Fender Tone Master Pro: Episode IV - A New Hope

[Frodebro]

It feels like they’re shooting for the boomer custom shop relic buyer who only buys Fender branded stuff and would otherwise never buy any digital modeler. Plenty of disposable income, and just barely feels comfortable enough to dip their toes into modeling if Fender does it and makes it super easy to use. Seems like there is very little overlap between TMP buyers and Helix buyers, except maybe on these forums where people discuss digital modeling.

They’re definitely taking the low risk route, but traditionally Fender and Gibson have fared rather poorly when it comes to products that move too far away from their classic stuff. I would guesstimate that 90% of the sales for both companies is to designs that are at least 60 years old.

 

[DrewJD82]

I haven’t seen them sway from their original word about updates and the fact they publish their task list of known issues is great communication, IMO, letting people know “Yep, we’re aware of the issue and it’s on our list”, rather than sending a bug report into the void and hoping it gets resolved at some point.

And whether or not TGF’ers see it as competition to Fractal/Line 6/NDSP, it certainly is in the eyes of those who would purchase one, which means it’s likely the owners of the above companies see it that way as well, which is good for us all.

 

[KingsXJJ]

They’re definitely taking the low risk route, but traditionally Fender and Gibson have fared rather poorly when it comes to products that move too far away from their classic stuff. I would guesstimate that 90% of the sales for both companies is to designs that are at least 60 years old.

Maybe Marshall too? Except for the headphones and speakers stuff.

 

[KingsXJJ]

I’d love to give the TMP a go if I were in the market for a new unit. I just can’t justify it right now. I have zero Fender guitars right now but the four amps I have, I really enjoy. Especially as dirt pedal platforms.

 

[Frodebro]

Maybe Marshall too? Except for the headphones and speakers stuff.

Not quite to the same degree, the JMP-1 and JVM have been hugely popular. But there is still a strong love for the earlier stuff.

 

[Dez]

Not quite to the same degree, the JMP-1 and JVM have been hugely popular. But there is still a strong love for the earlier stuff.

I GAS for a JVM every day

 

[Frodebro]

I GAS for a JVM every day

I have a 205c 2x12 combo. It’s a beast, but it weighs a fucking ton. Marshall actually installed 4x12-style side handles on the fuckers.

 

[Dez]

I have a 205c 2x12 combo. It’s a beast, but it weighs a fucking ton. Marshall actually installed 4x12-style side handles on the fuckers.

I want the 205h specifically!

 

[Frodebro]

I want the 205h specifically!

I have kept an eye out for a decent used 410H, but it’s absolutely not a necessity. I do have 1960 A&B cabs that would fit nicely under it, they’re currently paired with a JMP-1/9100.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Not quite to the same degree, the JMP-1 and JVM have been hugely popular. But there is still a strong love for the earlier stuff.

Well, I do have a JVM LOL! So you are right about that. I’d like to see a modern JMP-1. Nostalgic for rack gear preamps.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Fwiw, the TMP is the only of these kinda units with two analog loops. I always thought of that as being most excellent, but it seems to get very little praise.

 

[metropolis_4]

They’re definitely taking the low risk route, but traditionally Fender and Gibson have fared rather poorly when it comes to products that move too far away from their classic stuff. I would guesstimate that 90% of the sales for both companies is to designs that are at least 60 years old.

Hot Rod amps would beg to differ with that statement

 

[Frodebro]

Hot Rod amps would beg to differ with that statement

You mean like the Hot Rod DELUXE?

 

[metropolis_4]

You mean like the Hot Rod DELUXE?

The whole Hot Rod series.

A Hot Rod amp has about as much in common with older Fenders as a JVM has with a ‘60s Plexi. Maybe even less

 

[spawnofthesith]

Vague non sequiter, I know the line gets dogged on a lot but having owned a couple deluxes, a deville, and a blues deluxe they are very serviceable and usable amps and are up for most tasks

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Vague non sequiter, I know the line gets dogged on a lot but having owned a couple deluxes, a deville, and a blues deluxe they are very serviceable and usable amps and are up for most tasks

I used to have a 2x12 Mike Landau deville and loved it. It's a really good sounding amp and really loud.

 

[metropolis_4]

Vague non sequiter, I know the line gets dogged on a lot but having owned a couple deluxes, a deville, and a blues deluxe they are very serviceable and usable amps and are up for most tasks

There’s a reason they’re probably the most ubiquitous amps of the last 30 years.

They’re not sexy, but they’re solid dependable workhorses that sound great

 

[spawnofthesith]

Maybe the hate comes from the dirt channels? Idk I pretty much always ignored those and never even attempted to work with them

For all I know maybe there’s something there too though

 

[metropolis_4]

Maybe the hate comes from the dirt channels? Idk I pretty much always ignored those and never even attempted to work with them

For all I know maybe there’s something there too though

I think everyone ignores them, they’re… not great

They’ve improved them over the years, but they’re still not good. I don’t know why Fender dirt channels are always really grainy and weird textured

 

[KingsXJJ]

Fwiw, the TMP is the only of these kinda units with two analog loops. I always thought of that as being most excellent, but it seems to get very little praise.

That is very nice!