Twin Reverb Tone Master

Dave Harmonson · Post by **Dave Harmonson** » 4 Apr 2020 11:03 am

Anybody using the Fender Twin Reverb Tone Master amp? Does it really compare to the real thing?

Gene Tani · Post by **Gene Tani** » 4 Apr 2020 11:09 am

I'm leery of "real tube tone with no tubes" but a lot of players love them. Also been trying out a couple preamps with 12ax7, 5751, 12at7.. Also was gong to drag a PSG to GC but they're all closed so

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=349441

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=353435

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=354810

George Macdonald · Post by **George Macdonald** » 4 Apr 2020 12:26 pm

I picked one up near the end of Dec. In my opinion, it is "the real thing". It's just lost weight. ha

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 4 Apr 2020 1:35 pm

I'm using one and it's really really good. I have 2 original Twin Reverbs and a Deluxe Reverb to compare by. Not just the weight but it has that sound. I'm very pleased with mine. The mids have to be maxed with bass and treble around 3.5.

Dave Campbell · Post by **Dave Campbell** » 4 Apr 2020 1:37 pm

i love mine. have you ever had a gig on a twin where you could really get it humming and it sounds magical? i don't think the tonemaster is quite 100% there, but it's close. have you ever practiced at home with a twin and had it on 1 and it sounds terrible? that's where the tonemaster shines. because of the built in attenuator, the tonemaster sounds fender twin good at every volume from full out outdoor stage to backing a vocalist to practicing late at night. also, it has some great IR outs that make getting a good (and quick) recording sound a breeze.

if i had to fault it, i find the reverb not very usable (too washy) and the speakers have a little bit of that neo speaker vibe, but not nearly as much as a lot of other amps.

most places will sell you one with a money back return. go for it.

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 4 Apr 2020 2:58 pm

Not currently in the market--I have several steel amps (including a Twin Reverb Custom 15 and a Milkman Half & Half) that do very well,but if Fender built a big-box Tone-Master Twin with a 15" I might consider my arm sufficiently twisted!

George Macdonald · Post by **George Macdonald** » 4 Apr 2020 4:27 pm

Just to expand on my earlier comment about the new Fender Tone Master twin. Over 40 years ago I had two different Fender Twins with 12" JBLs. They were considered about the best you could do for a steel guitar amp in those days, and I really liked mine, except for the 90 lbs. About mid 70's I switched to a Peavey LTD 400 with a 15" JBL and eventually sold my Twin. Since then I have had mostly Peaveys including a Nashville 1000 and a Nashville 112 that I still own. I've also had amp heads with cabs with 15" premium speakers.

In Dec. I brought home a new Fender Tone Master Twin from our local dealer with the intension of trying it for a few days and then returning it to the store. My wife wasn't too thrilled about "another amp" in the house, but when I played through it for a few minutes she said "don't take that amp back" it sounds great. Now, does it sound exactly the same as my 90 lb amp with JBLs? Probably not, but to me, at my age, a heavy amp is out of the question and this twin sounds wonderful, and weighs 10 lbs less then my Nashville 112. Most chain music stores have a generous return policy, what have you got to lose? Yes, it is a big amp, but very manageable at 33 pounds.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 4 Apr 2020 5:27 pm

George, I have the Twin 135 watt with JBLs. 90lbs sounds about right. Great amp that will no longer come out of the basement. Tonemaster Twin is just right.

Dave Harmonson · Post by **Dave Harmonson** » 4 Apr 2020 6:12 pm

Thanks for all the replies. My favorite amp is my Vibrosonic but my back hates it. For the next month of two Iâ€™m probably not playing anywhere but my living room so thereâ€™s no rush. I did pick up a â€˜66 Showman head to drive my 15â€ Sica Neo awhile back and had it out before we got shutdown. The Showman is still pretty heavy but no tv no line the Vibrosonic combo.

Steve Spitz · Post by **Steve Spitz** » 5 Apr 2020 6:49 pm

Iâ€™ve got a tonemaster twin and a blackface twin with a JBL 15.
The Tonemaster sounds really good to me. I donâ€™t think Iâ€™ll be hauling the tube twin again.
Iâ€™m really happy with it.

Kenneth Kotsay · Post by **Kenneth Kotsay** » 8 Apr 2020 12:22 pm

Got one, it's an amazing amp, not much weight to it, sound great to my ears.
Ken

Joe Davies · Post by **Joe Davies** » 28 Apr 2020 3:02 pm

I have the Tonemaster twin also. I like everything about it but the reverb and tremolo. I use a Strymon Flint for reverb and tremolo and a carbon copy delay.

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 28 Apr 2020 4:44 pm

I really like mine for everything, from quiet practice to bar gig.
The way things are looking, Iâ€™m glad I like it so much for practice!
Iâ€™ve got it set on 1 watt for practice in my living room right now, and itâ€™s inspiring to play thru.

I did find that the bright switch works really well with several of my laps, but with my Zum,
Encore I like the bright off.

Steve Lipsey · Post by **Steve Lipsey** » 28 Apr 2020 6:14 pm

I have a formula - your amp should weigh no more than (100-your age)...at age 30, I had an original Twin (1966, bought new)...then gradually migrated through Milkman, from Pedal Steel Amp, to Pedal Steel Mini, to Half and Half, and finally to the "The Amp", 2 lbs, on my pedal board, and good till I'm 98 years old...and really? It sounds just fine!
Probably similar to the tonemaster, just knowing how Tim approaches amp design...

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 29 Apr 2020 7:40 am

Brooks Montgomery wrote:I really like mine for everything, from quiet practice to bar gig.
The way things are looking, Iâ€™m glad I like it so much for practice!
Iâ€™ve got it set on 1 watt for practice in my living room right now, and itâ€™s inspiring to play thru.

I did find that the bright switch works really well with several of my laps, but with my Zum,
Encore I like the bright off.

I should add, I don't seem to miss my pedal board at all with this amp. I like the onboard 'verb.

For getting a little more growl than the attenuator can accomplish, for blues and rock-type lap steel, the one pedal that I'm smitten with lately is the little tiny Hotone Grass that somebody here recommended a year or more ago. Of all my different dust-collecting overdrives and blues pedals, it really does seem to have a good Dumble sound when paired with the Twin TM.

Anybody else find any sweet spots, adjustments, pedals etc.?