For live use they're perfect. More versatile than most tube amps with voicings and effects built in. Grab and go that won't break your back. Can run to a cab, has a line out, or as you mentioned mic it. No reason to spend more... Fender's SUPER Champ.
Thank you for taking time out to share,.. Great Video! I have that super champ XD first addition as well as the vox t 20, both amps are loaded with great effects and features.
Great video demo of the Super Champ. I've owned one for almost 2 years and I never tire of the beautiful clean sounds and the fun voicings. Mine is the Sweetwater version that came with a Celestion Greenback speaker. I sometimes think Fender slipped this one into the market thinking that most players will still talk themselves into the more expensive amps (Princetons, Deluxe Reverbs, etc.), and this undervalued little gem will go unnoticed. Well, as long as you can plug into a bigger cab or mike up for gigging, the Super Champ X2 is all the amp you're ever gonna need.
I own this amp, as a combo. The line out is great when one needs more power. This is my favorite amp. And I own a Hot Rod Deluxe lll to. I prefer plate reverb over spring reverb for most of my playing. Fender has its spring reverb down to a science with their digital version.
@@Modwiz125 Agree, the reverb is great on these amps. I had a Boss Fender 63' Spring Reverb pedal but sold it when I bought a used SCXD (predessor of the SCX2). The pedal sold for the price of the amp!
I've had this amp for three years and it plays great with my Strat at home or in small/med gigs! I now have a Sheraton ii Pro on order, so just love this video. Thank you once again David!
Great demo & thanks for doing this. I just got Champ 40 couple days ago & really happy about it, but this one very warm tube amp wow!! I'm digging it now!! Cheers!!.
I just ordered this amp. I wanted a small fender amp and the Princeton was just out of my price range especially for just a small amp to play on and compliment my Katana. Can’t wait to get it. What a great video and your playing is superlative.
@@ren1818ren I don't. It can get loud for sure but sounds good at low volume. I would add thought that the clean channel is very clean so if you want break up you need to hit it with a pedal or use the second channel which has the modelling. I love this amp.
Good review. Thanks. The clean on ch2 has adjustable gain while on ch1 is fixed. With so many combinations, 16x16 equals 256, plus the adjustable bass, treble, gain and effects levels it's impossible not to find the "tone" you are looking for. Switching guitars do have a strong impact of course. One of my xd is always connected to my Stratocaster and the other one to my Acoustic guitar. Of course having two equal amplifiers is great to find great sounds between two friends working as a team and also to play stereo with a single guitar or a stereo keyboard. I got the optional pedal switches to be able to use ch1 or ch2 and effects off and on, 4 sounds in all, ready available at your foot. Your amp sounds similar to my two superchamp xd units. Although I do believe that the older xd model has even better chosen voices and effects but your x2 has the tempo light and the agility of building your own sound with the Fender software and load it through the usb connector. I wonder why Fender decided to replace xd with x2. One good reason might be that the sounds samples on xd might had some kind of legal issues since some brands like Marshall and others do register their sounds from amplifiers and cabinets as propietary. I found my second xd used because it was discontinued and I didn't like the new x2 as much. But x2 is also great in my opinion. For sound, size and weight I love my superchamp amplifiers. Nothing comes close even at higher prices.
Good review. Accurate comments on the Blues Junior. I bet more people have bought and then sold the junior than any other. I had a super champ years ago. Great amp, I don’t know why I sold it. I have. Katana now, it’s fantastic too, and has a headphone jack.
My first amp. Bought like new for a really good price. I was really happy with it. I liked the sound and versatility. But, I have moved on to other amps now.
Slap a Ragin Cagin in it for more bottom end and volume. I found the low end on stock speaker gets flubby when cranked. Love this amp. Fantastic Review
I already have my pedal rack so I almost only use the clean channel and it's plenty.. As you say for a tube amp it's a great bang for the buck.. I find it more versatile than the blues junior and quite lightweight compared to other Fender amps.. To my ears it is of professional studio quality level as far as the cleans are concerned and 10 inch speaker amps are concerned.. The channel 16 has one of the best cleans I've ever heard..
Sounds great brother! I’m considering this amp! That reverb is lush sounding to be digital. My main amp is a Roland JC40 and I have no complaints about it but I think this would make an excellent back up. Thanks for sharing the video. I enjoyed the playing too!
I have used it in small venues. However it is my backup and sometimes band rehearsal amp. Because of the built in effects I don't have to pull out my pedal board. Definitely a great utility amp and can jump out there. Thank you for your comment and compliments. Thanks for watching also
I have both the jc40 and x2. Use x2 80% and jc40 20%. I use setting 4 (bassman) the most. JC40 is good, not on par with its big brother the jc120. If you only get one, the x2 or tge jc40, get the x2 imho.
It really surprised me. The tone was very similar to my Deluxe reverb. A lot of quality for $399.99 and excellent for small rooms. A lot of voices to choose from but a great clean sound with richness. As popularity increases I wouldn't be surprised to see them jump a little in price. Fender did that to the Nashville Tele. Thanks for the nice compliments my friend.
Thanks for watching and welcome. I really like it to. Can't understand why Fender decided not to make it anymore. There's still a lot of them floating around out there. It sure packs a punch
Thank you! Bought one from Reverb. Spine surgeries left w/compromised back can’t lift over 30 lbs. my Hot Rod 4 - 40+ lbs. My brother pointed out “doesn’t it look familiar?” He told me it was the amp I had as a young man. Now all I need is a white/tortoise shell pickguard no brand label strat. Have you seen one?
It has a lot of modern features for sure. The Overdrive effects has probably the biggest learning curve. Trying to figure out the gain settings for each Overdrive to use is not worth all the effort for me. I set the gain then leave it alone. I have picked 4 Overdrives that work best with the gain setting I've preset at home. However, when on a gig I strictly use pedals. There are a few effects I like on the amp but the digital reverb is the only one I use consistently. Basically I just set everything and forget about it. That's just my personal preference. Thanks for watching.
@@davidmurphey9514 Great video and responses to comments. Like yourself, I concluded that common settings work well enough. The only thing I change is the reverb level, light (3.5) for general/rock, drippy (6) for surf 😁.
The amp I was using is a Tweed Princeton with and Eminence 12. In the video the reverb was on three with no pedals. However, in most venues I use a Deluxe Reverb with a Boss digital delay. The delay is always on. I never go above 3 on the reverb. Try that and see if you like it.
In addition I use two Overdrive pedals and one soft clip MXR distortion pedal. The MXR sounds more like a heavily Overdrive that cleans up the softer you play. My first Overdrive is a Pigtronix Fat Drive. I set the drive at it's minimum. It gives your guitar more of an on the edge of breakup tone. Which I run many times during songs that you want that old tele tele sound. The other is a Bogner Blue Ecstasy or Overdrive in between the Pigtronix And MXR. I never stack my drives. This seems to work for me.
I have the SCXD, sounds great, would not part with it. The voicings on channel 2 are different on the X2, and that has the option of customisation using software. I like the simplicity/reliability of the XD, the only thing I miss from the X2 is the tap tempo feature to fine tune the onboard effects (chorus/delay/tremolo).
OK, sorry for getting technical. This is really a “tolex” ie 1960s Princeton with digital effects and solid state front end or preamp. The Fender Champ was always single ended ie one 6V6 power tube. This amp like the Princeton has two 6V6s in “push pull”, the same Cathodyne phase inverter (12AX7), and is also fixed bias. Unlike the Princeton, this amp does not use valve/tube rectification.
I have 2 great amps for most applications. A 68 Deluxe Reverb and a 65 Princeton. This amp was purchased for small gigs that I could get in and out of quickly. This amp is excellent for low volume situations. It's more like a 80s model Peavey Pacer. This is Precisely that sound with better clean headroom. I didn't need to drive it like my other amps. Thanks for watching and the information.
nice video,, question. do the voicings have to be exact? They sound and that's what one has to work with. Get the app to use the Mids , there's where control happens.
What was the volume you were playing at before you pumped it up clean. I want to get good sound, but keep my neighbors happy (and wife). I got the Sweetwater version with the Celestion G10 speaker.
On the clean channel about 4 1/2. The 2nd channel the same with the gain on six or 7. I use the same gains for all of the voices to keep it as simple as possible. The clean channel starts to open up the speaker at about 6. Using a single coil guitar. Of course with hum bucking pickups the speaker opens up a little earlier. I hope this helps.
It does well at low volumes. However, I would probably go to a 5 watt tube amp. You could open it up more. Thank you for your question and for watching
Originally I bought it for a practice amp. It's loud enough for small venues and the bands I play with. I guess it depends on the venue and how loud your drummer is.
Setting it on 40mA is only noticeable at full volume and does decrease the lifetime of the two final tubes. That's probably why it comes set to around 25mA from the factory.
Man amazing video and gear, subbed! Check my hendrix stuff if u want , maybe u will dig it too! Thanks for sharing brother . I use thst súper champ xd too and its amaziinnnnngg
I use it live. When you mic it, it's big. It's the most versatile amp I've ever used. It's my go to.
It has really surprised me. Especially for the money
For live use they're perfect. More versatile than most tube amps with voicings and effects built in. Grab and go that won't break your back. Can run to a cab, has a line out, or as you mentioned mic it. No reason to spend more... Fender's SUPER Champ.
@@roaddog7542 so it has a line out??
Try the line out. Smooth as butter in soundboard settings.
Thank you for taking time out to share,.. Great Video!
I have that super champ XD first addition as well as the vox t 20, both amps are loaded with great effects and features.
They are little power houses with great tones and effects. They're just plain old fun. Thanks for your comment and for watching.
I also have the SCXD, lovely amp. I had the Vox VT40+, great value for money.
Great video demo of the Super Champ. I've owned one for almost 2 years and I never tire of the beautiful clean sounds and the fun voicings. Mine is the Sweetwater version that came with a Celestion Greenback speaker.
I sometimes think Fender slipped this one into the market thinking that most players will still talk themselves into the more expensive amps (Princetons, Deluxe Reverbs, etc.), and this undervalued little gem will go unnoticed.
Well, as long as you can plug into a bigger cab or mike up for gigging, the Super Champ X2 is all the amp you're ever gonna need.
Couldn't have said it better
I own this amp, as a combo. The line out is great when one needs more power. This is my favorite amp. And I own a Hot Rod Deluxe lll to. I prefer plate reverb over spring reverb for most of my playing. Fender has its spring reverb down to a science with their digital version.
@@Modwiz125 Agree, the reverb is great on these amps. I had a Boss Fender 63' Spring Reverb pedal but sold it when I bought a used SCXD (predessor of the SCX2). The pedal sold for the price of the amp!
This amp sounds great in just about every demo I've seen on youtube.
I know. I can't understand why they quit making it. Unless it was competitive against their own products. Thanks for your comment and for watching
@@davidmurphey9514It was obviously too good. They had to stop it.
I've had this amp for three years and it plays great with my Strat at home or in small/med gigs! I now have a Sheraton ii Pro on order, so just love this video. Thank you once again David!
My pleasure enjoy your Sheraton. Thank you for watching
Great demo & thanks for doing this. I just got Champ 40 couple days ago & really happy about it, but this one very warm tube amp wow!! I'm digging it now!! Cheers!!.
I use mine every day. Thank you for your comment and for watching
@@davidmurphey9514 Awesome👍👍
I just ordered this amp. I wanted a small fender amp and the Princeton was just out of my price range especially for just a small amp to play on and compliment my Katana. Can’t wait to get it. What a great video and your playing is superlative.
Thank you so much. I'm still very happy with mine. Hope you will be with yours
Do you think this amp is too old for an apartment?
@@ren1818ren I don't. It can get loud for sure but sounds good at low volume. I would add thought that the clean channel is very clean so if you want break up you need to hit it with a pedal or use the second channel which has the modelling. I love this amp.
@@christophercameron4615 is the volume easy to control at low volumes or does it suddenly jump when turning it up?
@@ren1818ren I have the predessor, the Super Champ XD. Volume control is very smooth.
Good review. Thanks.
The clean on ch2 has adjustable gain while on ch1 is fixed.
With so many combinations, 16x16 equals 256, plus the adjustable bass, treble, gain and effects levels it's impossible not to find the "tone" you are looking for.
Switching guitars do have a strong impact of course. One of my xd is always connected to my Stratocaster and the other one to my Acoustic guitar.
Of course having two equal amplifiers is great to find great sounds between two friends working as a team and also to play stereo with a single guitar or a stereo keyboard.
I got the optional pedal switches to be able to use ch1 or ch2 and effects off and on, 4 sounds in all, ready available at your foot.
Your amp sounds similar to my two superchamp xd units. Although I do believe that the older xd model has even better chosen voices and effects but your x2 has the tempo light and the agility of building your own sound with the Fender software and load it through the usb connector.
I wonder why Fender decided to replace xd with x2. One good reason might be that the sounds samples on xd might had some kind of legal issues since some brands like Marshall and others do register their sounds from amplifiers and cabinets as propietary.
I found my second xd used because it was discontinued and I didn't like the new x2 as much. But x2 is also great in my opinion.
For sound, size and weight I love my superchamp amplifiers.
Nothing comes close even at higher prices.
Thanks for your post and for watching
I have the separate head and cabinet version. The 12" Celestion in the cab really opens this amp up. Most versatile amp I've ever owned.
Excellent demo, David! Very nice playing too! I really like your gear setup.
Thank you very much
Good review.
Accurate comments on the Blues Junior. I bet more people have bought and then sold the junior than any other.
I had a super champ years ago. Great amp, I don’t know why I sold it.
I have. Katana now, it’s fantastic too, and has a headphone jack.
Just didn't sound right to me
My first amp. Bought like new for a really good price. I was really happy with it. I liked the sound and versatility. But, I have moved on to other amps now.
Thank you for your comment and watching
Thank you for a very solid and intuitive review.
Thumbs up, and subscribed.
🙏
Thank you and thank you for watching
honest review, thank you
Thank you
Slap a Ragin Cagin in it for more bottom end and volume. I found the low end on stock speaker gets flubby when cranked. Love this amp. Fantastic Review
Thanks for watching
Great review. Helped me make up my mind. Thank you, Sir. Subbed. BTW- I'm totally diggin on that Martin strap, too.
Thanks for watching
I already have my pedal rack so I almost only use the clean channel and it's plenty.. As you say for a tube amp it's a great bang for the buck.. I find it more versatile than the blues junior and quite lightweight compared to other Fender amps.. To my ears it is of professional studio quality level as far as the cleans are concerned and 10 inch speaker amps are concerned.. The channel 16 has one of the best cleans I've ever heard..
Lot of bang for the buck. Thanks for your comment and for watching
Sounds great brother! I’m considering this amp! That reverb is lush sounding to be digital. My main amp is a Roland JC40 and I have no complaints about it but I think this would make an excellent back up. Thanks for sharing the video. I enjoyed the playing too!
I have used it in small venues. However it is my backup and sometimes band rehearsal amp. Because of the built in effects I don't have to pull out my pedal board. Definitely a great utility amp and can jump out there. Thank you for your comment and compliments. Thanks for watching also
I have both the jc40 and x2. Use x2 80% and jc40 20%. I use setting 4 (bassman) the most. JC40 is good, not on par with its big brother the jc120. If you only get one, the x2 or tge jc40, get the x2 imho.
Js series are known for great cleans and chorus
Right?
But what they can do for dirty Blues or Santana's tone?
Thanks
I don't know much about amps 😊
Wicked little amp, seems to have a variety of sound, great playing as usual.
It really surprised me. The tone was very similar to my Deluxe reverb. A lot of quality for $399.99 and excellent for small rooms. A lot of voices to choose from but a great clean sound with richness. As popularity increases I wouldn't be surprised to see them jump a little in price. Fender did that to the Nashville Tele. Thanks for the nice compliments my friend.
Great video - thanks
Thank you for watching
Great. Video, straight to the point of this amp which I have this amp and like it a lot. New subscriber!!
Thanks for watching and welcome. I really like it to. Can't understand why Fender decided not to make it anymore. There's still a lot of them floating around out there. It sure packs a punch
Great review… hovering over buying a blues breaker 15, blues Jnr IV or one of these at the moment. Thanks for the help.
Thank you for watching
Solid demo!
Thanks for watching
Thank you! Bought one from Reverb. Spine surgeries left w/compromised back can’t lift over 30 lbs. my Hot Rod 4 - 40+ lbs. My brother pointed out “doesn’t it look familiar?” He told me it was the amp I had as a young man. Now all I need is a white/tortoise shell pickguard no brand label strat. Have you seen one?
Thanks for your comment. As for the pick guard you might try Allparts. Thanks for watching
Good video. I sure like the one I have. I'll probably like it more when I figure it out.
It has a lot of modern features for sure. The Overdrive effects has probably the biggest learning curve. Trying to figure out the gain settings for each Overdrive to use is not worth all the effort for me. I set the gain then leave it alone. I have picked 4 Overdrives that work best with the gain setting I've preset at home. However, when on a gig I strictly use pedals. There are a few effects I like on the amp but the digital reverb is the only one I use consistently. Basically I just set everything and forget about it. That's just my personal preference. Thanks for watching.
@@davidmurphey9514 Great video and responses to comments. Like yourself, I concluded that common settings work well enough. The only thing I change is the reverb level, light (3.5) for general/rock, drippy (6) for surf 😁.
The amp I was using is a Tweed Princeton with and Eminence 12.
In the video the reverb was on three with no pedals. However, in most venues I use a Deluxe Reverb with a Boss digital delay. The delay is always on. I never go above 3 on the reverb. Try that and see if you like it.
In addition I use two Overdrive pedals and one soft clip MXR distortion pedal. The MXR sounds more like a heavily Overdrive that cleans up the softer you play. My first Overdrive is a Pigtronix Fat Drive. I set the drive at it's minimum. It gives your guitar more of an on the edge of breakup tone. Which I run many times during songs that you want that old tele tele sound. The other is a Bogner Blue Ecstasy or Overdrive in between the Pigtronix And MXR. I never stack my drives. This seems to work for me.
Do you know if there's much sonic difference between the x2 and the xd? Thanks
Thanks for your question. I'm sorry but I never tried the xd so I don't know. Thank you for watching
I have the SCXD, sounds great, would not part with it. The voicings on channel 2 are different on the X2, and that has the option of customisation using software. I like the simplicity/reliability of the XD, the only thing I miss from the X2 is the tap tempo feature to fine tune the onboard effects (chorus/delay/tremolo).
That sounds amazing
I know. Sadly I just saw Fender has discontinued this model. Doesn't make any sense at all. There are good deals on the used market though.
Thank you for watching
OK, sorry for getting technical. This is really a “tolex” ie 1960s Princeton with digital effects and solid state front end or preamp. The Fender Champ was always single ended ie one 6V6 power tube. This amp like the Princeton has two 6V6s in “push pull”, the same Cathodyne phase inverter (12AX7), and is also fixed bias. Unlike the Princeton, this amp does not use valve/tube rectification.
I have 2 great amps for most applications. A 68 Deluxe Reverb and a 65 Princeton. This amp was purchased for small gigs that I could get in and out of quickly. This amp is excellent for low volume situations. It's more like a 80s model Peavey Pacer. This is Precisely that sound with better clean headroom. I didn't need to drive it like my other amps. Thanks for watching and the information.
nice video,, question. do the voicings have to be exact? They sound and that's what one has to work with. Get the app to use the Mids , there's where control happens.
The voicings are preset. You can make adjustments with the drive. Thanks for watching
I have a question on this particular amp.Can you use the digital effects on channel 1 ? The clean channel?
The voicings are on Chanel 2. The effects are on both
Yes. You can.
I just got this amp used for 250$. Great deal.
Great
Great video, You put me in mind of Steve Earle a little bit.
Thank you. I'm a Steve Earle fan.
I do most of my clean recording on ch1 at 3 volume. That's all I need for a great signal into the mic.
Thank you for sharing and for watching. Have a great day
made it sound good
Thanks and thanks for watching
What was the volume you were playing at before you pumped it up clean. I want to get good sound, but keep my neighbors happy (and wife). I got the Sweetwater version with the Celestion G10 speaker.
On the clean channel about 4 1/2. The 2nd channel the same with the gain on six or 7. I use the same gains for all of the voices to keep it as simple as possible. The clean channel starts to open up the speaker at about 6. Using a single coil guitar. Of course with hum bucking pickups the speaker opens up a little earlier. I hope this helps.
@@davidmurphey9514 Thanks! it helps a lot. I also have a single coil Telecaster and the Amp will be in tomorrow. I just subscribed. cheers!
Enjoy and let me know how it sounds with the Celestion. Thanks for subscribing.
@@davidmurphey9514 You're welcome and thank you.
good review ty.
Thank you for watching
That reverb sounds huuuge!
I probably used a little to much. I just like it
Last champ I played was in the 70s . They didn't have all those sound back then.
That's true. The true champ reissue doesn't either. At last look this amp has been discontinued.
Does it work with pedals? . Thanks
Yes. I have done with or without. Thank you for your question and thanks for watching
Do cleans sound like true tube quality sounds? Or too digital solid
Both actually. The clean is a tube clean. The effects and voices sound digital.
Thanks for watching
In fact the clean channel is also digital but it does sound analog, anything but digital.
I would take some of the reverb off otherwise good demo. Thanks
I agree and thank you for watching
Would I be able to play this amp in my apartment ?
It does well at low volumes. However, I would probably go to a 5 watt tube amp. You could open it up more. Thank you for your question and for watching
I don't think there's a noticeable difference between 5 an 15 watts apart from the 5dB difference at full power.@@davidmurphey9514
Nicely done. Is that hum coming from the amp? Do you feel it detracts from the use of the amp?
No. It wasn't the amp. It was a bad cord
I've had the SCX2 for 2 years and I can tell you there is no hum that originates from the amp.
No hum from this amplifier. I have two units.
U sound better with lil reverb great amp
Thank you for watching
i think that this can be a good recording amp, no?
It might. I haven't tried it. If you do let me know what you think. Thank you for watching
Is it loud enough?
Originally I bought it for a practice amp. It's loud enough for small venues and the bands I play with. I guess it depends on the venue and how loud your drummer is.
Done some outdoor jobs with it also
@@davidmurphey9514 Thanks man, that's all I wanted to know.
Do you think this amp is too loud for an apartment?
Actually no. I think it would be much better than a blues Jr. Thanks for your question and watching.
Thanks for your question
The bias on the amp has been known to be under. The bias should be at 40
Thanks for your comment and for watching
Setting it on 40mA is only noticeable at full volume and does decrease the lifetime of the two final tubes.
That's probably why it comes set to around 25mA from the factory.
Man amazing video and gear, subbed! Check my hendrix stuff if u want , maybe u will dig it too! Thanks for sharing brother . I use thst súper champ xd too and its amaziinnnnngg
Thanks for watching
Nice review but too much reverb
Thanks. I agree about the reverb. Thanks for watching
A little reverb makes any amp sound a little better.
Huh....blues JR. Not better than 1 preamp tube ...okkkk then
Thank you for your comment. Thanks for watching.