Fender Champion 40 Owners:

[Jerry D]

How do you set your control knobs for best sound? (I know that's very subjective).

I have a Champion 40 I use upstairs for noodling around on, and a '68 Super Reverb in the basement for when I really want to "cut loose". I know the 40 ain't gonna sound like the Super, but I've looked at a couple of YouTube vids where the 40 seems to deliver more of the Strat signature sound that I'm getting out of mine. I play mostly 60's/70's classic rock, and some country.

Any suggestions?

[Steve DeRosa]

Although much depends on the exact instrument you/they are using - pickups, strings, tail block - as well as individual technique, IME the weak link in the current Champion series (as it was with the first-issue Frontman amps) is the bargain-basement speakers; FYI one of the secret tone tricks for owners of the old Frontman 25 1x10" is to replace the stock unit with an Eminence Lil' Buddy (for country/jazz/blues) or Ragin' Cajun (for harder rock styles), and a Frontman 212R with a pair of Swamp Thangs and an upgraded reverb tank is a cult favorite among the surf-revival crowd - blackface Twin tone/power/headroom for less than half the price. I'd recommend going to the Eminence website and checking out some of their Patriot Series offerings (I personally wouldn't use a Brit-voiced speaker in the Champion 40 for the tones you're after): between the increased efficiency over the stock speaker (which essentially translates to the sonic equivalent of extra watts) and the tonal improvements, you can turn your little bargain box into a viable performance amp - and a lightweight alternative to that 65-pound Super Reverb...

[Jerry D]

Steve: thanks for this answer. I'll upgrade the speaker.