Fender Champion Series?

[Jermo3178]

I'm looking to get my son.. and me ofcourse.. a descent SS amp. Not sure if I want to get him a small one, like 20 or so watts.. or bigger, so if he doesn't end up using it much, I can get my money's worth gigging it from time to time. Was wondering if anyone has had any experience with these? and if so, are they any good or should I look elsewhere?

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Fender Champion Series?

These are derived from the Super Champ XD and X2 setups. Personally, I'm a HUGE fan of the Super Champs and was pretty stoked to see that all the voicings and effects that you can access from the front of the Champ amps are on the Champions. You can get the Champions in everhwere from like 20 watts to 120, right? I think they have a big 2x12. The Super Champ only comes in that 20 watt-ish size. Thar be tubes in the Super Champs, and they're very adjustable via the USB connection and Fuse software which I think the Champions do not have.

Having said that, I can't see how it wouldn't be a good amp for starting out. I'd like to see the Super Champ design expressed in larger wattage with bigger tubes like the Champions are.

So yea, I think it's a good buy.

 

[Jermo3178]

Re: Fender Champion Series?

Thanks for the reply.. Yeah, i think its like 20, 40, & 100 or something like that.. in your opinion, better or worse than the frontman series?

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Fender Champion Series?

The Frontman is a pretty straight-up solid state 2 channel amp. I have a 25r somewhere and it's honestly great sounding for what it is. It's a good enough amp where alot of guys do a speaker change and gig small gigs with them.

I would suggest trying them both. I don't think there's enough of a price difference to warrant getting the Frontman over the Champion, but the Frontman may actually sound better. I dunno. I'm assuming the Champion's channel 1 sounds like the Frontman.

I'd sit down with your kid and try out the Frontman 25r (no less, it's not really worth it), the Champion 20 and the Mustang 1 or 2. You have pretty much the entire spectrum from stripped-down amp to full-tilt modeler with computer recording function, and the Champion lies right in between.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Fender Champion Series?

I was told frontmans were discontinued, I guess the champions took over.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Fender Champion Series?

I was told frontmans were discontinued, I guess the champions took over.

Frontmans are still on the Fender site and are listed at the big online retailers. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that happens very, very soon however. I'm assuming this years sales will be the Frontman series' life or death.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Fender Champion Series?

I prefer the Mustang on a functionality per dollar basis... I like the Frontman because its the first amp I ever had and that bumblebee chainsaw sound is like "home" to me... Champions look good on paper but I'd still rather have a Mustang.

 

[Jermo3178]

Re: Fender Champion Series?

I have a Line6 Spider 4 - 75w... I'm burnt out on all the crazy unneeded "modeling" that amps like the mustang, spider, vyper and the like offer... 20,000 different things and you only end up using 3.

 

[Jermo3178]

Re: Fender Champion Series?

The Frontman is a pretty straight-up solid state 2 channel amp.

Do you know if either take pedals well?

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Fender Champion Series?

oh yea, they're pretty good at it. They've got a decent clean sound to themselves with a little bit of warm coloring to it. That usually makes for some good pedal fodder. The FM212, which is the big Frontman, may have an effects loop.

 

[Jermo3178]

Re: Fender Champion Series?

Jon, thanks bro.. you rock

 

[coachc55]

Re: Fender Champion Series?

I've played the 20, which isn't bad for a practice amp. The 40 is a two channel with a 12 inch speaker. The demos I've seen of them look pretty good. Looking at the price I'm thinking about switching out my Frontman 25 for a 40. If you don't want to go the computer route like the Mustang and now somewhat with the Roland Cubes it may not be a bad choice, also considering the price.