A clean little amp that won't distract you with features
"I've had numerous amps over my 10+ years of toying around on guitar and electric bass. It's more than fair to say I have Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS), but I like to think I've toned down somewhat (pun fully intended).
Among my arsenal in the "practice amp" section is a Blackstar HT-1R combo, a Yamaha THR-10, and my 5 watt Ampeg tube amp whose model name eludes me at the moment.
So why this amp? Anyone whose spent time even researching amps can say the amps I listed are better than this little Frontman.
The nitty gritty: I wanted a clean simple amp that isn't expensive, since it's in a place that could see it get damaged.
Yep, that's it. Why not just play my Ampeg or HT-1R? The Ampeg is surprisingly loud for it's low-wattage stature, so I rarely get a chance to crank it up. My Blackstar WAS my bedroom practice amp (which is what this Fender is now), until a niece nearly spilled a drink on it. It's hiding downstairs in my studio, away from kids and liquids now. While I appreciate the THR-10's compact size, I only have floor space for amps, so I rarely get to hear the amp at ear level. Plus, although it has a convincing Fender-like clean, it's digital effects mean I spend more time toying with amp channels and effects than I do practicing.
This amp is for practice, but that doesn't mean it sounds bad! I'm very partial to Fender's cleans, so that, along with the amp's low price and simplicity, gave me an excuse to fuel my syndrome.
Since this amp is solid state, I can just plug in and turn it on. No waiting for tubes to warm up. It has a two band EQ and NO effects, so I spend more time PLAYING my guitar rather than fiddling with the amp. It can get plenty loud to offend folks in nearby rooms, but it's still a lot quieter than my Ampeg. Plus, I have access to Fender clean tones again!! No this amp isn't as nice as a '57 Champ (I used to have an Eric Clapton model), and it isn't as clean as a Twin (had a brief privileged chance to play one for a bit) but I like the fact this doesn't model anything. It's a Fender amp. Done. No frills.
I exclusively use this amp on it's clean channel. The Overdrive channel..... I don't like it. It sounds WAY TOO compressed. There's no overtones, no nuances in the OD channel's tone that make it shine. I can't fault Fender for that too much though. They built this practice amp for a younger, less experienced audience. To my ears, it sounds bad, but my 10 year old niece thinks I sound like a rock god when I strum power chords while playing through the OD channel.
Yep, I can hear someone: "Does it take pedals?" Yeah, any amp will. Some just do it better than others. Keep this amp on the clean channel and it LOVES pedals. I'm running my TC Electronics Hall of Fame reverb into it now, and am swapping out different OD and Distortion pedals to see which one I'll leave by the amp since I don't like it's built in overdrive. The reverb pedal sounds wonderful and on a spring setting, really gives the amp a more authentic Fender vibe (again, pun intended).
So yeah, I didn't need another amp. But I'm happy my Blackstar is in a safer room, I'm happy I have an amp that produces Fender clean tones, I'm happy I didn't spend a lot of money. I'm happy it doesn't take up very much floor space, the household members are happy I won't blast the windows out of the house. Plus I'm spending my playing sessions actually playing my guitar instead of toying with effects.
I bring that up a few times because I see other reviewers comparing this humble amp to it's fuller featured Champion brother amps. Yep, you'll get more bang for the buck by getting a Champion. But do you REALLY need all it's effects and channels? Really? I used to insist that I needed it all, and here I am, with several amps and I wouldn't mind having more to try and placate my endless search for tone.
If you're serious about playing guitar, PLAY GUITAR. Don't worry about channels, effects, and such. You can learn to use them later on, but when you skimp on productive guitar practice, all the effects in the world can't save you from a critic that has sharp, trained ears."
