Fender Tone Master Bassman vs Fender 59 Reissue Bassman

[@SandrOliva]

I own a Twin Reverb Reissue and I have owned a 1967 Super Reverb and a 68 Deluxe RI, not to talk about all the other Fender amps I have played in my 50 plus years of gigging and recording. Last year I wanted to try the Tone Master series, so I bought the entire randge: Deluxe, Super and Twin. I got rid of the Deluxe because of the early break up (no clean tones with a loud rhythm section). I don't have a tube Super anymore, so I couldn't make a direct comparison, but I could do it in my studio with my Twins. As we could hear in this video for the Bassman version, the two amps sound different, the Reissue being fuller. Same for my Twins. BUT. An EQ pedal on my Tone Master changed the game, and after a few tweaking I could make it sound almost as deep as the Tube version. There's still a little digital something, which disappears in a live situation. I have gigged with the Tone Master Twin and I couldn't hear any difference from the sound I have always had in years of gigging with the other one, nor a friend top session guitar player noticed it wasn't a tube amp. And I didn't have the EQ pedal yet. At my age (70) it's a life saver, and I am planning to try the Super Reverb in future gigs. And maybe on occasion use them in stereo! As for durability? I just gave away a 22 year old CyberTwin which have never had any issue, and still have in my studio a 2002 ZenTera Head, still running fine. Plus two 2009 Mac Pro, still running great. I don't know why those Tone Master amps should let me down (I had unreliable Voxes and Marshalls)

[@Jonathan-L]

Thanks for the tip on the EQ pedal. I'm contemplating getting a Tone Master Bassman for harmonica playing, and whilst it's not cheap, it could be the last amp I will ever buy (famous last words).

[@joerobertson795]

If the Tone Master was $500-$600 they would sell a lot more. Great for a take-to-gig player. But... $1500 goes a long way in the used market and much more desirable and better sounding amps plentiful. Fender got greedy. I really liked the TM PRRI, but for $1k, I'll just drag my Real One (that's actually fixable) around that I paid less for 5 years ago (with a 12" Creamback included). Keep up the great work Jack and Merry Christmas to the Fossett Family!

[@Nblades78]

Nailed it. The TM to me sounded nice until it was cranked. Nice, but, it was thin and tinny. When it was cranked, it still lacked bottom end and it was really raspy, like a cheese grater on the ears. Nice amp in it's own right, has it's place, but way overpriced for what it is. Not comparable to the real deal.

[@MacMFer]

If you were to open up both amps and not know anything about circuitry or music, your mind would straight up tell you that the Tone Master costs more just from looking at it's insides.

[@deanmlshredder]

​@@MacMFernever seen a tonemaster gut shot. I imagine it's mostly surface mount with a few big ass ICs. Crappy plastic jacks and board mounted wafer pots. Ugly to an enthusiast but probably does look more "opulent" to the untrained eye. Cleaner at least

[@trevor4533]

While I agree they are a little overpriced, I still can't see them selling for $500-600. Even at Fender's costs, just the cabinet and speakers alone would make up a good chunk of that price tag.

[@MarnibiOutThere]

@@Nblades78to me that sounds like new speakers. I bet if you’d play it for a year it would sound much more open. Don’t forget that the speakers in the tube bassman are probably 30 years old. Makes a very big difference. Nonetheless, I agree technology has not quite caught up yet with replicating that organic sound (and I would say, mostly the feel) of actual tubes. But man, is this thing close and very convenient.

[@bluesky6361]

Vacuum tube 59 Bassman forever!!!!!

[@CathyHolton-jh1xv]

The segment near the end, the SG through the Reissue sounded sublime!

[@buzzcrumhunger7114]

One of each seems to be a good idea 👍🏼

[@esbee1177]

Thanks for that real-life-attitude! 👋🏻

[@chrisbalding3128]

According to Fender, the Tone Master is modeled after the ‘59 Bassman LTD, which has the Jensen P10R speakers. The original ‘59 Bassman reissue from the ‘90s, which Jack is using here, has the Eminence 10ALP speakers. Very different speakers, tonally, and his has certainly been played well beyond the break-in period, haha! The Tone Master is brand new, with no playing time on the speakers. A more “fair” comparison would be the TM vs. LTD. I have both and will not be getting rid of either. But for most gigs, my TM has replaced my Bassman, tweed Bandmaster, Blues Junior and Pro Junior amps. The TM can play festival stages with a band and then go down the street and play a duo gig at a coffee house. And it weighs the same as my Blues Junior.

[@jesperjacobsen3050]

Nice. Your original video prompted me to buy a bassman actually. I absolutely love it. In terms of volume I gotta say, I agree: It's almost obscenely loud. I basically never go past 5 and 3,5 is more than enough most days. Anything past 6,5 and I'm scraping the paint off the walls.

[@57ebartley]

Thanks for that. Alway enjoy your video's

[@claycrowe4032]

Great video, as always. I definitely think the reissue sounds better, but I'm interested in the functionality of the Tone Master. Plus, only weighing 35 pounds sounds nicer for my back. Thanks for the shootout!

[@jp7963]

I recently got the Blonde Tone Master Deluxe Reverb and I love it. I did look at the TM Bassman and the Twin Reverb too but I just think it sounded better. The TM Bassman is a little pricey as well. I think the reason for this is, circa 2024, Fender have the clean sound fully nailed, especially when using the "attenuator" feature. The driven sounds are just not quite there for the TM's compared to real tube/valve inside there. In the not so distant future they WILL be. Make NO doubt of that. But I just want a pedal platform and the TMDR I got does that perfectly for me, especially at lower volumes. PS - the issue about longevity of digital products is a concern and one that needs looking at fully. However, please note for context I have a Yamaha FX500 digital effects unit that I still love to use today. When I bought it I was warned the internal battery will last "about 5 years at most". That was back in 1989.

[@markdakel9253]

I have seen numerous reviews on the tone master amplifiers comparing them to their tube counterparts; I felt yours is the best review that I have seen; the main takeaway is these Tonemasters are built for obsoletion, if you look at the card on top of the amplifier that lists it features. The overwhelming item is the weight of the amplifier, everything else seems to be secondary.

[@mccartney7108]

I wonder if the TM might sound a little warmer and less "thin" with worn-in speakers. like the reissue has the warmth of an old amp that’s been played and loved. the TM came out last year, and doesn’t have the same amount of time dedicated to playing it and wearing the speakers in. just a thought. jack, if you happen to see this, I’m interested in your perspective here. great video, as always.

[@chrisbalding3128]

According to Fender, the Tone Master is modeled after the ‘59 Bassman LTD, which has the Jensen P10R speakers. The original ‘59 Bassman reissue from the ‘90s, which Jack is using here, has the Eminence 10ALP speakers. Very different speakers, tonally, and his has certainly been played well beyond the break-in period, haha! The Tone Master is brand new, with no playing time on the speakers. A more “fair” comparison would be the TM vs. LTD. I have both and will not be getting rid of either. But for most gigs, my TM has replaced my Bassman, tweed Bandmaster, Blues Junior and Pro Junior amps. The TM can play festival stages with a band and then go down the street and play a duo gig at a coffee house. And it weighs the same as my Blues Junior.

[@timjx3675]

Great timely vid thx - No contest for me 59 reissue ftw 🎸⭐️

[@BOSSenjoyer]

Great video. I'd get a used RI or build a 5F6A but Fender did a good job.

[@aminahmed2220]

Awesome reissue bassman Jack have a great day also what a fantastic video have a great day also happy first week of December ❤😊

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: Great Amplifier, great demonstration. I have never owned one, but have played with a guy that loved his, and it sounded great. You are not joking about how loud they are, My Twin is louder, but not by much. The Tech in me wants to re Wrap the tolex on your old amp. At least replace the Grill cloth. Several places stock Fender replacement supplies. I agree with the Tonemaster assessment. They are throw aways, just like the Champion 100's. No post warranty service available from Fender, No technical support, no parts support.

[@o.brugger_]

I have a Bassman 59 reissue here in Brazil. The entire Tone Master series, especially this new Bassman, seems VERY effective in its simulation, I imagine even more realistic in a band scenario, where everything is more mixed. Here in South America, it is practically impossible and inconceivable to buy any amplifier from this series... With the price of everything here (dollars do Reais and taxation), if I have the money to buy a Fender amplifier, you can be sure that I will not pay the price of a tube in a digital copy, however beneficial (weight, maintenance, etc) it may be.

[@legatomodi3522]

I've had to replace one of my tonemasters already. For maintenance they may be just as well as tubes. For weight theyre a dream come true. As far as sound, my deluxe only sounds different from a real tube one when theres one next to it. I think it sounds great. I would think for a gigging band that does professional shows probably will not get the performance they want volume and dynamic wise honestly. Band practice and home practice are great uses for it though.

[@swaffy101]

Man, this is a difficult decision. The reissue sounds better but like you said when or where will I ever be able to crank it? I’m a straight into the amp kinda guy and just ride the volume on the guitar. The tone master would definitely be more practical but I’m a guitar player and we aren’t known for being practical. The 2 ohm would be difficult to source a attenuator. Would you go tone master or the blues deville 410?

[@wesrowe8732]

Interesting. Chris Buck is using one on tour in Europe now (mixed with his Super Reverb) and it sounds huge. Takes drives really well too. Check out Chris’ channel for a video on his rig rundown.

[@legatomodi3522]

I've found with my deluxe tonemaster is so nice for the room. I imagine the 59 is similiar. Tube amps are so dang heavy and it's just not practical. I cant say tonemasters are more solid than a tube cause my first crapped out on me in less than 2 years. I got a blond one I love now (matches my harmonic percolator perfect). I'm so intrigued but the 59, and i got a zvex overdrive pedal that alleges it gets the drive characteristic sizzle grit right but I wouldn't know at all. I wonder if effect pedals like a flat eq on my amp may be just as well as this for me :/

[@JS-nf1sn]

Awesome video, Jack. Thank you. How loud was the real bassman when you cranked it? Is that call the cops loud full on? Tube amp is better, but the usability of the tone master can't be denied. Are the speakers broken in? Some say that doesn't matter, but I'm in the camp that thinks it matters, quite a bit. I don't think the tone of tube amps will ever be beaten, but we don't have the knowledge to completely know why.

[@guitarworks2546]

The first thing I noticed is something that I became very aware of when I was using a 5150 back in the 90s. It was several months of use before the amp sound became fuller, warmer, less fizzy...and I heard it again in this video...NEW speakers vs older, broken in speakers! The reissue sound is darker, richer, fuller, etc. So in all fairness, it isn't the AMP that is responsible for the immediate difference, but the obvious well broken in and used speakers in the reissue vs what I assume are NEW Jensen P10Rs. The much stiffer, new speakers will make ALL the difference! After 6 months of gigging at nominal live/stage volumes, the tone master will sound much different.

[@Jonathan-L]

I just wish Jensen would supply speakers that are tonally "broken in" so that they sound best from new and stay that way.

[@hddynarider4528]

Bassman reissue hands down, no comparison. These Tonemaster amps are good for light weight, that’s about it, they are digital and sound like it.

[@slimturnpike]

Yep hands down

[@xxdr34m5xx_4]

When you buy the Tonemaster Pro we can do a Bassmann vs Bassmann vs Bassmann 😂

[@paultownsend6043]

Great as always Jack, i actually thought the Tone master sounded pretty good cranked, no as thick as the reissue but still sounded good. What i would like to see, is someone put one of those tube drive pedals in front of a tone master, not seen anyone do that yet.

[@MacMFer]

I have been curious about that as well but, I have become more curious of what Simon Jarrett from Kingsley has done in some of his videos where he uses a Fryette attenuater as his power amp. I have had the Twin TM and the Super TM and now the Bassman. I have yet to own any pedal drvien pedals since I used to own an Ibanez Pue5 Tuvbe Multi Fx that I wish I still had. That thing was amazing. I will say the Bassman is the best TM yet so I am definitely curious of how a tube preamp would make it sound. I would love to see Fender start making TM's of unobtainable Fenders for the common consumer. Like a Vibro anything🤣 fingers crossed for a Verb or Lux.

[@kylekiller1236]

I use pedals in front of my tone master Princeton everyday it sounds great.

[@MacMFer]

@@kylekiller1236 Tube Driven pedals?

[@paultownsend6043]

@@kylekiller1236 I also have a princeton tone master, some pedals sound great, but some not so

[@barrymarshall9238]

Chris Buck is doing that with his signature pedal on tour with Cardinal Black.

[@El-Scorcho]

Can you play bass into the Tonemaster?

[@DaveKaplowitz]

I’m a big fan of the Tone Master line and was considering a Bassman, but not any longer since it’s soooo much thinner than the reissue.

[@89digits59]

Generally, I favor new technology - but in this case after hearing so many videos of the Tone Master Bassman, the Tone Master does not cut it for me, it decays the note too fast, the tone is "OK" at best, so the Reissues are better in my view, just my 2 cents.

[@what1864]

in this recording on my end the tonemaster sounded just like the reissue , so i'm glad jack told us what he was hearing in the room because that can be lost in a recording . johan's real talent is making a toaster oven sound like a classic marshall amp .

[@strumminronin]

This is definitely one of those "why not both" moments. I would love for them to make a TM George Benson Twin. Now that is one I would just plain jump at, click and order! But it doesn't exist, yet.

[@phladjki]

If the tonemaster is so much thinner, drop the treble, boost the bass and mids, and raise the volume. You don’t have to leave it thin sounding … or do you? Can you set it thicker? I’m assuming you can.

[@rsuverk]

That’s what I did on my TM Princeton and it sounds as fat as my 66’ bandmaster

[@chrishyde1216]

Another question for me is, how does the Tonemaster compare with a Katana? The Katana is very tweakable.

[@jimdevries9479]

Unless you gig with a full horn section a 59 bassman is overkill. Besides no two are the same . If the tone master gives usable tone. Use it!

[@joerobertson795]

Unless you're playing Stadium Gigs, there really isn't any practical circumstance where you can get all that juicy Bassman Goooodness without attenuation. Getting one from one place to another is job in itself to boot.

[@uwedasler425]

I agree with pretty much everything you've said (other than the Bassman being the greatest amp ever, that is obviously the High Power Tweed Twin :-) Still, I am not sure limiting this comparison to the two Fender products is giving a complete picture. As you have said, the Tonemaster is not cheap at all, and what you get is 1 CPU/DSP running exactly one amp sim, a mediocre speaker, a class D power amp and some I/O stuff that is better in most audio interfaces for under 150 bucks. Seriously the only reason to buy that is if you absolutely want the looks. And I bet you: If Fender would offer a 'plus' model that is identical, but just removes the Tonemaster badge from the grille cloth for 80 bucks more, people would buy it. I have compared the Bassman, Deluxe, and Princeton Tonemaster models to everything we have here (that's the original amps plus tons of plugins, modelers and profilers). There is literally not one product where the Tonemaster amps get even remotely close to the original amps at all, and almost everything else gets closer. Helix, Fractal, Kemper, Tonex, NAM Player, and in case of the Deluxe also the UA audio Dream 65 pedal, are all better models that are a lot closer to the real amps. And, except for the UA pedal, all of them can do hundreds if not thousands or ten thousands of amps at that quality level, while each Tonemaster can only do exactly one barely. And if you do need the looks, pair a Tonex One with a Fender FR10 or FR12 - this will give you 20 amps and cabs, delay, reverb, chorus, flanger, tremolo, rotary, compressor, and a noise gate for less than half the price and sound better (with 'better' meaning closer to the original).

[@Jonathan-L]

As a harmonica player & having testingc the Bassman Tone Master in a music store, the Tone Master has its pros & cons. The power level switch is a good thing, weight is reasonable, but the price is too much. I'm still sitting on the fence as to what to get.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Digital platform amplifiers are not meant to be heirloom products. These amplifiers will make for great platforms to gut and hand wire into tube amplifiers

[@Jonathan-L]

Another option is to fit a power amp (eg Seymour Duncan PowerStage or Harley Benton GPA-100 if you're on a budget) and connect it to a modeler.

[@tommywallberg]

TM sounds brighter/ thinner compared to your reissue not necessarily bad at all but for sure these is a difference in respond and sound.

[@nekkon1989]

If you use it as a pedal platform, then the reissue might be appropriate. It doesn't sound as good, but it will do the job

[@howardpoulin23]

I own a 59 reissue Bassman. The main difference is the same difference in any tube versus solid state comparison. The way it takes pedals. Tubes make certain pedals better . Tubes make any amp sound better. Hey let’s use both with an A/B Tonemaster Clean / 59 with overdrives galore.

[@jimilee459]

Were you overdriving the mic pre amps? The dirt sounded overly fizzy distorted. I bought the Tonemaster after your last review.

[@JackFossett]

Nope, but I was using it at different attenuation settings

[@JackFossett]

Oh, I should also mention - the two guitars I used in this video are brighter and lower output than the two guitars I used in the Tone Master demo. That makes a big difference too. They were driving it harder and filling out the sound more in the first video.

[@JimMorrisonsBathtub]

I'd always go with a tube amp over a digital modeling amp. Tube amps have a roar to them where anything else I've ever heard can only do an angry squeak. Even for clean playing tube amps just sound right to me and modeling amps really don't.

[@jimilee459]

While I agree with you and all my amps are tube. The Bassman is just too damn heavy and big to buy the tubed version.

[@JimMorrisonsBathtub]

I have a 6 piece drum set with a 26" bass drum. Bring on the heavy tube amp.

[@jimilee459]

@ Oh man, that sounds killer. I bet that damn thing is even heavier at the end of a 4 hour bar gig night. Then you gotta load it up and take it to the practice place and unload it again. Did it for 2 years, I’m tired. 🤣 Make sure you’re lifting with your knees or you’re gonna have problems when you’re older, trust me.

[@JimMorrisonsBathtub]

I've never had a chance to gig so I don't actually need to move my drums very often. But I used to be an Army infantryman so I already have back problems.

[@jerryhorton5708]

I agree - I always use a tube amp…when I can. To be perfectly blunt, I spend more time with modelers now than otherwise, simply because the gigs require silent, clean stage. My current modeler (and I’ve tried them all except for Fractal) is the ToneX and I’m blown away by the sound and utility. However, when I can, I go to my Dr Z or Revv D25. Gigging live today is a different world than when I was earning my stripes but it’s still all a blast

[@matthewf1979]

The early 90's reissue with the blue frame Eminence Alnico's and plywood cabs are really, really good amps. Fender did a phenomenal job recreating a legend. I concur, the TM amps are not easily repairable. You would replace entire modules/boards if anything. You'd have better luck at a cell phone repair shop than a guitar amp repair shop. Power supplies and DSP's are typically the first to go in the previous TM models.

[@adrianguggisberg3656]

The TM amps are no problem to repair. That's my personal experience with my own TM after it was damaged by lightning strike. The repair was not under warranty. It took them three days to take it apart, order the parts from Fender, reassemble and test it. They charged me 20 minutes of labour and a PCB, 120 quid total. The tech also told me they were very reliable thus far, they sold boat loads and mine was only the second they had to repair.

[@seanbrooks2583]

at least if this one breaks you can use it as a cool looking speaker cab.

[@Jonathan-L]

Rip out the amp module and fit a Seymour Duncan PowerStage amp.

[@TropicalLatitude]

Tone Master isn't a laptop or iPhone. There's no reason why it can't last for decades like other Fender digital/solid state amps.

[@Discordia_audio]

Team Tube Amp 100%. Tone master has a nice clarity to it but is missing the smooth and thick grit.

[@Daverotherham]

Inave a couple of Peavey Renowns: I know the great Chuck Berry used them, as well as Pete Townshend at his peak, but I know from first hand experience that Bassmen are only the second best amps around

[@deanmlshredder]

Played the Deluxe Reverb verion a few years ago and was very close to buying it used for $600. Glad I ran a fuzzface into it first. Sounded like crap.

[@danielcarter3928]

they sound the same to me

[@marccarnohan14]

They sound like…amps. The TM cranked reminds me of, as a teen in a garage band, my friend cranked his Princeton + Mustang guitar out in the driveway. Sounded awful. Like when you got distortion on a radio. The Reissue was marginally better cranked. Excellent clean. TM on target for digital image. It would work; may not be as personally satisfying. Jack, your Super sounded way better on on old video you did with a Princeton, Twin, and Super Reverb.

[@Stratisfied22]

Do you even consider anything other than Quilter when leaning towards these type of amps? Where are these price tags coming from with Fender who now cuts every corner to make the most profit. I don’t see any value with these amps other than being lightweight.

[@adrianguggisberg3656]

It is what it is and what it says on the sticker. It sounds like a digital model of the current reissue Bassman, not like a 30 years old one or a 70 years old original. But on its own it's a great sounding amp, versatile and useful. The old ones sound better, but very limited in usefulness, difficult to gig, fragile, expensive and all of that gets even worse as they get older. The TM is a tool for a purpose, and a good one at that. The old ones are more like a great old wine you store at home and drink in awe and respect at home.

[@jupitermoongauge4055]

I'd rather have my best sounding amp at a gig. Tone Masters sound like crap wherever you play them. Vintage tube amps are not hard to maintain if you know what you're doing.

[@adrianguggisberg3656]

⁠Yeah, cool, what ever rocks your boat.

[@whenvioletsturngrey9597]

Amp techs are always going to favor the tube amp. It guaranteed work for them. Having owned a number of 80's 90's synths, swapping out salvaged parts can be a normal part of owning those machines & websites exist just for this reason. Tone Master aren't perfect Amps. Neither are tube amps. The tone Master Twin has become my sound, though. It sounds great & is so versatile. Does it sound 100% like a tube amp? No. Does it sound great on it's own? Yes. That's what matters .

[@treatb09]

As expected tube driven tone is superior, even with pcb ruining the signal. However, i remember hearing the tonemaster when it came out. It was garbage. Here is it rather impressive? Yes. It did has some fade and sag modulation. It really tried to emulate that sound. Ah, this is a 90, i was wondering why it sounded open and loose. The original reissues were partially ptp. But i still hate that stupid pcb they strapped on... that tone master though is a great entry level amp for someone who doesnt know yet what they want. I saw the controls and having a transformer on there that can modulate output is very cool. Ive always been a fan of the idea. But if you want real tone. Tubes are the only way to go. Tubes bloom or sag and they cant be fixed into digital. The physics arent there because tubes run a set amplitude modulation of electrons that turn into waves of frequences and its smooth data. No digital format can ever be that smooth.

[@jimilee459]

I bought the Tonemaster after your last review, based on weight. I have probably 10 tube amps, I’m just not going to carry a tube Bassman.

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

My hearing sucks, and even I can hear the difference between the two. The reissue sounds much better. I’d be perfectly happy with the ToneMaster if I hadn’t heard the other one though

[@jarhead3038]

Ive been playing guitar and vass since 1963. No more tube amps.

[@stratofig]

The old reissue Bassman has 35 year old Eminence blue frame Alnico speakers that are well broken in. The Jensen reissue P10R in the Tone Master is a much brighter speaker, even after being broken in. The only correct way to compare the AMP part of each Bassman is through the same cabinet and speakers. It’s not hard to do if you use a speaker cable with a couple of RCA adapters. You only need one adapter per amp because the 4 speakers are wired parallel together.

[@JackFossett]

You can buy a well used, well broken in Bassman reissue for less money than a new Tone Master. And the comparison isn't just of the guts, the whole package influences the tone.

[@halbertking2683]

Buy a Victoria . Buy a Clarke .

[@antoonhermans8953]

Mmm , new speakers not yet broken in against speakers that have been used for many years , thats not really a fair comparison , is it ?

[@JackFossett]

You can buy a well used, well broken in Bassman reissue for less money than a new Tone Master, so I think its totally fair.

[@antoonhermans8953]

@@JackFossett hello , i believe you , but thats not my point , you said the tube amp had a fuller sound , but how will the tm sound after a few years i wonder when the speakers also had a lot of use . just curious

[@gatormcklusky5850]

0:20 vs 2:08 completely different amps

[@jmnthe3rd]

0:13 clearly a young dad

[@JackFossett]

Actually, a tired aging dad. But thank you.

[@Admin-hd2hd]

Tone Master series....who can service those once out of warranty and once discontinued? NO ONE! Think about that everyone :)

[@metallover8]

I’m definitely more a fan of the Bassman

[@JackFossett]

Right? Preaching to the choir

[@rsuverk]

Big difference between Eminence and Jensen - having owned both with a 66’ bandmaster and now a TM Princeton - Eminence is too stiff, lacking full range compared to Jensens

[@kyatzz]

The pricetag on the tonemaster is outrageous. Just get a Kemper or Helix. It will do the exact same thing and you'll get a hundred different amps and pedals with it.

[@denbodg9311]

Yep, Reissue all round, but I can’t see the Tonemaster advantages to the gigging player.

[@sonnywolfblues]

The Tone Master is tighter with more clarity in the treble and has more bite whereas the 59 reissue is smoother with warmer low mids. Both sound nice. One thing to consider is the 59 reissue is 34 years old and has broken in whereas the Tone Master is brand new and will sound stiffer until the speakers start to break in and the amp gets lots of play over time which will smooth up a bit. I did demo a Tone Master Bassman recently in a store at low volume and was quite impressed for what it is....the tone is very musical and I'd have no problem gigging it. However this was at low volume in a guitar shop where I can't crank too loud. The ultimate test for a piece of gear is gigging it live. I once had the rare opportunity to A/B a real 1959 Bassman vs a 59 reissue side by side at Guitar Center and the difference was huge with the real 1959 one having so much more midrange warmth compared to the reissue's more scooped tone with harsher treble and excessive bass.The real 1959 had all the frequencies perfectly aligned and so musical....on the reissue you had to crank the mid knob and keep the treble and bass knobs low to get closer to the sound of the original 1959.

[@Lander-bo2rq]

any idea how the tone master bassman handles pedals. mainly big muff, or like an overdrive.

[@sonnywolfblues]

@@Lander-bo2rq I didn't try the Tone Master with any pedals...I dropped it to the lowest wattage and cranked it to get it overdriving. I had to dial back a lot of bass because it got really farty but it sounded good. But I imagine it takes pedals well and Jack demo'd it with the Tubescreamer in this video and it sounded good.

[@liammorrow96]

@@Lander-bo2rq Got a tone master bassman, seems to handle very well, I'm using a pedal pawn fuzz and an overdrive.

[@tiagoramalhais5493]

I think Fender should have released a Tone master Bassman head instead of the combo, would have been cheaper and more practical, that kind of money for a ticking time bomb is just too much

[@graemero5532]

The reissue sounds better, and the tm is way too expensive for a throw away piece of kit.

[@squirelova1815]

"Joke"? What joke? Loving the Bassman is on joke Jack.

[@HellenCheller]

Jesus that tone master sounds like kaka

[@mikeyohe4750]

Reissue. No doubt. Tonemaster is too thin and icepicky.

[@dwocelot6913]

Modeling amps are like iPhones. The next iteration will come out and the companies will stop producing components for the older models, to force you to upgrade. I'd never buy one.

[@dinofond]

There's no comparison here at all.

[@HaroldHarris]

No convincing anybody.

[@cassavamellin]

the comparison is kind of pointless. people dont buy this because it sounds thr same or as good as three tube amp. they buy it because thry can actually use an amp similar enough to the tube one without the weight and volume. i have TMDR. i imagine the tube one is better but mine is 80-90 percent to it and i can actually use it and carry it.

[@Twinhit]

Doggone... you'd think that Fender could just sell replacement boards if the circuit goes bad after warranty. Tonemasters are probably geared more for the gigger in mind than the home dust collector. Tube for home. TM for the working pro. Still... fender should make parts available for post warranty replacement. Maybe even drop-in upgrade models when they come up with upgrades models that users may find appealing. Make top notch cabinets. For post 5 year warranty... Use common drop in replacement electronics circuit and chassis architecture for $500. Problem solved??? Otherwise, Tube is the STILL the way to go. Invest in dollies or hand truck and quit complaining about a bad back. Buy earplugs for the neighbors. I mean... you know????

[@wetherbeephoto-lt2id]

The Tone master sounds very harsh to my ears.

[@gregmontbello6969]

That tonemaster thing has a fake weird sound

[@steverolfeca]

This is first Tone Master comparo where I disliked both amps. I’d take a TM Super Reverb (or even a TMDR with an aftermarket driver) over either of these,

[@adrianguggisberg3656]

I think most players prefer either mid-scooped or mid-stacked. I like the mid stacked tweeds, the early Marshalls, the Laney Lionhearts, and I don't like the mid-scooped black plastic covered Fenders, like the Delux Reverb or Twin Reverb, let alone Super Reverb. All they have is clean tone with too much bass and treble. I do love the music of people who know how to use them tho.

[@steverolfeca]

I hear you, but I’m very familiar with tweed Fenders. My favourite amp is my 5E3 tweed Deluxe, and I also owned an actual ‘57 Bassman at one point. I just don’t like what I’m hearing from both the TM and ‘59 reissue versions in this video. Too fizzy and harsh. Mind you, I haven’t checked them out in person- it could be the way they were set…

[@adrianguggisberg3656]

@@steverolfeca Expect them to be harsher, they lack 70 years of breaking in. Unlike electric guitars, they are acoustic musical instruments. Small details in everything from the wood, to cab construction, to speakers, to electric cirquitry, it all has a significant impact.

[@steverolfeca]

@ Seventy Years??? Check out a Victoria 2112! More importantly from my perspective, I built my 5E3 starting with a Mojo kit in 2008. It has a few hundred hours on a Weber 12a125ao, not thousands. After some selective upgrades, including a Hoffman turret board and a better power xformer from Mission Amps, it’s almost indistinguishable from the real thing, except for having less hum.

[@adrianguggisberg3656]

@@steverolfeca Yeah, I know nothing about these, I only know the original Fender tweeds from the 50's. Middle of the 50's was 70 years ago. However, I'm not an amp snob, for me, I'm happy if it sounds good🎸🤘

[@chiefline7084]

I gave the tone master every chance I could but it doesn’t sound anywhere near as good as the reissue

[@jupitermoongauge4055]

Tone Masters are crap

[@andremellao4882]

reussie is much better