Just for accuracy, the spring reverb on the TMPR is digital. IMO, part of the appeal of a vintage PR or PRRI is getting tube-driven reverb and tremolo. I understand there’s extra processing capabilities dedicated to those effects on the Tonemasters, so maybe you can’t hear much of a difference, if any. It would be interesting if Fender could design a Tonemaster with analog reverb and/or tremolo.
Tone Master Princeton or 68 Vibro Champ Reverb
- Thread starter wineocaster
- Start date
justusberlin
Tele-Meister
Vibro Champ XD - fraction of the price
AxemanVR
Friend of Leo's
The Fender ‘68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb is made in Mexico.
The Tone Master is made in China, and, as long as it is, I’m never going to consider getting one.
Anyway, I love my ‘68 VCR - great little amp imo…
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TM Princeton all day long.
As I look around my studio, I have concluded that I need a non-tube amp in the mix as a hedge against the increasing costs of tubes. The TM Princeton sounds really great, Fender learned from the other TM models and used the right speaker for a change. One would be hard pressed to tell it apart from the tube counterpart unless....this is the caveat to all the tonemasters...you were a big fuzz pedal person. The TM platform doesn't handle a lot of fuzz well, but every other effect is no problem.
I plan to scoop one up myself this Summer.
As I look around my studio, I have concluded that I need a non-tube amp in the mix as a hedge against the increasing costs of tubes. The TM Princeton sounds really great, Fender learned from the other TM models and used the right speaker for a change. One would be hard pressed to tell it apart from the tube counterpart unless....this is the caveat to all the tonemasters...you were a big fuzz pedal person. The TM platform doesn't handle a lot of fuzz well, but every other effect is no problem.
I plan to scoop one up myself this Summer.
If you look for a little bit, you can find a 70’s NR Princeton in the same price range.
Advantages : all tube, PTP, and - we’re living in the golden age of pedals so , your reverb choices are numerous.
I’d suggest a Flint because you get 3 verbs and 3 trems , one of which is the brown trippy one .
Advantages : all tube, PTP, and - we’re living in the golden age of pedals so , your reverb choices are numerous.
I’d suggest a Flint because you get 3 verbs and 3 trems , one of which is the brown trippy one .
AxemanVR
Friend of Leo's
And the phone or computer you are using to post this is made where ?
Sometimes you have a choice and sometimes you don’t.
When I do have a choice, I choose the least totalitarian option…
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MaxPower93
TDPRI Member
I love my Vibro Champ too. Sorry I didn’t mention it was Assembled in Mexico. I’d bet the majority of the parts inside aren’t made in Mexico. It’s unfortunate but I’d say it’s more Chinese than you think. I also own a Toneking amp. It says assembled in the USA on it. Sadly I know exactly what that means.
Except the internal parts for the ones assembled in Mexico likely came from China as well. I would be shocked to read that the computer processing components were being built in Mexico.
AxemanVR
Friend of Leo's
While I have no doubt this is a real possibility, I guess I’m just comforted by the fact that at least I’m not sending my hard earned cash directly to the aforementioned totalitarian country (on a silver platter at that).
In fact, it actually seems more reasonable to believe that some “middle man” is (hopefully) taking a piece of the pie away from them when being made in Mexico or Taiwan or “wherever” - since not all the parts are necessarily being made there (not to mention labor)…
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Willie Johnson
Friend of Leo's
Five-knobber Princetons seem to go for at least $1200 these days. I've had one for close to 30 years and it's great--all wired up by hand.
I share the sentiment, but I think most of the things we buy these days end up in a China bank...directly or indirectly. I do wish companies like Fender would be more transparent where things are being built, assembled, etc.
Just different times.
papa32203
Tele-Afflicted
Sometimes you have a choice- sometimes, you don't.And the phone or computer you are using to post this is made where ?
If you choose to make the choice when you have it, more power to ya!
Edit: And, now I see AxemanVR said almost the exact same thing. Great minds(?) think alike?
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