Canât find the best Fender amp for rock? Look no further – youâre already in the right place. We found and reviewed the top five best Fender amps for rock.
Fender is a household name in the US hugely popular with musicians, instrumentalists, and sound recording engineers for their stringed instruments and amps.
Known worldwide for electric guitars-Fenderâs flagship product-the company also makes acoustic guitars, banjos, lap steel guitars, digital violins, and guitar amps. Talking about Fender amps, they continue to be as sought-after these days as theyâve been for the past six decades.
Thereâs hardly any artiste or music band worth their salt that has not taken advantage of Fender amps while recording or performing live. However, when it comes to selecting a Fender amp suitable for your playing style, youâre spoilt for choice as the companyâs website features countless models. Fender has an amp for almost every musical or playing style; you can browse through bass/guitar amp by using the filters of âseries,â âplatform,â âproduct type,â âvenue type,â and âspeakers.â
This article closely looks at some of the best Fender amps for bassists and guitarists excelling in rock.
Best Fender Amps for Rock – Comparison Table
1. Fender Frontman 10G Electric Guitar Amplifier (Editorâs Choice)
In our opinion, the Fender Frontman 10G is the best Fender amp for rock available on the market.
Budding bassists looking for a user-friendly and straightforward amp for practice will find the Fender Frontman 10G guitar amp very handy. Thanks to its interactive controls, hot tone, and affordability, greenhorns and novices will warm up to the Fender Frontman amp. In addition, this 10W amp from Fender enables guitarists on the learning curve to practice effectively, regularly, and silently.
The Frontman ampâs compacted closed-back design allows you to set it up in surroundings where space is at a premium. Most significantly, this amplifier bears the classic Fender logo implying that you do not have to worry about its quality. As a result, you can rest assured that youâll always get to hear the crystal clear, warm, rich, and distinctive sound that Fender amps highly sought-after.
The Frontman 10G electric guitar amp comes with a specially designed 6â speaker and an adjustable gain control knob. So you can expect your bass to belt out tones ranging from tube-based overdrive to full-bodied distortion ideal for practicing classic rock, metal, and blues. In addition, this ampâs closed-back construction goes a long way in delivering a chunkier thickset bass response.
The bass and treble knobs help you fine-tune the low and high tone frequencies, while the overdrive switch facilitates heavier overdriven distortion. The Frontman 10G guitar amplifier offers you the impeccable vintage Fender tone in a compact package. On the other hand, the Fender amp insignia, kilted amp buttons, and silver grille clothing embody the distinctive aesthetics of classic âBlackfaceâ amps.
Features
- Power handling: 10W
- Amp type: Solid State
- ÂŒâ Instrument output
- 1/8â auxiliary input for connecting with CD or media player
- 2-band EQ
- 1/8â headphone jack for practicing quietly
- Closed-back design for greater bass response
- Controls: Bass, Treble, Volume, Gain, Input, Overdrive Select Switch
Pros
- Performance-oriented and affordable Fender amp for practicing
- Built-in custom-voiced overdrive control for that vintage Fender tone
- 1/8th âinch aux-in jack for playing along with your preferred media player
- 1/8â headphone output for practicing in silence
Cons
- Not as user-friendly for beginners as some other amp models
- Novice players will struggle to take advantage of the digital effects
2. Fender Champion (40) Electric Guitar Amplifier (Close Runner-Up)
If you want your bass to reproduce that classic, unmistakable American tone, you donât need to look beyond the Fender Champion 40W electric guitar amp. Not only is the Fender Champion suitable for playing any musical genre but at the same time effortless to use and handle. If youâre a bassist still learning the ropes and looking for a performance-driven but reasonably priced practice amp, then the Fender Champ is your best bet.
The Fender Champion 40-40-W Electric Guitar Amp best serves astute apprentices as it signifies a massive step-up from entry-level guitar amps. Featuring resourceful voice-control amp voicing, brilliant effects, and easy-to-use controls, the Champion 40 lets you ring out just the precision sounds for jazz, blues, country, metal, and rock. An immensely affordable and versatile guitar amp, the Fender Champion features a wide range of integrated digital effects and a wide amp voice range.
Consequently, youâll not only have it easy but also enjoy practicing your preferred playing style, be it metal, rock, or blues. The Champion 40 lives up to its legacy sporting the traditional âblackface appearanceâ and a single 12â Special Design speaker. This amp also comes with a versatile headphone output for quiet practice.
Thereâs also a mini-jack input for customized control of late-night practice sessions together with the option of playing back numbers from an MP3 player, laptop, or smartphone.
Features
- Solid-state 40W guitar amp
- Aux input for hooking up with media player, smartphone, or laptop
- A variety of effects such as tremolo speed and delay time are easily controllable with the TAP knob
- Classic Fender blackface aesthetics
- Knobs with vintage-styled skirted black plastic
Pros
- Easily accessible controls like âFX selectâ and âVoiceâ allow you to achieve your choice tone.
- Open-back cabinetry for storing small accessories and extra cables
- Dual-channel configuration for delivering a range of clean tones and a selectable Amp model setting experimenting with tones
- Plenty of built-in effects
Cons
- Youâve to buy the footswitch separately to make the most of it
- Being single-channel means, you cannot instantly switch from clean to spring reverb + tweed with a single click
- You hear an annoying pop when you switch off the amp
3. Fender Mustang LT-25 Digital Guitar Amplifier
The Mustang LT-25 Digital Guitar Amplifier embodies and integrates the expertise that Fender has perfected over decades in a robust package. This 25W digital guitar amp featuring an ultra-simple user interface has been designed and engineered especially for learners and beginners. Enthusiastic and passionate novices can make the most 30 presets encompassing a wide gamut of genres and playing styles.
The adjustable and multifarious signal chain coupled with premium onboard amp effects delivers spectacular tones, rendering the Mustang perfect for practicing. Despite being a digital amp, the Mustang guitar amp offers an analog modelâs convenience and versatility with intuitive UI and unique onboard tones. In addition, the single 8â speaker installed inside the amp offers you fantastic sound amp sound without the raucousness that emerges when you turn up the volume.
This Fender digital guitar amp lets you practice in complete silence where only you can hear what youâre playing when you plug in the headphones. The Mustang features multiple amp models, allowing you to a plethora of musical genres the moment you plugin. In addition, the smooth knobs for âgain,â âvolume,â âtreble,â âbass,â and âmasterâ enable you to adjust the settings for creating your customized music.
Features
- 25W combo amp
- Body material: Metal
- Guitar pickup configuration: combo
- Guitar bridge system: Fixed bridge
- Hand orientation: Ambidextrous
- Wooden cabinet
- Built-in single 8â Fender Special Design guitar speaker
Pros
- 30 user presets and user-friendly UI for practicing a variety of playing styles
- You can pair it with your computer via the USB port for recording music and updating firmware
- Plenty of digital effects
Cons
- Some presets may not sound good enough
- The multiple settings can be bewildering for beginners.
4. Fender Blues Junior Blues Electric Guitar Amplifier
The Blues Junior Electric Guitar Amp belonging to the Fenderâs Hot Rod series continue to make their presence felt on nearly every stage, globally. Whether theyâre accomplished or inexperienced players, bassists find the Fender Blues Junior IV 15W electric guitar amp enormously handy. This Hot Rod Series amp offers you just the right platform for practicing to create your own distinctive and unmistakable tone.
The updated preamp circuitry helps reproduce a vastly improved tonal palette with greater clarity even when youâre driving it towards overdrive. Consequently, your tone stays expressive, warm, and sonorous regardless of the intensity with which you push into overdrive. In addition, the Celestion speakers embedded inside the amp celebrated worldwide for their unique rock ânâ roll tang help give off a judicious blend of absolutely vintage growl and modern-day sound.
Features
- 15W electric guitar amp
- Size: Blues Junior
- Celestion 12â A-Type Speaker
- It comes with a single-knob footswitch for heavy mid boost
Pros
- Better mojo effect owing to the gleaming silver grille cloth
- Built-in steel-reinforced grip for easy transportation
- Upgraded spring reverb delivers the familiar riveting ambient sound but is far smoother
Cons
- Many users have complained about the waterproof vinyl material unpeeling
- Beginners might find the controls on the ampâs rear somewhat inconvenient
- Many players have reported that the fuse and tubes blew up sooner than later
We have also written an article about the best tubes for Fender Blues Junior, which might help understand all pros and cons of this amplifier.
5. Fender Champion 100XL Amplifier Combo
The Fender Champion 100XL Amplifier has been designed with meticulous care for guitarists looking for a user-friendly amp equipped with practical features. A well-rounded combo amp, the Fender Champion comprises a delectable array of amp effects and models. As a result, you can use the 100XL amp by Fender to good effect in the recording studio and onstage.
The Champion 100âs âblack on blackâ foundation distinguishes it from the seriesâ classic aesthetics lending a unique acoustic quality and vicious looks. The 16 amp tones ranging from intensely potent metal distortion to immaculately clean tones have greater flexibility than the four âstompboxâ effects. Players get wide leeway in experimenting with sound thanks to the twelve distinct vintage effects accessible on every channel, including delay to vibration and reverb.
The 100W dual-channel Celestion âmidnight 60â speakers guarantee full-on tones, boosted output, and better articulation making it easy for players to tune in the proper acoustics for different playing styles. In addition, the Fender Champion 100XL comes integrated with digital effects like Tremolo, Chorus, and Echo, essential for fine-tuning guitar tonality.
Features
- Power output: 100W
- Amp Type: Solid-State
- Woofer: 2 x 12â Celestion speakers
- Champion Series Comb Amp
- Dual-channel
- Preloaded with 16 standard amp tones
Pros
- Two Special Digital Design speakers for dialing in the right sounds
- Offers celebrated classic Fender tones and overdrive tones along with modern-day amp voicing and distortion array
- It comes with a 2-knob footswitch for remote monitoring of on/off effects and channel selection
Cons
- Beginners could find this amp a tad too hot to handle
- Calls for regular upgrade of firmware software
Best Fender Amp Settings for Rock
Setting up or programming your amp when accomplishing a typical rock tone can be a pretty tall order. That is because so many factors weigh heavily on achieving the precision amp settings-your guitar, the amp brand, and so on. No wonder then that thereâs no standardized answer to the question âwhat are the perfect amp settings for rock?â
Amp settings for ringing in distinctive rock tunes can be remarkably complicated. Nevertheless, you can check out the following specifics if youâre looking for a quick solution:-
Fender amplifier settings for rock music should be:
- Bass: 5
- Treble: 4
- Mids: 7
- Gain: 6-7
Most players are firm that âgainâ makes the most significant difference in achieving that unmistakable rock tone. Consequently, these players keep the gain excessively high which muffles the tone and makes it lose clarity. Thereâs also a reasonable possibility of audio feedback and noise when you increase the gain too much.
You can keep the gain ultra-high only when youâre trying to play heavy metal characterized by a crunchy tone. But, by and large, setting the gain around the 6-7 mark is par for the course in most circumstances. Talking about the EQ settings, the three chief control types that influence the ampâs sound frequencies include âBass,â âTreble,â and âMids.â
Bass, Treble, and Mids imply the amount or level of low-frequency, high-frequency, and mid-frequency sounds reproduced by your amp. If you set the bass and treble too high, the tunes could sound chaotic and raucous; therefore, the bass and trebleâs recommended settings are â5â andâ4â, respectively. Higher mids settings make the tone quite heavy, while lower settings reproduce a âhollowed outâ sound.
In this respect, maintaining the mids at â7â is what purists and classicists recommend.
Conclusion: The Best Fender Amp for Rock
In this article, we analyzed the five âBest Fender Amp for Rock.â While some guitar amps such as the Fender Frontman and Fender Blues Junior were perfect for beginners and greenhorns, the other models were designed keeping in mind the needs of the preferences of accomplished players.
However, since these are premium guitar/bass amps from Fender – a well-known US-based musical instrument manufacturer – they come at a price.
We think that the Fender Frontman 10G is the best Fender amp for rock on the list.