For guitarists often steeped in the warm glow of tube amps, solid-state amplifiers can sometimes feel like a less romantic option. However, even this reviewer admits to a soft spot for a classic Stage 160 Fender solid-state from younger days. So, the arrival of the 2019 Fender Champion 50XL guitar amp (with a recommended retail price of $499) was met with genuine anticipation. The immediate comparison? Size and weight. While the Stage 160 is a hefty 19kg, this Fender guitar amp is a much more manageable 8.6kg, hinting at its modern, practice-friendly design.
Champion XL vs. Champion: Decoding the Differences
The first question that arises: what exactly distinguishes the Champion XL series from Fender’s standard Champion series? Beyond the undeniably cooler all-black aesthetic, deeper digging reveals a significant upgrade under the hood. The Champion XL boasts a superior 12” Celestion ‘Midnight 60’ speaker. This speaker is the key to the XL’s enhanced sonic character, delivering a richer low-end warmth and a more pronounced mid-range punch. In Fender’s own words, it provides “…tonal fullness, increased output, and expressiveness to this versatile amplifier.” This speaker upgrade is a core element that elevates the Fender Champion 50XL guitar amp beyond its standard counterpart.
Similar to the Champion 40 and other single-speaker solid-state combos, pushing the gain on the Champion 50XL to extreme levels doesn’t result in the most pleasing breakup. The 50 watts driving a single speaker can become harsh at very high gain settings. However, this is easily remedied. Introducing a couple of well-chosen pedals or, even more conveniently, simply selecting the ‘Crunch’ channel from the amp’s built-in voicing menu transforms the Guitar Amp Fender into a potent and highly usable 50W solid-state workhorse.
A Palette of Tones and Effects
The Champion 50XL is designed for sonic flexibility. It features four ‘stompbox’ effects – Compressor, Overdrive, Distortion, and Octaver – further expanding the versatility of the twelve onboard amp tones. These voicings cover a wide spectrum, from pristine cleans to searing metal distortion. The available voicings include Clean, Clean with compression, Metal (described as a heavily compressed and distorted take on Crunch), and Metal + Octaver. The Crunch and Metal + Octaver voicings stood out as particularly inspiring, with the octaver adding a contemporary edge. While all options are generally useful, the Compressor voicing felt somewhat redundant, especially for players who typically rely on pedals and would likely set the amp to a clean channel anyway.
Beyond the amp voicings and stompbox effects, the Fender guitar amp includes a comprehensive suite of 12 digital DSP-based effects. This section offers Reverb, Delay/Echo, Chorus, Tremolo, and Vibratone, along with a standout Auto-wah. The chorus effect is notably rich and appealing. The built-in reverb is described as having a warm, short plate character, which may not suit all tastes in guitar amp reverb, but will appeal to many.
Practice Perfection: Ideal for Home Use
The versatile nature of the Champion 50XL positions it perfectly as a ‘lounge’ or practice amplifier, particularly well-suited for home environments. While its 50 watts are substantial for home use, the reviewer expressed hesitation about using it for gigging purposes, finding it potentially underpowered for louder stage situations. For gigging musicians needing more volume, the two-speaker Champion 100XL would be a more appropriate choice within the Fender Champion line.
However, for practice, recording, or smaller jam sessions, the Champion 50XL shines. It offers an impressive feature set unmatched by competitors in the same $500 price range. While some cheaper amps exist, they typically lack the depth and breadth of features found in this Fender guitar amp. Fender’s reputation for quality and reliability is well-earned, and the Champion 50XL is a testament to that. It is easily recommended as an excellent first amplifier for dedicated beginners, or as a versatile and great-sounding practice amp for more experienced players seeking a reliable and feature-rich guitar amp fender.
Lora Thompson is a guitar tech, sound engineer and musician who works at SAE Auckland.
