Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb Or Tone Master? – That Pedal Show
These two amps look almost identical, but on the inside they couldn’t be more different. Which one do we buy?
Life too short for long YouTube videos? Please see the ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ information below.
Welcome to the show. One of life’s more puzzling mysteries is why That Pedal Show does not have a blackface Fender Deluxe Reverb amp. Erm, yet. This 6V6-powered, 22-watt titan of tone has brought the electric guitar to life on countless stages and in countless studios since the mid-1960s. It is without question one of THE classic guitar amps of all time. Ever. So we thought it high time we acquired one. Credit card at the ready.
Hold your horses, Tiger. In 2019, Fender introduced the Tone Master series of amps, comprising a digital modelling Deluxe Reverb and Twin Reverb that, to the casual observer, look exactly like their valve-driven namesakes. Pick one up and you realise this isn’t the same thing at all. These relative featherweights require no hefty transformers and swap their ceramic speakers for neodymium. They are also considerably less expensive.
It had to be done. We got them both in, gave them a blast and put our money where our mouths are. Let’s do this!
Enjoy the episode!
ETHICS STATEMENT
We figure we may get some new viewers for this video so we’ll reiterate this about That Pedal Show.
We have never accepted, nor will ever accept, any payment for product placement, for making videos or for reviewing gear. We only play what we want to play and NOTHING else. TPS is funded via merch sales, Google ad revenue, Patreon donations and some retailer affiliate links. None of which influences our choice of gear, as you can hopefully tell by the stuff we use most.
When we buy gear, we are usually able to do so with a trade or artist discount that’s pretty consistent across the majority of manufacturers. We bought the ’65 Deluxe through Fender’s artist program, and very grateful we are too.
Thanks for reading!
Amps & pedals in this episode…
• Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/36fyCI1
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/jEQg0
• Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/2G9OnFJ
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/LvOGY
• Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2dRVXa2
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/5ey3N
• Boss BD-2w Waza Craft Blues Driver
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2DwcjzE
USA: https://bit.ly/3leezR7
Australia: https://bit.ly/3i1Jkp1
• Wampler Plexi Drive – links to mini version
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3HCqPUi
USA: https://bit.ly/3HxIuwa
Australia: https://bit.ly/3pWjY1N
• J Rockett Squeegee
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/36g7jNH
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/EnOXK
Australia: https://bit.ly/3kTUNrm
• Keeley Fuzz Bender
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/2GgiivU
USA: https://bit.ly/3HWmg8c
Australia: https://bit.ly/3n08pmF
• Boss CE-2w Waza Craft Chorus
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2fkq9tv
USA: https://bit.ly/30YiTN0
Australia: http://bit.ly/2iqp2rs
• Dunlop EP103 Echoplex Delay
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2cQsuNc
USA: https://bit.ly/3G6EUbJ
• TheGigRig G2
https://www.thegigrig.com/g2
* Why do we have preferred retailer links? Find out here: http://www.thatpedalshow.com/partners
Interesting bits and go-to sections…
– Intro playing: 00:00
– Today’s task and context?: 01:43
– Quiet, amp only at ’home?’: 04:43
– Back to the studio and more volume: 12:51
– Volume at 4.5 – are we overdriving yet?: 14:57
– Bit more volume…: 17:10
– No mid range pot: 18:45
– What about the TM attenuator?: 19:50
– Let’s listen to some pedals: 23:00
– Strat, Tube Screamer, Echoplex: 24:55
– Chorus, Blues Driver, Echoplex and more: 25:59
– What do we think so far?: 28:04
– Clean sounds, no pedals: 29:11
– What about the speaker? Let’s change it: 34:15
– Both amps into the same speaker, sounds: 35:40
– …and with Tube Screamer and Echoplex: 37:58
– Dan has a play, compressor and chorus: 40:33
– That’s the one we’ll buy: 43:24
– Reverb and tremolo? 45:07
– Why no amp settings or blindfold test?: 48:18
– Dan’s in love: 49:45
Guitars in this episode:
Gibson Custom True Historic ’57 Les Paul Goldtop, Murphy Aged – no video yet
• Fender Custom Shop ’52 Heavy Relic Telecaster – Dan’s video at http://bit.ly/2Hlpy5Y
• 1965 Fender Telecaster – no video yet
• Fender American Vintage ’62 Stratocaster – Mick’s video at http://bit.ly/2cQv3yT
• Fender John Mayer Signature Stratocaster – no video yet
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Please visit our preferred retailers!
UK & Europe: Andertons Music http://bit.ly/2cRvIvt
Australia: Pedal Empire http://bit.ly/2mWmJQf
USA: That Pedal Shop https://www.thatpedalshop.com/
#Fender #Deluxe #Reverb #Tone #Master #Pedal #Show
Originally posted by UCnUXq8mGmoHt0e6ItuTs10w at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoKs-X7I6zs
It's funny, coming back to this years later; I've got a Deluxe Tone Master that I retrofitted into a head, and it's one of the most versatile amp rigs I've got. It pairs super nicely with a '67 Bandmaster in stereo, holds it's own in band setting through a 1×12 cab, and if I'm playing a gig that requires no stage volume, the IRs through the line out are fantastic. Works incredibly well.
I do think a lot of the difference we're hearing here is from the speakers, not necessarily the amp itself. I've A/B'd it with a '65 reissue (also retrofitted into a head) into the same cab, and the only real difference I could hear was the reverb. Running them dry, they were almost indistinguishable, which is saying something.
Have you tried the blonde one? It's much better than the blackface due to the upgraded celestion speaker, plus it looks great.
dave simpson does a great unboxing and review of the tonemaster deluxe, it sounds brilliant ,especially with a les paul.
Its time for a v2 tonemaster. It should be even closer now with neural network profiling available
Mick: “I would never ever use an attenuator.” <flicks his Mesa Lonestar Special to 5w> Me: “Me neither” <flicks my Mesa Lonestar Special to…>
I like Dan's style of playing guitar. Real musician.
It's so addicting to watch these in order to figure out what you want, but so much goes into the choice. Your playing, your guitar, your gear, your use case. But here I am, trying to figure out which fender amp I want first. (coming from an ac15 guy)
That intro was ripping – I was thinking "man that sounds good, if that's the Tone Master, I'm going to have to re-evaluate my thoughts on solid state today"
I’ve been watching your vids for years and just realized I haven’t subscribed. Subscribed finally . lol.
The Tonemaster def a little "plastic" sounding, for lack of a better word — sounds more like a DI. Obviously the digital reverb doesn't help. (But even real springs aren't so great any more since accutronics moved to Asia the tone degraded noticably.) But I don't understand why they couldn't do a good spring emulation in the tonemaster since a lot of ampsims plugins have decent spring emulations at this point. I think some of that midrange difference between the amps could be the reverb.
I know it was 4 years ago….but well done gentlemen! Thank you!???? ????????????????
This review is four years old. Have the new TM D Reverbs solved these issues?
Deluxe reverb all the way. The tone master would be great for practice, but I don't want that tone at a gig!
If you guys could get your hands on the 64 custom handwired deluxe reverb I would be interested to see your comparison and thoughts on that vs the 65 deluxe reverb reissue.
Pass on the vegetarian hamburger of guitar amps ????
At low volume there's not as much difference. Turn the volume up and AB them and the TM doesn't hold a candle to the real deal. The higher the volume the more drastic the difference. Thats not to say the TM is bad, its just different and it does not sound as good as the DR. The TM has its place, probably great for a gigging amp. Personally at home playing for my own enjoyment, the classic DR is the winner.
65 has more reverb
Can we have an episode with the 68 deluxe reverb?
For me, it's sometimes about where this amp is going to be in ten, fifteen years – in an electronics recycling center due to obsolescence and board failure – or maybe repaired, but still kicking another day. I think the original is worth the it for its longevity alone.
Sound the same to my ear
9:52 interestingly for this particular riff I prefer the Tone Master which would make sense if it was compressed would be what is leading to my preference
There's no presence in the TM. I've seen plenty of videos comparing them but I think in the back room here it becomes really obvious. Not surprised with the verdict.
I would like to hear them recorded and heard in music (band sound) rather than compared on their own.
It’s surprising how much worse the Tone Master sounds, from the very first note.
The Reverb isn’t as present on the Tone Master, if you have the levels matched
I think the bottom line is this: a self-respecting pro would not record on a Tonemaster. I get the draw for gigging. But at no point does the Tonemaster match the tubes. It gets close sometimes.
If only there was a way to switch between amps without unplugging- tempted by a tone master but ????I know i can’t play an amp without a valve or two.
The tonemasters don’t do it for me and here’s my reasoning. First I’ll say in studio you can get it nearly the same but these days you can do that with amp sims and plug ins anyway. As far as live goes at full band, the tonemaster sounds thin and brittle and very very tinny with drive pedals compared to tube, which just sounds as legit and inspiring as you could ever want. There’s no punch to the notes. Maybe a speaker swap could save it but it really will get shown up when played on stage with a tube deluxe. I say this because I play in 2 bands that the other guitarist has a TM. My tube version always sounds insanely better. I’ve tried theirs and it’s the most unsatisfying feeling you could imagine.
I don't believe the tone master sounds better than the Champion 100, it's way over priced
also the lower wattage settings when you attenuate way down sound like shite as you lads would say
DI out is awesome, as the output is independent of the speaker volume. Great for PA operators and live sound in general.
I was born in 1948 and have had the privilege of experiencing the metamorphosis of electric guitar amps. There was a period of time in the 70's when i used two Marshall stacks and two fender twins. Early in my career i used a fender princeton reverb and an ampeg B12XT. Back then we had to hump huge amps and other such equipment. The large amps were part of the musical culture of the time. As we grew up musically we. Players decided to stop going deaf in our 30's. Ultimatel the fender twin is the king in any situation as well as an old bassman. Today in ny home studio i use a fender hot rod deluxe through a 60's bassman cabinet and another hot rod deluxe through a marshall 4×12. I use these cabinet combinations for fullness not volune. I also have an ampeg with a 4×12 cabinet that i rarely use. One of the best kept secrets in the business is the Fender Champ 20. By itself it is a little monster. Many seasoned players will plug the champ into thr front of whatever amp they are using .this will give you huge variety of capabilities. If you try it once you will probably keep one around just for grins. It is terrific little monster in a box. Just to sum up .just my personal opinion that present day players undervthe age of 50 have become so techno dependent they have no concept real grass roots quality sound.
Always playing the same boring blues, why don't you learn something else or play different genres.
I must have watched this episode at least 5 or 6 times!
I bought a Tone Master Deluxe Reverb in March of 2021 and sold it just last week. 3 years is long enough to give it a fair chance!
The TMDR was impressive, but i sold it for the exact reason at around 29:00. There is a depth to sound of the DRRI that is just completely missing from the TMDR, that no amount of EQ tweaking etc could seem to fix. I also didn't like how it behaved with fuzz, or really any pedal with a decent amount of gain on tap, and that's even with trying the different firmware updates.
Now i use the Mad Professor Super Black pedal. It is a superb pedal for those cranked black panel tones. It has quite powerful tone shaping features: 3 band EQ, gain, volume and presence controls, bass cut, compression and also their Sweet Honey overdrive circuit built in.
It can be used straight in the front or an amp, or as a preamp to the effects return.
I'd love you guys to consider trying it out compared to the real deal if your doing something "black panel in a box" themed sometime.
Can we hear the difference between the different settings or all settings ty
Just want to hear the amp know pedal
You can’t unhear the high end digital glitchyness in modeling amplifiers. I played through a Line 6 Flextone III Plus 1×12 combo with extension 1×12 cab and Shortboard for 10 years and it never gave me what a tube amp does, real organic tone, feel and harmonics. There is no comparison, the 65’ Deluxe Reverb Reissue is the undisputed winner. Yes, I am a tube snob.????????
I own both the Fender Deluxe Reverb Blonde Tone Master & the Fender Super Reverb Tone Master. Both are great tools for the working musician. You may be able to tell the difference between the digital and their tube versions but the audience cannot!
Is there a reason that you don't use an A/B switch?
The only thing a blindfold test takes away is your ability to feed your confirmation bias.
Maybe an EQ pedal would have been the go for the Tone Master, could have shaped the tone a whole lot more. Surely there is one floating around 'That Pedal Show' somewhere????
I wanted to get the tone master initially. But after trying the hot rod delux side-by-side with the tone master, I went with the hot rod. I didn’t expect to go with it, but the better tone of the tubes was so apparent side -by-side with the solid state tone master. I didn’t expect to hear a difference but I totally did.
Tubes feel better to play too. You get more nuances from your fingers than you do with solid state. Another thing I didn’t realize until I did the side-by-side comparison.
Tone Master lacks “weight of sound”.
Tonemaster are hands down the best sounding modeling amps I've ever played. They may not sound exactly on par with a real tube 65 reissue but they sound better than a lot of cheaper tube amps or there like blackstar or bugerra. The price is very high for a modeling amp though. I would take the real tube version any day for pure time except I'm so tired of endless tube amp problems that I'm considering the tonemaster. Of course long term who knows what kind of computer chip and other issues you might have with a tonemaster that no one can fix… but I have several modeling pedals which typically don't have too many issues in comparison to real tube amps.
Watched a few vids now – what a super channel – well done guys.