My Thoughts on Fender's Tone Master Pro - Pros and Cons of the Tone Master Pro

[@dustinarnold79]

Just got mine and I love it

[@dustinarnold79]

I bought it because of the fender amps. It's freaking great for that

[@Nunn_ya]

I hit Subscribe as soon as you said it’s always best to spend your money on lessons. That’s the most perfect piece of advice that everyone can use.

[@damionandy]

Wow, thank you so much for subscribing-I really appreciate it! 🙏 I truly believe that investing in lessons and education is one of the best things any musician can do. Gear is great (and we all love it), but the skills and knowledge you gain from lessons are what really take your playing to the next level. Thanks again for the support-it means a lot! If there’s ever a topic you’d like me to cover, feel free to let me know. 🎸🙌

[@Nunn_ya]

@@damionandy I agree, when I get asked advice by newer players on what piece of gear they should get I always say: a tuner, a metronome and a music stand.

[@Nunn_ya]

@@damionandy and they will ask where they should go for transcriptions and i tell them, first do everything you can to use the transcription tools on either side of your head.

[@gbfusion]

helpful video. Appreciate that.

[@damionandy]

Glad to help out!

[@chrismataran]

Hi Damion, I’m a big fan and happy user of the TMP-it meets 200% of my needs! I’ve built a rig with the TMP at its core, paired with two overdrive pedals (a Guv’nor and a Klon clone), a UAFX Enigmatic pedal (amazing tones!), a ToneX One pedal in stomp mode, and a Katana Artist Head 100 Gen 2 running through a Celestion 12" Creamback cab. This setup gives me a ton of sonic possibilities, and everything runs seamlessly. I gravitate toward clean tones with a touch of overdrive, inspired by players like Robben Ford and Larry Carlton. It’s incredible to live in a time when technology offers so many tools at a relatively reasonable cost-especially for hobbyists like me. While debates about real amps versus modelers or one modeler over another will always persist, what truly matters is the abundance of options available to suit everyone’s needs (maybe even too many!). Thanks for your amazing content! Cheers from across the Pond, Chris

[@damionandy]

Thanks Chris, it is always a hearing from you. I agree, we are absolutely SPOILED. I know around this time of year (Christmas), people are going to look for gear to buy. I hope the biggest takeaway from these videos is that any modeler above a certain threshold will probably be enough. Until you're in the deepend with a modeler, it is hard to realize this. I remember before I invested in the TMP, I was so indecisively haha. The most important thing is the player, not the gear. I'll die on this hill.

[@chrismataran]

@@damionandy Ha ha ha, no need to die on a hill ;-) I agree 100%

[@Dontchangemynameok]

I’ve been stuck on your Strat Rig preset for about 3 months. Fantastic preset. It works pretty well with my Les Paul Custom too. Many thanks for uploading it.

[@damionandy]

Hell yeah man! I'm glad you're enjoying it and using it!

[@Capt-Cran]

As always Damion ... appreciate your YTs ....

[@damionandy]

Thanks man! I’m glad you’re enjoying the content. I hope you and the fam are doing well!

[@predigr]

The new firm update includes scenes and that is a game changer. I love TMP. Not regreting a bit.

[@damionandy]

Yeah man, latest update has me really excited for the future of this device.

[@HeckWes88]

i heard it does the EVH amps really good you should make a video showing that off

[@damionandy]

I use that amp for my TOOLsday rig haha

[@greggarrison9202]

Damien - Subbed - thanks for putting out these videos. For 80s, 90s, 2000s rock, pop punk, and metal - up to Metallica, would the tones the fractal series generates outweigh the ease of use on the TmP?

[@damionandy]

I'm in the school of thought that the guitarists is more important than the gear. With that in mind, the Tone Master Pro can handle literally anything you throw at it - especially if you learn your gear. The fractal stuff sounds amazing, but if you are new to sound design - you're learning curve is steep. If you don't mind jumping in and diving through forums / articles and educating yourself, the fractal stuff is awesome and probably king in this space. I own an AxeFx3, FM9, TMP, and a bunch of VSTs. I use my TMP almost every day. I just really enjoy the interface.

[@xxdr34m5xx_4]

Using the TMP in a modern metal band, it's great! Using the 5150 i can easily get great sounds even for 7 and 8 strings

[@damionandy]

How are you EQing the 8 string? I couldn't get it right a few updates back.

[@vaughanmacegan4012]

Do you need to stick the onboard TubeScreamer (whatever it's called in the TMP) in front to get a usable metal tone? Are there any other goods metal amps on the TMP?

[@xxdr34m5xx_4]

@@damionandy using the 5150 red channel and a GB loaded Marshall cab, miced with a SM7B. I cut some bass with a pre EQ (the Guitar has fishman fluence moderns, so already tight) and push some treble. Sounds great as it is, even live over a big PA it sounds massive

[@xxdr34m5xx_4]

@@vaughanmacegan4012 Honestly, they all sound great. I use the Dual Rec in a Hard Rock Band, the 5150 in a modern metal band. The Bogner sounds also great, as well as the orange RV 50.. i honestly think you can make them all sound insanely good. You don't need the tubescreamer but it's nice if you add it.. the Klon sounds also great as a clean boost into one of these amps

[@vaughanmacegan4012]

@@xxdr34m5xx_4 THANKYOU!!!

[@turjis8838]

Thanks for your thoughs and tips. What you think about to have for example Strymon reverb and delayn in loop? Can they be a stereo and controlled by MIDI?

[@damionandy]

That should be fine. I'm not sure how the stereo rig would work in full disclosure. I'd have to play with it before I give an accurate answer. MIDI Control should work. The MIDI is pretty barebones right now, but it does do CC, so should work.

[@turjis8838]

​@@damionandythanks you reply. If reverbs isn't so good maybe it needs additional pedal and for multi tapehead delay ex.El Capistan V2.

[@QuickSticks8771]

I also use TMP as an all in one solo gig unit although I’d really like to see fender fully flesh this out Dedicated vocal effects and the ability to save loops and import backing tracks is essential for this to be a real all in one performance tool

[@damionandy]

I'm currently running the TMP in an acoustic duo setting. The vocalist plugs into my TMP and I use it for my acoustic. His signal chain is pretty straight forward - Compressor, Pre amp, and reverb. I have a bunch of cool toys on my guitar rig I mess with plus the looper. I hope they add some more functionality to the looper, but overall, it's great for most things. Hope you're having a great day!

[@QuickSticks8771]

@ agreed it gets the job done but it has so much more potential

[@thehomestudionerd]

As a standalone it's cool but some BIG shortcomings for me is the midi functionality. I use it in the studio and wanted it to be the Central unit midi'd up to other pedals like the Strymon's, Tonex, etc. there are alot of midi limitations. just using it with fender sounds with some basic effects as a stand alone is great.

[@damionandy]

Yeah the midi is definitely an area that I think they could improve on in the future. I was in a similar boat until I invested in a better interface for my MIDI needs. Curious what all you're running tho. I was messing around with an SP404, a synth, and my TMP.

[@thehomestudionerd]

@@damionandy I've got a board setup for the studio that I call the mothership. HAHA. The TMP is the main unit, But I have some other platforms on the board as well. I have the ML10X morningstar Midi Audio Loop in loops 3 and 4 in stereo. In the Audio loop I have the Hx Stomp with a tonex in its loop. then I have an HX one, Timeline and Big Sky MX. Then in Loop 1 of the TMP I have both Kernom drive and fuzz pedals, another Tonex setup for pedal captures and compression at the front of the chain If needed. in loop 2 I have some random drive pedals that tend to change depending on what sound I'm trying to get when I record. I also have the Morningstar MC6 to navigate setups easily. The board is a MONSTER and not really portable but it allows me to have everything setup all the time and I can setup pretty much any configuration really fast and not spend time setting things up when I go to record. I really only play out of the studio at church, when I do that I'll just pull the TMP off the board and take it. It's gets me anything I need for worship tones for services. I love to tinker at home so I can base a tone around the TMP, the HX STOMP or the TONEX. when I'm recording I tend to use the Strymon's for the delays and reverbs. The quality of them and ease of use to get what I want happening is just better on the Strymon. If the TMP could just update the midi capabilities in a couple of areas. Like being able to do Long press and double taps, PC changes on the foot switches, and more slots for midi instructions when entering a preset. Also, improve the "weird" reverbs for the ambient stuff, that and the tones for amp tones the TMP doesn't have yet would cover 99 percent of where I usually land on tones. The TMP is so close to being the perfect unit. As long as they keep updating it might get there. If they did all that and could figure out how to load amp captures even if it's an updated model it would be a game changer. But you are so right the actual fender sounds are fantastic. as it is now, usually playing live the TMP and one of my fender FR-10 amps is all I need. Sorry for the long winded reply. I dont' usually find people that are as into it as I am. HAHA

[@thehomestudionerd]

@@damionandy It's so crazy that alot of the things I mentioned got added TODAY! HAHA. Way to go Fender. My favorite new feature is PC midi in the footswitchs and being able to import and export preset's. I'm always buying presets for everything to support the dudes I learn from and to short cut me getting to a final tone. So excited!

[@2550marshall]

I 1000% agree that the Fractal reverb is much much better. The Tonex pedal's plate reverb is even close to the Fractal. Yeah, Fender......fix that plate reverb!

[@damionandy]

All in due time

[@scottbecker3485]

Watched this as an somewhat happy owner of the TMP (hoping the soon-forthcoming firmware update will address a couple of major gripes). About using it as a singer/songwriter: You‘re only partly right about it being good for that. Yes, in terms of sound and dual signal channels, etc., it works fine for that. But there are a couple of huge things still missing for solo performers who sing and play a guitar or two (like me): 1) No way to set up a global effects chain for ALL vocals, across all presets (for, say, acoustic and electric guitars, and with different amps and effects). Lacking this, it‘s not possible to tweak one‘s vocals on the fly at a gig!!!! Doing so in one preset means you have to replicate every tweak in every other preset, which is not feasible to do when you are entertaining an audience. I need about 10 presets in total, and it‘s not an option to change low-cut filters or EQ or compression or reverb (type or amount) to suit the sound at a given venue in every single preset. 2) For talking to the audience in between sounds, one has to resort to workaround switch assignments that invariable lead to hitting the wrong footswitches (or in the wrong order) just in order to have a guitar muted for tuning and also have reverb/delay off for talking. A huge pain in the royal behind! 3) The EQ options are pretty limited in terms of what frequency bands one can adjust. They cater mainly to electric guitar, and not vocals and/or acoustic guitar. 4) No vocal harmonies at all. So for an all-in-one unit, the TMP is not halfway as good for the singer/songwriter as, say, the TC Helicon VoiceLive 3 Extreme (which I am now using whilst my TMP gathers dust waiting for the next update). That said, the electric sounds on the VL3X are totally miserable by comparison, but I can live with that more than with the other limitations on the TMP. For those who never talk to the audience, don‘t need vocal harmonies, don‘t feel like tweaking their vocals chains to match live conditions, etc., the TMP is fine. As for the Quad Cortex, I have never used it, but folks like Aaron Short (see his YT channel) use it a lot for solo singing and acoustic playing. He has always had a lot of praise for it, although I think know he is using the VL3X.

[@damionandy]

yeah, I could see your point. I'm a simpleton hahaha. My rig for vocals is pretty straight forward and leave most of the DSP for the acoustic. I'm also only running one preset and just use it as a pedal board basically.

[@scottbecker3485]

@ Sounds much easier for you. ;-) That said, the new firmware that just got released addresses the EQ problem, since there is now also a 10-band option for vocals and acoustic guitar - yes!!! :-) Also a drop tune pedal. Fantastic! Maybe now I can get this thing to work for me, after all…

[@damionandy]

@ if you need help, lmk!

[@aaronthomas7790]

Fractal reverbs are definitely superior especially for the strymon esque stuff. Pros and cons for sure. I hated using the fractal because of the UI onboard.

[@damionandy]

Yeah, this is how I felt for a long time until recent. These Fractal Friday videos force me to learn it hahaha

[@Antitrump7431]

Tears for Fears use it on stage. I have tried them all and the TMP is the easiest to use. The captures are so good it’s impossible to tell the difference with the real amp. I just which they insert the tweed deluxe in the next update

[@damionandy]

I just plug straight into my band's PA system and run a wedge. So much easier than lugging around all my previous gear. Less gear == less tear down time == I'm happy hahaha

[@JHPRS]

Does it matter to you that the video is mirrored? :)

[@damionandy]

Haha not for monologue, but definitely for lessons on Monday. I usually flip it in my editor, but didn’t notice it this time around. Good catch

[@BobbyCulpepper.srv3fender]

one thing they are missing is a spokeperson to stand at the front and take critiques or talk about whats coming, a few of the other modelers have those. fender has a long history of not standing behind their digital stuff for very long, people need to be assured

[@damionandy]

I think Jason is doing the best he can. I hope Fender hires a ton of people to go do demos. I'd love it if they sniped me up to do product demos at Guitar Centers. The edge Fender has is distribution. If my AxeFx3 or FM9 goes down, I'm at the mercy of Fractal. if my TMP goes down, I just have to go to a local GC or guitar store and snag one. That's a huge benefit of having a Fender unit right now.

[@BobbyCulpepper.srv3fender]

@damionandy good point