Super Champ XD Review

The Super Champ XD takes the vintage Champ into a new era with classic styling, simple controls, a good variety of clean and distorted tones and unmistakable tube feel and performance at a remarkable price.

Features:	8.8
Sound:	9
Reliability:	8.8
Impression:	9.5
Overall rating:	9
Users rating:	9.1
Comments:	33

overall: 9

Featured review by: darthbuttchin, on february 09, 2008

Purchased from: Allegro Music

Features: The Fender Super Champ XD is the latest addition to Fender's aresenal of amplifiers. It combines tube technology with an amazing array of DSP effects and also different 'voicings'. Production began in 2007 and this is a 2007 model. This amp is amazingly versatile. It has two channels. Channel one is based of a Clean Fender Blackface amp. Channel two is the channel with the switchable 'voicings'. These range from early Tweed models, through Blackface models, British models, Hot Rods, metal, jazz and even acoustic models. This means that it is amazingly versatile and can be used for pretty much any genre. My main Genres are Blues and classic rock, so this amp fits my styles perfectly. There is a tiny channel switching button on the amps face, but this is only really any good if you have time to Switch channels. There is the option for a footswitch and I suggest that one is purchased soon after getting the amp, as it makes life easier. There is no effecdts loop or headphone jack, but there is a line out and also the option to Bypass the speaker in the combo and hook it up to an external cabinet. I use this amp both at home and at Band Practice. At home, the volume is kept at just over two, which is when sound is produced from the amp. At band practice, I have the volume at about 6-8 as it is still insanely loud. I have been asked by the drummer a number of times to turn it down, as I was making his seat shake. The amp is plenty loud enough to be heard over a drummer and another guitarist, and even begins to drown out a 180 watt bass amplifier. // 9

Sound: I use both a Fender Stratocster with a S/S/S pickup configuration and a Crafter Cruiser RG600 with a HH pickup configuration. Both of these guitars work perfectly with the amplifier and I am discovering just how many different options are available for me when playing thank to this amplifier. As I have already said, I play blues and classic rock and this amp just suits those styles perfectly. The amp is very loud on all settings, more so on the heavily overdriven styles and also the metal settings. It does feedback quite a lot when too much gain is pumped into it and I'd say the most brutal it can get is Slipknot's 'Before I Forget'. As I have stated already, the variety of sounds this map can make alone is just amazing. When you add in the effects though, it really is amazing. There are no completely out-there effects on the amp, justthe most popular ones I guess. It has vibratone, delay, chorus, reverb and tremolo on it. I only really use the reverb, as I have delay and chorus as pedals, and the pedals have more options available to me. The vibratone is a cool effect but the Tremolo is one that really needs to be used sparingly and is quite the accquired taste.The clean channel doesn't distort all that much at high volumes and so you can get the perfect Clean sound at rather loud volumes. However, it is a shock when you go from a fairly quiet channel two to a boomingly loud channel 1. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I believe that I can depend on the amp in a gig situation and I would go without a backup. I would tkae spare Tubes though, just in case. The amp has never broken down, but then again I haven't had it for particularly long. I'd say my only gripe was that the Power Lead included had an American plug on it and I had to get an adapter, but it is to be expected I guess, as the amp came from America. // 9

Impression: As I have said numerous times, I play Blues and classic rock, such as Led Zeppelin and John Lee Hooker. I do go into some more 'hard' rock, such as Aerosmith, The Stones and GN'R, but this amp can handle those sorts of sounds perfectly. I've been playing for just over 3 years and own numerous guitars and pedals. This is my first tube amp, before hand I had a small 19 watt practice amp. The amp takes the pedals really well, although I have found that the overdrive has become more of a boost for solos, as there isplenty of overdrive from the amp. I wish I had asked about the power lead before buying, so I could habe got the adapter straight away, rather than open the amp up and then had to go and get the adapter, but no matter. If this was stolen, I would definitely get another one. I'd also probably be able to find the thief, as it is a pretty heavy amp, so I don't expect they would have gotten too far away. I love how versatile the amp is in that I can be playing some Blues on the moderately clean setting and with the turn of a knob, I'm in GN'R crucnh country. I don't hate anything, but I do wish it had a mid control and that also there wasn't such a large increase in volume when clicking through the Voices. Some of them are louder then others. My favourite feature is the effects, particularly the reverb. Although I do like to see the tubes light up in the back. I compared it with a Vox AD50VT and this one by far, as it sounded so much more natural and warm. // 9

overall: 8.3

Reviewed by: pak1351, on december 05, 2008

Price paid: $ 259.99

Purchased from: Guitar Center

Features: Made in 2008, overseas. 2 channels, one clean, one with the 16 voicings. 16 effects with volume control. 1 master eq, gain control for the second channel, and separate volume controls for each channel.

Bass and treble control only, which is kind of a downer. Also, doesn't have an effects loop, although it is possible to mod one in. One 10" speaker, a line out, optional footswitch (effects on/off and channel switching). 15 watts, tube power amp, solid state and tube preamp. I use it in my dorm and at home. Just want to say that this never is truly tube, contrary to what some seem to be saying. Regardless of what channel, or if you have effects on or off. The volume and tone controls are digital and controlled by the online dsp. That being said, sound is really what matters. // 8

Sound: I use a PRS Singlecut SE and play mostly blues and classic rock, occasionally playing some Tool. I had a budget of three hundred dollars and wanted a versatile amp I could take to school and get good tones at reasonable volumes, and this nailed it. I compared it to the Vox AD30VT, Valve Junior, and a cube and spyder and this outshone all of them.

The clean channel stays fairly clean, and begins to break up around 4-5. There is no gain control on the first channel, but the clean tone is a bright blackface kind of sound. Very nice, in my opinion. The second channel allows one to change the voicings of the amp, with various overdriven stages of a tweed, blackface, Marshall, hot rod, metal, jazz, and an acoustic simulator. I mostly use the 2, 5, 8, and 9 settings, which go from a nice blues (2=a fat,, Vintage tweed sound based on early Fender bassman's; 5= a bright, slightly overdriven Vintage tone based on early blackface amps), to some marshallesque crunch (8 is the plexi, 9 is modern Marshall, which I assume are the jcm series). 8 nails a lot of the classic rock tones, from eagles to zeppelin, and I use voice 9 for some Warren Hayne's style leads. Setting 10, the overdriven hot rod, sounds very nice as well, and also cleans up nicely.

The on-board effects are usable, but nothing special. There's little control over them, outside of the volume. I mainly just use the simulated spring reverb, and sometimes the slapback delay. All the effects can be seen on musicians friend or whatever site you use. Maxing the gain on the second channel does make the amp a little noisy, this was decreased when I replaced the stock Groove 12ax7 with a JJ or an old GE tube. Mine came stock with EH 6v6 power tubes, which I liked and haven't touched. I put in a Jensen c10 reissue, and I have to say I like the Fender models a lot more with this in there, although it takes something away from the british voicings. The stock speaker was fine, I just wanted some more low end and a more American tone. I don't really use the metal settings. The gain control also affects the volume, and switching channels can lead to some surprises, as gain on 5 on a clean channel might not be real loud, but when you go a metal channel it can be a lot louder than you were expecting. // 9

Reliability & Durability: This is actually my second amp, my first one had an issue with the speaker baffle and Fender sent me a new one, free of charge. It was cut wrong and rattled when I turned the amp up, but it was handled and hte new one has no problems. Fender was very nice, and sent me a shirt because I sent it in 36 days after I bought it. It has a five year warranty so I'm not too worried about it's reliability, and I keep it in my room. I replaced the preamp tube, like I said, and should get some spare power tubes just in case, but no issues with them yet. I don't gig, but I think it has enough volume to do so. I'd bring a back up, but it seems like you should always bring a back up. It's chinese made, not field servicable (meaning Fender just replaces them, doesn't try to fix them in a repair shop) but they paid for all shipping and what not so I really don't care. I wouldn't void the warranty until after a year or two, but that's up to you. The interior is very tidy as well. // 7

Impression: Like I said, best amp I played in the three hundred dollar price range for use as a practice amp for blues and classic rock. The tube poweramp really sets it apart from a lot of the other modelers in this price range, and the effects and voicings are pretty convincing. This is my first amp, I've had it for about eight months now. I've been playing electric for eight months, acoustic for about three years prior to that. If it were stolen, I'd get another. I might get a greenback or a clone, as it has a removable baffle and speaker clips, so replacing the speaker is pretty easy. I might just get another and use one for bluesy stuff and the other for more of a british flavor.

I wish it had an effects loop and a mid eq, but I'm getting an eq pedal soon and it's possible to add an effects loop if you really want one, so nothing that can't be added later. Overall, a very nice amp with great tone at a reasonable price. // 9

overall: 9.8

Reviewed by: Cyborlox, on january 16, 2009

Purchased from: Long and McQuade

Features: This amp has 15 Watts of tube power and a 10" speaker. This amp is amazingly versatile, I play along a fair range of genres and this amp works fine for all of them. There are 2 channels which can be switched by a button or a footswitch (sold separately) It only uses the Super Champ Footswitch, it is not compatible with any other. There are "Voices" which make it so versatile. There's anything from "Jazz" to "Metal" to "British". There is also Reverb, Chorus, Tremolo, Vibratone and Delay. I've used this amp just practicing by myself and in the jam room with my band and it is very powerful as it is also a tube amp. // 10

Sound: I simply use an Indonesian-made Squire Strat with all stock parts and it sounds amazing for what it is when I run it through the Super Champ. I play a whole bunch of genres from Funk to Death Metal and it sounds really good for everything. If you turn up the Gain and set the Voice to "Metal" it is super-heavy and settings like "British" with lower Gain it works well for Classic Rock. The effects can be combined and you can choose the strength of the effects. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I've only had this amp for a little bit of time now so I don't know exactly how reliable it is. As far as I can tell, it would be very reliable and I would probably bring it to a gig with a backup because I don't know exactly how solid this amp really is. It seems like a very solid piece of equipment though. // 9

Impression: This amp is amazing for every genre of music it sounds really good with just a stock Squire Strat and the only thing I would have liked was if it came with a footswitch instead of ordering it seperately. If it were stolen I would immediately buy another as I love this amp. there is nothing I don't love about it. // 10

overall: 9

Reviewed by: Chetbango, on october 05, 2009

Price paid: $ 260.00

Purchased from: Local store

Features: Many features, two channels, 17 voices, variable gain, two tone knobs and decent if limited effects. This hybrid tube amp, with a solid state preamp, tube phase inverter and tube power circuit. It has 15watts and a 10inch speaker. It also has a line out and a footswitch is available for channel switching and effects on/off. It is very versatile, some of the voices are quite good, some are decent and only a couple are lacking. The only feature I wish it had is a headphone jack. // 8

Sound: I use it with my Gibson SG and LP with humbuckers and my Strat with single coils. It plays many of the classic Fender tones very well, the tweed, blackface and 'Fender chime' type voices are really enjoyable and surprisingly good. I would not say they are the same as the originals, but are nearly as good and very responsive and clear. The gain knob works well, allowing for rolling the volume off on my guitar to control the dirt. They sound good from classic, bell-like Fender cleans to the dirtiest Blackface rock.

The Marshally sounds are not quite as good, but certainly a fair approximation and equally fun. Responsive, and surprisingly close to real thing once you account for the fact that a 10 inch, inexpesive Chinese speaker cannot equal 4x12 Celestions.

This leads to the amps biggest inability, the Metal type sounds are OK, but if brutal metal tones are your main thing, this amp is probably not your best choice. This amp sounds best at moderate volumes, like just under what you would want if you played with a drummer. It can keep up with a drummer and still sound quite good, it just sounds best a little lower. I understand with a new speaker (something like the Eminence Ragin Cajun) it sounds even better louder.

Overall the sounds are better than any other modeler I have heard, more organic and responsive. // 8

Reliability & Durability: No issues, though I have read that some earlier models needed a baffle tightened on the speaker mount. I haven't ever gigged with it, but for a quieter band it would work fine, I would trust it without a backup. I have had no issues. It seems well built and has been kicked around in the back of my pick-up a bit. // 10

Impression: Overall I am very impressed with this amp, especially for the price. I think it is a great starter/practice amp that has the ability to play live shows. For a beginner it is both responsive to encourage good technique and very versatile for someone who hasn't dialed in their tone. For a more experienced person it is a great 'jack of all trades' amp that masters a few sounds too. It sounds good at bedroom volumes and great at louder volumes. // 10

Comments

[Scott57]

I love this amp! I spent an afternoon trying out various tubes amps (under $600.00) and kept coming back to this one. It's inspiring!

[bignick99]

hi, in you review you mention a slipknot tone, can this amp handle drop tuned hi-gain tones, i play a lot of stuff in drop b with loads of distortion, but will the 10" speaker handle it???

[darthbuttchin]

Hi, sorry i've taken a while to answer. In all honesty, I wouldn't know. The lowest I go is drop D. I did once go to down to C sharp, but that is the absolute lowest. It handled it pretty well, but I wouldn't say this was an amp perfect for frequent slipknot/metal playing. I mentioned it more in passing really, as I did produce a slipknot sound but i only play slipknot once every so often when im bored.

sorry i wasn't overly helpfuk

db

[klb93]

I just got this amp yesterday and it is AWESOME!!! I love it so much! the tone is amazing, it makes your insides shake. It gets plenty loud enough for smaller gigs, and can definitely get over a drum kit. I recommend this amp to everyone!! it's amazing, and for $300? you cant lose.

[Jay Gatsby]

Where the hell can you buy the footswitch?

I love this amp!

[ConfusedBirdman]

This is a great amp. I use an external multi fx and bypass everything except a 3 band and control the mids from there. I also sometimes use the compressor and it sounds great through it. This setup allows you to make the metal tones a little less stale. As far as metal tones go, it is passable of everything but death metal. Some really great iron maiden tones in there too. I'll write a review once summer gets here and I've got some time.

[dontsmokeinbed]

actually ho loud is this amp? would it withstand some minor gigs?

[RD Mac]

This amp is actually ballsy enough to do small bar gigs. I have done 3 gigs with it so far. Preset #4 (the blackface Deluxe preset)is very similar to channel #1.As another user has posted, don't be afraid to push the gain up. It really does help to bring out more moderate volume. I cant stand modelling amps. But, I am sold on this one. And I can have any amp made and have had over 50 of them. Recently, I have modded mine with an emminence classic 75 watt. All the difference in the world!

[lespaul#1]

I'm not looking to buy this, but I've heard it's tube, would it break up?

[FishStik]

On Rock Band (the video game), the second-to last venue for vocals features six of these amps arranged near each other. I was singing my lungs out when I spotted them. I couldn't believe it at first, but that was when I realized that this amp is pretty much the best you can get for $300.

[nikhil101]

FishStik wrote:

On Rock Band (the video game), the second-to last venue for vocals features six of these amps arranged near each other. I was singing my lungs out when I spotted them. I couldn't believe it at first, but that was when I realized that this amp is pretty much the best you can get for $300.

nobody cares about rock band fishstik, but yeah the super champ is a decent amp, better than any of the line 6 spider modelling amps by far

[LesZao]

Amazing amp.
And far better than any SS line 6 Spider amp

If you need ultra high gain then just buy a pedal

and sorry about the first "d" comment
it says "(please login or register first)"
Just testing.

[ihavenoname93]

bignick99 wrote:

hi, in you review you mention a slipknot tone, can this amp handle drop tuned hi-gain tones, i play a lot of stuff in drop b with loads of distortion, but will the 10" speaker handle it???

if you want metal distortion, dont even touch a fender

[ihavenoname93]

does anyone know whether the power or preamp stage is the tube one? i know this is a hybrid amp

[pak1351]

this actually does metal distortion ok, don't know about serious drop tunings but I can get a convincing adam jones tone.

Power amp is all tube, and 1/2 of the preamp tube is used as an extra gain stage. A good circuit analysis can be seen here, by Bill M.

http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&topic_number =654379

[Uranutan]

nikhil101 wrote:

FishStik wrote:

On Rock Band (the video game), the second-to last venue for vocals features six of these amps arranged near each other. I was singing my lungs out when I spotted them. I couldn't believe it at first, but that was when I realized that this amp is pretty much the best you can get for $300.

nobody cares about rock band fishstik, but yeah the super champ is a decent amp, better than any of the line 6 spider modelling amps by far

stop being a douchenugget, plenty of people care about rock band.

[naturekid363]

should I get one of these or a line 6 flextone? i play basically all styles of music

[k2pblcnme]

naturekid363 wrote:

should I get one of these or a line 6 flextone? i play basically all styles of music

Those are two much different price ranges. For 300 bucks, you really can't beat the Super Champ. It's really cheap for a tube combo, but it sound pretty darn good. Haven't played the Line 6, but I'm not really a fan of them in general. I would say this amp is more versatile.

[rocker313]

So I thinking of buying this or Roland cube or Vox AD or peavey vypyr, which is the most versitale with good sounds from jazz to metal?

[100%guitarmad]

xD!

[Thrash_fire666]

nice :/

[therescue06]

ihavenoname93 wrote:

bignick99 wrote:

hi, in you review you mention a slipknot tone, can this amp handle drop tuned hi-gain tones, i play a lot of stuff in drop b with loads of distortion, but will the 10" speaker handle it???

if you want metal distortion, dont even touch a fender

true.

[MrFlibble]

I just realised the random Fender I've been using for practise for the last six months is one of these. Huh, really should have written a review of it by now.

'Tis pretty good. Speaker's a bit rubbish though, you need to keep the treble a little higher than usual to compensate.

[MrFlibble]

lespaul#1 wrote:

I'm not looking to buy this, but I've heard it's tube, would it break up?

In theory yes, but I've only ever managed to get it to do so once. It's naturally a very low-gain amp (like msot Fenders are), so you've got to have it seriously cranked and so on to get it to break up. So far I've only managed it with it's volume at full and using a Micro POG effectively tripling my input. Even then it was only a light break-up.

[lazy town]

XD

[edgespear]

LOL XD Is a face. D'ya reackon they made it as a joke >.> ?

[Camikrazy]

yes they probably did edgespear, that's what music engineers do all the time, find funny names for the next fender amp..... dumbass

[Mario-Guitar]

nikhil101 wrote:

FishStik wrote:

On Rock Band (the video game), the second-to last venue for vocals features six of these amps arranged near each other. I was singing my lungs out when I spotted them. I couldn't believe it at first, but that was when I realized that this amp is pretty much the best you can get for $300.

nobody cares about rock band fishstik, but yeah the super champ is a decent amp, better than any of the line 6 spider modelling amps by far

jep, nobody cares,,

[PussyPunk182]

ihavenoname93 wrote:

does anyone know whether the power or preamp stage is the tube one? i know this is a hybrid amp

12AX7 pre-amp tube, two 6V6 in the power amp.

[Chetbango]

PussyPunk182 wrote:

ihavenoname93 wrote:

does anyone know whether the power or preamp stage is the tube one? i know this is a hybrid amp

12AX7 pre-amp tube, two 6V6 in the power amp.

Actually the pre-amp is totally transistor. The 12AX7 is a buffer/conversion stage from solid state to tube signal levels and it is the phase inverter, which splits the signal into mirror images for the output tubes. The output stage is tube.

[bigbossman]

Great Tube amp Amp. Made in China. Loud for a 15 watt rated amp. SS Effects are good has FX level control but I use mostly the reverb. I pair it with a Vox AD30 for a stereo chourus sound (icebox) somtimes and it is awesome. 16 different amp types,Amps are tweed, Blackface, British, Hot Rod, Metal, Jazz, Acoustic and voicing for each 1 range from mellow to balls out. Owned it for 4 months play it daily no problems. Paid 285. US new.

[nick dixon]

I've just bought one of these second hand. Probably one of the best amps for money I've heard. I paid £160 for mine, so really it makes a line 6 look terrible in comparison.

The speaker looks a little naff, but it dosent sound too bad.

I think its one of those hybrid amps that they've got right. Although the pre amp is solid state / buffered, it certainly sounds very tube like to me, and for the price I paid, and the diminishing return of having a £450 Valve amp, it really does the job for me.

If you want a huge improvement on your tone, clean or distorted, check this amp out.

I love how when you do bends and such higher up the fretboard, you start to get all sorts of new harmonics coming out of the amp as against a straight sine wave frequency.

For practise and recording, I couldn't think of a better little amp.

9 / 10

[Hiker]

Had it for about one month, now. Chose it instead of the Blues Jr. since it emulates the B Jr. with these setting on the SCXD and so many OTHER possibilites:

1. Clean Channel-Channel 1, Treble 7, Bass 10.

2. Channel 2, Voice #5, Gain 4, Treble 7, Bass 10 (gotta make up for that 12" speaker).

3. Channel 2, Voice #10, Gain 2.5 to 4, Treble 9, Bass 10.

Others on here have spoken to the versatility, volume and TONE! Why don't you Demo this Amp and see for yourself!