Fender Tone Master

Not sure what year it was made. Two channels, dual effects loop, 100 watts, very loud, You should know the rest. For the amount of money it cost You would think it would have reverb, but it does not. I never used effects loops in any amps I have ever owned, and I normally dont use the channel switching, but a built in reverb would be nice.

I play a Gibson ES-347. I play basically blues, blues based rock-n-roll, sloppy punk, sloppy country, or just plain sloppy period. I would say that the amp suits my style fine. I must admit this is the first amp that I have owned that uses a separate speaker cabinet, I normally only owned open back combo amps...Re-issue twin reverb, Vox AC15, MusicMan HD130, Peavy Renown. This was supposed to be the Holy Grail amp that I always wanted, but I will explain how it was not. THis amp was on sale in a local Very large national chain guitar store. It was brand new aside from not having its original box, owners manual etc. I bought it and ordered the 2x12 cabinet with vintage 30s made for it. Initially I was happy and impressed with it , but after getting it home and playing with it in the comforts of my own home I noticed that the gain control had a bad spot in it. What I mean is that around 3 or 4 on the control setting you could hear a loud pop and crackle and loss of sound. No, this just wasn't dirt or dust in the pot it was internally broken. Well after having the amp for aprox a week I took it back to have it looked at, they had it for about three weeks, and finally they told me that ,yes, it did have a bad pot in it. They had to send it to their out of store "CERTIFIED FENDER SERVICE TECH" to finally arive at this conclusion. Well at this point I still had a positive attitude and was told by the stores repair manager that their tech had ordered the part and at this point it was just a matter of waiting for the part to come in. I asked if I could pick up the amp and bring it back in to the tech when the part came in, hopefully in a week or two, they said that would be fine. Well to make a much longer story a little shorter I waited for FOUR MONTHS and still had a VERY EXPENSIVE BROKE AMP. I waited and called and waited and called and waited and raised some hell at the store and then waited some more. At this point I was fed up , this was a five dollar part that I was waiting on. Finally after FOUR MONTHS I walked into the store and said I NEED TO TALK TO A MANAGER< NOW!!!!!! FORTUNATELy for me they gave me a full refund on the amp and speaker cabinet that I had to order. 1700dallars. I know that a broken pot is not a big deal ,but after waiting so long I was at the end of my rope, I figured if they cant get me a five dollar part in a resonable amount of time,LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS, what would happen if something more expensive broke down on it. To me how the amp sounded or how well it may or may not play was irrelevant now.

Cant tell you how reliable it would have been in the years to come, JUst know that I was terribly let down during the whole ordeal.

Never talked to Fender directly, but I really doubt that I could have. Hells bells I had a hard time talking to someone in the store I bought it from, let alone contacting CORPORATE FENDER COMPANY. Dont get me wrong, I love Fender amps, but I will never plunk down that kind of cash for a new Fender ever again. I suppose a lot of people have had great support from them, the store I dealt with is a larg chain and you would think that thats a Good link to Good service, I was wrong. In contrast, after getting my money back I bought a Dr. Z amp, My support from that company has been absolutly wonderfull. Its blows my mind.

I dont have an overall rating, I just have a bad taste in my mouth.

See other reviews.
I bought mine in '93 when i lived in L.A..I think at West Music ?
Serialnr. is 0027 so it must have been one of the first.

When i bought this amp, i was just in the beginning of
learning about tone. Today - 10 years later - i would have saved a lot
of money and found something better. I was able to get much more
convincing sounds from a second hand evil twin (red knobs) and some
good overdrive pedals. This thing doesn't sound warm and fat.
It is way overpriced and maybe overhyped.
I was young and had too much cash....now i am getting old and need it badly !

>>>>No problems

I never really liked this amp but i kept it cause i thought that
one day i would understand...
I finally understood and i am going to sell it.

I got this amp way back in 1994 and sold it two years ago. All the reviewers that gave this amp a low rating are right - but it's important to know the following:

This amp has been voiced for Celestion Vintage 30 speakers. It's crucial to have either the original Fender cabinets designed for this amp or at least a cabinet with these speakers. If not, like it has been said, this amp can sound like shit.

When I bought it I only got the head and it sounded horrible both with my Marshall 1936 (two Celestion G12T-75W speakers) as with any other non Vintage 30 equipped cabinet. It sounded brittle and shrill, thin, buzzing and there was no way to get rid of that sound, even with the treble turned all the way down.

I called Fender back then and got the chance to speak with Bruce Zinky himself (Designer of the Tone-Master), and he seemed to know about it and suggested to remove one or two cap's in the tone circuit. He was cool and even helped me doing it over the phone and on this occasion he told me this amp was designed around the Vintage 30's.

On the other hand, with the V30's the overdrive channel sounds good or at least better, but as others have said, the clean channel is not the classic, lush Fender clean but rather dry and dark sounding, it's different.

Therefore, if you're intrested in this amp, try it with V30's and, for comparison, with some other cabinets.

Never had any problems with it.

B. Zinky, the man himself, helped me doing the mod over the phone. He was cool. As far as I know he's not at Fender anymore.

Taste is subjective.
With the right speakers and if you like the sound it's a good amp. It's reliable, easy to service, well built and looks cool - but, in terms of sound, it's not your typical Fender, neither the clean nor the distortion channel.
Check it out before you lay down your cash.

the rest of the reviews cover this, but lets face it for a modern amp 2 channels, efx loop is the min you expect

this is were I was really let down, I expected a cross between the bassman of the 60's and 70's and a really nice SRV-led zep OD. What I got was nowhere near as good!!! I tried changing the tubes to NOS philips,GE,Mullards and even svetlana costing me a fortune and still nothing. I get better clean sounds out of my cousins peavey bandit. I must admit I'm a bit of a tube snob when it comes to amps and currently own VHT 3 channel classic, Boogie Dual rec, Marshall Slash, fender bassman 50, and have owned orange vox hiwatt. So I figure I have a pretty good ear for tone and this thing just didn't deliver. I sounded dead and dark compared with other amps. even the clean on the dual rec killed it and that isn't great

channel switching popped, but it is point to point so it should last but it still sounds crap

you try and talk to anyone who cares!!! I found VHT to be excellent, Marshall UK good, boogie crap! Fender non existent

if you want the fender clean get a bassman or similar head and stick a good OD pedal infront as this head is not going to do it. I'm pretty sure the people who gave it good reviews are happy with it or confused at the amount they paid for it! but I would avoid it like the plague. Is it any wonder they have gone for as little as $600 on ebay when a peavey bandit produces more tone!!! TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!!!

This amp has everything a real player needs!

I use a 98'Tom Anderson Hollow Cobra,a 02'Tom Anderson Hollow T,And a 97'Tom Anderson Hollow Drop Top.
I have never had an amp that I like more than this one.If you have an understanding of tone,and how to get it from your amp(which I
have noticed a fiew kids on here don't)this is the only amp you will ever need.I play in three bands,all with very different styles.And this amp fits all of them perfectly.From "Doyle Bramhall"to the "Afghan Whigs","No doubt"and "Al Green"back
to "Pearl Jam"and "SRV".
It is not at all noisy,unless you are running the pre gain past 7.And in that case what amp isn't?
The clean isn't as sparkly as a "Twin",or A "Deluxe"But it is still better than that of a "Boogie"or "Marshall".
The gain Is beautiful!From "Crunch" to "Cream" it satisfies all of my needs and gives me the confidence to know that I can get any tone I am going to need on any job.I can't see me playing any other amp anytime soon.From "Two Rocks"to Shiva's"the Tone Master holds its own and is far more practical.

I have been using mine for 4 years and it has been perfect!

I service my own

I have played many,many other amps.And I can honestly say that for me the :Tone Master is the very best.
I have used:Carr El Moto,Budda Super drive 30,Fender Pro Sonic,Fender Hot Rod Deluxe,Marshall JCM 800&900,and a Soldano HR50.
When purchasing this amp I was choosing between a Shiva,a Dual Rec,and an AC30.

Not sure exactly what year this head was made, as I bought it used, but I'm thinking its probably 3-4 years old, barely played, and in pristine condition. Your standard 2-channel, 100 watt screamer, with dual effects loops, impedance switch, etc. As good as Fender is at making reverbs, I'm witholding a perfect "10" here because it didn't include one. (Yeah, I know... they're trying to push the reverb tanks, no thanks, I'd rather have my Replex!) I play everything from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Nickelback, From Skynyrd to Savatage, and when coupled with a nice, 808-modded TS9 and a few other choice foot-goodies, it nails 'em all.

My two main axes are my USA Jackson Soloist SL2H and my American Fat Strat Texas Special. With these two guitars, especially the Strat, you're just a tweak of a volume knob & a flick of the pickup selector away from virtually any tone you want. Channel 1, the clean channel is fantastic... not quite as "sparkly" as a Fender Twin, but very, very buttery... very "brown", with outstanding dynamics and a nice, creamy touch of overdrive when pushed hard. Use the TS9 on this channel to cover all your Stevie Ray/Hendrix needs, from "Little Wing" or "Riviera Paradise" to "Voodoo Chile" or "Couldn't Stand the Weather", this channel will make even the most anal of tone-whores (me, for instance) dreams come true!
Channel two is where you go for a heaping helping of Eddie's mystical "brown sound". Do yourself a favor and have a competent tech re-tube and bias it with a nice, hot set of Svetlanas to bring out the soaring mids needed to recreate Ed's "Unchained Eruption" of tone. Gets kinda buzzy with the gain much past 7, but that's about where you need to be anyway, mids cranked, treble just past half and bass just below. (Careful with the bass, it muds out quickly if you push it too far.) I'm running a Hughes & Kettner Replex through the amp, with an Analog Man Silver Mod TS9 & Clone Chorus, MXR Phase 90 & Flange in the loop to cover everything else. If you have actually have a clue, spend a little time with it, and pair it with a few choice pedals, this amp will make you spooj your shorts, and it will cover any sonic territory like it was born to it, and with the warmth, dynamics and sublime feedback that a great tube amp can deliver. If you're only into baggy pants, de-tuned 7 strings (while only using the top 3), scooped mids that sound like equal parts mud tsunami and amplified flatulence, have yet to figure out what a clean sound is for and need a wall of muddy distortion to cover your lack of skills then look elsewhere, this isn't the amp for you, sport.

Well, I bought it used, and even though it was totally immaculate when I got it, the volume pot on channel two was tweaked, but Roy the Amp God (a former engineer for Groove tubes, and a guy who knows more about amplifiers than any 5 people I know combined) told me it was probably just because it had been sitting in the store for a long time without ever being used. It's all good though, it turned out for the best anyway, while I was having him fix the pot, he suggested we swap out the preamp and power tubes with a hot set of Svetlanas that really made a noticeable difference in the tone, for the better... bringing out some seriously happenin' mids and tighter lows. Other than that, it's built like a tank and weighs almost as much, plus it's the Fender Custom Shop for Crissakes, it oughta hold up!

Again, I bought this amp used, so no warranty, and I have a guy close by who is the freaking Stephen Hawking of tube amps, so I've yet to deal with Fender, and probably won't, at least not on the amp.

This amp goes for about $1610 new on Musician's Friend, and considerably more from your local Fender dealer, but I got it shipped to my door for under a grand, used, but in brand new condition. I've seen others on E-bay go for around the same. Tube nirvana at your fingertips, I've wanted one for a while, since seeing guys like Nuno Bettancourt, Vinnie Moore and Joe Perry playing them live, and when I saw one listed for under a grand with a reputable place like Elderly Instruments, I jumped on it and haven't looked back. I've been playing guitar for well over 20 years now, both professionally and just for the sheer joy of it, and I've tried 'em all, believe me... and in my book, there simply is no better sounding tube amp. I'd absolutely replace it if something unimaginable ever happened to it, even if I had to shell out the full $1610 asking price for a new one, and without batting an eye. I'm just getting used to this amp, and already it has inspired me far more than anything else I've ever played through, it is indeed... the "Tone Master". Oh yeah, do yourself a favor and pick up the matching Tone Master 4x12 cab with Vintage 30s to go with it, slightly smaller than a Marshall cab, but actually heavier, it is the punchiest, best 4x12 cab I've ever played through.

Standard for vitage amps. No more to say...

Fenders faith in the naivety of their purist useres is incredible! This amp sound really like a plate of shit thrown against a wall. Hey - you Tone Master players: Look out for a ear doctor!

It's a very reliable amp! As reliable as a woodblock - but it also sounds as a woodblock...

not needed

Do not buy such expensive trade names, until the manufacturer is not able to ship a respectable device for a fair price!

HI!
My new amp is a Fender Tone Master. It was handmade in USA, by Fender Custom Shop in 2000. This amp head has 100W, all tube circuit, with 7 tubes (3 are 12AX/ for preamp).
There are 2 channel, normal and vintage. The clean one is really really fantastic! It's very vintage and sparkly sound. It has the following knobs: Volume, Treble, Mid, Bass and the FAT control.
This one adds 3 db in the sound, in the Mid frequency.
The dirty channel is very loud, full of power and really good!
Like the first one, it has Volume, Mid, Treble, Bass, FAT and the Gain control. There is no reverb (which is really a mortal sin for the Custom Shop, for a amp that, new, costs about 4000 USD (in Italy)). The footswitch is included. It has 2 different effect loops (one per channel), and the impedance control, with allow to have 30, 60 or 100W in the amp, for pratice, little clubs, or stadiums (I think I won't use the 100W option right now....).
I play Rock, HardRock, Blues, Pop, just like Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, Cramberries, Alanis Morissette... And the Tone Master really stand the heat! I give his 9, due to the missing reverb.
Anyway it's marvellous!

I own a 1997 Fender Richie Sambora Stratocaster (the USA model), which has 2 Custom Shop Texas Special single coil, and 1 DiMarzio PAF humbucker in the bridge position. With all this pick-ups the sound is OK! With the single coil, playing with low volume (just the guitar one), the sound is very blues, sweet and funny! With the DiMarzio...the sustain never ends!
It isnt' noisy (I mean: if you stand next to the GE212 V30 speacker, with the volume @ 10...well yes, it buzzs! Even if I own it since a couple of weeks, I cannot say much, but it seems to be very versatile (especially with the Boss GT-3 pedal unit I have).
A very good quality of this amp is that It can keep the clean sound even if the volume is at his maximum levels! Really a good ad!
The distorsion is exeptionally, too!
With the DiMarzio setted on, the active circuit of my Sambora switched on, and the Gain setted to 10, If I play a full chord, I can listen at all the single notes, and all the single string! MARVELLOUS!!!
I own a 1989 Kramer Sambora model and an Ovation acoustic.
It's basically the perfection, for me!

Sorry, but I own it just since 2 weeks, and I can't anwer to this question!

I live in Italy, and I bought it used from USA. There the warranty is 5 years, but here in Italy is just 1!
Anyway I haven't dealt with Fender since now.
The only problem I had is that in USA the electricity runs at 120V, here in Italy at 220V! So an electrician tech, here, had to change the plug and to chance a couple of connections inside. (Nothing more that 20 USD!)

I've been playing for 6 years, and I owned a Fender 110, a Roc Pro 700 and - finally - this definitive amp! My guitars are a Fender Stratocaster Richie Sambora, Kramer Sambora model, an Ovation, and a 1967 vintage 12strings EKO (it's an Italian acoustic guitar). For the effects, now I own a BOSS GT-3 pedal unit.
I think I won't change it. Never. I simply love everything about it, from the vintage and aggressive look, to the marvellous sound!
I just wich it had the reverb inside...but I can use the GT3 to supply to this problem!

Made in '95. Two channels, clean 'n' dirty. I have used this amp in arenas to clubs to churches to studio. Read on to see what I did to make it more versatile. Originally this amp was a little bit of a monster.

I have had this amp for 5 years. This one is a keeper. I did do some modification to it. I pulled the tubes and put in a pair of THD Yellow Jackets. I put the chassis in a homemade combo cabinet, open back loaded with a single Celestion Vintage 30. While I was at it I covered it in "Marshall Green Tolex" with "aged Fender Blackface grill cloth" Looks better than the cream/oxblood duo from the factory. Much, much better. Not as punchy as the 2x12 G12 cabinet being pushed by 100 Watts. Has a little more of a Vox/Matchless sound to it. And it is a heck of a lot easier to carry around. I mainly play a Tele through Menatone KOB-Fulltone Deja Vibe (old white one)-Custom built Germanium fuzz-Zvex Lo-fi Loop-MXR Phase 90-Maxon Analog Delay. I don't mess with the dirty channel too much. It sounded like crap until I modified it. Now it is pretty descent. Not near as harsh and buzzy. I am sure some different preamp tubes could do new harm.

This amp has been so reliable. I bought it in '97 and took it in the next day because I was getting a buzz. They took it apart and a wire was pinched somewhere or something...I can't remember the details. Anyway, that is the only time she has seen a shop. I travelled 3 years with this amp and put it through some stuff.

No complaints.

No reverb is a bummer. I hooked up a digital unit but it hurt the sound. It sounds so good alone I wouldn't mess with it.
I will probably buy a Fender reverb for it. Gets an 8 because of no reverb. (same thing everybody else says!) They probably didn't want to make the head any heavier with more tubes ect.!!

Guitars are the basics: A 91 strat and a 91 Paul. Strat has (2) Texas Specials and a humbucker style lace sensor. Effects: Wah Wah and a tube screamer.
I don't have any idea what the hell is wrong with the other reviewers who said this amp is thin sounding or lacks balls. They must have had a bad tube or a shitty speaker cab ( or maby their head up their ass) because this amp sounds f'ing amazing! I won't get into the 12-24 other amps I have bought trying to find this tone but I do have a Twin (the evil one) I bought last year because I was too cheap to fess up the cash for this and it sounds like a toy in comparison. Even after I put in V30's to help it out a little. I was going to run the twin with it but it would only hurt the sound. I have the 2X12 loaded with the G12 speakers that I was going to use with the twin and a 4X12 with v30's for the TM so now I have two cabs for the tone master, one for small gigs and one for large.
The clean is awesome and if you have any technique you just need to back off on your attack to keep it clean unless you turn it up past 5 then your fucking deaf anyways and shouldn't be playing. It isn't like a twin reverb but I love it anyways. I prefer it to be a little hot so it works for me but I can see why some Fender clean lovers would be turned off a bit. Enough about that let's get to the good stuff.
Channel two is incredible!! I always wanted an amp that would respond to exactly what I was playing and not have to fight with it or worse have to tweak 10,000 knobs to get it close then come into the gig the next night and have it be completely changed (probably in my head I know but still) That's what is nice about just a few knobs, if the amp is good it is all you will need. (had a Boogie Mark IV...I think some of those knobs were fake just for looks WAY too much to f around with!)
Here's how I have it set now if you care. The impedance on Med then Fat switch on Gain on 5 Treble on 4 Bass on 7 Mid on 7 and the Vol on 3. My tube screamer drive is just below half and the vol just above half. Tone in the middle.
With this setting and using my volume controls on my guitar(s) they both sound rifuckingdiculoushusly good! For a mega cruchy lead or rythm just hit the tube screamer. The guitar will cry like a baby. I love SRV/Beck/Allman Bros./Black Crowes/ Alice in Chains or any 70's era rock, the good ol stuff and this amp delivers with style!
You can tweak it and get a variety of different tones but after two days since a brought it home this was the best sound I got for me so far. I'm addicted to guitar again. I haven't played steady for 6 years after playing out for 15 straight but I am so ready to go.
Let me at em!! My fingers are fucking killing me and I don't give a shit. Let em bleed!!!!!!!!!!
This amp sounds Awesome!! Save your cash get a GOOD reverb and go get one, you'll be gald you did. Don't F it up with a crappy effects rack or you might blame the amp.

2 days old and still ticking
I traded in an entire studio to get this, DA88 and MAckie 8 bus included and I was worried if it would be worth it ( what I traded cost me $15,000 5 years ago!)
IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!!!!!

hope I never need it

Playing 21 years already listed other equipment would replace it (probably with my wife if I had to come up with the cash) Love everything wish it had a reverb.
Best amp I have ever owned. Period.