Super Champ XD vs Mustang III

[Figaro]

I got a SCXD for a pratice amp last week when the price was lowered to $199 and it's ok, but I would like to have a "fuller" sound like you get with a little larger cabinet and 12" speaker, and I don't want to have to use a 12" extension cabinet. Is the Mustang III well worth the extra $100?

[Milo]

Yes,300 $ is a steal - you can do so much with the Mustang. If you like Fender sound,you cant go wrong. I do however really like the SCXD a lot.

[guitarman3001]

Just curious, why don't you want to use an extension cab? I have a SCXD and am running it through two mesa 1x12 cabs and it sounds amazing.

The Mustang III held absolutely no appeal for me.

[mentoneman]

Originally Posted by guitarman3001

Just curious, why don't you want to use an extension cab? I have a SCXD and am running it through two mesa 1x12 cabs and it sounds amazing.

The Mustang III held absolutely no appeal for me.

+1 cept i use a tone tubbies 2x12 for twice the goodness
mustang flopped to my ears ala cybertwin whereas xd help up ala princeton

[guitarman3001]

Originally Posted by mentoneman

+1 cept i use a tone tubbies 2x12 for twice the goodness
mustang flopped to my ears ala cybertwin whereas xd help up ala princeton

And btw, there's a device called a Weber Z-Matcher that lets you run multiple extension cabs and will adjust the load the amp sees.

I'm currently running the built in speaker plus the two mesa cabs. It's a cool little 3 cabinet stack.

Not to mention, carrying an SCXD and one 1x12 extension cab is easier than carrying a 1x12 combo. Both the scxd and the cab are lighter than any of my 1x12 combos.

[champster]

These are two amps that I do own. The Mustang III isn't a bad amp but it's still an SS amp. to me the SCXD sounds much sweeter than the MIII. I have a Reverend 1030 speaker in my SCXD which really opened up the amp. Another great speaker is the Eminence legend 1058.

It still comes down to which amp works best for you and gives you the sound you're after. Heck, my little Laney Cub 10 sounds better than my MIII.

[guitarman3001]

Originally Posted by champster

These are two amps that I do own. The Mustang III isn't a bad amp but it's still an SS amp. to me the SCXD sounds much sweeter than the MIII. I have a Reverend 1030 speaker in my SCXD which really opened up the amp. Another great speaker is the Eminence legend 1058.

It still comes down to which amp works best for you and gives you the sound you're after. Heck, my little Laney Cub 10 sounds better than my MIII.

I have a Legend 1058 on the way for mine. Should be here Wednesday!!

[vmeyer]

Played both last week and purchased the XD. No comparison as far as tone. I am absolutely floored BY what you can do with the XD as far as tonal variation and quality. At $199 it is an unbelievable deal! It is absolutely the best bang for the buck...maybe one of the best deals under $1000. To boot...it is as light as a feather!

[bradinnm]

Originally Posted by champster

These are two amps that I do own. The Mustang III isn't a bad amp but it's still an SS amp. to me the SCXD sounds much sweeter than the MIII. I have a Reverend 1030 speaker in my SCXD which really opened up the amp. Another great speaker is the Eminence legend 1058.

It still comes down to which amp works best for you and gives you the sound you're after. Heck, my little Laney Cub 10 sounds better than my MIII.

I actually have a little Laney Cub 10 (that I put a 1058 in) just curious how would you compare the Cub 10 vs the SCXD? I was thinking that using these two amps together would make a cool little stereo rig!

[champster]

Originally Posted by bradinnm

I actually have a little Laney Cub 10 (that I put a 1058 in) just curious how would you compare the Cub 10 vs the SCXD? I was thinking that using these two amps together would make a cool little stereo rig!

The Cub 10 is a little tone monster but the tone is on the dark side. I do have a Jensen C10R installed which for me helped quite a bit. Actually the stock speaker is junk. I play in a praise band and for practice I'll usually take either the SCXD or the Cub 10. I do like that the SCXD has reverb but the cub 10 has such a killer sound that I don't really miss reverb. I have tried running them both in stereo and it sounded great. My main amp is a PRRI with an Eminence 1058 installed.

[modernp]

At least you can play out with the xd. I saw a mustang a while ago literally explode. Guy was reaching behind the amp and kneeling on the mustang and the whole cab just broke into pieces.

[bradinnm]

Originally Posted by champster

The Cub 10 is a little tone monster but the tone is on the dark side. I do have a Jensen C10R installed which for me helped quite a bit. Actually the stock speaker is junk. I play in a praise band and for practice I'll usually take either the SCXD or the Cub 10. I do like that the SCXD has reverb but the cub 10 has such a killer sound that I don't really miss reverb. I have tried running them both in stereo and it sounded great. My main amp is a PRRI with an Eminence 1058 installed.

I agree, I picked up the cub 10 for next to nothing and I think it sounds pretty dang good with the 1058 and the tone cranked up to the high side.

I do think that it would make an interesting tiny stereo rig w/ a SCXD.

[Figaro]

So from the responses, if I have a SCXD I guess I don't need to try a Mustang III?

[JStotes]

I don't get he SCXD thing. I had one and upgraded the tubes, speaker and had it biased correctly. Ran it through an extension cab and was never able to see what all the hype is about.

I do have a Mustang III. I changed the speaker to an Eminence Texas Heat and it sounds great. The original speaker sounded thin a fizzy to me. I've even played a couple gigs with it and had guys come and say they didn't know that amp could sound like that.

With all that said, my main amps are all Fender (style) Tweed and Blackface and I've been playing those types for 40 years. I would say try the Mustang and see what you think, it might work for you.

[whiteop]

The SCXD for me because it's a hybrid tube amp. If they come out with a tube version of the Mustang or GDEC I'll definitely pick one up.