Fender FM 212R user reviews ( 5/10) - 56 user reviews

• 08/04/11

  moosers's review

  Characteristics

  The Fender Frontman 212 R is a guitar combo amplifier on the low end of the spectrum for Fender amps. In fact, it's one of the cheapest 2 x 12 combo amps that you'll find. This is a solid state amplifier, putting out 100 watts into 4 ohms. It has two 1/4" inputs and other 1/4" connections for a foot switch (which I think is included), and preamp out and power input.

  Utilization

  The Fender Frontman 212 R has two channels and includes built in distortion and reverb. The first channel is simple, with only knobs for volume, treble, mid, and bass, while the second channel has the same plus a drive parameter. It also has a channel select button (also controllable with the foot switch), a 'more drive' feature, and a mid contour button as well. Lastly, on the far right there's a reverb knob. I've never seen a manual for the Fender Frontman 212 R.

  Sounds

  The sound of the Fender Frontman 212 R is pretty average overall. The clean sound is okay, although very solid state sounding and not warm like tube amp. It will definitely get the job done for practicing and gigging for beginners. However, the distortion on here is pretty much unusable and it's super tinny. The reverb is nice to have but again isn't the best of it's kind. It sounds okay for the price, but will never stand up to most other Fender amplifiers.

  Overall Opinion

  The Fender Frontman 212 R is a good amp for those who are just starting to play guitar but want a semi-decent amp without spending too much. I'd still probably recommend going with something smaller if you're just starting out, but if you insist that you need a bigger amp for gigging and still can't pay more than a few hundred bucks, the Frontman 212 R should suit you. If you're looking for an amp built to last, this isn't it, but it is super cheap and worth checking out for those looking for their first 2x12 amp.
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• 07/10/11

  iamqman's review "A big old no thanks."

  Characteristics

  The all black version of the Fender frontman which is only cosmetically different then the silverface once from Fender that you would normally see. Same lame features of terrible sounding solid state tone.
  
  
  
  What is this amp....is what I'm thinking when I first glance at it? It looks very deceiving because it looks like a Fender Twin or something but it doesn't have any tube and it's not an amp modeling even though it is priced at that price point. If you see this thing at yard sale beware because you might think you're looking at a Twin Reverb but you come to find out it is some solid state two speaker waste of time.
  
  
  
  It has three channels that sound awful besides the clean channel. The clean sounds decent but god lord this amp is terrible!!

  Utilization

  Effects Loop: Effects Loop (Preamp Out, Power Amp In)
  
  Inputs: Two
  
  Auxiliary Input: 1/4" Footswitch Jack
  
  Channels: Three Selectable Channels (Normal, Drive and More Drive)
  
  Power Handling: 100 Watts into 4 Ohms
  
  Controls: Normal Channel: Volume, Treble, Bass. Drive Channel: Drive, Volume, Channel Select Switch, Treble, Mid, Mid Contour Switch, Bass, Reverb.
  
  Hardware
  
  Cabinet Material: Black textured vinyl covering
  
  Pilot Light Jewel: Red Amp Jewel
  
  Handle: Molded Black Handle
  
  Front Panel: "Blackface"™ Style Control Panel
  
  Amplifier Length: 9.5" (24.13 cm)
  
  Amplifier Width: 26" (66 cm)
  
  Amplifier Height: 19.5" (49.5 cm)
  
  Amplifier Weight: 48 lbs. (21.7 kg)
  
  Effects: Reverb

  Sounds

  NO tonal change between this amp and the terrible sounding silverface edition. This thing is so bad I am actually embarrassed to have listened to it. It sounds horrible with any guitar and and effect pedal you put through it. It takes pedals extremely bad and guitar sound like your playing hasn't improved since you first picked up a dusty acoustic guitar.
  
  
  
  This amp...I'm sorry is just garbage. I am not sure what the point is for this amp. I have been trying to wrap my head around why Fender would market this product and I can't come to any conclusion. They have a Mustang series amps that are around the same price point and do amp modeling which sound far more superior if that's possible with an amp modeler to this thing.

  Overall Opinion

  At new they come in at around $300. Which to me is about $200 too much. I didn't give this an unusable rating since it does have a Fender clean tone, but if you want any amount of distortion then throw this thing off a roof and buy a Roland amp modeler or a Line 6. Who would I recommend this to...no one! Don't waste you time getting a Twin Reverb look a like solid state paper weight.
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• 04/19/11

  iamqman's review "What is this?"

  Characteristics

  What is this amp....is what I'm thinking when I first glance at it? It looks very deceiving because it looks like a Fender Twin or something but it doesn't have any tube and it's not an amp modeling even though it is priced at that price point. If you see this thing at yard sale beware because you might think you're looking at a Twin Reverb but you come to find out it is some solid state two speaker waste of time.
  
  
  
  It has three channels that sound awful besides the clean channel. The clean sounds decent but god lord this amp is terrible!!
  
  
  
  * 100W
  
  * 2 Special Design 12" drivers
  
  * 2 channels: Clean and Drive/More Drive
  
  * Drive/More Drive channel has a quick tone-shaping mid contour switch
  
  * Spring reverb
  
  * Blackface-style control panel
  
  * Chrome hardware

  Utilization

  Specification Detail
  
  Type Solid State
  
  Number of Channels 2
  
  Power 100W
  
  Speakers 2 x 12" Special Design
  
  Effects No Effects
  
  Reverb Yes
  
  EQ Ch 1: Treble, Mid, Bass; Ch 2: Treble, Mid, Bass (Mid Contour Button)
  
  Amp Modeling No Amp Modeling
  
  Number of Models 0
  
  Number of Tubes 0
  
  Preamp Tubes No Tubes
  
  Power Tubes No Tubes
  
  Inputs 2 x Instrument
  
  Outputs No Outputs
  
  Footswitch I/O Yes
  
  Effects Loop Yes
  
  Height 19.5"
  
  Width 26"
  
  Depth 9.5"
  
  Weight 48 lbs.

  Sounds

  This thing is so bad I am actually embarrassed to have listened to it. It sounds horrible with any guitar and and effect pedal you put through it. It takes pedals extremely bad and guitar sound like your playing hasn't improved since you first picked up a dusty acoustic guitar.
  
  
  
  This amp...I'm sorry is just garbage. I am not sure what the point is for this amp. I have been trying to wrap my head around why Fender would market this product and I can't come to any conclusion. They have a Mustang series amps that are around the same price point and do amp modeling which sound far more superior if that's possible with an amp modeler to this thing.

  Overall Opinion

  Do not buy this waste of money! At new they come in at around $300. Which to me is about $300 too much. I didn't give this an unusable rating since it does have a Fender clean tone, but if you want any amount of distortion then throw this thing off a roof and buy a Roland amp modeler or a Line 6.
  
  
  
  Who would I recommend this to...no one! Don't waste you time getting a Twin Reverb look a like solid state paper weight.
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• 12/16/10

  Audiofanzine FR's review

  Characteristics

  Originally written by valskater on Audiofanzine FR.
  
  
  
  Fender Frontman 2 X 12" with resistor
  
  
  
  Good amp, very high output power (100 W), two channels (clean and drive/more drive), spring verb
  
  
  
  Pots from left to right:
  
  
  
  [both channels]master volume /[clean] treble, mid, bass /[overdrive] drive, volume, treble, mid, bass /[both channels] reverb
  
  
  
  Switches:
  
  
  
  - channel select
  
  - more drive (= overdrive channel)
  
  - mid contour (= overdrive channel)
  
  
  
  Connections:
  
  
  
  -Input 1
  
  -Input 2
  
  -Footswitch
  
  -Pre out (= line out)
  
  -PWR in (= additional input for other sound sources: mp3, CD, digital piano...)
  
  
  
  I rated it 9/10 because it is very heavy!!

  Utilization

  Very easy to use: you'll easily find your own tone and won't need to read the manual!!

  Sounds

  Very versatile amp!!!
  
  
  
  The clean channel can provide a "dry" or "fat" response.
  
  
  
  Overdrive channel:
  
  - drive: crunch sound, very good for blues ;-)
  
  - more drive: good for hard rock and heavy metal
  
  
  
  I use almost only the clean channel with a Boss DS-2 stomp box. The result is quite good ^^
  
  
  
  8/10 because of the huge output power of the amp (master volume set to two for rehearsals and three for live gigs. Too much power for me)
  
  Overall opinion 9/10
  
  I've been using it for over one year. It's my first "big amp".
  
  Very good value for money.
  
  Based on my experience, I would buy another amp to discover something different.

  Overall Opinion

  9/10
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• 11/10/10

  mooseherman's review "Cheap, ok Amp"

  Characteristics

  This amp is a Fender Solid-State guitar amplifier. This amp has two inputs. There are three channels (clean, drive, more drive). The amp has built-in spring reverb, which is a master control (it applies to both channels). There is a simple, one-knob control for this reverb. There are seperate volume knobs and EQ knobs for each channel (the EQ is three-way, bass, middle, and treble). The drive channel also has a gain knob. There is a footswitch capability as well.

  Utilization

  The more drive channel of this amp is really just a boost for the drive channel. It is good if you want to use it to boost solos or leads, as it is louder and has a little more fuzz on it. This helps a lot and is useful, but unfortunately, there aren't many other useful things about this amp. For one, it has a typical solid-state problem of not providing any natural distortion. Also, the EQ controls are pretty weak, and they don't go very far at all in shaping the tone. Thus the guitar has very little variation in tones. If you aren't extremely happy with the tone you've got, this amp is going to be tough to get a good sound out of.

  Sounds

  I have tried this amp with a couple different guitars. I like it best with my Strat and my Tele, but I wouldn't say that any guitar sounded particularly good with it. I didn't have particularly high expectations considering the price, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. The clean tones are very precise, and don't color the sound at all. However, that's not a good thing, as I like to have a little bit of breakup in the sound. A true clean channel isn't interesting for those of us who play blues, rock, or other similar styles, unless they want to sound really tame. The drive channel is likewise pretty weak. It will certainly inspire those of us who play more light, smooth music, though. One of the benefits is that there is almost no noise with this amp, so if noise drives you crazy, this might be something to look into.

  Overall Opinion

  The price of this amp is without a doubt its salient feature. It's not that great sounding of an amp, but who expects it to be at 300 dollars? I don't regret having it, if one of my amps were to die or something, and I needed a quick replacement, I'd use this, but I don't think I'd ever prefer it to a tube amp.
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• 07/09/04

  MGR/Bryan's review "Fender FM212R"

  Characteristics

  Utilization

  Sounds

  Overall Opinion

  I bought this unit off Musicians Friend for 299.99$ about a month ago.
  
  
  
  This is a great amp. It\'s solid as a rock and looks awsome. Along with the clean channel, which has a 3 Band EQ that sounds great even at high volumes, you have the Drive channel and the more drive channel. The drive really kicks in the distortion for almost any kind of music, and the more drive cahnnel completly floors you. These channels also have a Mid-contour switch that lets you dial in the perfect tone for any knid of music. It also has classic fender spring reverb. And did i mention the volume of this beast? The effects loop is pretty nice too~ so plain and simple IT ROCKS. You can practice and gig with this awsome amp. AND you get a foot switch.
  
  
  
  The only thing thats kinda weird and i dont know if its just mine, but when using the footswitch when switching from drive to more drive, the normal channel comes on for like a split second. i dont know, but it could give you problems on stage, but its minor and i wouldn\'t make that a reason not to buy it.
  
  
  
  Its bulit very nicely everything is good except when mine came the POWER indicater light had fallen into the amp. Probably something happened when being shipped. But i got it back in so its all good.
  
  
  
  Honestly, if you are looking for a first gigging amp, or any gigging amp, i suggest you buy this beast. I have one, and my friend Nick (The other guitarist in my band) has one, and we love them. So Go out and get one!
  
  
  
  This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
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• 10/24/12

  oli2811666's review ( translated ) Improve this translation "Excellent!"

  Characteristics

  We are in the presence of a transistor amplifier with a power of 100W, decorated with two speakers Fender 12pouces. There are two entrances and the first is sensitive enough, the second is a little less, probably intended for active microwave instruments and / or pickups humbucker. The machine also has an effects loop and a footswitch input for connecting the supplied with two-way. Nothing more to report.
  
  
  
  The beast has two channels and a half. Hell, what strange figure?! Let me explain:
  
  * The first channel is the clean channel, with its own EQ and volume.
  
  * The second channel, called "Drive", a channel is saturated with its own EQ, a setting of the drive (read: overdrive) and volume, plus a small button "Mid contour" to boost the midrange frequencies.
  
  * The third channel, called "More Drive" is actually just a boost on channel saturated. He brings up the gain and volume, and also shares all the settings of the second channel, but I do not think you can really consider it as a separate channel.
  
  However, this configuration is perfect for me: everything is at foot (cf. footswitch for switching from channel to channel saturated and clear, once the channel is saturated, to activate and deactivate the boost !) On many (poor to excellent) amps, there is a clear channel and a channel saturated, but for drilling during solos and lead others, you must attach a boost pedal (or overdrive, as I do with my another amp). Here, everything is there, you do not need anything other than the amp!
  
  
  
  Finally, it should be noted reverb, which has the merit of being present.

  Utilization

  Configuration is very simple, I would say it is greatly facilitated by the equalizer for each channel. No more chipotages to find a compromise between the perfect sound for the clean channel and its perfect for the saturated channel!
  
  on the other hand, as it is spoken, it is not an amp that I would call "easy access". He may vomit sound absolutely rotten as it can play a sound as you wonder if there is not some small lights under the hood. And for the second I'm talking to search. Depending on your patience and your experience, it can take time. In short, no, you do not get a good sound so easy, take the trouble to look, try. But once we give ourselves the time to look ... It opens eyes as round as balls and never stops playing for an hour!
  
  
  
  However, do not expect to use the beast quietly in your room (for students), or even in your apartment in your house (for others). As mentioned in my review of the Gretsch G5222 Electromatic, it depends on the thickness of the walls, insulation and especially the patience of your parents / neighbors ... But as you say now that it will be very challenged by this amp. 100W, two speakers of 12pouces is huge ... But if in addition to the amp comes from Fender, do not try, damn it! The volume is too high a tenth of the power amp. Unplayable at home.
  
  Instead of the beast is in your rehearsal room of your group and / or in your rack together. Certainly not at home (unless you have a good soundproof room to do this).
  
  Now, it's not being asked, I really wonder what idiot would buy this monster to play quiet home ...
  
  
  
  The manual is very short, one or two A4 pages and describes the function of each knob and each input of the amp. This is not particularly useful, but it is clear enough.

  Sounds

  I play really everything, mainly blues and rock (from the Rolling Stones to Airbourne through Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, The Subways, ...). This amp is really versatile and I am absolutely everywhere.
  
  
  
  All functions are usable:
  
  I use the clean channel, which is really clean, crystalline, "Fendérien" for all passages ... clear (ahem), and it does! A professional musician recently told me that we should not turn our backs on transistor amps evolving well and sound approach lamp, and he was right! Certainly, a tube amp will always be hotter, more lively ... But 1) not that much in the end and 2) that it is worth to € 1,000 more for a '65 Twin Reverb? I stop here my litany: This amp has a clear sound extremely close to perfection.
  
  Moving to LA big controversy about this amp, its canal saturated: exploitable frankly, brilliant even in the records where I use: blues, blues-rock, rock, punk, pop, pop rock, ... It is very close to a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (through distribution channels and even the sound). Love it or do not, personally I love it. More and drive, used for lead solos and other parts, is really well done!
  
  This amp is a very versatile
  
  
  
  Finally, the reverb is present and doing his job, I did not complain.
  
  
  
  My main guitar is a Fender Stratocaster Standard (with rosewood fingerboard), my back-up guitar is a Danelectro Dead On '67 (reissue the Hornet). Both sound really good with this amp, special mention for Strat 'marriage could not be more successful!
  
  
  
  The excellent clear sound of this amp makes it suitable to collect your pedals well. That said, unless you're trying to get sounds like high-gain (metal, extreme metal and others), I do not think it's necessary (I play preferably without any pedal, hence the fact that I'm so happy with the boost on this amp).

  Overall Opinion

  I use it since June 2010.
  
  
  
  Initially, I was playing with a multi-effects pedal and sought an amp that I could not serve me as the power. In short, I have not tried other, I took the amp the most powerful and the cheapest I found on the market. Shortly after buying it, I stopped using my pedals and I had the pleasant surprise to get a usable sound. By dint of patience and testing, I managed to sculpt a sound that I like and suits me perfectly.
  
  
  
  I love his power as a group, it is ideal, it is far too much but this model compared to its little brother, the FM65R, the advantage of having two speakers, which gives a better sound diffusion.
  
  I love her and her three channels each, very complementary and I said, everything is at your foot!
  
  I love his look, on stage, hard to say that it is "that" a Frontman, it looks a lot like a Twin!
  
  
  
  In my eyes this is the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe the poor. I'm even wondering if it's worth it to € 600 more for HRD which present the disadvantages of a tube amp (maintenance and precautions, changing lamps required ...) ...
  
  
  
  A success!
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• 04/05/12

  alexifunky's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " a practice amp"

  Characteristics

  everything was already said and for the price I think it's okay

  Utilization

  use is very simple. was clear that I personally do not have this amp but I'm in a music school and so I plugged it all day! for what is a good sound I'll make it simple it all depends on the instrument plugged in and the player of course, the équalo is not very efficient but clear distortion can range ca. for simplicity I consider this amp as a practice amp and work that is to say that you can spend hours playing on it has any ways has any fingers priority

  Sounds

  it does not fit all style but any ways the principle of this amp is not be great but to be correct for the money thing is still quite good, I for one am a fan of extreme metal and parallel jazz and bossa nova. So plugged it around four hours per day for the time he did not give me the clean sound completely drunk is pretty well plugged according to the guitar played with a strat us it was very good although the reverb is quite ugly for I play my part jeff loomis schecter a and Kirk Hammet signature and the same is not the clean unbearable the moment we only play on the micro serious, the distortion is falling fast in the bumble bee but is used according to the type of game but like I said depending on the guitarist's amp sounds very good.

  Overall Opinion

  So I use the past 8 months 4 h per day personally I play on a engl invader, a screamer and regularly on a powerball and I tried a variety of amp vox ac30 any type, roland jazz chorus, mesa recto ... the feature that I like most is the next work is a work that ranges all over the plain as disto do not chasms ears as some would (refer to line 6 spider) this I like the least is the breath that comes from the distortion over the knob of 5-6 guain équalo the inefficient and the reverb value for price is right but both have a year's work I prefers the micro cube less powerful but more enjoyable with the experience that I've done I do not buy it
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• 01/27/12

  poisonmanu's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " another world after two small mods!"

  Characteristics

  No need to linger!

  Utilization

  I use it to 2.3 gigs to plug guitar, theremin and samples. The HP quickly slammed, but hey when you see the "dirt", we understand very quickly why.

  Sounds

  To be clear, boosted channel of this amp is unusable, with respect to the clean channel, before modification, it was not too bad, a little "tight" but relatively correct, power is nice. For reverb, I have big doubts about the sticker "Accutronics" glued to the tank, given the poor performance to say the least of it. I replaced it with a tank Accutronics type 8 (nine 30 euros) that I had an old amp and the sound is open, is much more musical reverb becomes usable even with the knob in the red . I mainly play in the surf, of course, this does not apply a reverb tube, but it is more than correct, I think with a reverb type 4, it should be close even more of the twin. Since HP did not take long, I found two celestion G12 rockdriver (from a Hughes and Kettner cab) of OCCAZ for 50 euros. And there is even better, the sound opens up even more, growing in low, rounded, accuracy. The spread is very good, certainly the weight of the amp has increased, but it's worth it.

  Overall Opinion

  So for 80 euros, here are some very simple changes to be made and that changed the life of this amp, I bought OCCAZ for 100 euros and 200 euros for less, I have an amp that sounds and deserves to linger. He serves as backup amp, but further shows with my bassman and my deluxe reverb. We'll see if he shows himself reliable in the long run, but if you have one and you are disappointed with its performance, try the experiment, it's worth it.
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• 01/21/12

  Green_Pintade's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Perfect for my use (reweighed, small concerts)"

  Characteristics

  100W, transistors
  
  2 inputs, 2 channels with a boost
  
  Effects loop
  
  Reverb

  Utilization

  Extremely simple configuration, and more I am using as bowls and the power part, by plugging a small TRIAC very nice in the correct input (power amp: o)
  
  
  
  Other than that, to use during the clean sound of origin is already pretty cool, channel 2, cons .. it blows fast! and EQ are not very effective. As for the reverb, better not put too much.
  
  
  
  In short ... this amp is perfect, as I said, but for my use.
  
  
  
  Manuel? What manual ;-)

  Sounds

  I plug in my 2 / 3 major electric guitars: Ibanez SG, Musicman Luke II, Vigier Excalibur Special
  
  
  
  For the rest, see above.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for 2 years, I drool just like everyone else on the big amp that kills death (I had a Peavey JSX head, but too much psychosis at concerts: transport, power failures, monitor lamps / maintenance, etc etc etc ...) but in the end I got a little config simple and bulletproof.
  
  
  
  The worst statement I do? is that 99% of people in the audience do not know the difference ..
  
  
  
  Ratio Q / P unbeatable! LOL
  
  
  
  I do it again this election, yes, if it ever were to happen qque thing this amp? but .. what can happen to him ..
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