It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:30 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Fender Frontman 212R
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:18 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:06 am
Posts: 420
Location: Tulsa
Does anybody have one of these amps? How do they sound? Do they sound the same at low volume as they do at a higher volume? Has anybody played one of these with a processor? I don't care what the factory distortion sounds like (if it even has it) because I'll be using my Digitech RP5. The current amp I have (Park by Marshall combo) sounds great at low volumes but when you turn it up, the distortion isn't nearly as nasty.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman 212R
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:53 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:44 am
Posts: 604
Location: Richmond, VA
I don't own the Frontman 212r, but I have the smaller 65r (1x12 combo). The Frontman series amps are pretty good for the money. The sound is perfect on the clean channel, and they have that patented, legendary, shimmering, Fender tone. The drive channel is okay, but some don't care too much for it. You just have to play with the settings and tweak it just right, to make it sound decent, or do what most people do - use a pedal.

The only annoying thing that plagues the Frontman amps is the horrendous volume "spike" between "1" and "2". The main volume knob is so sensitive and so touchy, it can drive you nuts! "1" is whisper quiet, but yet, "2" will almost drive you out of the room!

My 65r is 65 watts and is incredibly loud for a 1x12 combo SS amp. I can't imagine playing through the Frontman 212r, 100 watt, 2x12 combo!!! :shock:

I had an old Digitech RP7 that I tried and tried and tried to make it "play nice" with the Frontman 65r, and gave up... So I sold the RP7 on eBay. :( Individual pedals work wonderful with the Frontman amps. I have a beautiful, home made, BYOC (Build Your Own Clone) Classic Overdrive pedal - the exact clone of the legendary Ibanez Tube Screamer, that I use with the Frontman 65r, and it rocks! I also sometimes use an old Dunlop Cry Baby wah from time to time as well.

In a nutshell: The Frontman amps are really great amps for the money. They sound great, they look great, they are a great value, but that nasty "volume spike" is what makes them not so great. You have to fiddle around with the controls to get them set where you want them.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman 212R
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 6:05 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 5:58 pm
Posts: 385
Location: Montana
I have one as a backup amp and for when I do not want to lug my tube amps around. I put two Texas Heats in it and it does have a tolerable sound but to me it just sounds thin and mechanical. I am just use to tube amps though and find them more organic and thicker in tone. I use a Boss FV-500H volume pedal with it and it takes care of the volume spike really good. If it was all I had, I would probably add an EH Black Finger somewhere in the mix. I had a Zoom G9.2tt and it sounded pretty decent with that amp. That pedal cost as much as the amp though..

_________________
In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman 212R
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:56 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:14 pm
Posts: 305
A buddy of mine had one and I wasn't very impressed with the tone. He ended up replacing it with a Fender Mustang amp which sounded much better at least for his style of music (blues). I think there is an amp in the Mustang series that retails at about the same price and will give you a better tone. As far as reliability goes I haven't really heard many complaints on the Frontman amps. I did see James "Super Chicken" Johnson at a blues festival and he was using a Frontman 212R. He sounded great but I'm not sure what all he was using on his pedal board.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman 212R
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:14 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:12 am
Posts: 28
I had one for a couple months. I thought I could tolerate the solid state tone but I just couldn't.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman 212R
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 8:03 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:46 pm
Posts: 453
I own one and am very happy with it. This is actually my second FM 212R; the first was replaced under warranty after a couple days of playing. No idea what the problem was, but the thing had no volume and sounded progressively awful. Atleast it fell apart quickly. There was no argument when I took back to exchange for another one.

The replacement has been a very enjoyable amp. As is well known, it is a little touchy a low volume, but I have it zeroed in for practicing at home.

It really is a bargain for a loud amp if you play in public or aspire to play in public. Seriously, 100 watts with 2x12 speakers. You will not find anything that competes for such a bargain price.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman 212R
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 1:47 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2012 1:11 pm
Posts: 1
I am looking for a new amp and i want to buy a Mustang III but i am afraid of the FIZZ problem.
And i have played on the frontman before and i think it sounds okey.
But i was wondering if i buy the Mustang floor and combine the two. would this work?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman 212R
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 1:55 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 5:58 pm
Posts: 385
Location: Montana
I have used the Mustang Floor with my 212r and it was OK through the effects loop. I think powered speakers sound a lot better though and they are in stereo.

_________________
In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman 212R
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:50 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:13 pm
Posts: 108
The FM212 doesn't sound good at low volume on its own. It is a loud amp, meant to be played loud and sounds good loud. Use an EQ to bring the bass up at lower volumes. But, not a real practical low volume amp.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman 212R
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 11:35 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2010 8:32 pm
Posts: 259
Location: Cleveland, OH
Great amp for the price. Great looks. Volume control is tricky. Reverb is fair at best. I don't use distortion much, so it sounds ok to me. I bought the amp to lug around instead of transporting mytube amps. You really can't compare this to a DRRI or a Twin for sound. I added a reverb pedal so the amp sound is now acceptable to me. If it's in your price range buy one. You won't be dissapointed.
Kenny V


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: