Although fans are Performing musicians who still fuss over tube amps and drool over collections of effects pedals are in the midst of a digital revolution. Products from brands like Kemper, Line 6, Fractal Audio and Neural DSP all allow musicians to digitally model tube amplifiers with results that are surprisingly close to the real thing.
These new digital modeling amplifiers are easy to set up, reliable, and are lighter and more compact than previous devices. Nowadays, the sound is also noticeable. Unless they’re in a recording studio, many modern musicians use digital options to produce their sounds, and many of these options are making their way into hit tracks.
Fender has been competing in the digital amp world for decades, but the new $1,700 Tone Master Pro introduced late last year is the first true pro-grade option we’ve seen from the brand in recent years. It’s also one of the most intuitive I’ve seen. With classic models of iconic amps and effects, a touchscreen, brilliant onboard controls, and astounding digital processing power, it’s essentially a portable guitar studio. It also features a four-channel audio interface and hundreds of microphone modeling and cabinet modeling options to easily compete with the real thing, even in the studio. Even great for karaoke.
If I were to buy an all-in-one guitar solution that could be used in the bedroom as well as on stage, especially if I didn’t want to fuss with menu screens forever, this would be the one I’d choose.
Photo: Parker Hall
new black box
The Tone Master Pro looks pretty much the same as most other all-in-one amp/pedalboard solutions I’ve seen. Essentially, it’s a black slate that should be placed in front of you when you play, either on the floor or on a table. There’s a 7-inch touchscreen between two silver knobs on the top of the device, and the bottom is flanked by 10 footswitches and associated LED screens. Everything is very clean and modern, making it easy to hide when you’re playing on stage.
One weird yet familiar thing I like is that Fender included the classic red power light on the back of the unit so you can easily tell it’s turned on like a “regular” Fender amp. The rest of the Tone Master’s rear is a hodgepodge of inputs and outputs that I’ve never seen on a guitar amp.
Stereo outputs, both quarter-inch and As well as footswitch control, 3.5mm auxiliary input, headphone output, MIDI in and out, USB-C and MicroSD. There’s also Bluetooth. If you need more, you may need a hybrid board or patch panel.
Photo: Parker Hall