If you’re wondering if Fender Champion 20 is a good practice amp or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s article, we’re going to take a very close look on this popular guitar amplifier. I personally own that amp, so I feel like I’m in a good spot to share some of my thoughts with you.
In my opinion, Fender Champion 20 is one of the best and most affordable practice amps in the world. It offers a lot of versatility, it sounds great and it’s not overly expensive. Surely, it will be a great choice for a lot of guitarists.
Let’s dive deeper with research to find out more what makes this amp so special. Of course, there will also be a sound demo included, so you’ll be able to hear how it sounds. We’ll also see if there are any cheaper alternatives for people on a tight budget. Hopefully, today’s review will help you to understand if this amp is a good fit for you.
Specs & Pricing
Fender Champion 20 is a 20-Watt amp that features a classic Fender design and a lot of versatility when it comes to tone. What’s important, this is one of the most popular cheap Fender amps in the world.
The manufacturer equipped this amp with a 12″ speaker, which offers a really high quality sound. Although it’s not a huge amp, it can get very loud. Surely, it will be more than enough for smaller gigs.
What’s important, this combo also features a lot of different guitar effects such as reverb, delay, chorus, tremolo and wah. In addition, it allows you to easily change amp voicings and distortion types. As a result, the Champion 20 gives you access to an indefinite amount of sounds that can be used in any genre.
Fender Champion 20 also features a headphone jack that allows you to practice in quiet without annoying your neighbors.
When it comes to pricing, it’s not too expensive. In fact, it’s one of the most affordable high-quality amps available on the market right now. Although there are cheaper amps out there, none of them offers the same quality and versatility as the Fender Champion 20.
Here’s my video review – feel free to check it out. If you think that it’s helpful, consider subscribing to my channel. It will definitely help me grow on YouTube!
Who Is It For?
Fender Champion 20 will be an ideal choice for both amateur and more advanced players who are searching for a versatile and great sounding amp.
The amp is equipped in a lot of interesting guitar effects, so it’s great for everyone who likes to experiment with sounds. I think that it’s a great introduction to guitar pedals in general – it allows you to explore the most popular guitar tones. If you’re not familiar with guitar effects, I think that you won’t be disappointed with the Champion 20.
In addition, since it’s a very versatile amp, it can be used in a really wide range of different genres. Whether you’re into blues, jazz, rock or indie, this amp will definitely be a good choice for any style of playing.
My Experience With Fender Champion 20
As I mentioned earlier, I’m a proud owner of Fender Champion 20 and I have to admit that it’s actually one of my favorite small amps in the world. I just love how versatile it is!
In my opinion, this amp has everything that you need from a practice amp. It features a lot of different guitar effects, so you won’t have to use any additional pedals. And it’s definitely loud enough to practice with a band
Although it’s not a tube amp, it offers a really nice and balanced tone. Of course, it’s not as good as in the most expensive Fender amps, but it’s still a very high quality sound. I particularly like the cleans on that combo – they sound awesome when you’re using a Strat with a bit of reverb.
Overall, I have no hesitation in recommending this combo to anyone who’s looking for a really good and reliable piece of gear. Although it’s not the cheapest practice amp in the world, I definitely think that it’s worth it.
Here’s an another sound demo.
Disadvantages of Fender Champion 20
Although Fender Champion 20 is generally a really good amp, it has its own disadvantages as well. Don’t worry though – these issues aren’t too serious!
Firstly, although the amp features a lot of different built-in guitar effects, they’re all pretty basic. It works very well as an introduction to guitar pedals, but if you’re trying to achieve a unique and more interesting tone, you’ll probably have to purchase other guitar pedals anyway.
Another disadvantage is the fact that there’s only one channel, so if you want to change your settings, you have to do it manually. As a result, it’s not the best amp for playing live gigs. Of course, you can play live because this amp is definitely loud enough, but changing settings between songs may be really annoying.
Still, if you’re searching for a great and reliable practice amp, these disadvantages shouldn’t stop you from getting the Champion 20.
Are There Any Alternatives?
If you don’t like the look or sound of the Champion amp, don’t worry – there’s a lot of alternatives out there! Still, it all depends on what you’re looking for – a cheap amp for home use or something better and bigger?
If you’re searching for a compact amp to practice on, I highly recommend checking out Marshall MG10, VOX Pathfinder 10 and Fender Frontman 10G. All of these amps are really cheap and they offer a very good sound. Although they’re not as good as the Champion 20, they are more than enough for home use.
For those who are looking for something bigger and suitable for live gigs and studio recordings, you should definitely check out Peavey Classic 30 and Bugera BC15. These are tube/hybrid-tube amps, so they’re built in a slightly different way, but they’re both great for more advanced players.
Still, I think that Fender Champion 20 does the job very well and it will be a great option for the vast majority of guitarists. If you think that it’s too expensive, I think that it may be a good idea to save up a bit more to eventually get it instead of buying something cheaper. It’s really versatile and it won’t disappoint you!
FAQ
Where is Fender Champion 20 manufactured?
Fender Champion 20 is manufactured in China.
Where can I find a manual to Fender Champion 20?
The manual to Fender Champion 20 can be found here.
Is Fender Champion 20 a tube amp?
Fender Champion 20 is a solid-state amp, not a tube amp.
Does Fender Champion 20 take pedals well?
Fender Champion 20 takes pedals really well – that’s a fact. Nevertheless, since it has a few built-in guitar effects already, using additional pedals isn’t necessary.
Is there a footswitch included?
No, there is no footswitch included.
Summary
As you can see, Fender Champion 20 is a really cool and affordable amp. It sounds awesome and it’s not too expensive – who needs anything else? Surely, it will be a great practice amp for all-level players. I have no hesitation in recommending it to every guitarist who’s looking for a good and reliable piece of gear.
What do you think about Fender Champion 20? Would you add it to your own gear collection? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear what you think!
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