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For the money, this amp gets very close to the classic Fender clean tone. I haven't gigged with the amp, but it can certainly does hold it's own with a rhythm section in rehearsal. Since it's solid state, I don't know if it will hold up when pushed to the edge like a tube amp's power section which will "soft clip" and remain musical at extreme volumes. If I needed the "soft clipping," I would buy a Hot Rod Deluxe or Twin Reverb. The biggest limitation I found with the 212R is the inexpensive reverb which sounds metallic and thin, vastly different than the reverb tank in a Hot Rod Deluxe or Twin Reverb. However, I am using a reverb pedal in the effects loop and find it more versatile than most spring reverb units. At some point, I may try a replacement long Accutronics tank, but since the reverb pedal sounds so good I will be in no hurry to upgrade. The two speakers provide a very full, crisp, and punchy-compressed tone even at modestly low volumes, and sounds like the Fender Tone Stack we have all come to expect from a BF Hot Rod Deluxe or Twin. The tone controls don't respond exactly like a HRD or Twin, but the right EQ can be found with a little patience. The amp's volume control is very sensitive up to 2, so you will have a hard time dialing in extremely low volumes. If you practice at home, this amp will sound better in your living room than a smaller room, as is typical for open back 2x12 combos. This amp has the tone required for mic recording on the clean channel. I don't use the drive channels and therefore can not comment. My Strat, Tele, and Archtop guitars lack any tonal coloration from the amp which is the hallmark of a Fender BF amp. You will need to spend a lot more to get into a comparable Fender BF tube amp, which admittedly has better reverb and much more usable power at high volumes. For the price, this amp is worth an audition.

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I couldn't find the Fender Jazz King, so I settled for this amp. I was looking for the "Fender tone stack" for crisp, clean tones at substantial volume. While the stock reverb is weak, adding a Behringer reverb pedal helps to provide a softer, more classic Fender tone. The Jazz King has a "broad tilt" and "mid semi-parametric" EQ shifting capability, which I wish I could find in all Fender amps (at least as a switchable option). Since I could not find the Jazz King, this amp is certainly an adequate (but not equal) alternative. If you don't require "output tube distortion," this amp can deliver good clean tone, and the effects loop can be used for your pedals.