Fender Band-Master VM

[Scotland]

Anyone got one? If so, what do you think of it ?

[Big John]

I have seen the Gregf Koch demo and was mighty impressed !!, course it might have something to do with him playing it but i like the idea of it, i could certainly do some damage with one !

[Scotland]

The sound Greg got is exactly what I like so maybe this is the amp for me. I have never seen anyone use one anywhere though which is strange. Must try one out and maybe Santa will be good to me if I'm a good boy.

[Joe-Bob]

Sounds like a cool amp. Classic tube sound with a little modern versatility thrown in.

[Jakedog]

Try it out heavily if you can. I have not been able to find a Bandmaster to try out, but I did try the Deluxe VM, twice. Both times after 20-30 minutes of high volume playing the amps started to malfunction and get weird noises happening. Sounded like it was coming from the digi FX section, just weird crap.

The first one started sounding like a helicopter, traced to the delay, turned it off, no problem. The second started making all kinds of freaky splashes, honks and squeals.

I loved the tone of the amp, which is a lot coming from me, as I usually just really don't like Fender amps these days. Not my sound. But the amp sounded great, exactly how one would think it would save for the malfunctions. I would have bought one actually if not for that. I just didn't feel like I could gig it without worries. Note- this was only two amps out of how many thousands? And they were also both floor models at Guitar Center. But they were the only two I tried out, and both starting acting up, which gave me serious pause.

[VerySlowHand]

I had the combo and loved it, but it was a bit too loud for home use (although it did okay at very low volume)... so I sold it.

I've since bought a THD attenuator for my SCXD (which is also too loud for home use!) and it's sooooooo good I'm thinking I might go back to the VM.

I like the fact that the VM has all the effects I want at the end of the (excellent) foot-switch and you don't need the external cab. On reflection, the SCXD has too many effects and voices for me, I just use the clean channel, with a little reverb and delay sometimes.

The VM gets great reviews at Harmony Central.

[imsilly]

That is probably the most irritating amp demo I have seen, by Fender. The guy comes accross like a used car salesman rather then a passionate player. We all know what is more convincing a sales pitch.

In future they should just let Jim Campilongo do them like with the Princeton Reverb reissue or G E Smith because I really liked his with his signature model.

I think the Bandmaster VM is going a bit under the radar because of it's ridiculous oxymoronic title. The whole vintage modified series goes way over my head. Calling anything "Vintage Modified" screams we are trying to cover all bases and as a result compremising horribly. I dunno if it's just me, but people who are into the vintage vibe might be put off by those terrible digital effects and people who like modern digital effects might see the rest of the amp as pointless and vice-versa. Either way it sounded terrible generic and ordinary. Kind of like a Marshall MG DFX with tube overdrive Maybe it was just because he was playing a strat through it I dunno.

Why they choose those specific effects to put into that amp and why in a digital form I have no idea. Doesn't everyone already have a string a pedals and multi-effects with reverb, chorus and delay? In fact don't most of us either have analog and boutique stuff that sounds better then this digital DSP stuff already?

I dunno, I just get sad because you want Fender to produce some modern classics. I love that they reissue stuff, sometimes even without a PCB, which is even better. I would love it even more if they came up with new circuits that spoke to the people who are really into their sonic heritage, but look to improve it not just shoehorn crappy effects into it.

If they really wanted to impress people with a vintage modified design they could make their own version of that old Echo-sonic amp. The one Chet Atkins and Scotty Moore had that created a whole explosion in effects laden rock and add some analog chorus or flange to update it to more modern music styles. That would be a real vintage modified. Imagine the glory of a Fender Amp Blackface channel, Tweed channel with onboard spring reverb and tube driving tape echo and chorus. I mean they nearly did it in the 50s for godsake and comepletely invented a whole new rockabilly sound. Probably because it would cost too much, but at least it would be something to be proud of. Kind of like when a Hollywood studio makes a decent movie that they know they'll never make money off just to give themselves a boosted reputation.

[Big John]

Originally Posted by imsilly

That is probably the most irritating amp demo I have seen, by Fender. The guy comes accross like a used car salesman rather then a passionate player. We all know what is more convincing a sales pitch.

In future they should just let Jim Campilongo do them like with the Princeton Reverb reissue or G E Smith because I really liked his with his signature model.

Well, silly me !!, I must have got it terribly wrong then, to be honest, G*d himself could demo an amp and it wouldn't make me want to buy it, maybe you need to look past who is doing the demo, would you buy it if Jim or GE demo'd it ?

Good point about the whole 're-issue' thing though but trying to second guess a bunch of guitar players can't be an easy job, just look at the opinions and views here, I want a 'vintage' name, I want toys, I want it to look old and new, I want it to sound like a 'classic' Fender (good luck with that) but I also want it to sound like a M*rshall, it can't be easy.

Just seems like a pretty versatile amp to me, I'm sure the knobs he pointed to are capable of being turned.

[Scotland]

Well if it sounded generic and crap to you, then you don't have to buy it or even look at it.
Me on the other hand, liked the sound he produced and don't give a s~~t if it is meant to be vintage, modified or both. I like the sound of the amp and everything I have read about it points to it being a great amp. Of course who am I to know anything about amplifers or sound, I've only been playing for 40 years.
Oh, and Greg Koch knows a thing or two about amps and he can play "a bit" as well.

[BigMike]

It sounds a great amp to me from the viewing the video (thanks for posting Big John), but surely anyone interested in purchasing one would try one first. Greg is an amazing guitarist and a very funny guy who in my opinion takes the stuffy boring c**p out which other demonstrators leave in.

Who gives a monkies what its called, I am only interested in what it sounds like..... but like what do I know, I have only been playing 35years, still only a novice compaired to Scotland...

[stantheman]

I sorta like the concept and Greg's an amusing fellow with enough Talent to make himself sound killer with a comb and wax paper.

That said - I wish they would have used the '64 Pro and '64 Concert for that platform in other words either a 1x15 Combo or a 4x10 Combo.

I'm very wary of "on-board" concerning the Amplifier - works great on a Guitar though.

I'm just wondering how the solder is going to hold up on the fx end of things after 3-5 hours and the ride home afterwards.

Honestly and humbly Scotland I'd get the original and use fx boxes because, the "Original" design reigns supreme for the long haul and can be fixed with a soldering iron rather quickly if there is a catastrophe.

[mojo2001]

Hahaha...genius amp demo! A crushing parody of the usual amp demo genre while effectively showcasing the capabilities of the amp.

Must say the amp sounded quite good in that vid. Got me interested.

[Big John]

Originally Posted by stantheman

That said - I wish they would have used the '64 Pro and '64 Concert for that platform in other words either a 1x15 Combo or a 4x10 Combo.

Yup, thats my point right there !, someone else is saying "I wish they had done it with the Dual Showman" and somebody else wants it made with some old Tweed piece, maybe Fenders should just stop using the word 'vinatge'

[VerySlowHand]

Originally Posted by imsilly

That is probably the most irritating amp demo I have seen, by Fender.

I think it's one of the BEST demos I've seen. The guy has a tongue in cheek approach to 'the demo' and makes it FUN (where's your sense of humour man?). If you'd prefer Jim C, with respect, he'd have turned the reverb up full and lulled us all to sleep.

As for sound, there's no way you can reproduce the sounds of an amp on a YouTube type video – it's there to inspire you to GO AND LISTEN TO IT FOR YOURSELF – so to say the effects on this amp are 'crappy digital' ones – without having actually heard it – is risible. You obviously have some sort of 'analogue only' agenda.

Finally, there IS a market for this amp and those that bought it appear to be happy with it... check out the reviews – probably the top scoring amp on Harmony Central... maybe they are all complete idiots?

[Tonemaster]

I have been using one in rehearsals now for a few months, and I like it. Versatile, and toneful. It allows me to leave my pedalboard at home, as the fx onboard do well enough for practice purposes. Its not as loud as say a super Reverb's 40 watts is, but thats fine. Matter of fact, my Deluxe RI is much louder! However, last week it started making noises too, so looks like reliability is suspect. Too bad, as it sounds great, but if it isn't gig-worthy, I don't want it. Lord knows they're cheep enuff to buy, and used they should be a steal.

T.

[Scotland]

Originally Posted by Tonemaster

Its not as loud as say a super Reverb's 40 watts is, but thats fine. Matter of fact, my Deluxe RI is much louder!

Really ? The DRRI is 22 watts and the Band-Master is 40 watts. Are you talkimg about clean headroom or loudness ?

[Big John]

Folk here really like the DRRI but maybe it doesn't like 220volts or something, i tried 2 before i settled on the Supersonic and i couldn't hear them on stage without them howling in protest, for me they just weren't clean enough at moderate stage levels.

JMHO of course, i'm not dissing the DRRI.

[Tonemaster]

The head room is fine, but the Deluxe is louder at 5 on the vol than the VM is at 8-10 on either channel.

T.

[stantheman]

Originally Posted by Tonemaster

The head room is fine, but the Deluxe is louder at 5 on the vol than the VM is at 8-10 on either channel.

T.

Hmmm...
You don't think it comes with a variant of the old Blackface Tremolux Transformer perhaps???
A piggy-back Bandmaster with either a 2x12 or a 2x10 ought to TOTALLY SMOKE a Deluxe from any generation.

Except a "Double Deluxe"....

If Fender really wanted to do something that is actually "groundbreaking and innovative" I've got just the idea!!!

A Double Deluxe Reverb...

Nah - I'd just get a Tweed DD and bring my Nanoverb - I really love my Nano.

[Big John]

Originally Posted by stantheman

If Fender really wanted to do something that is actually "groundbreaking and innovative" I've got just the idea!!!

Yeah, me too ......... 'stop using names of old amps' would be my idea

I think if Scotland hooks that puppy up to his Thiele Boogie cab he'll just about blow his own kneecaps right off ..... but in a 'toneful' way.

[TG]

But they were the only two I tried out, and both starting acting up, which gave me serious pause.

The VM gets great reviews at Harmony Central.

The most recent review involves one that conked out for no apparent reason.


I tried one out at a shop and I wasn't thrilled, but I can see why many people would like it. I'm not really into the Blackface sort of sound, I guess. I prefer a more Tweed or Vox-like feel.

[Big John]

Originally Posted by TG

.......... I prefer a more Tweed or Vox-like feel.

Turn the 'Treble' knob anti-clockwise !!

[VerySlowHand]

Originally Posted by Tonemaster

The head room is fine, but the Deluxe is louder at 5 on the vol than the VM is at 8-10 on either channel.

T.

Not doubting you Tonemaster, but if anyone else can verify that I'd find it very interesting.

I was thinking I might go for the DRRI because it would be quieter than the VM.

I'd be more than happy going back to a VM (now I've got my little THD thingy).

[bob barcus]

Why are you not all using vintage AC-30s How do you plug a USA amp into a English Garden house.I remember Fender back in 1982 saying they where going to keep Fender real and not make it a big company like CBS.

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by bob barcus

Why are you not all using vintage AC-30s How do you plug a USA amp into a English Garden house.I remember Fender back in 1982 saying they where going to keep Fender real and not make it a big company like CBS.

WT-? I hope this was a joke?