Worked out the problem I had with the Fender Champion 40.

Jetsam1

Turned it up.

That was it. On clean and really quite surprisingly decent............

p90fool

Placement is critical too. I tried one in my local shop, the amp was on a shelf at ear level and sounded vicious on the clean channel. 

Chuck it on the floor near a corner though and it's very very good. 

ICBM

I have a strong suspicion that the speaker in these isn't great, and will be the cause of both characteristics.

Amp manufacturers always cheap out on the speaker when they need to save money, since it's the most expensive single component in the amp. Unfortunately it's also the most important single component...

Jetsam1

It is on the floor and because of space being a premium it has another amp on top of it. I have no idea what speakers Fender put in as standard? On a £150 amp probably not worth spending money on a new speaker?

Thinking about selling on the Super Champ X2 and looking for something more interesting used............. Maybe Peavey....

ICBM

Jetsam1 said:

It is on the floor and because of space being a premium it has another amp on top of it. I have no idea what speakers Fender put in as standard? On a £150 amp probably not worth spending money on a new speaker?

I would say it is. A better speaker is still cheaper than a new amp.

munckee

Not a cheap amp by any stretch but I spent £35 on an alnico jensen for my 68 Princeton and the difference is really noticeable in a good way. My first thought with amps now will be speakerchoices.