FM 25 DSP Review

Fender's versatile new FM 25 DSP amp gives you dynamic two-channel operation with a feast of amp sounds, effects and features!

Features:	7.5
Sound:	8
Reliability:	8
Impression:	9
Overall rating:	8.1
Users rating:	8.3
Comments:	16

overall: 9

Featured review by: Rizazzo, on october 26, 2007

Price paid: $ 283.65

Features: This amp is relatively new. It was made I think in 2006. This amp is a little gem. It has a very clean channel which only doesn't break up at high volumes and a multi-channel. In this multi-channel one can set the amp type and the effect one wants. It has very cool amp types including an acoustic simultor, a Marshall fullstack and a metalhead stack, which is my favorite setting naturally. It also has some nice flanger effects and a good tremolo, chorus and reverb, delay, all the effects you could ever want. It lacks the ability to control these effects though. You cannot Switch them on or off with the footswitch, you can only Switch the channel. At 25W this amp remains a practice amp but it has enough power to play relatively small venues and can be cranked to about 8. More than that is bad for the amp. // 8

Sound: This amp has brutal distortion. I mean it's not a mesa but it's good for a 25W amplifier. The low end punches cleanly and the highs are well heard. I like to use it a at bass at 5, treble at 10 and mids at 4. It sounds killer man. I play all sorts of metal and the metal setting is perfect for me. But for others who play classic rock, it also has a nice Marshall setting with crunchy distortion. And for some situations where you require an acoustic guitar and don't want to lug one around, you can always use the acoustic amp setting. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I'm not ure I'll use this in a gig due to its power but if I had to play a small venue I'd definetly use it without a backup. This is where the solid state circuitry shines. It has never broken down to date but I always smell a weird smell when I put it up to 8-9. That's not good is it? // 9

Impression: This amp rawks! If you need a practice amp to cover all the sounds possible in just one compact 25W, 10" speaker package get this! If it was stolen I wouldn't mind much because it is so cheap. I'd just go straight to the store and get a new one. I've been playing for a year and a half now and this suits metal perfectly, but as I said before, can be used for a variety of other genres seamlessly. The only thing I hate about the amp is that it doesn't have a line out and that it doesn't have a footswitchable effects on/off. Apart from that, I've never been as impressed with another amplifier! // 10

overall: 7.3

Reviewed by: the1nonlycrazi, on september 20, 2007

Price paid: $ 199

Purchased from: Blue Mountain Guitar

Features: This amp has many feature's and although I wouldn't personally reccomend it. It's variety is perfect for beginners testing out what kind of sounds they're really trying to produce. Although I play everything from classical to metal I have to say I mostly play distorted solos. It has great sounds and all, but it's distortion just wasn't doing it for me when I solo'd. // 7

Sound: I have B.C. Rich virgo vampyre that I usually use to play electric with and I usually use the humbuck pick up. Although alone the amp cannot produce that beautiful distortion with a sound effects pedal it's sound can be just as beautiful as a much nicer amp. This amp packs a punch when in it comes to the sound it can fill up large area's fairly well. Although I don't like it's distortion I would say that this amp has a very clean sound even at high volumes. // 7

Reliability & Durability: I don't think that every amp is the same, and I'm not saying this will happen to you if you buy the amp. I had a terrible experience with this amp it shot out during a performance I think that it was because I put the volume and gain to the maximum and the amp couldn't handle the intensity or maybe it was just meant to happen. However I had a one year warrenty and they did fix the amp for me and sine then it has been fine. I believe it was just a dud in the amp because it happened a little while after I bought it. Since then the amp has worked just fine and has been a very decent practice amp for a few years. // 7

Impression: This amp works very well with sound effects pedal's. It has allowed me to create the sound of Metallica's solos to Jerry C's cannon rock to van halens eruption to michael angelo baitoses no boundaries ex. This amp is very good if you modify it a little and once you understand it well it becomes a good friend. I have been playing for about 2 to 3 years and this amp has taken me through those years happily. If it were stolen I would probably cry but I'm saving for a nice amp that I will use for a long time now that I understand more of what I want. However I cherish the time that me and my precious Fender amp spent together. I'm satisfied with this amp nothings perfect, and with almost any amp you will find something you don't like about it. // 8

Comments

[I am punk "BF"]

the amp looks so cool. Fender rocks

[Death-Speak]

I play with a guitarist who owns the FM212DSP. I'm not very impressed with it especially when distortion is involved. The cleans and the effects on it are 'ok', but the distortion blows.

[Sendrith]

I have the 15 watt version. It has some decent (decent, not good) rock/low gain tones, but clean has bad breakup (the bad kind) if my volume & tone are all the way up. And don't even bother asking about high gain...

[wizards?]

just don't do it not a good amp

[Megadeth2011]

I own the amp. I've used my Dean Dragster and Fender Strat on it. The Dean sounds alright with distortion. It's ok if you're using humbuckers, but the single-coil pickups weren't that great. The clean channel is too quiet and not clean enough. Now I use a Fender Cyber Deluxe. It's awesome!

[Megadeth2011]

oh and it's not that new... I'VE HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS!!! i recommend it for a beginner.

[Tele Echoes]

Can`t stand the frontman series.
If you want a good solid state with a good sound and many awesome effects, I would highly advise you check out the Roland Cube 20x. Roland owns Boss, which makes great effects, and the sound is awesome for a solid state. I like using this amp for fun when I want to play songs of Pink Floyds the wall, since this amp has a good delay and chorus/flnager. I strongly urge you to check it out.

[-Rock-N'-Roll-]

Megadeth2011 wrote:

oh and it's not that new... I'VE HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS!!! i recommend it for a beginner.

yeah

[urkittenpoo]

I have this amp. It works just fine for me, I don't know why you all are complaining. The amp types are better than a lot of distortion pedals.

[mickelo997]

OMG! i have this amp. I got it for Christmas from my Dad last Christmas. It has been great since, especially seeing as i play it every day... it's still going strong. 5 stars ***** .:.10/10.:.

[liverpool90]

I'm using this amp since 5 months. It fills all my needs and both clean and distorted tones are great. I can recommend it to anyone who wants an all-in-one amp. Volume is high enough even for outdoor concerts up to 500 audience. Looks small but works big. Have a good day...

[jefffelker40]

this amp has terrible gain.

[FriNiteMascr]

had this amp for a while now and even my metalhead friends love the distortion. play around with the eq and you can get a great distortion out of it. there seems to be a "sweet spot" right between "metal" and "hot rod". i usually set it there with the eq at t= 8-9 m= 2.5 b= 7-8 and i can get a pretty good distortion. and while it is pretty loud for such a small amp, i wouldn't recommend it for medium-large venues. it's sound will fill up any small closed space (club, small theater) but i would'nt trust it to fill up any open spaces.

[diabloinferno]

this amp is awesome i've had it about 6 months and the distortion kicks ass the clean is kinda low but the effects are decent not pedal good but close enough the different amp styles make it like you have several different amps right there i love this thing

[gp5395]

haha i only paid $175 for it.

[Bremsstrahlung]

I just got mine yesterday @ Sam Ash in Hollywood, CA and I paid $129.99! I'm a beginner, and I'm no expert at dissecting an amplifier, but my two friends who perform professionally with their band highly recommended this for me. They were very happy with distortion, metal, and the flanger effects. I am more clean as opposed to distorted and heavy, and I LOVE the clean and quiet effects with the Acoustic or even the Jazz simulator. GREAT BUY at a GREAT PRICE! It even makes my mediocre Squier Strat sounds excellent!