Best Fendor Amp Review to Save You Money 2017

Our Top Pick
We’ve read hundreds of reviews, talked to a load of Fender aficionados, and listened to hours of noodling around on Fender amps. It was not always fun, but we did it for you! We can now say that the Fender ‘65 Twin Reverb is the Fender amp to get. If you are looking for a true classic, which delivers gorgeous tube sounds and massive power, this is the one.

Editor’s Pick – Top Pick

Product Description User Score Overall Score
Editor choice
Fender ‘65 Twin Reverb

Fender ‘65 Twin Reverb

Wow. This is simply the best Fender amp available at the moment. It is supremely adaptable, looks great, and is ...

User Rating: 4.5 (2 votes)
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2 Fender Champion 100

Fender Champion 100

This is simply a great amp, and represents amazing value. The focus with this amp is on delivering reliable power. ...

User Rating: 4.5 (2 votes)
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3 Fender Champion 20

Fender Champion 20

A slightly different amp from those above, the Champion 20 still delivers that classic Fender sound. If you are ...

User Rating: 4.5 (2 votes)
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4 Fender Rumble Bass Combo 200

Fender Rumble Bass Combo 200

Last but certainly not least, a Fender amp for bass players! This is a monster of an amp, offering 200W of ...

User Rating: 4.5 (2 votes)
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Best Fender Amps for the Money

Model Size Weight Power
Fender ‘65 Twin Reverb 28.2 x 22.5 x 12.2 inches 72 pounds 85W
Fender Champion 100 30 x 14 x 22 inches 50 pounds 100W
Fender Champion 20 16 x 12 x 16 inches 11.9 pounds 20W
Fender Rumble Bass Combo 200 17.9 x 27.6 x 22.8 inches 34.5 pounds 200W

What is a Fender Amplifier?

When it comes to amplifiers, it is hard to beat a Fender. The brand has been building great amps for many years now, and is something of an icon when it comes to classic amplifiers.

If you are playing rock, pop, blues, or jazz, these amps are very hard to beat. They offer the best sound for these genres by quite a long way – the warm, dulcet tones of these amplifiers is combined with pitch-perfect sound reproduction.

The build quality of these amps is also incredible. There is a reason why Fender amps have become the choice for world-famous musicians – they are built to last. Any of the amps we are reviewing today will easily put up with years of gigs, even if they are rattling around in the back of your van on those long tours!

So, if you are looking for an amp which will give you great sound and last for years, then it really has to be a Fender.

Reviews

What kind of Fender amp you need, and what features you want it to have, depend on what you are going to do with it. An amp for practicing in your room is quite a different beast to one you can tour huge venues with.

Some of the things to look for in a Fender amp stay the same, though:

  • Power. A lot of people talk a lot about power, as though it was a measure of how good an amp is. Certainly, if you are playing huge venues, or outside, you will need a powerful amp. However, for most places and people, a 100W amplifier will easily deal with the task. It will still go incredibly loud, so don’t worry about not being heard!
  • Speakers. A common set-up for guitar amps is a 12” woofer coupled with a smaller tweeter, typically 1”. Some Fender amps come with an additional mid-range horn as well, which can potentially improve frequency response and definition.
  • Inputs and outputs. It might sound obvious, but make sure the amp you are looking at has the correct type of inputs, and enough of them, to accommodate all the gear you want to plug in!

Ultimately, there is no substitute for hearing these amps yourself. Everybody has different preferences when it comes to how they want their amp to sound. But you could do worse than checking out these ones:

For a few more reviews we think you’ll dig, check out:


1. Editor’s Pick: Fender ‘65 Twin Reverb

picture of Fender ‘65 Twin Reverb amplifierWow. This is simply the best Fender amp available at the moment. It is supremely adaptable, looks great, and is superbly built.

What really stands out, though, is the sound. The sound is really incredible.

This is because this is a full tube amp. The gorgeous tones of tube amplification are impossible to recreate on solid state amplifiers, and once you have heard the way this amp sounds it will be impossible to go back.

And we are talking a lot of tubes, here. There are four 6L6 Groove output tubes, four 12AX7 preamp tubes, and a set of two 12AT7 preamp tubes. Whilst this may sound technical, you don’t have to be a scientist to appreciate the effects of all these tubes – they produce an incredibly rich, organic, clear sound that is impossible to beat.

So if you are a classic rock or blues musician, get this amp. It will last for years, and keep on delivering amazing sounds no matter how many gigs you play with it!

Fender ‘65 Twin Reverb

What really stands out, though, is the sound. The sound is really incredible.

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Of course, in addition to the incredible sound, this amp comes with a range of great extra features:

PROS:
  • The power of this amp, at 85W, is slightly less than some of the others we are reviewing today. However, pure power stats do not tell the whole story. This amp is plenty loud enough to play even large venues, and sounds great even when pushed to its limits. If you are playing a huge venue, you will likely be using a PA anyway, and so any more power than this is unnecessary.
  • The reverb and vibrato effects on this amp are incredible. You know what they sound like, because they have become a staple of classic rock and blues tunes! The people we talked to for this review reported that the first time they used this amp was incredibly exciting, because suddenly their guitars sounded like their heroes’ instruments.
  • There is a reason this amp has become a legend – it lasts for ever, and looks great even after it has taken a beating.
  • Once again, and we know we are repeating ourselves, that sound. It has to be heard to be believed, and is unobtainable with any other type of amp. Have a listen for yourself, and we are sure you’ll agree.

CONS:
  • In truth, none. If you are looking for a Fender amp that delivers great sound, enough power for even the largest gigs, and will last for many years, this is the one to get.


2. Fender Champion 100 

This is simply a great amp, and represents amazing value. 

picture of Fender Champion 100

The focus with this amp is on delivering reliable power. It comes with a 100W solid state amplifier, which not only delivers enormous power, but sounds great even when pushed to the limit. This amp will easily deal with the largest venues, and you will be able to drown out your bandmates with ease.

The two 12” speakers have been specially designed by Fender, and offer crisp sound reproduction. In fact, some of the people we talked to for this review said that this was their go-to amp not just for guitars, but also for keyboards and voice. The range of frequency response is really outstanding, and the amp reproduces all the sounds you can throw at it with ease.

So if you are looking for a great value amp which delivers the sound quality of more expensive items, you can do worse than the Champion 100.

Fender Champion 100

This amp will easily deal with the largest venues, and you will be able to drown out your bandmates with ease.

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In addition, is has these great features:

PROS:
  • The on-board effects that come with this amp are amazing. One of the advantages of solid state amps like this over tube amps is the range of effects, and this amp certainly delivers on this! You can choose from digital reverb, chorus, delay, and vibratone.
  • And all these effects sound great. Even with their solid state amps, Fender still manages to achieve a gorgeous, classically Fender sound. So if you are playing classic rock, jazz, or blues, you can be sure that you will get the sound you need!
  • The adaptability of this amp is also a great strength. The controls are extensive, but still manage to be easy to use. With just a few adjustments, you can easily set up this amp for whatever situation you are in, whether it be practicing in your room or playing a huge venue.
  • Because this amp is solid state, it’s also very hardy. One problem with tube amps is that you will always be worried about smashing a vacuum tube, and having to buy an expensive replacement. The circuity used in this amp has no such disadvantage – you can really throw this amp around, and it will keep going.

CONS:
  • None, for the price. The value represented by this amp is really outstanding – it is the best Fender solid state amp on the market, and perhaps the best value amp available anywhere.


3. Fender Champion 20 

A slightly different amp from those above, the Champion 20 still delivers that classic  

picture of Fender Champion 20

Fender sound. If you are looking for a practice amp, this is the one to get.

Though only offering 20W of power, this amp is definitely loud enough to practice with, or even for band practice. Even with a drum kit in the room, the amp will go loud enough for you to be heard, and the great sound quality sticks around even at high volume.

Of course, this amp is also extremely portable. Many of the professional musicians we spoke to for this review had this amp in addition to a larger unit for gigs, because lugging around a 100W amp to and from band practice every week is just a drag! Whilst you might not be able to play stadium shows with this compact amp, it is certainly easier to carry than its more powerful brothers!

Fender Champion 20

Fender sound. If you are looking for a practice amp, this is the one to get.

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In addition, this amp comes with some great features:

PROS:
  • The controls on this amp are more than adequate for its likely use. In fact, the simplicity of the controls on this small amp is sometimes advantageous, because it allows you to focus on what is important – playing your guitar, rather than messing around with amp settings!
  • The effects, if you choose to use them, are great. The amp includes reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, tremolo, and more. We are amazed that Fender have managed to pack this all into such a small package, and to have replicated that classic Fender sound with each one!
  • If you, or your children, are just starting out with electric guitar, then this is the amp to get. It has more than enough power to be getting on with, and the fact that it includes some classic effects means that beginners can get used to playing around with their sound before graduating to a more powerful amp.

CONS:
  • Very few. If you are looking for a great practice amp, or just one that you can easily take to band practice, this is the one to go for!


4. Fender Rumble Bass Combo 200 

Last but certainly not least, a Fender amp for bass playerspicture of Fender Rumble Bass Combo 200

This is a monster of an amp, offering 200W of power. It will shake window frames blocks away when turned up full. Whilst not many of you will push this amp to its full power, that added wattage has other advantages – the sound quality of this amp is great, even at low volume.

The sound is, in fact, great. The amp easily adapts to whatever style of bass player you are, whether you are slapping out funk or want a driving metal rhythm. The people we talked to for this review said that this would be their choice for a beginner, also, because the amp is really forgiving.

Fender Rumble Bass Combo 200

Whilst not many of you will push this amp to its full power, that added wattage has other advantages – the sound quality of this amp is great, even at low volume.

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In addition, this Fender amp comes with a number of extra features:

PROS:
  • The durability of this amp is amazing. Bass players are not known as the most careful of people, and it is nice to know that even if you really throw your amp around, it will go on and on.
  • The headphone jack, which plugs directly into this amp, is really good for silent practice. With the deep bass offered by this amp, this feature will stop the neighbors complaining!
  • The input, where you can plug your phone or mp3 player directly into the amp, is a nice feature. You can use the amp as a standalone amplifier for parties, or even play along with your favorite artists. This is great for beginners, and is one of the reasons this amp comes highly recommended for them.

CONS:
  • Like many bass amps, this one is large, and kinda difficult to move around. Still, that is the price you play for playing bass.
  • Your drummer will be annoyed, because at full power this amp will make you the loudest musician on the stage.


Our Fender Reviews

So which to choose?

Well, your choice of Fender amp is yours. Some people prefer an amp that is small enough to carry around with them everywhere, others prioritize great sound quality. All of the amps we have reviewed today are a good choice, and we are confident that you will get many years of great service out of any of them.

There has to be a winner, though, and ours is the Fender ‘65 Twin Reverb. This classic amp delivers incredible tube sound, has amazing effects, and will last for ever. If you are looking for a true classic, which delivers gorgeous tube sounds and massive power, this is the one to get.

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