Help getting up to speed on amps

[zeittgeist]

When I realized I was going to go the archtop route, I got an Henriksen JazzAmp 110. And thought, "groovy, this takes care of the amp side". Have used it exclusively with my hollow bodies. Then this week when I was trying to dial in the H-555, I pulled out the Fender SuperChamp XD that I had not used since selling my LP. This worked really nicely with the 555, but then, out of curiosity, I plugged the Sweet 16 in, and had a minor epiphany. This sounded wonderful, there was magic, or soul to the tone now, it seemed really come alive. The XD models various amps and the voice with which the Sweet 16 sounded the best was the "early Fender Tweed Champ". So now comes a tsunami of questions:

 

How accurate is the XD's modeling of the Tweed Champ? If I want to capture and improve on that tone, should I look for a boutique amp with a similar configuration? Would a boutique tweed champ clone sound better than my XD? Is it the low powered 6V6 tube, hand wired circuitry that is key? Do any models come to mind that you would recommend? Should I get one with reverb? Am I headed down the right path here?

Daniel

[DetroitBlues]

When I realized I was going to go the archtop route, I got an Henriksen JazzAmp 110. And thought, "groovy, this takes care of the amp side". Have used it exclusively with my hollow bodies. Then this week when I was trying to dial in the H-555, I pulled out the Fender SuperChamp XD that I had not used since selling my LP. This worked really nicely with the 555, but then, out of curiosity, I plugged the Sweet 16 in, and had a minor epiphany. This sounded wonderful, there was magic, or soul to the tone now, it seemed really come alive. The XD models various amps and the voice with which the Sweet 16 sounded the best was the "early Fender Tweed Champ". So now comes a tsunami of questions:

 

How accurate is the XD's modeling of the Tweed Champ? If I want to capture and improve on that tone, should I look for a boutique amp with a similar configuration? Would a boutique tweed champ clone sound better than my XD? Is it the low powered 6V6 tube, hand wired circuitry that is key? Do any models come to mind that you would recommend? Should I get one with reverb? Am I headed down the right path here?

Daniel

 

I had a superchamp XD, I believe it was very close to the real thing. It only needs a larger speaker. I almost had mine put into a larger cabinet, like a 2x12 combo amp. Great amp! I think its one of the most underrated amps out there for the money.

[schundog]

I had a superchamp XD, I believe it was very close to the real thing. It only needs a larger speaker. I almost had mine put into a larger cabinet, like a 2x12 combo amp. Great amp! I think its one of the most underrated amps out there for the money.

 

+1. Mine gets nearly all of my play time when I'm by myself, especially at night when the family is in bed. The Clean side is worth the price of admission alone, and I'd never have believed that a 10" speaker could sound so good. I like playing around with the models, too, and the built in reverb and delay. Not as great effects as the real deal, but OK for yutzing around. For a while I THOUGHT I HAD to have the then-new Princeton Reverb Re-Issue, but honestly, this little guy gets close enough to that sound, and leaves me with my $900 (and no all-to-common rattle found in the PRRI.) If I want bigger, I've got my Fender Deluxe Reverb, which I usually use when jamming with friends, or if I need to blow off some steam and GET LOUD! haha.

 

All this to say, unless you are dying to spend money on a boutique amp, explore your XD a little more. There are a lot of tones in there, even for playing out, if you mic-up, and many can be had without even using any pedals. A friend uses his for gigs in a louder band, mics it up. He has also used the acoustic model voice for an "acoustic" gig at a bar, just him and a singer. Not the BEST option, but pretty believable. Good luck, whatever you decide.

[zguitar71]

I don't know if a boutique amp sound better than the original it is modeled after but they do tend to be better built and have less of the unwanted noises that some of the older amps can get (hissing, crackling ect..). I have never listened to a SuperChamp XD, but the best way to get the sound of an original is to build like the original circuitry. http://www.victoriaamp.com/amps.html?model=518 Here is a boutique tweed champ copy, never played through one but I have heard good things about them.

[schundog]

I don't know if a boutique amp sound better than the original it is modeled after but they do tend to be better built and have less of the unwanted noises that some of the older amps can get (hissing, crackling ect..). I have never listened to a SuperChamp XD, but the best way to get the sound of an original is to build like the original circuitry. http://www.victoriaamp.com/amps.html?model=518 Here is a boutique tweed champ copy, never played through one but I have heard good things about them.

 

I agree totally that a boutique amp would be awesome, but if he's already got an XD, and hasn't explored it's capabilities, it is a whole lot cheaper than going after a 4 figure amp, especially until you know exactly what you want. Even if he didn't already own an XD, they can be had for peanuts, and make a great light-weight amp, whether being micced up for a gig, or used for bedroom volume at home, with MANY tonal variations. No, NOT a boutique amp, but a very usable FUN 15 watt tube amp with amp modelling and effects built in. If he can get someone to trade him his 555 for a boutique amp, cool, of course they are worth more and are better built certainly than a Fender Super Champ XD, but I hope he really knows what he wants; so many options out there, not necessarily right ones for HIM.

[DetroitBlues]

I agree totally that a boutique amp would be awesome, but if he's already got an XD, and hasn't explored it's capabilities, it is a whole lot cheaper than going after a 4 figure amp, especially until you know exactly what you want. Even if he didn't already own an XD, they can be had for peanuts, and make a great light-weight amp, whether being micced up for a gig, or used for bedroom volume at home, with MANY tonal variations. No, NOT a boutique amp, but a very usable FUN 15 watt tube amp with amp modelling and effects built in. If he can get someone to trade him his 555 for a boutique amp, cool, of course they are worth more and are better built certainly than a Fender Super Champ XD, but I hope he really knows what he wants; so many options out there, not necessarily right ones for HIM.

 

If I had a chance to get another Superchamp XD, I would. There was a damaged model in the store on clearence. Thought about buying that one and putting into a larger cabinet. I found a guy on Ebay that makes replacement cab's for specific Fender amps. Looked like a great idea. Amp sold before I jumped on it though...

[zguitar71]

I agree totally that a boutique amp would be awesome, but if he's already got an XD, and hasn't explored it's capabilities, it is a whole lot cheaper than going after a 4 figure amp, especially until you know exactly what you want. Even if he didn't already own an XD, they can be had for peanuts, and make a great light-weight amp, whether being micced up for a gig, or used for bedroom volume at home, with MANY tonal variations. No, NOT a boutique amp, but a very usable FUN 15 watt tube amp with amp modelling and effects built in. If he can get someone to trade him his 555 for a boutique amp, cool, of course they are worth more and are better built certainly than a Fender Super Champ XD, but I hope he really knows what he wants; so many options out there, not necessarily right ones for HIM.

 

 

Well, I was not trying to sell him a amp, and I do understand it is not a choice made overnight, nor was I saying that an XD should not be used by him. What I am doing is answering his questions about boutique amps as best as I can baised on my experience owning a 6V6 powered boutique amp.

[schundog]

Well, I was not trying to sell him a amp, and I do understand it is not a choice made overnight, nor was I saying that an XD should not be used by him. What I am doing is answering his questions about boutique amps as best as I can baised on my experience owning a 6V6 powered boutique amp.

 

I apologize if you were offended by my response; it certainly wasn't my intent.

[zguitar71]

Hey thanks schundog. You are correct about the overwhelming amount of choices out there. I can say I like an amp that can be set to different power levels. I would like to have an option for halfing the power one more step with my amp so I could go to 9 and 11 watts, sometimes 18-22-40 is just too loud for small clubs when I want to crank the amp and get natural overdrive.