....because I plunked down for a TMP. No cap.
In all seriousness, someone here (and at TOP) was offloading theirs for a great price, and I wanted to try a different backup option to my FM9 than the HX Stomp I'd been using. Honestly, I'm still kinda searching for that Goldilocks unit in terms of size, sound quality and versatility. However much I clowned them in the past, they seem to have made some really good updates since, and another significant one is due in the near future.
Anyway, I got my first real time with it last night, so I'm going to document my experience with this with stream of consciousness notes for each day:
DAY ONE:
I'll try third-party IRs and back-to-back clips next. Might record some of the shootouts for fun too.
In all seriousness, someone here (and at TOP) was offloading theirs for a great price, and I wanted to try a different backup option to my FM9 than the HX Stomp I'd been using. Honestly, I'm still kinda searching for that Goldilocks unit in terms of size, sound quality and versatility. However much I clowned them in the past, they seem to have made some really good updates since, and another significant one is due in the near future.
Anyway, I got my first real time with it last night, so I'm going to document my experience with this with stream of consciousness notes for each day:
DAY ONE:
- It's a chonky boi version of the Quad Cortex, but I appreciated the heft because it made it feel way more rugged and reliable to me. The fit and finish is awesome, and the touchscreen is best-in-class in terms of both picture quality and responsiveness.
- Definitely the most intuitive top-tier modeler I've ever used. The only thing I couldn't work out for myself in under 60 seconds was how to see the newly-added Scenes. Still fuzzy on that.
- One of the reasons I moved the HX Stomp to the side was that I felt I always fighting to get the volume where I wanted it. It's a quieter unit by default, and I was hoping for some closer to the louder, more present sound of the FM9. Only half there - even with the main knob dimed, I felt the TMP was more inline with HX Stomp, BUT there are like five different volumes available on every patch, so you can get there, no problem.
- Presets are typically doing too much, but each was a few base amp and speaker tweaks from really good base tones. I actually like the onboard cabs, but I'm still finding the balance of too much fizz/presence on SM57s close mic'ed and too little top end when I switch it or any other mic to the "off-axis" option. I think letting them stay on-axis and then just using high cuts in the cab block works best. I haven't loaded any third-party IRs or presets yet.
- As a dedicated Fractal and Helix user....I think the amp sounds compete! The Marshalls and Mesas - whatever they were in the past - sound pretty realistic and respond realistically too. I haven't shot it out with the Fractal Plexis, JCM800s and Silver Jubilees, but first impressions were surprisingly good!
- Also amazed at how much great "ambient/Special FX" type stuff there was in the factory presets. I eat that stuff up and use it on FM9 and Helix all of the time. It could still use a dedicated synth block and a few more esoteric slicer/delay/stutter options, but what's in there now offers up a lot more than Quad Cortex. I think @stilwel is driving a lot of that, and I'm glad he's a key decision-maker the same way I'm glad that DI loves that stuff for Helix.
- Same for ambient reverbs and spring reverb. Not quite Fractal quality, but waaaaaaaaay better than Quad Cortex.
- Couldn't get the Android app to sync up with my unit, but apparently that's because the latest hotfix firmware hasn't been installed on the TMP. So basically, you HAVE to keep your TMP updated to the latest at all times because your phone will most certainly keep updating the Fender Control Pro app. Not sure I like that.
I'll try third-party IRs and back-to-back clips next. Might record some of the shootouts for fun too.
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