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Post subject: Why does my Frontman 25R kick so much a**?
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 1:21 pm
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I bought the Frontman 25R as a compact practice amp mostly for the headphone function for bedroom practice. I then found that the clean sound on this thing is awesome! (would be even better if the amp was a bit quieter but still, great tone).

Now I did a comparison with my other amps (Vox Night Train head and cab, Marshall Class 5, Vox AC4TV combo) and damned if the Frontman doesn't give me the best clean tone out of all of them, with great bottom end as well. The Marshall in comparison sounds choked, mid rangey and boxy as hell and the Night Train rather thin and nasal compared to the Frontman.

So how does this $99 amp beat the other (tube based) amps? (reverb off btw)

(To be fair the Marshall wins on the overdrive front. The Frontman hi gain channel is pretty awful).


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Post subject: Re: Why does my Frontman 25R kick so much a**?
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:10 pm
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Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
Transistor amps are great at clean, hi-fi sound, but they don't sound like tube cleans without spending a lot of money.

PS:

I also own a 25R. Sounds great when played together with my 5F1 configured Champion 600. :D

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Post subject: Re: Why does my Frontman 25R kick so much a**?
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:31 pm
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I have a Champion 600 too (reissue). Cool little amp.

Playing the 25R a bit more I remember now one of it's weak points is the cabinet vibrates on some low notes when the amp volume is above 4 or so. I mostly use it at low level though. Maybe I should look more closely at solid state amps.


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Post subject: Re: Why does my Frontman 25R kick so much a**?
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:08 pm
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Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
I replaced the stock speaker in the 25R with an Eminence Ragin Cajun. I also added some addtional wood screws to tie the speaker baffle to the cabinet better. No vibrations with it turned all the way up (bass needs to be turned down quite a bit though as the low end of the R-C is much more powerful than the stock speaker).

My C600 is not stock. My mod thread is here:

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=63259

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Post subject: Re: Why does my Frontman 25R kick so much a**?
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:20 pm
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Cool. Thanks for the info.

How many screws did you need to fix the rattle?


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Post subject: Re: Why does my Frontman 25R kick so much a**?
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:02 pm
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Two in each side screwed into the baffle and two in the bottom screwed into the baffle.

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Post subject: Re: Why does my Frontman 25R kick so much a**?
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:59 pm
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Thanks. Maybe I'll try it on mine.


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Post subject: Re: Why does my Frontman 25R kick so much a**?
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:29 pm
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Have fun. :D

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Post subject: Re: Why does my Frontman 25R kick so much a**?
Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:35 pm
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Looking at the back of the baffle, it seems there's very little material to screw into. Did you use very small screws for this, positioned at the very edge where the baffle meets the sides and screw in at a 45 degree angle? I take it the baffle board (and cab) are made of MDF?

I thought I'd ask before I go ahead and wreck the cabinet...


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Post subject: Re: Why does my Frontman 25R kick so much a**?
Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:44 pm
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The baffle board is 1/2" thick. I used either #8 or #10, 2" long black wood screws. I drilled through the side of the cabinet in the middle of the groove that the baffle board sits in. Yes, everything is MDF.

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Post subject: Re: Why does my Frontman 25R kick so much a**?
Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:46 am
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I see, so you're drilling into the sides of the baffle board, screwing in from the outside of the cabinet. I was looking inside the cab. Thanks for your help!


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Post subject: Re: Why does my Frontman 25R kick so much a**?
Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:51 am
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Exactly. Just measure carefully and drill straight.

You're welcome. :D

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