Is The Price Justified? | Fender Tone Master Pro Review

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Prices for the Tone Master Pro and FRFR cabs available here: Thomann - thmn.to/thocf/wnxrunjowa Sweetwater - sweetwater.sjv.io/GmobE2 Fender Direct - prf.hn/l/znPGMGO

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

With 2400 beans I could get a pro junior and a used USA Strat/Tele/LP/ junior/ SG and a delay and wah and be able to turn up anywhere that has a plug socket(230/240) and spend 2 hours playing as opposed to 2 hours drinking and banging my forehead in the wall screaming"Why did I fall for that Tech scam...again"!

[@dredzik]

I would love if you could take some of the cheaper multi FX-s like Hotone Ampero (Mini / 2 Stomp / 2 Stage), Nux, Boss ME-90, Mooer, and see how they stack against things like this.

[@evolv_85]

The price tag put me off immediately. There are lots and lots of toys I'd rather buy if I'm spending that kind of money.

[@MelloState]

Same $1700 I saw and I just noped out. Hell you can buy a tube amp and cab for that money

[@GDCDGC]

@@MelloState 1700? Wow. That's too much

[@evolv_85]

@@MelloState yeah, I thought the same. You could grab an epiphone pro, a decent half stack and a couple of pedals for that money. I use an old epi, a grid spark and a wah and I can get more than enough sounds form it.

[@breadnaut3087]

@@MelloState ...you literally get 100 amps for $1700 what are you even talking about? Thats $17 per amp. You are bad at math.

[@proART100]

Just wait for a year. Price will definitely go down.

[@michaelogden5093]

$1700 for a pedal packed full of features you'll never use past the first two honeymoon weeks. Just look at your pedal board. That's more or less what you want whether you're prepared to admit it or not.

[@Stephenmichaelsguitar]

I love Fender. That said, the modeling sounds comparable to everything else out there. I wasn’t blown away, it’s not bad at all, but it’s not $1699 good. The interface looks pretty cool though, if this was 800 bucks, I’d be more into this, but 1700 isn’t a price I’d pay when I can get a Quad Cortex or kemper with years of bugs worked out and patches. Plus knowing Fenders history of abandoning Fuse software, Im very hesitant to trust Fender will be updating this unit in 3 years. I’m curious to try it, but not buy it.

[@QuoVadis88]

For me, The Killer App on this unit is that the bank of dials become the controls for whatever amp or effect you bring up. They are gonna update every few months just like Boss did with the GT-1000. And on the Boss GT-1000, I like editing patches on a 32 inch monitor. I am looking forward to the Fender bass amps on the Pro. Definity a product to buy and play every day. Getting two. One for stage and one to keep at home to experiment with patches. Bugs will be worked out fast with a Fender product because there will be a million people worldwide buying Fender. Fuse died and became the fertilizer for Tone Master Pro. There are a lot of people like me that are willing to pay good money for research and development. There is a lot of R&D in the Pro. For those that do not have a modeler yet, the Pro is attractive to a guitar player who has no engineering ability or those that would rather play than read a manual.

[@Stephenmichaelsguitar]

@@QuoVadis88 I’m a bit punch shy on pulling the trigger on this. I’ll stick with my QC.

[@fartknockers]

It's the User Interface (UI) that is the game changer on this unit. It will open up digital modelling to more people who struggle to adapt to fiddly user experiences. This is doing the UI aspect better than the rest, whilst digital modelling is starting to become a game of diminishing returns as far as audio quality/replication is concerned.

[@Stephenmichaelsguitar]

@@fartknockers right, but if the tones aren’t there, a UI is meaningless

[@fartknockers]

@@Stephenmichaelsguitar Yes well it is subjective. If it doesn't sound right for your style of music then it's a no go. Have you tried Neural Amp Modeler? NAM is free and people rave about it. Emil Rohbe @Rohbemusic has created a lot of impulses from it and demos it on his KZbin channel.

[@FastRedPonyCar]

Max Gutnik was one of the guys responsible for the Helix products. He's been at Fender now for a while and is one of the big brains behind the TMP so it's no surprise that this unit is so intuitive. You should revisit this product now that they've made some big improvements with the firmware updates. I would EASILY put the unit I'm reviewing up against my Fractal FM3, my Helix LT and our singer's quad cortex. I gigged with it this past weekend and it was fantastic running to our PA and an FRFR behind me. The hardware itself feels more premium than any other modeler on the market and the I/O is nearly on par with the big helix (which IMO is the best on the market in that regard) It's easy to look at the price and get down on the unit because it's expensive but it's premium hardware, industry leading I/O, a well thought out UI/UX and the most powerful processor in the digital space. Everyone flocked to the more expensive QC when it came out and it was missing like half the stuff they said it would have and no one complained about the price.

[@stefproton1418]

Ordered today as bundle with the FR-12, we will see but this box seems to sound really great. Thanx for your feedback and test, you've noticed some interesting points.

[@deltafit]

Sounds great. But at the same price as a Fractal FM9...I know what I'd choose. I'll stick with my FM9

[@TheCyberMantis]

If you already have an FM9, you certainly do not need the Fender TMP.

[@LoganAddisMusic]

I don't usually mind "technical" things but for me, because I gig a lot I sold my FM3 because I always need to make changes on the fly and found it to be really inconvenient in a live situation. I will have my TMP next week so I'll see if I hate it lol but I think it will be great

[@artysanmobile]

I mostly see comments from those who’ve never used a top modeling unit so have no idea what they’re talking about. But, this is KZbin. The price is a bit bold. I’m shopping Fractal as the next step from my own custom rig and would trust Fender to be very competitive sonically so price is not a total turnoff. Every big-bucks feature is there, and then some, such as multiple routes, stereo/mono inserts. It seems like a very well conceived halo product. Fact is, touring & session players, as well as playing producers and composers can justify the learning curve and price and get along great with such a product. It’s not designed for occasional users or home players. The jury is still out. I expect Fender will hold the line on price while offering major SW additions for no charge.

[@Bat_Dad_116]

People complaining about the price but for those of us who are restarting (or just starting) our gear journey, that’s a heck of a deal. 1700 for all you get is awesome. It’s also awesome for what you don’t get, like a few hundred pounds of wood and metal to lug around to performances and practice. I see people saying “ you could get a tube amp and a cab for that money…” yeah? And? lol this is an amp, and a cab. So you can buy a “better” amp and cab… there’s your 1700, now drop another few hundred or another grand on pedals. No thank you.

[@harryharris1619]

This cost the same as a Fractal FM9 which I own. The FM9 is really hardcore as there are so many parameters that one can tweak. It also has a bigger footprint but the ftswtchs do not act also as control pots etc as the Fender does. But really what got my attention is the Fender frfr monitor amp. At $500 that seems fairly reasonable considering the other options on the market.

[@harryharris1619]

The $500 was for the 1x10 and $549 for the 1x12 cab. Saw a review of the 1x12 compared to a QSC 8 and was not to impressed with the sound. However would have to hear them live in order to make a final judgement. Would be hard to beat my 1x12 large cab with a Celestion F12-x200 speaker but will wait and see. My cab weighs a ton at 42lbs.

[@jimmyjames7946]

It sounds great! But for that price I would look at one of Dave Friedman's tube amps.

[@josearjona3728]

First of the 8 reviews i´ve seen that comment on some flaws or "cons", everybody else treats this like the new miracle...

[@myworms]

Sounds great, but $1700 is obscene. I’ve been very disappointed with how their pricing has become recently…

[@brackendale1986]

Shareholders want their cut.

[@TVsBen]

Yeah Fender is starting to remind me of another USA legacy brand, the one with the book-looking headstock.

[@thiscorrosion900]

The thing is that they seem to be marketing this at pro. and live players, but most of them seem to dislike or even hate, digital modeling processors. ??? Go figure. Yet people like Billy Corgan seem to have embraced it. He would probably use this all day for rehearsals, if not for live.

[@astronautsoul]

Essentially the same price as Helix, Quad Cortex, and FM9. You could argue whether or not the features are comparable, but Fender has priced it appropriately for the market they’re competing in.

[@thiscorrosion900]

@@astronautsoul I see, yeah. They're all kind of high-end units, so take your pick, I suppose. If you're gonna spend that much I would try to demo them somewhere though, if possible.

[@bronchick]

I bought it a week ago and am already returning it. Software isn't there yet (but the hardware and the operating system are really nice). For me, the deal killer was the inability to simply import/export rigs from the computer. Can't do it - most work through Fender's cloud. Next!

[@nxzstudio8495]

I find it very hard to justify that price tag considering the HeadrushFX Prime is in my ears sounding just as good. Only thing would be if you really want "True" fender tones

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Maybe have a listen to the tones I got first

[@MOAB-UT]

Yep. FM9 is better...or Headrush. This thing is way too expensive.r

[@HelixLT2024]

Yo con mi Helix LT no la cambio por la Fender tan cara.

[@Wintertop2134]

@@TheGuitarGeekthat comes across as dismissive and sell out

[@RodVonLongrod]

HRP owner here. I agree. The extra features the HRP has over the TMP make the HRP a no brainer choice between the two.

[@LucasMastropasqua]

Nice Vola! I just purchased a Vola Joss Allen signature model myself. Absolutely fantastic instruments. Great video as always Andy 🤘🤘🤘

[@pdbordelon]

Ive had my Fender TMP for about two weeks now. Was afraid to watch this video but now know that any criticisms are minor in the great scheme of things. The TMP is fantastic, not perfect, but poised, with a few firmware updates, to be the best modeler out there.

[@comicsrcool5483]

I think you hit the nail on the head. The price is what will kill this. There are too many other choices out there and Fenders big thing is what it always is "Dont our FENDER amps sound great?!" They also seem to wimp out on the Voxes and Marshalls and other high gain items(The fact EVH sounds good and they have a connection with the EVH brand is not shocking.

[@andsoistopped]

That reminds me - I need to update my HX Stomp. I’m not surprised by the price. It’s Fender so that contributes, but it also has the potential to work for a singer/guitarist. I think that’s a big plus. It all comes down to how they handle support and updates.

[@calbrockocat8728]

They should have called it the Fender Gouge Master. $1700US is absolutley nuts for a modeller. Good review, but I see Fender not selling too many at this insane price.

[@MOAB-UT]

Yep. This over priced toy should be under $500. I guarantee it will be 30% on Guitar Centers Used site very soon. Like it's tone and hype, it will fizz out soon. I did not hear a single patch that impressed me. Every patch on my FM9 impressed me.

[@HelixLT2024]

Este producto fracasara. No lo cambio por mi Helix LT. Ademas por 500 o 600 euros hay equipos mejores y nuevos

[@LeftyF2003]

You can get an awfully good tube amp for that. I've been playing with the modelling thing since it started, and it's gotten quite a bit better. That said, if you only need a single amp sound with some pedals, to my ears a good tube amp and a pedal board still sound the most authentic. If on the other hand you're covering Adrian Belew tunes where you need access to 50 different pedals and 20 different amps, something like this would be critical (and that's how Adrian gets all those sounds live these days). If I were in the market for a system like this, the Helix is already a mature product with tons of support and it's less expensive, so I'd be inclined to go with that or possibly a Kemper which is also in this price range.

[@antonioduarte1335]

I guess they want to compete against Fractal FM9 (at similar price)

[@MatthiasBuesing]

It's around their competitors (Fractal FM3/FM9, Neural DSP Quad Cortex etc.)...🤷🏻‍♂

[@dylano6033]

I wasn't aware of those Fender FRFR cabs before and I have to say I was more impressed by them than the Tone Master Pro. Now I'm not saying the TMP sounded bad, because it didn't. It sounded great and that's with minimal tweaking, which is impressive. The main concern that I have is whether or not Fender will continue to support it for years to come. One of the most enticing things about modellers like this is that they do continue to improve over the lifecycle of the product. At €1900 it's not cheap.

[@lance134679]

I think digital modeling technology is far enough along that whether you like the sound of a particular unit's models is that of personal taste more than quality. Being Fender, I know they'll nail Fender and EVH amps to a tee, and the effects seem pretty good, too. As for the price, we're definitely paying the "Fender tax", but it seems pretty easy to use and solidly built. Thanks for the demo.

[@parkerg-flipnote]

That Fender tax? I just did a ton of research on all of these units in this area and it is right on par with its competitors. Just say you dont know anything about this area and move on.

[@GS-uy4xo]

The sounds and features we are getting today are really good from almost every product - not sure what will separate one from another, but a high price isn’t a draw.

[@SirPraiseSun]

this 1 has the least amps and cabs out of all professional quality multi pedals 27 amps.... we will see if they update with 20 more or so

[@michaelcowdroy9150]

Of ALL the guitar shop channels and others reviewing this product - GG is always the first choice for a proper review, love this channel

[@DaringDan]

Thing's awesome. I found that as a bedroom only player, Tonex on my PC is the only thing I need for 1/4 the price. If I gigged I'd get something like this or a Kemper.

[@GrayGhostDog1]

... I maybe more like some people who WOULD NOT want to turn on or use a PC every time I want to play my electric guitar.

[@DaringDan]

@@GrayGhostDog1 That's why I said, "I". Didn't want to speak for anyone else. On a similar note you can get the Tonex pedal which is the same 400 bucks as the software if you don't want the PC everytime.

[@GrayGhostDog1]

@@DaringDan gotcha. Yes, I do like IK Multimedia’s offerings… especially for the price. This option appears to be offering use cases for the bedroom player, project studio, gigging musician, etc. You don’t need the pedal or frfr speaker to utilize it, but it’s excellent that they are available… a more complete solution. The UI looks good and easy to use… my only negative I think I’ve noticed is that there are no models for BASS GUITAR. Other competitors include a few…

[@the_guitar_generation]

It seems playing it through the powered speaker helps the tone a lot. The country and Mayerish tones sounded good. Well done😎🎸👍

[@castleanthrax1833]

The frfr speaker is 1,000 watts too. I guess they want enough power to cover all possibilities.

[@MOAB-UT]

Try Fractal- no comparison. Same or less $$$ to boot.

[@RobertFisher1969]

I do find it really tempting. But what a really want is a smaller (and more affordable) unit that just has the Deluxe Reverb model, one effects loop, cabsim, DI, and headphone out. I’m hoping this is just the flagship, and we get more products in the line over time.

[@andyashby]

Your style and commentary on this product was the most informative and straight forward of any I have seen. Thx for your easy to understand analysis!

[@AlexGauthier]

Man... This just made my decision a lot harder. Was debating Helix and Headrush Prime... and now this. Thanks for a useful video though!

[@AmericanNationalist852]

Fractal FM9 for the win

[@MOAB-UT]

LOL- Helix is BETTER and Fractal FM9 is MUCH better than both. I bought one.

[@CrashEd1664]

@TheGuitarGeek great review - many thanks. Would love to see an update now that there have been some recent updates that add more amps, cabs, effects and some bug fixes.

[@atomiccocoanut2596]

i think this piece of kit is a game changer for a hobby player like myself. there's so many things about this product that make it fantastic for a bedroom/office headphone guitar player

[@blairmichaelhogan4502]

That FRFR cab is very interesting to me. Had no idea it was coming out and I’ve been looking for a better powered monitor to use with my UA Dream. It looks like an amp, and has a high cut knob. Those two features nudge it above the competition in my eyes!

[@jakajarc]

Too expensive for me for now, but if you think about the tone master range, those aren't cheap either, and you basically get all of them with this and a couple of fr12. So thinking about selling some of my amps and pedals just makes me uncomfortable, it took a while to assemble my fleet, but if it works well, this takes less space. I'll have to try one first to be sure. Also I like that you can fix amps, if they fail; this is probably not something that you can get fixed easily, should it break. Maybe with a liftime no questions asked replace guarantee I'd get one sooner.

[@dalepal]

The Fender Tone Master Pro sounds really good though there are many options from competitors at the price point. I’m leery of buying a modeling unit that expensive after Fender discontinued support for the Mustang III/IV/V V.2 series.

[@MOAB-UT]

Smart man...if that is your pronoun. LOL. Fender should stick to guitars. Fractal FM9 is far better.

[@ANDI3niable]

Can't wait to see how this handles IR. Regarding the price, Neural sent an email about dropping the msrp for the quad cortex by like £300. I'm wondering if they also anticipated this release.

[@flashbak01]

You can bet on it!

[@liedgitarrist]

Thevinternal cabs are already IRs. All of them

[@alien4422]

Yes, the fact that they can lower the price by so much at the drop of a hat shows that they have been taking buyers for mugs by keeping a high price after the covid shortage. So I guess we can thank Fender for the Quad Cortex price drop.

[@astrodadmusic]

Even though you couldn’t get the British sounds you were digging for, I think all the different tones sounded great and usable. Then again, I was listening on an old Panasonic AM radio.

[@cjhenry41]

The is great. You know what I think would be great and make your show even better? More episodes where you bring on Emily from Get Offset. The episode you did with her had a great vibe and you two were pretty funny together. I think you'd start cross driving subscribers additions. Very positive comments on her discord from people about your show. You know your stuff, she knows her stuff, and neither of you are shills. Boss Katana owner here, bought it after seeing your episodes on it. Thanks.

[@akwamarsunzal]

1) Andy, this demo is spot on, as usual! You and some weird German bloke with animals always knock it out of the ark with demons! 2) Listening to the tones, though my laptop with quality headphones, it is utter crap, sorry! Fender, late to the party, with a stupid expensive offering, yeah, typical Fender! So many better products out there for way less than half this pile of poo! So happy to watch your videos Andy... Roll on the weekend for Gear of the Week!

[@carminelombardi9575]

I'd love to see a demo video on this. As I'm doing my due diligence I learned that with the Fender Tone Master Pro, can be paired with a Fender FR 10 or 12, which has the traditional volume, treble, mid, bass, and cut controls on top of the unit, just like a traditional amp does, allowing to tweak it on the go as your playing a gig without having to go into any digital menu. I'm thinking this pairing can be a very practical easier gig usable solution.

[@riona42]

I'm really excited about the Tone Master Pro, even though it's not for me (I'm definitely a Quad Cortex girl). It seems to be a very approachable solution into multi effects/modelers for a lot of people and that is amazing ^^ The price is high, but if (and that is an important IF) Fender keep supporting it, it seems like it might be worth it.

[@Turbo-D]

using leo fenders name always means pricey so let's wait and see how it will perform against the competition

[@HelixLT2024]

Este producto fracasara.

[@Steven_SK]

Nice job with the review.... as usual!

[@Fergieguitar]

You hit the nail for me, singing and playing, I'd hit the wrong button or hit 2 at the same time. €1700 would easily get me 3 used valve amps, maybe not as versatile but fun

[@breadnaut3087]

So youd rather have 3 amps instead of 100 amps? Please explain your logic.

[@Fergieguitar]

@@breadnaut3087 my logic is, after over 30 years, I know what I like, I've had modellers or multi FX for years from early Digitech, to rack stuff, line 6 etc and always managed great tones but I seem to use just 1 or 2 sounds, even with my katana, clean, crunch, high gain and same high gain with a longer delay...now I take an amp, wah, phaser and boss sd1 for a gig. This looks a great tool but for me, overkill

[@MrChopsticktech]

@@Fergieguitar I don't have 30 years of experience (about 28) and I know what I like. Multi-effects units and just about any amp with a good clean tone. My Digitech stuff seems to last forever, I got my first one, an RP-! brand new in 1994. Still works fine.

[@Fergieguitar]

@@MrChopsticktech went from RP7 to 2120artist rack gear, rp500 and still got an rp1000, it's an amazing bit of kit even today. But again, never used more than 3 or 4 settings. But great kit

[@basicforge]

Nice review. I just bought a ToneX and while it sounds great I am displeased that it doesn't have an easy and modern touchscreen UI. On the subject of easy, one less recent line of multi-effects units that are super easy to use are the Zoom G3, G3X, and G5 units. Amazingly easy to use, all-metal construction, and they can be purchased for barely more than $100, oh and they have balanced out XLR jacks.

[@breadnaut3087]

That reason alone is why the Tonemaster will be the king of this mountain soon. User friendly is what old people want.

[@breadnaut3087]

And old people have the money to spend.

[@basicforge]

@@breadnaut3087 Everybody wants user friendly. ;)

[@cestusfr]

Mind you, the last time i touched a guitar was in the mid to late 90's best i got was a DOD Tec 8. This here is just mind bending to me. Makes me want to go back to play guitar. (i am a bass player)

[@LKelly1111]

My rig is a Boss ME-25 plugged into my Fender Hotrod deluxe 3 and it's always sounded 🔥 and didn't cost me no $2400 😂😅

[@waitin4winter]

This was a really great overview with your thoughts, thanks

[@robertclarkguitar]

I went in thinking this is expensive as fender is known. But, i am impressed. Perhaps ill get one years later on a discount. Absolutely cool.

[@hellbillygoatboy]

I’m too old. I like my tone master twin and UA pedals,maybe but I cant keep up. Lol Cheers! Great show and honest too. Nice one Andy.😊

[@alanpatterson9937]

I purchased a BOSS GX100 and after seeing this. I want to upgrade!!!

[@largeeng]

I am another that has had their interest increased by the matching powered speaker. Being able to have a complete system, and I see there is a dedicated expression pedal available, makes it very attractive to those of us who have a phobia for new tech. I am pretty old school in my rig, valve amp, pedal board but I've noticed that my pedal board is becoming bigger and heavier, my amp is becoming a chore to carry ( 2x 12 pro reverb), so a setup like this seems an absolute boon. However, my concerns would be 1. Reliability, probably no more or less than what I have. 2. Product support going forward, I would like to think that 10 years from now that updates will still be coming and also from a repair standpoint as well, if it develops a fault I don't throw it away. 3. And lastly the buy in cost is a little daunting for someone like me who basically plays for fun (even though I have many times this already invested in gear), I would need assurance on the first 2 items before dropping 2K+ on a new rig. But it has definitely tweaked my interest, I shall do more research, in fact possibly a visit to a large UK retailer this afternoon to see in person, (I only need a couple of new leads lol).

[@TheGuitarGeek]

I think you’re being really sensible here. I agree with everything you’ve said. If you like fender sounds, this is a great option. It needs a little work to do more classic Marshall tones but I’m sure I’ll get there. I will be testing it in a band soon

[@scottybrowndotca]

That was an extremeley fair eval when it comes down to the price .. This is the third review I've watched and both of the others were like "THIS IS AMAZING ..!!" with no mention of price .. So I punched it up and we're looking at about $2,400 in Canada .. If I was a gigging musician doing all kinds of covers in different styles I would be quite interested, especially like you say, with firmware updates .. However at that price I could buy and mod two telecasters, grab a couple of cool pedals and a six pack of beer to enjoy while I muck around

[@Rummy73]

Fyi, with the firmware update, there's a Silver Jubilee amp available. It is a delightful British crunch. Also, you can adjust the display brightness.

[@leocguitar]

The price is crazy, I honestly think the Headrush Prime is more complete

[@LivinginLosAngeles-re5yx]

Way more complete! This is a modeler only for $1700! 😮

[@Abellyisforjelly]

Worth the price… I like it much better than the helix. Got it yesterday, spent 3 hours with it. 10 minutes in, I was mind blown

[@DeathPenny]

I want to check one out - this seems to be a helix with a much more intuitive UI -and rotary switches from the Quad cortex - it's slick - I am surprised they didn't include an option for profiling - it would have been perfect. - I am concerned fender will be selling feature updates for additional amps - I just don't think Fender likes the idea of giving away their future amps for free - one thing I can say about line6 for sure, 8 years and still getting meaningful updates and they are still adding tweaks and features to make it better. - amazing, gotta love'em for it. Honestly the fender is almost what I would have expected from Line6 for a Helix 2.0, though I think they would have included profiling. Either way I would love to give this thing a try - but 1700 bucks is an expensive test drive. Need to see more reviews from folks that didn't receive the item for free (No offense intended there)

[@grumpyrocker]

Great video as ever. You may not need an expression with a toe switch. On my HX Stomp you can set a pedal range that turns the effect on, so just moving the pedal slightly forward engages the wah. And then it has a pause time so it won't switch off right away when pulling the pedal back. Maybe this Fender can do that?

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Oh that’s a great thought! If it can’t do that, I’m sure fender could and should implement it!

[@grahamaldridge]

I’d certainly like to spend some time getting to know one.

[@justmehere6094]

I do think the Powered FRFR might sell to existing users of it's Competition though.

[@SpartanLaserCanon]

If you want the real deal in best amp/effects simulation this pedal is worth the price, but I think Bias FX 2 is a very good way cheaper option if you want many good mix ready tones for a good price and you can even tone match many distortion tones with it. I never knew that the Tone Master pro has a Micro SD card slot until I watched this video. Neural DSP stuff is good too, but you would need to spend lots on lots of their plugins if you wanted more than a few amps/effects from that company. There are many good different options when it comes to amp/effects simulation things now. For a live setting, I still prefer to have a real amp on stage instead of some gear behind a stage and no amp and I do have an ME-25 to use if I wanted to with my Badlander amp.

[@scrimblenib]

I wouldn't even ask the price . If I like it id get it . I got tons of the green . Rock and roll .

[@giveupbuddy]

Great review. Thanks. How would you say the quality of the amp models and IRs compare to something more reasonably priced, like the Tonex? This obviously has more capabilities, effects, loops, etc. But in terms of sound quality of the amps/IRs?

[@prashanta.shrestha]

I'll hang on to my Helix

[@che2335]

I cant buy any of this when Spark just released a 10" frfr cab u can lift one handed and makes my Spark look like a proper mini stack for $269!!!

[@tigertuft]

Hello, luddite here. I'll be sticking with my small tube amp and a few pedals. Even if I could afford this I'd be overcome with choice paralysis and would spend more time tinkering than playing!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Then I URGE you to try one if you see one in the wild. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

[@jokermtb]

intuitive design that mimics the ease of use of a conventional pedal board is always a winner

[@HelixLT2024]

Fender va a patinar por culpa del precio. Se han pasado. Aun bajarla a la mitat me lo pensaria porque la Helix LT suena increible y lleva pedal de expresion

[@NewEii]

Can't wait to see how does it go with IR. Hope it will be a game changing like 2nd/3rd helix patch. Thanks for your review!

[@OutstandingBill1]

That's an amazing piece of gear. Well out of my price range, sadly. Thanks for demoing it for us!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

My pleasure!

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

These sounds are really nice, and I am a Fender fan, but I think you should do a shoot-out between this and the Headrush Prime.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

I wish I could but I don't have a headrush Prime.

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

@@TheGuitarGeek Oh ok, I thought a music store loan it to you for comparison. Shane from the In the Blues Channel does that then he returns it. Thanks anyway.

[@dennisdelaney9142]

For me, the question is whether it’s worth selling my tone master deluxe reverb and line 6 pod go and replacing those with the new tone master pro and FR 12. That would bring the expense down a lot but would I be better off?

[@donaldgravelyn9175]

For me the most important question- can you use a Marshall on the left and say EVH on the right output? Two separate paths with different amps?

[@TheMNB]

In the US, the Tone Master Pro's MSRP is $1699, which is the same as the Line 6 Helix.

[@iainjohnston4070]

I reckon at £1700 it won't sell enough to appease the bigwigs at Fender it will be quietly dropped from the line. Followed by also dropping support. Just like so many of Fenders previous forays into modelling.

[@jasonleaman.]

I'm going to give it 6 months to a) see where the price settles - I'm guessing we'll see it drop down to around £1400 in line with QCs rumoured price cut b) See what the attitude towards updates turns out to be, and c) I've got to buy Christmas presents for my kids. By the way, does anyone know if there's a built in looper. Sorry if I've missed that bit of info, but it hasn't been demoed as far as I know.

[@BrandonMilner]

Yes. There’s a built in looper. And QC price cut just happened. It’s the same price as this in the USA

[@timothyclay3668]

I think it's £1499 at andertons and gear for music

[@spada60]

you'll be surprised at what update are coming for this modeler know it first hand

[@jasonleaman.]

OK@@spada60 - Not sure why you would know before anyone else about this, but Ok.

[@andrewmorgan1640]

Love the interactions with the amp on the touch screen, and the tones you were getting sound great. Ill have to clear some space on my desk next to the FM3, QuadCortex and Kemper. When are you going to try a gig with it mate?

[@1Rockstok]

I’m with you regarding waiting for the firmware. I would add that IMHO, nothing ever sounds the same on stage as it does at home which would mean lots of bending down on one knee during the gig to tweak settings, a deal killer for a person who does a lot of singing on gigs. Even so, I would not want the knobs to be separate from the footswitches creating another part of the TMP. Also, I’m interested in clean sustain and no one seems to demo the TMPs capabilities for that. Does it have an original Ross compressor?

[@Sea_Jay]

I mean, compared to a Helix, I think it's over priced and doesn't offer the number of options/amp/pedals. The Helix is a very mature platform and I have a gut feeling, that there will be a response to this from other brands including from Line 6. If we think Fender nailed it (and they may have) I think what is being worked on behind the scenes from others is going to blow our mind. Now what I think this is great for... It's going to nail every Fender tone spot on. So if you look at it like getting every Fender amp for $1700, that's not a horrible deal. No one is going to do a Fender tone better than Fender if we are being honest. So I think it has a place. Just not for me at this price.

[@paulschlachter4313]

I love my HX Stomp. But there is stuff that the Helix can't do that this thing can: footswitch rotary dials, touch screen, visual presentation of models on screen. Things are getting rougher for L6 - Fender is a serious contender.

[@Abellyisforjelly]

Exactly Paul. This is why I pulled the trigger on the tone master pro. It’s great! Worth the price for me

[@tonepilot]

Yup, The Boys (Fender) Are Back in Town.

[@Rummy73]

Andy, thank you for showing us this new Fender modeling unit. I bought one and your video helped me get started. Might you help us further by demonstrating how to mount it to a pedalboard? PS if one visits the right store, one may not have to pay the full sticker price.

[@KoaCharvel]

Not for me....yet. I am pretty happy with my pedalboard and BossIR200 and Laney 1x12 FRFR

[@castleanthrax1833]

Yeah. I'm not sure what I'd do with 1,000 watts.

[@KoaCharvel]

Update. I did buy one and have had it for a few months now. I use it daily to play and record. Wow, it is SUPER easy to use and has some amazing tones. It is absolutely perfect for me. My mind was changed for sure.

[@douglasdog1]

Seems like a super easy interface. Any digital gear where it’s a huge learning curve to navigate menu’s I quickly lose interest and fall back to my analog pedals and amps. I’ve had no interest in modeling units for quite a while now other than Strymon but this unit has me interested. Ordered one the other day!! I’m not bothered by the price, I think it’s justified when you look at all the features. It’s the price of a really good amp. I have that value just on my pedal board and I’ll be able to do away with 3/4’s of it if not all of it.

[@diggersid456]

you can change mic and mic postion which might help with the crunch tone

[@tonyevans9999]

Hmmm, but does it doom. Very good even handed review, even if you're pretty much scrolling through the menu, as I would with anything like this. Ultimately the challenge is as you say, the ongoing tech support from Fender. It's not comparable to an old tube amp that's seemingly never going to die, these are computers that are technologically redundant the day of release, that should be an assumption going in, just like you assume the tones should be at the point where they sound generally "good", and not just close enough for rock and roll. Being able to plug your pedal board into it is something everyone else appears to have missed, so props, I think for a lot of people that's important

[@ElmanAuthement]

Great review. I have a Helix Floor so I'm not interested in buying something new but it seems to be really user friendly.

[@michaelolz]

Being a Fender fanboy I have to say it’s impressive. But I already have so many other ways of getting some good tones and effects. However, if I was starting over THIS would be the one to get.

[@richarde3378]

This looks awesome! Take my money, Fender!

[@nedludd3641]

I guess you can't hook it up to the existing tone master amp combo?

[@MOAB-UT]

It has an effects loop so yep.

[@vasotoe]

Very interesting piece of gear, but tbh, I can see the price throwing a lot of people off, especially with what's available from the competition

[@dancotterman1267]

Tonex 400$ less than one quarter the price and with user profiles available for download with open source software that will be around for a long time. Just add your effects. Fender digital is too expensive for me but it’s your call.

[@vasotoe]

@@dancotterman1267 LOL there's no way I'd be interested in purchasing something that expensive, that's exactly my point. I'm happy with my PodGo 🤣

[@MaxRadin]

Now that you've had it a year, what do you think? A keeper?

[@M2Mil7er]

I'd recently bought a Line 6 HX Stomp, and when I saw this I was like "maybe I should've waited..." but then I saw the price felt much better about my decision.

[@TVsBen]

Sounds great for Fender tones, at least. Your British plexi tone was good too. It's priced terribly and the UI needs some serious work. I can't imagine this will sell well at its current price point. Nothing here makes me want to replace my five-year-old Helix LT, which costs $500 less. What you demonstrated with footswitches is nothing like Helix Snapshot mode where each footswitch turns on and off different combinations of effects and can even toggle values like delay tempo, drive levels, etc. I know it's not a full demo, but that layout is not remotely impressive considering the cost.

[@BrandonMilner]

You can do all that on this unit. Adjust multiple parameters or turn multiple pedals off and on with one press. Also the foot switches can be latching or momentary.

[@lyleanderson5407]

Why is it TC Electronics G System added a power section for your pedals but none of these costly modelers have that simple feature? Also I agree the switches are too close. Seriously I don't even own a G System anymore but they got the pedal right, and the power sections was a big help. Everything else is awesome and kudos to Fender! Sadly I need to sit this one out for 2 reasons: (1)No power section for external pedals and (2) the switches are too close. Great Demo you earned my subscription!

[@Sushi_Overdose]

No one on youtube seems to try the fuzz effects and to me, those are the one badly emulated on these machines. Also, how does it react if you plug your favorite fuzz in it ? It seems that the touchscreen isn't reacting quickly, like the ones on our phones right ? But I'm really interested in that unit !

[@marc_leblanc]

People who want the Fender name might pay for it. I would probably be just as happy with a Helix.

[@MOAB-UT]

Fractal FM3 or 9 is faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar better.

[@Ray-Angel]

I'm a huge Fender fan. But I've been using a Boss Katana for the past year or so and I'm very happy with my sound. I'd like to see a shootout between the Tone Master and a Katana.

[@czechplastik]

The Fender Tone Master amps blow Katana out of the water. I've owned both, Katana is great but a distant second.

[@Ray-Angel]

@@czechplastik I plugged into a 1964 Fender Baseman for 15 years. I know how good Fender amps sound and I feel good about the sounds I'm getting from my Katana. If this unit is that much better then a shootout would prove it. But I'm certainly not going to pay that much just for a Fender label.

[@czechplastik]

@@Ray-Angel you're right, a shoot out would settle it. Can only comment on my personal experience, as of course you are doing also. I'd be very interested to see all of the side by side comparisons when they arrive. Will certainly be enlightening. I just feel like a lot of people are slating this without trying it or saying it's too expensive when they aren't in the market for a digital modelling platform in the first place. It's like saying a BMW M5 is too expensive when your budget is for a Dacia.

[@MrJingles021]

I hope they add more amps. But they said it took months for them to properly get the EVH, so new amps would be a lot of work.

[@sparkyguitar0058]

Using whatever guitar also makes each sound closer to what you're looking for. Use the Telly for the heavy metal sound and a humbucker guitar on chicken picking and let's hear how this converts each tone then. But all the work I did in getting my board together, I wouldn't change to make any other sounds. If I can't make "That sound" then I would just use something close and move on.

[@bonneymaes2757]

I would like a Vox ‘Tonemaster’ or a Tweed ‘Tonemaster’ As my current lineup is an AC30 and a Bassman…I’m getting old and so is my back. Please test the Universal Audio Ruby, Woodrow pedals with the FR12 cab. I would be really interested if it would give you that Tonemaster amp quality but with a tweed or Vox tone…once the reported ‘hiss’ issue is solved though;-)

[@aprilkurtz1589]

I'm not a pedal person, the only one I use is a Sovtek Big Muff. It's simple. Three dials. But I'm really intrigued by this pedal thingy as you said it's intuitive, which so many pieces of music technology are not, which is why I'm not a pedal person. It's a little pricey for me, but I could see it being really useful for a pro musician. Also, that little cabinet/combo amp sounds great! Do you know who the speakers are made by? Peace out, Andy! P.S. I'm learning about making pedals so I can make The Hydra, which is a copy of a pedal you demoed last year(?).