Gigged with a Super Champ XD.....Great!

[amstratnut]

Some of you guys may play louder than I do or a more hard style where you need more low end thunk, but I gigged a Super Champ XD last night in a moderately large bar (about 40'x60') without micing it. The clean channel was cranked to 9 or 10 and the #2 tweed channel was on 9 for gain and 7 for volume. That little amp sang like a pack of coyotes in heat last night. I was grinning from ear to ear all night long. I play blues oriented classic rock and was very very happy with my sound last night. I'm convinced that a large part of it was cranking the power tubes to get the amp to sing like it can. It was loud. Loud enough to think I'm still cause ear damage, but not like my Hor Rod Deville where I almost can't stand it.

the thing was as touch sensitive as any amp I've played. I had waaaay more control over my dynamics and the band was listening too.

So I've finally got an amp I can crank for gigs without making my ears bleed, plus its so versatile for recording. I'm more convinced than ever that a small amp is the way to go. I felt like Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton put together last night.

 

[randypttt]

Bravo! Good to hear. I've had mine for about 3 years but never gigged with it. I use it for recording but it's nice to know it will do the job.
I crank the clean channel once in awhile and you're right it screams. Love it.

 

[Rogue Bohemian]

Nice review!!! I'm a firm believer in low watt amps for club gigging.

 

[thaus]

Cool! Good to hear that the little amps can perform.......

 

[Tele like it is]

Excelent! Bonus! Nothing quite so wonderful as a small amp screaming its heart out! Being able to get to full sturation is a wonderful thing!

 

[philzxyz]

Was the sound like a Twin Reverb ? I used to play through a 1970s twin. Damn things were so loud but in a large venue or studio - with everyone evacuated from ground zero - I'd crank it to 10 (wearing ear plugs). The sound was from heaven, a Twin on 10 is a very sweet lead sound.

If the Super Champ sounds like that I might have to get one ....

 

[srvwannab]

Was the sound like a Twin Reverb ? I used to play through a 1970s twin. Damn things were so loud but in a large venue or studio - with everyone evacuated from ground zero - I'd crank it to 10 (wearing ear plugs). The sound was from heaven, a Twin on 10 is a very sweet lead sound.

If the Super Champ sounds like that I might have to get one ....

It's a great little amp, but it ain't no twin.

 

[philzxyz]

Oh. That's a pity. I'd love a lowered power version of the 1970s twins. I suppose I could go the attenuator/ dummy load route.

Another route I've been seriously considering is the Marshall JTM45 re-issue: this might have a very similar circuit to the 70s Twin but is only 30W. The original JTM45 was closely based on the Fender Bassman head which had almost the same circuit as the silverface Twin I think(?) - all the 100W Fender amps then had almost the same circuit as I recall and I think Fender had used the same circuit for many years. I'd need to check that though. Anyway I'm off topic as usual.

EDIT: just been trying to sort out what circuit label is what on wikipedia. Difficult.

 

[TSims1]

Awesome!! I feel sorry for folks who will never know the joy of standing in front of a dimed amplifier and playing your heart out.....nothing else really compares!!!! Congrats on the little SCXD that could!!!

 

[philzxyz]

Yeah congrats! I'd still like to check one of these SCXD out - but I can't buy everything .. or can I ...

EDIT: based on the following it appears the JTM45-era Marshall circuit was based on the tweed-era Bassman which had a quite different preamp to the 1960s+ Bassman:

Theres still the big preamp gain difference, if ever a marshall is comparable to a fender circuitwise, its the late tweed bassmans. 60’s-onward fenders have different preamp gain and topology.

http://ampmaster.vancouver.bc.ca/marshall-amp1/marshall-5881-vs-el34-386070.html

Means the JTM45 is not a close cousin of the Twin.