It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:06 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:18 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:46 pm
Posts: 453
As I wrote a coupe weeks ago, Fender offered to replace my 2 year old Frontman212R with my choice of a Mustang III or Champion 100 under warranty. As the Champion 100 was the closest in design to the Frontman, I went with that model.

It arrived today and I brought it home after a day at the office. Aesthetically, it is styled after classic 2x12 blackface. A couple nuances, unlike the Frontman, it has an LED power light as oppossed the the jewel. The Fender emblem is a plastic with a faux brushed metal finish. It looks plastic.

The chassis is larger than the FM chassic: almost twice a deep. It is also vented for airflow.

The Champion is eight pounds lighter than the FM. Granted this does not have the short tank reverb, but that hardly accounts for eight pounds. While the pair of speakers look similar to the FM's, I can only assume lighter magnets at work here.

The foot pedal is different both in looks and function to my three previous Fender amps. Rather than the familair extruded aluminum, this has a backed finished caase. Looks sturdy enough and the buttons have the fmiliar feel. Functionally, I REALLY like this footswitch, First, the amp is two channels. A clean black face and the second channel has voicings which include several clean models. In the past the second channel was always too dirty for my taste. Being able to switch between two tweaked clean channels s usable with my style of playing. Another plus is the ability to use the footswitch to turn the selected effects off or on.Tweaked in, this gives the player four different sounds with a tap of the toe. (The FM had channel selection and the drive channel not something I enjoyed and the second button was drive/more drive (awful distortion, more awful distortion.)

Channel one is nice and clean. equaization is bass/treble. Sixteen effects can be used individually. These can be set to FX level (strenght). Time based effects has a "tap" button to set delay. This is 100% solid state. I personally feel after an evening of use, the digital spring reverb is superior to the small tank reverb on the FM. There are two other reverbs, the auto wah is fun,but will be used rarely.

Channel two is a pleasant surprise. Equaization is bass/mid and treble. Several clean models to choose from thaat are quite listenable. 16 (identical) effects are dedicated to this channel.

I am not a modeling amp guy. This amp has just enough to add color to my playing. It is noticeably quieter than the FM when the FM was working as designed. I also feel the Champion is more responsive to how the strings are attacked to color tone. Not tube response, but pretty good.

The amp is made in Indonesia. Granted, tube afficionados will be tough converts, but I am really impressed. If my Frontman had not gone south, I would be tempted to replace it with the Champon.

Now let's see how reliable.

_________________
Archtop Bill aka Alder Statesman

Check out my finger-style guitar tracks at www.soundcloud.com/billmcmannis


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 8:11 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
How about the cabinetry?

What's the box made out of?

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: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 8:17 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:46 pm
Posts: 453
It looks like particle board. I will find out for sure this weekend when I install the kick back legs.

_________________
Archtop Bill aka Alder Statesman

Check out my finger-style guitar tracks at www.soundcloud.com/billmcmannis


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Sat Oct 26, 2013 6:50 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:46 pm
Posts: 453
Retroverbial wrote:
How about the cabinetry?

What's the box made out of?

Arjay


As suspected, fiber board. The inside has a black, textured plastic film adhered to it. My previous amp was painted fiber board.

The kick back legs installed nicely. Sounds better tilted back.

_________________
Archtop Bill aka Alder Statesman

Check out my finger-style guitar tracks at www.soundcloud.com/billmcmannis


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Sat Oct 26, 2013 6:56 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Pics?

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: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:29 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:46 pm
Posts: 453
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98154849@N ... 015049613/

I do not know if this Flickr link will work. (Wish we could upload images as most sites allow or am I missing something?

At any rate, here is my new Champion 100 with kickback legs installed. Check out the shot of the speaker frame. Sticker is the standard generic "specially designed for", but looks like the metal casing is rubber stamped "Champion".

As you will see, the chassis takes up more space than the Frontman 212R. The clearances made getting the kick back legs installed take a bit more planning.

Still very happy with the amp.

The guitar is my newly upgraded Epiphone Broadway (made in Korea.) I had pulled the pickguard long ago. I just installed a Gibson 57 Classic at the neck and a 57 Classic Plus at the bridge. Replaced the alpha pots with CTS pots and while I was at I replaced the capacitors with higher quality caps from StewMac. Also replaced the stock knobs with black speed knobs.

_________________
Archtop Bill aka Alder Statesman

Check out my finger-style guitar tracks at www.soundcloud.com/billmcmannis


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 3:31 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:58 pm
Posts: 739
I've had my mustang 4 since May 2011 and it's still going strong. Why did you choose the Champion over the more valuable Mustang?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 4:31 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:46 pm
Posts: 453
Her Wanna wrote:
I've had my mustang 4 since May 2011 and it's still going strong. Why did you choose the Champion over the more valuable Mustang?


Personal preferencce. I really prefer a straight forward amp. The reason I went with the Frontman in the first place was that it was a simple, two (actually 3) channel amp. I just want the Fender black face sound. I am not modeling amp guy. Typcially, I dial in a nice clean clean tone, a pinch of reverb and then never touch the dials for months. In the Frontman's case I never used the 2nd/3rd channel, though I enjoy having two different clean channels on the Champion.

When I was presented with the choice between a Champion 100 or the Mustang, the Champion was closer to the Frontman. Two channels, dedicated FX and I also wanted the 2x12 configuration. I suspect the voices and some or all of the effects are borrowed from the Mustang.

Yes, the Mustang may cost more, but my motivation was not the economics. I only paid $250 for the FM thanks to the $50 coupon GC was offering in late 2011, so by getting the new Champion I felt that was fair enough.

_________________
Archtop Bill aka Alder Statesman

Check out my finger-style guitar tracks at www.soundcloud.com/billmcmannis


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 7:37 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 8:13 pm
Posts: 2
Location: Mexico
I'm considering getting this amp, and since there are almost no reviews (Unofficial, not sale oriented) online I'd like to have your advice. I currently use my Mustang Floor to get my sound, (Amp modeling + effects). So I guess I would mainly use the Power Amp In feature.

My concerns are:

Is it LOUD enough to be heard over the drums, on rehearsal and gigging (parties, bars) situations?. If I connect the pedal to the "Power Amp In" Will the volume 1 knob still control the overall volume of the amp? I'd really apreciate if you could help me with that, It's hard to get honest opinions from salesmen here in Mexico.

Thanks a lot.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 8:20 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:46 pm
Posts: 453
rockotronic wrote:
I'm considering getting this amp, and since there are almost no reviews (Unofficial, not sale oriented) online I'd like to have your advice. I currently use my Mustang Floor to get my sound, (Amp modeling + effects). So I guess I would mainly use the Power Amp In feature.

My concerns are:

Is it LOUD enough to be heard over the drums, on rehearsal and gigging (parties, bars) situations?. If I connect the pedal to the "Power Amp In" Will the volume 1 knob still control the overall volume of the amp? I'd really apreciate if you could help me with that, It's hard to get honest opinions from salesmen here in Mexico.

Thanks a lot.


This is probably the loudest amp under $400 that you will find. It is also probably the best gigging amp you will find in this price range,

Each channel has a dedicated volume control. Channel 1 is straight volume and Channel 2 is Gain/Volume. There is no master volume and the two channels are independent. You should be able to set the volumes for each channel and still use the effects loop.

As indicated above, I thought a lot of the Frontman 212R, but this is a big improvement being just as loud, better tone, better tone control, reasonably decent effects and eight pounds lighter making schlepping it around easier.

Just for kicks I did try running my Line 6 Spider III throught the power in. It worked and it pretty much sounded like a loud Line 6 and now the Line 6 stowed back in the basement where it belongs. It is not something I would do regularly, but it did work. I would expect better results with your Mustang.

_________________
Archtop Bill aka Alder Statesman

Check out my finger-style guitar tracks at www.soundcloud.com/billmcmannis


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:07 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:05 pm
Posts: 86
Interesting that it's a 8 ohm output, my FM100H is 4 ohm, (as I suspect your 212R was).


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 9:47 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:46 pm
Posts: 453
Bill Moore wrote:
Interesting that it's a 8 ohm output, my FM100H is 4 ohm, (as I suspect your 212R was).


Specs for the Frontman 212R read 8 ohms.

_________________
Archtop Bill aka Alder Statesman

Check out my finger-style guitar tracks at www.soundcloud.com/billmcmannis


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 2:12 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:46 pm
Posts: 453
Archtop Bill wrote:
Her Wanna wrote:
I've had my mustang 4 since May 2011 and it's still going strong. Why did you choose the Champion over the more valuable Mustang?


Personal preferencce. I really prefer a straight forward amp. The reason I went with the Frontman in the first place was that it was a simple, two (actually 3) channel amp. I just want the Fender black face sound. I am not modeling amp guy. Typcially, I dial in a nice clean clean tone, a pinch of reverb and then never touch the dials for months. In the Frontman's case I never used the 2nd/3rd channel, though I enjoy having two different clean channels on the Champion.

When I was presented with the choice between a Champion 100 or the Mustang, the Champion was closer to the Frontman. Two channels, dedicated FX and I also wanted the 2x12 configuration. I suspect the voices and some or all of the effects are borrowed from the Mustang.

Yes, the Mustang may cost more, but my motivation was not the economics. I only paid $250 for the FM thanks to the $50 coupon GC was offering in late 2011, so by getting the new Champion I felt that was fair enough.


Wow! Things seem to clip along briskly and, to paraphrase Bilbo Baggins, "When you step out the door, there is no telling where your feet will take you."

As cool as the Champion 100 is, I now am playing through a Mustang IV V2.

Guess I AM a modeling amp guy.

_________________
Archtop Bill aka Alder Statesman

Check out my finger-style guitar tracks at www.soundcloud.com/billmcmannis


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 8:55 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm
Posts: 3169
Location: Linningrad
:arrow: Very Cool, Archtop Bill! Congrats on a great choice. :D

Fender's new Champion line strikes me as an easy to use; gigable, and road-worthy guitar amp. Just enough built in digital modling & effects to build in great value. For the price of a few stompboxes you get an entire combo plus effects to boot. Well Played Fender, Well Played! :D

_________________
2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: NAD! Champion 100 Arrived
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 9:40 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
linnin wrote:
For the price of a few stompboxes you get an entire combo plus effects to boot. Well Played Fender, Well Played!


I am always dubious of such "free lunches"......

:roll:

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
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  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: