Help! Which Do I Choose: Fender Pro Junior or Fender Super Champ XD?

[FenderGuy53]

Guys:

I've narrowed down my search for a tube practice amp to two (2) Fenders. One has been a Fender mainstay for many years and one is new to the Fender stable. My choice must either be the Pro Junior or Super Champ XD. I've played both. Both have very nice tone, both are 15 watts, both have 10-inch speakers and both are about the same price.

The problem is that I don't know enough about the guts of either machine to know which is a better buy!

Please give me a hand with this and help me to justify my decision.

Thanks.

 

[SeeMoore]

The main difference is going to be versatility, the XD would get several very good tones to work with while the Jr. would need some pedals.

 

[FenderGuy53]

The main difference is going to be versatility, the XD would get several very good tones to work with while the Jr. would need some pedals.

I had already purchased a delay and an OD pedal in anticipation of a tube amp; however, the Super Champ wasn't on the radar screen at the time. I'd probably have no use for those pedals if I went with the Super Champ XD, right?

I know that the Pro Junior's tone will be lacking fullness without a timed effect in front of the amp, but will I be able to get good overdriven tones at a reasonable sound level with the Fender Pro Junior, without a pedal?

 

[Joe M]

I've mentioned this thread here to others with the same questions as your's....all you need to know....


http://fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&topic_number=648268&lastpost=2008-01-0612:57:54

 

[Telecaster62]

A Pro Junior with a delay and an OD is really all you'll ever need. That being said, you may want more variety of tones and for that, the Champ may be better. It really comes down to what kind of player you are. I tend to like to get a good clean, slight breakup and overdrive tones and leave it at that. For those purposes the Pro Junior is great. If I wanted one tune to have a blackface tone and the next to have a marshally tone etc. then the Champ would be the better choice.

 

[FenderGuy53]

A Pro Junior with a delay and an OD is really all you'll ever need. That being said, you may want more variety of tones and for that, the Champ may be better. It really comes down to what kind of player you are. I tend to like to get a good clean, slight breakup and overdrive tones and leave it at that. For those purposes the Pro Junior is great. If I wanted one tune to have a blackface tone and the next to have a marshally tone etc. then the Champ would be the better choice.

You answered my question perfectly. I am the type player that you describe as "like to get a good clean, slight breakup and overdrive tones and leave it at that". My philosophy is to keep it simple. Plus, with the Pro Junior, I'll be getting true tube tone being pushed through the preamp and power amp stages. I think that the Super Champ's DSP section actually creates the tone, then sends it on to the preamp to "warm it up" prior t osending it to the power amp stage.

Thanks so much.

 

[Unburst]

will I be able to get good overdriven tones at a reasonable sound level with the Fender Pro Junior, without a pedal?

No.

The Pro Jnr is a great amp but by the time it's overdriving it's loud enough to shake the ornaments of the shelf.

 

[The Pup]

Super Champ XD

I bought one for my daughter and it was cool. It didn't like being hit too hard with a hot OD pedal though.

 

[FenderGuy53]

No.

The Pro Jnr is a great amp but by the time it's overdriving it's loud enough to shake the ornaments of the shelf.

Can't you just put an OD pedal in front of the amp to cure that issue?

 

[Griz]

I have both. I'd say if you need footswitchable flexibility, get the Super Champ XD. If you'd prefer a more old-school approach with a fully tube signal path, get the PJ. They're both great amps.

Better clean headroom on the Super Champ XD. Richer grind on the PJ.

Enjoy choosing.

 

[FenderGuy53]

I have both. I'd say if you need footswitchable flexibility, get the Super Champ XD. If you'd prefer a more old-school approach with a fully tube signal path, get the PJ. They're both great amps.

Better clean headroom on the Super Champ XD. Richer grind on the PJ.

Enjoy choosing.

As a rhythm player, I'm not playing clean very often, if at all. I like the concept of a fully tube signal path and richer grind! ;-)

I played both of these amps at Sam Ash this afternoon and enjoyed both; although the PJ sounded more "real tube" to me.

I have not enjoyed the "choosing" part. I'd make a great politician because I've flip-flopped on my decision about 12 times in the last 8 hours!

Right now, the PJ is in.

Thanks.