Whenever I consider buying a new guitar amp there are several things I consider. First, I weigh my desire for quality against the price I plan to spend. Second, I hear the power and clarity of the EQs. Finally, I look at the size and weight of the particular amp for transportation purposes. This article talks about some of the pros and cons when deciding on the Fender Frontman 212R as a guitar amp.
The Fender Frontman 212R is ideal for playing and practicing with the band. The power it provides gives you the ability to be loud enough for small to medium sized gigs without the aid of a PA system. It comes equipped with two 12″ speakers that are ready for gigs.
The EQs on this coveted amp are very clean and responsive. With the slightest turn of any of the EQ knobs, you can hear a difference in the EQ. That is a huge advantage when buying a guitar amp. It also comes with a two-button footswitch. One button toggles between “clean” and “dirty” channels and the other button toggles between “boost” and “more boost”.
There aren’t many downsides to the Fender Frontman 212R. However, there are some downsides, so let’s take a closer look. This well-built amp weighs in at a whopping 48 pounds. that’s more than I’m normally willing to carry. In addition to weight, there is a small drawback with the “drive” to “more drive” button function. The two overdrive channels use the same EQ settings that you cannot configure separately. As a result, every time you switch from “drive” to “more drive”, the volume increases.
Although there are cons that pose a drawback with this amp. The investment for your money is tremendous. All things considered, this amp may be priced a bit low. This amp is listed on the Guitar Center website for $249.99. That’s a robbery!!!!!
In conclusion, the pros far outweigh the cons of this amp. Even though the Fender Frontman 212R is a solid state amp, it still has wonderful tones and is a great price. By the way, I tried my Gibson Les Paul guitar in this amp and it sounds great. If you’re looking for an amp that’s great for gigging and practicing with a band, the Fender Frontman 212R is the perfect choice for you. However, if you just want to practice alone in the house, this may be too powerful for that.