John, in a world of paid for promotion and videos which are just glorified adverts, your channel is a breath of fresh air. Thanks for your honest take on the fender tone master pro.
Don't lose sight of the fact that anyone getting paid or supported by any particular brand product, can also throw a subtle red herring to give a less than favourable review for their main supporter of any competitors product.
You took the words 😂 right out of my brain lol John is not only a expert at these units but like me, I feel he is actually open to new things with limited reservations. If it's great he will show you, if it isn't he will show you... In real world application
It’s bizarre that John wouldn’t be Fenders first choice for them to demo this given he’s probably the most knowledgeable player on YT when it comes to modellers. 🤷🏻♂️
I think all of these modelers are extremely close to each other soundwise. Pretty much ndistinguishable in a band mix. I think what it boils down to is which workflow works best for you. In my case i really like how intuitive the TM Pro looks, for my preference.
This thing is EVERYWHERE! On my YT page - there were 5 screens in a row and a few more above and below! Talk about a co-ordinated media blitz. Enjoying the vid - I tend to avoid the retailer ones and the 'excited and yelly' individuals . . . look forward to a 'how do I feel after a few weeks' follow-up and comparison with the other ones you work with. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
THIS was the review I was waiting for! Tons of useful insights and comparisons (vs. Line 6 Helix, Quad Cortex, Kemper and Fractal) from someone who is a true expert in using modelers. Great first impression video. I'm in the "benefit of the doubt" phase with this product and purchased the unit. Just from watching the videos I feel like I already know how to operate this. Making things simple and intuitive is hard, thoughtful work that should not be discounted as "aimed at beginners"--pros benefit too! I've had a Line 6 HX Stomp, a Helix floor model, and the Helix Native software for years and still feel intimidated when I use it. I don't feel I use them to their full potential. The skeuomorphism of the Fender TMP helps a lot with reducing the number of things you have to keep track of in your head (cognitive load) and making the product feel familiar and easy to use out of the box. I hoping Line 6 continues in the skeuomorphic direction it's started to with the Pod Go. And a touch screen would be nice. And a phone/tablet app. Out of the gate, Fender got these things right. Fender wouldn't risk putting serious resources and effort in this product without a game plan to eventually dominate as the #1 or #2 player in this segment. This is Fenders "minimum viable product", the least feature packed product they could release without risking ridicule and brand cred. The specs on this product would suggest that this device is capable of much more than what's being shown at launch. I'm looking forward to how the Fender TMP will evolve and how it will push the competition to up their game as well. UPDATE: Purchased the TMP along with the companion Fender FR-12 cabinet. I've had several hours to play with it. It's pretty impressive, especially when used with the desktop app. Only took 10 minutes before I felt like I was navigating it like a pro. It is stupid easy to use. I'm a massive Smiths fan, and for ages I have been chasing the tremolo sound of "How Soon Is Now?". To see it as a stock preset (46 How Late Is Then?) made me literally squeal and jump joy! 🤣 Fender put a LOT of thought into the user experience. Easily the most friction-free modeler I've ever used. Still need to A-B test it with the Helix and work through the initial excitement of the first few weeks of the honeymoon period before I can be objective about it. Still, I haven't felt this excited about a product in several years.
It's so refreshing to hear any unbiased opinions on a new product. I'm tired of RUclips being flooded with videos by the usual suspects every time new gear gets released. This has to be the best channel for anything related to modellers.
This unit does look very easy to use, I like that, but there's a huge shadow looming over it that anyone, who's used Fender digital stuff, already knows. The sole concern I have for anyone who buys this is Fender's notorious lack of software support. The GTX line has not gotten any type of update since November '21; it came out in January '20. At 1/3 the price of this unit, people have bought a product that was essentially abandoned in software. What happens when Fender disables the ability to use an app, like my Super Champ X2? For most people it'll be face value when that happens, unless someone creates a third party app to support it.
@@RobertNolan Fair point. Anyone remember the Fender Mustang Floor? LOL I would be surprised if they abandoned such an expensive device, but their track record doesn't inspire confidence.
I don't think they'll dominate the market. I'm a Fender Guitar fan-got two USA Strats. They're very late to the market and this product is expensive. I expect to see some 'lite' versions along the way to entice youngsters and financially challenged - aren't we all at the moment! They'll lose market share until they can offer a version in every segment.
@@southwestshooters Thanks southwest, but I think that exact thing every time I hear John play. So good, AND you can tell there's a low key hidden rocker under that calm fusion awesomeness. 😁🤘
@@BigHairyGuitars well, I can certainly vouch for that Michael as I have jammed with John and I typically end up not sure if I should keep playing. It's lovely to converse with you, your tone and playing is top tier.
I never used the capture function or profiling in any of my other devices so overall this is more convenient, intuitive, portable and sounds as good as my Kemper or Quad Cortex. They all have more options than I would EVER use.
These are exactly the same thoughts I have… I think the form-factor and UI is spot-on for my use cases. I much prefer that any foot/expression pedals are separate and optional from the unit. Similarly, the frfr speaker is an optional accessory and not an all-in-one type system.
Agree with most of your comments. There are other brands that have been in the modelling and capture/profiling world for a while and fender has a lot of catching up to do. Although, for someone looking for their first modeller, I think the TM pro's UI itself makes this a great choice. As a former fractal and quad cortex user, I found this easier to use. It's a steep price for most people though but is it worth it? Too early to tell.
My concern is that Yamaha/Line 6 has had an age to work on something better. If their flagship is quickly superseded by other manufacturers then Fender will either have to abandon it or replace it with another product. I think this is more competition in the marketplace, which is great news for consumers but not necessarily for Fender customers.
The thing is because they are software based, as long as the product has plenty of processing power, and the company puts in the support for the device then they have something which is relatively future proof and they can regularly address and refine the UI and the sound. Look at how long the helix has been out and because of its power and the continued updates from line6 it is better sounding than ever. It does look like this fender has plenty of processing power to move forward, let’s just hope Fender are going to put the ongoing support for it. I do really really like the look of this pedal.
Awesome Video...As a QC, Helix, Headrush and Boss owner...who does not own a single amp or pedal, I just placed an order for this Fender and cannot wait to get it. For me it's 100% UI and scribble strip that sold me on this unit. I won't be selling any of my other modelers, just hoping this unit is simple enough for me to actually enjoy building presets. We will see.
I had to go ahead and subscribe bro. Your consistency and quality are commendable. You pumpin these videos out like a beast!!! How are you this productive and the videos are still top notch?! Much respect
One thing thats nice about this is they don’t try to give you sooooo many things to choose you can get lost in all the options instead of playing the guitar. Changing parameters is so much more intuitive.
Man I am so tired of seeing these videos everywhere already. That being said, your review was very well done. I can't see myself getting one of these unless I were in a very, very specific scenario. Subbed!
Yeah, Fender marketing sure went all out, handing out these like candy, and of course, no one that gets $1,700 free will say anything bad about it. I'm not the market segment for this, but as with movies and tv shows, I'll wait for the users reviews.
Sounds good to me, big fan of the screen and usability compared to the rivals - seems simple. Couldn’t get my head round an HX stomp at all, this seems to look useable
Finally the one opinion I care about ;) I am pretty underwhelmed by this unit sound/tone. Id say it actually sounds very unpleasant/cheap... probably because I have an HX Stomp and I watch your videos basically every day lol. There's barely any amps in this and the price is absolutely outrageous for what you get. For me, this doesn't even come close to the Fractal/Helix stuff and I'm actually surprised at how much it sucks haha
Those Fender amps sound really superb (probably as expected though right). They come across (and ive watched a few demos now) sounding much better than the Helix ones in my opinion. And that interface coupled with the rotary footswitches are excellent. I wont be selling my Helix just yet, but I'll be keeping a watchful eye on what people say after actually using it live, week in and week out.
A good honest first impression from someone who has a lot of experience with modellers, so thank you. As someone who hasn’t used a modeller before but is thinking about it, first impressions are important. It does appear very intuitive to use. Looking forward to seeing your updates and if it grows on you over the coming weeks.
Absolutely refreshing to see an actual proper review/demo of this. It’s been nauseating to see the usual YT clique gushing over this. Obviously it’s to be expected that the retailers will big this up as it’s in their interest to do so, but some of the YT crowd reviewing this, should be ashamed of themselves for being a part of such a massive corporate marketing push. I’m sure some would sell the own children to get in bed with Fender. Will be interesting to see how many of them continue to use it over the next couple of months ( particularly the ones who don’t use modellers). That’s not to say I’m not gassing for one and for the most part it seems to be moving in the right direction. However, your review reminds me that none of the modellers are really just plug n play and all of them require a certain element of ‘deep diving’, which is where I get off, as anything I have to scroll in, through, up and down with instantly kills my muse and leaves me running back to my little Blackstar amped 2 set up.. Thanks for putting this out so quickly, you may have just saved me £1650 😏🙏🎸
Having had a QC and then selling the QC in favor of the FM9, I’d say that this looks more inviting than the QC in terms of the touch screen, and the launch day feature set. It also seems to be able to insta-switch a much larger preset than the Helix can? I’m not giving up the FM9, but here in the states this is the same price at Sweetwater as the Helix Floor or the QC, and if Fender has some good updates in the first 6-9 months then I think I’ll add this to the collection. As for capture tech, I don’t have any gear to capture, and the fractal stuff has shown me that if the modeling is done right, it’s at worst just as good as capture and at best it’s more flexible than capture (maybe not with liquid captures, but again I don’t have any amps to capture anymore)
So what do you think of your decision now that you have had both? Are you happy with the FM9? It sure seems like it is pretty fantastic. I have a QC and I love it, but it doesn't seem as robust in terms of numbers of devices. How does the sound compare? I am interested because they now seem available.
Well, like I said capture tech does nothing for me personally, so that’s not a plus for me or a negative toward the FM9. Sound wise, I got great tones out of the QC, and I’m getting great tones out of the FM9. I didn’t think I’d appreciate the computer programming on the FM9 as much as I do, also it’s faster for me to get great tones from the FM9 that it was for me on the QC. Overall I’ve been happier longer with the FM9 than I was with the QC. I have thought about picking one up again because like almost all guitar players we get GAS. But I’ve been leaning more toward waiting a few months and seeing where this Fender unit goes and giving it a whirl. I’m not doing this with the intention of ever getting rid of the FM9, it’s too good for me compared to everything else I’ve had at this point, but having something else to just take a break and give something else a spin every once and a while would be nice too.
I've liked all three of those at one point or another. FM9 is the one I have and am keeping, only reason I sold my FM3 is because I got the email invite for the FM9 and when I got it, it was the FM3 on steroids. (which also just made me start thinking about the AxeIII) The QC is super friendly as far as programming from the unit with no computer interface, I just got tired of waiting for launch day features for over a year. Sounds like a lot of that is resolved or getting resolved very soon now. Fractal just has a great data base of amps, cabs, and while everything else has at least a dozen good amp models available these days, I will say Fractal has more quality effects than pretty much everything else, everyone has a good effect or two, but Fractal has more, a lot more. So, they're all good and you can get a great sound out of anything pretty much at this point with the proper effort, but for my money that effort is easier and the end result is more time jamming with Fractal. As far as between the FM3 or 9, it depends on what is available, but if the FM9 is in the budget and available then I like the larger format and the ability to build a larger preset too.
I was going to disagree with a couple of your points, but after seeing the unboxing I'm thinking it's probably best just to nod my head and agree with you.
It is Elodie!!!! I know one thing it has to get real soon, a great Dumble, and Trainwreck amps. I would like to see a Magnatone/personally. What will make or break the unit survival wise, is UPDATES, and how fast they come. AT it's price point it needs them badly. But honestly best user interface I ever seen, both the machine and Computer match, Brett kingman showed them together.
The one thing that stands clear from multiple demos, even the ones with flawed audio recordings, is that the clean sounds, like Fender and Vox - is better than other modelers. In that respect, it brings something very important to the table compared to the competition.
@@johnnathancordy Please Remember to do the Firmware Update AND factory Reset - as the unit is shipped with pre-production firmware. More amps and corrected sound anomalies have been confirmed by TGP users. Fenders modeling tech is based on the Tone Master amps, and takes a long time to create for each amp, and you hear that the Tone Master amps have much more realistic top end and break up than many other digital solutions.
@@johnnathancordyGreat idea for a video. You're the RUclipsr we trust to make this comparison. Tone Master vs Helix vs Fractal. We're counting on you Jonathan
The user interface and functionality look great. The way forward is for smartphone App and Touchscreen functions to combine up to make developing patches easier which means not having to be tethered to a laptop eg like with Fractal/Helix products currently. I am hoping that a smaller HX Stomp/Headrush Core type Fender version will follow and I am hoping that Line 6/Fractal etc develop products with this type of mobile use functionality in mind...ie, no computers being required to use the modeller. The other modelling manufacturers have to keep up with this surely. Now we need a tone comparison with all the other floor modeller units. Direct comparisons are probably the best way to evaluatie tones etc. Thanks for the review JC.
@@pads-zr9lnYes... That was my point for other modelling units to follow the touchscreen and App functionality of the Fender unit. Maybe that was unclear in my note. Cheers
Thanks for being the contrary voice. I had a feeling listening to the tones on the other channels that they weren't all they were cracked up to be. Decent enough, and amazing UI, but not gonna make me sell any of my Helix gear. I will say, I think the Tone Master Pro would be an amazing choice as a pedalboard replacement. The thing I missed the most using my HX Stomp XL as a primary rig is the instant tweakability. Run the TMP into an amp with an amp model programmed but bypassed as a backup (or possibly into FOH), and it really fulfills that tweakability aspect.
The fact that it has zero gap between presets changes makes possible to have several incredibly different "snapshots" at disposal when in preset mode. If the tones and effects are good, this could be awesome. I'd like to know if the pitch effects are polyphonic, though.
As someone totally new to this world, and is in the market for one such device, there are a bunch of little things that attract me to this. The UI, the large screen and no power brick, the footswitch spacing, and that it has the desktop editor on day one are all huge pluses. Of course, tone is king in the conversation, but better tones sound like they could come down the road, if Fender chooses to do that, but they got a lot of the stuff “you can’t fix later” correct IMHO. Now, watch Line 6 make an update to the Helix in six months that blows this away, LOL…
Honestly when it comes to tone I think we've hit diminishing returns. If a cheap Chinese product like NUX can make something indistinguishable to a real amp then we're done. It can't get any better than this.
@@NedJeffery I think we still have a long way to go. Can we get close to a single tone? Yes. But you cant go from sparkling cleans to screaming distortion the same way you can with high voltage tubes. Maybe some people dont care about that, but I do.
Fender dropped the ball on the drop-day amp selection. I would have made sure to include some cult classic Fender amps that few other modelers have. Amps this is missing: -tweed deluxe, champ, twin, pro -brown princeton, deluxe, pro, vibroverb -black vibrolux, champ, bassman head -Pro Jr -Rivera-era 'Evil Twin' -Super Champ -Super Sonic -Excelsior Imagine having so many classic amps in your history, dropping an amp modeler for such a high price, and having that many hugely influential amps unaccounted for.
I'm pretty sure every single modeler ever had additional amp profiles added via updates. You really think a company with as many resources as Fender, trying to break into a hugely competitive new segment, aren't going to support the hell out of this thing post-launch? This isn't some rag-tag garage project like Neural DSP, this thing is undoubtedly going to become more and more feature-packed as time goes on
@@gdawgs101 of course they're going to have updates (that's why i said "drop day amp selection"), but i think they missed a massive opportunity to hit the market with a comprehensive selection of iconic Fender amps. for the price, the amp and effects list is a bit of a joke to me. perhaps it'll be worth the price later, but no company should be jumping into a competitive market with a product of this price that'll be 'worth the money later'
@@davelouis4004 of course they're going to have updates, but they missed an opportunity to hit the market with a unique selection of Fender amps from the get-go. I wouldn't pay this much for a modeler that has so little to set it apart from the competition in the hopes that it'll be worth the money later after an update
I like the form factor very much. I'd love a Line6 product like that. A Helix LT for 1000€ without a touchscreen and the expression pedal but with the scribble scripts and the capacitance buttons. Also, the reputation of Fender on the update firmware side of things is not good...
I'm looking forward to when you've had the time to deep dive into this unit, and make your own presets, snapshots (if possible with this unit)... You made it sound good right out of the box, and we all know with your ear, and a bit of tweaking, the sounds will be awesome!
Great first look/review of this modeler. After looking at other reviews it seems that tube amp players will still like the tube amps and for the modeler players this sits right in there with most of the other modelers sound wise. To me the user interface is far more friendly than say the Fractal units which I think is a big advantage for newer players going into the modeler world. The other thing is that there is no mention of the processing power of this unit in the specs or reviews. So not sure what is actually possible with this unit in the future as far as updates and new features. First release firmware except in a few cases are never the end product for something like this especially at this cost point. I really think that it is the Fractal world that is being left behind. Fractal still has in my opinion the best sounding modelers on the market however their user interface is really complex and in depth which for some probably may not be really wanted or needed. All the reviews of this unit are still very early and we should expect more in depth reviews and comparisons to similar units. Would really like to see the reviews and comparisons on the new Fender FRFR amp/cabs that were released at the same time as the modeler. We need to give this some time before jumping to any final conclusions.
I don't know man. I think right out of the box, to me, it has a more "amp-like" sound than I've heard you play from other boxes, and you've had amazing tone from those other boxes. I think this is a step up. JMNSHO
Just wanna put it out there that for someone who doesn't live in a first world country it's much easier to get your hands on one of these and actually try it, the difference between a QC and one of these here in SA price wise is negligible (R41995 QC - R42495 TM)- If anything happens and the unit needs repair I know Fender are generally pretty on it with that stuff (which is not to say that QC wouldn't be but just that there is a distribution framework to consider) so being out in a country that doesn't have easy access to these things that's a pretty big consideration. Fender say they have a 10 year roadmap for support of this unit - obviously only time will tell if that does end up being the case, but honestly I think it's genuinely a great product. Will it dethrone the other kings of this market? Maybe, maybe not but credit where it's due they've done their homework and this thing delivers a standard that at least shows they've put real consideration behind doing this right.
Appreciate this comment. A primary concern for me is the long-term support for the product. My reluctance to invest in the Quad Cortex has always been the overpromise/underdeliver long-term support. How long has it been since they promised a desktop editor and they STILL don't have one?
I'll agree on the distribution network for repairs is a big deal considering the price, but that's pretty much the only thing that Fender has over the competition (not the Helix though, since Yamaha is everywhere). In terms of a 10 year roadmap, I'd call bullshit. 10 years in software is a very long time and no-one at line6 or Kemper could forsee a 8-12 year product life cycle. Neural can't roadmap, too. Yes, they can roadmap new amp/effects algorithms, but that won't be a drastic leap to what is out now. Modelling is about to hit the same stage as pedals: It's becoming like buying a tubescreamer, except now it's algorithms/licenses. Unless they're working on some sort of VST running update or have acquired the rights and licenses for stuff like Chase Bliss that is not in any other modeller yet, it's just another tubescreamer.
One of the things that brought me to your channel was your blind tests. Would love an EJ tone blind test with this vs Fractal, QC, Helix, Ampero II etc. It could be any tone but yeah.. if you could find the time for that.. it would tell a lot. I've been unconvinced by the tones so far but love the UI. I was happy to see this video as it shows I'm not alone in some of my first impressions. Really good point about the UI making it sound better because we can see the amp knobs and it makes it feel more real (without necessarily sounding more real) but I think a blind test with no UI.. just seeing you play the same thing through different devices would tell a lot. The song isn't important, as long as you tweak each device to sound best (to your ear). The other thing about this is the price.. it really needs to sound good especially if it doesn't have capture technology. Maybe with some tweaks on a custom preset it could sound awesome? But it'd be nice to see that put to the test and blind tests are awesome for taking out our biases.
Hey John, thanks for doing this review. As someone who is considering buying a biggish modeler, I am weighing up the Fender against the new version of the FM3. Curious on your thought about the quality of the reverb and delays in the fender vs the fractal. The fractal definitely has amazing spatial sounds and your video here sounded like the fender has pretty decent spatial sounds as well. Interesting because this did not come across on the video demos from other channels. Anyways thanks again for your video 🙂
If it has the same fizzy overdrive as the Mustang gtx, no thanks. The touchscreen features are more important than a lot of people admit. Quad Quartex and Headrush are currently best, imo.
Man, the UI compared to Fractal especially is great looking. Looks very similar to me to IK Amplitube but with physical controls and a touchscreen. Fractal sounds great but feels like MS DOS on the unit itself. Can't wait for some real sound comparisons though to Fractal and Helix because like you say, you can't play the UI. Ha. Curious what you think about feel and latency too.
Hey, i grew up on MS dos and its great. I would love to see these kids now a days try and play a PC but have to configure a soundblaster in dos 1st. Running Wing Commander on 5 floppy discs via dos is very satisfying
Nice honest demo! Sadly two big deal breakers (1) No internal power for pedals like TC Electronic G System (2) Footswitches are to close together. It's a great unit but someone needs to look at the G System and design a similar layout but with all the new technology of today.
Had a play with one today. Unit feels a bit cheap- much prefer the QC form factor. Screen graphics are lovely but the screen is laggy- I hated the lag. I did end up buying the FRFR12 that fender also released. Now that’s great- paired with my QC finally I’ve got real amp in room sound. People haven’t given fender enough props for doing a great cab to go with modellers. The 12” is way better than the Kemper cab.
John Nathan! VERY IMPORTANT ! DID YOU UPDATE AND FACTORY RESET THE UNIT? It's been reported by TGP users that it really does make a big difference, even on sound, but adding more amps and functionality?
It's been stated by Fender representatives on TGP that the unit is shipped with a pre-production firmware, and confirmed by users that already got and tried the unit that the update will add more amps and functionality, and that the sound is better, removing some reported artefacts or high end frequency anomalies. Both the update AND a Factory Reset is needed, confirmed by users.
I know it's a lot more to add to your costs, but I'm really curious this paired with their new FRFR cabs in a live context. As someone who gigs, the question is do you get that decent amp in the room feel with the cab with the versatility of sending direct to FOH with your dialed in presets (I really like that the cab seems to have some EQ on it that isn't affecting the FOH setup, so you can dial in the amp to the feel how you want in the room while sending your preset signal to FOH). Like the new Headrush stuff it also seems like you can do a microphone in, so you can possibly do vocal stuff which is pretty cool for a grab and go gigging setup for a singer/songwriter or just a person doing covers with backing tracks (Bluetooth too). That means it has the versatility to bring to a rock cover gig with a band and then go out the next night as a solo artist and literally bring the exact same setup. The other draw to me is the easy tweakability on the fly with the foot switches becoming knobs to just twist and dial in a tones. That's really the problem with the HX stomp I have, navigating the menus on the fly to change something quickly during a rehearsal or gig is daunting (which is probably my fault for not spending more time with it not plugged into the computer as it's so much easier to change with HX Edit). It definitely feels like Fender actually spent time with the other units and really asked themselves, ok this works but how do we make it better or easier or more useful. If nothing else, hopefully this continues to push the digital modelling/capture units further as more and more brands enter the market. This is the future of guitar playing IMO, the idea of dragging a 70lb amp with only one sound in it to a gig on a 6 foot by 6 foot stage in the corner of a bar to play for an hour or two just seems more and more silly.
Ola Englund had the FRFR as well and did he's review using both together. Not sure if metal tones were your thing but at least for those it sounded really good!
I am a Headrush Pedalboard user and I also have a Fender Mustang III V2. It looks and sounds like a great unit...my concern is Fender continuing to fully support it with firmware updates and repair support if it decides to misbehave. My Mustang III V2 is a great modeling amp... which still works and sounds great many years later. But Fender just suddenly dropped all support when they came out with their next generation of Mustang amps, which were not as good amps. The Tonemaster series of amps have been great for a few years...lots of support new models and firmware updates. When is the day when they move on to some other product and suddenly stop supporting the Tonemaster Pro? Headrush is great but very slow with updates..now they have new products Prime and Core... but there is word of an update for the older series of products...thank you very much. Before I invest $1700, and a lot of time learning a new system, and creating my own sounds...how do I know Fender will remain on board as my partner helping me to better using their product? I like that they have a desktop interface app...Headrush will not ever apparently...their touchscreen is all you need...per Headrush. Expression pedal is almost $200 add on...God this is just very expensive!
I have to agree about the lack of amp models that are in this unit. The Mustang GTX, which is what I'm going to guess the UI is based on, had way more models in it. The one I was sad to not see is the Supersonic. That is such a unique line of amps that Fender makes and it sounds so good. Also, where are the bass amps? The reason I chose Helix over Ampero and Headrush is the amount of options there are available for bass players. I find this strange coming from a company that produces some of the most iconic bass guitars. Other than that, everything else seems fine. The UI is intuitive, the amp models sound good, and it has enough basic effects to choose from. Do wish it wasn't so pricey compared to what other high end modelers are capable of doing.
More amps incl bass amps will be in the next firmware update if I read the press release right. I believe they pushed it out before all the amps were modeled because of how close we are to x-mas - so, they needed it out here before all presents were bought 😉🎧
You have to remember that there was an update already available for the Day 1 release which JC skipped over, and I'm sure more will be released shortly. And I am not really a fan of this product it's too expensive, but, look at what they added in the update - more will be coming it will be like Christmas for the owners of the unit.
Another observation - when you tried to add a new block to the "Wide Eddie" preset it looked like you couldn't add anything else because you were on "combo" amps. It does appear that a preset can only contain two cabinets, so you are not able to add any new combos, half-stacks, or cabinets, but you can add amps and other effects. I don't know if this also applies to IRs.
John I am not going to read all previous comments to see if this has been addressed but I have to ask: did you do the firmware update AND a factory reset? According to many users from TGP and Fender that is crucial especially regarding the quality of the preset sounds.
i have a tone master super reverb... and im 65... i have been a tube amp all my life.. im also MAKING A LIVIING with my STUDIO. too much is less... just saying.. in a studio stetting.. this is great. for most conposer artist wanna be.. less is more. . always.
In comparison. A Helix feature that rules them all is the ability to use the sweep of the foot pedal to control all perimeters (one at a time) when dialing in effects and amps, speakers ... if the item of equipment has an adjustment you can put it on the foot pedal and adjust it whilst playing. Sooo much better than fiddle, play, fiddle play, ..... Not many reviews highlight this Helix feature, but its invaluable. Cheers
I’m not sure whether to say congratulations on your new acquisition. I have a feeling it will be returned or sold on. Again I’ll say, there are a plethora of modellers available today, all offering more or less the same and, for those with super hearing, higher and lower quality sound effects. This one comes with a nice built in flat screen TV, but that’s about it. Still waiting for the “next big thing”, which was, by my estimates, the Kemper. If I were to give in to GAS, and part with my cash, it would have to be the Friedman IR-X. I have enough effects pedals.
Did I just watch someone unbox with basically a sword? I wondered if you kept looking offscreen because you left it on the floor and the nipper was crawling toward it😂
I really like the form factor and physical design. It sounds like you can get it to sound as good as any other modelers. I never really care for factory presets. I may have missed it, but does this have a snapshot mode, or is it just preset and footswitch / stomp? I can't see any reason to buy this if you already have a Helix or Quad Cortex. I can see a lot of people who are coming from the analog world liking the screen showing a representation of the amp / stomp-boxes.
It’s pretty clear that the “X sent me this product to review, but I can say whatever I want” argument essentially means “they sent me this product, and as long as I don’t say anything negative about, I’ll get the next product they release as well”
Thanks for the short review, John. Hopefully more to come from you here with the new 7ender. Yesterday Greg Koch on Wildwood Guitars YTube did some tunes, too.
This (assuming that the reverbs and delays are great) is really everything I've wanted in a modeler, so I'm interested in it as a concept. I'm honestly not a customer for anything in this price range. I'm not sold that a capture is better than a modeler. I would rather have the versatility of a model over a moment in my amp that is manipulated by an eq and drive. I think the notion that this could be the last in the line of 1st gen modelers is really interesting. I don't know what a gen 2 would look like, but it is an interesting thought.
John, I knew we could count on you for one of the few truly honest reviews. I've spent the last 48 hours feeling gaslighted by all my favorite youtubers who all seem like Fender is holding one of their family members hostage.
Seriously. Even Brett Kingman - in the comments someone asked him to demo it against the Fractal, and he said “no point really, different machines aimed at a different user.” What!? Similar price point doing exactly the same thing.
@@poesybeat ...Wow. That speaks volumes. I've never been a big fan of Brett's content to be honest, but that really seals the deal. Gaslighting indeed.
It seems like if Line6 ever decided to update their hardware with a higher resolution screen (possibly a touch screen), higher quality/faster A/D conversion, and more processing power, they would instantly catch up with all competitors. Like if the helix had a nice screen with more detailed UI, the ability to run any effect in all slots at once without running out of DSP, and seamless switching, it would jump right back to the top. I personally am okay with Forgoing the touch screen to keep cost down. To me a touch screen is just another thing that can break. Line6 has also said that the Helix is already physically capable of doing profiling, but they avoid going into that realm because of their close relationship with Kemper. But they said they would roll it out in an update if profiling becomes the standard.
I love my blonde Tone Master Deluxe Reverb, but I got it AND an HX Stomp XL used for less than HALF the price of one of these new. Price is hard to justify, but understand the neccesity of high price to ensure that the market takes a new a Fender modeling product "seriously" relative to its competitors.
Every video I’ve heard with this modeler has sounded pretty good. It might not be stand out but it seems to be based on some user feedback that it’s not so hard to learn; it’s not hard to achieve a good tone; and then there’s the preset spillover capability. The UI looks great, I’m hoping it gives the Helix a run for its money. I won’t give it a negative mark because it doesn’t offer captures. That’s a relatively young feature for the market. I think Tonex sounds amazing but wasn’t a fan of their editor. The helix sells for $1699 and it’s tech from years ago plus you have to really learn how to work it to get usable sounds. I think Fender is in to something here. I hope it’s enough to speed up a Helix Gen 2
Yeah seem that once your at the point that these units are indistinguishable in feel and tone from what they are recreating why are expecting new units to sound mind blowingly better How could it be
Loved the video - nice job. The Mission Engineering co branded and custom painted expression pedal is an obvious add on. The built in toe switch can be used to switch between volume and wah for example or switch one or more effects on/off. Will open up the control and creative power of the Tone Master Pro. The Mission SP1-TMP has a mono wired toe switch, that is needed
I'm quite happy with my Helix floor ever since 3.5 firmware. It does very well with external pedals running into it's 4 FX loops. The plugin is equally as good in Pro Tools. For a non professional player I can't justify paying $1700 again for another modeler. From a money perspective the Neural Modeler from Steve Acktinson is very good with the right profile if your into DAWs.
I tried the Helix the Prime the pod go I personally like the fender much better because I’m a singer who plays guitar. I just could not wrap my head around the software on the other units. I will get a quad cortex eventually. Fender is also adding to the unit regularly if they keep it up it will mature into a great product line.
How do you feel the dynamic response is in comparison to the Helix and Neural? Is the Neural colder or is this more touch responsive? Does it have a parametric and graphic eq and stereo delays?
Had a look through the models/pedals selection on Fender's website and noticed a couple of strange omissions from the range - there's no 'Tweed' style amps (say like a 5e3 Deluxe or Harvard), and there isn't anything 'small' like say a Vibrochamp, which would have made good additions. Perhaps holding back so they have something to add in a near future update? 🤔
Not really in competition with QC for me although it has some nice features. I can't capture my amps on this; but I could capture a Tonemaster on my QC.
Sooooo. I have been using the Quad Cortex for a couple years now but always needed an external midi controller. But this seems like that kind of thing is bundled in, and the seamless transition of rigs is really quite astounding. It’s the one thing that Quad Cortex is inching closer to but not quite there yet. I will sit on any decision for a while but damn this does look good but the multiple signal paths and flexibility / monolithic approach is still more appealing to me.
1:45 ❤CUTIE!!!❤ The preset sounds are really rough and yanky and way closer to my taste than the Helix presets. They almost sound like a good live outboard recording. I'd love to find out how to get more of that on the Helix
Everyone seems to be missing a key point when it comes to the price of this unit. The target audience for this product is 60yo men with lots of spare cash and time. People who have their favourite 60s custom shop tele. And have never played anything other than a tube amp. That's why skeuomorphism, usability, and FRFR cabs are so important. It's also reasonable professional tool. I expect to see a lot of artists using this in the future. Ones that are still holding out lugging their vibroverb around.
The lack of capture is a huge deal. Even if you don't plan to use capture yourself it does open up a huge library of sound with other users sharing. It also gives an opportunity for third parties to create high quality amp sounds that often sounded better than those that shipped with the unit. I still think Quad Cortex is unique in using both captures and models together.
Quad cortex failed to keep their promises of updates and have basically hurt the unit. I'm seeing them all over reverb and Facebook marketplace now. I bought the fender TMP and I'm selling my quad cortex I never even used to capture feature on mine I stay in a small circle and don't know anyone that would even have the amps I'd want to capture.
@stringsattached67 They just released Cortex Control and first plug in support is very close. If you have held on to now it seems you are bailing out right when they finally make good on their promises. Fender is not known for updates. Mustang floor was abandoned. Mustang and Tonemaster amps were never updated. Out of all modellers Kemper is the king of updates and added functionality.
@stringsattached67 No. I don't gig, so I am not the target market. I do understand the appeal though, if you are gigging musician that normally uses Deluxe Reverb or Princeton this would definitely be a game changer. In the studio I use Kemper, QC, Iridium and a bunch of preamps from Synergy and Effectrode. I keep the QC for modern sounds. To be honest if I was gigging I would have traded them all for Fractal!
I have a Quad Cortex. At this point I will keep it, but if I was buying a modeler and had to choose between a QC, and Fender Tone Master Pro, I would probably go with the Tone Master Pro. 1. The user interface is better, 2. it has scribble scrips, 3. I do not consider the capturing aspect of the QC a factor, and, 4. the Tone Master looks like it can do everything I need it to do. I would have to be convinced the sound is as good as the QC, though. If the choice was between the QC, Tone Master Pro and the Fractal FM9, I'd be very tempted to go with the FM9 solely based on the variety of amps, cabs and effects, and I assume the sound is as good if not better than the other two. That being said, I really love the QC and I know how to navigate through it pretty well, at least to suit my needs.
Still trying to keep an open mind. I'm sure that - as you learn the unit - you will dial in better tones. But first impressions: it's a '78 Ford Pinto with a new paint job and new wheels and tires. Yeah, it looks better - but it sounds pretty mediocre. I didn't hear anything that you couldn't already get out of an HX Stomp. The display is gorgeous - but we buy these for the sounds that come out of them.
John, in a world of paid for promotion and videos which are just glorified adverts, your channel is a breath of fresh air. Thanks for your honest take on the fender tone master pro.
Don't lose sight of the fact that anyone getting paid or supported by any particular brand product, can also throw a subtle red herring to give a less than favourable review for their main supporter of any competitors product.
This should be the only kind of demo that should be allowed. Hate paid reviews as you cant always distinguish wich is paid or not.
@@LIKEFUNKAgreed. But if you followed up John's work for long enough you'd see that's not the case with him.
You took the words 😂 right out of my brain lol John is not only a expert at these units but like me, I feel he is actually open to new things with limited reservations. If it's great he will show you, if it isn't he will show you... In real world application
It’s bizarre that John wouldn’t be Fenders first choice for them to demo this given he’s probably the most knowledgeable player on YT when it comes to modellers. 🤷🏻♂️
I think all of these modelers are extremely close to each other soundwise. Pretty much ndistinguishable in a band mix. I think what it boils down to is which workflow works best for you. In my case i really like how intuitive the TM Pro looks, for my preference.
This thing is EVERYWHERE! On my YT page - there were 5 screens in a row and a few more above and below! Talk about a co-ordinated media blitz. Enjoying the vid - I tend to avoid the retailer ones and the 'excited and yelly' individuals . . . look forward to a 'how do I feel after a few weeks' follow-up and comparison with the other ones you work with. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
THIS was the review I was waiting for! Tons of useful insights and comparisons (vs. Line 6 Helix, Quad Cortex, Kemper and Fractal) from someone who is a true expert in using modelers. Great first impression video.
I'm in the "benefit of the doubt" phase with this product and purchased the unit. Just from watching the videos I feel like I already know how to operate this. Making things simple and intuitive is hard, thoughtful work that should not be discounted as "aimed at beginners"--pros benefit too! I've had a Line 6 HX Stomp, a Helix floor model, and the Helix Native software for years and still feel intimidated when I use it. I don't feel I use them to their full potential. The skeuomorphism of the Fender TMP helps a lot with reducing the number of things you have to keep track of in your head (cognitive load) and making the product feel familiar and easy to use out of the box. I hoping Line 6 continues in the skeuomorphic direction it's started to with the Pod Go. And a touch screen would be nice. And a phone/tablet app. Out of the gate, Fender got these things right.
Fender wouldn't risk putting serious resources and effort in this product without a game plan to eventually dominate as the #1 or #2 player in this segment. This is Fenders "minimum viable product", the least feature packed product they could release without risking ridicule and brand cred. The specs on this product would suggest that this device is capable of much more than what's being shown at launch. I'm looking forward to how the Fender TMP will evolve and how it will push the competition to up their game as well.
UPDATE: Purchased the TMP along with the companion Fender FR-12 cabinet. I've had several hours to play with it. It's pretty impressive, especially when used with the desktop app. Only took 10 minutes before I felt like I was navigating it like a pro. It is stupid easy to use. I'm a massive Smiths fan, and for ages I have been chasing the tremolo sound of "How Soon Is Now?". To see it as a stock preset (46 How Late Is Then?) made me literally squeal and jump joy! 🤣 Fender put a LOT of thought into the user experience. Easily the most friction-free modeler I've ever used. Still need to A-B test it with the Helix and work through the initial excitement of the first few weeks of the honeymoon period before I can be objective about it. Still, I haven't felt this excited about a product in several years.
It's so refreshing to hear any unbiased opinions on a new product. I'm tired of RUclips being flooded with videos by the usual suspects every time new gear gets released. This has to be the best channel for anything related to modellers.
This unit does look very easy to use, I like that, but there's a huge shadow looming over it that anyone, who's used Fender digital stuff, already knows.
The sole concern I have for anyone who buys this is Fender's notorious lack of software support. The GTX line has not gotten any type of update since November '21; it came out in January '20. At 1/3 the price of this unit, people have bought a product that was essentially abandoned in software.
What happens when Fender disables the ability to use an app, like my Super Champ X2? For most people it'll be face value when that happens, unless someone creates a third party app to support it.
Learned a new word. And a good one! Skeuomorphism. Thanks!
@@RobertNolan Fair point. Anyone remember the Fender Mustang Floor? LOL I would be surprised if they abandoned such an expensive device, but their track record doesn't inspire confidence.
I don't think they'll dominate the market. I'm a Fender Guitar fan-got two USA Strats. They're very late to the market and this product is expensive. I expect to see some 'lite' versions along the way to entice youngsters and financially challenged - aren't we all at the moment! They'll lose market share until they can offer a version in every segment.
Whoa! You got one fast! Can’t wait to watch this! Cuuuuuuute baby! What a great time! My babies are in HighSchool now. I miss those little baby guys.
John, this dude is a MONSTEROUS player. I hope you realise you are in the presence of a beast. I think this unit sounds great!!!!
@@southwestshooters Thanks southwest, but I think that exact thing every time I hear John play. So good, AND you can tell there's a low key hidden rocker under that calm fusion awesomeness. 😁🤘
@@BigHairyGuitars well, I can certainly vouch for that Michael as I have jammed with John and I typically end up not sure if I should keep playing. It's lovely to converse with you, your tone and playing is top tier.
I never used the capture function or profiling in any of my other devices so overall this is more convenient, intuitive, portable and sounds as good as my Kemper or Quad Cortex. They all have more options than I would EVER use.
My thoughts exactly!
These are exactly the same thoughts I have… I think the form-factor and UI is spot-on for my use cases. I much prefer that any foot/expression pedals are separate and optional from the unit. Similarly, the frfr speaker is an optional accessory and not an all-in-one type system.
JNC is my trusted source for all things modeling. His patches and advice are always immensely helpful
Agree with most of your comments. There are other brands that have been in the modelling and capture/profiling world for a while and fender has a lot of catching up to do. Although, for someone looking for their first modeller, I think the TM pro's UI itself makes this a great choice. As a former fractal and quad cortex user, I found this easier to use. It's a steep price for most people though but is it worth it? Too early to tell.
This is not Fender's first modeling unit. They had the Fender Mustang Floor which came out in 2012.
My concern is that Yamaha/Line 6 has had an age to work on something better. If their flagship is quickly superseded by other manufacturers then Fender will either have to abandon it or replace it with another product. I think this is more competition in the marketplace, which is great news for consumers but not necessarily for Fender customers.
@@dukbtrwhat I actually mean was, for a user who's looking for their first modeller. 🙂
Has the firmware update added any more amps etc?
The thing is because they are software based, as long as the product has plenty of processing power, and the company puts in the support for the device then they have something which is relatively future proof and they can regularly address and refine the UI and the sound. Look at how long the helix has been out and because of its power and the continued updates from line6 it is better sounding than ever.
It does look like this fender has plenty of processing power to move forward, let’s just hope Fender are going to put the ongoing support for it. I do really really like the look of this pedal.
Awesome Video...As a QC, Helix, Headrush and Boss owner...who does not own a single amp or pedal, I just placed an order for this Fender and cannot wait to get it. For me it's 100% UI and scribble strip that sold me on this unit. I won't be selling any of my other modelers, just hoping this unit is simple enough for me to actually enjoy building presets. We will see.
I had to go ahead and subscribe bro. Your consistency and quality are commendable. You pumpin these videos out like a beast!!! How are you this productive and the videos are still top notch?! Much respect
One thing thats nice about this is they don’t try to give you sooooo many things to choose you can get lost in all the options instead of playing the guitar. Changing parameters is so much more intuitive.
The best demo I've seen of this by far. You're getting great tones out of it. This unit will absolutely be a big contender in the modeling world.
First minute of playing says everything , inspiration should be a huge deciding factor. Well done Fender.
Man I am so tired of seeing these videos everywhere already. That being said, your review was very well done. I can't see myself getting one of these unless I were in a very, very specific scenario. Subbed!
Yeah, Fender marketing sure went all out, handing out these like candy, and of course, no one that gets $1,700 free will say anything bad about it. I'm not the market segment for this, but as with movies and tv shows, I'll wait for the users reviews.
so glad that you got one of these, looking forward to more videos from you after applying the firmware update/as you get to know the unit better.
I've been waiting for this video. I ordered mine Monday. I sold a bunch of stuff to get it. I hope it's worth it!
Thanks for your unbiased and honest opinion John.
Sounds good to me, big fan of the screen and usability compared to the rivals - seems simple. Couldn’t get my head round an HX stomp at all, this seems to look useable
When you hit that neck pickup after Foot Switch mode - WOW! The sound of that guitar is glorious!!
Finally the one opinion I care about ;) I am pretty underwhelmed by this unit sound/tone. Id say it actually sounds very unpleasant/cheap... probably because I have an HX Stomp and I watch your videos basically every day lol.
There's barely any amps in this and the price is absolutely outrageous for what you get. For me, this doesn't even come close to the Fractal/Helix stuff and I'm actually surprised at how much it sucks haha
Those Fender amps sound really superb (probably as expected though right). They come across (and ive watched a few demos now) sounding much better than the Helix ones in my opinion. And that interface coupled with the rotary footswitches are excellent. I wont be selling my Helix just yet, but I'll be keeping a watchful eye on what people say after actually using it live, week in and week out.
I hope they add more amps and effects in the near future, right now it looks lacking but it has potential
A good honest first impression from someone who has a lot of experience with modellers, so thank you. As someone who hasn’t used a modeller before but is thinking about it, first impressions are important. It does appear very intuitive to use. Looking forward to seeing your updates and if it grows on you over the coming weeks.
Absolutely refreshing to see an actual proper review/demo of this. It’s been nauseating to see the usual YT clique gushing over this. Obviously it’s to be expected that the retailers will big this up as it’s in their interest to do so, but some of the YT crowd reviewing this, should be ashamed of themselves for being a part of such a massive corporate marketing push. I’m sure some would sell the own children to get in bed with Fender. Will be interesting to see how many of them continue to use it over the next couple of months ( particularly the ones who don’t use modellers). That’s not to say I’m not gassing for one and for the most part it seems to be moving in the right direction. However, your review reminds me that none of the modellers are really just plug n play and all of them require a certain element of ‘deep diving’, which is where I get off, as anything I have to scroll in, through, up and down with instantly kills my muse and leaves me running back to my little Blackstar amped 2 set up.. Thanks for putting this out so quickly, you may have just saved me £1650 😏🙏🎸
Having had a QC and then selling the QC in favor of the FM9, I’d say that this looks more inviting than the QC in terms of the touch screen, and the launch day feature set.
It also seems to be able to insta-switch a much larger preset than the Helix can?
I’m not giving up the FM9, but here in the states this is the same price at Sweetwater as the Helix Floor or the QC, and if Fender has some good updates in the first 6-9 months then I think I’ll add this to the collection.
As for capture tech, I don’t have any gear to capture, and the fractal stuff has shown me that if the modeling is done right, it’s at worst just as good as capture and at best it’s more flexible than capture (maybe not with liquid captures, but again I don’t have any amps to capture anymore)
So what do you think of your decision now that you have had both? Are you happy with the FM9? It sure seems like it is pretty fantastic. I have a QC and I love it, but it doesn't seem as robust in terms of numbers of devices. How does the sound compare? I am interested because they now seem available.
Well, like I said capture tech does nothing for me personally, so that’s not a plus for me or a negative toward the FM9. Sound wise, I got great tones out of the QC, and I’m getting great tones out of the FM9. I didn’t think I’d appreciate the computer programming on the FM9 as much as I do, also it’s faster for me to get great tones from the FM9 that it was for me on the QC.
Overall I’ve been happier longer with the FM9 than I was with the QC. I have thought about picking one up again because like almost all guitar players we get GAS. But I’ve been leaning more toward waiting a few months and seeing where this Fender unit goes and giving it a whirl.
I’m not doing this with the intention of ever getting rid of the FM9, it’s too good for me compared to everything else I’ve had at this point, but having something else to just take a break and give something else a spin every once and a while would be nice too.
@@Ozman77What are your opinions for someone who is trying to decide between the FM3 Turbo, FM9, and the QC?
I've liked all three of those at one point or another. FM9 is the one I have and am keeping, only reason I sold my FM3 is because I got the email invite for the FM9 and when I got it, it was the FM3 on steroids. (which also just made me start thinking about the AxeIII)
The QC is super friendly as far as programming from the unit with no computer interface, I just got tired of waiting for launch day features for over a year. Sounds like a lot of that is resolved or getting resolved very soon now.
Fractal just has a great data base of amps, cabs, and while everything else has at least a dozen good amp models available these days, I will say Fractal has more quality effects than pretty much everything else, everyone has a good effect or two, but Fractal has more, a lot more.
So, they're all good and you can get a great sound out of anything pretty much at this point with the proper effort, but for my money that effort is easier and the end result is more time jamming with Fractal. As far as between the FM3 or 9, it depends on what is available, but if the FM9 is in the budget and available then I like the larger format and the ability to build a larger preset too.
How do you listen to your FM9? Studio monitors, FRFR, stage monitors? @@Ozman77
Fender Support vs Kemper or Line 6 Support.... which one will be a good choice in the long term? My Kemper runs flawless since 2012....
I was going to disagree with a couple of your points, but after seeing the unboxing I'm thinking it's probably best just to nod my head and agree with you.
Knew I could rely on your channel for a proper review! Was happy to see this pop in my feed 🤘👍
Can't wait for the new Predator v Cordy movie to drop.
It is Elodie!!!! I know one thing it has to get real soon, a great Dumble, and Trainwreck amps. I would like to see a Magnatone/personally. What will make or break the unit survival wise, is UPDATES, and how fast they come. AT it's price point it needs them badly. But honestly best user interface I ever seen, both the machine and Computer match, Brett kingman showed them together.
I'm excited to try this out. A good friend of mine developed it at Fender.
Bro - this is what we needed! Thanks for being real man - great insight and playing as always🤘
The one thing that stands clear from multiple demos, even the ones with flawed audio recordings, is that the clean sounds, like Fender and Vox - is better than other modelers. In that respect, it brings something very important to the table compared to the competition.
I haven't seen anyone compare them to other modelers to be able to judge the fender or vox sounds? Good idea for a video though
@@johnnathancordy Please Remember to do the Firmware Update AND factory Reset - as the unit is shipped with pre-production firmware. More amps and corrected sound anomalies have been confirmed by TGP users. Fenders modeling tech is based on the Tone Master amps, and takes a long time to create for each amp, and you hear that the Tone Master amps have much more realistic top end and break up than many other digital solutions.
This 100% I’ve never heard such good clean tones. Ndsp was my favorite for cleans but this is on another level.
Are you kidding, the Vox sounds horrible.
@@johnnathancordyGreat idea for a video. You're the RUclipsr we trust to make this comparison. Tone Master vs Helix vs Fractal. We're counting on you Jonathan
The user interface and functionality look great. The way forward is for smartphone App and Touchscreen functions to combine up to make developing patches easier which means not having to be tethered to a laptop eg like with Fractal/Helix products currently.
I am hoping that a smaller HX Stomp/Headrush Core type Fender version will follow and I am hoping that Line 6/Fractal etc develop products with this type of mobile use functionality in mind...ie, no computers being required to use the modeller.
The other modelling manufacturers have to keep up with this surely.
Now we need a tone comparison with all the other floor modeller units. Direct comparisons are probably the best way to evaluatie tones etc. Thanks for the review JC.
I think it already does
@@pads-zr9lnSorry... Does what?
@@keithb5612 it has the smart phone function
@@pads-zr9lnYes... That was my point for other modelling units to follow the touchscreen and App functionality of the Fender unit. Maybe that was unclear in my note. Cheers
Thanks for being the contrary voice. I had a feeling listening to the tones on the other channels that they weren't all they were cracked up to be. Decent enough, and amazing UI, but not gonna make me sell any of my Helix gear.
I will say, I think the Tone Master Pro would be an amazing choice as a pedalboard replacement. The thing I missed the most using my HX Stomp XL as a primary rig is the instant tweakability. Run the TMP into an amp with an amp model programmed but bypassed as a backup (or possibly into FOH), and it really fulfills that tweakability aspect.
Thats kinda cool that you can change banks while the loop goes on
You can do that on the helix, with a bit of jiggery pokery
You can do this on the boss gt1000 too
@@Crabfather I'm coming from a hx stomp so this is all p new to me haha but that's cool too! Thanks for the info 🙆🏻♂️
@@pusheenpandaa forgive my ignorance, does the stomp have a looper?
@@Crabfatherthe Stomp/XL both have a looper in it.
The fact that it has zero gap between presets changes makes possible to have several incredibly different "snapshots" at disposal when in preset mode. If the tones and effects are good, this could be awesome. I'd like to know if the pitch effects are polyphonic, though.
In this video alone, you deserve so much more subscribers. Super well done.
Ciao John la tua opinione rispetto un Fractal Fm9?…..bello perché sembra molto intuitivo, però come suoni non saprei !
As someone totally new to this world, and is in the market for one such device, there are a bunch of little things that attract me to this. The UI, the large screen and no power brick, the footswitch spacing, and that it has the desktop editor on day one are all huge pluses. Of course, tone is king in the conversation, but better tones sound like they could come down the road, if Fender chooses to do that, but they got a lot of the stuff “you can’t fix later” correct IMHO. Now, watch Line 6 make an update to the Helix in six months that blows this away, LOL…
Honestly when it comes to tone I think we've hit diminishing returns. If a cheap Chinese product like NUX can make something indistinguishable to a real amp then we're done. It can't get any better than this.
@@NedJeffery I think we still have a long way to go. Can we get close to a single tone? Yes. But you cant go from sparkling cleans to screaming distortion the same way you can with high voltage tubes. Maybe some people dont care about that, but I do.
Fender dropped the ball on the drop-day amp selection.
I would have made sure to include some cult classic Fender amps that few other modelers have.
Amps this is missing:
-tweed deluxe, champ, twin, pro
-brown princeton, deluxe, pro, vibroverb
-black vibrolux, champ, bassman head
-Pro Jr
-Rivera-era 'Evil Twin'
-Super Champ
-Super Sonic
-Excelsior
Imagine having so many classic amps in your history, dropping an amp modeler for such a high price, and having that many hugely influential amps unaccounted for.
Future updates?
I'm pretty sure every single modeler ever had additional amp profiles added via updates. You really think a company with as many resources as Fender, trying to break into a hugely competitive new segment, aren't going to support the hell out of this thing post-launch?
This isn't some rag-tag garage project like Neural DSP, this thing is undoubtedly going to become more and more feature-packed as time goes on
Apparently the developers at Fender said they’ll have more updates , guitar and bass amps every 6 months , we’ll see ?
@@gdawgs101 of course they're going to have updates (that's why i said "drop day amp selection"), but i think they missed a massive opportunity to hit the market with a comprehensive selection of iconic Fender amps. for the price, the amp and effects list is a bit of a joke to me. perhaps it'll be worth the price later, but no company should be jumping into a competitive market with a product of this price that'll be 'worth the money later'
@@davelouis4004 of course they're going to have updates, but they missed an opportunity to hit the market with a unique selection of Fender amps from the get-go. I wouldn't pay this much for a modeler that has so little to set it apart from the competition in the hopes that it'll be worth the money later after an update
I like the form factor very much. I'd love a Line6 product like that.
A Helix LT for 1000€ without a touchscreen and the expression pedal but with the scribble scripts and the capacitance buttons.
Also, the reputation of Fender on the update firmware side of things is not good...
Updates schmupdates, this is just meant to be a modeler for boomers anyway, so no one buying this will be needing those
Yeah I was shocked to see smaller channels get this unit for demo but not you. I think you’re great.
I'm looking forward to when you've had the time to deep dive into this unit, and make your own presets, snapshots (if possible with this unit)... You made it sound good right out of the box, and we all know with your ear, and a bit of tweaking, the sounds will be awesome!
Great first look/review of this modeler. After looking at other reviews it seems that tube amp players will still like the tube amps and for the modeler players this sits right in there with most of the other modelers sound wise. To me the user interface is far more friendly than say the Fractal units which I think is a big advantage for newer players going into the modeler world. The other thing is that there is no mention of the processing power of this unit in the specs or reviews. So not sure what is actually possible with this unit in the future as far as updates and new features. First release firmware except in a few cases are never the end product for something like this especially at this cost point. I really think that it is the Fractal world that is being left behind. Fractal still has in my opinion the best sounding modelers on the market however their user interface is really complex and in depth which for some probably may not be really wanted or needed. All the reviews of this unit are still very early and we should expect more in depth reviews and comparisons to similar units. Would really like to see the reviews and comparisons on the new Fender FRFR amp/cabs that were released at the same time as the modeler. We need to give this some time before jumping to any final conclusions.
I’m waiting for a modeler that models other modelers. Then you will really get everything in one box.
I don't know man. I think right out of the box, to me, it has a more "amp-like" sound than I've heard you play from other boxes, and you've had amazing tone from those other boxes. I think this is a step up. JMNSHO
Forget the unboxing, let’s talk about that knife!
Dang, you getting close to 100,000 subs. I feel like when I found you you're at 17,000 or something like that. Great work!
Just wanna put it out there that for someone who doesn't live in a first world country it's much easier to get your hands on one of these and actually try it, the difference between a QC and one of these here in SA price wise is negligible (R41995 QC - R42495 TM)- If anything happens and the unit needs repair I know Fender are generally pretty on it with that stuff (which is not to say that QC wouldn't be but just that there is a distribution framework to consider) so being out in a country that doesn't have easy access to these things that's a pretty big consideration.
Fender say they have a 10 year roadmap for support of this unit - obviously only time will tell if that does end up being the case, but honestly I think it's genuinely a great product. Will it dethrone the other kings of this market? Maybe, maybe not but credit where it's due they've done their homework and this thing delivers a standard that at least shows they've put real consideration behind doing this right.
Appreciate this comment. A primary concern for me is the long-term support for the product. My reluctance to invest in the Quad Cortex has always been the overpromise/underdeliver long-term support. How long has it been since they promised a desktop editor and they STILL don't have one?
I'll agree on the distribution network for repairs is a big deal considering the price, but that's pretty much the only thing that Fender has over the competition (not the Helix though, since Yamaha is everywhere).
In terms of a 10 year roadmap, I'd call bullshit. 10 years in software is a very long time and no-one at line6 or Kemper could forsee a 8-12 year product life cycle. Neural can't roadmap, too. Yes, they can roadmap new amp/effects algorithms, but that won't be a drastic leap to what is out now. Modelling is about to hit the same stage as pedals: It's becoming like buying a tubescreamer, except now it's algorithms/licenses. Unless they're working on some sort of VST running update or have acquired the rights and licenses for stuff like Chase Bliss that is not in any other modeller yet, it's just another tubescreamer.
One of the things that brought me to your channel was your blind tests. Would love an EJ tone blind test with this vs Fractal, QC, Helix, Ampero II etc. It could be any tone but yeah.. if you could find the time for that.. it would tell a lot. I've been unconvinced by the tones so far but love the UI. I was happy to see this video as it shows I'm not alone in some of my first impressions. Really good point about the UI making it sound better because we can see the amp knobs and it makes it feel more real (without necessarily sounding more real) but I think a blind test with no UI.. just seeing you play the same thing through different devices would tell a lot. The song isn't important, as long as you tweak each device to sound best (to your ear). The other thing about this is the price.. it really needs to sound good especially if it doesn't have capture technology. Maybe with some tweaks on a custom preset it could sound awesome? But it'd be nice to see that put to the test and blind tests are awesome for taking out our biases.
Hey John, thanks for doing this review. As someone who is considering buying a biggish modeler, I am weighing up the Fender against the new version of the FM3. Curious on your thought about the quality of the reverb and delays in the fender vs the fractal. The fractal definitely has amazing spatial sounds and your video here sounded like the fender has pretty decent spatial sounds as well. Interesting because this did not come across on the video demos from other channels. Anyways thanks again for your video 🙂
If it has the same fizzy overdrive as the Mustang gtx, no thanks. The touchscreen features are more important than a lot of people admit. Quad Quartex and Headrush are currently best, imo.
I have watched few demos, and sounds of this device reminds me old Line6 multifx.
Man, the UI compared to Fractal especially is great looking. Looks very similar to me to IK Amplitube but with physical controls and a touchscreen. Fractal sounds great but feels like MS DOS on the unit itself. Can't wait for some real sound comparisons though to Fractal and Helix because like you say, you can't play the UI. Ha. Curious what you think about feel and latency too.
I also immediately thought of Amplitube. And comparing Fractal UI to MS DOS is, unfortunately, spot on...
Hey, i grew up on MS dos and its great. I would love to see these kids now a days try and play a PC but have to configure a soundblaster in dos 1st. Running Wing Commander on 5 floppy discs via dos is very satisfying
The tones on my FM3 are fantastic, but I pretty much have to have it plugged into my computer to make edits. It isn’t very functional
Nice honest demo! Sadly two big deal breakers (1) No internal power for pedals like TC Electronic G System (2) Footswitches are to close together. It's a great unit but someone needs to look at the G System and design a similar layout but with all the new technology of today.
Yup.....really close together.
Had a play with one today. Unit feels a bit cheap- much prefer the QC form factor. Screen graphics are lovely but the screen is laggy- I hated the lag. I did end up buying the FRFR12 that fender also released. Now that’s great- paired with my QC finally I’ve got real amp in room sound. People haven’t given fender enough props for doing a great cab to go with modellers. The 12” is way better than the Kemper cab.
John Nathan! VERY IMPORTANT ! DID YOU UPDATE AND FACTORY RESET THE UNIT? It's been reported by TGP users that it really does make a big difference, even on sound, but adding more amps and functionality?
It's been stated by Fender representatives on TGP that the unit is shipped with a pre-production firmware, and confirmed by users that already got and tried the unit that the update will add more amps and functionality, and that the sound is better, removing some reported artefacts or high end frequency anomalies. Both the update AND a Factory Reset is needed, confirmed by users.
I know it's a lot more to add to your costs, but I'm really curious this paired with their new FRFR cabs in a live context. As someone who gigs, the question is do you get that decent amp in the room feel with the cab with the versatility of sending direct to FOH with your dialed in presets (I really like that the cab seems to have some EQ on it that isn't affecting the FOH setup, so you can dial in the amp to the feel how you want in the room while sending your preset signal to FOH). Like the new Headrush stuff it also seems like you can do a microphone in, so you can possibly do vocal stuff which is pretty cool for a grab and go gigging setup for a singer/songwriter or just a person doing covers with backing tracks (Bluetooth too). That means it has the versatility to bring to a rock cover gig with a band and then go out the next night as a solo artist and literally bring the exact same setup.
The other draw to me is the easy tweakability on the fly with the foot switches becoming knobs to just twist and dial in a tones. That's really the problem with the HX stomp I have, navigating the menus on the fly to change something quickly during a rehearsal or gig is daunting (which is probably my fault for not spending more time with it not plugged into the computer as it's so much easier to change with HX Edit).
It definitely feels like Fender actually spent time with the other units and really asked themselves, ok this works but how do we make it better or easier or more useful. If nothing else, hopefully this continues to push the digital modelling/capture units further as more and more brands enter the market. This is the future of guitar playing IMO, the idea of dragging a 70lb amp with only one sound in it to a gig on a 6 foot by 6 foot stage in the corner of a bar to play for an hour or two just seems more and more silly.
Ola Englund had the FRFR as well and did he's review using both together. Not sure if metal tones were your thing but at least for those it sounded really good!
Yes busting out the unboxing machete! Seriously though you are the only trustworthy channel doing modeler reviews and I appreciate that.
I am a Headrush Pedalboard user and I also have a Fender Mustang III V2. It looks and sounds like a great unit...my concern is Fender continuing to fully support it with firmware updates and repair support if it decides to misbehave. My Mustang III V2 is a great modeling amp... which still works and sounds great many years later. But Fender just suddenly dropped all support when they came out with their next generation of Mustang amps, which were not as good amps. The Tonemaster series of amps have been great for a few years...lots of support new models and firmware updates.
When is the day when they move on to some other product and suddenly stop supporting the Tonemaster Pro?
Headrush is great but very slow with updates..now they have new products Prime and Core... but there is word of an update for the older series of products...thank you very much.
Before I invest $1700, and a lot of time learning a new system, and creating my own sounds...how do I know Fender will remain on board as my partner helping me to better using their product?
I like that they have a desktop interface app...Headrush will not ever apparently...their touchscreen is all you need...per Headrush.
Expression pedal is almost $200 add on...God this is just very expensive!
I have to agree about the lack of amp models that are in this unit. The Mustang GTX, which is what I'm going to guess the UI is based on, had way more models in it. The one I was sad to not see is the Supersonic. That is such a unique line of amps that Fender makes and it sounds so good.
Also, where are the bass amps? The reason I chose Helix over Ampero and Headrush is the amount of options there are available for bass players. I find this strange coming from a company that produces some of the most iconic bass guitars.
Other than that, everything else seems fine. The UI is intuitive, the amp models sound good, and it has enough basic effects to choose from. Do wish it wasn't so pricey compared to what other high end modelers are capable of doing.
More amps incl bass amps will be in the next firmware update if I read the press release right. I believe they pushed it out before all the amps were modeled because of how close we are to x-mas - so, they needed it out here before all presents were bought 😉🎧
You have to remember that there was an update already available for the Day 1 release which JC skipped over, and I'm sure more will be released shortly. And I am not really a fan of this product it's too expensive, but, look at what they added in the update - more will be coming it will be like Christmas for the owners of the unit.
@@ChrisClaimer do you have a link to the press release? I couldn't find anything other than the most recent update.
I am not knowledgeable about these and I had a tough time with the hx stomp, so this is fascinating and well done for sure. Great job John.
Please never change. one of the only trustworthy guitar RUclipsrs
Glad you got your hands on one! Fender should have given you one. Gee
Another observation - when you tried to add a new block to the "Wide Eddie" preset it looked like you couldn't add anything else because you were on "combo" amps. It does appear that a preset can only contain two cabinets, so you are not able to add any new combos, half-stacks, or cabinets, but you can add amps and other effects. I don't know if this also applies to IRs.
John I am not going to read all previous comments to see if this has been addressed but I have to ask: did you do the firmware update AND a factory reset? According to many users from TGP and Fender that is crucial especially regarding the quality of the preset sounds.
i have a tone master super reverb...
and im 65... i have been a tube amp all my life.. im also MAKING A LIVIING with my STUDIO.
too much is less...
just saying..
in a studio stetting.. this is great.
for most conposer artist wanna be.. less is more.
.
always.
In comparison. A Helix feature that rules them all is the ability to use the sweep of the foot pedal to control all perimeters (one at a time) when dialing in effects and amps, speakers ... if the item of equipment has an adjustment you can put it on the foot pedal and adjust it whilst playing. Sooo much better than fiddle, play, fiddle play, ..... Not many reviews highlight this Helix feature, but its invaluable. Cheers
I’m not sure whether to say congratulations on your new acquisition. I have a feeling it will be returned or sold on.
Again I’ll say, there are a plethora of modellers available today, all offering more or less the same and, for those with super hearing, higher and lower quality sound effects.
This one comes with a nice built in flat screen TV, but that’s about it. Still waiting for the “next big thing”, which was, by my estimates, the Kemper.
If I were to give in to GAS, and part with my cash, it would have to be the Friedman IR-X. I have enough effects pedals.
Did I just watch someone unbox with basically a sword? I wondered if you kept looking offscreen because you left it on the floor and the nipper was crawling toward it😂
Good Lord! That EVH sounds phenomenal on every RUclips video review I have checked so far
I really like the form factor and physical design. It sounds like you can get it to sound as good as any other modelers. I never really care for factory presets. I may have missed it, but does this have a snapshot mode, or is it just preset and footswitch / stomp? I can't see any reason to buy this if you already have a Helix or Quad Cortex. I can see a lot of people who are coming from the analog world liking the screen showing a representation of the amp / stomp-boxes.
It’s pretty clear that the “X sent me this product to review, but I can say whatever I want” argument essentially means “they sent me this product, and as long as I don’t say anything negative about, I’ll get the next product they release as well”
Sound-wise, it has the right frequencies.
Thanks for the short review, John. Hopefully more to come from you here with the new 7ender. Yesterday Greg Koch on Wildwood Guitars YTube did some tunes, too.
This (assuming that the reverbs and delays are great) is really everything I've wanted in a modeler, so I'm interested in it as a concept. I'm honestly not a customer for anything in this price range. I'm not sold that a capture is better than a modeler. I would rather have the versatility of a model over a moment in my amp that is manipulated by an eq and drive. I think the notion that this could be the last in the line of 1st gen modelers is really interesting. I don't know what a gen 2 would look like, but it is an interesting thought.
John, I knew we could count on you for one of the few truly honest reviews. I've spent the last 48 hours feeling gaslighted by all my favorite youtubers who all seem like Fender is holding one of their family members hostage.
Did you see the Casino demo? They literally looked like guns were pointed...
Seriously. Even Brett Kingman - in the comments someone asked him to demo it against the Fractal, and he said “no point really, different machines aimed at a different user.” What!? Similar price point doing exactly the same thing.
@@poesybeat ...Wow. That speaks volumes. I've never been a big fan of Brett's content to be honest, but that really seals the deal.
Gaslighting indeed.
*My thoughts are your guitar playing is awesome, the demo of this modeler was nice and this unit is decent and sounds good.*
It seems like if Line6 ever decided to update their hardware with a higher resolution screen (possibly a touch screen), higher quality/faster A/D conversion, and more processing power, they would instantly catch up with all competitors.
Like if the helix had a nice screen with more detailed UI, the ability to run any effect in all slots at once without running out of DSP, and seamless switching, it would jump right back to the top.
I personally am okay with Forgoing the touch screen to keep cost down. To me a touch screen is just another thing that can break.
Line6 has also said that the Helix is already physically capable of doing profiling, but they avoid going into that realm because of their close relationship with Kemper. But they said they would roll it out in an update if profiling becomes the standard.
Has anyone brought up a conversation about that giant knife?
I love my blonde Tone Master Deluxe Reverb, but I got it AND an HX Stomp XL used for less than HALF the price of one of these new. Price is hard to justify, but understand the neccesity of high price to ensure that the market takes a new a Fender modeling product "seriously" relative to its competitors.
Every video I’ve heard with this modeler has sounded pretty good. It might not be stand out but it seems to be based on some user feedback that it’s not so hard to learn; it’s not hard to achieve a good tone; and then there’s the preset spillover capability.
The UI looks great, I’m hoping it gives the Helix a run for its money.
I won’t give it a negative mark because it doesn’t offer captures. That’s a relatively young feature for the market. I think Tonex sounds amazing but wasn’t a fan of their editor. The helix sells for $1699 and it’s tech from years ago plus you have to really learn how to work it to get usable sounds.
I think Fender is in to something here. I hope it’s enough to speed up a Helix Gen 2
The Helix used to take a bit of work but since the updates and all the help online ( You Tube) , it is a breeze and editing is very intuitive.
Yeah seem that once your at the point that these units are indistinguishable in feel and tone from what they are recreating why are expecting new units to sound mind blowingly better
How could it be
Loved the video - nice job. The Mission Engineering co branded and custom painted expression pedal is an obvious add on. The built in toe switch can be used to switch between volume and wah for example or switch one or more effects on/off. Will open up the control and creative power of the Tone Master Pro. The Mission SP1-TMP has a mono wired toe switch, that is needed
I'm quite happy with my Helix floor ever since 3.5 firmware. It does very well with external pedals running into it's 4 FX loops. The plugin is equally as good in Pro Tools. For a non professional player I can't justify paying $1700 again for another modeler. From a money perspective the Neural Modeler from Steve Acktinson is very good with the right profile if your into DAWs.
Man I love your phrasing style. Great player
I tried the Helix the Prime the pod go I personally like the fender much better because I’m a singer who plays guitar. I just could not wrap my head around the software on the other units. I will get a quad cortex eventually. Fender is also adding to the unit regularly if they keep it up it will mature into a great product line.
In the US it’s the same price as the Helix Floor and Fm9. So right in line with competitors.
Hi John. Are the footswitches too close? They seem like it would be hard hitting the right one immediately after doing a jump kick on stage.
How do you feel the dynamic response is in comparison to the Helix and Neural? Is the Neural colder or is this more touch responsive? Does it have a parametric and graphic eq and stereo delays?
Had a look through the models/pedals selection on Fender's website and noticed a couple of strange omissions from the range - there's no 'Tweed' style amps (say like a 5e3 Deluxe or Harvard), and there isn't anything 'small' like say a Vibrochamp, which would have made good additions. Perhaps holding back so they have something to add in a near future update? 🤔
Vox amp? No one is showing how accurate its modeled
Not really in competition with QC for me although it has some nice features. I can't capture my amps on this; but I could capture a Tonemaster on my QC.
Sooooo. I have been using the Quad Cortex for a couple years now but always needed an external midi controller. But this seems like that kind of thing is bundled in, and the seamless transition of rigs is really quite astounding. It’s the one thing that Quad Cortex is inching closer to but not quite there yet. I will sit on any decision for a while but damn this does look good but the multiple signal paths and flexibility / monolithic approach is still more appealing to me.
That loop at the start was so musical.
1:45 ❤CUTIE!!!❤
The preset sounds are really rough and yanky and way closer to my taste than the Helix presets. They almost sound like a good live outboard recording. I'd love to find out how to get more of that on the Helix
Thanks for vid,, I have option paralysis for my first modler.
Tonex? This fender seems way too much £££
‘You can’t play a UI’ is a valid criticism, but you *can* play more guitar if the UI is straightforward and easy to edit/navigate.
Everyone seems to be missing a key point when it comes to the price of this unit. The target audience for this product is 60yo men with lots of spare cash and time. People who have their favourite 60s custom shop tele. And have never played anything other than a tube amp. That's why skeuomorphism, usability, and FRFR cabs are so important. It's also reasonable professional tool. I expect to see a lot of artists using this in the future. Ones that are still holding out lugging their vibroverb around.
The lack of capture is a huge deal. Even if you don't plan to use capture yourself it does open up a huge library of sound with other users sharing. It also gives an opportunity for third parties to create high quality amp sounds that often sounded better than those that shipped with the unit. I still think Quad Cortex is unique in using both captures and models together.
Quad cortex failed to keep their promises of updates and have basically hurt the unit. I'm seeing them all over reverb and Facebook marketplace now. I bought the fender TMP and I'm selling my quad cortex I never even used to capture feature on mine I stay in a small circle and don't know anyone that would even have the amps I'd want to capture.
@stringsattached67 They just released Cortex Control and first plug in support is very close. If you have held on to now it seems you are bailing out right when they finally make good on their promises. Fender is not known for updates. Mustang floor was abandoned. Mustang and Tonemaster amps were never updated. Out of all modellers Kemper is the king of updates and added functionality.
@@DeanEGardiner Have you had a chance to play on one of these fender TMP?
@stringsattached67 No. I don't gig, so I am not the target market. I do understand the appeal though, if you are gigging musician that normally uses Deluxe Reverb or Princeton this would definitely be a game changer. In the studio I use Kemper, QC, Iridium and a bunch of preamps from Synergy and Effectrode. I keep the QC for modern sounds. To be honest if I was gigging I would have traded them all for Fractal!
@@DeanEGardiner You can buy my fractal FM9 😁
I have a Quad Cortex. At this point I will keep it, but if I was buying a modeler and had to choose between a QC, and Fender Tone Master Pro, I would probably go with the Tone Master Pro. 1. The user interface is better, 2. it has scribble scrips, 3. I do not consider the capturing aspect of the QC a factor, and, 4. the Tone Master looks like it can do everything I need it to do. I would have to be convinced the sound is as good as the QC, though. If the choice was between the QC, Tone Master Pro and the Fractal FM9, I'd be very tempted to go with the FM9 solely based on the variety of amps, cabs and effects, and I assume the sound is as good if not better than the other two. That being said, I really love the QC and I know how to navigate through it pretty well, at least to suit my needs.
Still trying to keep an open mind. I'm sure that - as you learn the unit - you will dial in better tones. But first impressions: it's a '78 Ford Pinto with a new paint job and new wheels and tires.
Yeah, it looks better - but it sounds pretty mediocre. I didn't hear anything that you couldn't already get out of an HX Stomp. The display is gorgeous - but we buy these for the sounds that come out of them.
Buen comentario.