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Post subject: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 8:19 pm
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Is Fender Fontman amp great in its sound?now I'm looking for frontman 25r and 65r,because this series amp is the cheapest series in Fender compare with other series .


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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 8:26 pm
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I have a 25R. Its clean sound is OK, the overdrive, not so. Put a 10" Eminence Ragin Cajun in it and it sounds really nice. It is not my main amp, just one in my small collection.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 3:54 am
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hoxuzhe wrote:
Is Fender Fontman amp great in its sound?now I'm looking for frontman 25r and 65r,because this series amp is the cheapest series in Fender compare with other series .


The Frontman 25R is still available in stores ,while the 65 R has long been discontinued. The only way you would be able to get one , is through Craig's List , E-Bay , or Guitar Center's used gear section on their website , www.guitarcenter.com


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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 4:05 pm
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I have a Frontman 65r and it is a pretty decent amp for the money. It's clean sound is sparkling with that classic Fender tone. The drive channel is okay, but can be a little shrill depending what sound you are going after.

I made a You Tube video of me playing my '95 Strat out of the Frontman 65r. No pedals, no nothing. Just straight into the amp and using the footswitch and "contour" button.



I just sort of "winged it" when I made the video and doodled around on a wide variety of tunes, sounds, influences, etc...etc... What you see is what you get...

'95 Fender Strat: Volume knob on "8", tone(1)* on "7", tone(2) on "8".
'11 Frontman 65r: Clean channel volume on "2".
'11 Frontman 65r: Gain channel drive on "6", volume on "2 1/2".
( * I have the old "Delta Tone" circuitry where the bridge pickup is also connected to the tone pot.)

Anyway, the Frontman series amps are pretty decent, but they are notorious for their finicky volume pots. They have a horrible "spike" in volume, from a quiet whisper to screaming loud/shake the walls/call the cops. You have to fiddle with the knob and get it just right. Trust me... The 65r is LOUD for being 65 watts! The 25r would be decent for a bedroom or apartment. But the 212r is a 100 watts out of two 12's! I mean, Lord Almighty... I couldn't imagine playing out of the 212r in an apartment or house! :shock:

Edit: The song list that I played/goofed around on is:
Annie's Song (John Denver) 1:48 - 2:33
Honey Don't (Carl Perkins) 2:58 - 4:09
Lookin' Out For #1 (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) 5:10 - 5:54
Back In Black (AC/DC) 7:07 - 7:50
Stranglehold (Ted Nugent) 8:13 - 9:04
Iron Man (Black Sabbath) 9:26 - 11:10
Sample blues jam 11:50 - 13:05
(Sort of a version/sample/influence of both "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" (Derek & The Dominoes, off the Layla album) and "Red House" (Jimi Hendrix).


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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 11:32 am
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I have both of those amps. The 65R, as so well put above, is a loud beast. It is identical to the earlier Princeton 65 with just the addition of the mid contour switch/circuit. An amazingly good amp and and the quality is just fine. Would gig with it anywhere.

The 25R I have was vastly improved with the addition of a Jensen Jet Falcon 10" speaker. So much bottom and clarity it defies logic with it's tone. I use it almost all the time and simply love it. Recording with that amp is a dream too. It is for the most part, my "go to" amp for nearly anything I choose to play.

I've been playing for well over 50 years and have in that time gone through more than 75 to 80 amps. Now that I no longer gig or even play in a church now, I have just the two Frontman amps in my house and can get everything I want from them. Throw a few pedals in front of them and the sounds are amazing.

While on the subject of the frontman amps, on another forum there was a man that has a 25R and was going to do a speaker upgrade and his thought was to keep the cost down and improve his tone and volume. Sound wisdom as I saw it. But as the thread progressed I was singled out for an attack since I supported the Frontman amp and was told that my amp was crap and a useless piece of junk... It was the old "if didn't have tubes it was trash" sort of mentality. Now I was a certified repair tech for Fender, Marshall, Peavey, and Crate for many years and retired from the business after 35 years in fact. Went to school to learn electronics and constantly studied after that to remain abreast of any updates and such. In my most modest terms I'm no fool nor a rookie when it comes to amps. Yet the other forum got very ugly in spite that I never once said an insulting thing to the instigator. Every post was an attack against the Frontman and, well, me and the OP from that forum.

I find it sad that so many "think" that since the Frontman series are junk simply for the fact that they are a budget minded system and do not cost thousands of dollars to "qualify as a good amp". When in fact the circuits and designs are top notch and are some of the best transistor and chip powered amps made today especially with the cost factor thrown in. I firmly believe that many of those that trash talk the Frontman series have never even plugged into one, yet they spew out their nonsense due to the many others that knock this series in other forums and posts. Ignorance is a bad means of backing up one's nasty words about something that they know little about. Sad indeed as it spreads like wet manure when they start...

Wade


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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 12:16 pm
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(ahem......)

In point of fact, the Frontman line of amps are designed, engineered, and manufactured to be disposable (ie: non-repairable) platforms. Don’t believe me? Go to any Fender Authorized Service Center and take a look in their dumpster. Chances are you’ll find a Frontman amp there, with its logo removed and its front panel demolished by multiple hammer blows (mandated by corporate protocol). If under warranty, FMIC does not fix them – they simply give the customer a new amp. If not, the customer is told to pound sand.

That said, the Frontman amps are acceptable products for a youngster strumming his first chords, a kid jamming with his friends in some garage, or an amateur player attending an occasional open-mic night. OTOH, professionals who must put food on the family table and meet a mortgage payment are significantly more demanding and must have reliable and dependable gear if they expect to bring home any bacon. That many of these inexpensive import amps cannot even survive the boat ride from China without damage or malfunction does not inspire confidence.

And before you impale me and impugn my opinions......yes, I once owned a Frontman (albeit briefly). I’ve been repairing Fender amps since 1968, I’ve held an FCC First Class Radio-Telephone Technician’s License (with radar endorsement) since 1975, and I’ve worked on everything from the garden-variety “All-American 5” superhet AM tube radios common in the 1950’s to 2.5 megawatt airspace surveillance radars and their related IFF/SIF subsystems. I know electronic gear and I know the Frontman’s for what they are......and aren’t.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 1:27 pm
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Ok Arjay, but tell us how you really feel. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 5:29 pm
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Arjay,

I know of the non-repair order you speak of. And yes, the amps are made as such to meet the current market this way. Thus the poor quality speaker installed as well. The company does what it can for cost cutting. And you need not worry about any bad remarks from me here. It too know their good and bad points. Now as I'm old and living on a tight budget, these two are all that I still have for amplification and they do serve me well. Oh there's been a brand new Twin and Deluxe Reverb that were bought in '66 and '67. And lots of others from then on. But now things are different. I suppose my point was in the latter half of my post was how so many simply look down their noses at another person's choice as being trash and more often than not have no idea why other than preconceived notions about things. If either of my current amps crash on me, though after a stroke leaving my right hand somewhat lacking is motor skills, I can still repair them in a short time and be back up and running. I tend to drop picks too often now, but still can hold an iron well enough to take care of things. The hand and arm don't shake or anything like that, but does lack enduring strength that it once had.

And thank you for an honest and interesting reply. It's good to talk to another that lives, eats, and breathes circuits. :)

Wade


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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 5:44 pm
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I appreciate your health issues, sir.

In that regard, I have my own dinghy to row.

It's what happens when one hits 60......the warranty runs out and we start coming apart like a close-out JC Penny suit.

Hang in there!

8)

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 7:03 pm
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I agree guys... I'm in the over 50 crowd myself. I've owned Traynor amps, Fender amps, Ampeg amps, and came back to Fender amps.

Out of all the amps I've owned, my all time favorite was the old ancient Ampeg VT22, 100 watt, two 12's, all tube amp. That thing was a beast and thankfully was on wheels. But it was way too big to play in the house or even out in the garage. Then tragically, it blew, shorted out, and actually caught fire as I was playing it!!! :shock:

Anyway I guess my favorite small gigging amp was a late 80's Fender Super 60 (60 watt all tube amp - one 12" celestion speaker). It was built like a tank and had such a beautiful tone. Sadly, I had a serious financial setback (laid off) back in 2010 and in my crazy state of mind, I sold it. I'm still kicking myself for doing that, but I felt like I had no choice.

I played for a while with nothing more than an old Digitech RP7 processor and a pair of headphones. Then in the spring of 2011, my daughter surprised me on my birthday with a brand new Fender Frontman 65r that she got a good deal on (she's a music teacher and also works part time at a music store - she gets fantastic deals!). I think the Frontman series amps are pretty good for the money. I know they have Chinese parts inside of them and can't hold a candle to the legendary Fender Twin Reverb or something like that. But they still sound good for what they are. If mine blew, I don't know if I'd get another one just yet. I might look at Marshall or Peavey or another flavor of amp.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 9:43 pm
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ButchA,

Holy moley! Talk about a small world. I picked up a VT22 back in '89 from a dealer I was doing repairs for and being short of cash he gave me that amp for the repairs I dropped off there. And you're so right as it took two grown men and a small boy just to move it around. Even with casters it was a pain to move about as the tubes would rattle like crazy when it was being moved...I think I kept it for about four months and traded it for something much lighter and smaller... That old amp was loud and lethal! Guess that's why he gave me that amp instead of cash as he could not sell it and get any real money out it it then. I mention that amp to younger guys today and they look at me funny..... Oh well, we got a couple of good little SS amps that kick pretty good and are easy to move this time huh?

Wade


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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 9:51 pm
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Ampeg VT22......world's loudest 100-watt combo amp!

Actually, the output could've been rated -- conservatively -- at 125WRMS.

My buddy and I dummy-loaded one of these amps on the bench, stirred the pot with a 350mV/1000Hz tone from an H-P signal generator, and measured over 127 watts at the output jack. Those 7027A's were some sturdy sumbitches. By contrast, using the same test rig and criteria we only managed to get 122 watts out of my then brand-new 135-watt ultra-linear Twin Reverb.

Tough, that Ampeg was!

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 10:00 pm
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Arjay,

Thank you sir. I hit 67 back in January and in the last two and a half years have had three heart attacks and then that dad gum stroke a few months back. You're so right about the warranty going out after 60 and falling apart. I told my neighbor that I was falling apart like a cheap suit in a rain storm. That's close to your analogy too huh? Ahhhh, to be 20 again, and know what I know now. :roll:

Wade


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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 10:07 pm
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Indeed!

The trouble with youth is, it's wasted on the young.

:lol:

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Fender Frontman Amp
Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 5:16 am
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Tobacco Worm (Wade),

You are so right! Sorry to hear about your medical problems. I wish there was a miracle pill out there that would enable guys to look 50 and 60-ish, but yet still be healthy and fit like they were in their 20's. 8)

Anyway, a funny story about that old Ampeg VT22 that I had... Back in the late 70's/early 80's, I was in the Coast Guard and took some military leave to visit my parents at their summer cottage (up on a lake in the Adirondack Mountains in New York). I brought my guitar (an old Ibanez, if I remember) and hefted the VT22 into the trunk of my old Ford Fairmont.

I remember my father (a WWII vet) looking at me and saying, "What the hell are you doing? Why did you bring that junk?" And the next day, I rolled the Ampeg VT22 out to the boat dock, ran a big extension cord out to it. Long story short, I plugged in, cranked it up, and proceeded to "serenade" all the people around the lake! The VT22 was so loud, that the sound traveled 4 miles all the way down the lake, bounced off the mountain, and came all the way back. It was awesome! :lol: 8)

My father came running down to the boat dock and shut off my amp. He lit into me, "Have you lost your mind? Did you leave your brain back on the base? Son, you can't do that up here! You're going to give old Mrs. Crittenden (neighbor a few cottages down) a heart attack!!" :lol:


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