Fender Champion 20

I had first ordered a Marshall MG15GR, but I returned it due to its intolerably high (at least to my ears) background noise level. Besides, it looked as if it was built in a great hurry: crooked screws all over, the carrying handle fitted askew, and so on. Since the Fender Champion 20 was not much more expensive than the Marshall, I expected a somewhat similar build quality, but hopefully, without the background noise. This is why I was very surprised to see that the handle on the Fender was perfectly straight, that there was not a single crooked screw, scratch, or spot of glue residue anywhere. Even the inside of the cabinet was surprisingly tidy! In fact, the build quality is on par with the many times more expensive Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue that I owned a decade or so ago. That was a great first impression!
I was even more surprised when, upon plugging in my guitar, I did not hear any loud noise. There was some background hiss, but it felt at least ten times more quiet than that coming out of the Marshall. In regard to the tone, since I always play “clean”, the amplifier voicings were more than good enough to cover my bases. I cannot attest to the quality (or lack thereof) of the “dirty” tones.
When it comes to effects, I only ever use reverb, so the quality of the built-in reverbs had been my primary concern. I was not disappointed. The spring reverb simulation sounds convincing and, more importantly, pleasant. Rather unexpectedly, I enjoyed using the delay and reverb combination the most, as it gave an impression of a very large space. Furthermore, the ability to use the button labeled TAP to set the tempo of the repeats is an excellent functionality I never knew I needed. Likewise, I did not expect to enjoy the vibrato and tremolo effects as much as I did. They both inspired me to play differently and thus come up with fresh melodies in a matter of minutes. My only wish is that it could be possible to use them in combination with the reverb, for they sound a little bit “dry” without it. Better yet, the reverb could be a separate effect with a possibility to combine it with any one of the others. That is my one and only criticism for this amplifier. I loved the looks, I loved the sounds, and I especially loved the incredible value for money that this product provided. Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced guitarist like myself, you will not be disappointed with this product! A Champion indeed!