Any of you buddies tried the blonde Tonemaster Deluxe?

Motorik

Motorik

Kick Henry Jackassowski
I tried a search but I think the 'blonde' keyword pulled up too many interesting tangents. :embarrassed:

I'm kinda thinking about getting a bigger amp, and my wheelhouse is "Wicked Game' to 'Born on the Bayou' to 'Memo From Turner' to maybe 'Mississippi Queen' level of heavy? No need for Metallica or anything like that.


I haven't played the Tonemasters but I like the idea of being able to 'attenuate' it and play it at really low volume. I like good onboard reverb and trem. It's a major plus. I thought about an Ac15 or AC10 (I do like the Vox chime/sparkle), but I'm not sure about their reverb and tremolo, I feel they're a bit lacking.
I also thought about an Orange Tremlord because on paper it sounds perfect, but I'm underwhelmed by the clips I've heard. Maybe they're great? I'd like to hear it. Anyone played one?
 
IMO, the AC15C1 trem is good but the reverb is ok, nothing special......which for me, is totally fine.
The reverb tank they use is an Accutronics/Belton BS3EB3C1B. There are pretty cheap replacements available that claim to have more a vintage sound.
 
I haven’t played the Blonde, but @Guitar Heel had the other one. I’m not a tremolo person, so I can’t comment on that, but the amp sounded pretty good.
 
Motorik said:
I also thought about an Orange Tremlord because on paper it sounds perfect, but I'm underwhelmed by the clips I've heard. Maybe they're great? I'd like to hear it. Anyone played one?
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It's been a while so I had to go back and listen to some clips of the Tremlord & I still feel like it's sort of a one trick/tone pony.
 
Chad said:
I haven’t played the Blonde, but @Guitar Heel had the other one. I’m not a tremolo person, so I can’t comment on that, but the amp sounded pretty good.
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Does it sound like (or almost like) a Deluxe? I believe the original blackface one can be updated to sound like the Blonde if I want it, but without splitting hairs, does it sound authentic enough to your ears?
 
Lerxst said:
It's been a while so I had to go back and listen to some clips of the Tremlord & I still feel like it's sort of a one trick/tone pony.
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I thought I should like it, but I really don't from every clip I've heard.
 
Motorik said:
Does it sound like (or almost like) a Deluxe? I believe the original blackface one can be updated to sound like the Blonde if I want it, but without splitting hairs, does it sound authentic enough to your ears?
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It’s been ages since I played an actual Deluxe, but the clean sounds were really good. Maybe heel will chime in, he had it for a while.
 
Chad said:
Those sound awesome. I played one at a local music store a while back.
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Ages ago I passed on the chance to buy a new STR late on the last day of a guitar show for far less than they go for used. Figured I'd find another one down the road for a similar price. Nah......
 
Guitar Heel said:
Fuzz pedals sound like wet farts through it (not in a good way). it was a great amp otherwise, except that I like fuzz pedals (a lot), and they just sounded terrible through that amp.
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That's a strike against it. I love fuzz and although I very rarely use it, I always feel it's 'one of my things' (unlike say a flanger or a wah, which I never use at all). I like the option of fuzz, even if I'm not using it. Hmmm.
 
Motorik said:
That's a strike against it. I love fuzz and although I very rarely use it, I always feel it's 'one of my things' (unlike say a flanger or a wah, which I never use at all). I like the option of fuzz, even if I'm not using it. Hmmm.
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I really wish I'd seen an honest review prior to buying. It can't have just been me.

But then I found a little Laney Cub for like 200 or less, it's super light, and it sounds great (IMO). I put tubes in there that I prefer, but that's it. Swapped the speaker (because I do that), but then put the cheap light one back in and sounds just as good.
 
Motorik said:
That's a strike against it. I love fuzz and although I very rarely use it, I always feel it's 'one of my things' (unlike say a flanger or a wah, which I never use at all). I like the option of fuzz, even if I'm not using it. Hmmm.
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The Vibrato channel of a real DR isn't drive/fuzz friendly either, because of the bright cap, and the "American" speaker voicing (lots of top end that gets harsh with square wave).
 
Wyatt said:
The Vibrato channel of a real DR isn't drive/fuzz friendly either, because of the bright cap, and the "American" speaker voicing (lots of top end that gets harsh with square wave).
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True. That's why I was thinking the new blonde Tonemaster was the way to go rather than the original blackface, because it's got the bright cap mod (or rather, it's digitally recreating the bright cap mod, but you know what I mean). But if it still doesn't sound good with fuzz then that's a shame. :frown:
 
I was kind of thinking of a Tone master deluxe. After some research I landed on a Boss Nextone Stage 40. For me it has tube like response, and IMHO more tones on tap. This series is Not a upgraded Boss Katana. The next tone is much more focused on providing tube feel and tube like tone. About 40% less than a tone master. These are popping up used on GC for very reasonable.
 
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