Fender Stage 112SE

Standard features of just about any amp... the only thing worth mentioning is the "Mid Shift" button on the clean channel. It is useful to me because I like scooped mids, but still want "body" to my sound. So, I turn the mids all the way up from the knob, and then scoop them. It gives me a very nice sound. I wish the amp had a chorus feature but I can live without it.

The amp is very LOUD. If you are looking for a practice amp, look somewhere else. If you are looking for an amp to play for crowds of 400 or more on a regular basis, look somewhere else. This amp can get very loud and you will go deaf if you turn it up past 2 on the volume knob. At band practices, I use it at 1.25 and that's when I am playing a SOLO to get over the whole band. Very loud amp.

The quality is a typical Fender tone. The mid shift makes for a cool sound. The reverb on the amp isn't too great, so don't expect the reverb of a Marshall.

I never have and never will use the distortion built into the amp. If you are not going to buy a seperate distortion pedal, do not get this amp. I love this amp like hell but I love it for its clean channel and nothing else. The amp has a clean channel to die for, and does not distort unless you make it VERY loud, not recommended.

I can see this amp handling just about any style of music as long as you use a seperate distortion pedal for heavier stuff... the built in distortion does not have bite/edge. If you are looking for something that sounds like a "sharp" preamp setting on an Ibanez SmashBox, you better buy a seperate pedal.

I have used this amp for about 10 shows, and has been used for crowds of over 300 people. The quality of the amp has decreased from when I bought it. Fender put tremendous power into their smaller/medium-sized amps when these were made to compete with Marshall. This is not a good thing, because you could EASILY blow the speaker in here, as well as your ear, by turning the volume past 3. The amp has not caused me many large problems but I would not use it for a big show again... a singe 12" isn't designed to handle gigging volumes on a regular basis.

I got it used, never dealt with Fender. I know these are no longer in production though.

I really really like this amp, but unfortunately will have to sell it because the single 12" in it cannot handle my gigging volumes regularly. I have already ordered a Randall RG100SC 2x12 which is on its way... hopefully the clean sound will live up to the Fender's.

If you are looking for an amp to jam with at your band practices, play for crowds of less than 300 people, occasionally push it more, then this is good for you. If you are going to be playing very very loud shows over 2 times a month, I'd recommend going with something else.

Don't get me wrong, I really love this amp... the single 12" in it is just not designed for frequent loud gigging, so it's not for me.

Overall this is a great amp for practices and small shows.

Great clean sound, decent distortion, footswitch, real reverb, 100w (160w w/external spk.) weighs 900 pounds, looks cool.

I play mainly Strats, and look mostly for that Fender sound. The clean channel is excellent and chimes like a Strat with a Fender amp should. Oh... this amp is LOUD! Too loud for the bedroom, I can't get it past "1" if I want to keep my hearing. The distortion is adequate for my style and I have a Boss GT-6 if I need more. I bought this thing used as a "practice" amp and was quickly slammed by the power. The thing is too cool to ditch but now I still need a practice amp...

No opinion as of yet. I usually use Peavey stuff which is very dependable so we'll see...

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Been playig a relatively short 3 years (considering I am 40 years old), I love the clean sound, I am SHOCKED by how loud this (and many other Fender amps) is. Don't get this for a practice amp, it will peel the paint off the walls if you turn it past "1". It's a great amp, just way more than I bargained for! Did I mention it's loud?

1998 MODEL, BOUGHT SECONDHAND A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
2 CHANNELS, CLEAN AND YOUR DRIVE CHANNEL.
CLEAN CHANNEL HAS A MID SHIFT BUTTON GIVES THE AMP MORE BASS, WHICH IS NEEDED UNLESS YOU LIKE YOUR SOUND HARSH AND TREBLEY.
I WISH IT HAD A THIRD GAIN CHANNEL LIKE THE NEW STAGE'S HAVE.
IT HAS A SOCKET FOR A EXTENSION CAB TO MAKE A 160 WATTS.
LINE OUT SOCKET.
AND A EFFECTS LOOP.

I PLAY A VARIETY OF MUSIC WITH MY BAND, MANY 60'S, 70'S COVERS WITH A 52 TELE AND JAP STRAT AND I WAS VERY DISAPOINTED WITH SOUND FROM THIS AMP. I'M SURE IF YOU WERE TO CRANK IT UP IT WOULD SOUND OK, BUT YOU JUST COULD'NT. YOU REALLY CAN'T. THERE IS NO GIVE IN IT. YOU JUST HAVE TO TOUCH THE VOLUME AND BLOWS YOUR BRAIN OUT! ITS JUST SOOOOOO BLOODY LOUD!!! THE DRIVE CHANNEL IS TO0 TREBLY AND THE CLEAN CHANNEL PICKS UP EVERY BLOODY SLIDE ON THE FRETBOARD! THE CLEAN CHANNEL IS BETTER CHANNEL THOUGH.
I MADE A MISTAKE IN BUYING THIS AMP, WHAT IS THE POINT OF BUY A 100 WATT AMP (POTENTIAL OF 160WATTS!) WHEN IF U DO PLAY IN BIGGER PLACES YOU USELLY GET MIKED UP. ITS A SHAME U JUST CAN'T MAKE IT SING.

DID'NT HAVE IT LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW RELIABLE IT IS, BUT IT WAS 4 YEARS OLD BEFORE I BOUGHT IT, SO I GUESS ITS BEEN MADE WELL.

WELL, THIS WAS MY FIRST FENDER AMP AND I CAME AWAY DISAPOINTED. IT WAS MORE ABOUT THE SOUND AND SHERE POWER OF A 100 WATT AMP. I JUST RECENLTY SOLD IT AND GOT MY MONEY BACK. I'M SURE IF YOU ARE PARTIALY DEAF THIS AMP WOULD BE GREAT, BUT FOR ANYBODY WHO LIKES TO KEEP THEIR EAR DRUMS STAY CLEAR. I AM CURRENTLY USING MY TRUSTY YAMAHA DG 60 WATT AMP, WHICH HAS ENOUGH POWER AND TONE TO SATISFY.

I DID USE A FENDER TWIN THE OTHER DAY AND IT SOUNDED MUCH NICER THAN THIS PIECE OF CRAP. IT A HAS USEFUL 25WATT OPTION.

This is the "BEST" damn amp I've ever played through ! It has a clean and a drive channel, but I favor the clean because of the pristine "bell-like" clean (but full) sound and with my Korg AX30G effects processor, it's like they were made for each other. I just sold my other 2 amps (Hot Rod Deluxe & Line 6) because this blows them away. A great feature is that if you add a speaker cabinet and get the ohms to 4, this monster screams with 160 watts rms !!!

This amp has push-pull controls similiar to the Soldano and Rivera Amp lines which is a very nice feature on stage. When playing through the clean channel and overdrive on Korg AX30G it gives you a nice "natural" break up when the volume is on 4 or 5. You can check out all the specs on this amp at www.fender.com, then click on Mr. Gearhead, then Manuals, another nice feature from Fender !Also, there are preferred settings for a variety of tones you may like.

I think this amp could fall down a flight of stairs and still work. I've used it for about 240 gigs over the past 3 years with no problems at all. It's gotten wet on "booze cruises" and sat in the sun on hot outdoor concert gigs, it takes a licking...but keeps on tickin'.

I have never had to phone the company because their website and Mr. Gearhead features give you all the info you ever wanted + more !

I am 47, and have toured the East Coast from Florida to New England in several "road bands" including backing Donna Summer on her '97 comeback tour. If this amp were lost or stolen, I would locate another one asap ! Soundmen have told me it is the "quietest amp" they have mic'd, usually Fender amps are notorious for hums !

Has basic clean/dirty channels with reverb and a footswitch. Dig the contour control. IT puts out 165 watts I think, which is hellaloud and use ful in nearly anysituation except quiet home practice.

I've used a Fender Telecaster Plus with Lace Sensor pickups, a '69 Thinline Telecaster with stock pickups, a '68 reissue Strat with both stock and Lace Sensor pickups, and some other electrics at various points. My typical rig when I used this amp live was a Rotovibe, a Vox wah, an old Boss Tremolo/Pan, and sometimes a Boss EQ or even a Tube Screamer for boost purposes.

I was also very pleased with both the clean and distorted sounds with this amp. It could nail a good crunch perfectly after a few minutes of tweaking, though I always thought it sounded better with the gain dimed, especially in live situations. The clean was spectacular, though you wouldn't be fooled into thinking it was a tube amp. I always liked the clean with a lot of bass and alot of treble. I used this in small clubs and some larger venues, and it always did the job very well.

Never had a problem with this amp. It's pretty beat up, too.

no dealings with customer support

I've been playing for about 13 years. This is the largest and most powerful amp I've owned, and really dig it. It doesn't get used much anymore because I don't gig around or play out, but I've used it for recording purposes and it still sounds great. I had a 100 watt Yamaha dog before this, and have never regretted selling it to get this amp. If you're particular about tubes, I think this amp would at least make a good backup if you're tube amp fried out. I've always been very pleased with it.

This solid state amp can handle many types of playing styles such as: jazz, rock, blues, and alternative. It has two channels that are footswitchable(clean and Distortion). The reverb option is available in the footswitch. It also has a speaker out jack in the back and the face has preamp in/out and line out that let you connect it directly to other sources.

I have guitars with both single coils and humbuckers. I play many styles of music(Rock, Blues, and a little jazz) and it plays well in all categories. The amp is hums a little when I use my strat and effects. The clean channel is my favorite. I just use my Tube Screamer and I sound fine. The Distortion channel is good but does not deliver what i am looking for in blues playing. Great for Rock riffs though.

This is very dependable. I have had this amp since mid '98 and I have not had a problem with it at all and I play on it everyday.

I bought it used and never had a problem.

Out of all amp that i have tried i give it a 6(very honest)
but if you want a bedroom/garage amp, i give it a 9. a well construction by fender.

I believe I bought this amp in 97, new. It is a dual channel amp, clean & distortion footswitchable, with reverb on both channels. Front input/output jacks include preamp out, line out, and power amp in. Thereby creating an effects loop. Claimed output wattage is around 100, going higher with an extension cab 160. ( I believe it)After owning five Fender tube amps, ( 2 super reverbs, a Twin,a bandmaster, a princton)and a little solid state studio 85, I was looking for something portable, powerful, shimmeringly clean, and highly reliable for a unique (somewhat strange) gigging situation. I play rhythm guitar for various Greek Bouzouki bands on a "on call" basis. Often there is no bass player, so I've got to cover base line and rhythm chords simultaneously. This playing is a workout (but oddly fun!)for both player and the amp. Ideally the amp should be loud, clean, and capable of thick base and enough treble for chords to cut through. In addition, to make this tougher, I occasionally kick in a base octaver to replicate a bass guitar. Until I found this amp, nothing I played could satisfy this unusual demands. The closest I got was a borrowed Mesa Boogie Mark IV. Again, power is necessary because these bouzouki guys actually play pretty loud, (too loud) sometimes outdoors, and I'm covering bass lines and chords. The clean channel on this amp refuses to breakup or distort at horrific volume levels unlike any tube amp. Also the speaker is pretty beefy. The frame and magnet looks like a Celestion Vintage 30, but the cone is out thicker paper. I've added a small crate closed back 112 cab which I loaded with a Peavey Black Widow. The Vintage 30 which was pulled from this is in the baby Fender studio 85, vastly better than stock. The additional cab turns this amp into a little monster stack. The combination of open and closed back speaker enclosures gives the feel of playing two amps at once. The Stage combo carries the mids and highs, while the closed back ext. cab covers solid base. I do enjoy playing other types of music though, primarily jammin with friends home, parties etc. jazz, blues, rock etc. The distortion channel obviously comes into play here. I'm not going to say that this is going to compare to $1000-$1500 tone monsters but for fun non professional use it can be tweeked to be pretty good. Also I suppose than experimentation with external effects boxes would yield some improved tones for lead playing.

My primary guitar now is a 82 Les Paul Custom totally stock, very beefy tone and awesome for the Greek gig, but versatile enough for my jamming and forays into jazz and blues. The clean channel can replicate the classic Fender sound when I get my hands on one of my friends Strats. Gave my Squire Strat away, it was a cheap way of getting the "out of phase" and thin Strat sound. I will eventually get a real Strat for this purpose. The distortion channel is OK and can be tweeked to cover mild to heavy distortion. The versatility of a third channel would be of use, but can be dealt with using a stomp box. A true tube tone fanatic would probably thumb his nose at the distortion channel, by it works OK for me at 1/3 the price. The addition of the closed back ext. cab lends a more brutish stack sound to this otherwise small and portable amp. Both clean and distorted, this amp is capable of volume levels way beyond which humans should be safely exposed. It will hang in there with the big boys. P.S. I hate to actually admit this, but I've actually played some base through this amp at modest levels and no only did it not blow up, but sounded as good as some cheaper base rigs, especially with the ext cab. I know, this could get me arrested for Amp abuse!!

So far zero problems. I don't use a backup with this amp so I guess I'm placing a lot of confidence in it. I can't say this about the old tube amps I've played out with. While I do miss the tube tone for lead playing, the repair and maintainance bills I do not. As I ashamedly mentioned above, I have played bass through this rig a few times. Its handled it well. The speaker appears tougher than most, it should be to handle 100+ watts alone.

No need with this amp, so far, like to keep it that way.

I've been playing about 18 yrs. Owned a bunch of amps including 5 other Fenders. I am partial to Fenders for their clean bright sound with deep reverb capabilities. While I've got a couple of other amps and small PA primarily for the convenience of friends who come over to jam or practice, the Stage 112 SE is my primary amp. It is unsurpassed for rhythm playing in the Greek ethno gig, and I really think that I could waste a lot of time and money trying to beat it for this particular application. For my purpose it is more than satisfactory in other applications as well. Friends with Twin Reverbs can't believe the clean power and versatility of this physically smaller and less expensive amp. Some players will prefer higher cost, higher maintainance, less reliable, larger and heavier amps in the quest for perfect lead tone, but to me thats a tough trade off.
I think this amp offers a tremendous value for dollars spent. If lost or stolen I would replace it with the current version which I believe is the Stage 100 112 combo, which I understand now has 3 channels.

this is the first "good amp" i ever owned. its rated at 80 watts, but if you add another 8ohm load it increses to its full 160 watt potential. it has clean channel with mid shift, and drive channel.
I used this amp up until summer of 2000, when i purchased the performer 1000. I ran the stage through a 70s sunn 4x12. it was a very good amp. its now used as my backup amp.

the distortion is good, not quite what im looking for now, but is still very good, the clean channel is immaculate, ive used strats, teles, and jag stangs through it.

when i bought the amp, the reverb didnt work...i was a kid and it didnt matter to me so i never fixed it...big mistake on my behalf. other than that ..this amp has been through hell and still works great. My uncle liked mine so much he bought one, but after a few years of constant gigging, his shut down one night..(overheated) but it still worked fine after cooled down.

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i have 4 guitars and ive been playing for 10 years, i own another amp and some PA equipment, its a nice amp and id recommend it. i think through a 4x12 it stands up against the best.

This is a "switchable channel" guitar amplifier with a clean channel, and an overdrive channel. It has all the requisite controls including a "mid" control on the clean channel (this is a must...never buy an amp without a midrange control) and a mid-shift switch. The overdrive channel has a "contour" ("ersatz" mid range) control, and also has a "drive select" switch. Another nice feature is the front panel jacks for "PRE-AMP OUT", "POWER AMP IN", "FOOT SWITCH", and "LINE OUT". The amp doesn't come with the tilt-back legs, a cover, or the little Fender chassis-mounting "top strips" that usually appear on most Fenders. The 12" speaker has a huge magnet, making it quite efficient.

This amp has a great variety of sounds. I've used it with an original '62 Jag, a pedal steel, and even a keyboard. The amp has all kinds of funky, and distorted sounds...from mild to screaming, as well as a really kick-ass clean sound. The bass response is quite good for an amp of this size. The reverb doesn't have much "depth". The little short tank used in this amp has a "hollow" sound that I don't care for. I solved this partially by installing a new 18" Accutronic tank.

When I bought the amp (new) and brought it home, the reverb didn't work. (It turned out to be a broken wire in the reverb tank.) I took it back, and the dealer fixed it. It didn't cost anything, but I hadn't expected a "DOA" problem from a Fender amp. Also, the speaker went out after 1 year of "hard" playing. This too was a bad wire (tinsel-lead on the voice coil). No other problems, since.

As I said, the reverb went out, and then the speaker. I did have to pay to get the speaker reconed, since the amp was over a year old. Both of these problems were more mechanical than electrical.

I've been playing for about 35 years, and this amp is the most "bang-for-the-buck" that you can get. Very powerful (118 watts), and I like the compactness as well as the style of the Fender amps. I hate the plastic input jacks, but most solid-state amps use them now. I've owned 2 other Fender amps, as well as 2 Peaveys and some cheaper brands, as well. It bugs me that ALL amps don't come with a cover!

I HAVE A 1992 FENDER STAGE 112SE THAT I BOUGHT LAST YEAR.DANG!THIS MUTHA IS LOUD!IT CRANKS 160 WATTS AND HAS PLAENY,I9 MEAN PLENTY OV VOLUME FOR ANYTHING EXEPT A FRICKIN STADIUM.IT HAS COOL REVERB AND THE CLEAN CHANNEL HAS A MID SHIFT THAT ADDS MORE BODY TO THE TONE.

I USE AN IBANEZ GRX40 AND JEM 555 GUITARS AND A DOD GRUNGE DIST. PEDAL.I JUST CRANK UP THE BASS ON THE DOD AND THE TREBLE ON THE AMP SO I CAN HAVE GOOD CLEAN AND MOLTEN DITORTION.THE AMPS DISTORTION IS GOOD FOR BLUES OR ROCK , BUT I WAS LOOKIN FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT HEAVIER.I HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS FOR THE VOLUIKME OF THIS AMP WHEN I GIG IN GYMS!LIKE I SAID.....FRICKIN LOUD

NO PROBLEMS YET....................

NO PROBLEMS YET.............

IVE BEEN PLAYIN FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 YEARS AND IM JUST GETTING STARTED BUT AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED THIS AMP KICKS!I REALLY LIKE THE VERSATILE E.Q. ON THE CLEAN TOO.