Fender Amp Settings Explained
Updated Nov 13, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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Fender amp settings are the knobs on the amp: gain, volume, voice, treble, bass, FX level and FX select. Gain sets the drive, volume sets the loudness, voice picks the amp sound, treble and bass shape the tone, and FX level and FX select add the effects. Start with gain low and the tone controls near the middle.
Start with gain and volume
Gain sets how much the signal drives the amp. Turn gain down for a clean sound and turn it up for a distorted sound. Volume sets how loud the amp plays, so set gain for the sound you want, then set volume for the level you need.
Pick a voice for the sound
Voice picks the amp sound the amp starts from, before treble and bass shape it. On the Champion II the voice is a selectable amp voice on a single channel, so change the voice when you want a different base sound. Try each voice with gain low and the tone controls near the middle, so you hear what the voice itself does.
Shape the tone with treble and bass
Treble controls the high end of the sound and bass controls the low end. Start with treble and bass near the middle, then move one at a time and listen for the change. Small moves change the sound a lot, so move one knob, listen, and then move the next.
Add effects with FX level and FX select
FX select picks the effect and FX level sets how much of it you hear. The Champion II has reverb, delay, echo, chorus, tremolo and vibratone in its built-in effects, so pick one effect at a time and set its level before you add another. Use the TAP button to set delay times and tremolo speeds to the song's tempo.
Practice quietly with the headphone output
The Champion II has a headphone output jack for silent practice, and the CXLWZ amp has a headphone jack for quiet practice. Plug in headphones and set the knobs the same way you would through the speaker. An AUX input lets you play along with music from a phone or music player while you practice.
What you need
Positive Grid Spark 2 50W Smart Guitar
A 50W smart amp with HD amp models, a built-in looper and Spark AI that presents tones to match a described sound.
- Power: 50 W, the most here
- Speaker size: 12 in, the largest here
- Built-in effects / amp models
- Bluetooth
Positive Grid Spark GO 5W Ultra-Portable Smart
A 5W ultra-portable amp with 33 amps and 43 effects, Spark AI and Smart Jam, with a USB-C battery that lasts up to 8 hours.
- Power: 5 W
- Speaker size: 6 in
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Fender Champion II 25 Watt Electric Guitar
A 25W Fender combo with an 8 inch speaker, gain, volume, voice, treble and bass controls and built-in reverb, delay and chorus effects.
- Power: 25 W
- Speaker size: 8 in
- Built-in effects / amp models
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- 2 year warranty stated
CXLWZ Electric Guitar Amp 20 Watt Amplifier Portable
A 20W amp with gain, bass, treble and volume knobs, a headphone jack for quiet practice and an AUX input for playing along with music.
- Power: 20 W
- Speaker size: 6.5 in
- Headphone output
These come from our ranked list Best Guitar Amp, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
What do gain and volume do on a Fender amp?
Gain sets how much the signal drives the amp, from clean at low gain to distorted at high gain. Volume sets how loud the amp plays. Set gain for the sound you want, then set volume for the level you need.
What does the voice control do?
Voice selects the amp sound the amp starts from, before treble and bass shape it. On the Champion II it is a selectable amp voice on a single channel, so change the voice when you want a different base sound.
How do I set delay time to match a song?
Use the TAP button on the Champion II to set delay times and tremolo speeds to the song's tempo. Tap it in time with the song and the effect follows the tempo you tap.
Can I practice with headphones on a Fender amp?
Yes. The Champion II has a headphone output jack for silent practice, and the CXLWZ amp has a headphone jack for quiet practice. Plug in headphones and set the knobs the same way you would through the speaker.
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