FM210R Review

The FM210R guitar amp pumps out 65 watts of pure, solid-state Fender tone. The FM210R is a tight sounding amp sporting two new 10" Fender Special Design sound-tested drivers.

Features:	8
Sound:	8.3
Reliability:	9
Impression:	8.3
Overall rating:	8.4
Users rating:	7.4
Comments:	12

overall: 8.3

Featured review by: TFBISE16, on may 08, 2008

Features: This amp was made in 2005 or 2004 as far as I know. I mainly use the amp as an advanced practice amp and for gigs. It's strong enough and loud enough to cope with an un-miked drumkit and in house PA system. It has 2 channels, the Fender clean channel and a Drive channel. The clean channel is 100% perfect and has that lovely Fender tone. The distortion on it is okay as long as you keep the Drive below 5 and the volume not turned up past 6. It is a solid state amp with 2 10 inch 'Sound tested drivers'. The format is good and packs the extra punch. You can also use an FX loop with it and it has the ability to output sound for recording. You can also use a 1 button footswitch with it but you have to buy it separately which is a pain. // 8

Sound: I use it with all sorts of guitars, SGs, Teles and Strats and is outputs a good sound for all. The best is with a strat on the clean channel. The distortion tends to break up at high volumes but is good enough to use. The lean channel is the same but can take more. The amp is very loud and has 65 watts total power. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I got this about 5 months ago and in the second month it broke down. It was fixed straight away and haven't seen any problems since. The only thing that hos broken since is the red light on the front but that was my fault for smashing it by accident at a gig. // 7

Impression: It's a good amp and in that price range it'll probably be the best. Loud sounding, good looking, versatile and adaptable. If it were lost or stolen I'd defiantly get another, it's a cracking amp and really does what it's there for. I used to own a Fender Deluxe DSP 90 and that was 350. Comparing them now you can't tell the difference except the FM210R is lacking with the digital on board effects. Other wise the sound and reliability is exactly the same. I'd defiantly recommend it to anyone looking to buy a first gigging amp or a better practice amp. // 9

overall: 8.5

Reviewed by: Rokeman, on may 29, 2009

Price paid: A$ 375

Features: The amp has a great clean tone, it's solid state, and it's very clear sounding. Anything requiring pure clean tone I'd reccomend it just for that. However, on the distortion side, it is really muddy sounding with high gain, so the onboard distortion works well when used lightly for bluesy kind of stuff, and some rock. It is two channel of course, and the distortion channel also has a "mid contour" button to heavy it up a bit. Has an effects loop, which is good, though no headphone jack output. Instead of buying a footswitch for it, I made one myself, which works well. The reverb on mine is a bit noisy, though it may just be my one in particular. There's no inbuilt effects, which keeps it simple, so if you use lots of effects pedals, then this amp is great for you. I use it to Jam with mates, and it definately has enough power (and if I used it for gigging I'd be more than happy with it then too). // 8

Sound: I'm playing an Epiphone Les Paul Standard through it. I play mostly hard rock / metal kind of stuff, but also I like to make up clean sounding stuff. The onboard distortion wasn't working out that well, so I'm playing through an EHX Metal Muff, which the amp handles good (the amp doesn't take anything away from effects). So it suits my style fine. Small amount of noise with clean channel, nothing major. Onboard distortion does make a lot of noise, as does reverb.

Clean sound is brilliant, Fender tone. Distortion isn't that versatile though. I'd like to give it a 10 just for clean tone, but because it's sound overall, I can't. // 8

Reliability & Durability: It is very dependable, and yes I would use it without a backup. It is build solidly, weighs about 16kg. The knobs on it may get a bit touchy at times, but no big issue. I checked the soldering job on the speakers, and definately no problems there. One time I did accidentally knock out the jewel like bit of glass for the light, but that was no problem either. // 10

Impression: Overall, I love the clean tone, and while the distorted tone wasn't my thing, the Metal Muff sorted that out. Been playing maybe 4 years, and I also have a Fender Acoustic and a cheap Samick electric guitar. I didn't actually hunt around that much before buying this, as I was still a beginner, but it was a good deal, and I'm still happy with it.

If this was stolen or lost, I would try and find an amp with the SAME clean tone, but with good distortion and maybe some effects and fancy feautres. This one is great for keeping it simple and using pedals, which is part of it's charm, but sometimes you just need more features (only sometimes though). As has been said, it's clean tone is great, distortion is ok for blues and some rock, and it is reliable.

Lastly, I believe Fender have stopped making these, but have kept the "neighbours" in the FM series, which is interesting. // 8

overall: 8.5

Reviewed by: georgez, on may 09, 2008

Price paid: $ 441

Features: I think the amp is made 2003, 2004 or something. I play rock and pop and styles like that and it is good for them. It has a nice Fend clean channel and it works out fine. It also has a Drive channel which works fine too but it sounds bad when amp is loud. Channel could be switched by footswitch but it must be bought seperately. I use the amp mainly when I practise with band and it is loud enough playing with drums. 65 watts are enough for gigs etc. // 8

Sound: I use Ibanez guitars and Fender Stratocaster. With Strat amp sounds great especially with clean channel. With Ibanez guitars Drive gets bad but clean works greatly. Amp is not noisy it's pretty silent. In clean channel hi volumes aren't distorted, which is good. Drive is the weakest link in this system. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I can depend on this truly madly deeply, it hadnt let me down since this day and I hope it wont let me down in the future. I would use it without a backup on a gig. Amp hasn't broken down which I'm very glad of. It is solid and it won't fall though I jump on it as I do. I depend on it very much and it is worth of all my expectations. // 10

Impression: I play rock, hard rock, pop etc. Amp sounds in them all good. I've been playing for 4 years and 1 year with this amp. I have Ibanez RG350EX and Boss ds, od, chorus ensemble and Dunlop crybaby. With effects amp works fine. If it'll be stolen I maybe go to buy another. I love the Fender cleansound, especially with Fender guitars. I don't hate it but drive could be so much better. // 8

Comments

[Rokeman]

thankyou for posting a review on this amp! I own this amp as well, and i love the Fender tone. The amp distortion is good for real classic sounding rock, and i play my guitar through a EHX Metal Muff with this amp, which sounds awesome as well, because it doesn't change the sound of the Muff (or other effects) like some amps can do.

good review and good amp! i'd recomend it, unless you want super heavy modern onboard distortion. other than that, great tone!

[flyingmarlin]

I have this amp, however my combo has two 15". I think it's worth upgrading to the dual 15". not bad for a first 'Big' amp. After this I would look into a valve amp.

[Weybl Himself]

The cleans on the FM series are great, really clear solid state cleanliness without being sterile. I own the FM65R, the 1x12 version of this and I still break it out for recording clean sounds every so often if I need a nice bright clean tone as opposed to the valve half stack I use live.

I can't stand the distortion on it though, maybe it's just the audio engineer in me but I can't stand solid state overdrive. Lovely cleans though.

[Disturbdkornkid]

I have an older model of this amp and I enjoy it fully. It's as loud as it needs to be and then some, sounds great, though personally I don't care for the distortion on it and sometimes the feedback gets a bit out of hand but I still love it. Great review.

[adamsville2k]

I just bought one and so far it's a great amp as first one. I use it with a DOT ES-335 and tought I haven't yet tested every tuning combinations, you can be sure I won't regret this amp! It came with a foot switch.

[Shannock]

I own one of these amps. while the amp itself is nice and clean, the reverb is a load of cr*p. I also own a FM15R and the reverb on that is outstanding. I am just about to change the 210R for a Vox.

[Shannock]

I own one of these amps. while the amp itself is nice and clean, the reverb is a load of cr*p. I also own a FM15R and the reverb on that is outstanding. I am just about to change the 210R for a Vox.

[twat]

Am thinking about getting this and just using the clean channel with my big muff when distortion is needed. Is it worth it?

[georgez]

sure

[Rokeman]

hey does anyone know if Fender have stopped making these? i was browsing on the Fender website and it wasn't there...

[TFBISE16]

You can still buy them where they have them left but I think they have stopped making them.

[Rokeman]

I'd like to add, that in my review, while I said the distortion wasn't really my thing, what I really should of said was "if you experiment with it, you can get some nice bluesy rock tones", which is what I'm after now.