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Post subject: Considering the X2
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:51 am
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Hi folks - first post!

I'm agonising over what amp to buy (aren't we all in that state permanently?). Here's the spec...

I'm really a bass player and play in a 'proper' band but enjoy plonking on guitar at home or with friends. Have a MIM Strat, an Ibanez Artcore and a Gibson Midtown Standard for this indulgent activity. In the past I've owned a Cyber Deluxe and a Blackstar HT5 but never really got on with them. The Blackstar I was really disappointed with and the Cyber fell out of favour once I played through a Deluxe Reverb. Awesome.

Despite the early experiences with modelling, I've enjoyed using a borrowed Champ XD and am considering the X2. I'm rather taken with the Supersonic but they're a lot of money and finances dictate I get one shot at this. Anyone know whether the X2 can approximate the Super Sonic or should I go for the 'real thing'? A new X2 head and cab would be about £400 and a second hand SS can be had for about £650.

I love the DR clean and sparkly, like the occasional bit of grit for blues stuff but have little interest in all the high-gain metal type sounds. Also realised I've never owned a brand new amp...

Any thoughts?


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Post subject: Re: Considering the X2
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:20 pm
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I play a lot of styles and in support of this I have been using amp sims for quite a few years. This has been fine for recording, but the last time I played out I could really tell where my rig was falling short.

The X2 has given me a nice palate of amps to choose from and the use of real tubes in the amp has just brought my sound back to life. The early British sound preset supports my Rickenbacker so much better then the sims do and my Strat is like a whole new creature.

I have just begun messing with the FUSE software to see where I can tweek the sound, but quite honestly there is a slew of usable presets right out of the box.

I also have to admit I love the 30 lb weight of the combo. I can just pick it and a guitar up and head out the door. I did pick up an older amp cabinet which I am going to mount a 12" Eminence in once I restock my music money fund a bit!

Finally I have to warn you, I used to play for 30 to 45 minutes a night just to keep my fingers loose. Since bringing the X2 home I have been at 60 to 90 minutes a night and am trying to find more time to play, lol.

Good luck, Harry


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Post subject: Re: Considering the X2
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:27 pm
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I love my X2. The clean channel is just warm and beautiful to play. I like it better than the Twin sound which was my go to sound on my Mustang l. The Fender sims are done really well. The quality control of the X2 also seems very good. I think you might find yourself very well pleased with the X2.

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Post subject: Re: Considering the X2
Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 12:26 pm
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I've been looking at the Mustang II and Vox VT 40+ for an "at home" practice amp. But the more I dig into this, the more I think I should save my pennies a little longer ($100-$150 more) and buy the Super Champ instead. Seems to be a lot more straightforward than the Mustang or Vox - which I felt were kind of overwhelming at the store- required a lot of fiddling around. The Super Champ provided some modeling and effects without the confusion.

I've also come across a couple of used XD's on ebay selling in the $200 range - which seems like an incredible bargain.

Any thoughts? And since I'm a little cautious buying a used amp - any experiences on quality and durability of the XD?

Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Considering the X2
Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:34 pm
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@ Modwiz
On the clean side does it stay a beautiful clean from low to full volume

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Post subject: Re: Considering the X2
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 3:06 pm
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I had to tweak my X2 in Fuze to get what I wanted out of it, so I suggest an X2 instead of the XD, since the XD is not tweakable.

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Post subject: Re: Considering the X2
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:52 pm
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Trini wrote:
@ Modwiz
On the clean side does it stay a beautiful clean from low to full volume


Yes, it does. The clean warms up as the 6V6's start pushing, but When I wound mine up to around 8.5-9, it was still very clean. At that point it was just too loud for me to crank it any further.

There are more flavors of clean on the ch2 side as well. Those can be cranked as well.


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Post subject: Re: Considering the X2
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:03 pm
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tripehead wrote:
Despite the early experiences with modelling, I've enjoyed using a borrowed Champ XD and am considering the X2. I'm rather taken with the Supersonic but they're a lot of money and finances dictate I get one shot at this. Anyone know whether the X2 can approximate the Super Sonic or should I go for the 'real thing'?

The XD is a great amp, it's why I bought my X2 head. I played a SS a few months ago in a music store when amp shopping. The SS model on the SCX2 is pretty good, but "approximate" is a the right word for how close it is to a real SS. If you want wide tonal variety go with the X2. If you only just need that real SS tone then save up for that, is my advice.


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Post subject: Re: Considering the X2
Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 9:29 am
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I use the Super Sonic model as my go to channel 2 amp model. I changed the cab from the SS cab to the Twin 2-12 model in Fuze, and that suits my tonal taste much better. Still my Hot Rod Deluxe (version II I think)(with JJ tubes, and Eminence Tonespotter speaker, and a Weber Beam Blocker) is much richer and rounder toned than the SCX2. With a nice tube stomp in front of the clean channel of the HRD, I get the very best tone from any amp that I have ever played, and I have owned a Marshall Plexi, most all of the Fender classic amps from Deluxes to Twins and lots in between, countless Peavey's, Music Man, and four Mesa Boogies. Of all of them, the modified HRD is the tonal winner in my book of tonal taste. However the SCX2 is a nice alternative and much lighter in weight......

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Post subject: Re: Considering the X2
Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 9:00 pm
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Just "won" the bidding on an SCX2 (Blonde model) on ebay. Feel like a kid at Christmas - can't wait 'til I get it.

After looking at the Mustang and a couple other modeling amps (Peavey and Vox), I felt they just had way to many bells and whistles and knobs for me. Really liked the simplicity of the SC, not to mention the comfortably warm sound.


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Post subject: Re: Considering the X2
Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 1:48 pm
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Congrats Bwynes on the purchase. Good luck with it. There are a lot of different tones in the thing. It took me a little bit to really get to like mine, so give it a chance and use the Fuze to tweak it to taste if the on board controls are not enough.

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Post subject: Re: Considering the X2
Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 1:19 pm
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OK - so I just got my new SCX2 today. Having a ball messing around with all the voices and effects - getting to know it. It's gonna take a while - but I am really enjoying this. Not even thinking of hooking up the Fuse yet. The sound is pure, warm and solid.

Gotta add that I'm an "old guy" who started playing back in the '60's. Quite honestly, I stopped playing 20 years ago - don't really know why. A couple of years back I wanted to start up again. Bought an acoustic-electric Fender Dread and got back into it. Then one day I was looking at my old 45-year old Mosrite Celebrity III and thought that it would be great to play it again. Took it to the tech at my local GC who really did a great job setting it up. He couldn't believe how good the condition was.

Unfortunately, my old amp had quit working. So after looking around and trying a few amps out - I picked up this used SCX2 (only 3 months old!!!) for a really decent price. Totally happy. We had nothing even close "back in my day." I loved my twin 12, but this amp's smaller size, effects and voicings are a lot of fun.

Anyway - as you can tell by my rambling - I am really excited to be back playing again. So far, the only problem I've discovered is that my old eyes are having a hard time reading the SC's effects dial - I'm sure I'll learn the positions by heart soon. Other than that, I am really looking forward to getting reacquainted with my Mosrite.

Thanks Fender!


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