Produced by one of the most trusted brands in the industry, the Fender Frontman 25R is here to redefine what a small, practice amp really means for guitar players.
One major issue that many guitar players face in the early stages of their guitar journey is not being able to get the sound they hear in their heads out of their amplifier.
Thankfully, in 2022, this is not really that big of an issue anymore. Amps like the 25R encapsulate exactly why.
Pushing 25 watts through a single 10" Fender Special Design Speaker, the Frontman 25R packs a solid punch that's great for solo practice and killer in the studio.
- Onboard spring reverb is an absolute treat
- Versatile range of tones
- Compact
Fender Frontman 25R: Verdict?
The standard of practice amps on the market is better than it has ever been.
If you’re a new player who is looking to find that perfect tone at home, the Frontman 25R is a combo guitar amp from Fender and it might just be the amp for you!
This 25w practice amp has everything you need to dial in killer tones without breaking the bank.
Fender Frontman 25R: Full Review
Build Quality (6/10)
Considering the price range this amplifier fits in, the build quality is substantial.
Of course, we’re not going to be comparing this against the flagship USA-made Fender amps. But, if we look at this for what it is, it’s pretty great.
It weighs in at 25lbs which means it’s not super heavy, but it certainly feels like it can hold up to a little wear and tear.
You might not be taking this guitar amplifier on tour, but it’ll certainly get you through plenty of jam sessions and certainly hold up to the rigors of practicing at home.
Fender also did a great job making sure the amp carried the iconic visuals of classic Fender amps such as the Twin Reverb and Deluxe Reverb.
The 22-watt ’65 Deluxe Reverb® amp is for rock, country or blues players who want a moderately powered amp they can crank up at the gig or in the studio.
- Easy-on-the-eye
- Great tube tones
- Unbeatable Fender vibe
It looks just like the Fender amps used by your idols, and for many players, the visual style is a big part of the experience.
Sound Quality (7/10)
Again, if we look at this amplifier for the price point it lives in, the sounds on offer are fantastic.
The amp offers two channels, clean and overdrive. When coupled with the shared 3-band EQ, it allows you to sculpt and dial in pretty much any sound you can imagine.
It can emulate your favorite Fender tones from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Eric Clapton, but you can also crank the gain and take it somewhere Fender amps don’t often go.
Don’t expect hyper-driven, scooped metal tones from it, but if you want to rock, it’s got plenty to give!
The specially designed 10″ Fender speakers have a crisp top end and plenty of bite for those funky chords. It handles big, overdriven rock riffs with ease and the clean tone has all the Fender chime you could want.
I would have liked to see a 12″ speaker in this amp just to add a little extra depth to the low end, but the 10″ does a great job of holding its own.
The amp also has real Spring Reverb, and yes, you did read that correctly, I said REAL Spring Reverb.
The reverb sits perfectly with both the clean tone and overdriven tones and drive and takes you from a subtle spring bounce to a surf guitar drip with the twist of a knob.
Features (9/10)
For a small and affordable amp, the Frontman 25R boasts a spec list similar to many high-end amps of the same size.
- 25 watts of Solid State Power
- Plenty of volume on tap to keep up with a drummer
- A single 10″ Special Design Fender speaker
- Twin channel design
- Built-in real Spring Reverb
- 3 band EQ for dialing in any tone you want
- Portable sizing, perfect for rehearsals and small gigs
- Headphone jack for silent practice
While this is mainly aimed at home guitar players, the single 10″ speaker, coupled with 25w of solid-state power, should provide enough volume to keep up with your drummer friends in a jam session.
This amp can also be a great asset in the studio as the 10″ speaker sounds great mic’d up during recording sessions.
The twin channel design shares a 3 band EQ, allowing you to perfectly sculpt your tone, giving you crisp cleans and soaring leads.
You can also switch between the clean and overdrive channels with the included footswitch.
Final Thoughts
Pushing 25 watts through a single 10" Fender Special Design Speaker, the Frontman 25R packs a solid punch that's great for solo practice and killer in the studio.
- Onboard spring reverb is an absolute treat
- Versatile range of tones
- Compact
The Fender Frontman 25R guitar amplifier is hard to not be impressed by. Sure, on the surface this is a small, 25w solid state practice amp, but this thing has some character under the hood.
It’s got plenty of volume to let your drummer know you mean business and a versatile range of tones to satisfy most tonal appetites.
The onboard spring reverb is an absolute treat for a guitar amp in this price range. Real spring reverb is often reserved for higher-priced amps so having that luxury in this price bracket is hard to beat.
Overall, this little thing is great. It’s not only a fantastic practice amp, it can take you out of the bedroom and into the jam room.
FAQ
Is the Fender Frontman 25R a Tube Amp?
No, the Frontman 25R is not a tube amp, it is a solid-state amp. This means the guitar amplifier power section is based on solid-state transistor technology, not vacuum tubes.
Many players prefer tube-driven amps for their dynamic and organic tones, but solid-state technology offers fantastic tones for a fraction of the price.
Tube power sections are often too loud for use in a practice amp. Solid-state power allows you to dial in more useable tones at bedroom volume levels.
How Many Watts is the Fender Frontman 25R
The amp is rated at 25w, but you should always remember that watts are not a measurement of output volume, but of power handling and headroom.
This small amp packs a punch.
It’s loud enough to sit in a band mix in a jam session, and there is no reason you couldn’t mic it up for a small gig. It’s not going to fill an arena, but it’ll certainly get you heard over your other guitar buddies.
What size speaker is in a Fender Frontman 25R?
The Fender Frontman 25R comes loaded with a 10″ speaker which is designed by Fender.
Typically, louder combo amps tend to come stock with a 12″ speaker which gives a fuller range of frequencies and a more present low end, but there are some great advantages to the 10″ speaker.
A good 10″ speaker will give you a tighter sound with a bit more midrange response.
Is the Fender Frontman 25R a good amp for bass?
The Fender Frontman 25R is, on the surface a guitar amp. This does not mean you can’t use it for bass, however, the amp circuit is not designed to best reproduce the sound of a bass guitar.
Bass amps are specifically tuned to handle the lower frequencies that a bass produces. A guitar amp of this size would work for bass, but wouldn’t give you the best results in terms of frequency response.