Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb: Close Enough?

[@mattwilliams3104]

Definitely close enough. This goes for the vast majority of gear we use - but pretty much nobody in the crowd is thinking about your amp being solid state vs tubes, epiphone vs gibson, nitro finish vs poly finish, etc. Power scaling to get cranked tones in a quiet environment, super duper lightweight, more durable.

[@charleshuguley9323]

Good amps can sound different from one another. Just because a Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb doesn't sound exactly like the tube version doesn't mean it's a failure. It has unique features that make it a desirable alternative, specifically its light weight, adjustable output and good tone at both low and high volumes.

[@livergen]

I truly enjoyed your viewpoints and honest sharing Mike.. I'm getting ready to buy another Tone Master amp. , I bought a twin reverb About two years ago and I have been Extremely pleased in how wonderful it sounds with whatever pedal system/board you put in front of it. I've been seriously looking at the deluxe reverb tone Master to replace the little Vox amplifier I'm using for the other side of my stereo amplifier arrangement. Anyway, I truly enjoyed your viewpoints and your articulation, very straightforward and above all else solidly honest.

[@Santaheckler]

I never understand why people have an either/or attitude on this. Have a tube amp for when it’s appropriate. Have a modeler amp when it’s appropriate. Have a pedal option for when that works best. Jeez…how hard is that?

[@donmunson4802]

I've been using a Twin with my church's praise team for almost three years now. The DO sounds incredible and the power attenuator allows me to get all the tones I want, even set at 12 watts. Considering the small difference in cost, I'm thinking that the Twin is always going to be the more versatile amp, and in any setting that you might encounter.

[@donaldallen4285]

I have the blonde deluxe and it’s great for playing at home

[@billann8834]

You can easily play this in a bedroom. Do it all the time and no complaints. Also play it at Church and we plug the XLR back direct into the sound system. It sounds fantastic and truly is a versatile amp. Make sure to lower bass to 2-3 and treble up to 5 on the 2nd channel. This provides a better overall tone.

[@MikeEiman]

That’s almost exactly how I have the knobs set. I tweak the bass slightly depending on which guitar I’m using. That seems to work great with pedals.

[@CBeyerPhotography]

I’ve been playing a small tube amp and get it to about 85 db that I’m pretty sure neighbors are ok with. I play during the day. In Your opinion is 85db attainable with the attenuation? The benson Vinnie I play is 1 watt and reaches 85db on 1.5. I’m looking for better clean but hopefully a similar volume.

[@taloujazz9504]

My Deluxe Reverb Tonemaster (standard one black tolex) is awesome for gigs , at home, etc... light weight, no maintenance, .attenuated wattage. Great with pedals . I won't come back to any tube amp ;)

[@andybungert]

informative and succinct! and i love your signoff!

[@SandrOliva]

Close enough for gigging (maybe an EQ pedal will improve it even better). In a studio environment confronted with a tube one you can definitely hear the difference. Which is not enough for giving up owning TWO Tone Masters, a Super and a Twin (I have given yje Deluxe away because it's not loud enough in a band with a horn section and a very powerful drummer). Tube Twin stays at home with the Marshall stacks.

[@alxmrls1]

Great video, you did a good job reviewing the amp with a fresh take

[@MikeEiman]

Thanks. I didn’t think KZbin needed another video rehashing the specs and demonstrating how it sounds when I play it with my personal guitars and pedals.

[@richardnagy1246]

Thanks for the review. The way you did this is the way that I would hope all reviews would be. Thru my experience of gear thru the years, I think its a journey no matter what road you take. Just commit to trying everything just keep one rule.. Don’t spend a tone of money on one item… Even if its great its never That Great! Keep it with in $1000 at the most. After that its just hype.

[@robt5818]

I agree with you that sound is a bit better with the Blonde. I prefer the looks of the black tolex, but I guess you can't have everything!

[@pbest75]

If tone master plus is good enough for Mike McCready, its good enough for anyone!

[@ozhoodguitar]

You can install the blonde firmware into the blackface model. This will update the IR’s to reflect the Celestion NEO Creambacks.

[@THEItchybruddah]

Yup. What I did!

[@skulltula2159]

Was gonna post this, I did the same. I had a black model before the blonde was a thing. Ended up swapping the speaker and changing the firmware

[@gdkopinionator4356]

You can install the blonde firmware, including the IR's onto a black deluxe tm.

[@user-vq8br3rq2n]

Enjoyed this video. No nonsense and helpful.

[@MikeEiman]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@mdhj67]

Fender is taking advantage of their heritage to charge tube amp prices for a solid state amp. I'll bet the COGS for the tone master series is far less than the COGS for the corresponding tube version.

[@MikeEiman]

You aren't wrong. These things are way cheaper to produce since Fender can build them in China. The Tone Master Deluxe sells for about $600-$700 less than the tube version. The way I see it, that's about what it would cost to replace the solid-state chassis with the all-tube version. I might do that if my TM dies out of warranty and parts aren't readily available by then.

[@jamesgibson3242]

You are the younger version of the Five Watt World guy. Maybe you are Point Five Watt World guy.

[@richjohnson8261]

"Now get off youtube and go practice!" Love that closing statement. Good information on the tone master series. Big decision coming up on new amp needed for my return to live music.

[@SwirlOfColors]

Hey, thanks for the video and advice, I have very similar reasoning on why getting this amp (years of going ampless, having something nice for eventual gig, low-power settings), and I am almost certain I will get it, even though the price is a little bit steep, but it does fantastic at doing one thing (while having a fantastic sound), and I want this kind of simplicity also.

[@LysanderLH]

it’s lightweight and i can fit my cables and power into the cavity under the speaker. the attenuator and speaker out is great too.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Players should start with tube amps because once they try one after wasting years with solid state amps they’re gonna be kicking themselves!

[@MikeEiman]

I think every player should know how a tube amp sounds and how it responds to your guitar signal. Modeling amps like the Tone Master do a pretty decent job of capturing that feel if you know how to dial it in.

[@587583922]

I went the other way. Literally my second amp was a tube amp. After years of fighting to make it and others actually fit into my life, I switched to modeling. And sold all of my amps. I still play them when I want to try something in a shop and didn't bother to bring my gear. But...unless I'm on a BIG stage and playing something REALLY special, I kind of just don't care about them anymore.

[@user-gk2mr6vs7g]

I played tubes for 28 years. Now I use a tonemaster

[@mirllewist3086]

Any thoughts on TMDR vs Quilter Aviator Cub? Thanks!

[@voidburner8271]

Just picked a minty one up today for a little over 700 usd. Thing is unreal and freaking loud as heck too lmao . Going to be my main gigging amp from now on

[@davidsalinas4872]

i've been gigging with the TM deluxe blonde, for over a year now, and i love it, i use a helix for all my effect straight in from of amp no modeling. i can adjust to the size of the room I'm in. i believe the only thing this amp doesn't do well is metal, but then again who plays metal on a deluxe reverb.

[@MrNobody-fk7fc]

What about a combo amp such as the Fender Champion 100? I suppose one would have to actually try one out to have an opinion about it. Not many recent vids touching on the Champ delving into its voices against the actual amps it emulates. Many of us do not have the opportunity/experience with a multitude of amps to conduct a thorough examination of the Champ 100.

[@nickkepics6379]

Nice review. Would like to have heard the amp but like you said, there’s plenty other videos for that.

[@NoAntidoteMusic]

great, thanks.... regards from munich

[@MikeEiman]

Thanks for watching!

[@bennettmusiclabs9382]

after years of being ampless.. I discovered I was CLUELESS on amps.

[@guildguitars6349]

They do sound great in most circumstances, but in watching a direct comparison between the tone master Princeton, and an actual Princeton that it was supposed to be emulating, the tone master did not handle distortion pedals very well at all. Otherwise, you could hardly tell the difference, and most of the time you could not tell the difference. But if you use pedals to any great degree, I would strongly recommend you do a side-by-side comparison of the tone master with the real thing to make sure it meets your needs. Update: A similar comparison between the Twin and the TM Twin was much harder to tell the difference, with or without pedals. I haven’t yet heard the Super Reverb version compared, but would love to. Great amps, regardless of some inevitable subtle differences.

[@MikeEiman]

It took some experimenting to get my Deluxe to sound good with my pedals. I’ve never like the sound of a vintage style deluxe, so the Celestion speaker with the bright cap mod brings it closer to every “good” deluxe I’ve ever played. I’m sure the TM isn’t identical in every situation. It’s close enough for me.

[@hiramstumpjumper2836]

There are many nice features with the Tone Master, but not enough to drive me away from the rich tube sound & the smell of warm Tolex when the tubes get up to temp.

[@MikeKabatt]

Great video!

[@MikeEiman]

Thanks!

[@LovinMusic1965]

It doesn't model "the speaker". It models a 12 inch speaker with two selections of mic style.

[@curtishansen7270]

Great presentation!! Thumbs up, sub'd!!

[@MikeEiman]

Much appreciated!

[@jcool0122]

The main problem with the tone master is that it's a disposable amp. Labor alone will almost certainly exceed the value of the thing when something craps out, unless its still under warranty. Real tube equipment is designed to be repaired. A silver-face fender might cost a lot more upfront, but if maintained properly, you'll spend less in the long run.

[@MikeEiman]

That is one of my biggest concerns. They still have a decent reputation after being on the market for four years. In a few more years, I’m hoping Fender (or a 3rd party vendor) will offer replacement parts. Otherwise I will be very unhappy if something breaks after the warranty expires.

[@jcool0122]

@MikeEiman I work on amps. I've never been inside a tone master, but most pcb-based products are very labor-intensive to repair, so even just replacing boards, the cost racks up quick. Also, with the way technology advances, by the time one of these digital modeling units breaks, the new models will have a much more advanced modeling profile.

[@mikerecinto8253]

I’d just buy a new Tonemaster if it dies after two years. Yeah tube amps can be repaired and tubes relpaced, but at what cost for hourly labor or if vacuum tubes get more pricey. Is it less than $400?

[@mikerecinto8253]

Point being is I understand that I’m buying a digital product, like an laptop or iPhone. I get new one of those every two years, at probably $1000+.

[@jasondorsey7110]

​@@mikerecinto8253I have a somewhat sizeable collection of tube amps which I always drop off at my tech when I get a new one or the rare occasion they act up on me, have never encountered a repair bill anywhere near $400...even if it were $400, I'd rather pay the money to fix something I already own than just chuck it in a landfill and spend $1000 on a replacement, but different strokes for different folks

[@ThomasJackMoore]

Good job.

[@MikeEiman]

Thanks!

[@spankyngoose]

Hey Mike, I'm wondering if you had a reason for not considering a Blues Junior? I have several (heavy) Fender tube amps and am looking for a gigging amp. The Blues Jr is about the same weight (slightly heavier) as a tone master deluxe. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you.

[@MikeEiman]

I had a Blues Junior many years ago. They’re great amps. I just never really got it to sound the way I wanted. I prefer the sound of a Deluxe. The tone master is going to offer extra versatility for different gig situations because it has the attenuator control, XLR output, and mute switch for the internal speaker. It really comes down to your tonal preference and which features you want. And if budget is a factor, a used Blues Junior goes for like half the price of a TM Deluxe Reverb.

[@spankyngoose]

I appreciate your response, thanks again. @@MikeEiman

[@Chasetenny]

Check out the tone master pro modeler now

[@SheepWaveMeByeBye]

That thing costs three times as much as a Boss Katana. No way this is valuated fairly. Fender must be making gold on those amplifiers.

[@twelthstring]

I wonder if lowering the Watts is the same as attenuation.

[@davestagner]

It lowers the volume. It’s not quite the same thing as an attenuator on a tube amp, but we mostly just care about volume. I love it, because I can dial in the front of the amp to get the right gain/eq, then adjust my volume on the back of the amp. The very lowest setting isn’t great (although it’s good), but all the higher power settings sound fantastic.

[@MegaMr28]

just get a power soak and crank it

[@contourbody]

It ends, when you lift a favourite valve amp one too many times, and your buckled back leads you into A & E Dept!🙂🤣😂

[@user-gk2mr6vs7g]

Tonemaster Super Reverb is the best Tonemaster

[@woutersamaey8574]

Why is that?

[@user-gk2mr6vs7g]

@@woutersamaey8574 it has four Jenson blue PR 10 alnico speakers just like the original ones do. After you break them in this amp really shines.

[@lancenunez8252]

I’ll just leave this here… boss katana

[@gordonpelto1069]

Tubes sound way better. I just don't like the tone master. does not sound that good.