A Lot of Amp in a Familiar Package
There's something reassuring about plugging into a Fender amp that looks exactly like a Fender amp should — silver grille cloth, black vinyl, angled front panel. The Champion 40 wears that classic Blackface aesthetic while packing in a surprising amount of versatility for a single-box setup. Whether you're running through chord changes at home or need something reliable for a smaller gig, this 40-watt combo has enough range to stay useful across a lot of different playing situations.
At its core, the Champion 40 is a two-channel solid state amplifier. Channel 1 is a dedicated clean channel — just a volume knob, straightforward and honest. Channel 2 opens things up with Gain, Volume, and a Voice control that cycles through Tweed, Blackface, British, and Metal voicings, each with its own gain range built in. Add treble and bass EQ shared across both channels, and you've got a real working amp rather than a one-trick practice box.
The 1x12" configuration and Fender Special Design speaker give the Champion 40 noticeably more presence and low-end body than smaller combo designs. It's the kind of amp that works equally well as a living room practice tool or a stage amp for an open mic night — loud enough to cut through, manageable enough to dial back when you need quiet.
Two Channels, Four Voices, and a Lot of Ground to Cover
Channel 1 keeps it simple with a clean tone that reflects decades of Fender clean-channel DNA. It stays clean throughout the volume range, making it a solid foundation for pedals or for players who just want to hear their guitar without coloring. Channel 2 is where the Champion 40 stretches its legs. The Voice control sweeps through four distinct amp voicings — Tweed, Blackface, British, and Metal — covering everything from warm low-gain crunch to high-gain distortion territory.
The Gain and Volume controls on Channel 2 let you dial in how much drive you want within any voicing, so you're not stuck with a preset sound. Channels are switchable via an optional 2-button footswitch (sold separately), which lets you toggle between clean and voiced sounds hands-free during a performance.
Onboard Effects with Tap Tempo
The Champion 40 includes a rotary FX Select dial with a range of built-in digital effects: reverb, delay/echo, chorus, tremolo, Vibratone, and more. An FX Level control adjusts how much effect is in the mix, and a dedicated TAP button lets you set delay time and tremolo speed by feel rather than dialing a number. That's a genuinely practical feature when you're playing with other musicians and need your effects to lock into the tempo of the song.
Only one effect can be active at a time, which keeps the interface simple and the signal clean. Players who want more complex effects layering will still want pedals, but for most everyday playing situations, the onboard options handle the heavy lifting without adding complexity.
Connectivity for Practice and Performance
The Champion 40 includes a 1/8" stereo auxiliary input so you can plug in a phone or media player and play along to a backing track or your favorite recordings. There's also a 1/8" stereo headphone output that mutes the speaker — useful for late-night practice or tracking ideas in a shared space. These connectivity options make the amp practical across a range of settings beyond just playing loud in a rehearsal room.
The cabinet is built from 7-ply 3/4" medium-density fiberboard with black Bronco vinyl covering and silver grille cloth. At 19 lbs., it's light enough to carry to rehearsal without much fuss, and the molded plastic strap handle makes transport comfortable.
Product Features:
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Wattage: 40 watts
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Format: 1x12" combo amplifier
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Amp Type: Solid state with digital amp voicing on Channel 2
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Speaker: One 12" Fender Special Design
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Channels: Two — Blackface Clean (Ch. 1) and Selectable Amp Voice (Ch. 2)
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Amp Voicings (Ch. 2): Tweed, Blackface, British, and Metal
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Onboard Effects: Reverb, Delay/Echo, Chorus, Tremolo, Vibratone, and more via rotary FX Select dial
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Tap Tempo: Dedicated TAP button for delay time and tremolo speed
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Connectivity: 1/4" instrument input, 1/8" stereo aux input, 1/8" stereo headphone output
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Footswitch: Compatible with optional 2-button footswitch (sold separately)
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Cabinet: 7-ply 3/4" MDF with black Bronco vinyl covering and silver grille cloth
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Weight: 19 lbs. (8.6 kg)
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Styling: Classic Fender Blackface cosmetics with angled front panel
Brand: Fender
Model: Champion 40
SKU: 2330300000
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
