Fender Deluxe Reverb Tone Master

[Dave Kirk]

Since my open heart surgery, I have to be careful about lifting anything too heavy for a while, I've just started playing again, and just for an experiment, I decided to take my Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb along to a rehearsal with a local band I am sitting in with next week, just because it is so light weight.
I changed the stock speaker, and popped in a Teconic's just in case the original didn't suit steel.
I was astounded by the overall sound and surprising volume obtained from a 22watt amp, there was no breakup at higher volumes plus I only had the amp set at volume no 5.
I am am very tempted to use it at the live Gig next week, although I am bound to take my Evans EH200 and 15" Black Widow speaker for safety backup.
Has anyone tried these new Tone Master amps, I believe our very own Derek Thurlby has the twin version but not sure if he has tried it with steel, I will have to ask him.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Dave while you are in recovery mode you are welcome to borrow my student model Emmons for a month or two, it is the lightest S10 you could ever play 3 and 4 and plays and sounds like an Emmons has chrome ally adjustable legs and is very stable.
Just a thought if it helps.

[Dave Kirk]

Cheers John, it is so kind and thoughtful of you to offer and normally I would take you up on the chance, but I don't have that many gigs at the moment, plus one of my grandsons loads and unloads my gear into the car and helps set it up for me, so all I have to do is sit under it and play. he is a big tough lad at well over 6 foot with muscles like a gorilla and enjoys helping. I am tempted to tell him I can't manage to lift the steel for a few years and then I can feel like a proper star who just walks on stage to find his equipment already set up for him.
Thanks again for the offer mate you are the best.
Cheers

[dessa]

Hi Dave. I need your roadie! I have used the Tonemaster twin successfully but favour the Quilter Mach 3 combo with a bn-300 speaker. Wish I had kept the Telonics 12 though. Keep well buddy.

[jonshack]

Hi Dave, I got a great deal on a secondhand TMDR and have been using it regularly in small theatres and pubs for about 18 months. For me it’s rarely loud enough to use without lining out/monitoring for a bit extra but I haven’t found that to be a problem. The xlr out with cab/mic sim sounds very good although the tone from the cabinet itself is slightly better to my ears. I’m really happy with the stock speaker (I’d be interested to try the Telonics of course), and the weight (or lack of) is a joy. I have looked enviously at the Twin version in music shops but the extra weight would seriously ruin the fun.

I’ve gigged with an amp simulator pedal before but I still prefer having a great looking Fender combo amp right there giving me my main sound and being able to tweak the tone and reverb for each song. I find reverb in the amp works better in combination with a delay pedal than it does having both as pedals. The reverb on the Tonemaster sounds really good since the firmware update last year. I use the vibrato/trem on one song and that sounds awesome too.

I have a 70’s Fender Vibrosonic Reverb and the TM Deluxe compares really well in the tone and volume stakes, especially for E9, maybe not so much for C6th where a 15” speaker comes into its own. I must say I haven’t gigged with the Vibrosonic since getting the Tonemaster - I play both necks for some gigs and haven’t missed the 15. Or valves. I slightly miss the mid control.

I tend to play on the back end of the volume pedal with the gain on 7 or 8 and I don’t have any problem with break up. At that gain setting any noisy pedals are very apparent and the beefier Twin would be a better choice for some people.

Being able to practice with the amp on 0.5w is fantastic. I’d like to be able to have more firmware options or software tweaks and another 100 watts would be nice(!) but otherwise I find the TMDR to be a great gigging amp so long as you are prepared to line out or mic the cab. Let us know how your gig goes!

[Dave Kirk]

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Morning Jon
Many thanks for the info, my gig is tonight, it is in a barn just sitting in with a duo so shouldn't be too loud, I am feeling a bit chicken about volume so intend taking my Evans EH 200 head and 1x15" Black Widow for standby safety. I have been asked to play a bit of Telecaster as well so could always try the left channel of the Fender for that play safe and just use the whole amp for guitar only.
I'll let you know how it went.
Mind you I've always got this amp if need be, I had a cab made to fit in with a 50s band I played with to look authentic, but then left the band and never did use it, I might part company with it as Carol is always giving me stick for having too much gear in our spare room.
Kindest Regards
Dave

[Uncle Roy]

Good luck with your gig tonight Dave mate, just take it easy now.

[Dave Kirk]

Gig went well last night, the little 22 watt Amp performed very well indeed, I had plenty of volume and didn't need to mic up at all,
Played a bit of Telecaster through the left channel, just used a Boss RV3 pedal for effect as that channel is dry.
Amp produced a good tone, I found I only needed the treble on number 1 to still cut through.
I will use definitely use it again.

[jonshack]

Glad it worked out Dave. Yes I normally have the treble very low or off, depending on the room and the bass on about 7.