In this article, we will look at the Fender super champ X2 Guitar AMP review. There are many ways you can improve your guitar tone; from the way you play to the pedals you use. One of the most important aspects of making it sound good is choosing the right amplifier.
If there’s one thing that you should know before going shopping for a new guitar amp, it’s that there are a number of factors to consider. Some people might tell you they only need the amp to be loud enough, while others will have particular tastes in tone and volume – some amps have been said to produce a more “woody” sound.
I’ve always been a fan of Fender amplifiers because they create that classic electric country sound with a hint of twang and distortion. And as a guitarist myself, I have done a lot of research on amps and guitars to find what will work best for me. After much consideration, I opted for the Fender Super Champ X2 Guitar Amp to power my electric guitar.
In this post, we’ll review one of the newest amps on the market-the Fender Super Champ X2. Though it has some features not found in traditional amps (particularly its headphone jack), this is an amp with plenty of versatility and power. You might even find it to be a great purchase for your next gig. So, let’s get deeper into this Fender Super Champ X2 review.
Fender Super Champ X2 Guitar Amp review: Overview
Fender Super Champ X2 is a 2-channel guitar amplifier that features a 12” Special Design speaker and classic Fender styling.
The amp has a ton of room to get your guitar tone just right, with the vintage tremolo control, boost channel, reverb control, and onboard digital effects.
The Super Champ X2 is capable of producing clean sounds as you’d expect from any Fender amp, but the clean sound is enhanced by the amp’s spring reverb.
The controls have their own unique touch to them, as well. There’s a tremolo control for your rhythm playing and control for switching between channels (there are 3 channels: guitar lead, bass, and clean).
The clean channel is especially useful, giving you the option to have some nice effects. The reverb controls are another useful feature, as it allows you to create a natural-sounding reverberation for your sound.
There’s also a guitar/fender switch so you can keep your clean sound or switch over to a guitar amp tone for your lead playing.
This is by far my favorite Fender amp. With the warmth and twang this amp gives off, I would not hesitate to use it during gigs just as well as in my practice room. It’s very versatile and produces tones that are great for almost any sort of music.
Here are some pros and cons of this product:
[i2pc][i2pros]USB connectivity increases its usability greatly
Clipping lights make the power of the amp very obvious
The built-in tuner is a nice feature (this amp does not come with a footswitch, however)
Power tube and preamp tube have individual gain controls
Can run for quite a long time on one set of batteries[/i2pros][i2cons]No effects loop
No footswitch availability (but this is a very minor con)[/i2cons][/i2pc]
Specifications of Fender Super Champ X2 Guitar Amp:
1. 15 watts of direct-to-drive
2. 100 watts of clean sound
3. Spring Reverb Effects: Spring Reverb, Hall, Room
4. 3 channels: clean lead, bass, and guitar lead
5. Headphone jack for private practice
6. 21-inch fender tweed custom cabinet with special grille cloth & 10″ Fender Special Design speaker with a 1″ voice coil and a 2×12″ Eminence Vintage 30 amplifier speaker system.
7. 2 x 6V6 power tubes
8. 1 x 12AX7 preamp tube
9. 1 x JFET effects amplifier
10. 1 piece of Fender branded fender tweed cabinet grille cloth and the front control panel is made of an old school genuine white tweed flame maple grain vinyl laminate carpet finish and on top of each side of the control panel, there’s a Fender Amplification logo on it.
Features of Fender Super Champ X2:
1. Two modes of software:
The software works pretty much the same as the hardware, with two modes. A “stompbox” mode, which is where the Fender amp comes alive with its built-in effects and reverb, and a “rack” mode – where you’re able to route your sound whichever way you like. This makes your tone a lot more flexible when playing live or recording (via USB).
2. Three-channel amp feature:
The amp features three channels: clean, lead and bass. It also has a boost switch (with gain control) on each channel as well as separate on/off switches for reverb, tremolo, boost, and effects.
The various controls have their own unique touch to them which ultimately determines how your tone will end up sounding like. The controls have been designed to give you more control over your tone. There’s also a vintage, top-of-the-line 12” speaker built into the amp.
3. USB capability:
Another cool feature of this amp is its USB capability which allows you to record your tracks using a computer and editing software. It has an exclusive recording package that includes Ableton Live Lite Fender Edition software, which offers unlimited recording time of 24 audio files or up to 4 stereo/8 mono tracks making this amp ideal as a practice tool.
4. Own built-in effects:
One thing that I personally like about this amp is the fact that it comes with its own built-in effects. This amp does not have a digital modeler, which gives you a definitive adaptability and control of your tone.
You’re able to save your settings and return to them at any time. The amp also features onboard Fender effects. This is a very handy feature because you don’t have to lug around your effects pedalboard while on the stage.
5. Built-in reverb and tremolo:
The amp also comes with built-in reverb and tremolo, which are both on the clean channel. These control knobs are great tools for bringing in a little extra flavor to your playing.
6. AUX input and headphone jack:
At the back of the amp is an AUX input jack and a headphone jack, as well as a USB port. The AUX port allows you to plug in an MP3 player or CD player. You can then control the songs being played or select certain tracks to play through your amp.
Overall, this is a great investment for any type of musician. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, this amp is going to allow you to experiment with new sounds and sounds on the fly.
NOTE
This product comes with a USB cable, software CD, and user manual. I would recommend getting an auto-switching PSU like the Fender IE switching power supply in order to provide the best noise performance and keep the battery drain low.
Conclusion: Fender Super Champ X2
If you’re looking for a decent sound despite being on the budget, Fender Super Champ X2 is the amp for you. It has excellent quality and is capable of producing some great tones that live up to its Fender name.
I would recommend this one if you’re still a beginner and just starting out with tone shaping, or if you’re looking to get some cheap tone-shaping tools into your rig.
FAQs
Where to Buy the Fender Super Champ X2?
You can buy it on Amazon as well as it comes with a USB cable, software CD, and user manual.
What is the best power supply to use with this product?
The best power supply to use with it is either a Fender IE Power Supply or the Fender HS-1 Audio Switching Power Supply.
Does It have Amp Gain?
Yes, there’s an 8-position gain knob that allows you to control the amount of gain that your signal will produce. There are also no tone controls, so make sure you set your amp to ‘clean’ or ‘lead’ mode before playing with the gain knob as it can get too loud if not used properly.
How to Do Analog Delay?
The Fender Super Champ X2 comes with its own delay which results in a digital delay effect and I believe it’s even true to analog delay when you set the right pedal on the right amp and play a chord.
Is It Loud Enough?
The Super Champ X2 comes with a 10″ speaker, which is considered to be quite loud. If you’re playing at a small venue where the sound from your amp has to be heard, this is an excellent amp for you.
For large venues like a concert hall or larger outdoor venues, you will have to get a bigger amp for it to produce the 100-watt power that you need as well as having enough headroom as well.
Can I use Effects?
Yes, you can, however, the effects are built-in so they’re not very useful unless you want to use them just as a tonal shaping tool.
What’s the difference between Fender Super Champ X2 and Fender Bullet?
The two amps are very similar except for one difference – the Bullet amp does not come with a guitar/fender switch and does not come built-in with effects.
The Bullet can be used as an effect amp but not as a guitar amp. The Fender Super Champ X2 is also a more versatile amp with more features and effects available.
What is the difference between the Fender Super Champ X2 and the Fender Mini Tonal Energy?
The Mini Tonal Energy is more of an overdrive/distortion amp whereas the Super Champ X2 has more gain options and more built-in effects.
How has the Fender Super Champ X2 changed?
The previous version of the amp that came before the SuperChamp X2 was known by so many musicians as simply, “THE AMP”. This amp has improved a lot. The new features and sound of the SuperChamp X2 are what make this amp so special and unique.
