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Post subject: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 2:31 pm
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So received one today, and am a bit disappointed. The volume/loudness doesn't change much whether it's on 3 or 6 on channel 1, using a Strat. Even at almost 10 it isn't very loud. Channel 2 is about the same. The Class 5 I had was louder at about half of it's volume control (1 o'clock), compared to 7 on the dial for the Champ. Am I missing something here? Or did I get a bad amp? What could be the culprit? Really thought 15 watts would be a bit louder.

thanks for any insights.


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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 3:05 pm
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I turned mine up a few days ago and I was not that impressed with it's volume potential either. It is decently loud, but not much louder than my 5 watt Valve Jr head. I was thinking it would be louder than it is on the clean channel. But I only use it for traveling, daily practice, and not for playing out that much. I have a Hot Rod Deluxe for that.

I know the volume would improve with one of my EVM12L's. I tried it through them early on when I bought it, and the volume difference was quite surprising between it and the stock on board speaker.

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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 3:40 pm
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desertbluesman wrote:
I turned mine up a few days ago and I was not that impressed with it's volume potential either. It is decently loud, but not much louder than my 5 watt Valve Jr head. I was thinking it would be louder than it is on the clean channel. But I only use it for traveling, daily practice, and not for playing out that much. I have a Hot Rod Deluxe for that.

I know the volume would improve with one of my EVM12L's. I tried it through them early on when I bought it, and the volume difference was quite surprising between it and the stock on board speaker.


Well, glad I am not the only one. Thinking about getting an Eminence Ramrod to stick in it. But may just return it, before investing more $$, without knowing if new speaker will improve it or not. Wish Fender would give the specs on the stock speaker, so I could compare with other ones.


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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 4:50 pm
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I put a Ragin Cajun in mine. My Strat doesn't sound as loud either, because of low output pickups. You need a booster pedal like you would on most amps. My humbucker guitars are loud, loud. My X2 is as loud as my Deluxe Reverb.


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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 4:57 pm
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Rockerduck wrote:
I put a Ragin Cajun in mine. My Strat doesn't sound as loud either, because of low output pickups. You need a booster pedal like you would on most amps. My humbucker guitars are loud, loud. My X2 is as loud as my Deluxe Reverb.


I'll try my Les Paul next. I think that stock speaker is the weak link, probably. It didn't sound very good with my fuzz face. My Strat pickups have a little more output than most, about 7k ohms on bridge, tried adjusting the pickup height too, but not much difference really.


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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:30 pm
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I am curious what size room you guys are playing in. I am in a 20' x 35' room with 8' ceilings and I can't play at 8 on the clean channel for more then a few minutes. For recording there is more then enough volume. Playing out I am always mic'ed into the PA so that is never a problem.

Just wonder'n,
-Harry


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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:38 pm
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Coach56 wrote:
I am curious what size room you guys are playing in. I am in a 20' x 35' room with 8' ceilings and I can't play at 8 on the clean channel for more then a few minutes. For recording there is more then enough volume. Playing out I am always mic'ed into the PA so that is never a problem.

Just wonder'n,
-Harry

I was just playing in a small room (maybe 8'x10') with amp right in front of me. Really felt that even with volume at 6, I could talk over the loudness of the amp. I had a Vox 15R that was a lot louder at about 3 vs the X2 at 6 or 7, and the Vox had an 8 inch speaker and was solid state to boot.


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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:50 pm
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Mine is not as loud as a Deluxe Reverb and by far. I have not owned or played a Deluxe in years but as I recall, a Deluxe is a bunch louder than my X2 on the clean channel. I was really expecting more from the amp than it puts out. I have not turned Channel 2 up as loud as it can go just yet. I just turned the clean channel up because of the thread starter of this thread and wow was I surprised at the lack of actual loudness. I am using an Eminence Lil Buddy 10" speaker in mine. I don't think mine would come through in a real band situation with a loud drummer. However it is a nice practice amp and will serve me in road trips for daily practice.

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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:43 pm
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desertbluesman wrote:
Mine is not as loud as a Deluxe Reverb and by far. I have not owned or played a Deluxe in years but as I recall, a Deluxe is a bunch louder than my X2 on the clean channel. I was really expecting more from the amp than it puts out. I have not turned Channel 2 up as loud as it can go just yet. I just turned the clean channel up because of the thread starter of this thread and wow was I surprised at the lack of actual loudness. I am using an Eminence Lil Buddy 10" speaker in mine. I don't think mine would come through in a real band situation with a loud drummer. However it is a nice practice amp and will serve me in road trips for daily practice.


Have you ever tried to re-bias it? Read they come from factory biased kind of low to prolong tube life I think, but some guys say bias should be higher and then it sounds louder and according to them, better.


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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 4:12 pm
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Now I have had the time to turn it up a bit on both channels using a full sized humbucking equipped guitar, and I have changed my mind. It is decently loud.

I have not tried to re-BIAS it. If I am going to that trouble I will install JJ Tubes from Eurotubes (as I do on all of my tube amps) and boost the BIAS to middle hot which I do on my Hot Rod Deluxe. But the JJ's are the ticket, much warmer and rounder. I always change out the tubes on any amp to JJ's......, I just have not done so on this amp until I am sure it won't break, as Fender don't want us amateurs messing inside the amp and that will void the warantee. For now it stays stock tube and BIAS wise.

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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 8:53 pm
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desertbluesman wrote:
Now I have had the time to turn it up a bit on both channels using a full sized humbucking equipped guitar, and I have changed my mind. It is decently loud.

I have not tried to re-BIAS it. If I am going to that trouble I will install JJ Tubes from Eurotubes (as I do on all of my tube amps) and boost the BIAS to middle hot which I do on my Hot Rod Deluxe. But the JJ's are the ticket, much warmer and rounder. I always change out the tubes on any amp to JJ's......, I just have not done so on this amp until I am sure it won't break, as Fender don't want us amateurs messing inside the amp and that will void the warantee. For now it stays stock tube and BIAS wise.


I tried my Les Paul today as well and it was so much better, found some nice sounds in some of the channel 2 voicings. Agree that is a lot louder compared to the Strat. Thinking maybe I'll get some kind of pre-amp type of pedal to boost the Strat some. The Voodoo Lab "Giggity" comes to mind, it helps fatten up single-coils. I would like to change out speaker and get some JJ's in there someday, myself. Don't feel the stock speaker handles fuzzes very well.


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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 8:52 am
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You must have a dud, I can barely crank mine past 2 and 8 peels the paint off my walls. I am using a 12" marshall cabinet, this baby cranks plenty loud enough to damage my hearing. I keep volume at 2 on channel 2 most of the time, channel 1 I don't use as much because I get yelled at for being too loud. :twisted:


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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:21 am
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Tubeman wrote:
You must have a dud, I can barely crank mine past 2 and 8 peels the paint off my walls. I am using a 12" marshall cabinet, this baby cranks plenty loud enough to damage my hearing. I keep volume at 2 on channel 2 most of the time, channel 1 I don't use as much because I get yelled at for being too loud. :twisted:


Could be a dud, but how can I tell, and what should I do? Apparently, I am not alone in my observation of the low volume with a Strat. Sounded good with a Les Paul, loud enough for my purposes at around 5-7 volume wise on either channel. Maybe that 12 in cab you have makes a difference? Where do you set the gain on channel 2?


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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:25 am
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wt24 wrote:
Thinking maybe I'll get some kind of pre-amp type of pedal to boost the Strat some. The Voodoo Lab "Giggity" comes to mind, it helps fatten up single-coils.


Besides the Clapton Mid Boost on the Strat I also use a Rt 66 pedal which is boost on one side and compression on the other. This is really helpful with the Rickenbacker which has toaster pickups which are very low output.

But even without the mid circuit or the boost pedal mine gets very loud. I think the issue may be biasing the tubes.

-H


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Post subject: Re: new Champ X2 is not very loud
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:14 am
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I set my to gain 7 1/2 and voice settings mainly on 12 or 13 , 12 sounds awesome with my tube screamer Ts808HW and les paul junior special with vintage demarzio humbuckers. 1x12 marshall cabinet really makes a difference in the low end.


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