Martin
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Post by Martin on Jul 26, 2018 9:02:37 GMT
Which would win in a straight fight?
I have a chance of getting one of these amps used (but mint condition) and I'm not sure which to go for (if any), although the Fender is about £50 cheaper.
I know I could ask this on a 'proper' electric guitar forum, but why not use this fancy section we have here as well and find out what other dark siders think?
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Post by earthbalm on Jul 26, 2018 13:00:57 GMT
MartinI have owned two Superchamp XDs (recently) and an original 80s Superchamp (during the 80s). All fabulous amps that I would still have if I hadn't had to raise capital at various times. The Superchamp can go from that lovely tube breakup tone to full on metal shred. Can recommend but I'm unable to compare to the Vox sorry. Dale
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jul 26, 2018 15:31:04 GMT
Does it go to 11? If so it’s a good un. sorry nothing helpful to add
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jul 26, 2018 16:06:27 GMT
Martin I have owned two Superchamp XDs (recently) and an original 80s Superchamp (during the 80s). All fabulous amps that I would still have if I hadn't had to raise capital at various times. The Superchamp can go from that lovely tube breakup tone to full on metal shred. Can recommend but I'm unable to compare to the Vox sorry. Dale
Thanks Dale, very helpful
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jul 26, 2018 16:07:55 GMT
Does it go to 11? If so it’s a good un.
Oh no! It only goes to 10!
So that means......yours is 1 louder isn't it?
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Post by grayn on Jul 28, 2018 4:57:16 GMT
Yeah definitely go for the Fender Champ. Great little amps, with some nice extras.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jul 28, 2018 9:19:58 GMT
Thanks Graham. I've had the chance to try them both extensively at home, and the Super Champ is my favourite - just much more versatile, although the Vox does pack a punch
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Post by vikingblues on Jul 28, 2018 10:53:21 GMT
I have used Vox amps in the past including a hybrid tube amp idea (can't remember which model) and a little AC4TV. Never tried a Night Train though. I have got the feeling from the Fender and Vox amps I've tried that Vox skew more towards heavily distorted while Fender towards cleaner sounds. The SuperChamp XD is a very fine amp in my view and I am happy to still own one - my only remaining electric guitar amp. I first got one several years ago, after using a Vibro Champ XD for quite some time, but after a while the XD I got developed a fault, which Fender could not cure. Because it was discontinued and they had none left anywhere Fender were not able to replace it, so Fender swapped it for a brand new Super Champ X2 - to be fair it was good of Fender to do that and on the face of it a good deal. But the X2 just sounded thin and cold, and tweaking the sound with the Fender Fuse Software didn't solve the problem. The X2 also felt much less sturdily built and had a cheap looking name badge on it. I started using my backup Vibro Champ. Within a month I had sold the replacement X2 and eventually found and bought one of the few Super Champ XD amps for sale in the UK in June 2013. The relief to get that lovely XD sound back was huge - it was like reuniting with a really good friend. I usually have used the less driven settings on the XD - if I've wanted more grit rather than use the more driven amp voices I've used a Webber MicroMass Attenuator - hand made in the USA and uses a speaker motor and resistors which allows your amp to maintain its natural and dynamic response even with high levels of attenuation. So it gives a pretty decent stab at an amp driven at volume without causing queues of complaining neighbours at the door. So yes - your stated preference makes sense to me. Mark
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jul 28, 2018 15:18:00 GMT
Thanks Mark, nice to have confirmation To be honest, I had dealt with the seller before so he gave me a superb deal to take both amps. I did so with the intention of moving on the one I preferred less, and it seems it's the Vox, although it is a beautifully built amp with five valves and a tonne of volume. Like you, I like but don't love the various overdriven amp models on channel 2 of the XD, so this afternoon I have picked up a very nice used BOSS DS-1 distortion pedal which I'll just plug into the clean channel 1 of the Fender, taking advantage of the valve sound on that channel. Funny you should mention the X2. I had thought it would naturally be superior to the XD it replaced, but I remember a couple of years ago when I bought my Blackstar amp, I tried the X2 first and also thought it sounded lacking. Thin actually is a very good way to describe it, albeit I know tweaking with the Fuse software is almost mandatory with that amp.
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Post by earthbalm on Jul 28, 2018 16:55:08 GMT
Thanks Mark, nice to have confirmation To be honest, I had dealt with the seller before so he gave me a superb deal to take both amps. I did so with the intention of moving on the one I preferred less, and it seems it's the Vox, although it is a beautifully built amp with five valves and a tonne of volume. Like you, I like but don't love the various overdriven amp models on channel 2 of the XD, so this afternoon I have picked up a very nice used BOSS DS-1 distortion pedal which I'll just plug into the clean channel 1 of the Fender, taking advantage of the valve sound on that channel. Funny you should mention the X2. I had thought it would naturally be superior to the XD it replaced, but I remember a couple of years ago when I bought my Blackstar amp, I tried the X2 first and also thought it sounded lacking. Thin actually is a very good way to describe it, albeit I know tweaking with the Fuse software is almost mandatory with that amp. You have a Backstar? I had an HT1r whilst I still had the Superchamp XD. I wish I still owned both. Dale
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jul 28, 2018 18:10:23 GMT
Thanks Mark, nice to have confirmation To be honest, I had dealt with the seller before so he gave me a superb deal to take both amps. I did so with the intention of moving on the one I preferred less, and it seems it's the Vox, although it is a beautifully built amp with five valves and a tonne of volume. Like you, I like but don't love the various overdriven amp models on channel 2 of the XD, so this afternoon I have picked up a very nice used BOSS DS-1 distortion pedal which I'll just plug into the clean channel 1 of the Fender, taking advantage of the valve sound on that channel. Funny you should mention the X2. I had thought it would naturally be superior to the XD it replaced, but I remember a couple of years ago when I bought my Blackstar amp, I tried the X2 first and also thought it sounded lacking. Thin actually is a very good way to describe it, albeit I know tweaking with the Fuse software is almost mandatory with that amp. You have a Backstar? I had an HT1r whilst I still had the Superchamp XD. I wish I still owned both. Dale
I had a Blackstar HT5RS. Stunning amp, but with the two cabinets, quite large. It was traded for my daughter's Taylor GS Mini last year. The Fender is much more of a sensible size
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Post by vikingblues on Jul 29, 2018 9:17:22 GMT
Thanks Mark, nice to have confirmation To be honest, I had dealt with the seller before so he gave me a superb deal to take both amps. I did so with the intention of moving on the one I preferred less, and it seems it's the Vox, although it is a beautifully built amp with five valves and a tonne of volume. Like you, I like but don't love the various overdriven amp models on channel 2 of the XD, so this afternoon I have picked up a very nice used BOSS DS-1 distortion pedal which I'll just plug into the clean channel 1 of the Fender, taking advantage of the valve sound on that channel. Funny you should mention the X2. I had thought it would naturally be superior to the XD it replaced, but I remember a couple of years ago when I bought my Blackstar amp, I tried the X2 first and also thought it sounded lacking. Thin actually is a very good way to describe it, albeit I know tweaking with the Fuse software is almost mandatory with that amp. Glad to hear you say that about the X2 Martin. At the time I saw so many positive things said about it that I thought my ears must be faulty.
Very nice sounds from the clean channel and a good basis for added pedals - I often used a Vox Tonelab LE for added fx.
If I used the channel 2 on the amp it was nearly always one of the two less driven blackface models or the less driven Tweed / Bassman sound with a lowish level of gain.
Nicely background buzz free settings. But the more driven voices if teh Tweed and Blackface were usable with the right backing.
With the XD I also like the way the Line Out output gives a very good impression of the sound of the real amps speaker sound.
Some examples I have of Line Out, Voices and Attenuator in my less than capable hands:-
You're making me pine for the old days. But all the electric guitars and amps are in storage.
Mark
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jul 29, 2018 15:47:08 GMT
Nice recordings, Mark. I like the playing in the last one especially Here's a group pic of the current set-up while I decide what stays and what goes
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