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$100 Practice Amp: Frontman 25R or Mustang I
Frontman 25R 20%  20%  [ 4 ]
Mustang I 80%  80%  [ 16 ]
Total votes : 20
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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:24 pm
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You circled why in Duncanes quote. Mustang already has a lot going through the chain and being a DSP modeling Amp .. everything built-in is already in front/behind the pre-amp/power-amp section. But its not to say it wont work or sound ok. I'm mainly speaking for myself and only for the MI/II's as the other ones have an effects loop that should help ...but for what its worth ..my Wah Wah pedal and OD pedal did sound OK to me for the seconds I tried it ... but as both pedals are brand new ..I really haven't tried them long enough on my tube Amp to say which was better sounding. I'm just saying Duncane brings up some good points to be considered, but for $100 I'd not think twice, I'd grab the MI still.

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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:14 pm
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The DSP chips in the mustang are expecting a standard guitar input level. If you change that you will get odd distortion effects. OD pedals such as the Tube Screamer work by increasing the signal before the pre-amp so will get these effects. Distortion pedals such as the boss DS-1 add the distortion in the pedal which is okay, but come with a level knob which if you turn up to high will cause the odd effects in the mustang modelling chips. These pedals will work fine with the frontman.

Wah pedals should be fine with either as they just modify the signal not boost it.

As I said I would go with the Mustang, but realise if you want to use a certain pedal with it that it may not sound like a standard amp would with that pedal. A good example would be certain Metal sounds. The mustang has a bunch of them of course, but some metal players are VERY attached to their metal pedals (such as the Digitech Death Metal or Boss Metal Zone).


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:08 pm
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Wow. Thanks for all the help guys. This has been a very helpful discussion.

duncane wrote:
The DSP chips in the mustang are expecting a standard guitar input level. If you change that you will get odd distortion effects.
....
Wah pedals should be fine with either as they just modify the signal not boost it.
....
As I said I would go with the Mustang, but realise if you want to use a certain pedal with it that it may not sound like a standard amp would with that pedal.

Duncane thanks so much for that. It makes complete sense.

Fellas, I picked up the Mustang I at Guitar Center - comforted by the 30-day return policy if I want to change it out.

My only thought, it's not loud, wide or bold enough. I grew up playing a 30-watt Ampeg G30 solid-state with a 12" speaker (don't try to search for it, the thing apparently doesn't exist according to Google - the serial number was AG3-023 so who knows how many were actually made...I digress.)

Being I have nothing to compare the MI to at my house, I wonder is it the DSP (I usually prefer to play with all effects off and play with the cabs and amps for now), smaller speaker, no spring reverb, lower wattage, cheaper guitar that are leaving it felling hollow?

It's a fun amp. I think the effects and USB hook-up are great for fiddling around. I haven't played with the USB recording, but that should be fun. I just worry that the novelty is the only thing keeping this amp from getting swapped out...


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:44 pm
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True - they dont seem that loud ..but that's a big difference ..a 12" Vox to a 8" MI .. ..Did they not have a MII there to try out ..trust me they sound BIG for tiny Amps...I never did try the MI ...guess I should of ..but there's no way the novlety is going to wear off with me ... These Amps are to much Fun ..even if they don't sound perfect to everyone all the time ..they are endless fun with all the options ...but the sounds is amazing to me as well ..especially for the price. Try it out longer and if you dont enjoy it all that much ..try a MII or better the MIII I should be saying.

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J. Hendrix / S.R.V. / E. Clapton / R. Hansen / F. Marino / B.B. King (now that's a neat six-pack) :)
Eminence The Wizard vs Stock Mustang II Speaker Shootout http://arttux.com/Fender-Mustang-II-Eminence-Wizard-Speaker-Swap/


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:06 am
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Thanks again for the advice. I really love my MI. It's been fantastic. Fuse really makes this $100 amp worth so much more. The community and endless options are priceless.

aLinux - I didn't get a chance to check out the MII. Originally I was looking $100 only. But now I am thinking of picking up an MII. The MIII might come up in another month, but that seems more geared toward small gigs and rehearsals. I love the idea of an open back, the extra on-board tools, compatibility with more foot switches, but 100W is likely more than I need for jamming out in my basement alone...Plus it moves into that $300 range where the field is much wider.

Or do I need an MI/II and a Champion 600? :) I've never owned a tube amp...

So many beautiful options! Meanwhile I'm trying to save for a MIM or MIA Strat.


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:10 am
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The Mustangs are as close to a Tube as you can get ... to me there exact .. its like going from Tube to Solid State in .4 seconds with a turn of the dial ..(i timed it lol j/k) and I wouln't be so concerned about wattage ..the MIII in a basement jam would be perfectly fine.. plus at low volume its like playing through your MI... but probably better cause fuller sound. The MII's are great too .. it actually cranks out for me, but the MIII just has so many better options ..like f/s, effects-loop, LCD ..mid tone control.. its like the perfect little killer Amp of 2011.

The 600 is probably another good $100 Amp to just have for Tube Amp collectors but I doubt you'll be that happy with it since you find the MI "not loud, wide or bold enough".
Check out those Classic Vibe Squire Strats ...they might be OK too if your not watning to spen to much but want a vintage-like strat ..Good luck.

_________________
J. Hendrix / S.R.V. / E. Clapton / R. Hansen / F. Marino / B.B. King (now that's a neat six-pack) :)
Eminence The Wizard vs Stock Mustang II Speaker Shootout http://arttux.com/Fender-Mustang-II-Eminence-Wizard-Speaker-Swap/


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:42 am
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Thank you so much!

Quote:
The Mustangs are as close to a Tube as you can get ... to me there exact .. its like going from Tube to Solid State in .4 seconds with a turn of the dial


I love the insight and the input.

Guitar Center told me that I get a 30-day at each step. The manager said that if I wanted to swap out for the next one the 30-day starts over and then I can upgrade again. I think I might stair-step to the MIII - again, the fuller sound. I hate to "rent" from them, but if the MII (with the 12" vs the 8") is good enough I might stop there.

I agree - for $150 the Champion 600 is a "gotta have it" collectors amp.


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 4:57 pm
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Great deal... Guitar Center is coolness .. wish I had one near me :)

_________________
J. Hendrix / S.R.V. / E. Clapton / R. Hansen / F. Marino / B.B. King (now that's a neat six-pack) :)
Eminence The Wizard vs Stock Mustang II Speaker Shootout http://arttux.com/Fender-Mustang-II-Eminence-Wizard-Speaker-Swap/


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 10:27 pm
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Barefootpanda wrote:
Thanks again for the advice. I really love my MI. It's been fantastic. Fuse really makes this $100 amp worth so much more. The community and endless options are priceless.

aLinux - I didn't get a chance to check out the MII. Originally I was looking $100 only. But now I am thinking of picking up an MII. The MIII might come up in another month, but that seems more geared toward small gigs and rehearsals. I love the idea of an open back, the extra on-board tools, compatibility with more foot switches, but 100W is likely more than I need for jamming out in my basement alone...Plus it moves into that $300 range where the field is much wider.

Or do I need an MI/II and a Champion 600? :) I've never owned a tube amp...

So many beautiful options! Meanwhile I'm trying to save for a MIM or MIA Strat.


I decided on the MIII after trying the MI&II, it was no contest. If you can stretch the budget, I highly recommend the III. It sounds great at any volume BTW.


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 4:43 pm
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That good eh ... maybe I will just grab a III than.. I notice they sound stereo even w/o two speakers.

_________________
J. Hendrix / S.R.V. / E. Clapton / R. Hansen / F. Marino / B.B. King (now that's a neat six-pack) :)
Eminence The Wizard vs Stock Mustang II Speaker Shootout http://arttux.com/Fender-Mustang-II-Eminence-Wizard-Speaker-Swap/


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 5:30 pm
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I don't know aLinux...after all the MIII threads this week I think that might be the way to go.

But, back on topic...for $100 I think the Mustang I is easily one of the best choices. So much fun for $99 and some taxes.


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 8:49 pm
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Fonts aren;t aliased on this forum now ..what happen ..looks like Linux did 15 yrs ago :lol:

Yep M1 is all that's needed for a cool guitar effects and modeling plus recording Amp indeed.

_________________
J. Hendrix / S.R.V. / E. Clapton / R. Hansen / F. Marino / B.B. King (now that's a neat six-pack) :)
Eminence The Wizard vs Stock Mustang II Speaker Shootout http://arttux.com/Fender-Mustang-II-Eminence-Wizard-Speaker-Swap/


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 8:59 pm
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I have the mustang I and when i first bought it about a month ago it was loud enough for my bedroom but it was not nearly as loud as my vypyr 15,after i hooked the MI up to fuse and i added a post amp rack compressor and increased the level control,it was now much louder then before and it sounds even better after i adjusted the bias and sag controls.


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 25R vs Mustang I? Help purchase a $100 amp...
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:15 pm
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Yeppers ..adjusments are endless with these Stangs ..and I love the options .. its everything I always wanted in an Amp. Pick our own Cabinets, Stomp effect, Rack-Mount effects, USB out recording, BIAS and SAG ..etc ... all in one tidy little package ..

_________________
J. Hendrix / S.R.V. / E. Clapton / R. Hansen / F. Marino / B.B. King (now that's a neat six-pack) :)
Eminence The Wizard vs Stock Mustang II Speaker Shootout http://arttux.com/Fender-Mustang-II-Eminence-Wizard-Speaker-Swap/


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