FENDER FM 25 DSP GUITAR COMBO AMPLIFIER

FENDER FM 25 DSP GUITAR COMBO AMPLIFIER


There seems to be no end to the type and variety of amps that are available from Fender. The amp I will be discussing today is the Fender FM 25 DSP Guitar Amp with digital effects. This compact little amp packs a real sonic wallop. It features a wide variety of different digital effects as well as different amp models, and at a sale price of $199.99, this amp truly represents a real bargain. Read on and see what I mean.


I would like to start off with a description of the features that can be located on the front panel of this amp. First in line we come to a guitar jack labeled INPUT, which is of course where one would plug their guitar into. Adjacent to this is a dial labeled CHANNEL 1 VOLUME, which adjusts the volume in the first channel. This channel delivers the famous “clean” sound that Fender Amplifiers are famous for. Next we come to a push in/out button that is labeled CHANNEL SELECT, and by pushing this button in, one can switch from the first channel (clean channel) to the second channel.


Channel 2 has three controls associated with it. The first dial is labeled GAIN, and this dial is used to adjust the level of distortion that is desired in Channel 2. The next dial is labeled CHANNEL 2 VOLUME, and it is used to adjust the loudness of the Channel 2, after you have already dialed in the level of distortion wanted by using the GAIN control. The third dial is labeled AMP TYPE, and this permits the user to select the type of amp circuitry that is desired.


There are 7 major headings of AMP TYPE to choose from, and each has at least two varieties. The first of the 7 settings is labeled ACOUSTIC, and there two very clean tone settings based on the Fender Acoustasonic Amplifier. These two settings permit the simulation of a fairly decent acoustic-electric guitar sound. The second of the 7 settings is labeled JAZZ, and there are two clean amplifier tones to choose from that sound very good for playing Jazz, the first of which is based on the Fender Twin Amp. The third of the 7 settings is labeled TWEED, and there are also two settings to choose from. The first is based on the sound of an early Fender Tweed Champ Amp, and the second setting is based on the vintage tone of an early Fender Tweed Bassman Amp. The fourth of the 7 settings is labeled BLACKFACE, and it also has two settings, both of which are based on early Fender Blackface Amplifiers, with the first setting having a slightly overdriven sound, and the second setting having a heavily overdriven tone. The fifth of the 7 settings is labeled BRITISH, and there are four setting to choose from. The first setting is based on the bright tone of 1960’s British combo amps. The second setting is somewhat overdriven, and is based on late 1960’s early 1970’s big stack amplifiers. The third setting is a high gain distorted sound based on modern British big stack amps. The fourth setting is a very high gain distorted tone based on modern British combo amplifiers. The sixth of the 7 amp settings is labeled HOT ROD, and there are two settings to choose from. The first setting is an overdriven tone based on the Fender Hot Rod series of amplifiers, and the second setting is a very high-gain overdriven sound based on specialized custom designed amps. The seventh and final setting of the 7 amp types is labeled METAL, and it also has two settings. The first setting is a very high gain “scooped” metal tone based on modern metal amps like the Fender Metalhead Amp, and the second setting is also a high-gain scooped metal tone, but it is a bit darker than the first setting, and it is based on the metal tone based on the Fender Dyna-Touch series of amplifiers. If you have been counting, you will see that there are actually 16 different amp sounds that can be dialed in to Channel 2 of the FM 25 DSP.


Next, we come to the section of the front panel that deals with Tone, and there are three separate controls for this. The first dial is labeled TREBLE, the second is labeled MIDDLE, and the third dial is labeled BASS. Each of these three controls permits the user to adjust the level of the tone in the high, middle, and low frequency ranges. Next we come to a dial labeled FX SELECT, and this permits the user to select from five different types of digital effects. These include three different types of DELAY, four different types of REVERB, four different types of CHORUS, two different types of FLANGE, and two different types of TREMOLO. If you have been counting again, you will see that this adds up to 15 different types of digital effects to choose from.


Next on the front panel of the FM 25 DSP we come to two RCA jacks labeled AUXILARY IN. These input jacks can be used for connecting an MP3 Player, CD Player, or some other device such as a drum machine. The volume of the external device is controlled by that device, and not by the Fender FM 25 DSP. Next we come to a jack labeled HEADPHONES. This jack accepts a standard quarter inch stereo or mono jack, and when a jack is plugged into this output, the signal going to the speaker is disabled, permitting silent practice sessions. The HEADPHONE output jack can also serve as a line out to a mixing console or to some type of recording device. The last jack we come to is labeled FOOTSWITCH, and this is where an optional footswitch can be connected to permit remote channel selection between the two channels of the FM 25 DSP.


And now a few words about the more basic specifications of the FM 25 DSP. The Fender FM 25 DSP is a solid state amplifier that puts out 25 Watts RMS into 8 Ohms. The FM 25 DSP has one 10 inch Fender Specially Designed Speaker. The Fender FM 25 DSP packs all of this power, amp simulation, and digital effects capabilities into an incredibly small package. The Fender FM 25 DSP is a mere 15.5 inches high, 17 inches wide, and 8.25 inches deep, and it weighs an amazingly light 23 pounds. This makes the FM 25 DSP a good practice amp for the home, as well as making it a good amp to use for band practices. If you are playing a small coffee house or club, the FM 25 DSP may be just powerful enough to suit even these needs. If you consider that you can use the HEADPHONE output as a line out to a sound reinforcement device, such as a good PA system, then you might be able to use the FM 25 DSP for even larger venues.


Do I like the Fender FM 25 DSP Guitar Amp? Yes, you bet I do, but just for the purposes that I have outlined above, such as for home practice, band practice, and for small live performance venues. The Fender FM 25 DSP Guitar Amplifier is a remarkable little amp, and it is jam packed with an incredible assortment of sounds and features. For a street price of $199.99 it is a real bargain. However, as regards using this amp for recording purposes, I found that this amp produced a bit of hiss in Channel 2 when some of the digital effects were being used, and to my mind, this is a problem. That being the case, it would not be my first choice for professional recording situations, although the FM 25 DSP might well be very suitable and perhaps quite adequate for home demo recording sessions.


Well, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my review of this amazing little amp. But now, if you will please excuse me, I must get back to my practicing.