Fender Super Champ X2 Head Unboxing and Demo

[@9277707]

Bought my Super Champ X2 head from a friend, under $200., didn't expect a whole lot, as I play thru 1987 Mesa Boogie Mark 3 combo, I paired the head w/ a Raven 1x12 loaded with the Boogie's former Celestion C90 12" speaker. I use the Normal channel, with pedals for Overdrive. I am More than happy. I am seriously Clean boosting my signal w/ MXR Mini Boost + SP compressor, always on, this amp does NOT crap out. I could go on, but will end with this : Sleeper amp, IMO, and priced super affordable, with a good 12" speaker, it really surprises me, and I'm spoiled w/ my Boogie. Nice Reverb on-board too!

[@jefflevesque5316]

After watching this and a few others...I went and picked up one too. running through a 1x12 w/ Cannibis Rex.

[@AkechiWorld]

I tried this one today. the best clean i ever heard, not the best drive for sure.

[@dbvetter7485]

I love this amp, just bought it and sounds great with my 1977 Stratocaster. I even play my Rickenbacker 4003 Bass thru it. Great for $300.

[@vicentepiconguitarcovers4748]

Hey man, nice demo, just a quick question. How is it comparing with the Vox that is right next the Super Champ?, I suposse is an Ac15? Thank you !

[@SirBelvedere333]

I love mine. Small, lightweight and sound amazing. Fender did a great job on this one. Enjoyed you review.

[@GuitarLava]

I'm still loving it! Thanks Sir Belvedere

[@kj6qvb]

LOVE hearing "Freeway Jam" playing in the background!

[@cesarchinex]

Hello, I can turn it on without connecting anything to the 8 ohm output and make it sound only by line out or USB.

[@ertreri]

i believe a lot of people go for these amps because the clean channel is as good as you can get feom fender and then it is a perfect pedal platform. although the voicings are definitely very good. the channel 1 is the deal.

[@coppulor6500]

first of all, another very enjoyable video. subscribed within the last few days. I really dig your chill vibe coupled with the great playing. here's my take on the amp. I've had the combo for about a year now. This is the most amazing amp I've owned. Been playing for 30 years (yeesh, that sounds like a big number! lol) - five years of that time, professionally. That doesnt make me a tone/amp expert but I did cycle through several amps. Including rackmounted fender amp, a little 1x12 musicman (wish I still had that, pretty sweet little amp), a 69 super reverb (sold it like an idiot), new fender pro reverb reissue, blah blah blah at least 15 amps over the years. This thing is absolutely incredible. The tones you can get out of this thing amaze me. However, its also a very depressing amp because there is no way to switch models with a footswitch beyond just switching between the two channels. Sooooo disappointing : ( I would pay a LOT of dough if Fender released a super champ that had a foot controller. even if I could get between just 5 presets and I'd be psyched. sigh........they might kill the sales for everything else if they did that? anyway, shows you would a great digital preamp can sound like when mixed with power tubes. I had the fender Floor unit prior to this. - its actually kinda interesting - went to try the "new" modeling amps when they came out. I was so pumped to try the mustang amps. Started with the small and kept working my way up to the largest combo thinking that maybe more power and a larger speaker would give it the meat it was lacking. I was so freaking bummed after trying the last one. started walking toward the exit of GC while talking to the sales dude. saying "if you could just take the processing part and mix it with a tube amp!" and he says "do you know about the fender floor?" - so inexpensive too! took it home to test drive and ran it through my reverend hellhound head and OMG....came alive! sounds infinitely better than the mustang combos that sound like absolute crap. So, in the end, you will still love the amp be bummed that you cannot use it to its full potential or even anything close to it. sigh....c'mon Fender - so close to perfection!!

[@GuitarLava]

Totally agree with what you said. I've been an idiot and sold some good amps too, mostly so that I could afford to buy something different.. in search of the ultimate tone. The complaint about the Super Champ X2 is mine as well. If they would have worked in not only a channel switch but also to change the voice it would make for an incredible amp. You still can't beat it for the price.

[@nebojsamladenovic2483]

Does the reverb work on the Fender super champ x2 when the effects are turned off, that is, it turns off only when it is muted? That's how it works for me, maybe it's a malfunction?!

[@samiam9059]

One of the all time great sweet spot small tube amps. Humbuckers are a lot different on the amp. Great demo

[@TySummerss]

Best review I've seen so far for this amp. Thank you.

[@kokagelenidze]

Can I connect a 15" 8ohm speaker to this head?

[@MatrixRZ5]

First time subscribing to your channel, great review and demo of this amplifier. I love this amps sounds great, and can't beat the price.

[@GuitarLava]

Can't agree more!

[@stevehogan8829]

So I guess Google has shot this to me because I just bought a used Fender SuperChamp X2 Combo... But Glad to get this. Already subscribed to you and enjoy your channel. In fact love the Guitar Lava Shirt and wear it all the time. Thanks man. Sweet clean with some vreb... Beautiful Cleans.. Thanks for the preview of things to come.

[@GuitarLava]

Thank you!

[@blastofo]

This was a while back. Do you still have it? If so, how do you feel about it?

[@dbvetter7485]

If I may ask, Did you buy this at Sweetwater? That’s the only place I can get it. No music stores left around here.

[@1969Donovan]

That's threw the orange cabinet?

[@johntoland3520]

Why is it buzzing?

[@GuitarLava]

My room sucks sometimes for noise... plus I use WAY too much gain.. most of the time.

[@victorgervacioguerrero3718]

is it possible to connect a cab orange ppc 212, my question is, does it give the same power? Could the super champion be damaged? Regards

[@chicken_cutlass]

Traffic Jam ? Noyce !!

[@mediocreguitarist8276]

Do you still have this amp? I would like to buy it,

[@vandpool]

Sorry to say the 5 year warranty is no longer just like the head!!! I just got mine and it is now a 2 year warranty and the head is no longer listed on the Fender website!!! SC112 cabinet is listed but no Super Champ X2 head. I went looking for it to see if I got the wrong warranty papers no SCX2 head. I registered my cabinet and head, when I look up my gear in my account on the Fender website it shows I can download the warranty for the cabinet but there is nothing for the head warranty. Also as of March 2020 Fender Fuse is gone you can find from 3rd parties I found a link on one of the Fender forums.

[@jonathon1334]

Ordered the head yesterday and really looking forward to playing through it.. Gonna run it through a supro cab. I've got a good feeling about it. Its funny how once you have a couple of guitars and amps people get all " you dont need that" everytime you grab something new. Well when those people start paying for my gear then they can have a say on what I need or don't need...until then shut the f#×k up people...I've just stopped letting people know when I add a new piece of gear. They just dont get it. Great demo Man.

[@callmedeno]

How did you get on with it?

[@elihue_redneckreview]

MORE gear is always the proper answer to the question "how much gear does a guitarist need?" My X2 head just arrived, it's a very welcome addition to the ever growing Collection. Cheers!

[@BARKINGattheMOON100]

Which Speaker Cab are you using.🙂🙂🙂

[@GuitarLava]

That's an orange with a celestion in it. Not cheap for a 1x12 but well worth it.

[@BARKINGattheMOON100]

@@GuitarLava 👍👍👍

[@PeterDad60]

Have you learned the actual names of the pre-sets? Or, are you still going by the numbers only? If you want to learn the names just write them out on a sheet of paper and keep that on top of the head. Just a thought.

[@GuitarLava]

I have never used channel 2 live so it's not an issue. You can plug this into USB and program each number to anything you want. So...the names don't mean anything unless you're using the presets out of the box.

[@musiclover.489]

Download the Fender users manual and it's all in there. Better yet, download the Fender Fuse software which allows you to turn it into a little tone monster.

[@jaredholton3145]

How was the amp during the demo, and how loud does it get? Looking for something to record/practice with at my home studio.

[@GuitarLava]

+Jared Holton it really sounds great. I love it. I'm actually pleasantly surprised. It gets plenty loud too. I played a 700 seat theater and it was plenty loud for stage volume. The speaker cabinet was mic'd for the house obviously.

[@megatrends]

Nice job on this video, I've owned this for a couple of months now. This is the best amp I have ever owned with regard to sound quality. I can't say enough great things about this amp. Just perfection ... I use it sometimes with a 4x12 Marshall cab as well as the Fender cabinet that is made for this with 1x12 Celestion speaker. I like how you can choose the cabinet type as well as fully modify all presets. Amazingly authentic sound is how I would describe it.

[@GuitarLava]

I agree. If you're looking for the authentic Fender/Strat sound you can't go wrong with this amp. Very versatile too!

[@luciferhades9805]

Is that a Mexican strat?

[@GuitarLava]

No, it's American... play both and buy the one you like best. My Mexican Strats were all fantastic.

[@TheMisterbg21]

Hello, just a question, Can I use this amp in a 112 in an appartement at low volume ? Thanks for the answer

[@GuitarLava]

Victor Maurice oh yeah. It will still sound great.

[@TheMisterbg21]

@@GuitarLava thx for your answer 👌

[@tommyandersson7702]

great video. does it work good at low volume to?Im thinking of bedroom volume

[@GuitarLava]

Tommy Andersson yeah I think so

[@BARKINGattheMOON100]

Seeing as how'n all you live in a padded cell you should be just fine.😂🤣😂

[@michaelevans512]

I think I would buy it at that price just for the channel 1 fender clean tone, with the ability to plug it into my own 8ohm cab like you are doing.. Great demo!!!

[@GuitarLava]

Thanks. Definitely worth it if you ask me! I have a Fender Deluxe Reverb combo on my wish list at the moment too.

[@dominikj.6963]

+Guitar Lava, is this really an 8 Ohm cab you're plugged into? It looks like it might be an Orange PPC 112, which I thought was 16 Ohm. I am really curious if this amp might work without any trouble with a 16 Ohm cab, so if that's what you're using, please let me know.

[@evanposteraro5094]

What’s the name of the song you had playing in the background at 2:05?

[@GuitarLava]

Freeway Jam by Jeff Beck... on one of the greatest albums of all time. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWikfYOwnqqCr8Um12s

[@Cam_B]

loud enough with heavy hitting drummer while using with a 1x12 cab or would I HAVE to use a 4x12?

[@kj6qvb]

More speakers won't make it louder. In fact, the 4x12 cabinet would probably not be as loud. Do some homework.

[@guitaräxl]

great sound, great player

[@joeabrenica4467]

very nice I got the head too love it!

[@GuitarLava]

+Richie Sam nice!

[@markanthony653]

Oh yeah , great demo dude.

[@miorafeuni]

Ciao, first of all thanks for the post. helpful for sure. I am also on the market for the super champ X2 but not sure about 2 things.: 1) head plus separate box or combo? 2)heard about the campion 40 that seams sounds great even though is a solid state amp any hint or suggestion? Thanks for the attention and I'll keep on following your posts Mauro

[@GuitarLava]

It's really personal preference. I got the head because I have a few different speaker cabinets. The combo would sound great as well. I personally would prefer this tube amp over a solid state.

[@miorafeuni]

Thanks for taking the time - keep on great job

[@brunojacq5473]

the only advantage of the Champion is the headphone output !

[@zanderdaniels1848]

How loud is this head? Thinking about getting this for my church. Seats about 265...

[@GuitarLava]

Oh it will be plenty loud for that. I rarely turn this up past 3.

[@zanderdaniels1848]

Guitar Lava thank you! Also, how well does it handle pedals?

[@GuitarLava]

Zander Daniels it's perfect for pedals. I put all of my pedals in front of the amp and just use the clean channel.

[@zanderdaniels1848]

Guitar Lava does it have an FX loop?

[@escapethechains]

it does not come with it but you can purchase it separately for about 19-20 bucks on guitar center or samash. here is the part number: (P/N 007-1359-000)

[@dan86ism]

Just to clarify... you're using an orange ppc 112? I have one and was thinking about getting the fender super champ x2. Are they really compatible with each other?

[@GuitarLava]

Yes. A perfect combo in my opinion.

[@dan86ism]

Can you use it as a practice amp on its own?

[@dominikj.6963]

I asked Fender Support about this, and they advise against it. It would probably void your warranty. I specifically asked them if the amp could safely be used with a 16 Ohm cab, since it says "8 OHM MIN / 15 W" on the back, and they said no. Strangely, they said it could be used only with cabs "with 8 ohm or lower load", which is logically incompatible with what is printed on the amp itself unless the "MIN" part refers to the next line and it is just poorly formatted, i.e. they probably meant to write "8 OHM" and "MIN 15 W".

[@dominikj.6963]

F'up: This amp's poor support for cabinets is the only thing preventing me from buying it... I have not seen any proper tube amp that does not explicitly support different speaker impedance values through multiple outputs. Even using a 4 Ohm cab, though perhaps not harmful, will probably lead to suboptimal sound. I am hoping that Fender (or some other manufacturer) will soon put out a similar amp with better speaker support. Until then, I am sticking to my excellent software simulations for practice.

[@jeffhebert9643]

@@dominikj.6963 watch " a guitar players fast guide to ohms " on Phillip McKnight s channel . ..he explains this very simply .

[@EFRANEED]

Does the head sound by itself? Or do you have to plug in a cabinet?

[@BARKINGattheMOON100]

No, you plug into your Asshole idiot.😂🤣😂

[@kokagelenidze]

its working for my fender hot rod deluxe 80w cab?

[@GuitarLava]

Would need to be 8ohm minimum

[@adammetys1828]

Nice review

[@TwistedIdentity]

Damn. Very good demo. You've just earned yourself a sub.

[@GuitarLava]

Thanks Wrath!

[@1thess523]

do you know the difference between this and the Super Champ XD? also can you run this through a 4x12 cab?

[@GuitarLava]

I haven't checked out the XD so I couldn't tell you personally the differences. I run my SuperChamp X2 through my Marshall 4x12 (amzn.to/2nYHmJL) and it sounds fantastic.

[@1thess523]

Cool, i have 4x12 and we are probably going to make a 2x12. I saw one of these heads on Craigslist for $200

[@jonathanclarke1785]

Is that photo you with big hair?

[@GuitarLava]

I had some hair like that but that is George Lynch in that pic.

[@vinceanthony7046]

Is that your american special sweet sound.

[@GuitarLava]

Yes, that's the American Special. Thanks!

[@chrismosquad1056]

Great video! Earned yourself a sub for 14:13. 😎✌🏻

[@NACHOOFF]

Nice demo!!

[@GuitarLava]

Thank you!

[@Jeepjones85]

So is this actually a real tube amp with power tubes or is it a hybrid with 12ax7 ?

[@emmakun]

Power section is all tube with 2 6V6... The preamp is modeling (digital) but it has a 12AX7 acting as a phase inverter on it... So yeah, it's a hybrid, but not in the usual way...

[@Megzamani]

I got the blonde combo

[@strongpeer]

Jeff Beck in the background...nice!

[@markanthony653]

Boy when he says he likes gain he's not kidding!! yeah you can't be the X2 or an XD I love mine had it for years. Although I wish I would have just got the head, I got head combination, you can do a little better than those Fender speakers they put in them I think, they're not bad , but you could do better better sounds.

[@spada60]

Your better off with the combo. Just unplug the speaker cable plugged into the combo speaker and run a speaker cable from the combo to a cab that accepts 8 ohms of course. Don't know why people buy the head. This way you have a combo for quick practicing and use a cab for gigging. Doesn't make sense buying a head

[@AutisticMan78]

Nice demo buddy

[@FretFriendGWaL]

7:32 Just Yeahhhh...

[@hiccup4520]

Yeah. If I lived with you, I wouldn't want you to have any guitar gear either. LOL!

[@GuitarLava]

GuitaLava

[@samin2012]

hey man you kinda look bit like Jim Carey!

[@Spittin_Bars]

ROll TIDE mmkay

[@papawx3]

too bad i didn't buy one when you did. Instead of 5 years on the warranty, you only get two years now. Typical.

[@bigkingbud]

IMO, you can't beat it for the price - the truth is, you can't even come close! Sure, the reverb/effects are digital, and the amp voices are also, but Jesus! this thing is literally 16 Fender tube amps in one.

[@will0wisp258]

Great demo!