Tonemaster hankering (now successfully hankered)

TimmyO

I have an idle hankering for a Fender Tonemaster

I’m over valve amps (medically, carrying heavy things is not something I can do any more)

I have semi-realistic thoughts of playing out (just jams) in future - main barrier being time.

I like my AMP1 and Neo cab but just have a general hankering for something in a more traditional format that won’t continually be tempting me to faff with midi or multiple channels. 

My preferred way of playing is riding the volume to go between clean and gritty, and pedal for something more obviously ‘lead’

Which models would you be leaning toward, or trying out in store? 

bermudianbrit

The DR blond. Great speaker, light, loud enough. I have one and its a great thing.

Jalapeno

Princeton, with a pine rather than MDF cab and a neo speaker for your delectation - give Rift a call ...

stickyfiddle

I absolutely love my DR. I have the regular black one and it kicks ass. Easy one hand carry, attenuation is great, and the DI out is an absolute boon for gigging

Littlejonny

Those of you who have these - how do they compare to your valve amps?

chrisj1602

I’ve had a DR and I am now a very happy Princeton owner. I think they’re great amps. They’re versatile for different situations, they sound good and take pedals well.

stickyfiddle

Littlejonny said:

Those of you who have these - how do they compare to your valve amps?

For me, pretty damn close. I’m certain it doesn’t sound identical to a valve DR, but it’s close enough in a mix and the other benefits far outweigh any downside. 

If I had a detached house or studio and never needed to move it I’d probably choose a valve one but I don’t so I don’t!

HAL9000

TimmyO said:.

I...  ...have a general hankering for something in a more traditional format that won’t continually be tempting me to faff with midi or multiple channels. 

My preferred way of playing is riding the volume to go between clean and gritty, and pedal for something more obviously ‘lead’

^ This is me. However, rather than going down the ToneMaster route I’ve recently ordered a (yet to arrive) Award-Session 5E3 Extra. It’s essentially a three-knob analogue solid-state amp - tone, volume, and master so no faffing necessary. I tried one out recently at a local blues jam and was impressed enough to place an order when I got home.

Barquentine

Maybe look at a Quilter Cub. I love mine. 

Teyeplayer

stickyfiddle said:

I absolutely love my DR. I have the regular black one and it kicks ass. Easy one hand carry, attenuation is great, and the DI out is an absolute boon for gigging

This has been my experience, it’s a great bit of kit. I’m not going to pretend I’m not gassing for something else so have it up for trade right now, but I know from a rational perspective (because gas is never rational) that it is very hard to beat.

dazzajl

I would say Princeton if you’re thinking of jams without a drummer. It’s small, gorgeous and has the nicest breakup of the three types I’ve played. If you need more volume, then the DR is your fella. Black wrapped is my personal preference but the Blond is very popular. 

Wazmeister

bermudianbrit said:

The DR blond. Great speaker, light, loud enough. I have one and its a great thing.

This - 100%.

jellybelly

Love mine. Is it the best amp, tone wise, I've ever owned? Nope, not miles off though. But it's by far the easiest amp I've ever owned to live with. 

TimmyO

HAL9000 said:

TimmyO said:.

I...  ...have a general hankering for something in a more traditional format that won’t continually be tempting me to faff with midi or multiple channels. 

My preferred way of playing is riding the volume to go between clean and gritty, and pedal for something more obviously ‘lead’

^ This is me. However, rather than going down the ToneMaster route I’ve recently ordered a (yet to arrive) Award-Session 5E3 Extra. It’s essentially a three-knob analogue solid-state amp - tone, volume, and master so no faffing necessary. I tried one out recently at a local blues jam and was impressed enough to place an order when I got home.

I had a look at the website yesterday - sounds very interesting - I’d want to be able to play one before it turned my head though 

johnhe

I still own a Vibrolux, a Blues Deluxe, an Origin 20 and a Pro Jnr. I really like them all. But the amp I use now, both at gigs and at home is a Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb. 

Teyeplayer

That’s high praise @johnhe, some nice amps there.

Gassage

This is the ONLY Tonemaster I hanker after....
One of Fender's finest ever.

ICBM

Gassage said:

This is the ONLY Tonemaster I hanker after....
One of Fender's finest ever.

Unfortunately it’s one of the few amps I’ve ever played that really does need to be turned up properly loud to really release the magic. At low volumes it’s a bit lacklustre, even on the clean channel, and the ‘dirt channel’ sounds actively poor.

But when I finally got the chance to play one at full stage volume, I realised that it’s not really meant as a preamp-distortion channel-switcher - it’s more like a big non-MV amp with a *boost* channel. It sounded like the voice of god…

Unfortunately after about five minutes an irate woman appeared and asked/told me to stop! (Owner’s wife rather than mine, or I’d probably have just ignored her .)

Gassage

ICBM said:

Gassage said:

This is the ONLY Tonemaster I hanker after....
One of Fender's finest ever.

Unfortunately it’s one of the few amps I’ve ever played that really does need to be turned up properly loud to really release the magic. At low volumes it’s a bit lacklustre, even on the clean channel, and the ‘dirt channel’ sounds actively poor.

But when I finally got the chance to play one at full stage volume, I realised that it’s not really meant as a preamp-distortion channel-switcher - it’s more like a big non-MV amp with a *boost* channel. It sounded like the voice of god…

Unfortunately after about five minutes an irate woman appeared and asked/told me to stop! (Owner’s wife rather than mine, or I’d probably have just ignored her .)

Absolutely agree. A force of nature cranked into a 4 x 12- literally how I imagine Attila the Hun to summon his hounds.

Insanely loud, insanely powerful. Sambora sounded like God through one (well 4 of them)

TimmyO

I’ve gone a bit demo-blind lol. 

The TMDR is probably a safe bet. But Blonde or regular? 

dazzajl

I think the regular model is the sound I have in my head for a DR. The very scooped, deep, bright and warm Fender thing. The Blond seems to be the preferred choice on here though, suggesting most are indeed ‘Gentlemen’