A Fender Princeton Tonemaster arrived today.

[Jim Soloway]

A pre-owned but almost never used Princeton Tonemaster arrived today. It really does appear to be brand new, including a cover that was never even opened.

Two things struck me as almost eerie. The first was just pulling it from the box. I knew what it weighed so for no reason at all, I expected it to be smalled than a standard Princeton but the size is very Princeton like. At a hair under 20 lbs, I felt like I was pulling an empty cab from the box.

The second was that at least to my ear and my playing style, it sounded just like I expect a Princeton Reverb to sound. The Princeton Reverb is pretty much the standard by which I judge every amp and I didn't really expect it to be this close. Well done Fender.

The only negative I found was that I didn't think much of the attenuator. Maybe it's useful for people who want to play at or beyond the breakup point but as clean as I play, I was able to get a lovely low volume sound without touching the power level.

[Navdeep_Singh]

It’s a great amp. Congrats! I still have my FTM Princeton. I’m certainly no expert at all, From all the Fender amps I have tried, the Princeton Reverb appears to me to be the best “Jazz” amp. I like it better than the traditional jazz amp conventional tradition (Polytone to Henriksen).

[Doctor Jeff]

I played a TM Deluxe Reverb yesterday. Really liked it. Basically they put everything I could need or want in one box.

I’m sure the Princeton is just as good.

I can’t quite justify getting one right now. I’ve got a couple of amps including a SCXD that take care of all my needs.

But for “one amp to rule them all”—the Tonemasters make a good case.

[pingu]

congrats !

you’ll sound good on that

[lawson-stone]

Congratulations on the TMPR! I still love my Tone Master Twin Reverb, and with that much power, the attenuator really is wonderful.

[Michael Neverisky]

I put an excellent condition used Tone Master Princeton Reverb in my online cart at the big box guitar store one morning last week. But when I came back later, someone beat me to it. Hm... I wandered into my local Mom & Pop store on Thursday and found a TMPR on the receiving dock, still in it's shipping carton. My sad tale earned me a 15% discount and I brought the amp home. So, thanks Jim! Or whomever it was.

I like it.

I was there to buy a new Telecaster and giving serious consideration to a Princeton '68 Custom reissue whose tone I may prefer but my back preferred the weight of the Tone Master which works very well with the Tele.

[Jim Soloway]

I put an excellent condition used Tone Master Princeton Reverb in my online cart at the big box guitar store one morning last week. But when I came back later, someone beat me to it. Hm... I wandered into my local Mom & Pop store on Thursday and found a TMPR on the receiving dock, still in it's shipping carton. My sad tale earned me a 15% discount and I brought the amp home. So, thanks Jim! Or whomever it was.

I like it.

I was there to buy a new Telecaster and giving serious consideration to a Princeton '68 Custom reissue whose tone I may prefer but my back preferred the weight of the Tone Master which works very well with the Tele.

Not me. I bought mine on the Guitars Canada forum from a member Vancouver. I'm playing it right now and I love the low volume tone.

[skiboyny]

A pre-owned but almost never used Princeton Tonemaster arrived today. It really does appear to be brand new, including a cover that was never even opened.

Two things struck me as almost eerie. The first was just pulling it from the box. I knew what it weighed so for no reason at all, I expected it to be smalled than a standard Princeton but the size is very Princeton like. At a hair under 20 lbs, I felt like I was pulling an empty cab from the box.

The second was that at least to my ear and my playing style, it sounded just like I expect a Princeton Reverb to sound. The Princeton Reverb is pretty much the standard by which I judge every amp and I didn't really expect it to be this close. Well done Fender.

The only negative I found was that I didn't think much of the attenuator. Maybe it's useful for people who want to play at or beyond the breakup point but as clean as I play, I was able to get a lovely low volume sound without touching the power level.

Do you think it reproduces the dimension of the tube model? Solid state always seems a bit "flat" to me as compared. Never played one and recordings don't express that aspect.

[Jim Soloway]

Do you think it reproduces the dimension of the tube model? Solid state always seems a bit "flat" to me as compared. Never played one and recordings don't express that aspect.

I do, especially at the moderate volume levels that I play at. Some of it comes just from the open back cabinet design and that's the same as the tube version. Put it about 6 inches from the wall and the sound bounces all over the room. The 10" speaker also helps with the wider spread. I definitely find myself smiling and drifting while I play through this one, both very good signs.

[cpunivox]

Hi, Jim! I have noticed on this forum that you are a fan of the DV Mark Little Jazz. Wondering how your new PRTM compares in terms of tone, volume (clean), etc.? I have the LJ but am always curious. Or maybe they just do different things? Thanks!

[Jim Soloway]

Hi, Jim! I have noticed on this forum that you are a fan of the DV Mark Little Jazz. Wondering how your new PRTM compares in terms of tone, volume (clean), etc.? I have the LJ but am always curious. Or maybe they just do different things? Thanks!

VERY different amps. The Princeton Tonemaster has very much a classic Fender sound with the prominent mid range scoop and Fender style trem and reverb. The Little Jazz is warmer and fuller and much less tube like. So they both have value but they do produce different results. Ironically, after a life time of using Fender based sounds with trem and verb I started moving away from that sound this year and moving towards a much more neutral sound.

[entresz]

I have a Tonemaster Deluxe. I have minimal interest in modelling amps etc. which is why the Tonemaster amps are so appealing to me; they behave very much like the 'real' thing and present no learning curve if you're used to using traditional Fender amps.

The only thing I did was update the firmware to remove the simulated bright cap on the vibrato channel.

The 'attenuator' on the more extreme settings starts to sound a little odd. For most of my gigs I use it on the 12 or 5 watt setting and it sounds great. I can some slight breakup at sensible volumes that way.