The introduction of the “Blackface” in 1963 has represented a pinnacle of guitar amp design and it’s done so ever since.
Fender was so dominant that their products became the standard equipment for most clubs, recording studios and stages worldwide. Fender has been around for a while and they’ve been changing their products a lot. They released digital versions with the Cyber-Twin and Cyber-Deluxe, both of which were introduced nearly two decades ago.
Technology has come a long way from where it was back in the day. The amps and effects that we see nowadays can be quite realistic, we have endless parameters for the presets, and Wi-Fi Bluetooth etc. all of this was started by Fender.
Announced at the summer NAMM Show in Nashville, Fender’s new digital offerings, the Tone Master Twin-Reverb and Deluxe Reverb, surprised everyone by taking a sharp left turn away from mainstream digital modeling amps: they’re modeled amplifiers. If you’re looking for the latest tech, these amps are not for you. But if you appreciate a dose of nostalgia, then these might be perfect.
Fender has created an accurate digital version of its amplifier by using a strong quad-core processor. Plus, a wide range of combos to choose from. One of the Reverb settings is a non-switching Normal and Vibrato channel with two sets of high- and low-gain inputs feeding Volume, Treble and Bass controls.
The Vibrato channel (a historically accurate misnomer) also features control for reverb level, tremolo speed and intensity. The Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb’s wider panel adds a Bright switch and midrange tone control.
As you can see, these things are pretty lightweight but a lot of care has been put into them. They’re strong and have an authentic feel to them.
The rear panels are designed for “show” with plenty of room for digital wizardry: The Deluxe Reverb with 100 watts of power and the Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb with 200 watts emulating four 6L6 tubes.
Both amps have a rotary switch to adjust the volume. There are up to ten different output levels on the Deluxe Reverb & Twin (depending on model) ranging from one watt all the way up to 85 watts. There’s a balanced XLR line out that can help you with both mic or line desk connections. It also features a ground lift for an optimal signal and a level control for balancing the sound.
The amps on here go from 85W all the way down to 1W with the Twin Reverb, and 22W all the way down to 0.2W with the Deluxe Reverb.
The beauty of the cabinet simulation switch is that it provides a flat response or two custom-made impulse responses. This switch has either an SM57 dynamic mic or the smoother extended bass of a ribbon microphone. You connect it via its single jack socket to the supplied two-button footswitch, which unlocks and toggles between the broadcasts.
On the bottom of the steel chassis is a micro USB port, together with a button for performing firmware updates and an LED. Leaving the standby button pressed silences the speakers but leaves the line-out active.
Those steep power requirements come with the territory, unfortunately. Not to worry, though – the Fender Tone Master doesn’t use big and bulky transformers. Fender has made a few changes to the latest Fender products, thus decreasing their weight by a considerable amount. The Audio Custom 2×12 combos are lighter than ever before due to the new lightweight solid pine cabinets and upgraded Jensens speakers with neodymium magnets.
That’s amazing. Imagine the original Twin Reverb packed into a one-handed carrying case that is just as loud! Despite their light weight, both Fender Tone Masters are built to a very high standard with robust circuit boards, expertly finished cabinets and authentic hardware.
A future with adjustable screen brightness and thickness?
Fender Tone Master Gguitar Amplifier in Use
Over the years, vintage Deluxe Reverbs have attained near mythical status as the perfect portable club/recording amp. It can produce a punchy sound – much better than you might think from such a small amp. We put the Fender Tone Master up against a well-sorted original 1965 model and plug in with an old Strat and Les Paul – it’s instantly clear the modern amplifier does a great job reproducing the sound from vintage amplifiers. The Fender tone is crystal clear and you won’t need to fix anything.
The vintage tube amp might offer a more sparkling and rich tone in break-ups, the Fender Tone Master has the edge in providing a consistent and a far more coherent tone across the complete range of volume levels. While listening to our favorite kind of clean tone – with lots of snap, pop and that low string – we’ll gradually forget there’s not a single one of those old vacuum tube things in the signal path. And if we’re honest, the differences between the digital Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb and its all-tube forefather are no greater than the differences we’ve heard between vintage Deluxe Reverb amps equipped with different valves or speakers. It really is that good!
The reverb itself is amazing, wrapping the sound in an ambient halo and fading away completely naturally. The guitar will always produce the same sound and feel as the original model — in fact, it does not make any loud screeches when you accidentally kick it, the Fender Tone Master’s ‘vibrato’ delivers all the classic volume wobble you could ask for, and it’s actually more noticeable than the tremolo on this vintage amp.
As the wick is winding up, our sweet sparkly cleans morph into dynamic bluesy overdrive at a manageable volume, and they’re forceful enough to fight with even the heaviest of rhythm sections. Well, okay then.
As expected, the Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb’s larger cabinet and additional speaker significantly widen the breadth of the tone. The improved bass, harsh treble and precise timbre switching means a more realistic playing experience. The previously unavailable middle controls allow you to push the normal Blackface tonality into more trustworthy and assertive territory.
Now with the Output Power Reduction switch, you can avoid those pesky neighbours and keep it down at more manageable volume levels. It’s nice to finally have a guitar that sounds good tuned to open E blues too! Guitarists Albert King and Peter Green create tones that are usually only heard at a volume level so loud, it would strip the paint from the walls of someone’s house down the road. In addition, both Fender Tone Masters respond well to drive and fuzz pedals, with out any harsh overtones or artifacts / without any digital interference.
When you consider the well-voiced IR outputs, these amps do away with the need to buy an expensive outboard attenuator/IR SIM box for recording or going direct to desk live – which increases their bang-for-buck factor significantly. That said, it seems like Fender is missing a crucial feature by not including an output for headphones that’s dedicated to silent practice. In addition, we’d like to have seen an extension speaker output for those who want to incorporate the Fender Tone Masters into more complex setups.
Regardless of prior opinion, both amps sound just as you would hope and deliver stacks of Fender amp tone. Which room should I get? It depends. You might have chosen a Deluxe rather than Twin before because it weighs less and is quieter, but given the Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb’s manageable weight and variable power settings, the decision is less cut and dried.
Most players feel that the new amp sounds better because it has a wider range of frequencies, which means they can get more of their desired sound without needing to adjust the EQ. For guitarists who spend a lot of time creating different sound effects and effects pedals, the Twin could be the perfect pedal platform.
Whether you choose an online trade chat room or a more personalized, the Fender Tone Masters offer one of the closest – this is probably the best amp simulator I’ve come across. Although it’s not the same as playing a real valve amp, it still sounds very realistic and immersive. There’s a lot to like about these Fender Tone Masters indeed – here’s hoping more Tone Master recreations of classic Fender amps are on the way.
Fender Tone Master Gguitar Amplifier: Feel & Sounds
From the outside, Fender amps might not look much different than their predecessors, but the key question is how close these digital counterparts can come to reploding the tones of those classic amps. It’s a tough question, as they sound pretty damn close.
You had to be really careful with valve amps when you wanted overdrive and sent them to your speakers. They don’t have any preamp gain controls, so there was no fine-tuned control. The only way you could get a nice level of distortion was by turning the volume up two thirds of the way and then it would sound really good. This is exactly reproduced on the Fender Tone Masters, with the added benefit of being able to turn down the output power on the rear panel.
Below 5 the sound quality and bass in both amps is really good. This is probably because they are black panel amps, the sound is great, and the bass is nice and high. After you turn the volume up to around ‘4’ though, it starts to get a little too much. You can remediate this by turning down the bass some though.
You can’t do this on an old valve Twin. Even a Deluxe can cause too much noise for some venues.
This is a different yet credible approach to digital modelling: one amp model that doesn’t include all the editing frippery.
The distortion colors and dynamic response are very authentic here, too. The Deluxe may need a little more sag, but the faster attack of the silicon-rectified Twin is what we expect.
The amps seemed to have a bright tone on the Vibrato channels, which isn’t always desirable. The Normal channel was much better though and the EQ felt pretty close to perfect. The amp offers a lot of cool effects but could use some work in this area of tones. Everyone has their own idea of the ‘perfect’ tremolo sound and we felt the Fender Tone Masters’ needed a little more reach in the low-speed region, although there’s plenty of usable effect across the Speed knob’s travel.
The supplied two-button footswitch toggles the onboard reverb and vibrato effects. You can hear details such as pick attacks travelling back and forth along virtual springs thanks to the digital reverb convolution feature. One thing that’s absent is the transformer hum picked up by reverb spring transducers. There’s no tiny noise or hiss with either of these amps.
The Fender Tone Masters make good platforms for external effects of course, there is no loop, so everything needs to sit between the guitar and amp. Some pedals aren’t too noisy, but we’d avoid using any that have a really high output.
The nice IR functions will provide instant authentic sound for PA or recording purposes. The amps have enough volume satisfactorily.
The Fender Tone Master amps use custom-made Jensen N-12K speakers with lightweight neodymium magnets, adding to their impressive weight saving.
Key Features
Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb – 9/10:
- PRICE: £869
- DESCRIPTION: 2-channel modelling combo with reverb and tremolo
- POWER: 100W into 8-ohms
- SPEAKER: 1×12” Jensen N-12K neodymium
- FRONT PANEL: Normal channel: 2x instrument input, volume, treble, bass. Vibrato channel: 2x instrument input, volume, treble, bass, reverb, speed, intensity
- REAR PANEL: 1x footswitch input, 1x IR emulated XLR line out, ground switch, balanced line out level control, 3-position cabinet emulation switch, 6-position output power selector, mute switch (XLR out remains active), power switch
- ADDITIONAL FEATURES: USB port for firmware updates, pine cabinet, 2-button footswitch for reverb/tremolo and dust cover included
- DIMENSIONS: 613 x 432 x 236mm
- WEIGHT: 10kg/23lb
Simple, versatile, great-sounding and portable – the new benchmark for digital modelling amps
Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb – 9/10:
- PRICE: £999
- DESCRIPTION: 2-channel modelling combo with reverb and tremolo
- POWER: 200W into 4-ohms
- SPEAKER: 2×12” Jensen N-12K neodymium
- FRONT PANEL: Normal channel: 2x instrument input, bright switch, volume, treble, middle, bass. Vibrato channel: 2x instrument input, bright switch, volume, treble, middle, bass, reverb, speed, intensity
- REAR PANEL: 1x footswitch input, 1x IR emulated XLR line out, ground switch, balanced line out level control, 3-position cabinet emulation switch, 6-position output power selector, mute switch (XLR out remains active), power switch
- ADDITIONAL FEATURES: USB port for firmware updates, pine cabinet, 2-button footswitch for reverb/tremolo and dust cover included
- DIMENSIONS: 676 x 514 x 263mm
- WEIGHT: 15kg/33lb
With expanded EQ and enough spread for any stage, we’d take this on the road in a heartbeat
Best Fender Tone Master Models
Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb:
- Blackstar Silverline Standard – £369
- Line 6 Spider V60 MkII – £259
- Boss Katana 50 MKII – £237
Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb:
- Marshall Code100 – £349
- Boss Katana 100/212 MKII – £439
- Blackstar Silverline Stereo Deluxe – £749
The Final Verdict
These amps are great for showing how the technology of today is capable of producing sound like that of a valve amp. The sound quality is so good these days there’s not much difference between the two. In most cases, you can’t really tell the difference between a Fender amp that we restored and an original, but in a live band mix, there’s probably no way you could tell.
They are another viable option in the world of digital modeling: it might be simple, but still credible. Perhaps Fender have a peeked at the future, with only a few valve factories still in production worldwide. However, it is clear that the declining affordability and accessibility of digital stuff might not be spared by this trend.
Some control over personaltaste parameters would be useful. As it stands, you’re getting a fixed ‘idealised’ version, when the originals could be tweaked under the hood.
Comparing the combos to valve versions isn’t easy. They both provide a lot of value, but there are other amps that do more for less. If you’re looking for the sound of a black-panel Deluxe or Twin Reverb but prefer something lighter, these are worth checking out.
FAQ for Fender Tone Master Gguitar Amplifier
What is the Fender Tone Master guitar amplifier?
The Fender Tone Master guitar amplifier is a tube amp that has been designed to produce clean and crisp tones. It has a powerful 15-watt amp with a single 12″ speaker.
The Tone Master amp is an affordable option for beginners and seasoned professionals alike. It can be used in both small venues as well as large concert halls, because it offers clean and crisp sound at any volume.
How does the Fender Tone Master amp work?
The Fender Tone Master amp is a guitar amplifier with four channels. It can be used for both recording and live performances. The Tone Master has two different modes, Normal and Drive. In the Normal mode, the amp is clean and in the Drive mode, it has a more distorted sound.
The Tone Master has two modes: Normal and Drive. The Normal mode is clean while the Drive mode gives a more distorted sound.
What is the price for Fender Tone Master?
The Fender Toner Master is a guitar amp that comes with all the features of a great amplifier. It has the ability to produce sound in a variety of styles, from clean to overdrive and everything in between. The price for Fender Tone Master is $499.
What is the difference between Fender Tone Master and other amps?
Fender Tone Master is a tube amp that has been designed to help you find the perfect sound for your music.
The Fender Tone Master offers two channels with independent tone controls, so you can dial in your perfect sound. It also offers a headphone jack and an auxiliary input, so you can jam along with your favorite tunes.
The Fender Tone Master is a versatile amp that can be used for everything from country to rock to jazz, and it has the power to cover any stage or venue.
How can I use Fender Tone Master to make my guitar sound better?
Fender Tone Master is a free app that you can use to make your guitar sound better. It has a lot of effects and presets for you to choose from. You can also create your own presets with the app.
The app is available on both iOS and Android devices.
What are the features of Fender Tone Master amp?
Fender Tone Master amp is a great sounding amp with a variety of features.
Here are some of the features:
- The amp contains 3 channels, so you can switch between clean, crunch and lead.
- The Fender Tone Master amp has a built in effects loop that can be used to add more effects to your sound.
- It also has an XLR DI output for direct recording into any DAW or console.
- It has an easy to read LED display which shows the volume level and other important information like the channel and drive level.
Is the Fender Tone Master amplifier suitable for a beginner guitarist?
The Fender Tone Master is a great amplifier for beginners. It is an affordable and reliable choice for guitarists of all levels.
It has two channels, so you can easily switch between clean and lead sounds with the flip of a switch. The clean channel has a bright and punchy tone that is perfect for blues, jazz, or country music. The lead channel features high-gain distortion that will work well with heavy metal or rock music.
The Fender Tone Master also features built-in reverb and tremolo effects to add depth to your sound. There are also two speaker outputs so you can take it on the road with your band mates or just plug in headphones to practice at home without disturbing anybody else in the house!