Enjoyed this video and your take on the amp. I recently bought an X2 and immediately replaced the Chinese stock speaker with a Weber CTC10 25 watt. Holy cow! What an incredible improvement! Many people use only the 1st channel and use it as a pedal platform. I think they are missing out on some hidden gems in channel 2. Like you, I only found about 3 voices that I thought were good, usable sounds. But one stood out clearly above all others: Tweed Deluxe dirty/compressed. This voice is extremely 3 dimensional sounding compared to the others including the clean 1st channel. The sweep of the gain control is far more useable too. Clean headroom is very high. This thing can get very loud and will have no problem keeping up with a drummer. Seems to work as a second volume control up to about 4 1/2 and then starts introducing gain at a nice slow rate. And this setting is round and juicy without a hint of digitalness. Very warm, biting but natural. Turn up the volume to about 6 1/2 and now power tubes and speaker starts breaking up slightly. A boost or overdrive pedal in front will send you into Neil Young territory if you know what you’re doing. Any digital amp I had only sounded good with some compression. It’s the same with this one. The other voices without compression sound a bit flat and 2 dimensional. I also use the built in effects with a tiny amount of the chorus with delay to sweeten things just a tad more. Most people choose the Ragin Cajun speaker but I went with a relatively bright but punchy speaker. No ice pick. But a beam blocker helps disperse those 10” speakers high frequencies. Definitely replace the crap stock speaker and you can make this little thing sound like a $1000.00 amp with some elementary tweaking.
I got hold of one of these recently and can say I really love it! Planning on swapping to a Cannabis Rex or a Ragin' Cajun soon. Not sure how long it will last, but at least for now this is my rehearsal amp. Beats the hell out of dragging my head and 2x12 around!
I bought my SCXD new in 2010 and it’s amazing. Started having some noise through the speaker and took it to a well respected amp tech. He said the DSP board was failing and to never buy a digital amp again. I went for a second opinion before I trashed it. The second tech was an authorized Fender repair center. Ended up just being a bad speaker. He said that in over a decade of doing this, he’s only seen maybe 1 or 2 fail and that the DSP is pretty much a non-issue. I went with the stock speaker again. I believe that the stock speaker was likely selected as it was neutral in an effort to not color the tones of the amp models it’s trying to recreate. I haven’t heard a sound clip where I preferred the “upgrade” over the stock speaker. I Like the XD so much that I picked up a super clean used SCX2 today
You're right. The stock speaker is great to be able to match all those different sounds. There is no need to replace it, but you can always use any other kind of external speaker dedicated to a certain sound. It is an excellent and very affordable amplifier.
Nice! I know for a little while someone was selling 1x12 cab conversions for these. I’ve contemplated doing a head conversion on this, but it’s small enough to just leave it as is and put it on top of a 1x12 cab. I’d be interested to hear what different the power transformer does though.
I've had the SuperChamp x2 head for about 7-8 years now and it's my daily use platform for my board. I use v30s instead of the stock speaker. I'm not entirely familiar with all the differences between the x2 and xD but if you are feeling adventurous, one can dive in with the Fender Fuse software and make all kinds of adjustments to the amp models and effects. You can even save over the presets on the knobs to be anything you like and can stack up to 3 FX so tremelo and reverb together, for example, should be an option. All of the FX have multiple parameters of which 1 or maybe 2 can be assigned to the FX level knob. There is a lot hidden in these amplifers, and once in a while I go in with the software to play around. Just to note that, by default, the amp models on channel 2 each have their own speaker sim assigned that work in conjunction with the stock speaker. I have all these turned off. Channel 1 does not have a speaker sim. These are fun amplifiers. Thanks for the demo video!
Right on! I didn’t realize the X2 got that much more advanced over the XD, the XD doesn’t have any computer connectivity, it’s just a standalone product. I have enough option paralysis with the XD, can’t imagine that much more flexibility lol.
OH! Haha! I didn't do enough research! That is the reason why I stick with pedals and the clean channel most of the time. Limiting my options helps me actually play the guitar! @@Chucksguitargeekery
I just picked one of these up from Sweetwater used today, it had a foot switch, an amp cover, and an upgraded Eminence rajin Cajun speaker... For $210 😮😊
@@Chucksguitargeekery oh man this thing rips!!! I'm running it stereo as we speaker with a Peavey delta blues 30 with the 115 celestion fullback... This is an outrageous tone between the 10 and 15 inch speakers.... My guitars are a 04 Gibson SG standard and a newish fender Jaguar for reference
Put a vintage speaker in it. Well worth the money. The stock speaker is light and cheap. I used a Lorantz 10" 75w PA/Bass speaker. Such a warm vintage tone now, and so much more bass response for the "Chugg Chuggs"
@BAsed_AFro works better than I expected. It's actually louder, because the speaker is better quality, much bigger magnet and coil etc, higher efficiency. But... it can handle the volume much better, and you can crank the bass knob as high as you want. Much warmer tone, and the distorted palm mutes are surprisingly good for a 10" speaker
Hi. New here. I get this review. But when I run my xd2, into a 2 x 12 cab, it's the best sounding amp, I've heard. Low watt amp with digital options is all I need.
Doesn’t this have a tube preamp, too? I thought channel 1 was all tube, and channel 2 was tube pre with digital modeling and tube power. Rectifier might be SS, though.
Yes it's a 12AX7 pre-amp. The effects are digital. I put a Mullard 'blackburn' 12AX7 in. It gets that super chunky-pinging clean reverb sound ,Ventures type .that wamp. wamp, wamp
I own the amp. Stock it sounds decent but it can be noisy and produce significant mud. I swapped out the speaker for a Greenback and replaced the tube with a Sovtek. It's an entirely different amp. You lose some chime but it's very clean. I also push it with a Boss Super Overdrive and it sounds killer. Definitely can get some chunk/crunch out of the 9-12 settings. It's worth the upgrades. A sleeper amp for sure.
Hi Chuck, I have the vibrio champ xd & the speaker is rated 4 ohm & I agree the speaker just flubs out at high volume. My question is can I run & 8 or 16 ohm speaker cab without frying the amp?
It’s ok to go with a higher number, but never lower. Personally, I think going up to 16ohms from from 4 ohms is kinda pushing it (may be irrational paranoia on my end, but I don’t push it lol). But, going with a 8 or 16 ohm speaker will lower the volume.
Maybe play "The Codpiece" through it?, it has humbuckers and may have a little better chance than the singles? Anyways... Merry Phuckin' Christmas to ya! That's F like in Phone, LOL
The codpiece will be in the video I’m filming tomorrow for release later this week, it’s not just eye candy 👍. The tele has both single and humbucker, I’m still leaning towards it being the speaker in the amp. I’ve been playing it through Impulse Reponses and it’s a completely different animal. But Merry Christmas ya filthy animal!
Enjoyed this video and your take on the amp. I recently bought an X2 and immediately replaced the Chinese stock speaker with a Weber CTC10 25 watt. Holy cow! What an incredible improvement! Many people use only the 1st channel and use it as a pedal platform. I think they are missing
out on some hidden
gems in channel 2. Like you, I only found about 3 voices that I thought were good, usable sounds. But one stood out clearly above all others: Tweed Deluxe dirty/compressed. This voice is extremely 3 dimensional sounding compared to the others including the clean 1st channel. The sweep of the gain control is far more useable too. Clean headroom is very high. This thing can get very loud and will have no problem keeping up with a drummer. Seems to work as a second volume control up to about 4 1/2 and then starts introducing gain at a nice slow rate. And this setting is round and juicy without a hint of digitalness. Very warm, biting but natural. Turn up the volume to about 6 1/2 and now power tubes and speaker starts breaking up slightly. A boost or overdrive pedal in front will send you into Neil Young territory if you know what you’re doing. Any digital amp I had only sounded good with some compression. It’s the same with this one. The other voices without compression sound a bit flat and 2 dimensional. I also use the built in effects with a tiny amount of the chorus with delay to sweeten things just a tad more. Most people choose the Ragin Cajun speaker but I went with a relatively bright but punchy speaker. No ice pick. But a beam blocker helps disperse those 10” speakers high frequencies. Definitely replace the crap stock speaker and you can make this little thing sound like a $1000.00 amp with some elementary tweaking.
I got hold of one of these recently and can say I really love it! Planning on swapping to a Cannabis Rex or a Ragin' Cajun soon. Not sure how long it will last, but at least for now this is my rehearsal amp. Beats the hell out of dragging my head and 2x12 around!
The Bassman setting on the super champ sounds so much like a real tweed 4x10 bassman. I changed my speaker for an American Vintage Warehouse Veteran.
I bought my SCXD new in 2010 and it’s amazing. Started having some noise through the speaker and took it to a well respected amp tech. He said the DSP board was failing and to never buy a digital amp again. I went for a second opinion before I trashed it. The second tech was an authorized Fender repair center. Ended up just being a bad speaker. He said that in over a decade of doing this, he’s only seen maybe 1 or 2 fail and that the DSP is pretty much a non-issue. I went with the stock speaker again. I believe that the stock speaker was likely selected as it was neutral in an effort to not color the tones of the amp models it’s trying to recreate. I haven’t heard a sound clip where I preferred the “upgrade” over the stock speaker. I Like the XD so much that I picked up a super clean used SCX2 today
You're right.
The stock speaker is great to be able to match all those different sounds. There is no need to replace it, but you can always use any other kind of external speaker dedicated to a certain sound.
It is an excellent and very affordable amplifier.
Have had my XD for a decade or more. Built a sweet pine cab for it, doubled the size of the output transformer, and swaped in a jensen P10Q.
Nice! I know for a little while someone was selling 1x12 cab conversions for these. I’ve contemplated doing a head conversion on this, but it’s small enough to just leave it as is and put it on top of a 1x12 cab. I’d be interested to hear what different the power transformer does though.
Nice. I put a 1965 Mullard Blackburn 12ax7 with a 1961Rola alnico 10" speaker. But I also use a 12" speaker cabinet sometimes .a little deeper bass.
@Chucksguitargeekery, The transformer is definitely a must if you can still find them. It's a direct swap. I'm pretty sure it's called a to2O.
@@The_Klystron7Interesting, I have a couple 12" rolas. Got me thinking
I've had the SuperChamp x2 head for about 7-8 years now and it's my daily use platform for my board. I use v30s instead of the stock speaker.
I'm not entirely familiar with all the differences between the x2 and xD but if you are feeling adventurous, one can dive in with the Fender Fuse software and make all kinds of adjustments to the amp models and effects. You can even save over the presets on the knobs to be anything you like and can stack up to 3 FX so tremelo and reverb together, for example, should be an option. All of the FX have multiple parameters of which 1 or maybe 2 can be assigned to the FX level knob. There is a lot hidden in these amplifers, and once in a while I go in with the software to play around.
Just to note that, by default, the amp models on channel 2 each have their own speaker sim assigned that work in conjunction with the stock speaker. I have all these turned off. Channel 1 does not have a speaker sim.
These are fun amplifiers. Thanks for the demo video!
Right on! I didn’t realize the X2 got that much more advanced over the XD, the XD doesn’t have any computer connectivity, it’s just a standalone product. I have enough option paralysis with the XD, can’t imagine that much more flexibility lol.
OH! Haha! I didn't do enough research! That is the reason why I stick with pedals and the clean channel most of the time. Limiting my options helps me actually play the guitar! @@Chucksguitargeekery
I just picked one of these up from Sweetwater used today, it had a foot switch, an amp cover, and an upgraded Eminence rajin Cajun speaker... For $210 😮😊
That is a hell of a deal! The Ragin Cajun really compliments this amp well.
@@Chucksguitargeekery oh man this thing rips!!! I'm running it stereo as we speaker with a Peavey delta blues 30 with the 115 celestion fullback... This is an outrageous tone between the 10 and 15 inch speakers.... My guitars are a 04 Gibson SG standard and a newish fender Jaguar for reference
... perfect, and in addition: Tubes from Tubeampdoctor 😁
Put a vintage speaker in it. Well worth the money. The stock speaker is light and cheap. I used a Lorantz 10" 75w PA/Bass speaker. Such a warm vintage tone now, and so much more bass response for the "Chugg Chuggs"
75 watts in the small watt amp works ok?
@BAsed_AFro works better than I expected. It's actually louder, because the speaker is better quality, much bigger magnet and coil etc, higher efficiency. But... it can handle the volume much better, and you can crank the bass knob as high as you want. Much warmer tone, and the distorted palm mutes are surprisingly good for a 10" speaker
@@lethalz9 Okay, now you're twisting my arm so am going to have to try it.
Thanks buddy.
Hi. New here. I get this review. But when I run my xd2, into a 2 x 12 cab, it's the best sounding amp, I've heard. Low watt amp with digital options is all I need.
Welcome! Yes, this amp sounds way different through better speakers. I think the X2 head is the way to go with the Superchamp line.
The volume really does need to be pushed more than to 2 on the dial for it to start to shine at all.
Sounds great to me!
Doesn’t this have a tube preamp, too? I thought channel 1 was all tube, and channel 2 was tube pre with digital modeling and tube power. Rectifier might be SS, though.
My understanding is the one 12ax7 is a phase inverter, and even channel 1 gets the digital treatment.
@@Chucksguitargeekery never realized that! Interesting. Sounds good, regardless. I like your playing, too.
It is a valve pre (12ax7) and power (2x6v6) amp! The only „dated“ thing is the dsp. But as we all know, older is always better 😜
Yes it's a 12AX7 pre-amp. The effects are digital. I put a Mullard 'blackburn' 12AX7 in. It gets that super chunky-pinging clean reverb sound ,Ventures type .that wamp. wamp, wamp
I own the amp. Stock it sounds decent but it can be noisy and produce significant mud.
I swapped out the speaker for a Greenback and replaced the tube with a Sovtek. It's an entirely different amp. You lose some chime but it's very clean. I also push it with a Boss Super Overdrive and it sounds killer. Definitely can get some chunk/crunch out of the 9-12 settings.
It's worth the upgrades. A sleeper amp for sure.
At this point, I’m using it pretty much as a head. I just have the speaker out going to one of my good 1x12’s or 4x12’s and it sounds great.
Hi Chuck, I have the vibrio champ xd & the speaker is rated 4 ohm & I agree the speaker just flubs out at high volume. My question is can I run & 8 or 16 ohm speaker cab without frying the amp?
It’s ok to go with a higher number, but never lower. Personally, I think going up to 16ohms from from 4 ohms is kinda pushing it (may be irrational paranoia on my end, but I don’t push it lol). But, going with a 8 or 16 ohm speaker will lower the volume.
Maybe play "The Codpiece" through it?, it has humbuckers and may have a little better chance than the singles? Anyways...
Merry Phuckin' Christmas to ya! That's F like in Phone, LOL
The codpiece will be in the video I’m filming tomorrow for release later this week, it’s not just eye candy 👍. The tele has both single and humbucker, I’m still leaning towards it being the speaker in the amp. I’ve been playing it through Impulse Reponses and it’s a completely different animal. But Merry Christmas ya filthy animal!