• The Fender Champion 100 affords a plethora of basic Fender tones
• A gigging combo at a worth that gained’t break the price range
• We assessment every little thing this little powerhouse has to supply

---

The fashionable amplifier market is flooded with choices. Fashions such because the Boss Katana push digital modeling to a brand new degree whereas others, such because the Optimistic Grid Spark Go, carry the small amp market to a brand new plateau.

With so many market niches stuffed with merchandise, there may be one obtrusive omission. Today, it’s onerous to seek out an old-school high-wattage strong state with a easy two-channel structure.

Relaxation assured, for anybody needing a high-wattage, high-headroom combo able to blow the doorways down, all for chump change, the Fender Champion 100 is the reply.

Anybody after a lower-wattage Fender combo amp can take a look at our assessment of the Fender Frontman 25R right here!

Fender Champion 100 Verdict? (Excessive Wattage, Low Price)

Our Rating 8/10

The fashionable amplifier market can depart your head spinning with choices. With so many producers offering countless options which can be simply overkill for some gamers, it’s onerous to navigate the ocean of selections to seek out which fits you and your enjoying type.

The Fender Champion 100 is a breath of recent air for anybody in search of a high-wattage combo amp that has all that you must get by means of the gig, no extra and no much less.

Execs

• 16 useable amp fashions with inbuilt FX cowl quite a lot of genres
• A superb possibility for any participant in search of their first gigging amp
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Different choices could make the Champion 100 appear “naked bones.”
• No acquire, voice, or mid-control on Channel 1

Fender Champion 100: Full Evaluate

Overview

The Fender Champion 100 is a high-wattage combo amp that packs basic Fender sounds into an reasonably priced Strong-State package deal. The Champion might be thought-about the alternative for the long-running Fender Frontman 212R Strong-State combo. 

The Champion offers the previous Frontman a brand new lick of paint, including some digital FX and 16 completely different voicing choices. These modifications give some added versatility to a working participant’s favourite, with Fender additionally opting to replace the amp’s general aesthetic. 

This offers the Fender Champion 100 a visible vibe akin to the coveted Blackface Fender amps of the Sixties, such because the Twin Reverb and Bassman. With the Champion 100 present in such a aggressive market, let’s dive in and carefully look at how this all provides up.

Construct High quality

The Champion 100 is roofed in a tolex-like materials. Whereas uncertain whether it is actual tolex, it did really feel like it will endure quite a few load-ins earlier than displaying noticeable indicators of damage. The management plate boasts plastic knobs of the identical type because the basic Fender witch hat knobs, and so they do a superb job of including to the amp’s classic aesthetic.

All of the potentiometers really feel straightforward to show, and we didn’t discover any crackly pots when sweeping the controls throughout their entire bandwidth. Like all Fender solid-state amps, the Champion 100 would maintain up effectively to the pains of native gigging and even some skilled gigging. 

Given its modest worth level, I can’t assist however approve of the general construct high quality of this amp. 

Sound High quality

The Champion 100 is a two-channel amplifier that packs in some natively hosted digital amp fashions and FX. I discovered the Champion 100 to have a clear Blackface-style sound with loads of basic Fender taste. 

Opting to place this combo by means of its paces, I took my check mannequin to a jam session with an exceptionally hard-hitting rock drummer. It is a true check for any reasonably priced solid-state amplifier, and I’m happy to report that the Champion 100 handed with flying colours.

Packing loads of headroom, the Champion 100 punched by means of the combo persistently and averted undesirable breakup, even when pushed to the restrict. The onboard results embody the usual echo, vibrato, tremolo, and reverbs, in addition to others. The entire digital selection, with none leaving a lot to be desired and performing their job effectively sufficient in a full combine.

Whereas the amp fashions packed into the Champion 100 embody some basic Fender tones, it’s onerous to advocate this amp to anybody in search of the leading edge in digital modeling when different opponents provide a lot extra on this entrance. 

Nonetheless, the modeling points of the Champion 100 could attraction to anybody in search of a plethora of Fender-specific sounds inside one field. The place the Champion 100 excels is in the way in which that Fender has managed to include a high-powered solid-state amplifier right into a budget-friendly package deal. 

This makes the Champion 100 value trying into if you’re a youthful participant in search of your first gigging amplifier or a veteran in search of a backup on a budget.

Options

What’s In The Field

The Fender Champion 100 is a solid-state 2×12 combo amplifier with 2 Fender branded audio system. A footswitch is included within the base worth of the Champion 100–a really welcome acknowledgment in an period the place such additions are generally paid extras. 

Additionally included is an IEC cable that may get your new buy up and operating rapidly.

Altering Presets

All presets are managed by a rotary dial on the amp’s second channel. Altogether, the amp options 16 voicings providing the next choices (on channel two solely):

Clear + Comp

1. Fender Clear 1 (Studio Preamp)
2. Fender Clear 2 (65 Twin)
3. Fender Clear 3 (65 Deluxe)
4. Fender Clear + Comp (65 Twin with Compressor)

Crunch + OD

1. Fender Crunch 1 (59 Bassman)
2. Fender Crunch 2 (57 Deluxe)
3. Fender Crunch 3 (65 Princeton)
4. Fender Crunch + OD (65 Deluxe with OD Pedal)

British + Dist

1. Brit Clear (60s British)
2. Brit Crunch 1 (70s British)
3. Brit Crunch 2 (80s British)
4. Brit + Dist (70s British Crunch w Distortion)

Metallic + Oct

1. Excessive Achieve 1 (Fender Tremendous Sonic)
2. Excessive Achieve 2 (90s Excessive Achieve)
3. Excessive Achieve 3 (00s Excessive Achieve)
4. Metallic + Oct (90s Metallic w Octavia)

These choices provide a heady mixture of tones on channel 2, offering the Champion 100 with appreciable versatility.

Results

Channel 2 additionally hosts many digital results that can be utilized with any of the beforehand talked about amplifier voicings. The next listing particulars what exactly the Champion 100 is packing when it comes to modulation, delay, and different results, in addition to what these results are based mostly on. 

1. Wah – Contact Wah
2. FLNG – Flanger
3. VIBRA – Vibratone Sluggish
4. VIBRA – Vibratone Quick
5. CH + DLY + REV – Refrain
6. CH + DLY + REV – Refrain and Delay
7. CH + DLY + REV – Refrain and Reverb
8. Delay – Delay Slapback
9. Delay – Delay Lengthy
10. Trem – Trem Sluggish
11. Trem – Trem Quick
12. Reverb + DLY – Reverb + Delay
13. Reverb + DLY – Reverb 1
14. Reverb + DLY – Reverb 2
15. Reverb + DLY – Reverb 3

Further Options

The Fender Champion 100 options each a headphone output and aux enter, making it a viable possibility for anybody in search of a unit that may double as a observe amp. The amplifier additionally options an built-in FX loop for gamers who require one inside their speedy setup.

Ultimate Ideas

In a market filled with amplifiers that boast extra choices than most would ever use, the Fender Champion 100 yields some spectacular rules regardless of its idea being rooted previously. 

Any gamers presently available in the market for his or her first gigging amplifier might do far worse than selecting up the Champion 100, and even seasoned veterans could discover some use on this budget-minded combo as a observe or backup amplifier.