It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:04 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 62 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:13 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:44 pm
Posts: 366
Doc Waters wrote:
:D :D :D So it would seem! Should I have known better?

But not particularly. I've been here since 2010. I visit almost daily, but I only post when I have a question or something that I think I can contribute.

This time I asked a legitimate question re the Champion voices and expressed the opinion that I was glad that Fender was making playable amps that people of all ages and income can afford. And I got flamed. Which I didn't appreciate. My bad. I should have known better than to react when baited.

For the record, I love tube amps, but I did mean what I said about ss amps being a welcome addition to our band in the early 70s. For a bunch of very good reasons, even beyond reliability. But I'm not sure anybody really wants to hear them. :)

Doc


You're getting shot down wasn't fair at all,...and it was uncalled for. I would be in agreement with you on the fact that I too,think it is great Fender is offering amps that people of all ages and income will be able to afford. I can't speak for the XD amps as I have not had experience with them,so I can't really tell you if the voicings on the new Champion amps are the same as the XD amps or Mustang amps. As for the SS amps in your band back in the '70's being a welcomed addition,...hey,...if they worked and were reliable,...wonderful! Not everybody wants a SS amp and not everybody wants a tube job,either. I do,...however,...prefer a tube amp over SS amp. One other point I would like to make is that not everybody can afford those high end tube amps,so again,...I think it's great the Fender offers amps at certain price points so we all can have great Fender tone,...tube or SS,...at a price we can all afford. I would LOVE to be able to afford a '57 Bandmaster or a Vibro King,...but at the prices Fender asks for them,it's not going to happen any time soon,...if at all! Heck,...I'd be lucky to afford a DRRI amp. :shock:

_________________
If it aint' broke,...don't fix it! I like to keep my amps and guitars factory original,...no mods necessary,...don't want them,...don't need them!

My gear as of now;
Standard Strat
Hot Rod Deluxe III amp
Champion 20 amp
'59 Bassman LTD Reissue


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:14 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
KC9SYJ wrote:
They definitely appear to be a better built amp from the one I seen this past Monday at Sweetwater Sound in Ft. Wayne,IN. where I not only bought my gear,but also take music lessons. Someone else was trying it out and I thought it sound really good for a SS amp.
I had heard the older Frontman amps and I always thought they had a tinny sound to them,...but that's just me.
Although not a tube job,...the new Champion amps do sound good and seem built really well. I think they will do well,...we'll just have to wait and see. I think it is wonderful that Fender is offering you a new amp under warranty rather than fix the older one.


The next time I see my Fender amp-tech buddy (his one-man shop is the authorized FMIC service center for a four-county area in Arizona) I'll mention the new Champion line and see how he thinks the track record for those amps is developing.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:27 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:44 pm
Posts: 366
Retroverbial wrote:
KC9SYJ wrote:
They definitely appear to be a better built amp from the one I seen this past Monday at Sweetwater Sound in Ft. Wayne,IN. where I not only bought my gear,but also take music lessons. Someone else was trying it out and I thought it sound really good for a SS amp.
I had heard the older Frontman amps and I always thought they had a tinny sound to them,...but that's just me.
Although not a tube job,...the new Champion amps do sound good and seem built really well. I think they will do well,...we'll just have to wait and see. I think it is wonderful that Fender is offering you a new amp under warranty rather than fix the older one.


The next time I see my Fender amp-tech buddy (his one-man shop is the authorized FMIC service center for a four-county area in Arizona) I'll mention the new Champion line and see how he thinks the track record for those amps is developing.

Arjay


Sounds fair,...and when you find out,...let us know! :) I'm curious to see how well they are actually doing before I commit to a purchase as I am thinking about the little Champion 20( or the Champion 40) for an inexpensive practice amp that offers a headphone jack for late night practicing. :)

_________________
If it aint' broke,...don't fix it! I like to keep my amps and guitars factory original,...no mods necessary,...don't want them,...don't need them!

My gear as of now;
Standard Strat
Hot Rod Deluxe III amp
Champion 20 amp
'59 Bassman LTD Reissue


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:32 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
For a stay-at-home practice amp they're probably great (I once owned a Frontman 15G for that very purpose). But on the whole, the entry-level amps usually aren't durable enough to be considered "road-worthy" IMO.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:47 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:44 pm
Posts: 366
Retroverbial wrote:
For a stay-at-home practice amp they're probably great (I once owned a Frontman 15G for that very purpose). But on the whole, the entry-level amps usually aren't durable enough to be considered "road-worthy" IMO.

Arjay


And that is exactly what it would be for,...a stay at home practice amp. My HRD III amp would be the amp I use "on the road" at church or for other performances! I still want that DRRI amp for my upcoming 50th birthday! :D

_________________
If it aint' broke,...don't fix it! I like to keep my amps and guitars factory original,...no mods necessary,...don't want them,...don't need them!

My gear as of now;
Standard Strat
Hot Rod Deluxe III amp
Champion 20 amp
'59 Bassman LTD Reissue


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:55 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
This blonde, modded DRRI is my preferred choice for a "church" rig......

Image

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 11:38 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:44 pm
Posts: 366
Retroverbial wrote:
This blonde, modded DRRI is my preferred choice for a "church" rig......

Image

Arjay


Awesome rig,Arjay! Tell me,...is that a JBL speaker in that amp? I have never seen a DR amp with a speaker that had a silver voice coil cover. :)

_________________
If it aint' broke,...don't fix it! I like to keep my amps and guitars factory original,...no mods necessary,...don't want them,...don't need them!

My gear as of now;
Standard Strat
Hot Rod Deluxe III amp
Champion 20 amp
'59 Bassman LTD Reissue


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 12:06 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Yes, it's a 15-inch JBL D130F.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 2:17 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:44 pm
Posts: 366
Retroverbial wrote:
Yes, it's a 15-inch JBL D130F.

Arjay


I'd LOVE to hear that thing,...I bet it has one heck of a nice sound! :D I have tested out a DRRI amp with the Jensen C12K speaker at Sweetwater,and it,too,has a nice sound,...far better than the Eminence speaker in the BDRI amp. Two things I wished Fender would do to improve the Hot Rod series amps even more. 1. Get rid of the Eminence speakers in the BDRI,Blues Jr.,and Pro Jr. amps altogether and go to either Jensen or Celestion speakers. And 2. Bring the tweed versions of the Blues Jr,...HRD III,...Pro Jr. and the Deville amps back. I'd LOVE to have a tweed version of my HRD III amp. Back to the Champion amps,...I'd still like to have a smaller lighter weight amp for practice use since they have a headphone jack. The Eminence speakers are not really all that bad,...it's just that I like the Celestions and Jensens better. Don't mean to go off topic,but I just wanted to throw that in. (For church situations,the DRRI might be an even better choice than my HRD III since it has vibrato,...and there may be times I'll want that vibrato effect on certain songs without having to use effects pedals).

_________________
If it aint' broke,...don't fix it! I like to keep my amps and guitars factory original,...no mods necessary,...don't want them,...don't need them!

My gear as of now;
Standard Strat
Hot Rod Deluxe III amp
Champion 20 amp
'59 Bassman LTD Reissue


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 2:40 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 11:22 am
Posts: 112
Location: BC, Canada
Thanks for the post KC. Yah, unless I win the lottery I won't be buying my 65' DR anytime soon. However, I would be really happy with that beautiful DDRI that Arjay has.

Arjay, what's say we start over? Nice combo. What color is that strat? I'm lovin' it.

Doc


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 3:04 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
My bet is that D130 is a near perfect match for the DRRI. It has a much smoother bass-to-midrange transition compared to a single D120 I've heard. Really mates well with my 6G5-A Pro and its three tube vibrato section. Nice deep, smooth tremolo/vibrato.

Image

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 3:26 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Doc Waters wrote:
What color is that strat? I'm lovin' it.


The guitar is an upgraded 2006 Deluxe Powerhouse (since discontinued) with on-board 12dB active boost and a dummy coil for hum-canceling, in Caramel Metallic -- often referred to as a "poor man's EC Strat".

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 9:47 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:50 pm
Posts: 6
I just bought the Champion 100 as a practice amp because hauling around two Marshall stacks is back breaking. I am impressed with the sound coming out of it...not like my Marshalls, but clean and "almost" usable as a back-up in a pinch. Sounds good for what it is. If you are looking for a very inexpensive, yet usable amp...this may be the deal.

MARSHALL JVM 410 HEAD
MARSHALL JMD 100 HEAD
MARSHALL 1960 A & B'S
FENDER STRATS (2)
FENDER TELE
GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOM
GIBSON FLYING "V'
TOO MUCH RACKMOUNTED EQUIP TO LIST


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:33 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:50 pm
Posts: 6
Just an update on the new Champion 100 practice amp...it lasted two days and quit. :shock: Using it at low volume and no snap, crackel, or pop - nothing. I guess I should have bought another Marshall...bummer! It will be going back ti GC. :(


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Champions = frontman replacement?
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 12:11 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 6:40 pm
Posts: 291
Location: Eugene Or
I've had a frontman for 3 years and have a bunch of other amps. I just got a champion 20 4 days ago. My frontman is my main practice amp and small gigs. I really like it. The champion 20 is great. I ordered a new rumble bass amp that came damaged. Rumble played well just one corner was crunched, doesn't look too bad. I want 100 off the prepaid rumble. I had the store give me the champ 20 instead of a refund. :D


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 62 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next

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: