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Post by ChrisK on May 12, 2008 16:48:22 GMT -5
Super Champ XD www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=2331100000Vibro Champ XD www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=2331000000Anybody try/use them? The Super has two 6V6's and a twin triode. Methinks one triode is the phase inverter (well, two-phased driver - the way that most triodes are used inverts phase). I don't know aboot the other, but it may be a buffer to the phase dewobbulator. The Vibro has one 6V6 and the twin triode. Since there's no need for a phase inverter, and there are two triodes (at least one is in use), one might see the light to a rewire as a fairly simple single-ended all tube amp (with a bypass switch to switch in the digital MaGillicutty). Since the single-ended Vibro is class A (by freakin' necessity), a tube rectifier is meaningless. This just might be a neat starter platform. Dave Allen has some helpful stuff for the rabid point to point re-wirer. www.allenamps.com/blackheart.php |
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Post by newey on May 12, 2008 22:08:28 GMT -5
No experience, but I'm also anxious to hear any input since these are on my radar screen for a next amp.
Although at first blush I would eliminate the Vibro from consideration solely due to the 8" speaker, I think a 10" is the bare minimum for a decent guitar tone. The Super, with more power and the 10" speaker seems to me the better deal, as it's not that many more Kopeks.
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Post by ChrisK on May 12, 2008 23:18:44 GMT -5
Don't be misled by the bright shining watts.
5 watts of single-ended tube power (which is like 10 watts of solid state power) is more than enough for most humans not in Shea stadium. These single-ended amps have the plate always hot and "brown".
Those communist push pull class AB things have plates that are cooling their heels between notes and rightly should have a tube rectifier.
My Mesa MK IV puts aboot 150 watts at full distortion. I usually run it in tweed mode with only the two class A tubes ablaze. this is aboot 30 watts, and it's way too much.
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pblanc
Rookie Solder Flinger
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Post by pblanc on Aug 9, 2008 8:28:03 GMT -5
I "play" guitar only to amuse and frustrate myself, so maybe my comments should be taken with a few grains of ... whatever.
I recently purchased a Fender Super Champ XD and would like to give it a very hearty endorsement. It sounded good stock, and sounds even better after replacing the stock 10" speaker with an Eminence Ragin' Cajun. I bought the amp for $270 and the speaker for $65 so, with tax (on the amp only), I have about $350 invested in it.
My "other amp" is a Marshall JCM DSL 401 (40 watt tube/ 1x12" Celestion speaker) and I haven't plugged into it since I bought the Fender.
Those interested in this amp should check out the reviews on Harmony, the Agile Guitar Forum and the Fender Discussion Page. There are some long threads and near universal positive reviews, most of which are rave reviews.
This amp is only a little bigger than a small practice amp, but plays loud. Some have used it for live play in clubs. In my large living room, I seldom set the gain and volume as high as halfway.
My understanding of amplifier electronics is limited, but this amp is basically a hybrid with a digital preamp and tube power stage, with half of the 12AX7 used as the phase inverter for the 6V6s and the other half as a buffer.
There is a "clean channel" and a second channel which has 16 different digital modelling amplifier voices. The clean channel uses one of these 16 voices and does utilize the digital board. The tone controls (treble and bass, no mid) and the volume control also utilize the digital board, so none of the voices or channels can be considered "all tube".
In addition, there are multiple digital effects (reverb, chorus, delay, vibratone and tremelo) with an effects gain knob, that make the amp a lot of fun to play with.
The only complaints I have about the amp are: no headphone output (there is a line level output jack) and the inherent gain for the different amp voices varies greatly so as to require you to dramatically adjust your gain and volume knobs as you switch from one voice to another.
The amp is not sold with a footswitch, but a footswitch is available (which I do not have) which allows you to switch between channels and cut the effects in or out. It does not allow you to change amp voices or switch from one effect to another, however. There is a seperate volume knob for the clean channel so as to allow you to balance the two channels for switching. There is also a speaker output jack (8 ohm, 15 watt minimum) which allows you to play the amp through an external cab. My understanding is that the line level out allows you to plug into a PA system, but does not kill the amp's speaker, so the amp can still be utilized as s stage monitor.
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Post by JohnH on Aug 9, 2008 16:43:05 GMT -5
These seem like a a lot of fun. I liked this Youtube of the Super Champ XD:
And from the Fender blurb, what do we think this means?:
"Its solid-state overdrive and distortion eliminate many of the preamp tube problems that plague tube lovers while providing exemplary tones for rock, blues, country, jazz, metal and more."
Most marketing spiel from the last few years would have swapped the solid-state and tube references!
John
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