super champ xd with weber cali ceramic

[John Richards]

I just installed a Weber ceramic Cali 10 in my Super Champ XD. It sounds amazing, but very different than the stock speaker. Very rich, gutsy and mean. The stock speaker is very well matched to the SCXD and installing the Weber Cali takes away some of the tonal variations. For example, the bass and treble controls have only a small effect on the Cali sound. But the richness of the clean tones and the power of the distorted tones are both exceptional. It looks great with the 4" aluminum dome behind the grill. I added 14" tilt-back legs, so now I consider it to be my mini Twin. I'll work on a youtube video this week.

I had to remove the tube protector cage for the Weber to fit, but it was really easy to install. Nice strong bolts and bolt fittings.

I wanted to install a purple jewel for the on light, but the SCXD does not have a screw-type cover, it's a one-piece.

John
San Francisco

[NTBluesGuitar]

Weber's speakers take a lot longer to break in than other speakers. Give it some time.

[Cygnus X1]

+1,000.

NT is right.
You wouldn't believe the difference.
There is the variac method, but I just use a line out from a stereo and play music through my amp for a while (days...weeks) to break them in.

[John Richards]

[phantomman]

If'n you sprinkle Miracle-Gro in the back of the cabinet it'll grow up to be one of these......





Seriously though, John -- tha's a kewl lookin' leetle amp you got there. I've played stock SCXDs in stores many times an' they really kicked some a$$. I'm bettin' the Weber really makes that thang shine! I like the tilt-backs too......super classy!



(great pic too BTW -- good composition, lighting, an' depth-of-field)

[bluestrat]

I added 14" tilt-back legs, so now I consider it to be my mini Twin. I'll work on a youtube video this week.

i was also thinking of adding the tilt-back legs to my scxd.
did you run into any difficulties ?

[John Richards]

No problem at all. I worked out the positions for the leg bolt (I think it was 3 1/4" from the top, but check that), checked it resting and tilted, marked the hole for the bolt, made sure there was clearance on the inside for the nut (I think 1 1/2" from the back was good), removed the top rear baffle, covered the tubes with paper towels, drilled the hole, put one washer between the leg and the cabinet, and put the washer, lock washer, washer and nut on the inside. Positioned the stop, drilled a guide hole, screwed in the stop, and voila, factory quality tilt-back leg. Then the same for the other side, putting the holes in the exact same position. Very cool looking and works perfectly.

John

[NTBluesGuitar]

Glad you posted that description, John. I've got a Vibroverb cab that I'm doing this to soon.

[bluestrat]

thanks for the info !
i'll be getting my little guy some nice shiny legs.

[juniorspecial]

What size legs?

[John Richards]

Thanks for the gardening tip Phantomman.

I can see from your photo that the two amps are way too much for that room, blocking both the window and that really nice painting. I would be more than happy to stop by and remove one of your setups for you, free of course.

Maybe my wife won't notice the difference...

[John Richards]

Anyone have any opinions on which power tubes would be best suited for a SCXD with a Weber cali? The JJ and the Groove Tube high power sound like good candidates to make it even more like a Twin. Any opinions on the best biasing for these two options? I'm looking for clean because the SCXD has lots of distortion voicing.

John

[phantomman]

Thanks for the gardening tip Phantomman.

I can see from your photo that the two amps are way too much for that room, blocking both the window and that really nice painting. I would be more than happy to stop by and remove one of your setups for you, free of course.

Maybe my wife won't notice the difference...

LOLOL!

Jus' watch out for my trained killer-attack cats......

[John Richards]

[phantomman]

ROTFFLMFAOPIMFP!!!!

Tha's about the size of it.

If'n purring could kill, the burglar'd be a daid man!

[Stonefreefuzz1]

LOLOL!

Jus' watch out for my trained killer-attack cats......

Attack Cats Rock

[NTBluesGuitar]

Oh yeah...they look really...menacing there.

I'm more afraid of that wall o' twins turned up past 3.



Anyway, the SCXD has 2 6V6 and one 12AX7, right? JJs are probably the best built new production 6V6. The 12AX7, I think, is there as a phase inverter and not a preamp tube, so you're not really going to do much with the sound improvement as you would if it were the input stage of an amp.

I could be wrong about that 12AX7. I couldn't find a schematic.

Anyway, there are a lot of good new manufacture 12AX7s. JJ, Tung-Sol RI, Mullard RI, et. al. I'd start with a JJ, personally, and see what that gets you as far as sonic change. If it doesn't do much, then at least you have a spare.

[ziess]

Roger, why is it that since I got that blonde Twin I've started to appreciate the beauty of Twins more and more? I sure love that photo. This surely can't be healthy.

Tommy.

[phantomman]

It's 'cause Twins are like a good single-malt scotch, Zeiss......your appreciation of them improves with age!

[Cygnus X1]

It's 'cause Twins are like a good single-malt scotch, Zeiss......your appreciation of them improves with age!

I keep saying the same about the Deluxe Reverb!

Seems the DRRI's have stirred some interest in these little monsters.
I do cheat...I like it best through the same vintage 2x12 Bassman cab.
('67).

[phantomman]

You betcha, Kevin. It's a testament to the man who invented it an' a validation of his concept(s).

I rate Leo Fender right up there with Orville & Wilbur Wright, Tom Edison, Jonas Salk, John Moses Browning, an' all the other great inventors whose ideas have withstood the test of time.

By God, St. Leo oughta be on a postage stamp at the very least!!!

[ziess]

Roger, I'm 22 and I love whisky! God knows what I'll be like when I'm older. An alcoholic with five Twins!

Tommy.

[Cygnus X1]

Roger, I'm 22 and I love whisky! God knows what I'll be like when I'm older. An alcoholic with five Twins!

Tommy.

Wait until you start using those old 5881 bottles as shot glasses!

[NTBluesGuitar]

Roger, I'm 22 and I love whisky! God knows what I'll be like when I'm older. An alcoholic with five Twins!

Five twins! That's 10 kids! Sheesh...you better get started! Well, whisky is different than whiskey, but with 10 kids you'll need either...or both.

[cwilliamrose]

Glad you posted that description, John. I've got a Vibroverb cab that I'm doing this to soon.

Mine measures as follows (16" legs);

Pivot -- 4 7/16" from the top and 2 1/4" from the back.

Stop -- 3" from the top and 4 11/16" from the back.

Also, no washer between the cab and the leg on mine. It doesn't seem to rub the tolex except local to the screw (under the leg). And an all metal stop nut and flat washer inside. The stop uses a wood screw........Bill

[ziess]

Five twins! That's 10 kids! Sheesh...you better get started! Well, whisky is different than whiskey, but with 10 kids you'll need either...or both.

One down, four to go!