Fender Mustang GTX50 (Does It All, But How Well?)

[@MrPolevaulter]

Check out more amp reviews here: kzbin.info/aero/PLNaLwTdlpQNHNo5bubVjV1OW04gkqU8rM

[@Ratso_DeLynch]

Hey Elmo! Really hope you see this comment ! sweet demo, builds, reviews like yours right here and several other videos/research that made me finally pull the trigger on my own however i need your help as I'm a little stuck on what neck/*net width* I should get for my build, you seem like you're way more experienced with this stuff than me... : *Burning question about necks/nut width for you* say you can ONLY choose a standard thin neck option not a large neck, boatneck or 59 profile etc, just the closest thing to what you think is a C shape neck. - now what would be your *GO TO* *nut width* to compliment it ? Should I go with *1- 11/16ths (43mm)* as a safe starting point? That's what is considered standard nut width I believe and it matches up with most of my favourite guitars and probably those of other players really because.. . *I know for SURE i cant go much lower in terms of nut width especially the vintage fender size *41mm* will probably too tiny feeling! Im 6"1 and on necks like that in the past with my moderate sized hands (yet smaller pinky finger lol) *the high e string slips off the fretboard when playing fast/soloing* maybe you've experienced the same kind of tendencies on a thin nut yourself? . And Important note is I'm *NOT going with a floyd rose, instead a gotoh 510 bridge* SO basically I'm stumped there and not sure what nut width to settle for. Even on the opposite end of this, going *TOO large width wise* so higher than *43mm* will likely feel way too wide I don't want playing between strings to feel like a massive "leap" either . Anyways, with all that in mind my guess is it's safe to lean towards a *standard thin shape neck + 1 11/16 nut* it sounds like the safest recipe so far and for that area I'm really OK with "vanilla"/safe nut width and neck combo since if that one aspect is off, we can surely both agree that it can drastically compromise the feel of a good neck! . I'm very interested to hear if you agree or what your advice would be for a newbie first time builder like myself. I cant tell over video but something tells me we might have similar size hands! . Apologies for the novel amd I hope to hear back from ya whenever you get the chance! Cheers from Niagara falls Canada and please stay safe and healthy during this time🙏🤟😊 - Adam

[@MrPolevaulter]

Hi Adam, I'm sorry to say I can't really be of help. I have a luthier who builds guitars for me, and I've never looked into the details of it all, nut width being one such thing. That being said I'd probably go wider rather than thin, as the neck might start feeling too small otherwise. Sorry I can't be of more help :(

[@sedbomb1]

Old guys like me that have a job and a life , get to play on weekends or at church, are called upon to pull off songs from 5 or 6 decades. We need to push a button get the sound , close enough , and then move to next tune. These amps are brilliant.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Fair enough.

[@Mozart1220]

Me too! Nearly 60 years old and don;t have any use for "refrigerators" anymore. my music room is small and I have no space for 20 stomp boxes and all the cords (which attract noise) . A lightweight amp with enough juice to keep up in a small room and all the effects I'll ever need? That's my version of heaven. Even when I do "play out" most of the bars and clubs around here are small and there is no need of a Marshall stack. If I need more volume I can mic it or run the stereo line outs to the board. My main thing is fooling around recording my own music. It sounds AMAZING running direct to MY little board and then into the computer. The pedal is also great, and well worth the extra money.

[@lachychapman3951]

Agreed

[@kmcel190]

The mustang line of amps is what motivated me to keep playing guitar. Now that I spend more time at home, I can spend hours honing my tone, to get a sound that I enjoy, and is unique to me. Endless possibilities, I never get bored.

[@da19570]

Just bought mine Friday and i am happy with this one it has 189 settings.

[@stratback]

I own this amp. I love it because the if you find one you kinda like, you can tweak it easily and save it, adjust tones ,even adjust tube bias on a model.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

I get where Elmo is coming from. If you are someone that wants to plug n play, turn a couple knobs and get great tones within seconds I don't see or hear it with the presets I heard. The demos where a guy uses the app and fine tunes the tone it sounds pretty damn good. It's not a plug and play amp until you tweak and save the amps, effects and tones you want.

[@MashaT22]

@@johnsmith-ug5tp Valid points, but then he should have demoed it for what it is. This is not a quick plug and play amp like the less expensive models he mentioned. Elmo really would have heard much better tonal representations had he truly taken more than a few moments to dial in his tones. He also could have stacked a pedal or two and gotten much better results with his heavy tones if he wanted to be lazy about it. He made it clear from the start that he didn't want to be bothered to mess around and tweak everything as intended. It's unfair to a product if the reviewer is not willing to fully test this type of amp for what it is. I don't own this amp, but I've heard some pretty close tonal representations -- even for a Plexi. The cleans are really great and are a wonderful basis to stack a couple of pedals too for rock and metal tones. I have even heard of people mostly using this as a cabinet and pairing with other modelers like an AxeFX. Lots.of things Elmo could have tried to improve the end result, and he just didn't do it (and admitted so much). I generally love Elmo's reviews, but he just doesn't seem to want to fully test the features of modeling amps with their respective tone apps, stacking pedals, etc. I don't really understand why he bothers with these amps if he's not going to take the time to really give them a fair shot. It's totally fine that he doesn't like them for himself, but maybe he'd enjoy the tones better if he really tweaked the tones for more than a minute, took more advantage of the tone banks from their apps, tried stacking some basic pedals, etc. That's what everyone does when they buy modeling amps. Nobody is expecting a fast plug and play experience when they buy this type of amp. Those who prefer simple plug and play would not be in the market for modeling products. So yeah, I get his point too . . . but if he's going to test them, he needs to be fair and take the time to test it as it's meant to be used. Otherwise, how is the review helpful and unbiased? I'm not trying to sound harsh here, but I'm just perplexed why he'd test a product like this if he's not willing to go the distance and use them as the customer base would be.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

@@MashaT22 To be fair to Elmo, 90% of the people that demoed this amp on YT did the samething. Fender is to blame for their poor marketing and promotion when they launched this amp. They did the samething with their fantastic Bassbreaker tube amp.

[@jasonb5898]

​@@MashaT22 Long time since your post but I just read it. I couldn't more.

[@JohnBrawnson]

I think the idea of modelling without app and master of mullets is the thing for me

[@6stringcodger450]

The great thing about these amps is the organizational capability. Since most of us don't just stick with one or two sounds (a set list may require many different effects) this thing really helps out. Build your setlist via ipad, phone or directly on the amp, then just click through the list as you play your set or practice routine. Dont have to twiddle around with buttons, dials or many clicky switches to move on to the next song!

[@P.C.D.C]

100% yes to this comment. I have now gigged my GTX amp for 9 months in a covers band and have sold off and put cash back in my pocket from the amps, pedals, patch cords, pedal boards, batteries and power sources. GTX 50, GTX-7 my iPhone w Tone app= done. I can get a tone good enough for the sober audiophile in the front row (compliments me for), be loud enough for the front window bar room gig, and low and behold, stereo XLR outputs to the desk to the PA when we play larger rooms.Yes it has that digital quantizing sound on some of my presets that I do hear playing solo in the home rehearsal room, but I didn’t buy this to play alone at home. As soon as our drummer, keys bassist and singer start there is no hearing that through the mix, just my guitar tone competing with the drunks singing along in the pub, and with the set list feature, I can now join them, I program our 32 songs in order so I just stomp next and voila tones volume and effects are up ready for me to play. I can now do a gig so shit faced it’s amazing. No more river dance for me😂

[@kuffs06]

I've had mine for over a year now and absolutely love it. There's a lot of other reviews that are better and more informative. There's no talk of the global EQ to change its sounds even further. At 22lbs. 40 amps, 32 cabinet's and over 70 pedals with a looper, Bluetooth and WIFI connectivity makes it one of the best choices to cover a wide range of styles, sounds, and situations. Hell, I liked it so much, I bought a second one used as a back up as you can back the amp up and restore it to another in in minutes. Plus if I'm playing a larger venue I can line out it in stereo and should one explode, the other one is already there.

[@dannyheath8876]

The fender tones in this amp are very good 👍🏻

[@P3photo]

I love this amp. I’ve had it now for over a year and I love the ability to build presets from scratch. I typically start with selecting one of there amps. Then I start tweaking the amp’s setting until I get the sound that I’m looking for, next I start adding and adjusting pedals, then I name and save it. Another option is to select a preset, and then start the tweaking process again until I get the sound that I’m looking for and then rename and save it as a new name.

[@GlennMarshallRocks]

After watching you for nearly a half hour demonstrating how much versatility this amp has, and changing your playing style to accommodate the various tones it provides, I was expecting you to say it was a great amp... I was very surprised not only that you didn't, but that you spent so much time ragging on it at the end... I may have to watch the video again to see if I missed something along the way, as it certainly seemed to provide some great tones with a wide range of expression... I already have 6 all tube amps, but I'm considering one of these for the versatility, the ability to ditch the pedalboard, ease of dialing up tones and to modify tones, as well as the great sound... and from what I hear, these project far better than the old mustang series used to, where the sound seemed to come mostly out of the back... I suppose my next step is to find someone that has one of these on the showroom floor and to hear it live for myself... Also wondering if you had changed the global EQ setting to "Guitar Focus 2" as another commenter suggested...? and if you hadn't, if that tweak might make a difference in your opinion of the amp's sound as he believed it would... that "plasticy quality" you mention at 23:14 certainly sounds like a Global EQ setting that is affecting the tones "all through it", which a change to those Global EQ settings would likely completely fix for you. UPDATE: Reading the dozens of positive reviews for the GTX50 & GTX100 at Sweetwater has restored my faith and optimism in the quality of sound and satisfaction factor for this amp...

[@kjchicago1]

And that Fender Mustang GTX50 amp with all the bells and whistles sounds terrific-real nice-I just got myself a Fender Mustang LT25 amp(on July 2nd)

[@alexcastro7339]

You already had a bias going into this, calling the amp "this thing"..... Plus, you didn't mention the cool software that comes with this that lets you have even more control over the amps and effects. Don't be so critical of these amps and their sounds. A professional guitarist isn't going to be buying this. It's for the home player, jamming with friends and maybe playing local gigs. For players like that, this is a godsend. It has most every effect and amp simulation for the average player for not a lot of money... I wish I had this when I was younger. I remember laying out $100 just for one stomp box.

[@derred723]

@Luke He didn't say don't have an opinion. His point was don't have a preconceived bias and don't judge an amp meant for home use for budget players, meant to be a low price point, jack of all trades by a standard of professional use, high price point, good at one or two particular sounds.

[@Idkchangethislater]

@@derred723 ffs its a home amp? Bu-but😦

[@gmmakesmehurl]

Thats the problem with most people who shit on this amp, they don't take the time to dig into it. Don't have the time or can't be arsed? Fine. But don't shit on the amp cos it's a fantastic amp when dialed in. It even has a few very good presets from the factory that require no tweaking.

[@legendfpv]

And that stomp box was made in USA.

[@Idkchangethislater]

@@gmmakesmehurl ikr I just got mine a few days ago and its amazing you just need to take some time and learn it properly

[@jgiaccotto78]

one thing that a lot of people might not realize when reviewing this amp is that it sounds so much better if you go into the Global EQ in the settings and adjust it to "Guitar Focus 2". it comes default on "flat" which makes it sound so boxy and cheap! once you change the global eq its not bad for a little non tube amp. this is for the mustang GT series i would assume this feature is also for the GTX versions.

[@peterkelly8357]

My GTX50 arrived yesterday, thanks for your tip, just checked the settings... there is a Global EQ menu. I’ll try it tomorrow.

[@gmmakesmehurl]

They oughtta ship the amp with Guitar Focus 2 set as default.

[@alcofribasnasier5089]

Thank you for that clarification. Did you try to record this amp with an Android phone ?

[@benallmark9671]

What's the difference in the GT and GTX ?

[@benallmark9671]

What's the difference between the GT and TBE GTX ?

[@MississippiDave]

I’m not a “fanboy” of these amps, but I do think they’re pretty impressive for a plug and play experience. And the cleans are pretty nice and functional actually. The distortion isn’t necessarily bad, but there is some dialing in that needs to happen depending on the guitar. The EQ settings are quite helpful w this amp. Enjoyed the review and the playing even though I think maybe the amp deserves a little more credit. It is pretty deep and functional all things considered. At the price, I actually think it is pretty close with the Boss Katana and even exceeds it in some categories.

[@mikemurdock7234]

I've had one of the older Fender Mustang amps for several years now and have not really had any problems with it. They are great amps for practice and recording. I have not looked heavy into the new models, but the one I have plugs into the computer and you have to really mess with the EQs and customize the presets. The older Mustang amps had tube settings in them and you could adjust that and get tube type tones. I rarely have used them for distortion though being mostly a funk/blues player. I've had great luck getting amazing clean tones out of the Mustang. The few times I did mess with distortion though, it took me a while but eventually I built a preset trying to mimic Eric Clapton's Cream tone, and had some pretty good success with the Fender overdrive pedal that comes with it. The reverbs that come with the Mustangs also work pretty well, love the stereo tape delay, gets a bit of a Hendrix sound there.

[@newgravityfilms]

To get the diverse range of sounds and effects that this amp offers (top notch or just OK) with that kind of detailed control over each would require an investment far beyond $399. Not to mention that you would have to lug a large host of other equipment (pedals, cables, rack, speakers etc) which is a pain in the ass. Fender didn't release this amp to replace all of the amps and effects it replicates (especially at $399), if they did why would anyone ever buy another Fender amp other than this? It doesn't work that way. If you are an OCD purist and can literally hear every subtle tonal variation in your guitar tone over the sound of your entire band and can't bear to hear the flaws in the replication, then yes, spend the $1000 or more on a bigger and better setup... or you could just get this and put the saving into your therapy bill, because I guarantee you no one in your audience will walk away and say "Did you hear that slight plastic sound from the guitar player? eww"... Bottom line is this is a swiss army knife that is meant to do a competent job at being a one stop shop and save you money and space. If that's not what you want, get something else.

[@kyle7447]

I just got this as a gift for xmas! Holy smokes this amp is so nice!

[@Rluce75]

I played the 100 and it sounded better than ‘okay’ with the settings dialed in, including the global eq. It is a huge step up from their previous offerings in terms of sound and quality, most notably in the gain department. Further, the Fender amps are impeccable and there are a ton of them!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool.

[@Mr.Wu.]

@@MrPolevaulter I think in this case the simply "cool" answer is not enough..

[@MrPolevaulter]

@@Mr.Wu. Come tell me how to answer comments again when you get the same amount I do. I thought it was cool that he thought it was better than okay.

[@MrPolevaulter]

@@Mr.Wu. You'll get a longer answer to your comment in a video at some point.

[@Mozart1220]

I have this amp and I LOVE IT!

[@stormmccree8238]

I just picked up one and it absolutely sounds great. Obviously it can’t perfectly mimic a rig that it obviously isn’t but it gets close. Sound quality over all is great.

[@iancurrie8844]

No, it's not. you have a tin ear.

[@alanknott363]

Reading through the comments it's pretty evident that most players (including me!) appreciate the scope of the very convincing sounds that can be had with this amp. It's truly a swiss army knife for different tones and effects for 'not big money' compared to what you would have to spend to achieve the same ultimate goal. I would never disrespect good tube amps that have a very good sound all of their own, but once you add the necessary pedals and the price soars sky high. Considering the cost - This amp is very impressive and well worth it imo. That said; I've also been checking out the LT50, which is an absolute bargain and now also on my radar. I'm with Elmo on the Roland Cube, I'll be keeping my Cube60. Best wishes.. 🎸👍

[@playpaul2]

One hell of an amp! Will easily cover my needs. I'm getting one!

[@tobiusmanning7336]

My issue with most reviews is that I want to hear the best output of each amp, not the factory presets. I know that would take a lot more time to learn but would be a better video. Enjoyed your video

[@Jason-td4hu]

Are you expecting it to sound like a $2000 amp? It’s a $400 digital modeling amp. It has a ton of different sounds for anyone to mess around with. For what it does, it’s great. Stick with a Twin or Marshall half stack if that’s what you need and have the money for. What are you expecting?

[@mistermatsuda]

You've convinced me! I'm getting one tomorrow.

[@45zapatero]

Finally someone who doesn't like editor apps too much. I thought I was the only one ;-) Just like you I like controlling a device from the device itself. I don't want to be depending on an app that one day will no longer be supported .

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah. I'm old school that way.

[@TheSackless]

I have the GTX100 and it's amazing. The versatility has made my jcm800 redundant.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool bananas :)

[@SuperJocker1]

is it better than boss katana mk2?

[@Rluce75]

Cobra Singura The Fender Amps are unreal.

[@Mr.Wu.]

@@Rluce75 what are you meaning with the word "unreal"? Is good or not?

[@Rluce75]

@@Mr.Wu. I use an ART multi instrument tube preamp into my GTX 100 to add tube warmth, and that changes A LOT. Even without it the amp modeling is the best Fender has done to date. It definitely does metal better than ever before.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

At Long and McQuade in Canada Best Music Store in Canada it sells for $480 !!!! I'm getting one for sure . Thank You for the excellent review . 🇨🇦✨

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@james8354]

oddly enough I'm listening to this video through the Mustang gtx 50 itself

[@vedder10]

I really think people are missing the target audience of this amp. This is more of a beginner/intermediate practice home amp. The Tonemaster series is getting into advanced level pro territory. Just look at the price differences. So I think if you judge this amp with that perspective in mind you may come to a different conclusion. Or maybe not. In the end this is all subjective. I tend to make my own conclusion by actually playing equipment for myself. Regardless really great content and appreciate sharing you experience.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks Marlon :)

[@TheSackless]

Yeah there's a lot of people shitting on this amp. Most of them tend to be pretentious gear snobs. Let me put it this way, I have the GTX100 and a Marshall JCM800. I use the GTX100 more. Sound wise I can get them near identical (Obvioulsy not the 4x12 oompf) But still.. And the fact that you can run the amp through XLR is a huge plus for studio/producing work. Also at gigs, the people watching don't give a shit about what you're using. People listening to a studio recording don't give a shit either and even if they did, they could't tell what was used after mastering anyway. If they say they can they're talking complete bollocks.

[@nitroxylictv]

I think this is more of a budget thing not an experience thing. An experienced guitar player would happily take one if they were tight on money.

[@draglinedrummer]

​@TheSackless I realize this is a few years old, but if you wouldn't mind sharing how you get the JCM to sound good on the Mustang that would be appreciated. What settings do you use?

[@shanewalton8888]

I bought this amp's previous version because I am playing mostly in my house and I didn't want dozens of expensive pedals cluttering my home.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool :)

[@bootlegnjack]

If you have any expensive pedals making a mess around your house just send them my way

[@GuitarNewz]

They look nice and seem to offer a lot for the value. Great video!

[@Capybarainahumansuit]

I bought this recently with an ibenez axion 6 string with fishman fluence pickups and let me say I love it. I bought a marshall dsl40 I had a orange combo too.... i have had 700 dollar combo amps and they might sound better than this with 2 sounds but theyre so limiting. With this I dont need the agrivation of pedals and changing my sound constantly to tune in multiple sounds... to get this same thing in a tube amp id need to spend a grand or so... yeah an axe fx or helix or high end stuff like that is better. But I dont want to deal with computers ether. Sure if I had a whole pa system I could sync in through yeah that would be great. But for 400 after tax this amp is incredible. I wish when I was 15 or 16 and just starting I couldve gotten something like this. Tubes do sound great... but this sounds alright... with 50 or so different sounds that are usable and good. Deffinately a great amp. Sure when I have more space I may buy something different but I want simplicity and for a guy in a townhome this is awesome!

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

I know modeling amps can be a little divisive but I’ve had a good experience with the Boss Katana Mark 1 that I’ve been gigging with for the last 2 years. I like the way this sounds and I would use it like an old school amp the way I use the katana. I use it as a clean platform with my pedal board. And it’s worked very well. I’d like to have this Mustang to get that nice Fender clean sound. I’ve used overdrives from Boss, JHS, Way Huge, Paul Cochrane, Love Pedal and Caline. They have all worked well.

[@matthewblack7206]

Just a subjective comment, not about their sound: these models *LOOK* so much better than the previous ones, which I thought didn't just look plain, they looked downright Ugly.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, they do look like amps these new ones.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

I’ve had many of the latest SState amps and they just can’t compare with their tube counterparts... Live anyway. Tube amps are most appreciated by the player, than the listener with a fine ear. Once either are plugged into a PA or DAW the difference really goes away, but in my room they usually suck, lol. Thanks for the post!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haha :D True :)

[@wintyrqueen]

When running the XLR into the PA, instead of the internal speaker, it can sound great. Maybe not good if you’re wanting to nail the sound of a different amp, but if you’re wanting to craft the sound in your head, this thing does really well. The Lt line suffer from no xlr out, & far fewer options

[@marshallderriek1858]

A minivan does alot of things also .. some not great like a drag car .. but practical and very useful for others .. there is not 1 amp .. 1 vehicle .. 1 boat .. 1 plane that is better than others at everything .. its what is best for you .. for its versatility .. price .. and descent sound.. it's a hit for many

[@peskypesky]

The clean and slightly overdriven tones sound pretty darn good. Some of the metal tones are fizzy. Luckily, I don't play metal.

[@inwen8258]

Bought this amp 10 months ago for 500€. As of today it's at 620+ retail. Thanks world economy I guess. That aside, for a total beginner this amp is a dream. Has all I could ask for and much I didn't even ask for so it'll last me for years. I'd say it's great for every beginner who has yet to dial in their preferred sound and then go and buy just that a few years into the guitar journey. The only thing I have to criticise is the tablet-amp-connection which appears to be a bit finicky at times but nothing that a restart wouldn't solve. It's a damn computer inside after all. I'd give it 9/10 stars.

[@joeking433]

I just saw one for $250 shipped on Reverb.

[@kevindelavega3746]

I just picked one of these up for 125, crazy deal. I also have an lt 25 and this thing blows it out of the water as you would expect. These are such a good deal on the used market. I love the stock Fender sounds.

[@Bluntedco.]

i am debating between this gtx50 or the lt50 what would you think is a better buy?

[@kevindelavega3746]

@@Bluntedco. depends on what price you can get it it at. You’ll probably find better deals on the lt50. I have an lt25 and it’s a solid little practice amp. I just remember being very impressed the first time turning on the mustang gtx50 and cycling through all the Fender cleans. Also a nice Roland Jazz Chorus preset. If you can pick up a used gtx50 for around 200 or less you’re literally robbing them. Probably hard to come by but I bought mine for 125 by constantly searching fb market place

[@Bluntedco.]

@@kevindelavega3746 Thanks for the reply. You got an amazing deal at $125 for a gtx50! i actually have a friend willing to sell me a gtx100 for $300 and it has a foot pedal i also found someone else on a facebook group willing to sell me a gtx50 with a footpedal for 220. not sure if i should go for the gtx100 for 80 bucks more or the gtx50.

[@shippingdepartment3328]

@@Bluntedco. Did you ever end up picking a gtx?

[@Bluntedco.]

@@shippingdepartment3328 yeah i did. a gtx100. it was loud af for the room i had it in so i resold it lol. but all the presets were worth it.

[@kjchicago1]

Sounding Terrific! Have you seen the Fender Mustang LT25 amp? I have one myself

[@massimilianogullini5222]

Hi Elmo great video!!! so let's say gtx is similar to LT50? Do you prefer this last one? sounds good? Thank you

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haven't tried the LT50, only the LT25. I prefer that to this.

[@paulheavenly]

If i found my favourite sound than it works for me. I played tube amps a lot, but in my opinion and for my needs the GTX is a winner, because of playing stereo and yes i need more effects than one or two.

[@KyleJohns-zk9kv]

I have one of these amps, and I love the Tweed Sugar preset

[@AC-yq2fx]

Oh boy! Most of the comments I read here are giving los of credit to this amp, which mean they disagree with your opinion. I just bought one for my son last night for Christmas and his birthday. He started doing local gigs with his band, and that's the reason why I bought it. This amp has built-in effects, footswitch pedal, XLR outputs, Bluetooth, and I only paid 349.00. If he (son) wants to go with a tube, amp like me, I'd have to pay 699 for a blues junior plus your pedals, 100-200 dlls ea. Just do the math. I don't think anyone can't ask for a better deal than this. I'm sure like everyone says if you dial in on setting and eq's, you can modify presets if there's some you don't like. Before I read the comments while watching the video, for a moment, I thought, "What mess did I get into?" I felt my purchase was a bad investment, but at the same time, I knew I could return item since GC has a 45-day return policy. But as soon as I started reading everyone's comments made me realize it was a good buy for what my son needs it for. Merry Christmas, everyone.

[@distortionclubla]

amazed at your playing more than the amp…

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haha :D Thanks!

[@nitemirror1]

the hands wash photo was hilarious

[@dwainmcbain5263]

I bought this amp to have fun with tone and experiment with different types of amps and discover amp styles that work well with certain pickups and use effect like stacking modulation and delays for ambient tones; it dose a very nice job! I like Strat single coils with a Super Reverb😁 It may not be exact but I like the models and the Fender Effects, the rest is a box and a speaker which is ok but if you had something better for power and speaker it could be a lot better for jams, gigs and recordings.

[@Fnnggjji]

I was looking for reviews of this amp everywhere. Couldn't find any so I ordered a DSL40CR yesterday. Glad it turned out to not be so great 😅. Btw, great reviews. Thank you!

[@richardjones2811]

I ordered a Dsl too, it arrived I plugged it in and after 5 minutes sent it back. Absolute rubbish, the hum it produced was terrible even at low volume. Ended up buying a Boss Katana Mk2 instead and that's amazing. Download patches and store on the app, genius. Never buying a Marshall again, they were great once but not these days.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Hope the DSL works out better than the one Richard tried. Marshall do still make properly great amps, such as the Studio Vintage or the 1987x, but of course they're in a totally different price range. I also disagree on the Katana 2. It's OK for what it is, but definitely not amazing.

[@Fnnggjji]

@@MrPolevaulter I've heard the QC on the DLS's was iffy when they first came out. Hopefully I get a good one. Agreed ok the katana. Tried the 50 and then the 100. They're good for the price but just lack.... personality if that makes sense.

[@mattwood5493]

The DSL is bad ass didn’t care for the clean to much but the crunch is awesome and the high gain can get there with a boost

[@markmunday1275]

Thanks Elmo. Like the 'erm' review 😁. Nice to find an independent unbiased review channel.....with a good sense of humour. Top man.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers :)

[@RickMichaelis63]

As usual you sound GREAT & can make anything sound awesome!!!!!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks man :)

[@darrylpugh6656]

For the most part I use the clean sound with pedals. I might find the few I like and spend the time to make them excel. I am never going to use all of the sounds. I hate going choice crazy. But give me a great Fender clean with pedals and let me take the time to hone in a few presets, and I have everything I ever wanted and didn’t break the bank doing it. No I am not a beginner. Been playing professionally for 40+ years. Actually, if I wanted exceptional sounds, I would find somebody or hire somebody who could dial things in perfect for me because personally, I love analog equipment, but I spent 35 of those 40 years using and still do. I just don’t have patience and I don’t like going choice crazy like I said, but we live in that world now, but having a clean fender sound with some pedals I have everything I need really but if I get some patience, I have the opportunity to be patient and do something cool too. My grandson grew up in the computer world and on like me he can master things at nine years of age. I bet he could make this thing sound great for me. I agree with a few people on here, you hated that amp before you even turned it on.

[@serdar.saglam]

Hi Elmo. Thanks for review. I have been using Blackstar ID Core 10 for two years plus Bias FX2. Digital modelling options are very usable for home using and recording. But I am considering an upgrade for better sound. But valve amps are too loud. So Boss Katana or another digital or solid state amps can be my option. I can’t decide. What do you suggest under 500 dollars?

[@MrPolevaulter]

You can get valve amps that go down to 1 watt or even 0.1 watt. I'd look at one of those. If not, then the Spark Mini is good, as is an old Roland (Micro) Cube.

[@serdar.saglam]

@@MrPolevaulter Thank you very much for reply 🙋‍♂️

[@serdar.saglam]

@@MrPolevaulter I watched your Harley Benton 5 watt video. I decided to buy it. Thank you very much 🙏✌️

[@mark-dietz]

Maybe Im old, but seems to me that any modelling amp would create option paralysis. Good for recording possibly but for playing live, I prefer a simple set up. A fender combo solid state/tube amp, a tube screamer, a distortion, a chorus, and a delay got me through 25 years of playing. Good demo, but no sale!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yep. Less features, but better quality is the way to go.

[@harryharris1619]

I get your point. After hearing a few demos of this amp, feel it just does not 'breath' or move air in the way a typical tube amp will. Probably has a lot to do with the actual speaker type used as it is chosen to be far more neutral than normal tube amps. Furthermore Fender obviously did not build this (DSP tech) to replace their Tone Master series or newer tube amp models. But as a modeling combo amp that tries to do it all it is probably better than the previous versions of the Mustang modeling line.

[@5manufan]

I have a cheaper model of this amp, and while it will never compare to a tube, sitting down and messing with the settings I was able to get some very good tones. The ones that come pre-loaded I did not like at all, just needed some tweaking.

[@harryharris1619]

@@5manufan With everything being said the GTX50 is a great amp for what it is. No, it cannot replace a decent tube amp exactly. However it offers so much more flexibility in a combo amp and can sound good with the right settings that I think it offers one of the best choices for a guitarist starting out. You can always get that custom tube amp later if that is the sound you are going for in the end. But at a minimum it is a really useful practice amp that you can build your sound and technique on. The 2 ch outputs add a whole dimension to its effects if wanted. Coupled with all of the connectivity, to me, it makes for a really versatile amp for students and some gigging situations alike.

[@benallmark9671]

What's the difference between the GT and the GTX?

[@frmm123]

The guitar playing is f*cking awesome.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks :)

[@davedynamite77]

That’s why I like the boss katana katana is not a modeling amp and it has its own distinct five different voicings

[@indigos290]

That strat looks gorgeous!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks :)

[@brianthompson4480]

You're a proper player!

[@waycat100]

I really like the sound of the amp, especially for the money. But, I especially like your playing!!! I feel like a lot of the tones are due to your hands and fingers. It’s refreshing to watch someone with a great talent AND a great personality!! Don’t ever change, Bro.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you Wayne :)

[@BeyondVexing]

Definitely not a beginners amp. Too many possibilities, so one maybe overwhelmed. As for anyone else, it has an excellent clean tone so if you can’t get a tone(s) from this thing just hook up pedals of some kind and enjoy. Though for the price there are many other options so I’d look elsewhere. Excellent demo Elmo! Anyone who listens to this video you have provided should know if this amp is for them.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers! Yeah, the amount of options on these things is ridiculous, considering they do none of the things really well.

[@doctorskull8197]

Wonderful demonstration! How does this amp compare to Vox Cambridge 50?

[@Luchodela]

Thank you a lot as always for your honest videos. Given that I saw that you already reviewed the Boss Katana MKII 50, which one would you prefer between the two? Thanks!

[@IJustWannaSleep1]

You can’t hate the metal preset when you have single coils 💀

[@Rookblunder]

How would you compare this amp to the Fender Champion 40 ? I haven't got into the store yet but I'm figuring I would rather pay for a good amp without too many options and later go for a distortion, digital delay and chorus pedal setup. Would you say that the Champion 40 would be better for such a setup ? Great video. Thx for your input.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks! Haven't tried the Champion 40.

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

So you recommend the LT50 line than the GTX100? I know the LT50 has a window app that you use. Not so with the the GTX100. You have to use Tone Mobile, whci kinda sucks, I would like the Fender Tone amp for Windows for the GTX100.

[@cliftongardner4367]

Great demo as always. The problem with these modelers is that they never seem to sound like great amplifiers... they sound like recordings of great amplifiers. Even if it isn’t nearly as great as most of KZbin would have us believe, at least the Boss Katana amps actually sound like, well, amps. I still think we’re a ways off from really cheap amplifiers sounding as good as decent tube amps, and most of these brands (including Fender) have a vested interest in making sure that doesn’t happen anyway.

[@diablo_trikiloko]

the thing here is that actually NO ONE change global EQ to bright cut or guitar focus. People who actually did that said that the sound of the amplifier improves A LOT.

[@Earlbein]

Santiago, I have one and trust me, what you said makes a TON of difference (!) This amp requires some time/tweaking via global EQ and preset EQ using the graphic/or parametric EQ's and, it can be made to sound as smooth as silk THEN, you have the speaker breaking in factor which will improve it even more as time go's on (speed that process up by playing loud if you can, as often as you can!),,,I had the Boss Katana 50 right along with the GTX, played them both back & forth for hours, and while the Katana was good as well, not having to be hooked up to a computer for deeper editing, and having much better flexibility footswitch wise, connection wise for live use (XLR outs) the Fender won out for me, both the tone & tactile feel are there, notes sustain & feedback really nicely & naturally (the Blues Junior/FBE 100/70's British models in particular sound and feel great!) and this is coming from someone who also owns the remarkable Line 6 Helix, of which I have not turned on since I got the GTX, it's what I go to for living room practice, and although I haven't had a chance to a full band test it yet (due to COVID-19), I have no doubt that it's going to shine in that context as well,,,at the end of the day however, for each individual, a good tone is one that sounds good to YOUR ears.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Even the Katana (which I prefer over this) sounds like plastic compared to a real amp. Sorry, just not for me.

[@jakehoff52]

@@Earlbein Hello, do you think there is anyway you could take a video of your amp after you having had adjusted the eq settings?

[@donniem21]

Thanks for your complete honesty!!

[@MrPolevaulter]

My pleasure.

[@Yanthungbemo]

Something about the initial transient/attack of the notes don't sit well with me, especially on the lower strings.

[@trschin]

Glad to see a review that is unpaid and not designed to just sell you on one particular amp. Your unbiased opinion has been helpful in reinforcing what I was already thinking. For me, I don’t think this would be the best way to spend $500... I think I can do better with something else. Thanks!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Glad to be of help :)

[@gregoryhall3156]

So it does seem pricey at $500 US-but current street retail price in US is $349-and right now (Dec 2022) it can be had on sale for $250 (GTX50). So for about 1/4 of the price of a Fender Princeton Reverb reissue one can get an amp with a whole plethora of Fender classic amp models. For a young advanced beginner to intermediate player it would seem to be a great bang for the buck, provided you are computer interface savvy and like to navigate thru modeling screens. Does it realistically recreate tube amp sounds, no. But not everyone can go spend cash on several tube amps at $1k-$2.5k each. The massive amount of tweaking that can be done with this amp while offering a huge palate of sounds to explore, can also however, lead to option paralysis or be frustrating if you are not patient enough or willing to spend the time required to learn and use its full capabilities. Its easy to see how an older/more experienced player, especially one who has had experience at playing multiple different tube amps, would find this amp less appealing, especially if you don’t want to spend time tweaking the settings (lets be honest, most folks as they get older in years, just want to plug in, put it on desired channel and tweak a gain knob or the EQ knobs and just play.) So yes, these modelers are “jack of all trades, master of none.) So real question I’s like to ask, can you buy even a “second hand” decent tube amp for $250? If you were a young/less experienced player with a limited budget, would you buy this or a say a Fender Blues Jr used-with probably no remaining cash left for pedals. I think like all modeling amps, this amp has its place-and a target audience. Inspiration comes from different places, for different players, at different stages in their playing life. And let me say, Elmo, your playing as usual is fabulous, and while you may not consider yourself as a “country” player, your “chickin’ pickin’” skills are definitely “up to snuff”-from a good ‘ol Southern boy (myself)-you could play in a Country band-just need to get a bit more feel for the mood/emotion of country music which requires some shifting back and forth of speed/intensity-its a playing feel/emotion thing. Check out some clips of Glen Campbell or Roy Clark playing-those guys could literally shred, or play soft slow country music-they had the fingerwork skills to play anything, even metal, if they chose.

[@GerhardGeficky-jg4ok]

I have the 100 but i dont think it sounds as good as my Peavey XXX. Its ok. Which amp is your fav Elmo? The tone master sounded th best to me but the $$$$

[@MrPolevaulter]

Marshall 1987x 😀 For practice I use the Spark Mini

[@jazzman0403]

Thank you so much for the review, this helped a lot. I just restarted playing guitar again (I'm a bassist, really ;)) and bought a beautiful guitar (Hagstrom Super Swede 60th) last year. Since then I'm looking for an amp that can do: a) practicing at home in a decent volume, so that my neigbours aren't bothered by it b) record directly into my DAW/through my USB Interface without mics c) rehearsal and gigs with a band, if I decide to join one. Last month I bought the Blackstar Silverline Special. It sounded awesome with the speaker and I got some sounds out of it immediately which I liked. Then I connected the emulated out to my USB Interface. The sound difference was horribly strong, and it provided a high frequency, from which my ears are still ringing. It was impossible to get a decent high gain sound out of the emulated out. So I decided to send it back. I'm still searching for a new amp and thought that the GTX would so, as it has decent D.I. outs on the back, but am not sure now after your honest review. I will definitely look out for the recommendations you gave at the end of the video. Are there other recommendations you would give to my setup? Again, thank you so much for the review :)

[@MrPolevaulter]

Glad I could be of help.

[@5manufan]

I have one of the cheaper versions of this amp (LT 25) and generally what I found is the pre-loaded models don't sound very good, however when you sit down and really hone in the tones and gain levels, you can get it to sound very good.

[@MrPolevaulter]

I actually liked the LT25 more for some reason.

[@nickyoung3130]

Thank you for your honest review! I enjoy your videos, and you are a very talented guitar player! Keep rockin!!!!! 👍

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@davidg-oo1ox]

Finally an honest reviewer. Bravo

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@harryharris1619]

I know it's another comment from me, but . . . . . . . . well I decided to sell my Fender Blues Jr. Tweed after having dealt with problems with it for 6 yrs. Not sure it was just a bad apple or Fender really has come down on quality of parts it uses. Tubes took a dive, a board capacitor blew and it really never sounded that good to me especially with strats and tele's. Tried to love it and thought about modding it but just was not into upgrading something that should have been better in the first place. Play mostly at home now and more on acoustic but decided to purchase and try out the Mustang GTX50 as I still have 4 electrics. Based on Elmo's review I was hesitant, however after looking at what was available tube wise in the $500 range I decided to try it out. I had owned a DigiTech GSP 2101 which is similar in concept to the Fractal Standard that Elmo talked about. However it still needs an amp and was really complicated to deal with settings and all. After trying out the GTX50 found that it had some decent amp sounds especially the clean ones. Would agree with Elmo that the British style amps and or heavy crunch metal sounds were mediocre at best. There were a lot of effect type preset sounds that one would only occasionally use or never. In any case, the amp is far more versatile and better sounding for the most part than my Blues Jr. was. There are a heck of a lot of ways to use it. But just having decent clean and fairly warm amp sounds in a light weight amp is worth it to me. The ability to deal with the current standard comm interfaces (bluetooth, WiFi and USB) is an added bonus. I did not purchase the fender footswitch as already have a good looper but may do so in the future. All in all for under $400 it is a bargain even if just using it as a second amp for home practice. My feeling is that real tube amps may have still have their place if you can afford a quality one and also have some external stomp boxes and pedals. But like it or not combo modeling amps will get better and better. Cost efficiencies and convenience will make them more and more attractive to guitar enthuthiast as well as gigging pros. Still a really decent quality tube amp can sound great but . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[@MrPolevaulter]

Personally I'd go for a Harley Benton Tube15. Great amp, and costs only 240€.

[@harryharris1619]

@@MrPolevaulter I actually thought about it. I believe it is sold under a different name here in the US. However, while the sound maybe decent the quality of the components and the cab are suspect. Not interested in a press board build and dealing with possible problems of lower quality components etc. Maybe a good starter amp though for the price.

[@MrPolevaulter]

@@harryharris1619 Stage Right by Monoprice I think it is. My luthier friend bought the one I reviewed from me, and he's been really happy with it.

[@harryharris1619]

@@MrPolevaulter Yeah Stage Right is the US version. However if I was going to get another tube amp I would look heavily into the Headstrong Lil' King blackface amp. But it is almost 4 times the cost of the Stage Right one. However it looks extremely well built and the sounds I heard on the internet really caught my ear vs others in a similar price range including the Fenders.

[@waltjames407]

It looks like you didn't go beyond the presets...and I know from experience that the Marshall models are not optimally dialed in on the presents, especially for a strat. You have to dial it in, just like you have to dial a real amp in. The amp is pretty good at modeling the behavior of the EQ knobs on the various models. The treble knob never goes past 2 or 3 on any Marshall I've owned, and the presets have the knobs at noon, which never sounds good on any Marshall I've played. This will never fully replace a real tube amp, but it's good enough for most of what I do. Plus, on these you can actually control the volume. Unlike on tube amps, where you set it LOUD and everyone yells at you to turn down.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Except I expressly said I built a sound from scratch.

[@Michel-r6m]

This amps shines when you let it do Fender stuff (polka!!! just kidding 😂). For Surf, blues, rock and Dick Dale (YES!!! 🤠 not kidding). If you want to do Black Sabbath or so this is not for you. What I do like over the Katana is that you need not plug cable into it for its full functionality...wait there is a Kat3 out... Nice video as always, appreciate your sincerity. Oh...it at least looks better then the Katana...

[@LSturboguy]

i know you been around a while but will guys stop comparing it to a valve plexi its not a valve nore is it $2000 compare it to what it is its obviously a competitors like the marshal code or even the katana or the older mustang modeling amp, if your a professional player you wouldnt be after a 50watt digital modeling amp I want to know is it worth replacement for the older mustangs which i loved I can't reply to any comments youtube has band me from replys, since I posted this comment I went on and purchased the GTX50 I thought its a good Amp you can get it close to your happy place, i also purchased a Marshall DSL20H with 212 cab the DSL was cheaper than the GTX100 and frankly the DSL Blew my mind just how good it was, I later purchased a GTX100 to see what it was like and I couldn't tell any difference to the GTX50 including volume, but I'm with you and buy a DSL20H and use peddles, Marshall has done an excellent job with the DSL20 all valve its affordable sounds fantastic .

[@jjmcwill1881]

I agree. Even the Low end Marshal tube amps sound so much better than anything that that thing has to offer.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yep.

[@rickenglish8038]

The amp sounds GREAT.

[@ArTeCh777]

I have and I loved.

[@martincloutier666]

Great review. I am looking for something more versatile than my dsl20. Only playing at home. Looking at Katana, Yamaha THR and positive grid spark. The advantage of the gtx50 is the footswitch, available only on the biggest Katana (100) and unavailable on the other ones. I want to simplify my setup by selling my tube amp and most of my pedals, but I don’t want to sacrifice the sound quality. My actual setup is not versatile but it sounds great for a certain kind of tone, think Aerosmith... I will have to try it but your video make me think that Fender is not there for the amp modeling quality.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks :)

[@strumlead8741]

You should look into the Fender Mustang I, II or III. These are amazing and get amazing reviews. In particular the I and III review extremely well. Fender had failed with LT models.

[@benvincent7728]

Wow I htink Im going to get one after your review. Ttoally awesome tones (and great playing). Are you using the AKG C-414 mic there? I have the AKG-214 for vocals - never thought of using for a cabinet. What settings do you use for mic'ing cabs on yours? Cheers

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah. when I record a loud amp in a small room I use a figure 8 pattern on it. When I do the videos I have it set to cardioid. I might have a pad on depending on the amp and volume.

[@alfredgonzalez6068]

I got a GT-100 and I love it I can develop your own sound I found out it does not sound good if you try to make it sound like other amps as a musician you should know every amp has its own sound I try my amp with effects to make sound like other amps I try to use sound effect not build in and my amp turn off I did not use it for five-month and one day I turn it on and ever since I used the build-in effects and I witch that I had one back when I played in concert and used it to record

[@MrSmoothasf]

Basically at this price point there's only only question. Is this better that the yamaha Thr10?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Well I didn't much like the Yamaha, but a lot of people do, so not sure.

[@timhaight4291]

I like the sound.... It is a little buzzy but, its interesting.

[@FLdb-wj4wc]

I checked this out and the cleans are really good. For the drives you have to turn the gain down and crank the volume and you can get a decent sound. I like this better than my helix and definitely better than the line 6 catalyst. You can say that ax effects, helix or Kemper have better modeling than this but they really don't. It's digital modeling. I got a better faster tone out of this than I did with my helix. I have to admit it's sounds horrible in this video. I saw that "will it chug" Ola dude demo this and it sounded really good.

[@beanapalooza6614]

But Elmo it is Christmas!!! 12/21/21 to be exact!! Merry Christmas my friend!!! Oh From Phenix city Alabama/Columbus Ga. USA

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks! Happy 2022!

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Elmo I may buy this amp - does it have Uni vibe ? ✨🎸✨🇨🇦☮️🏄‍♂️

[@MrPolevaulter]

Can't remember.

[@Bluntedco.]

so you think the lt50 is better than the gtx50?

[@gioigeniale6711]

A friendly dealer gave me a Line6, the small one for to clip on your belt. He could't sell it because the cover for the batteries were missing. Well, at home I took a guitar and I spend some hours exploring this Line6. The diffeent sounds, the delays, 1000 ways to groove. yes? - no! it didn't groove. Most of the sounds were combined. Well, thanks, I put it in one of my musical suff boxes. Well, another friend made a movie project with young refugees. He needed music. I got music: Line6! With very,very, very, low work I got a guitar with a huge amount of delay, a hot surf guitar, and may more. Another friend, broke, were looking for a affordable amp. So I purchased a secondhand MustangV2 and he's very happy. So far my modelling experiences. Another friend writes very cool and sometimes quite strange lyrics.Therefore I have a VOX vt15. On stage better not. But a nicely driven guitar in a small appartement sounds greater as it really does. Personally I keep my pedal board very simple. A seymour Pickup booster An EHX organ machine (for Woolly Bully), a boss tremolo, a harley benton delay and the harley benton tuner/kill switch. The rest does my Fender deluxe very well. Of course I have many, lousy, usable, fine pedals in my magic boxes....

[@brCharlieNagy]

Thank u for the demonstration

[@eduardoperdomo4943]

Very nice video, Kudos. Love your unbiased opinion. I'm in a middle of a struggle, I want to get a new tone... Either by buying a new guitar (Fender Player Vrs Vintera series) or a new Amp (between this Fender GTX50/Lt50 or Katana). As of now I own a Fender Mustang V1. So any amp could be an upgrade. A crappy guitar sounds very nice in a good amp, but I don't know what is the right choice... New guitar or new Amp. For a 600€ budget. Opinions?

[@MrPolevaulter]

What guitar do you have? Are you happy with it?

[@eduardoperdomo4943]

@@MrPolevaulter I have an Epiphone Les Paul 100 and also a Harley Benton TE-70RW Deluxe Series. I decided to get a Katana 50 MK2. and i'mg happy with my purchase really.

[@benallmark9671]

She's the difference between TBE GT and the GTX ?

[@joshdeal575]

I will say this. The tone of this amp is very room subjective. This amp also needs volume. After playing around with cab options, and messing with the power sag controls, I was able to dial in very realistic sounds. The presets leave a lot to be desired.

[@dadmadforgot4050]

Can someone explain to me why shred isn’t just the musical equivalent of verbal diarrhoea? It’s like someone throwing out endless pointless letters... quickly... rather than saying something meaningful and worthwhile. Whenever I hear it I just imagine someone on stage instead of making a speech they stand there just going blah blah blah blah blah really quickly. I’m NOT saying there is anything wrong with it. Just genuinely don’t get it... at all. Great honest review. 👍

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers, although I disagree with your remarks on shred :)

[@dadmadforgot4050]

@@MrPolevaulter : ) of course. I can still admire the physical skill, and the world would be dull if we all liked the same thing!

[@pitersio]

grat job on the plexi sound men

[@davidsparks6146]

You didn't say what amp by comparison is "OK" .... What's your version of an amp for the same price point and features that is better?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Fender Mustang LT 25 is one.