I’ve noticed a pretty significant decrease in the quality of tone when using the lowest setting on the attenuator, and others have commented on that too. I have the black TMDR but I did the software update. Have you noticed the degradation in tone on that setting?
I think that's a very subjective question and observation. What is quality of tone, anyway? It's a fair question, though. It's one of those things I heard people talk about in reviews before I bought mine. I was worried about it just like you. However, I think mine sounds fantastic- even at lower volumes including the lowest. I have noticed it gets a little thin when attenuated all the way down AND with the volume down. But that's nothing new. Most amps will sound thin when turned down, especially tubes. Yet, I know that, and am not bothered by it. I think it sounds great in the .2 watt with volume at 8 on input 2 of the vibrato channel and treb at 4 with bass at 5, speed at 2.5/3 and intensity at 3-4. I play through my Player plus strat and back off the tone/volume just a bit and I love it. Of course I love it even more when I crank it at 12watts for band practice. I'm in a 12powce band with a horn section and those guys are loud. 12 watts to 22 is where I end up with the attenuator, but really never over 12 watts unless the room is a weird shape. So, I hope I have answered your question with my experience playing my copy of the amp. I love it. I never thought I would. I honestly didn't even think I would buy one. I was about to buy the 65 reissue and though I'd give it a try. I ended up falling in love. Does it sound like a deluxe?!? I think it sounds better. I will say that my experience with the BDRI and Sonic Blue Blues JRiv FSR didn't spoil me. The Tone Master Deluxe Reverb does a great job for me. I have a lot of pedals, I don't actually like pedals save for some delay and compression, and even then I will try to get away without it. Like, if you can't sound good with a Deluxe Reverb, how much is a pedal going to help, ya know? Well, I feel like my Sonic Blue Blues JR FSR has the edge on dirt a lower volumes over the TMDR. So, if that's what you're talking about, and I think it is, then yes. I experience it, but I'm not displeased with the sound. And as for my BDRI... I love that thing too, but it is stupid loud.. like, blow your socks off loud. I don't even take it to rehearsal with the band anymore because I will blow ALL OF THEM away with that thing. And, if you can't crank a BDRI, there's almost no point in using it. I take the Blues Junior sometimes and that 15 watt amp will kick the horns out of the building if I crank it. It's funny. Cheers.
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Love my tone master. Id take it over a Blues junior anyway. The TM is so much smoother and fuller. I find the blues amp too trebly
I’ve noticed a pretty significant decrease in the quality of tone when using the lowest setting on the attenuator, and others have commented on that too. I have the black TMDR but I did the software update. Have you noticed the degradation in tone on that setting?
I think that's a very subjective question and observation. What is quality of tone, anyway? It's a fair question, though. It's one of those things I heard people talk about in reviews before I bought mine. I was worried about it just like you.
However, I think mine sounds fantastic- even at lower volumes including the lowest. I have noticed it gets a little thin when attenuated all the way down AND with the volume down. But that's nothing new. Most amps will sound thin when turned down, especially tubes.
Yet, I know that, and am not bothered by it. I think it sounds great in the .2 watt with volume at 8 on input 2 of the vibrato channel and treb at 4 with bass at 5, speed at 2.5/3 and intensity at 3-4.
I play through my Player plus strat and back off the tone/volume just a bit and I love it. Of course I love it even more when I crank it at 12watts for band practice. I'm in a 12powce band with a horn section and those guys are loud. 12 watts to 22 is where I end up with the attenuator, but really never over 12 watts unless the room is a weird shape.
So, I hope I have answered your question with my experience playing my copy of the amp. I love it. I never thought I would. I honestly didn't even think I would buy one. I was about to buy the 65 reissue and though I'd give it a try. I ended up falling in love. Does it sound like a deluxe?!? I think it sounds better.
I will say that my experience with the BDRI and Sonic Blue Blues JRiv FSR didn't spoil me. The Tone Master Deluxe Reverb does a great job for me. I have a lot of pedals, I don't actually like pedals save for some delay and compression, and even then I will try to get away without it.
Like, if you can't sound good with a Deluxe Reverb, how much is a pedal going to help, ya know? Well, I feel like my Sonic Blue Blues JR FSR has the edge on dirt a lower volumes over the TMDR. So, if that's what you're talking about, and I think it is, then yes. I experience it, but I'm not displeased with the sound.
And as for my BDRI... I love that thing too, but it is stupid loud.. like, blow your socks off loud. I don't even take it to rehearsal with the band anymore because I will blow ALL OF THEM away with that thing. And, if you can't crank a BDRI, there's almost no point in using it.
I take the Blues Junior sometimes and that 15 watt amp will kick the horns out of the building if I crank it. It's funny.
Cheers.