Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb and Deluxe Reverb

**rolijen** · 05-08-2023, 03:21 PM

I like B for its clarity. C for its roundness. A is a little muffled.

**Woodstove** · 05-08-2023, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by rolijen

I like B for its clarity. C for its roundness. A is a little muffled.

It may not be a factor but A was slightly softer. I didn't match B or C exactly. Here's A outputted to an MP3 a bit louder.

Dropbox - A louder.mp3 - Simplify your life

**Woodstove** · 05-09-2023, 05:41 PM

I'll hold off disclosing which amps are which....but....
I didn't have the time to really dig in till today, I was preparing for a performance done on Sunday night and sleeping it off yesterday other than doing that test. I played them both for hours today, and well, a guy can change his mind. The Twin sounds better to me. It's more detailed and cleaner even at volume settings of 3. I really wanted to pick the deluxe, which is sonically very good but I really wanted the size and that was biasing me. The Twin is light enough to trade the extra effort for a tone I prefer. Another factor is I used to play some peddle steel, like 30 years ago and still have it. My wife has convinced me to get it out and I know at least I'll be getting a steel player in for recording. The Twin is an ideal amp for a peddle steel. I also have a tube preamp peddle coming that rather than distorting gives beautiful clean tones ala the steel string singer and I think it will pair better with the twin which won't break up when pushed. oh what the heck A=Deluxe, B=ODR, C=Twin. I agree it's "rounder".....Peter

**nevershouldhavesoldit** · 05-09-2023, 06:21 PM

Very interesting! I thought A was a bit flat and lifeless. B was too bright and lacked body, and C was the best balanced (especially for jazz on an archtop). I could live with A if I had to, but C would be my clear choice all other things being equal. Did I overlook your telling us which guitar was used for this comparison?

**wintermoon** · 05-09-2023, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by Woodstove

I'll hold off disclosing which amps are which....but....
I didn't have the time to really dig in till today, I was preparing for a performance done on Sunday night and sleeping it off yesterday other than doing that test. I played them both for hours today, and well, a guy can change his mind. The Twin sounds better to me. It's more detailed and cleaner even at volume settings of 3. I really wanted to pick the deluxe, which is sonically very good but I really wanted the size and that was biasing me. The Twin is light enough to trade the extra effort for a tone I prefer. Another factor is I used to play some peddle steel, like 30 years ago and still have it. My wife has convinced me to get it out and I know at least I'll be getting a steel player in for recording. The Twin is an ideal amp for a peddle steel. I also have a tube preamp peddle coming that rather than distorting gives beautiful clean tones ala the steel string singer and I think it will pair better with the twin which won't break up when pushed. oh what the heck A=Deluxe, B=ODR, C=Twin. I agree it's "rounder".....Peter

a Vibrolux Reverb is a happy medium, more headroom than a DR less weight than a TR

**Woodstove** · 05-09-2023, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit

Very interesting! I thought A was a bit flat and lifeless. B was too bright and lacked body, and C was the best balanced (especially for jazz on an archtop). I could live with A if I had to, but C would be my clear choice all other things being equal. Did I overlook your telling us which guitar was used for this comparison?

Telecaster with TI flat wound 0.12s. I can get a much better jazz sound out of the overdrive reverb than you heard, I just didn't have the energy to dial it in rather concentrating on matching the twin and deluxe settings with each other. Of note, in general the deluxe was a bit louder both through its speakers and hotter in the sim outputs when set equally to the twin needing adjustment to match them.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 05-09-2023, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

a Vibrolux Reverb is a happy medium, more headroom than a DR less weight than a TR

The Tome Master Twin Reverb only weighs 33lb, which is less than a Vibrolux Reverb!

**kevmoga** · 05-10-2023, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

The Tome Master Twin Reverb only weighs 33lb, which is less than a Vibrolux Reverb!

If only they would make a Tonemaster Vibrolux!

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 05-10-2023, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by kevmoga

If only they would make a Tonemaster Vibrolux!

How about a Tone Master X head? The first knob lets you choose Champ, Princeton, Deluxe, Vibrolux, Super, Twin...

**mr. beaumont** · 05-10-2023, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

How about a Tone Master X head? The first knob lets you choose Champ, Princeton, Deluxe, Vibrolux, Super, Twin...

I'd be first in line.

**John A.** · 05-10-2023, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

How about a Tone Master X head? The first knob lets you choose Champ, Princeton, Deluxe, Vibrolux, Super, Twin...

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I'd be first in line.

They've been making that for ages -- that's what the Super Champ, Champion, and Mustang Series all are. The Tonemasters are an astonishing bit of marketing -- they put the software Fender has had for years into a box that looks like the real thing, limit it to one model per box, and sell it for 5 times what the more flexible non-look-alikes cost. Granted, the box (and speakers) actually matter when it comes to emulating a vintage amp accurately, and the Tonemasters do sound more authentic than those other series. But it's quite a trick.

**mr. beaumont** · 05-10-2023, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by John A.

They've been making that for ages -- that's what the Super Champ, Champion, and Mustang Series all are. The Tonemasters are an astonishing bit of marketing -- they put the software Fender has had for years into a box that looks like the real thing, limit it to one model per box, and sell it for 5 times what the more flexible non-look-alikes cost. Granted, the box (and speakers) actually matter when it comes to emulating a vintage amp accurately, and the Tonemasters do sound more authentic than those other series. But it's quite a trick.

Do they make a "head" version?

**Woodstove** · 05-10-2023, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Do they make a "head" version?

Nope. And to the point of selling multiple modeling amps....I'm seriously considering keeping the DRTM as well. If I send it back I pay for shipping both ways which was free coming to me. So that's like $100. I can say the DR is costing $850 instead of $950!! Oh take pity. But the reason it's tempting is exactly because its a combo amp not a head and the grab and go nature of the deluxe is very attractive. Plus it is a great blues amp when dirt is a feature not a bug. BTW one reason to go with the Twin is to be a keyboard amp. For 50 years I've been a pro keyboardist and just got a new gig for this. Electric guitar is a (very) late life passion like as of 6 months ago. I've played acoustic for singer songwriting forever though.

**John A.** · 05-10-2023, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Do they make a "head" version?

They made a head version of the Super Champ (not sure if they still do). Not the others, I think.

**Woodstove** · 05-15-2023, 06:58 PM

Ok, just for fun and giggles. Here's another take. Played on an arch top (L4C with DeArmond) through Amp D. Besides a different guitar I'm playing more
fluidly having learned my own song but I'm putting this up cause it's through the Deluxe with a gizmo in front. If anyone wants to hear what gizmo, ask!

Dropbox - Sometimes When We Dream D.mp3 - Simplify your life