Hi all.
For decades i thought the popular Fender Frontman 15G and 15R (silver cloth, angled panel) was just the same as my Fender Frontman Amp (15W, black metalic grill, square front).
But I recently came to realise they have different model ID's: Type 241 and Type 495.
The schematic I got with my Type 241, however says Frontman 15R.
Can anyone tell me if both circuits are the same?.
I saw some dudes on Youtube with those Type 495 getting a way better sound than my Type 241.
Maybe it's easy to achieve that with some mods...
Schematics?
Quote from: Chorch Cluni on August 14, 2026, 04:05:39 PMHi all.
For decades i thought the popular Fender Frontman 15G and 15R (silver cloth, angled panel) was just the same as my Fender Frontman Amp (15W, black metalic grill, square front).
But I recently came to realise they have different model ID's: Type 241 and Type 495.
The schematic I got with my Type 241, however says Frontman 15R.
Can anyone tell me if both circuits are the same?.
I saw some dudes on Youtube with those Type 495 getting a way better sound than my Type 241.
Maybe it's easy to achieve that with some mods...
Please post your schematic here, also try to find and post the other versions.
AFAIK 15G and 15R are the same basic amp, only "R" has reverb, plain "G" does not.
Sadly Johan Segeborn´s videos can be deceiving, ANYTHING he plays sounds killer.
There´s also his recording technique whose sound does not match what you hear with plain ears: he uses two very high quality microphones:
One is an AKG C414BXL2 a big diaphragm studio condenser type which when placed against the grill cloth almost "inside" the speaker enhances lows big time, that is called "proximity effect".
An 8 inch speaker sounds like a 10 or 12 inch one.
It also has a presence peak above 3 kHz which gives it "bite"
Recorded speaker sounds much bigger than real life.
A second room speaker, a few meters away, gives *natural* reverb from the room and makes speaker sound "bigger"
It is not a modding problem.
He may also be enhancing the recording in Protools or whatever he´s using.
Just watch this:
This one is PR495 Fender Frontman 15G & 15R Import PR495.pdf
Thanks.
I bet both versions are basically the same, Fender probably introduced some minor changes, maybe the Aux input, maybe better grounding or now they comply with some EU regulation, but basic schematic remains the same.
All these simple practice amps are actually very good, but all suffer from a cheap tiny speaker inside an open back shoebox.
Plug them into good speakers and stand back.
I plugged it into a 2x12 with V-type Celestions and it was strange: first time I didn't notice much of a volume increase.
The second time, it was very loud.
The cable from amp to cab should be anything special or just a guitar cable is ok?.
Tomorrow I'll upload the schematic that came with the amp.
Also, I hooked it to an unbranded (probable Argentinian-made) 12" speaker and it got way bassier and kinda compressed.
Thanks!
Quote from: Chorch Cluni on August 15, 2026, 05:04:46 PMThe cable from amp to cab should be anything special or just a guitar cable is ok?.
https://tinyurl.com/3z8kdj92
Then... The wires to the speakers inside the cab should be the same gauge...
Quote from: Chorch Cluni on August 15, 2026, 05:04:46 PMAlso, I hooked it to an unbranded (probable Argentinian-made) 12" speaker and it got way bassier and kinda compressed.
Post a picture from the front to see the cone, one from the back to see frame
and magnet, if Argentine I may recognize it.
Quote from: Den. on August 15, 2026, 07:07:37 PMThe cable from amp to cab should be anything special or just a guitar cable is ok?.
Anything BUT a guitar cable.
2 x .075 to 1.5 mm speaker or 220V cable is fine.
Quote from: dmeek on August 14, 2026, 09:11:12 PMThis one is PR495 Fender Frontman 15G & 15R Import PR495.pdf
Mine is:
IMG-20260824-WA0008.jpgIMG-20260824-WA0009.jpg
Quote from: Chorch Cluni on August 24, 2026, 07:31:32 PMMine is:
IMG-20260824-WA0009.jpg
Here is the pdf schematic package that has yours on the last 2 pages. So I think we can safely say that PR 241 is EC1912 drawings.
Quote from: g1 on August 25, 2026, 04:06:22 PMHere is the pdf schematic package that has yours on the last 2 pages. So I think we can safely say that PR 241 is EC1912 drawings.
Thx!.
What would that mean (being EC1912 drawings)?.
Quote from: Chorch Cluni on August 25, 2026, 04:21:20 PMWhat would that mean (being EC1912 drawings)?.
Nothing in particular. Just that some of the schematics give the PR model number on them, this one doesn't. Now we know that PR241 = EC1912 circuit.
For the original question in your first post, we can compare the EC1912 schematic to the PR495 schematic that dmeek posted.
If someone could compare those two schemstics, I'd be really thankful, since all I know about this stuff is that electricity comes from kites.
Somebody might on a boring rainy Sunday afternoon.
I would but am in the middle of moving xP
But expect only MINOR differences, exact same circuit, only maybe effects loop added or an extra CD/AUX input to play along, stuff like that.
It sounds very good as-is, by using a GOOD speaker,
Please post pictures of your mystery Argentine speaker. I might know it.
Apenas pueda ir a desarmar esa 1x12 le saco la foto.
Apart from that: I have a Marshall 6100, which I don't really play much and need money.
Any offer around here?.