Fender Champion 50xl: Review, Tone Tips & More
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- The guitar strings I play (Affiliate Link) amzn.to/3apKW8p
Welcome to this IN DEPTH review of the new Fender Champion 50XL Solid State modeling amp, complete with a full demo runthrough of the channels, amp models and effects, and tone tips on how to get the most out of your amp!
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This video was sponsored by Fender Guitars, however, the opinions expressed are unpaid and of my own volition.
Disclaimer: I do basic audio editing on my videos to account for the microphones, preamp and room. This editing, mostly light EQ and compression, is intended to give you the most accurate representation of how the featured gear actually sounds. NO editing is done to misrepresent how the featured gear sounds in any way.
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For your viewing pleasure ~
Review: 2:43
FX: 15:55
Amp Voices: 22:49
Hi Jack. Really enjoy your channel! Very thorough and informative review, as I've come to expect from you. I, too, had noted that the controls and features of the 50XL seemed to be basically the same as on the Super Champ X2 (I've enjoyed your X2 speaker-swap videos). How would you compare the tonal quality and overall sound of the 50XL vs. the Super Champ X2 combo?
Thank you! Its actually hard to compare them considering that they're pretty similar in alot of ways. This one, while having some "tube amp characteristics" is still very much a solid state amp. Generally I think this one is a better buy overall. Not necessarily that its a better amp, but the X2 I feel really needs some mods, like the speaker, in order to really get it where you want it to be. I think for a practice amp, home jam amp or small gig/backup amp, this one is less expensive and more convenient.
@@JackFossett Hi Jack, whats the clean headroom like on this amp? I have my reservations because even the Roland JC40 does not have enough watts to prevent clipping after half volume. I generally play with high output humbuckers. Everything about this amp is killer, Im just hoping it has enough headroom!
Elliot Knight so honestly probably not, but Fender has just released a 100 version of this amp which would suit better volume and clean headroom needs
Clean 1: '65 Twin
Clean 2: '65 Deluxe
Clean 3: '65 Twin +Compressor
Crunch 1: Tweed Bassman
Crunch 2: '65 Princeton
Crunch 3: '65 Deluxe +OverDrive
British 1: 60's Clean
British 2: 80's Crunch
British 3: 70's +Distortion
Metal 1: 90's USA
Metal 2: 2000's
Metal 3: 90's USA +Octaver
Thank you.
I have this amp for over 2 years now. I mostly use the clean channel it is amazing and it takes pedals really well! the reverb and delay effects are really good the rest are ok. I recorded many videos with this amp miced up and its fine. I also gigged twice with it and it was loud enough. for 250$ HUGE Value for the money spent
How does it take pedals? Does it have an fx loop of do you have to plug them into the front
@@MatthewF174 No it doesn't have an fx loop, I use it clean only with drive pedals. check some of my videos all of them are recorded with this amp miced!
Is it loud enough for a small bar
I've had one of these for a few months now and I quite like it so far. I use it to play at home and for jam sessions with some friends. The clean tone is wonderful and when I throw a boost pedal in, it roars!
just ordered one.headphones in my mind. and many many pedals: Im soo glad that Fender makes these solid state ones, I have 3 Frontman 10Gs sitting on my bookshelf, and 1 Fender Stage 100 Watter!( with noo headphones option!),
I thought about the Champion 40, but this 50XL has a Celestion Speaker, and that was that: ....one amp that I really love too is a Harley Benton 80W Mosfet Lead: the Mosfet really makes it a warm , powerful Jazzy amp!( of course, no headphones...)
actually, the moe I hear from this Fender XL, the more Im glad I ventured to order one...FENDER actually rules!
AND the 1 Clean i s the 65 TWIN: just the setting I have always on in my ZOOM G2! basic even EQ: Im soo sold on this amp!
Love this amp. Has a different tone than a typical Fender. Warmer I think. Very light . Easy to lug.
I like warm , jazz, never understood "chime", just ordered steel string supreme pedals , cause my darkish jazz tones are getting a bit out of hand.., ha ha: the DOD Looking Glass: oh what a slight thickener/cooler for warm tones....
This is one of the most detailed, intelligent review demos [very few out there] of this newish Fender amp (available from November 2018?) I have listened to.
All the knob settings are explained very well indeed.
An unbiased objective review and Jack’s playing is excellent. Beautiful clean tones.
It emulates classic, highly expensive tube amps beyond what most can afford.
It has certainly motivated me to buy one compared to the more fiddly, all bells and whistles Fender Mustang GT 100. Some would say boxier and less easy to gig with?
Thanks Jack.
Such an unusually good review. Better than Andersons for this amp.
One wonders why Fender have kept this amp well under the radar🤔.
Thank you, I appreciate the kind thoughtful feedback!
I do agree with you also, it seems this amp has flown under the radar. Generally Fender seems more interested in promoting the Mustang line of amps which is the next step up.
Great review. I just got the
Champion 50 XL and I agree it’s a great amp and I found it to be a good pedal platform.
For me the clean channel is where it shines especially with reverb/ chorus options. For the price point it’s an excellent amp.
I'm enjoying all the well-thought-out and very practical reviews on this channel!
Outstanding review and playing, as always.
When use this amp live, the volume of the amp vibrates the control settings! It will change from reverb into chorus and from mild overdrive into metal as the song goes on. Ha ha! I have started using Blue Tack to keep the knobs from moving.
I just got one fender champion 50xl I got it from guitar center new in box it has a huge range of tones you would think you were using various different amps incredible sound great amp very bright spanky to good high gain sound and the effects bring even more to the picture 🎉🎸🎵👍
Stellar review sir, well done. You have earned my subscription. Off to binge watch some more of your channel.
Awesome, great to hear!
Excellent Review. I really liked your extensive detailed demo in all of the modes and your playing fit the sound you selected. Plenty of clean demos as well. I think the Celestion speaker adds a nice touch as well. Thanks for all your reviews. I enjoy them and learn a lot about the product. Keep them coming.
thanks alot.your amp reviews are simply the best.
Glad you like them!
I really like this amp..But I also like the new Blackstar IS Core V4's updated features and sound too. Tough choice.
I have a Blackstar Silverline Special with the 12: Celestion V-type speaker in it and sounds good, and I know it seems like I don't need another amp (I have several including a Marshall DSL all tube amd with the same speaker as the Blackstar Silverline Special), but these days with their relatively low prices, amps are like candy to me since I never had these as a kid growing up with a cheap guitar and a very old solid state Sears brand guitar amp (Wish I still had it).
Beautiful demo on this amp btw. Nice to hear cleaner less gainy tones too, as we all are pretty certain new amps can crank out the gain.
THANKS for playing it clean first!
I can confirm the bass & treble settings for a tele.
Excellent review Jack, very useful and complete. Thanks so much!
I just bought a 50XL based on this and a few other decent reviews. Seems that the Celestion speakers were a great leap forward for the Champion line. Both the 100XL and 50XL are hard to come by in Canada... I had to have one shipped halfway across the country!
Awesome! I agree, the speaker is surprisingly good.
Do you think it is loud enough to play live?
@@davidcastellanos881 Small venue... maybe. Anything larger and it would need to be PA'd. Jack can probably answer best, being a gigging musician.
After owning this amp for more than a year I can say it's killer. The only negative is I really wish they put the amp models on the unit. It's annoying to have to back and look them up in the manual. The other thing I will say is it's a killer amp but almost like Fender wasn't too proud of it because you can't find a lot of information on it anywhere
That may have something to do with it turning into garbage halfway up, after first showing potential. Also, there's no line out or effects loop. They could've added them for another $25.00
I just wish it had a DI out. Sounds great, love the size.
Great review, and great playing! Would you suggest this amp or the champion 40 or Vox vt40x, in terms of sound quality? I only play at home
Great video, was on the fence between this and a mustang GTX50, I really just want a nice clean fender tone and to use a couple pedals I have, after seeing this video, I decided to pull the tripper on the Champion, thanks!
Thank you, glad I could help! This one does the clean thing superb.
Same I got the champion instead of the mustang I found the sound to be cleaner
@@xanderfilms8820 Nice, enjoy. I am loving my champion, great simple amp for a nice price.
I have it as well. To me it sounds way better when I plug headphones in. Maybe I position it wrong? I use it with a tele at home only
I bought the Champion 100xl and tore my rotator cuff pulling it out of the box 📦. So, I ordered the 50xl and yes it is MUCH lighter. So far I’m enjoying playing it while sitting around the living room waiting to have surgery on my shoulder 😢. You’re right about having good gear. The cheap stuff is often very disappointing. If you decide to part with something that was pricey you should get nearly all of your money 💴 back and have a good experience while using it. I know I don’t play well but I’m learning on some pretty expensive Strats that I really enjoy. I’m a tech geek so I definitely appreciate all of their features. 👍☮️🌞🎸❤️
You and I both. Been playing hendrix licks at like half the speed with my fender strat lol. But hey, it gives you more incentive to keep going once you've invested money into it.
Dear Jack , just orderd this amp, mainly for: solid state, familiar Fender Clean/Twin mode?/my Stratt neck pup/50 W home or more/headphones jack...
I have lots of pedals , and with my ZOOM G2 Multi`s Master Vol I can attenuate even my Fender Stage 100W for block of flats playin, just realised how valuable my beloved ZOOM G2s are, having the master VOL, also my headphones have the vol control, which I think I use more often, since Ive taken to dark jazzy tones, and the bass/mids can overpower the phones, and Im turning 58 years OLD October, and I dont wanna get tinnitus now!!!!
I liked this vid of yours right from the start, you using the clean set and the bass n treb set just about like I probly shall, and the 1st mode is the Twin 65: just the one mode I ve set with the ZOOM G2: jazzy warmish clean, ha!
and the speaker is a Celestion, good; thats why I didnt get the Champion 40..., I realize this IS a Champion , so it IS somekinda modeler, but heck Im using ZOOM G2 which is digital, but it sounds very natural to me , .....and it seems to have ample bass: cause the Blackstart debut 50r and Blacstar Silverlines sound WAY artificial...
anyways THANKYOU for a proper demo and : Hit the Road...! LOVE, Kimmo , Finland
Dave Simpson tapes the Speaker in the middle outside: says it tames them his!
Really enjoyed this video!
Awesome, thank you!
Never discount an SS Amp as another option, case in point, the wonderful Jazz Chorus from Roland. No tubes, no biasing, no problems...usually.
Great review. I'm looking at buying this amp.
Thank you! It’s a great little amp
I will be ordering one in the next few days, Jack, thanks to your excellent review. In the same breath, let me say I was so very happy to see a decently dressed guitarist, who otherwise usually sport long and unruly hair, not to mention shirts that leave a lot to be said about ! You play well and dress very nicely. Please don't change !! :-)
Nice Vid Jack! Please do a Demo and Review of the New Fender Tone Master Twin and Deluxe Amps! Have a Great Day!
Thank you! I've been working on getting my hands on one, stay tuned. Meanwhile I have some other similar videos coming up~
Great review! Did you have the amp mic'd up to a PA when you gigged with it? Basically I play pubs and am looking for an amp loud enough for those venues.I play in a 3 piece.
Garry Atkinson thanks! So I didn’t mic it for the venue I was in, but it was pretty small. For most pubs I think you’d want to be able to mic it.
I just picked one of these amps up for $30 - it's just okay but I prefer my Princeton 60 reissue for a classic Fender clean plus reverb, and my multi pedal for effects......
Hi Jack, great review and beautiful tones out there. How will compare this amp versus a blues junior tweed edition for a bedroom player and occasionally doing some gigs mic up (4/5 per year)? I am in love with the look of the blues jr. tweed edition. but the money difference is a big jump. Cheers and thank you.
Ya know you might be best of with one of the amps in the middle. Something from the Fender Mustang line, or a Super Champ X2. In fact you may be able to find a limited edition X2 in Tweed, like the Blues Jr. I think those amps will suit the need of what you're talking about better at a cost more in between.
I feel like I like this better than a Mustang GT ...atm at least. There's work to be done in that line. I liked the old Cyber-series amps too, though.
Very good review thanks for the video. Which model is your telecaster ?
Great playing.Wish I was this good..Thanks..I might get the amp if it’s under 300.00
Bonjour from France,
I’d like to put my Fender Champion 50 XL in my car to my gigs ,but this thing produces a hissing noise wich makes it really unusable in live situations as soon as you put a microphone in front of it.
I like it in my office and for low volume rehearsals at home with my wife.
I have an older Mustang III v1 was thinking about getting one of these or a X2 do think there would be an improvement over the older solid state amp sound. Just found your channel, great videos!
Get the x2. You’ll never regret it
I just got the amp and I'm disappointed that it has no middle control and I find when the bass or treble are past 12o'clock it farts out even if i set the volume low. Im stuck with the amp and I'm trying to figure out what i could do about the fart out and I'm considering a speaker upgrade which is disappointing. Part of the reason i bought the amp was for the celestion midnight speaker. Im very open to any suggestions. I want to get my money's worth and i need it for practice and small venues.
Late answer but maybe still useful. I ve been playing around with this amp for a few months , I got it 2nd hand 150 US to give a rest to my main valve amps mostly on small underpaid gigs. I have worked a lot in my tone so I get my personal tone with 3 carefully selected stompboxes plus crunched 15 watts valve amp. Totally satisfied and easy to use, killer tone for rehersals, small and mid sized venues and mic’ed for big stages. Fender XL stands in great just selecting 2nd Channel Opt 5 (Fender Crunch 2 -Princeton 65 ) with Gain at noon. 30 years playing so I dig it almost in automatic to get this settings. I barely tested any other sound out from the amp.
Unfortunately, this weekend I forgot my pedalboard’s power source and my only option was to go direct to the amp. I had a the most hard time dialing knobs and I was never able to get a decent tone out of it. Too bassy, even at Zero Bass settings. It is not that I missed Mids control, I got clear that lowing Treble and Bass you get more Mids but harsh and muddy at same time. Hated it. I understand bad reviews about it now.
Great platform for pedals in some Amp Modeling options (mostly in Clean and Crunch low gain) such as any Fender , plenty of power for gigging, light and nice looking amp but totaly undependable in raw (no pedals).
I understand Fender’s selling point for newbies or room players, cheap amp, cheap modeling/effects(new generation , so still fairly good). Clearly far from pro-requirements but a nice , light and low budget option for gigging musicians looking for a Pedalboard platform -workhorse.
Today I checked in a music store and was gonna take either the boss katana 50 or the fender champion 50. Took the fender with 0 hesitation after trying both.
Wish I went with a Fender tbh. The Katana is just very digital and require hooking it up to a PC to get the most out of it...
I have this amp it is super for the $$. I just use the clean sounds. Compared to a tonemaster Princeton what do you think.
Damn those clean tones sounds sweet as hell !
Great demo. Curious of how good the tones are at low level (bed room playing). Thanks.
Thanks! This wasn't terribly loud in the demo. Solid state in general don't really need to be cranked to get cool tones.
I don't care if it "takes pedals". Or "Chugs". Or any of the bedroom guitar nonsense. It will be hard to find in 5 years. Thanks for intelligence in your comments. It covers what is needed for a pro player who is tired of tube amps being what they are, vulnerable.
You misspelled 'expensive.'
I love this amp - but the 'hair trigger' master volume action put me off buying it.
Oh - I didn't find that on mine? I actually found the master volume to have a nice sweep.
Thanks for your review. I'm considering this amp OR the Boss Katana 50 MKII.
How does the Fender sound with the Les Paul? (My #1 and #2 guitars are both Les Pauls.)
It's good
" WHY MIKE IT ? SHOULD BE FINE TO SHOW US GUYS THE WAY IT REALLY SOUNDS .. " Nice , though ! Me like !!
Great job!!!
How would you compare this to the mustang lt50?
Is it that big of a difference between this model and the champion 40?
don't know which to pick for home playing
I got the 50 w for christmas. It's noticeably bigger than the 40 and looks better imo. I would go for the 50 w butt im kinda biased.
@@esrd43 those classic vibes give the Baja or Fender Player a run for their money.Some of them even have nice flame on the neck.
Get the 50xl. Better speaker. Also, I believe the 40 and 20 make the loud pop when shutting off. Don't have it w/ the 50.
fantastic vid
I'm interested to see how it takes OD pedals. TS808 ?
Good for blues? Thank you!
Hi great video ! Thanks for that ! I've bought a 50xl and recieved it yesterday but it has like a "pchhhhhh" noise when I turn it on (even with volume at o) it is normal ? Or should I return it ? Thanks again for this great review 😊
Mine does it as well
@@TheJKWheelin it is your first amp ? Or if you have others amps do they make noise like this ?
@@thibault7412 I have another amp that doesn’t make noise and have had other amps....some noisy others not. I don’t hear it when I play so it doesn’t bother me much.
@@TheJKWheelin I agree it's not a very big noise but still bothers me a bit ... what was the name of your amps that doesn't make noise ? 😊 It can guide my research of a silent one
The only downside to this amp for me is the black cloth i prefer the champ 40 look
Thanks for great review! Is it loud enough to jam with drums and bass? Without mic it
Sure thing! Thats kind of hard to say, depends on how loud the drummer is. My instinct would be to say yes, but if you have a really loud drummer and a bunch of other members in your band, I might look at the 100w model. Solid state watts are quieter than tube watts generally speaking.
@@JackFossett thank you very much!
Bought this Amp a couple days ago . Nice comprehensive review . You are a good guitarist, but, if I could give a you a little bit of advice....you should really look at using different strings...OR...experiment with different picks , because the pick noise on your strings is horrible !!!!! It got to the point, where, no matter what you played, my ear immediately went to the noise, and after that, that's all I heard !!!
Thanks for the feedback!
My amp sounds nothing like this. It’s always pretty much the same. Really clean.
read the manual - free download from fender website
It doesn't sound like this at all! Can you make it sound that way?
ruclips.net/video/D0qqU2JcU34/видео.html
Do you think the new Mustang GTX can do that, or is this a fool's errand? Pardon if you already had done a review...
THEY CHARGE FORTY DOLLARS FOR PICK-UP / DELIVERY !!!
Hello Jack.....that's a good and detailed review and I liked the way you spoke in detail. However, when you play (strum, rather), your pick makes noises it should not. I suggest you look into it.
I bought this amp last week .why made in china?
Ronnel IntiaGuitarcoholic cheap labour = more profit
I think Trump is working with them to come back to America.Many others came back since he was elected.And I was one of those severe Trump haters back in 2015/16.I guess I’m a racist now..lol...
@@soulvaccination8679 No, just an idiot. Those jobs aren't coming back. Trump getting played for the cameras.
What isn’t?
If you have to look up the manual in order how it sounds it is not that convincing.
The input jack....is it a two pole or three pole? In other words, is it a mono or stereo jack/plug? I have one of these. There is no information on this plug or reference to it anywhere in the instructions. Guitar center has no clue. Their best answer is,”It SHOULD work”. That is not a positive yes or no. So, I called SWEETWATER......I got a real positive answer from them. Guitar center may be local and convenient, SWEETWATER has the answers.
Sweetwater will get all my business. Now, why did I buy one of these amps? Well, at 74 years old, I played bass in high school in the sixties. After three years in the army, my bass skills sort of went away. Now being stuck inside with all this Covid stuff, I wanted more hobbies to occupy my brain, so I bought a new Hofner bass and needed an amp. I can’t figure out if I am playing with myself or by myself, but a small bass amp is all I need. I like this one for the headphones out and iPad input. A good set of headphones and I am in for hours and hours of playing. This is great for six and twelve string guitars. Not good for accordion. It is excellent with bass and headphones.
I bought it for $160.00 on offer up. The fella wanted more power. It was only days old when I found it. I feel I got lucky on this one. This fender fits my needs ten times over.