What would be the better choice for a strat? I can't try them both, because there aren't music stores near me where I can do that, so online ordering is the only option.

Ive a vibrochamp and think its a far better amp than the blues jr. If i was going into the choice blind (which i wouldnt do ever) i'd pick the one with the most versatility. You cant trust online reviews for a accurate representation of the amps sound. Theres always way too much outboard eq'ing and mixing going on.

I just wouldnt buy anything without trying it. Your far better off to keep your money in your pocket and wait untill a amp you can try comes along.

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No no and no

I have a Super Champ XD - I love it, but what do I know

I had tried a Blues Jr and a SCXD at a not-so-local (50 miles away) dealer, and choose the SCXD - for many different tones and effects - and it's cheaper (new) - used would be different - the Jr can be found a little bit cheaper sometimes.

It's one of those choices that should be made by playing. Of course the larger on-line dealers have pretty good return policies, so one could order one of them and try it and if you really dislike it, just return it; and then try the other.

Gil

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Where ever you go, there you are

1998 Ovation 1861 Standard Balladeer Natural
Taka - 2005 Squier '51 Black
Yume - 2006 Squier Strat Cherryburst
Houbi - 2008 Fender VG Strat Blizzard Pearl - won here
Fender Super Champ XD; Vox DA-5

The responses you receive are going to be as varied as the differences in the amps themselves.

The Super Champ is a modeling amp with on-board effects where the Blues Jr is a straight tube amp with some eq settings and a reverb tank. Both are 15 watts with the Champ having a 10" speaker and the Bluse Jr having a 12" speaker. I have played both and actually owned a Blues Jr for a while. In my opinion, there was a wide variation in tone. There is also now a big price difference; GC has the Super Champ for around 400 USD and the Blues Jr is between 600 and 675 USD depending on which model you go with. The black tolex version is cheaper, but the NOS version has a great sounding Jensen speaker.


Good luck and let us know which way you go.

Jim

If you cant go to a store to try them out, go to youtube and listen to demos.

I faced the same question. WEnt in expecting to like/buy the SCXD, ended up ordering the Blues Jr NOS.
SCXD - great modeling, although as with most, more overdrive sounds than you could need. Clean channel I found a little lacking. For the price did have a lot of features

Blues JR - great clean sound, I could actually use the word "tone" with it. Can be a very manageable sound level, low for practice or boy can it get loud. I did prefer the Jensen speaker and tweed, I didn't know I was an old time Fender guy until that point.

I am a fan of Fender product, own 3. It really is personal choice, I have not been disappointed.
JW

Hello Imc_1121,

For me the Blues Jr is where its at.
I could see some necessary improvements
but I suppose it's price would only escalate.

Super ChampXD = Super fun
I often play through one and it offers lots
of neat niceties at a more affordable price.

2 good amps.

Cheers.

They're both obviously awesome. Try them both out and go with your gut.

I have a tweed blues jr that I find amazing, yet to try the SCXD though.

I had a same dilema, tried them both in the local store and got the SCXD, simply because it costs less and has more versatility. They both sound very good for the money (don't expect 5K amp tone). BJ had a little better base response due to 12" speaker. And that yellow (tweed) is even beater. But with SCXD you get more toys.

Another thing is that BJ comes with footswitch i believe, and the SCXD does not. It has to be ordered from Fender separataly and it cots $30 in Canada. I had to wait 3 months due to the backorder. In my opinion footswitch is important on SCXD because you can not operate effects (delay, reverb, etc) on the clean channel without it. I found using mainly clean channel with my boss BD2 to be a tone that I was looking for.

For me price was a major influence not that I could not afford BJ, but simply if it is not making me any money I have a strict treshold what I am ready to spend.

Hope that helps with your decision.

I don't think they're comparable. I see the super champ xd as an amp that I'd consider closer to the realm of practice/recording amp, and the Bj closer to the realm of performing amp.

So....to me it depends on what you want, and can afford.

I'd chose the Bj. In fact I chose the Bj NOS. Long story, but I got one from Mf last year for $414. Not a scratch and dent, either. If I had to replace it, I'd not have a problem spending the $675 they're getting for the NOS's now either. I think it's that good of an amp. And I love the laquered tweed.

But to get the sound, you don't have to buy the NOS. The only difference between a NOS and a standard Bj, besides the covering and handle, is the speaker. The Jensen C12N sounded quite a bit better to me. They're $82 at Mf. If money's tite, or you just don't want to cough up that much, I'd suggest a pre loved Bj. If you think you want, then you can put the Jensen in later. Or any other speaker you think you'd like, as long as it's 8 ohms, and I'd probably stay close to the 50w rating of the C12N.

I play through both a DRRI and a Bj NOS in parallel, or select between the two via a Lehle Little Dual Amp switch pedal. Pretty killer. But the downside is its kinda spoiled me.

You see, I've also got a Pro Jr I bought just to have a lunchbox sized locker stuffer I could drag to work.

I think (and I know I'm gonna hurt some feelings; not my intent, just my opinion), but I think the Pj suks*. No verb, 10" speaker (I even upgraded it with a Jensen C10...Q?) Just not enough clean headroom for me, and it sounds like a box. And it's 15 watts, like the Bj and similar ckt.

That's kinda what I think of the Superchamp xd.

Here's a pic of my room, in fact the Pj's in it too, just so you know I'm not talkin' outta my arse.

Not kiddin. Granted, a DRRI my Bj NOS is not, BUT, tone, it's really not too far off. And the Deluxe Reverb is to me, an AWESOME amp.

In fact, I'm gonna sell the Pj, and buy a used Bj and stick the C12N in it, and make my locker a little bigger.

My philosophy is, without going crazy (crazy would've been for me to stick 2 twin reverbs in my room) buy as much amp as you can afford. And remember, nothing has to be a permanent fixture. Can always look to trade up. Better to have something than nothing. And you won't take such a hit when you do so if you buy used and smart. Heard a couple knucklheads talking on another thread about squires, and how they'd never buy anything used as you never know what you get. That's true if you don't know what the he!! you're doing. Leaves more good pre loved junk out there for me to buy. And if you use paypal to buy, there's a 2 grand insurance policy built in.

Go plug into some amps. Then decide. You can check 'em out at a GC or something, then still look at used ones, either on the list or the bay. But remember when you go check them out, you may not be able to crank 'em like you'd like, and that's when the Bj will start blowing the SCXD outta the water.

* Too harsh. I'd like anyone I may have offended to know I rarely talk like that. Really regret I didn't say something more to the effect of "I'm disappointed in the performance of the Pro Jr. I own, but I'm spoiled from playing through the DRRI and Blues Jr. NOS.

Btw, you're other question; The Strat sounds awesome through my Bj. Especially on the neck pup clean, w/a little reverb and a lot of volume. (just go easy on you're ears. I'm already half deef). In fact, everything you see in that pic sounds awesome through the Bj NOS.

And I think they look ok, too.

One other thing, I think on line comparisons for tone are just this side of worthless.

I lied, 2 other things...the fat switch for the Bj didn't come with it. Had to shell out another $30.

Feeling chatty this morning I guess. Just re read everyones posts, so I thought I'd add...

I'm sure he's a nice feller, but I don't agree with anything in the first response you got in this thread. A vibrochamp? One of us doesn't know what he's talking about.

Sure, I've heard there are folks out there who just don't get along with the Bj, but I never got that, and they're a great minority to those who love 'em. Some older ones have some issues, and they're lot's of mods to address them (ie Bill M.), but mine's an '07 model and I've no issues with it whatsoever.

And, for example, at Musicians friend (who I've no affiliation with, but will tell you I've bought a lot of stuff from, and they've been extreemely good to me; the deal on my NOS is only one of a handful), you've got 45 days to return most things, no questions asked. But if it's not a flawed item, you'll likely pay for the return.

What it comes down to is do you want the effects, or do you want to pay for a better guitar amplifier.

Edit: I just re-read this and I'd like to apologize to the Individual I reference in the second paragraph of this post. That does not read very nicely. Sorry, friend. As an addition, I also have a small modeling amp I purchased for my Son, a Roland Cube 30x. As most know it's solid state, and it is a little jewel. I'm certain the SCXD is as well.