Fender Tonemaster thoughts?

[Rockabilly_Nick]

Just curious to see if anybody has any real world experience with these new solid state “Tonemaster” amps that Fender has come out with? Thinking it might be nice to have something with a little more headroom and is a little less “low endy” than my supro tremoverb. I’ve always had tubes as a requirement but the reviews on these are really pretty good. Any thoughts?

 

[ruedi]

I never played one in person, no help from me here... Phil McKnight has some interesting pros and cons to consider:

 

[Guildedagain]

Sad to see them re-using this name. The 1990's Tonemaster amps were totally in a league of their own, hand wired, incredible tone. Sought after by some of the best players around. Maybe the best amps made by anyone at the time.

Fender Tonemaster 100 Watt 1990s Blonde Head | Reverb

1990s' Fender Tonemaster Handwired 100 Watt Amplifier Head. Classic Blood tolex with Oxblood grillcloth front. (2) footswitchable channels (clean & gain); clean channel #1-volume/treble/bass/middle controls with 'Fat' Switch for boosted low end; gain channel #2-gain/bass/trebl...

reverb.com

 

[cupric]

It sold. Very nice amp.

 

[Guildedagain]

Wow, $1800 for a head. When I was playing them at the pawnshops, they were $900. They're holding their value well. And the styling was retroactively sublime. Brown panels with big cream knobs.

A little known secret is the 63'ish, I want to say, "Brownface" Princeton Amp with cream knobs. If you've ever heard one of these, you were simply in awe of its tone. And it probably sells for twice what the Tonemaster sold for easily.

 

[jp]

Just curious to see if anybody has any real world experience with these new solid state “Tonemaster” amps that Fender has come out with? Thinking it might be nice to have something with a little more headroom and is a little less “low endy” than my supro tremoverb. I’ve always had tubes as a requirement but the reviews on these are really pretty good. Any thoughts?

Funny you should ask about these. I recently learned about this line, and I'm also very curious about them. Although I prefer tube amps, I've never been averse to digital pedals and modeling. Some of my favorite pedals are digital and not analog.

I think the most attractive thing about them is the weight savings, which I think is meaningful to anyone who's humped heavy gear incessantly. Also, the thought of preserving vintage gear from road rash is highly appealing. I haven't had the chance to road test in person, but I will the first chance I get.

 

[Walter Broes]

I wish they'd make them as small heads, they'd be great backups for the real thing

 

[Rambozo96]

I played through one at a local music store and they had phenomenal clean tones but so does my Yamaha G100 212. I unfortunately didn’t think to try it out overdriven so I cannot vouch for its dirtier tones.

 

[jp]

I wish they'd make them as small heads, they'd be great backups for the real thing

Great idea!

 

[Rockabilly_Nick]

I’ve always thought tubes sound best, but I’ve also always thought and/or assumed it’s part witchcraft. Having said that I have noticed that solid state had a tendency to sound “dry” or “sterile”, at least in the experience I’ve had with it. I’m intrigued at the prospect of having a twin that doesn’t weigh as much as a twin, but I’m thinking even if I got the tonemaster version and was satisfied, there would always be something in me wondering if I’m missing something that could only be provided by real, hot, glowing tubes. It’s like meatless hamburgers, sure they may taste great, and you can say they’re just as good as beef, but don’t you wanna eat a real burger just to make sure? I’m torn.