Stick with the Tone Master, or go back to tubes??

[@petesmith6434]

Hi Leonard. Your review was great. In my case, at 70 with all the issues that go along with reaching that age, I too could no longer carry around tube amps to gigs. After a lot of trial and error I eventually settled on a Fractal Axe-Fx III Turbo modeler. I have it and other rack gear contained in a rolling rack case with the entire thing weighing 20 pounds. I send a stereo signal to the FOH mixer and return a stereo signal to my in-ear monitors. This is a great solution for me. The tones I can obtain from the Fractal unit are great and I can roll around the rack unit with little effort…and everything is set-up and ready to go within 15 minutes of arriving at the venue. I agree with you that modelers today are capable of replacing tube amps in most cases. It’s a great time to be a guitarist! Have a great day!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks so much my friend. I haven’t tried any of the higher end modelers like the Fractal units, but from all I’ve read I’m sure they’re great. For my traditional blues approach and old school habits, they’re just way more than I would ever use. I’d probably just dial up the best Fender patch and never stray, so you can see why the Tone Master is appealing. Still, even though it’s served me well for over three years now, I continue to explore other options. Thanks so much for watching and stay tuned for the continuing saga. 😆

[@angrybuzzy]

I have to say I preferred the sound of the Tone Master in this video. I didn’t expect that. Great playing, LG.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thank you my friend. The Tone Master has done a remarkable job. It’s not quite as thick in the mids, and it’s overdrive is a little less convincing above about 7, but in the context of a live show it manages to make me completely forget it’s not a tube amp.

[@angrybuzzy]

Leonard, do you use any pedals live with the Tone Master?

[@rickhill6277]

I also have a back problem from 59yrs of Touring, Studio work and working out Locally. I play Blues and some Classic Rock and I thought I was DONE untill I found the Fender TM Deluxe 1st Gen Black Face. At 23lbs I could carry a Guitar, Gig Bag and Smal Pedal Board and not Kill Myself doing it. Made Performing FUN again with out the Pain after and during the Gig. Love your Channel and Content! Please keep up the Good Work and Cheers from Salem, Oh.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thank you so much my friend. We’re lucky to have lightweight options. Not hard to remember what it was like before we started letting the PA do the heavy lifting!

[@TheRange7]

I'm a die hard tube guy and have been for decades. That said, I couldn't resist jumping on the early and crude modelers. They were inexpensive and a ton of fun to mess with. I ended up with a Fender Mustang 100 watt single 12 v.3, a Marshall Code 50, and a big Blackstar as good as valve head. The only one I think is lacking is the Code 50. The Mustang has some killer patches and a ton of possibilities. I've never played a Tone Master amp, but I hear pretty extreme views from the local yocals I know that own or have played them. There seems to be no middle ground. They either love them outright or flat out dismiss them. LOL That's silly IMO. One of my favorite amps in my stable is the lowly Fender Princeton Chorus. A 2x10 combo I bought in 93 ish. That thing is capable of such lush sounds it blows my mind. My thinking has always been play what you love, that's really what counts. I did try Kemper and Axe, I couldn't bond with either. Way over my head as they say. LOL Cheers Len

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

I can’t claim to know all the reasons for the love it or hate it responses to the Tone Master, but I’m confident of a few. First, there is a bit of midrange thickness missing vs the tube version, and the neo-Jensen and virtual bright cap in the original black TM just accentuates that, whereas the neo-Creamback and modeled “clipped” bright cap in the blond mitigates it. I was not wowed by the black TM when I got it. Fortunately, by then the blond had been out awhile and knowledgeable guys like Zack Childs had already remarked on what a massive improvement it was. I owned a neo-Creamback and bought it planning to convert it to blond spec immediately. After that, there still remains a slight thinness in the mids, but it disappears in a stage mix, which is my next point. So many who dismiss the amp have never played it at volume in a mix. Put those two scenarios together and it’s not hard to understand why some love em and some hate em. Or think they do. I would also speculate there’s another reason. There’s a segment of players for whom tubes is almost a religion, bringing a strong bias into the equation before a cord is ever plugged in. Thanks so much for engaging.

[@rgbplumbinghilton]

I am a gigging player of 30+ years and I think the Tone Master sounds very good and is very versatile. I would definitely gig one and not think twice about tone. 👍

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Oh yeah. As I said, it’s been my main amp for nearly 3 years. I still get constant compliments on my tone from other musicians. Funny. At one show I was asked what year my Deluxe was. He assumed a vintage one. 😆

[@UNKUHNOODLES]

Hey buddy; howzabout uploading one of your live shows so's we (your faithful and ever lovin' audience) can bask in your musical mastery?!?!? That would be so cool....yes indeedy!!!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Could happen. Most aren’t recorded these days but let me think about that. And thanks.

[@pedraw]

Both sound very good. For ease of use it's the Tonemaster.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Can’t argue with that. Thanks for watching.

[@MikeSedmakMusic]

Another great equipment review video Leonard! Enjoyed the playing too! 👍🏻👏🏻🙌🏻

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks so much. 😊

[@maier43]

I play a Fender Suoersonic Tubeamp and the Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb. Both are great sounding tools. Love them both. 🤗

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

I would agree. Thanks for watching.

[@onlyguitars]

Blues Cube!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

I played a Bluescube Artist 2x12 for awhile. Good sounding amp but even with the Tone Capsule it didn’t really nail blackface Fender for me. Also, even the 1x12 Stage model is about 35 lbs. But thanks for the suggestion.

[@bobbyruggs808]

​@@leonardgriffieblues5845never liked the blues cube tone, way to brittle and mid heavy. Great for that Albert Collins tone.

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have you enjoyed playing guitar have a wonderful weekend Leonard ❤😊

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thank you my friend

[@robertbrown2728]

Speaking as a tube enthusiast I preferred the Tonemaster in this comparison.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks for being objective. I love good tube amps and still feel the best of them have a midrange warmth that modeling hasn’t quite matched (though it becomes somewhat negligible at stage volume in a band mix), but just having tubes doesn’t automatically make it better. Thanks so much for engaging.

[@LRHutch]

Good video man. Everyone to their own taste in gear. My back is bad to has been for years. I went from tube stack to solid state combos for years even modeling amps to get the lite weight. I went back to tubes a Peavey Classic 30 and only about 40 lbs. I know they had problems in the past but the 2023 model seems to be well built and better parts including tubes and speaker.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Glad that’s working for you. Yeah, if I could do 40 lbs. that would open up way more choices. 25 is about my limit (I know from bitter experience). However, a head and separate cab is doable because I can put them on my little dolly and don’t have to lift both together. I’ll be doing more videos about lightweight heads so stay tuned and thanks for watching.

[@LRHutch]

@@leonardgriffieblues5845 We sure know the back problem. Maybe I should have went with a Classic 20 head and a 210 cabinet or start taking my Fender Gt100 head and 115 cabinet for these one night gigs. Good luck brother and keep the videos coming. I'll be watching for them.

[@GPLP335]

I switched to a Fender Deluxe Tone Master a couple of years ago and never looked back. I also picked up a Line 6 Catalyst last year that I really like. Having said that, I still have my old friend a Fender Blues Jr. As always, I really appreciate your videos, thanks man!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thank you so much my friend.

[@jotwea]

I love my Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb. Good Sound, versatile, reliable, less weight. Making my backs life more easy. I am gigging in a cover band.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

It is close to perfect. To be fair, there is a slight thickness that’s missing, but you don’t really notice it much in a band mix.

[@SandrOliva]

I have toured for years with a Fender Twin Reissue. After a few years stop, I have started gigging again, but with a ToneMaster Twin (I also own a TM Super Reverb and a couple Marshall Stacks). On stage I can hear no difference (except for when I lift them). In the studio the tube Twin has a slightly fuller tone. But in the studio I mainly use a Super Reverb preset from my Kemper. No regrets having gone Tone Master. And as for the "Will they still be working in 30 years?" issue, at age 70 I couldn't care less!! As for your video, I go Fender!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Yes, as you’ve discovered, the differences largely disappear in a band mix. Thanks so much for watching.

[@royohara1535]

Great vid, Leonard! Enjoyed it very much. Both amps sound very good to me ...of course your chops have a lot to do with that! Probably wouldn't sound as sweet if I were playing 'em!!😎

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks so much. It’s true that everything sounds different with a different player. Hopefully the differences were apparent in any case.

[@braddietzmusic2429]

We’re all getting older, even when we don’t think we are. Lighter amps are ok. The Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb sounds pretty good and gives the Fender Blackface type of sound as it should. I’m just a Fender amp guy, and prefer that sound. I’m sure I would enjoy the PRS, but I think the sweet tones of the Fender is probably the thing I’m looking to hear, and I think that is true whether Single coil or Humbucker guitars. To be fair, it’s likely that the PRS was not designed or intended to sound like a Fender Blackface amp, and if I could keep that in mind I’d enjoy that amp. But for gigging, would I want to be without that Fender Blackface sound? I’m guessing no, but my listening to this PRS will never connect me potentially to the amp like it would if I could gig with it and play it. Enjoy!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Yeah, David doesn’t really go for blackface Fender with his signature amps. He does go for a vintage vibe, but it’s more of a Vox/tweed/Marshall mashup. A nice sound, but I too am more in the blackface camp. Thanks so much for watching and engaging.

[@jimbixler6337]

Hi Leonard. New to your channel / enjoying your content. After many attempts to bond with low watt Mesa's I finally found a keeper in the "California Tweed 6V6 Twenty". It comes in either 1x10 combo, 1x12 combo or Head / Cab formats. I own the Head and the medium sized 1x12 cab. I also run it through an oversized MojoTone 1x10 cab which is closed back / front ported. This I've loaded with a single Celestion G10 Greenback. It's tones run the gamete from Tweed to Blackface. With pedals and the closed back / Celestion cab it can deliver fantastic JTM sounds...It has a variable wattage feature, tube driven reverb and a great sounding loop. I too love the Fender sound (my 2nd amp is a Blonde Tonemaster). Plugged straight in you have a broad array of clean to medium gain blues tones with a twist of the volume knob on your guitar. It is a joy to play this way. Although the front end of the Mesa is excellent, I think the reason this is the first one (Mesa) I have really connected with has mainly to do with the fact that, like the tube Deluxe, it uses 6V6 power tubes. Anyway, I'd love to see you give one a spin or perhaps compare to the Tonemaster. Cheers. Jim

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks so much. Very happy you enjoy my channel. I’ll keep an eye out. Could happen. Take care Jim.

[@michaelschneider7590]

Fascinating comparison. I agree the Fender edges out the DGT15, especially for the clarity and snap of treble. But, might that be solved feeding the DGT head into a different cabinet?

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

It would certainly make a difference, but the DGT is just a thicker sounding amp in general. Almost like a cross between blackface Fender and Marshall, which is doubtless what David was going for.

[@johnrichardson1867]

I realize that they won't sound alike. The tube amp had more harmonics and sounded rounder. The Tone Master sounded thinner and I can see the advantages of being lighter . Could you do these reviews both dry & with reverb so we can have clearer evaluation of the tones . Thanks Leonard .

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

I agree the DGT15 sounds rounder. The mids are a bit fatter. Interestingly, it’s far less apparent on stage, where of course they sound different, but both sound full. I do find myself adding a little overdrive to the Tone Master a bit more, which further evens them up.

[@MrBallynally2]

That's what i hear as well. And i have some experience playing live w a Tonemaster. If you like crystal clean go w the Tonemaster . I don't. I prefer valve amps.

[@mortonwilson795]

I'm old school - decades playing thru Fenders of various persuasions. For one café gig my Fender Rhodes buddy and I played thru a Roland JC, nothing against solid state amps but prefer tubes. I did buy a VOX Tone-Lab a few years back - very handy for fast paced TV Ad sessions in the studio and a lot of fun. Bottomline - horses for courses . . . all good if you can get the sound you want for the specific gig?

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

I first began playing as a full time pro in the late 60s. Funny enough, at the time, many of the companies were pushing solid state as the next big thing, claiming tubes were on the way out then! Those solid state Acoustic 360s were ubiquitous on the big stages and I played an Acoustic 150 with the 6 10s as my club amp at the time. Of course it didn’t stick and I traded it in for an Ampeg V4, full stack (talk about loud!!). Those analog solid state amps were better than most people remember, but the gap didn’t really start closing until several generations of digital modeling. Thanks so much for engaging.

[@stevemiller1203]

They both sound good

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks.

[@robbo4858]

Always nice sounds coming from this guy! Listening on pc speakers, the PRS sounded like it had more dirt to it. Significant ? nah. I'm sure the Fender can rock with it and its an all-in- 1 box. Keep it bluesy

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Actually the Tone Master is capable of equal dirt. I needed to turn the volume up about one more to match the amount of breakup I was getting from the DGT15. They seemed close until I listened to the playback, and honestly, it would have cost me another day to redo.

[@jonahcornish]

Hi Leonard! My compromise is - one Blackstar 5watt Tube combo and a Blackstar Solid State combo - I can choose which amp to plug my pedalboard into. The best of both worlds! Edited to add: both have built-in reverb.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Nice. Well I’m happy that’s working for you and thanks so much for watching.

[@robt5818]

People seem to just have a "thing" for tube amps. For me, you have to consider the weight, the heat generated, the cost of replacement tubes, etc. Plus, you can compare A to B all the time, but each tube amp will be slightly different too. The Tone Masters are close and when you mix in other instruments and the vibe of a live performance, you won't be able to tell.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Yes, exactly what I’ve been saying. It’s easy to tell the difference doing an A/B comparison in a quiet room, but most of that disappears in a real world, live performance. Thanks for watching.

[@robt5818]

@@leonardgriffieblues5845 🎸

[@monahantp3767]

As noted, they do both sound great. However, in this case I give the win to Fender for its 1) light weight 2) combo setup. The only downside I see is the price; at $1,000+ I can purchase several Boss Nextone amps, with foot switches-- or even a pair of Boss Katana amps with bluetooth & foot switches, and still have money left over. Sound wise, my Boss Nextone 80 nails the Fender tones and more. It is slightly heavier, but not enough to disqualify it. For your future videos, check out the Boss Nextone series-- these are the underdogs of the Boss lineup and great deals can be found on the used market. The new Katana with its "Pushed" amp, and "Bloom" feature is a serious contender to that Fender amp as well ;) Another great video!

[@ridiculouswonk2135]

Love my Boss Nextone Special, but it weighs almost 40lbs. Not sure what the Nextone Artist and Stage weigh though.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thank you my friend. I had a first generation Nextone for awhile. It got close for some things and less so for others. I haven’t heard the latest.

[@JohnnyBgood548]

Ive both tube and a Blackstar id 30 and seriously prefer the Blackstar. Easy to dial in everything i need with just a real mcoy and an equalizer out front. Now Blackstar has a new SS 50 watt with an effects loop for under 300.00.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

It all comes down to choosing what works for you. Thanks so much for watching.

[@margiez6002]

👍🎶thanks

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

And thank you for watching and engaging. 😎

[@christophervincent8420]

Sorry, I've been extremely busy and trying to catch up on a lot of things. But I'm with you on this too. The Tone Master is just hard to beat right now. Weight and simplicity with really great tone is hard too beat. Although I do dig that new PRS. It sounds great, but not for the extras to carry.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thank you my friend. I appreciate the feedback.

[@johnladdsmusic]

There’s a warmth and thickness to the PRS no doubt because of the cranked master. I’m wondering if the Fender was pushed harder if it would make a closer comparison?

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Yes, it would. I tried to match the grit but didn’t entirely succeed and mostly didn’t hear it until playback. One more up on the Tone Master’s volume knob would have done it. Caught a bit too late to redo the whole thing. But I think the main character differences came through fine.

[@johnladdsmusic]

@@leonardgriffieblues5845 it was really a great demo for sure. I’m a big believer in the Tone Master. I gig regularly with a TMDR blonde and love it

[@johnladdsmusic]

@@leonardgriffieblues5845 I agree..the demo was great! I’m a big believer in the Tone Master series. I gig a TMDR blonde regularly and absolutely love it! Love your playing btw! Cheers

[@philnewton2011]

I've heard you play both live, and both are great sounding amps. I've never heard a modeling amp to equal the Tone Master. The convenience and weight factors are compelling, and in the absence of any overwhelming advantage from the PRS, I can see and hear why the Fender has been your go-to for so long. Although...tubes do have that certain warm snarl.... 😉

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Yes, the added warmth was apparent in hr playback, though probably less so in an actual live, stage mix.

[@philnewton2011]

@@leonardgriffieblues5845 Yes, exactly what I thought.

[@kiwistu]

Hi Leonard. Greetings from New Zealand. I would love to hear you play a Roland JC22 and listen to your opinion of it. It is on your weight limit at 25lbs and is only 30w but can be miked up. Great video.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Funny, as long as those have been around I’ve yet to even play through one.

[@guitarzan0515]

Dang Grif, you make ‘em both sound Great!! Could it be in the fingers? They do sound different, but to me, neither sounded better than the other, so that being said, keep that Tone Master fired up!!

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks. Yeah, it’s kinda like I said, they sound different, but it’s hard to say one is objectively “better”.

[@a-fox]

The PRS head was warmer and has a slight breakup... The Fender is just too clean and too bright. I like the PRS but I'm not sure that it being a tube amp is why. It may just be that it sounds bluesier.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

I agree with that, but part of it is my fault for not cranking the Tone Master a little more to better match the DGT15. I wanted them both at “edge of breakup” and thought I was there until I was editing and listening to the playback. I do think the DGT15 is still a little warmer. I would guess David was going for a sort of vintage Fender/Marshall hybrid flavor, but the TM is capable of getting closer. I’ll address that a little better in future comparisons.

[@To.Si.Ma.]

They sound good. Your playing is great! Check the roland Blues Cube Stage or Artist.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks. I had a Bluescube Artist 2x12 for awhile. Good sounding amps. Not exactly perfect for me but good sounding nonetheless. Also, even the 1x12 Stage is about 35 lbs I believe.

[@MarkStearle]

I like the tone of the DGT,Tonemaster blonde sounds good too,been looking at the new Bad Cat amps,they sound great but are two grand,on the fence which one would be good,home player mostly.The Bad Cat has something different in tone.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Yes, Bad Cat makes excellent amps, as do many others. Unfortunately the 20 watt head is listed as 31 lbs. So won’t work for me.

[@MarkStearle]

@@leonardgriffieblues5845 thanks Sir

[@steveburrows101]

Have you tried the Quilter Aviator CUB US combo or the Quilter Superblock US head? Albeit sadly neither have Tremolo. The Quilter Mach 3 (head or combo) does have Trem, and even the combo is only 21lbs. Only ask 'cos I use a Quilter Toneblock 202 head and it sounds wonderful, just as good as my tube amp.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Quilter actually gave me one of the first Aviators to test on tour. I found the clean tones to be quite nice but the breakup wasn’t my thing. I’m sure they’ve made progress since.

[@sboy1955]

Was gonna ask the same question.. lots of KZbin demos of Quilters and they seem to sound damn good to me?

[@thelastnic]

Audience doesn't care tubes vs digital, as long as sounds good

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

True enough. It’s really more about what satisfies the artist. Look at it this way, I’d be willing to bet more than 80% of the audience can’t tell when someone’s out of tune, but no artist wants to play out of tune. But I fully agree it’s about sounding good, not the technology that gets you there. Thanks so much for watching.

[@thelastnic]

@@leonardgriffieblues5845 I am never out of tune, I just say "I'm playing jazz"

[@57ebartley]

So you put a Neo cream back in that? I have read that that's a substantial upgrade. I've played thru a stock DLX tone master at Guitar center and I absolutely did not like it.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Yes. After doing my research, it was clear the blonde version sounded much better. Since I already owned a Neo-Creamback, I bought a black one and upgraded to blonde spec, which is the speaker swap and the firmware update. All big improvements. I tried it briefly stock and did much like it either. Overly spikey and somewhat thin, and the reverb got way too wet way too quick. With hindsight, I should have just bought the blonde. It was only 50 bucks more at the time and I could have sold my Neo-Creamback for probably double that (doh!). I get what they were trying to do with the Jensen and the virtual bright cap, but in attempting to stick as close as possible to vintage, they produced a weaker amp. If you don’t care about a weight gain, almost any speaker with stronger mids is an improvement over than Neo-Jensen. The Neo- Creamback keeps the weight the same though.

[@57ebartley]

@@leonardgriffieblues5845 Did you do the update to make the reverb more usable and cut the bright cap.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Yes, all improvements.

[@BigSifu67]

I...... Am not a fan of PRS amps. Like you, I have a Tone master Deluxe, that I love. Also, most clubs don't tolerate the volume I used to push back in the day. I also have an AC10 that sounds great, and Could do a blues gig, as long as you don't want clean headroom!

[@TheRange7]

As a gigging player, loud is so yesteryear. I brought a Marshall DSL40 C to a gid and they theatened to shut me down. LOL I kinda miss loud, but my ears sure don't. Best amp 4 clean headroom for me is the Fender Tweed Blues Deluxe reissue. Wow, it's amazing. a 40 watts 1x12. It's withstood the test of time amazingly well too.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Yes, we’ve been blessed with low stage volume for quite awhile now and it’s better in most every way. But yeah, I came up way before anyone miked amps and I went to bed with ringing ears every night. Amazing I’m not deaf! Thanks so much for watching.

[@MrBallynally2]

Could it be that older people have issues w hearing high frequencies and therefore prefer the toppy and clear Tonemasters? I find them harsh..

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

No, I wouldn’t say so. I had a couple of Silverface Fenders years back which were much more toppy than the Tone Master. I only found it harsh with the original Neo Jensen.

[@davidwood351]

I’ll be your roadie,

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

😆

[@johnkilpatrick2343]

Can you great tones from both at low volume?

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

The DGT15 doesn’t really come alive at low volume. You can get some idea from my previous video on that amp alone where I didn’t really crank it up. David Grissom likes power amp drive and runs the master all the way up. The preamp isn’t very high gain and the amp really gets going with the master on full and the volume at least halfway, at which point it’s at band volume. The ToneMaster can be cranked at very low volumes because of its power scaling feature. It can sound identical at virtually all volumes. Thanks for the question.

[@johnkilpatrick2343]

@@leonardgriffieblues5845 I preferred the tonemaster, although I was only listening on an iPad. I've always enjoyed trying to get good tone, even screaming distorted sustain and feedback at lower volumes. Cheers.

[@PhillipHolt-f9r]

Mam I wish I could play the blues like light that

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Keep at it my friend. 😎

[@pierregaude1528]

There is something about digital sounding amp that just does not work for me....especially when the gain stage rises. The bottom get flubby and there is a slack in sustain. However when it comes to practice amp I am happy with my yamaha THr 5.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Maybe it’s because I don’t use a lot of gain, but that hasn’t been my experience with this amp. You can get a fair amount of drive by really cranking it, but I’m guessing very few buy this amp for that, and tend to use it more like any classic blackface Fender. It does a nice, “edge of breakup” which is where I live. And it handles drive pedals just fine if you want more. It’s not perfect. As I’ve mentioned many times, there’s a slight lack of thickness in the mids, but upgrading to the Neo-Creamback and installing the firmware update mitigates that to the point you don’t really miss it in a band mix. Thanks for watching.

[@JCM467]

😊🎉 🙂

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

😎👍🏼

[@JohnHWelch63]

I do a lot of gigging, but I don't play out. I only play at home by myself. Wait! Did I say I do a lot of gigging? Sorry, I meant I do a lot of giggling, not gigging.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Well, maybe not quite ready for open mic night at the comedy club, but thanks for watching. 😆

[@JohnHWelch63]

@@leonardgriffieblues5845 My pleasure. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. 👍✌️

[@JohnHWelch63]

@@leonardgriffieblues5845 I actually could gig, but I'm not in a band right now and it's not easy to find musicians that have that magic with each other and gel. Even if you're all really good with your instruments, if you don't have that certain vibe with each other it just doesn't work. I'm too old now to go searching, know what I mean? ✌️🤘

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

I know exactly what you mean my friend. It’s even worse if you’re in a niche genre. Best of luck to you.

[@thelastnic]

Tubes will become niche due to cost, weight, cant play low volumes without sacrificing quality, and build quality. Played a Orange and sounded good at bedroom volume.

[@TheRange7]

Tubes are getting more unobtainium by the year, at least the good stuff that is.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

I may be long gone by then, but eventually yes.

[@randberr]

Tube's sound much better, no comparison to me

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thanks for your input.

[@ronfloyd2042]

Getting older and carrying 45 pound amps no thanks. Not for tone that no one is going to notice in live situation.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Thankfully there are ways around having to carry heavy amps that still yield great tones. It was only 12 years ago I gave up my beloved 68 Super Reverbs, but once the back issues began, a nearly 70 pound amp was no longer an option. Thanks so much for watching.

[@Michieln2304]

people come to the show to enjoy music, not to hear the nuances between a tube amp and a modeler.....

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Sure, that’s a given. But just as someone having their home roofed doesn’t care what kind of hammer the roofer uses, the roofer probably does.

[@EricClapton1945]

Your opinion is wrong.

[@leonardgriffieblues5845]

Sure, isn’t everyone’s.