, however.

Another think I like, is that the speaker is actually plugged into the speaker out jack. This means, that with an adaptor, you could use the cabinet with another head. And, the combo version can easily be run through a separate cab.

The only reason I don't play this more, is the volume. I live in an apartment in an old 1840's building with thin walls. A tube loud amp, even at 15 watts, is difficult to use w/o disturbing the neighbors. It has no headphone output, so I have to be careful when I use it. I set it on top of my desk, so it's pointed at my ears- not my ankles- to help control the noise.

I also own a Mustang III ( got used, for a great price- just after I bought the SC x2 new...), and with the headphone out, it gets more use. I also love having an fx loop.


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Post subject: Re: wow not much going on in here
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:22 am
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Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2012 9:50 am
Posts: 1399
I own a Musty 1 and the ScX2, also in Surf Green. I tend to think the the X2 as kind of a Princeton with extras. I know it isn't tube tremelo, or spring reverb and I don't care. Princeton's cost a lot more and they are the same power. I love on of the stock vibratone settings. I have reconfigured my reverbs a little differently, but I am setting up to be taken out and used with the voices and effects being what I want. Even though is is a DSP, I use it more like a standard tube amp. I pit an Eminence Red Fang in mine and it sounds so rich. The bass on those speakers is so tight and focused. The mids and highs are creamy and compressed at high volume.

For just rocking out and having fun anytime of day, the Mustangs rule. Mine sounds amazing through headphones. At low volumes the stock speaker is perfect for the job.

A friend of mine used it at a gig we did. Never turned it past 12 o'clock and we miked it. Here it is on the right hand of the stage. The little Musty1.

An FX loop is always a great thing to have with an amp.

Image

_________________
I have some Fender gear.
(Telecaster, Jaguar, Villager 12 String. Mustang l, Bronco, SCX2, Rumble 350, HRDIII, Rumble 2x8 Neo Cab)
http://www.reverbnation.com/modwiz


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