Fender has been making amplifiers for more than 100 years, and one really positive result of that is the Fender Champion 100. PMT notes that this amplifier combo is extraordinarily well-rounded, and perhaps most notably, it comes with all the classic cosmetics of the Fender “Blackface” Champ.
The Fender Champion 100, An Amplifier for Today’s World
The Fender Champ earned its place on the stage with many musicians, including Jeff Beck, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, and The Eagles’ Joe Walsh. Then there’s Eric Clapton, who, while a member of Derek and The Dominoes used a three-watt tweed Fender Champ combo from the 1950s.
Chasing Amp Tone has this to say about this versatile amplifier:
“It borrows its name from a small amp Fender made in the 50s but the Champion 100 is all modern. Unlike a tube amp, it’s lightweight and really affordable for those on a tight budget. Even so, it packs 100-watts and two 12-inch speakers so it’s powerful enough for about any gig.”
Like it’s predecessor, the Fender Champion 100 has lots of good vibes. This is an amp blessed with 100-watt raw power, and also comes with two 12″ specially designed speakers. The Fender Champion packs a full-voice, with clean and overdrive tones and room for distortion. It also comes with two footswitch channels that offer plenty of versatility for any budding Eric Clapton.
Channel one is pure Fender, with a clean tone derived from twin reverb amps, but it’s also packed with solid-state electronics that give it a voice all its own. Channel two features selectable voicing, allowing musicians to find a sound to call their own.
And if you want a more polished tone, the Fender Champion is pre-loaded with plenty of digital effects — everything from reverb, delay, echo, chorus, to tremolo and a host of other digital effects are available with just the flip of a switch. For those who don’t want to wake up the neighbors, this amp even comes with headphone jacks.
You can also jam along with your favorite songs on Media Player because the amp features a 1/8″ auxiliary input that allows you to do this. And because it comes with an effects loop, you can also use outboard effects.
Power up Your Jam with the Amp Effects Loop
As soon as the signal from your guitar reaches the amplifier, it travels through the preamp, equalizer and power amp. Next, it makes its way to the speakers, thus allowing you to ramp up your jam. The whole thing is pretty simple, but it will enable you to really diversify effects to fine-tune your sound — you can use such outboard effects like stompboxes and pedals.
But that’s not all. You can also use time-based effects like chorus, flanging, delay, and phasing, as well as distortion and distortion-related effects like fuzzing and overdrive. Fender’s Tech Talk explains how this works in greater detail.
In the video below, Phillip Richter from Murphy’s Guitars gives a demo on Fender Champion 100 special effects
Murphy's Guitars Fender Champion 100 Demo https://t.co/MS1BZCAt2r via @YouTube
— paul sims (@paulsims63) January 19, 2017
Another bit of good news: If you’re wondering what members of the public think, there’s more than one Fender Champion 100 review by everyday customers. Here are a few samples:
“It looks great, sounds great, and my guitar is gorgeous too. Who could ask for anything more?”
“I’ve had this amp for about a month and I absolutely love it. Beautiful, clean tones and the reverb makes me happy every time.”
“I bought my Champion 100 not too long ago and have done a couple of gigs with it. It has a great sound. Nice and clear, even my pedals sound better. I like the fact that you can set both channels the way you want them. I play a Strat and the true sound of a Strat comes through. The price was good, and it has already paid for itself.”
For the style-conscious, the Champion even comes in a limited edition bright red, with all the same features mentioned above. Wouldn’t it be fun to have an amp that matched the color of your guitar? Couldn’t you just dig that?
And all of this came about thanks to the Champion 100’s progenitor, the Fender Champ, which has spawned generations of Champions, such as the 100, the Champion 600, 800, the 5E1 Narrow Panel Champ (which is rare), and Blackface and Silverface Champs. It’s an amplifier that keeps improving the guitar world every day.
As such, here are a few tips to keep your Champ in good shape (especially if it’s a vintage one):
- Change those electrolytic caps every seven to 10 years. Over time, they can affect an amplifier’s performance.
- A technician should check the resistors, clean the sockets and potentiometers. The speakers should also be checked because over time, they can also deteriorate. The cones are made out of paper, which becomes brittle
The Fender Champion 100 is an amplifier that suits every level of musical experience — from beginner to professional. Retailing for just under $350 on Amazon and other sites makes this adaptable and high-quality product accessible even on the skimpiest budgets.
Featured Image: CC0 Public Domain via Pixabay (with Fender Champion 100 amp added).
