Fender Tone Master Princeton vs the Real Valve Amp! - Can You Tell the Difference?

[@andertons]

Please be aware of scam comments. Andertons will never contact you via telegram.

[@djdamagedome]

Well, where is the Slash signature LP you promised me on Wickr? /s

[@theplaneimage]

Can't even remember the last time we received a telegram... must have been about 1968

[@endezeichengrimm]

So.... are you not sending me a prize?

[@thechamp9696]

Still waiting on that carrier pigeon to deliver my new custom shop strat

[@djmichaels4735]

You mean to tell me my Korg Miku is not on its way

[@mr.b4444]

I got rid of my late model valve Twin and replaced it with a Tone Master Twin. I play jazz with a mostly clean sound and for my purpose the Tone Master sounds as good or better and won't break my back. You can also update or change the firmware. I don't regret the purchase.

[@bthellam]

One thing I want to point out about modelling: the manufacturer making the algorithm is capturing a specific single amplifier, not every amp of that model. A person could put two old valve Princetons side by side and A/B them and hear differences depending on parts or amp/speaker condition. The Tonemaster might sound exactly like the Princeton used for the model profile.

[@Bobby-wn5yr]

But as the fuzz pedal highlighted - once you go outside of the parameters it was programmed to replicate, things can get very different

[@bthellam]

​@@Bobby-wn5yrVery good point!

[@DisappearingNightly]

I've had mine for over a year now, and to your point, the Princeton they modeled it after was apparently a damn good one. It's pretty much the Fender tone I've always wanted.

[@benbladeeee9973]

So ????

[@Yannplaysguitar]

I play a 65 Princeton Reverb every single day of my life since 2012… and I got it wrong! Very impressed by the tone master.

[@sethbecker4542]

Same!! And I’m so happy I did

[@danabiondo9243]

Meaning ?

[@Yannplaysguitar]

Well I mean that Fender did a good job at emulating the 65 Princeton Reverb. I think the part where the difference is more noticeable is when the pedals are on, but honestly with the embedded attenuator, you have a great option for home/bedroom use.

[@bridge500t]

They both sound really similar in the clean channel. The dead giveaway was when the overdrive was used. You definitely could hear the difference between the digital and the tube.

[@ipullstuffapart]

From what I understand, it's just the reverb that is digital. The amplification stage is likely still an analogue circuit, albeit solid state.

[@deluxeg]

@@ipullstuffapart nope it’s all digital

[@ipullstuffapart]

@@deluxeg fair call! I was looking at the wrong spec sheet.

[@NintenDub]

@ghost mall it just comes down to that they're different amps,speaker aside. If you swapped the exact same speaker back an forth, it's still be different. They tweak these designs and circuits.and they'll never put one out that's 100% the exact same spec,board,schematic, and parts. If they did, it'd basically be a custom shop amp at that point an it'd be 5000$£¢€¥

[@niclastname]

@@NintenDub 5000 Yen would be like 30$. I'll take it!

[@austinyankunas8278]

The Tone Master Super also has "real" Jensens in it, and if I didn't have that amp I would be buying this Princeton. I've had the super for just over a year as my main gigging amp, this series is a back saver!

[@TurfShifter]

Hard to tell with KZbin compression but I actually preferred the digital although there was not much in it. Just sounded a little warmer which is a personal preference for me.

[@MrBossei]

Agree!

[@erpece]

+1 Digital amp actually sounded warmer to me... 🙂

[@TurfShifter]

@@erpece I have old ears....

[@damiancafarella4086]

I totally agree! Except for the overdriven bridge humbucker! That was a dead giveaway….went fizzy…..all other intro tones were definitely fatter on the digital amp! Crazy!

[@ornleifs]

Same here.

[@chriswalsh2337]

I could tell which was which but honestly I was really impressed with the tone master. Definitely one I’d like to try in person!

[@skypekai]

Sure you did

[@derektassie1479]

I liked the solid state for the cleaner tones and the tube amp for the dirt tones. It's just my preference, which is pretty interesting.

[@danishpete]

Just here for the comments 😎

[@adam_michael540]

Read these laughable breakdowns from all the sound engineers in the comments 😂. Both rock and sound great.

[@incredifunk]

You've become one of my favorite players these past couple years .. I envy how you seem to have the understanding of what to play in each situation. With each amp it seems you'll eventually come into the amps own by finding the voiceing/styling best suited.

[@billr8276]

In a live performance, no one in the audience would care. All plusses and no minuses for gigging. Line out, attenuation, light weight. Awesome.

[@xcx8646]

....until you stepped on a pedal and the sound turned to mush.

[@thseed7]

I love the attenuation availability. You can't always crank the volume and being able to have the amp sound good sub 90 db is convenient. Hope other amp companies follow suit and make digital models that focus on a couple iterations of specific models.

[@DudeMcGuybro]

Not only that, it makes the volume knob less of a nuclear detonation device. I have a 120W head and I can't use it without one, because the literal weight of your finger goes from 90db to 120db, and I swear I'm not exaggerating in the slightest, if anything I'm underselling here

[@finishin.my.coffee8780]

@@DudeMcGuybro Like a hair trigger? I think I see what you're saying. You guys both have a point. In some instances, tube amps would be ideal. But if your circumstances don't lend themselves, a tube amp can create more problems than it would solve. I wish Marshall in particular would follow suit and create an amp in the same vein as these Tonemasters. Sound is not the only factor, I like looking over at it and seeing that I'm actually using a real amp as opposed to something that more resembles a blu-ray player.

[@davestagner]

That also turns into producing a consistent sound at any venue. And it’s enhanced more by the speaker impulse XLR out, so you’re no longer at the mercy of how well the live sound engineer knows how to mic a guitar amp. So you can monitor for your own pleasure onstage, at the gain level you want, and be confident the audience is hearing what you’re hearing.

[@Rushan2112]

I gig with a TM Twin and every single person can never believe it’s not a tube. And sound guys love the D.I. Fender did a superb job with these.

[@zeo5008]

I had 2 Princeton reverb Reissues. Great amps, but they had at least 8 tubes in them. One of them started having a squealing noise when at a certain volume. It was a tube issue. I had to figure out which tube was the issue. My point is that for someone like me, who plays at home, the tonemaster is all I really need: Good tones with less maintenance concerns, and other options as well. I do also own a 57 ri champ and 70's champ. Great amps as well, but simple, only 3 tubes.

[@Soul-d5m]

Same here. I had the same issue with 65 deluxe reissue. Went through two of those amps brand new in three months!!! Both tube issues. Been cranking my TMSR for over a year now with absolutely no issues at all.

[@CL_Audio_Tuning]

What an awesome comparison! And hands down Danish Pete is one HELUVA guitar player!! Great video guys! Cheers!

[@arnumorales]

In room and wearing headphones, I had problems catching the differences between the amps (and by the comments I know I'm not the only one). On a live presentation, with a drummer and such, I think pretty much no one would notice any difference. On a studio recording? That's what I would like to know! Speaking as a hobbyist guitar player, it is awesome to have such great options at affordable prices.

[@larsflugge7582]

They sound slightly different but I think you can dial them to a very similar sound; the Tonemaster just needs to be tweaked differently on the EQ setting. It's the same with my Super Reverb TM. You can make it sound very valvy!

[@Soul-d5m]

Best comment I've ever seen because it is so true. I have a TMSR aswell.

[@johnrawkstaugh]

As I listen to the fuzz pedals being compared, I feel like the TM digests the pedal in a way that is more friendly for production, whereas the tube amp translates the pedal the way we naturally love to hear it and feel it. Plus, the tube version sounds 'wider' with pedals, and the TM kind of compresses them and focuses them in a very tight and centered way.

[@Big_Coil]

I think that you are right. I feel like in a band and/or recording context I think the Tone Master would be cutting more and be easier to use as it's stage volume and the front of house volume can be different and won't be influenced by you turning up the amp. Sound Engineers will like these.

[@MichaelHattem]

That's what I was hearing too. All that low end in the tube version with the fuzz sounds good on its own in the room but would actually be problematic in a live or recorded mix.

[@vincentl.9469]

@@Big_Coil Could it set a precedent for the other big 2 to follow? A DSP '59 Marshall-or JCM , DSP Vox AC30..or 15 ..the small AC10 would work in digital . A DSP Tone King ..the list is long

[@jonathanlyerly8501]

My thoughts exactly. There is more spread on the tube version. I think if you were to put a little widening effect on the TM, it would close the gap!

[@Stratplayer76]

I actually thought there was a little bit more clarity with the TM and fuzz. I liked it a bit more but I may be the minority.

[@rlago123]

To me, the digital sound way better. Creamier and warmer. Also, I've been choosing digital reverb for decades. I have 2 all tube amps custom made purchased long ago. Today, I would go for digital.

[@jameslewis2635]

Both these amps sound great. Honestly, from the intro, I couldn't tell which was the valve am and which was solid state. My initial guess was Amp B being the valve one as it had a slightly warmer sound when played with a Tele but it was a point that I considered it might just have the bass up slightly more.

[@sordel5866]

Yeah, I'm terrible on the difference between tube and digital (never having owned a tube amp) but I was fairly certain that B was the tube amp ... and it's also the one I preferred. Oddly, the tube amp sounded cleaner, almost digitally clean. Go figure.

[@Dogsrule777]

I love how Pete discovers new licks mid demo. ✊🏽😌 20:28 🔥

[@jimmyheathmusic3779]

I've had the Tone Master Twin(Blonde) for several months. I really like it. It works great for home recording. I don't use it in a commercial studio. I will usually use my Dr. Z for those times.

[@safetydan97]

If you stack a low gain overdrive pedal after the fuzz, it solves that harsh fizzy sound when using a fuzz in the Tone Master. I prefer stacking it with the Wampler Pantheon on the low gain soft clipping setting. I'm sure any blues breaker type circuit will work fine.

[@aperezdeal]

Or add an eq before it.

[@400_billion_suns]

@ghost mall That’s sure sounds plausible. There’s nothing inherent in the Tone Master’s modeling that should make it perform so poorly with fuzz, except for the fact it has an A/D converter on the input which WILL clip if the signal gets too hot. And clipping an A/D will behave a lot differently than overdriving the input on a tube preamp. Probably just needs some attenuation after the fuzz to keep its signal in the right range.

[@brianwalker7417]

Great comparison, but for the cost difference I would go tube amp. I bought a 68 custom princeton reverb for $800 used in mint condition. At least the tube amp can be repaired. The digital amp would be a complete board and how long is Fender gonna make those? If the digital was $300 that would be way better option.

[@stratsouldier]

Your modern tube amp can barely be repaired. If anything goes wrong often times the traces get burned on PCB amps. That’s why vintage amps are still so valuable. One is because there’s a finite number left and the other is that they are actually repairable and built to last unlike any reissue amp Fender makes unless you buy the “hand wired” variant

[@brianwalker7417]

@@stratsouldier totally agree, but then you get the fun of gutting it and doing a hand wire amp..lol

[@Mr3DBob]

Does anyone have words to express approximately how good an all-around guitar player Pete is? It's way beyond me. Cappers is good, but Danish Pete is phenomenal.

[@unclejondale]

Captain has come a long way since videos with Chappers. he ain't no slouch

[@VeitLehmann]

Without any pedals added, both sound really similar and very nice. But with overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedals added, I heard some nasty high frequency artifacts on the digital amp, in addition to being more boxy and less smooth and warm. So my choice would still be the tube version. Very nice comparison, guys!

[@denglertodd]

did i miss where they toggled between the cabinet emulators?

[@jemandthemystery]

The biggest (pleasant) surprise on the Tonemaster is (for home recording in particular) the emulated output sound. That, through my headphones at least, sounded better than it did miced up in the room and at least as good as 65 Princeton. That was impressive. The fuzz/OD argument doesn’t affect my opinion as I would almost exclusively use a Princeton for those beautiful Fender cleans. Given that the DI sound is so impressive, it would be interesting to see how it plays with different IRs in software. Summary: with an attenuator, headphone out an Direct Out to your sound card/computer/ DAW/Speaker simulations, the Tonemaster version looks perfect for home playing and recording or easy lugging to a studio. Of course, the tone romantic in many of us would LIKE a valve version but, from this demo at least, the Tonemaster is probably better suited to the applications I’ve listed above. Love to hear from actual owners as I’ve yet to see one in the wild.

[@flummib4427]

I Love to hear and See Pete Play His Tele. Sounds much more authentic than Pete with another guitar. You can hear the emotions of guitar and master! And both amps Sound absolutely playable.

[@lf170]

"Favorite use of digital technology"... That Roland had been doing years before with the Blues Cube (including attenuation). I agree though, I prefer this style of modeling over the typical tons of f/x and amp/cabinet simulations with 20 knobs where most of the selections sound just "ok" and you might have only have one or two really good sounds in the end.

[@vhm14u2c]

Beginning, before tweaking, I could tell difference between valve/tube and solid state. Solid state does miss something (realistic/smooth/warm?) that tube/valve does have.

[@michael4630]

Just an advice for anyone here ! If you can get a 65 Princeton Reissue go grab one it’s really great. Magnificent cleans, and the way it’s driving the reverb and tremolo when you crank the amp is really something to experience. Definitely one of the best amps I’ve ever played and owned.

[@DTension]

Yeah but $799 vs $1,200 and an extra 15 pounds in weight. There is no right answer.

[@danabiondo9243]

When the Digital goes Out So Will You. Out $799.00. Oh I forgot. You can Re Use it for a Boat Anchor. :).

[@DTension]

@@danabiondo9243 Yeah because that keeps happening.

[@michael4630]

@@DTension To be honest I don’t find it too heavy, the Deluxe Reverb is heavy yeah, but not the Princeton. For me at least. And yeah the Tone Master is cheaper, but I’m more into changing tubes and other things than throw the amp to garbage cause something blew up in it after 10 years. That’s why I bought the tube version :)

[@DTension]

@@michael4630 I get it. I would hope (but don’t trust) that Fender would have good affordable supper for their tone masters. It would be a really bad look if they all started to fail at the same time.

[@FunkyELF]

After watching Jim Lill's latest video what I'd like to see instead of modeling or capturing would be an all analog amp that can be digitally controlled. He was able to mimick a variety of amps just by being able to move the tone circuit around.

[@myturningpoint]

Was just about to comment that every time Andertons put out an 'amp' marketing video, just going to drop the Jim Lill video remark. The cat is well and truly out of the bag after decades of marketing BS.

[@Paul-D]

Yeh it was quite eye opening that video in fairness! I reckon it will catch the eye of quite a few companies too

[@Drtydeeds]

No way they'll acknowledge Jim Lill, but it goes without saying that video is very illuminating.

[@400_billion_suns]

Amps like that have existed in the past. They didn’t sell very well.

[@mikedr1549]

@@400_billion_suns I don't know what the sales numbers are - but I do see real gigging musicians using them so I assume they're doing pretty well. I love my Digital Reverb Tone Master - it's perfect for my needs and I got it on sale for $750 so the numbers worked out pretty well.

[@baldyhead]

They are really similar, but I guessed correctly because the digital amp had a bit more clarity, which I actually preferred, until the fuzz showed up the digital amp and the valve amp was so much better.

[@guitmansam]

To me it's always been about matching the correct gear together. I had a guitar come to life in cheaper solid state amp, but not sound as good in an old tube amp. The Protien distortion sounded good in the solid state, the fuzz sounded good in the valve amp. Find the correct match to your ear and you'll be all good

[@deckert618]

I want one! My very first amp, back in 1981, was a Princeton, purchased used from a pawn shop for about $50. I foolishly traded it away for a more "metal" 100W Crate SS head in about 1985.

[@ShredBrosLTD]

That is P A I N

[@timmotel5804]

Good review and some great playing too. Loved That "riff". I bought the TM Twin three months ago and for all my practical purposes I'm completely satisfied. Tubes are great and I might buy another one someday, just to have one. Thanks guys. Loved it as always.

[@pads-zr9ln]

I'm tempted with the twin or deluxe due to the attenuation, I don't see the point with the Princeton, apart from being half the price of a 65

[@GitShiddy]

I play a Princeton and am a fan of the Tonemaster concept however, I don't know why they did a Princeton Tonemaster. It's priced the same as the 68 Vibro Champ, which would be excellent for loud home amp, a week or two extra saving for a new 68 Princeton (which absolutely needs attenuation at home) perfect for pubs, and used Tonemaster Deluxes are louder, cheaper, & have the same great features. Frankly Fender picked the wrong 12w amp to Tonemaster. They should have done the Tweed Deluxe. All that moaning said for posterity, this sounds great & I'll bet they sell millions.

[@mossstephen1066]

Would love to see a TM tweed deluxe but I think they won't do it because the driven sound/feel is too difficult to emulate. Clean tones are easier to copy digitally ib would think.

[@liamwagner9160]

The cleans were spot on but the tone master reminded me of a BOSS metal zone when they first started messing with the overdrive

[@kmickp1166]

I’ve pretty much been a “valve amp guy” but bought the Deluxe Reverb Tonemaster, more features, less money & fraction of the weight of the valve version! In terms tone, no discernable difference in the real world when played a gig volume as there is no A/B comparison. The Tonemaster comes into it’s own for recording & the atttenuation feature means you wont get evicted! Brilliant amps!

[@kmickp1166]

Same! Bought one for the same reasons & reached the same conclusions, great buy!👍👍

[@whiterose7055]

Background: I own a silver face Princeton Reverb (vintage) and have played it since it was brand new. I was able to distinguish between the two amps immediately, however I got it reversed. Amp "A" sounded more clear and pristine and I thought for sure that was the solid state amp because clear and pristine were the strong point of solid state while amp "B" was more nasal and slightly boxy. Wow was I wrong. I believe that the designers overthought the vintage sound and designed the filter so it sounded "vintage". The good news is that they can patch the filter and open up the amp because there's plenty they are filtering out. Sounds like a nice amp and can only get better with software upgrades. Kudos Fender !!!

[@michaelaiello9525]

Pete, that intro was gorgeous on your Tele. I was working on the computer and youtube was playing in the background. I had to stop and open the KZbin page to see what I was listening to. No surprise ,... "It's Danish Pete!" Thanks man for all the beauty and humor!

[@markslist1542]

They've finally done it. I've been waiting for the tone master princeton.

[@christianboddum8783]

I thought B was tube, but the reverb was the revealing detail. Digital is getting good!!

[@jackjack2975]

Fender understand everything with the tone master series they are so great... I'm a tube freak and will stay. But with a light weight tone master you can play at bedroom level with a great sound and no tube maintenance. Fender tone master make young and "less" young generations ;) happy to play with this kind of staff. The other Amps brand should definitely goes on this way... Good video guys!

[@denmar355]

They’re a bit different, but both very good! The DI out sounded like it needed a tad more bass and reverb. I agree with Pete that the Tonemaster inherently has a bit more mids. So turn up the bass and treble to keep it in perspective. I will be buying this amp!

[@olifilipe]

Could be just a mismatched pot. If you set both on 6 (or any other), the resistance level will always be different. Even two pedals or amps of the same model will sound different if you set them to the same "visual settings". But, if you have a decent QC department that measures every component individually, those differences are minimized.

[@mrcoatsworth429]

@@olifilipe The Tone Master doesn't have pots, I think. Since it's all digital, those are probably rotary encoders. So it should be always the same in this model. But what you're saying is still true for the 65 Princeton, of course.

[@johnspataro801]

@@mrcoatsworth429 Having opened the Tonemaster amps, they are in fact potentiometers

[@milesharris335]

I could absolutely tell the difference and guessed correctly. Both sound really good though. That said I have never heard a non valve amp that throws sound the way a valve amp does. I think that is the part that is truly impossible to replicate. Valve amps kick out sound in such a physical and visceral way.

[@TheRealSamBrawn]

I teach children how to play rock music and I was just watching your video whilst setting up the instruments in a primary school on the South Coast whilst watching your video. In walks a child and says 'that man sounds like the weather man!' So Captain Lee, if the music bizz doesn't work out you can always become a weather reporter. The company I work for (Rocksteady Music School) has just awarded me a £50 Andertons voucher, which I'm super happy about! Not sure what to spend it on yet. Anyway, cheers!

[@dallastoto3189]

I own a Deluxe Reverb TONE MASTER. Use it with my band . It’s light enough for me and loud enough. Awesomeness

[@rpavich]

I’m adding a comment because I can’t find the old comment to add to it… I just gigged with mine and it sounded and felt fantastic….I never once thought “oh…this is a solid state amp”… More than once when reaching around to turn it off I was careful to not touch the tubes…and only then remembering that there aren’t any! I changed the speaker to a Eminence Signature Series GA10-SC64 and it sounds even better! It took a slight bit of top end sizzle out which I wanted. I also used a Nobels odr-1, which sounds crazy-good with my Tele with’51 nocaster PUPS. It’s one of the best tube amps I’ve owned and I have an amazing sounding 75 champ and a 77 vibro champ, and this is every bit as good or better sounding and feeling

[@matthewmcclure3181]

Yes... but Yes, when listening to the amps side-by-side, playing the exact same part, listening through Adam A7X monitors, +25 years playing guitar, and trained ears from +5 years recording and producing guitar oriented music -> I was able to accurately identify the valve amp and real spring reverb. However, this might be the wrong question: 1) In the context of a full mix, there's little chance I would be able to pick out the valve amp 2) In a recording scenario I'd be more than comfortable using the modeled amp... and I'm fairly obsessed with vintage gear

[@justmehere6094]

In the intro A vs B. I liked the Amp B, as it sounded a bit thicker and rich, particularly when crunching. But then you set them the same, which may not be the right thing to do.

[@IrishBog]

Weird I thought the opposite. The B sounded brittle and thin to me

[@jr0706]

When you guys turned the Reverb up that is where I could hear a stronger tonal difference between the amplifiers. The tube version has more top end and a little less of the low frequencies. The tone master is coming across a little bit more girthy in the low end. Different midrange characteristic as well. Both do sound great!

[@kevincothron5089]

I have the Deluxe Tonemaster. We like using it with the di output to the house with the speaker attenuated as a monitor on stage. Works well. I am sure this one is just as nice.

[@daveduncan9005]

Tube amps will always give you a warmer, deeper bottom end while the digital will always give you a sharper, more defined high end. The difference is subtle but definitely there. If these were used without the other in a side by side comparison, it would be difficult to tell the difference. Technology has come a long way but not enough to replace a tube / valve.

[@martyshwaartz971]

IMO the only digital gear that actually beats valve amps for sound is the Kemper. And even then, it's a profiler (and you really can't tweak it all), so you still need valve amps to capture sounds if you want a different tone. Gotta have both.

[@harrywhitleyofficial]

They both sound fab! Buy with your gut! Idea for a rig challenge: function gig rig, pick a set list of uk function band staples and pick a rig that will serve the gig and get as giggable as possible in relation to the set list.

[@HooksBill]

I could tell which was which from listening. I never hesitated in my decision. Not just saying that because I would buy the digital one and at this point I don't own either amp. Just could hear the difference. As the video went on they began to sound more and more alike.

[@Paul-D]

I played a few tone masters a few weeks back, I did really love the sound and all the practical aspects. But I just can't get over the pricing - and im not usually too shy with spending on gear lol. I just think Fender know if the sound is right, and the look is right people will suck up the cost - which they do. And in conjunction with a fair bit of fenders piss taking of late... I just can't swallow this one.

[@paulstubbs4487]

Pretty impressive. You can tell the difference but it's small and in a mix no-one would ever know. If you were buying a new Princeton it'd be hard to argue against the cost, weight and features of the Tonemaster, but if you're already blessed with a valve amp, not really worth changing. Only downside is, as you say, if it goes wrong it's a bigger problem than taking it to your local amp guru and could be expensive. Having said that I use a Roland VGA-3 for practice which I think is from 2003 and it's still got great sounds.

[@jeffcookdotau]

The Tone Masters are great amps. The only real "flaw" is that they don't behave the same as their valve counterparts when you boost the front end. Even though I have the hand-wired '64 Custom, I'd consider grabbing a Princeton Tone Master when I see one at the right price.

[@tomdijk5549]

But why? Just curious, or you mean you'll sell the 64'?

[@jeffcookdotau]

@@tomdijk5549 I'd keep the '64. The Tone Master would be an amp that I could take with me when I visit someone or go on holidays because it's cheaper and there's less to break.

[@b2tall239]

I'm typing this as I watch the intro comparison. I believe amp B is the valve amp, or "tube" amp as we say here in the States. Update: Wow....I was wrong. I'd have sworn that B was the valve because I liked it more than amp A and I have a tendency to prefer tube amps over solid state. Nice.

[@BluesCover]

Did you ever asked yourself why all the knobs on the guitar and guitar pedals and amps? Well that the reason why! The Tonemaster feel to me more ready to mix in a full band scenario. When the bass guitar fill the low end and the drums fill the high end. The fuzz need some tweaking and maybe low overdrive pedal after it to smooth it out. It will not sound identical to the tube version but it will sound good and fun and convincing.

[@maybeyoureright4334]

I am really starting to think I can get equally or even more consistently great sounding tube tones with the right digital amp modeling. In this case, however, I'm not sold. When you kick in a little overdrive, the digital amp is noticeably thinner sounding.

[@amydixon2392]

I own a Princeton Reverb Bordeaux w/ the 12" Jensen P12Q. I think both Princetons sound great, I think the Tone Master Princeton is just a bit brighter...hard to tell the difference, but tweaking the tone controls does get them very close. Having the Line out and cab mic sim is a cool feature. Great demos - thanks guys! (by Herb Dixon).

[@stevep1941]

Nice comparison and really, not much difference between the two. I've been gigging a TMDR Blonde over the last year, and cranked up in a club, it sounds great, and pretty much like any Deluxe Reverb I've used over the last 45 years. The Princeton TM might be on the shopping list next.

[@chrisv924]

0:40 seconds gave it away for me. That said, both sound good, but not identical. I’m sure if you have 2 tube PR’s they might still sound a bit different from each other. Neither of them really sound like a vintage PR. But they are kinda close. I’m a huge fan of these Tone Master amps. I may get one of these :)

[@void0094]

I was surprised by how close they got the reverb!

[@The802Rider]

Thanks for doing this guys! I was one of the many who wanted to hear the comparison. I guess I just need to find a shop local to me that carry's both and hear it for myself. Great job gents.

[@paulhudson2293]

Danish Pete really does play beautifully. I wish I could play like that!

[@kbcarroll]

I got the tone master Deluxe reverb 2 or 3 years ago and I'm a changed man. I sold my 65 Tremolux after that. I'm never buying another tube amp again unless it's some crazy good deal on a Hiwatt DR103.

[@Pulse2AM]

Nice review! Where I really think you hear modeling tech is when you record to a DAW, in the room they sound close but once you commit it to a track, at least in my experience, you notice a big difference. That's because moving air into a microphone plays a big part in the recorded sound which is hard to model. I have the new ToneX software and practicing sounds great through my monitors but it doesn't translate to a recorded track quite the same. It sounds good but I hear the difference and have to do some work EQ, effects wise to get it sounding better and closer to a real mic'd up tube amp or how it sounds in the room.

[@jemandthemystery]

Interesting point. In that case one could just mic up the Tonemaster and record that.

[@Pulse2AM]

@@jemandthemystery I never tried recording a digital device with a mic and a speaker. I can't do that where I live, but it'd be worth a try if you can do it.

[@BladeDoomer86]

Clean, wow so close.... But, that's never really been an issue with any Solid State amps. It's all about the dynamics and how it deals with gain/od/distortion.. That Fuzz demo truly showed the biggest difference and why i personally can't pull the trigger on a SS amp.. Especially now that you can get a Monoprice/HB 15w fantastic tube amp for 400$ !!

[@grene1955]

I've had a VOX AC15C1, a Fender Blues Deluxe, a couple of Marshalls, including a current DSL40. But I seem to have settled on my digital Fender Champion 100 Watt 212. I just love the tones from it, and it is a great pedal platform.

[@iehen]

how can it be possible?

[@sergioserramusic]

They sound similar, but the valve one is so much bigger sounding... I love this amp I need to get one

[@vincezab1]

On the clean sounds I had the opposite reaction, like the digital amp was trying too hard to sound like a valve amp, which actually sounded pretty "big" to me. But on the fuzz hands-down the valve amp was better.

[@Jonathan-L]

12:50 ... just a note to say that the tremelo depth of the TUBE amp is dependent on the biasing, hence you'll get a slight variation, even when doing an A/B comparison between 2 Princeton tube amps, therefore I wouldn't worry about a hair-splitting comparison between the tube amp and the solid state model. I would expect all solid state Tone Master models to be identical in performance. One thing I might say is that the Tone Master amps are so good, that they'll probably out-sell the tube amps, which is not a bad thing and Fender might sell more Tone Masters than re-issued tube amps as a result. I envisage that Fender will offer a Tone Master version of ALL it's famous amps ever produced. C'mon Fender, you can do it! :)

[@thenickbw]

Not surprised in the least that these new amps sound great. Old mustang 3 V2 (100w RMS 112) amp that came out I don't know how long ago and it sounds better doing the fendery stuff than it has any right to for such an affordable and lightweight amp. Loud as heck too, easily keeping up with a loud drummer and multiple other loud guitarists and the rehearsal space

[@23905970]

I’d probably still save up go for the valve one, not for the sound but I feel like it’s gonna be more of an item that I’ll treasure in the future, and if I want a modelling amp I probably would’ve get something that’s more versatile than the tonemaster, but just my personal preference though

[@TheDilligan]

Yeah. I agree on this one, even as a proud owner of the deluxe tonemaster. I do plan on getting a classic princeton reissue. With the Deluxe or twin, you are getting a major benefit for practicality with the attenaution, DI out and weight. But the princeton as is, is already lighter weight, smaller, and lower wattage. And you can still simply mic it. And I think the fact that it is repairable and will never become obsolete out does the benefits of the tonemaster. It makes more sense to go with the tonemaster if you are considering something like a Twin, because the original Twin is so heavy and loud and inconvenient that it's absolutely worth it to go for the tonemaster. The ONLY downside I have found with the tonemaster after almost 2 years is that someday it will be obsolete and lose it's value, and someday it could break and it won't be able to be repaired.

[@martyshwaartz971]

Fender make great valve amps but can't compete with the likes of Neural and Kemper yet in my opinion. Unsure who this amp is targeted at since digital while valve guys want valve.

[@frankpratte8358]

I can't tell which is which (on the initial example). Maybe I liked B a bit more, but I think it was a little louder so it may just be that. They did sound different, Amp A was brighter like a Princeton, with Amp B being a bit warmer. Tube amps are a bit like fingerprints in that no two are identical, so unless you have the actual Princeton used for the emulation... Speaker emulation, could hear more of a difference. Also, the fuzz, big difference.

[@Lokair54]

Like the video set up A and B then the reveal and then trying them both out. I agree do one thing and move foreward, this thing where the amp tries to do it all is useless to the guy who just wants to play guitar.

[@larryburwell8550]

My 20 watt fender champ amp with all the effects it has sounds loud and proud in many modes for 129 bucks

[@pickeringpick]

Picked up one of the Tone Master Princetons yesterday and have played it now for a few hours. I have the all tube 65 Princeton Reverb reissue as well, but I can't do a true side-by-side as my PRRI has a 12" Jensen and JJ tubes. But... they are remarkably similar. The Tone Master is brighter than my PRRI, in a pleasant, chimey, glassy way which is extremely tube-like. It may have something to do with the 10" Jensen against my 12" one. With my 2012 Telecaster it sounds delightful: clear and well-sculpted, not harsh but definitely a bit thinner - more focused maybe - than my tube Princeton with the same guitar. With my Les Paul Standard it brings out all the right tones from the Burstbuckers, and, again, it is a bit brighter and I think even a bit more articulate. Where the amps differ quite a bit is in the point of break-up: the Tone Master stays clean at higher volumes than my PRRI. With my Telecaster, I had to push it up to 7 before it gave me the sort of break-up that my tube version produces at 5/6. This seems to be more pronounced when the amp is set to lower wattage. On the 0.3W setting it stayed clean until 8 and then rapidly went fuzzy. This may be my ears playing tricks on me, since I suspect it may be harder to detect the characteristic edge-of-break-up of a Princeton if the volume is lower overall. My Les Paul pushed the amp a bit harder and got some nice driven tones at 6, which is still later than my tube Princeton will break up with the same guitar. This is not a problem, necessarily. Not for me, anyhow, since I tend to stay in the clean end of the spectrum and use a drive/boost pedal to get my edgier tones. In the clean zone the Tone Master sounds beautiful. Really, they have done a fantastic job of making this Tone Master sound like a small blackface Fender tube amp. One of the things it does best is the effect of clean tube compression: that slightly squishy way a real tube amp responds when you dig in a bit. The TM does that really well. It never sounds flat or lifeless, it responds beautifully to light touch, has loads of nice harmonics, and it fills the space with lovely Fender blackface tone. I am impressed. I will not be getting rid of my tube Princeton, and I'll continue to play it often. But it will stay out in my recording studio for tracking, and the TM will live in my house for daily noodling and practice, songwriting, etc. Perfect practice amp, and easily good enough to use for recording if I want to play in true stereo.

[@jpob5]

It could be the playing in the intro but havng this video on in the background, the Tone Master always made my head turn.

[@zer0tzer0]

When you give it the gain the Valve Amp has that Tube Compression that the Solid State just doesn't do, like a Kemper.

[@joeldowdy404]

I love my brown 64 deluxe tone master!! It sounds great at the house or out at a gig. Telecaster or Lap Steep sound wonderful through it.

[@Just-Michael]

I think that either way, you'd be getting a great amp. You'd have to dial in the amp and any pedal you're using a bit differently, but they both sound great and you'd probably be happy with the cheaper one.

[@firdausHITMAN]

i bought a tone master Princeton. it sounded good enough for me for home use, not quite tube sound but good enough for the weight sacrifice and low vol practice. sadly it lasted a month before it blew up. Fender were good and repaired it under warranty. I would buy another tone master amp but Fender needs to make it more reliable.

[@onolicious9147]

Listened with my Airpod pros. The Princeton valve was definitely more open sounding. The Tone Master sounded more focused on mids as they noted.

[@Ben_Mdws]

Can I just say - these videos are awesome…thank you!

[@petergraham9267]

Man, this has REALLY thrown a spanner in my works! I am a tube / valve guy and have been for years.........but I actually prefer the slightly more mid focus of the Tone Master! I need to get down to Andertons and try them out for real......I suspect that Tone Master will cut through a live mix better. Sacre Bleu! 😳

[@billyvancise8141]

the direct out is crazy good, it picks up a little more guitar noise then an amp mic but still crazy

[@Chord_The_Seeker]

I was instantly able to tell that Amp A was the valve amp and B was the digital modeler. The Tonemaster was thinner and harsher sounding. I was listening on my iPhone speaker. When the fuzz was turned on the difference was even clearer.

[@zodiacbluesbaby]

Saw the title and thought, "If I can't, I'm getting one". But spotted the difference correctly straightaway, no doubt

[@joshuabenton3785]

I was definitely rooting for the modeling tech! But the moment that the drive and gain was boosted, I knew it was a lost game

[@joshuabenton3785]

@ghost mall I hear you and I believe you are right. The loss of the low end though completely changed the EQ balance the Princeton provides and to my ears didn't sound too good. Not to say it can't be dialed in differently or that it sounds like rubbish. On the contrary, it sounds just as good as any other amp in certain scenarios.

[@joshuabenton3785]

@ghost mall I have the might Axe FX3 Turbo and love it to death. I believe it has the best modeling on the market....but if I COULD I would be an analog guy all day just because its more fun at times. Although digital definitely has its advantages.

[@danabiondo9243]

@ghost mall Happy Wife Happy Life :)

[@BeardlessWhelp]

I always see people in the comments talking about "KZbin compression", not realizing that KZbin stopped doing anything so heavy-handed well over a decade ago. Pretty much all audio is encoded and streamed in the Opus codec, at bitrates which are - for all real-world listening intents and purposes - indistinguishable from lossless audio.

[@marions.120]

I’ve always used a tube amp, but I got tired of it ceasing to work (not cheap amps) at gigs, finally went to a Blackstar Siverline. I can really hear the difference, but it suffices for now. I’m still running it through my old Marshall 4 x 12. ✌️🤔🎸🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶 p.s. I can hear the difference hear, but it’s minimal.

[@josemariatrueba4568]

Very similar. Digital technology makes the job perfectly well, both in pedals or integrated inside the amplifier, but tubes moving speakers is my personal choice. Tube amplifiers do need relacing matched tubes and biasing them every so often, but the magic of tubes does deserve the extra jobs, extra weight and extra price, imho. My Marshall EL34 100+100 was crazy expensive, weights a ton and makes a lot of heat, but with the right pedals in front and a couple of four twelve inch speakers cabinets sounds second to none.

[@wakjob961]

I spent big money the '64 handwired version after watching Rhett Shull's video on them, and I think I could've been happy with the Tone Master version just fine.

[@oldmanmerc]

They were close but side by side it wasn’t hard to pick the tube amp provided you listen through decent headphones. I was surprised just how close they were though.

[@AGOY1971]

Hi! The Tonemaster sound good! The Princeton reverb is AWESOME!

[@littlebritain64]

In my humble opinion Fender R&D section made interesting things in the last years. At a good price. I am thinking to the Mustang Mk II digital amplis and footboard. Mk I was a little buggy and Mk III was not so well sounding, but it has been a good attempt.

[@dannymacnevin3939]

Hey, I own a Super Reverb Tone Master. I bought it within weeks of it being released, and it has the same exact speakers as the original. It has 4, 10" Jensen P-10R Alnico Speakers. Which are the same speakers the re-issue Super comes with. Just thought I'd share that with you guys. :)