I am kind of in the middle on this…I owned a Helix for a couple of years,and it just wasn’t for me..I got an AxeFXIII and absolutely loved it…this time last year,I was going in to have surgery on my arm from an old accident,and it turned out I had cancer..I am okay now after 8 months of chemo,but,during all this I had to sell the Fractal…Cancer be expensive!!…So now I am looking to get back into it,but can’t decide if I want another AxeFX or go with something like the UA Stomp..I have a couple of amps and load boxes,and I never really used a ton of presets,so I am thinking this might be the way to go…I just play in a home studio environment,so I was interested in the TMP as well…I don’t know yet….decisions,decisions..there are too many choices now,Lol!
You spend most of this video explaining, justifying, qualifying your statements in previous videos (no doubt because a whole lot of rude and aggressive people came at you hard for what you said). Steve, I mean this with the warmest affection and deepest respect: You don't have to placate those people. They will always be angry, they will always be rude, they will always miss the point. As the saying goes: "You can lie down for people to walk on you and they'll still complain you're not lying flat enough." The players who matter understand and appreciate you. Focus on your people while the goblins do their goblin thing.
I appreciate you brother! Thanks. Honestly, and this is totally a me problem for letting it affect me... i stopped using the unit because I just didnt want to hear the peanut gallery. It was unfortunate, but sometimes that stuff gets everybody. Thank you for the kind words 🤘🤘🤘
@@SteveSterlacciAw, buddy. We all go through those moments when the goblins get in our heads. I just wanted to let you know that the good guys see you. Something really interesting. A friend of mine told me something very insightful years ago when I was neck deep in a different hobby (though I know you do this professionally, you're speaking to a largely hobbyist audience, so I think it applies): Every hobby is actually two hobbies; there's doing the hobby itself, and then there's talking about the hobby. Each has their community built around it, each has their trends and hot topics, each has their leaders and influencers, and each has its army of members who live for their specific relationship to the hobby - either as doers, or as talkers. My buddy told me that if you don't intentionally choose to be one of the doers, you can inadvertently end up as one of the talkers. You're a doer. Don't worry too much if the talkers don't get what you're doing.
Constructive criticism is crucial for improvement! Remember when the Helix had its fair share of issues at launch? Over time, they addressed both software and hardware concerns. TMP has potential for growth, just like all modelers. Preferences vary, and users find their dream tones in different gear. It's all subjective. Well said, Steve!
Hey Steve, I thought you were going to let us know the shortcomings you have noted with the TMP, but got to the end and was disappointed not to hear them. Fender have poured a lot of resources into the TMP and will continue to do so. I’m glad to hear that you have been giving all of the modelling companies your feedback, as that is what will get improvements done.
When will we get an amp modeler modeler. Then I can get a helix, quad cortex, fractal, kemper, tone master pro all in one unit. That’s what I’m holding out for.
I think one of the things I appreciate about your channel and its content, is not only your playing being top notch, but I appreciate you don't rush to throw shade at a product. Yes, you show how it can be improved, but you also show the good in each product and how it can be used. I stopped watching other channels as frequently, as there was too much of this attitude that if it didn't work for them or if they couldn't understand its functionality, or get it to work for the host, the product sucked and so did the people that liked it. There is something for everyone, but not everything works for everyone
Having watched many videos on You Tube about setting this device up, I discovered that working with headphones to balance everything is a waste of time, because when you get to the stage, the sound is totally different and I though the live sound was too harsh the way I’d set it up with headphones at home. The good news is, with my band mates we were able to tame it to useable, realistic tones and it now reproduces exactly what my Vox AC30 and a Meazzi Echomatic gave me, without having to cart them along. Also my Gary Moore / Duane Eddy and Mark Knopfler (Money 4 Nothing) tones are perfect and well balanced, using Fender and Marshall models respectively. When mixed using headphones I’d overcooked tones and it sounded harsh, so all we had to do was tame the gain in a live room until it matched what the real amp used to give us. Hope this helps anyone wanting to gig the ToneMaster Pro.
Great advice and thanks for sharing your experience. I made a Survival guide for the Line 6 Helix, of which a lot of the principals apply to TMP. Maybe I should do one !
Thanks for that, I’m always interested in moving forward and making things easier after a career of carting Vox AC30/ Fender Twiin with JBLs and a MK3 Boogie. It gets too painful at 70 when you still rock & Roll. I had the Helix Lite and it froze up on a major gig and since tried the `kemper Stage but the Tone Master Pro works for me as it’s easy to punch in the right parameters for all the echo timings (I do a lot of Hank Marvin stuff-,multi head). Being able to set the head levels and tone on multi repeats let’s me copy the old Meazzi Echomatic very well.
Hopefully, Fender will stick with product support for the Tonemaster, unlike the total kick in the nads they gave to all of us who bought Mustang and GT and Gdec amps and products. 😢
This is the most important point, IMO. From Canada, I can't even find it on their website. How can I get resources? Will they be as dedicated to this as the L6, Neural, Fractal folks to theirs? Will they dump the entire project if the numbers are weak in one season? I don't see their commitment. Why should I jump on board when there doesn't seem to be a firm hand on the wheel and a destination already mapped out?
I wish I had them all. Line 6 customer service, constant updates and and the idea that Helix can be as complicated or as simple as you need makes me happy. I would look at a Helix "2" before upgrading to anything else. The main thing I learned from using modelers is that there is always a way to get what you want, it just may take some tweaking.
There is never any reason for negativity, All these units, Line6-Fractal QC ect, sound great in the hands of a good player that knows how to operate the unit. Steve I learned a lot off of your honest opinions and I'm sure all of your subscribers appreciate it as well. To all fellow musicians,Stay positive and be supportive of one another, Thanks again Steve for all the hard work & time you put into your vids.
Totally struck a chord with me in this one. I’ve tried so many modellers, from the full helix to the strymon iridium, and have never been able to find my “sound”. I don’t love menu diving and spending days creating patches. Maybe this would be more my speed. I’ll have to try one out some time I guess to see.
Got mine yesterday and love it so far, great tones and more than enough amps if you, like me, are fast to suffer from option paralysis. Very organic and natural sound
I never had a modeler and although i am tech savvy I have limited time and had zero interest in spending days or weeks learning complicated units. I bought the tonemaster pro and it is simple to use and sounds fantastic. I plugged it in and I was playing and creating patches immediately.
@@ymelfilm it’s smaller than a lot of full floor boards and doesn’t have an expression pedal which suits me just fine. I don’t think the dimensions are awkward for my use case at all.
It might be the "best" bang for the buck, but, I keep on reading that people have a hard time controlling the fizz that occurs on this modeller on the higher gain amps, and you need to do this and do and do that, to rectify it. Now me as a person who hasn't jumped yet, I don't know what to do about that. Do I jump on the Helix and hope that I don't run into these myriads of problems, and if I do, can I take the huge amount of suggestions from YT pages and searching to get the unit under control, what do I do if I can't. There are also concerns with the TMP, saying that to get the best sounds you need to control the Input/output or pre/post EQ's (or something), again I have no idea how to do that. And don't even get me started on the Fractal unit (price/parameter paralysis). All I know it that the Feedbacker and the JCM800 on the Helix (3.7) sounds amazing. One thing I do know for sure is that Fender released the TMP too early and need release more updates pronto along with more amps to address the inadequacies. Fender said as much in a post by Leon Todd. I live in a region in Australia where I can't get the unit and try it out or even get to stores where they are available Now if Line6 released a new unit say Helix II with all models as good as the JCM800 (3.7 update) that would be a different story.
Yep - the jury is still out on this one - HOWEVER, as the digital alchemy that has made amp / effect modeling capable of emulating most classic sounds, I'd say Fender's engineers are going to be able to tweak this unit into a truly versatile, all-around tool. Will it be glitchy? Reliable and robust? Cause it's not exactly cheap. I'd say in a year or so we're gonna know it's really going to give the old-school tech (amps / effects) true competion, sound and tone-wise. It's definitely super promising. I'm rather amazed how many rushed out to buy this unit in its first update stage. The most successful of these companies creating this new technology will definitely understand that it's not simply what an awesome array of tones and effects it can produce, but also how easy and intuitive it is to navigate and tweak via a control screen. From what I've seen demoed, the Tone Master Pro is well thought out on this point. I'll learn some new gear's system of operation IF it's intuitive - for me, that's absolutely HUGE! This may well be as transformational as digital cameras became to photography!
I was bummed to hear about some of the issues with this unit, and every company with a modeler has needed some time to refine their product but what really frustrates me at this point in the game is that there are numerous extremely mature and feature packed units that have set expectations for the consumers and yet we still have these products coming out missing the mark. The answers to the test are right there in front of them.
@@SteveSterlacciwow that was fast, didn't think you'd even see my comment... But yeah way back in the days when nearly only Blackmore used a trem, the only way to get a downward vibrato was to learn the prebend, which is so much part of my playing from way back when I learned it from Schenker. I hear you do it over and over, I'm like "Is that me? Dang Steve sounds good!" Lol!!! Good as only prebends can make one sound!
I gotta say, man. I came to this video because I wanted to learn more about the expectations vs the reality of the Tone Master Pro and I really didn't get that. At all. Peoeple are mean on the internet, especially if you put yourself out there on a platform like UA-cam. If you're critical of something, don't apologize or explain. Move on to the next video. Stop worrying about the comments. For my part, I've had the TMP for a few days and I've once again bought a modeller that sounds great in videos, but not so much when I get it home. I'm one of those "older generation" people now, but I've had a long life as a performing musician and songwriter. I owned two amps for 25 years and played through many in studios and elsewhere. There were amps I liked and amps I didn't, but they all sonded and felt like amps. I have yet to use a modeller that does that in the way I anticipate. It's moving air, but it's not JUST moving air. It's the sum of the parts. When I play live I use 2 pedals: an overdrive and a delay, plus the on-board reverb. When I play in the studio these days I'd just as well use a stock amp sim than pay $1500 for a box that sounds a little better and lacks the of the real thing. I can get Logic amps to sound as good as any Helix, Kemper, Tone Master, Fractal...whatever. After using so many of these boxes, it seems like the only thing they're really good for is people who play in wedding bands and need to change their sound a bunch. Otherwise it's wasted money. Maybe I'm old, but none of these things are worth so much trouble over.
I've been playing since 1970...now 61...just got a Helix and stomp xl and bought a GT1000 when it came out. Love them...and I was a tube stack guy for decades
there’s always going to be people who complain about something but so many professionals used line 6 gear on an enormous amount of music throughout the 90’s 2K’s and it was great. no reason we can’t use the great improvement of a TMP going forward. No one is going to really hear a difference in gear anyways. having tried everything in the last 4 decades the TMP is a wonderful unit to work with. I no longer miss any of my vintage gear
I thought this was really good content. I think we need to give Fender a chance to develop this product a little. I am definitely going to try one. I have been a Line 6 fan for many years, beginning with the POD, Flextone, Vetta, Spider and XT Live, and now the Helix. For decades we complained to Line 6 that all the distortions sounded "Fizzy". Line 6 was able to use that feedback and fix the problem. I am not a young player but I play live a lot in a very popular cover band. I held off on the Helix because when I watched the videos, I knew the factory patches were not going to provide what I needed and I would spend hundreds of hours getting it set up the way I would need. Then the pandemic hit and I had hundreds of available hours. I use it 4CM with my Marshall JVM amp and cab, I use if front of house for many gigs, and I use the HX effects in front of my Badcat amp and cab. It took me a lot of time to setup what I have now and I love it. I am hopeful that these companies are all looking forward and will make modelling much better and easier over time, I think Fender is on to that and they just put their foot in the door to let everyone know they want to make great stuff for us.
One benefit of owning a TMP is the fact that the FB group is so close knit and personal... its amazing that I can converse with all the UA-camrs like Steve as well as Jason Stillwell and Max Gutnik from Fender. The TMPs future is bright. Fender is listening and patience is a virtue... it took HX 8 years to get where its at and ill say that when the HX came out, it was dog water compared to the release of the TMP. The only thing that matters is THAT YOU PLAY GUITAR. Whether its on a Dumble or a POD bean.
I bought the Quad Cortex on Black Friday. I love the concept of it, but it is overwhelming. I now am spending a lot of time on the unit and I don’t get to play as much. I am considering switching to the fender, simply because I feel like I will be able to just play a lot more with less effort put in the unit.
I sold my QC after having it exactly a year. I bought the TMP and I enjoy working with it way more than the QC. Like many have already said, it is not necessarily better, but different and in a good way for me. I love the Scribble Strips, The Interface itself, and the Bluetooth functionality. For the kind of music I play the sounds I get are great.
We're at a point in time where there are so many good amp modelers. It's all subjective and the Fender certainly is good enough for me to not feel bad when I plug into it instead of one of my real vintage Fender amps.
I can attest that to me personally Helix was extremely frustrating in the beginning! All I was seeking was DS-1 + a fender-type clean amp. I could not find those in the Helix for like 2 weeks. Some effects in the Helix were also unmanageable... the stuff in the Legacy folder for example sometimes is superior to what is in the mono/stereo folders... Then once I found all the ingredients for my main sound, it was pretty easy from there, just copy/paste. But in the beginning I was almost ready to send the unit back. Meanwhile I had a Zoom little cheap processor, and was able to quickly find all my sounds very quickly. Helix is very powerful, but not the easiest to dial in the basic sound on.
Hi Steve, Mike in the UK here, just wanted to validate your comments. I am a guitar into amp guy. I have a Marshall JVM into 2 2 x 12 Zilla cabs (great cabs by the way) with V30s. I have seen all the vids on all the amp modellers. I decided to try the Fractal FM9. It seemed to be the top of the bunch in a lot of aspects. However upon delivery and 3 days later I decided to return it. I am 61 this month and like you mentioned suffered with option paralysis. You hear so many great sounds but I couldn't get any. The main reason for purchase was the amount of high gain amps. But they mostly sounded awful. The JVM was close, but no cigar. As soon as I fired up my JVM, night and day. One big problem for me is that no one seems to show how these modelers work through a power amp and cabs, its all through DAWs, IRs and interfaces. I know that's how the world is going, but I'm a dinosaur, haha, but would love to see these units shown in all ways. Could you do some? Cheers
Hi Steve, I watch and learn from your videos. I do not often comment but am appreciative. For me, the TMP is working out great. I do not have bigger and better expectations. I did want easier ui and an excellent sound/feel. I am largely impressed. I am tweaking less and playing more. I really enjoy the silver jub models. I owned the amp and like the tmp version. Sure, I still like my boss and helix units. I did have to do more adjustments than I preferred. So you are right. Your criticisms are good for the product. Sadly, there is too much gear partisanship.
One of the reasons I decided to watch your Video is exactly because you are realistically critical of the units you have previously reviewed. You do not need to be apologetic or concerned about what others think. UA-cam is full of Ravers and Shills who constantly gush about the latest product. We know that they get ‘perks’, for doing so. So its refreshing for me to hear what you have to say. Keep up the great work that you are doing !!
LOL, I'm a boomer and I've been using modelers since Fender delivered the first of the Mustang series. I've never given up tubes, so I have a great reference point for checking tone. Not all of us old guys are newbs at modelers. I've had a few, starting with the Fender Mustang amps. I didn't like the Mustang's menu system but the sounds weren't terrible. I've had four flavors of Vox modelers (and a few hybrids) and found them too complex, or half-ass, or something. They just didn't work for me. Sounds were great, but my favorite part of modelers is changing the whole sound with one tap of a switch. I love the Line 6 stuff. I just recently sold my Helix but kept the PodGo. In my way of thinking, the PodGo does all I need to do and if it doesn't I can drop a pedal before it or in the loop. BTW, I did not sell the PC212+. That is by far the most used tool in my arsenal. I even use it to model cabs for my tube amps (with a feed off of the attenuator) I also have a TC Px5 that I love but can't freakin read when it's on the floor and I'm not. It's not an amp modeler, but it is a digital FX modeler. I love tubes, but when I travel I love having a super light weight and compact rig that does what I need and doesn't cost me a week of recovery after hauling it up some stairs. I sincerely believe that most people that don't like modelers are to timid to turn them up. Turn it up as loud as a tube amp and it will sound like a tube amp. Rock on.
@@SteveSterlacci sometimes I think spending money for just the right tone is a foolish thing...great artist like David Gilmore, slash , Paul Gilbert Steve vai Guthrie...they are famous for their playing and musical sense first..handover them any Guitar and amp. Slash is known of just a guitar and amp thats it...rest their fingers do the work ...but now it's all sheep herding...tone tone tone..do we use pedals for acoustic guitar?? Or piano or violin...it's all in our fingers...it's all just in our head
I am 55, and Tone Master or Headrush are the 2 units in which I am interested at this point. I have no desire to play around with the units I have used. There is just too much fiddling around. I don't struggle with them, I just don't want to do it. Though there is the expense factor, it would seem the Fender product has a bit more room to grow.
If you end up at Winter NAMM 2024, check out the BluGuitar booth - they are releasing the AMP X - a tube based option that I think will blow ALL modelers out of the market
Great video! Guess I'll give the Fender unit a try. Currently I have a HX-Stomp and a Boss GX-100... and have had them for the last 6-8 months without connecting to a computer and diving into learning how to use them. Just dread learning how to use them. Maybe the Fender will be the answer. Hopefully Fender will continue issuing updates, which is one of the reasons I'm hesitant to take the $1700 step(!)
Update: Decided on the Helix after watching several of your videos. Couldn't be happier! Yes, I really like that the Fender has images of the items in a signal chain, but everything else pointed to Helix. I really appreciate your approach to these reviews-- especially when I'm getting ready to spend $1700 on a single piece of gear!
I’m probably a bit older than most of your viewers. It seems like younger players are always in search of a new gadget to ‘get their tone.’ If someone can’t make their guitar sound great with something like the TMP, it’s more about them then it is about the effects processor. We are living during a time of amazing technical advances,and we should all just thank these amazing engineers who put together the TMP.
I had the TMP for 3 weeks. It's a great unit for anyone who doesn't want to spend a lot of time tweaking. Ultimately I ended up returning it for a QC and I'm happy with my choice.
@@TheCyberMantis it just says bad match between product and player. QC is better for someone who wants to do a lot of tweaking to dial in a sound. TMP is great for some who wants a great sounding product out of the box, and is more used to dealing with amps and pedals rather than modelers.
Here's the deal: absolutely any gear you can use from real amps and pedals to modelers need some time to get your sound the way you want and it requires some trial and error especially if you care about your sound and you want it to inspire you. I got a Helix LT a few years ago and I am very comfortable with tech and it took me some time to get what I wanted (especially the delays were an issue) once I got more knowledgeable about how to get what I wanted I loved it! I am still improving and finding new tones all of the time. A wonderful piece of kit. Your amplification/speaker situation is also very important. I mostly use good quality Studio monitors with a sub a mixer at home and I am very happy with the sound. I have a feeling if I actually played out I would use a power amp/guitar cab on stage and send the IR/Cab sims to the house feed.
I really agree with you on so many levels. The only one I would kind of disagree with would be the commentary that this would be a great unit for people new to modeling. I just think there are so many more affordable options that come really close to what this can do and or subjectively might sound better.... For way less money which might be a better option for someone trying to decide if they even want to get into modeling.
Will there ever be a single "perfect modeller" or will it go the way of laptops - a proliferation of hundreds of models forming a big array of choice and price points?
Great review Steve , I always appreciate your takes and honesty ,I’m an old guy but I love modelers , this looks like a great unit but I never buy a first generation in gear ,always stuff to be worked out , but I think they marketed it to the right group , I have a couple of old rockers friends that are using them at their shows in 2024 , verdict is still out , they love their amps , but they get heavier as you get older 😵💫
The TMP has all the processing power and UI it needs to compete with everything else. It just came out. Give it a few updates. Im sure most of the concerns and objections will be addressed. Every modeler that has come out has had more or less the same issues. I remember last year, people were putting the QC in the grave.
I think it`s a nice piece of gear but way to expensive for my taste ( iuse hx stomp at the moment). I was wondering if you already tried the two notes opus. Looks like the slolution for an excisting pedalboard and nicely priced. Opinions?
Try going into your output settings. There are different perimeters for controlling headphone output vs, output 1 and output 2. Perhaps you need to make some adjustments there first, before adjusting your main volume. Rispondi
People seem quick to criticize these sort of views. There has to be a personal viewpoint. I agree with a lot of comments in that many modellers are longwinded to set up. i do like the quad cortex for its simplicity and the TMP seems to be in a similar vain. As Steve points out and a few contributors to this thread also, Its horses for courses what suits one does not suit everyone else. Keep up the good work Steve.
If they ever make a Helix 2, I'd be perfectly content with more processing power, updated knobs and interface, maybe even a touch screen or option for mouse and keyboard to make it feel more like helix native. For what I do, I don't need much more than that. I love the rotating knobs on the TMP but I feel like they released the product too soon and need to release some major updates for it.
I'll throw my voice into the conversation here Steve. I gigged for ten plus years with a Line 6 amp. I own, or have owned all the major modelers (with the exception of Quad Cortex). Helix and my Axe FX III are my goto daily drivers. That said, I'm running the Tone Master Pro with the companion amp and I've been playing it WAY more than everything else. I own couple of the EVH amps as well, so I've compared the tones. It's definitely not as good as the tube amps, or my old 5150. I'll say this - the interface is light years ahead of the Helix or Axe FX. I still feel like the Axe FX sounds the best, but I play my Helix more in the studio, but I think the Tone Master Pro is moving up. The Eric Johnson patch (Cliff diving?) is so usable out of the box, it's ridiculous how great it sounds. Fender, and I'm always critical of them, knocked it out of the park with this. The FRFR Ton Master amp isn't a straight up FRFR, it *sounds* like guitar amp. I have the Friedman and Line 6 FRFRs and they are equivalent but more neutral, which is a good and a bad thing. So far, after a couple months, I think the Ton Master Pro is lacking in high gain stuff, like I said, I'm comparing the models against the actual amps in my studio as a one-to-one. My Axe FX III sounds WAY better for those tones, the Helix has my exact sound and the Kemper a bit different, but in the same ball park. I'm tremendously excited about the Tone Master Pro. I tossed that and the amp in my living room as a practice rig only, but I've been playing it a ton. Another thing to note, the output options are great, build quality is fantastic. It really is a good unit, I can't speak to floor unit in general, all of my stuff is rack mount, but I feel like I could drop into a gig with this thing and start playing live in 2 minutes and it would hold up to some knucklehead spilling a beer on it.
Its no easier than the Headrush... Im 52 been on the road for 25+ years... this works great.. keep real on the user friendlyness... they are all a learning curve but over all your spot on buddy... Ive uaed them all... too and i Love this fender in the clean side of getting my country tone
Honestly I’ve gotten some 3rd party IRs and EQed some, and it’s great. Just sent my Neunaber immerse in the fx loop and it also sounds great. I usually stick a 57 in front of a tube amp to record, but this is absolutely doable. The presets, I think, suck. The interface is brilliant. 8 core processor should be able to support some higher quality patches in the future. I have no issue with DI or plugins, or pedal boards. They all have their own benefits. I have noticed the guitar you use has a drastic effect. My Fishman equipped kiesel sounds very mechanical. My strandbergs have suhr and sound amazing everywhere. I think if you cut some of the high eq it will sound much better. To my ears it sounds as good as the quad cortex, and better than the helix and head rush. It’s not a fractal but it’s also considerably more inexpensive That being said I also think it’s an odd company to put out a modeler. Most people that play fender are generally bonded to tube amps. Also fine, but most prog players or metal players think of fender never and they’re the people into modeling
That was maybe 10% of the video. The rest was you cutting playing into it. And then taking about the controversy. When UA-camrs spend time explaining controversy, it’s just not necessary. We’re watching your video voluntarily. We get your intentions. Make a separate beef video to get at that topic.
The only modellers that I've ever been happy with are the UAFX pedals. They're so much better than anything else, in feel and sound. It's my opinion, but I've owned most of the others and ended up selling them all.
I might want to check out one, but I'm one of the few who is totally happy with my stock plugins in my Cubase 12 Pro. Like any real amp, you have to play with the controls until you get what you want. I've pretty much given up live playing but I love recording in my home studio.
Maybe it won't have certain high gain sounds for certain people. And people always complain about price unless it is free. I have heard that it has the same sounds as the Fender Tone Master amps which get good reviews. Seems a lot of people like the sound of Princeton and Deluxe Reverb amps. I am happy with a few Fender amps, a VOX AC15 style and a Marshall JTM 45 sound. An easy to use interface with knobs mapped to a picture is a good thing, Fender might need to improve the Marshall sounds. I'll bet that is very doable. If I want real deal I have a bunch of low watt Swart, Tungsten, Tone King, Marshall, Soldano, VOX ... and a UA OX and a bunch of speakers if needed. I bought one for the heck of it. I am lucky to be able to afford variety.
I think you said it best, there is no one perfect modeler. At least not yet. IMHO, I see it like this (and I’ve commented similarly on your videos before): Helix = Windows QC = Android Fender = Apple Fractal = Linux Kemper = DOS (🤷♂️) For me, I’ve just received a QC, and I’m very happy with it! It’s the size I want, has great sounds, and plenty of room for me to grow. Much like my computer comparison, there’s a place for all of these!
Oh yeah, I agree about Uncle Larry. He can do or say anything he wants... He's my all-time favorite musician. If he wants to sniff corks, let it be, though I'm generally in disagreement with the cork sniffers....
It’s funny that you are basically saying that TMP are for “stupid people”. 🤣. Just because something is simple to use doesn’t mean it’s for old people or simpletons… it just means they have a superior interface that crosses over into real tube amps and pedals. I think it’s strength is that the work flow is so fast you don’t lose your inspiration while dialing in your tones. I enjoy your content. Cheers!
Fully agree with @returnoftheshredi… having a bad and ugly user interface like the quad cortex simply means that your company is bad at making nice and friendly user interface. Thus implying that people who love to play guitar rather than struggling at a “learning curve” to compensate for a badly designed product are stupid…is wrong. TMP rule them all in my view in all relevant standpoints. ;-)
Fantastic video Steve! You are so right. I for one, love my TMP. The user interface makes me want to use it. My QC sounds great, but so far, I reach for the TMP. I also got the fr-12 . It sounds great!!! Keep doing what you're doing! Thanks for all the great content!!!
Well said, although I don’t like that you feel like you have to address “negative” comments. Yours and others’ channels on modelers have been around long enough that people should know by now it’s opinion, and you shouldn’t have to say that. Anyways keep up the good content!
No need to apologize or give explanations why you said what you said. It was an honest review you like it or hate it I don’t think it makes much of a difference into people’s mind.
THIS!!!!! So much ..... this!!!! No wonder you take so much flak on social media .... you're way too reasonable and careful with your thought process .... 😂 (on a serious note this is exactly my approach and appreciate your voice of reason in a crazy online world)
I’ve had it for a day and so far I’m underwhelmed, but it took me over a year to get my Helix to sound good so…. There’s a lot of room for improvement there’s no doubt, my Mustang practice amp is more impressive so far… I can’t believe there’s no WiFi or a tablet app to control the thing…
What I find off putting is that from Canada, you get directed to the Canadian website, which... does not have all the products or website updates that the USA site does. Where is the TMP? For a tech product, you need tech resources. You need to be able to locate them on the website. With the Fender site, you need to dig, use the search bar etc. Then... where is the download or support section for the TMP? Fender does not yet seem to have the infrastructure or mindset on their website, which is generic and out dated at this point. It does not give me the comfort in buying their modeler, knowing it will be supported for years and years. It seems lost in a sea of other stuff on their webpage. It is not reassuring. Compare that with the Quad Cortex, the Fractal, the Line 6, the Kemper website..... do you feelFender is in this for the long term, or is this something they will dump in a year or two?
If you change it is because you don't like. If I change it is because I can't get my head around it. Not all the way through the video but catching your drift.
I'm down with constructive criticism and honest feedback, one shouldn't be demonized for doing an honest review on something. I've been an amplitube and tonex user for about 2 years. For the budget player, there's pretty much nothing better on the market imo. I've been hesitant to go for the tonemaster pro because even if it sounds better and is more user friendly, is it $1,300 better?? It's all subjective anyway, really enjoy your reviews!! 🤘🏻....
The really is the best gear is the gear you know how to use. Tone master pro is built for people who use tube amps and pedalboards. The price to built a decent pedalboard and tube amp setup far exceeds the price of a tone master pro.
Tones will be uploaded at 300 likes!
Get a TMP from Zzounds -
www.zzounds.com/a--3979426/item--FEN2274900000
Happy to be #300! 👍 Thanks for the thoughtful videos. I love the tone master pro and fit the profile you mentioned. It is great, for me. Thanks!
Have they been uploaded please and if so what are they called in the cloud? Thanks
I am kind of in the middle on this…I owned a Helix for a couple of years,and it just wasn’t for me..I got an AxeFXIII and absolutely loved it…this time last year,I was going in to have surgery on my arm from an old accident,and it turned out I had cancer..I am okay now after 8 months of chemo,but,during all this I had to sell the Fractal…Cancer be expensive!!…So now I am looking to get back into it,but can’t decide if I want another AxeFX or go with something like the UA Stomp..I have a couple of amps and load boxes,and I never really used a ton of presets,so I am thinking this might be the way to go…I just play in a home studio environment,so I was interested in the TMP as well…I don’t know yet….decisions,decisions..there are too many choices now,Lol!
You spend most of this video explaining, justifying, qualifying your statements in previous videos (no doubt because a whole lot of rude and aggressive people came at you hard for what you said). Steve, I mean this with the warmest affection and deepest respect: You don't have to placate those people. They will always be angry, they will always be rude, they will always miss the point. As the saying goes: "You can lie down for people to walk on you and they'll still complain you're not lying flat enough."
The players who matter understand and appreciate you. Focus on your people while the goblins do their goblin thing.
I appreciate you brother! Thanks. Honestly, and this is totally a me problem for letting it affect me... i stopped using the unit because I just didnt want to hear the peanut gallery. It was unfortunate, but sometimes that stuff gets everybody. Thank you for the kind words 🤘🤘🤘
@@SteveSterlacciAw, buddy. We all go through those moments when the goblins get in our heads. I just wanted to let you know that the good guys see you.
Something really interesting. A friend of mine told me something very insightful years ago when I was neck deep in a different hobby (though I know you do this professionally, you're speaking to a largely hobbyist audience, so I think it applies): Every hobby is actually two hobbies; there's doing the hobby itself, and then there's talking about the hobby. Each has their community built around it, each has their trends and hot topics, each has their leaders and influencers, and each has its army of members who live for their specific relationship to the hobby - either as doers, or as talkers. My buddy told me that if you don't intentionally choose to be one of the doers, you can inadvertently end up as one of the talkers.
You're a doer. Don't worry too much if the talkers don't get what you're doing.
Constructive criticism is crucial for improvement! Remember when the Helix had its fair share of issues at launch? Over time, they addressed both software and hardware concerns. TMP has potential for growth, just like all modelers. Preferences vary, and users find their dream tones in different gear. It's all subjective. Well said, Steve!
Absolutely! Thanks man 🤘
Bro, your content is kick ass and getting better. I’m a helix novice and love getting the tips/tricks. Keep it up my man!
Thanks so much !
Of all the "modeller heavy" content producers I think you are by far the most fair and most truthful, please don't ever change in that regard.
Jhon Cordy is the best by far.
Thanks Vaughan! John is amazing. No doubt!
Hey Steve, I thought you were going to let us know the shortcomings you have noted with the TMP, but got to the end and was disappointed not to hear them. Fender have poured a lot of resources into the TMP and will continue to do so. I’m glad to hear that you have been giving all of the modelling companies your feedback, as that is what will get improvements done.
When will we get an amp modeler modeler. Then I can get a helix, quad cortex, fractal, kemper, tone master pro all in one unit. That’s what I’m holding out for.
I think one of the things I appreciate about your channel and its content, is not only your playing being top notch, but I appreciate you don't rush to throw shade at a product. Yes, you show how it can be improved, but you also show the good in each product and how it can be used. I stopped watching other channels as frequently, as there was too much of this attitude that if it didn't work for them or if they couldn't understand its functionality, or get it to work for the host, the product sucked and so did the people that liked it. There is something for everyone, but not everything works for everyone
I think you do a great job at what you do and if people can’t deal with honesty. Oh well, thanks for the videos brother.
Steve your content and opinions are always appreciated.
I dig the format of the video with the guitar vignettes mixed in.
Having watched many videos on You Tube about setting this device up, I discovered that working with headphones to balance everything is a waste of time, because when you get to the stage, the sound is totally different and I though the live sound was too harsh the way I’d set it up with headphones at home. The good news is, with my band mates we were able to tame it to useable, realistic tones and it now reproduces exactly what my Vox AC30 and a Meazzi Echomatic gave me, without having to cart them along. Also my Gary Moore / Duane Eddy and Mark Knopfler (Money 4 Nothing) tones are perfect and well balanced, using Fender and Marshall models respectively. When mixed using headphones I’d overcooked tones and it sounded harsh, so all we had to do was tame the gain in a live room until it matched what the real amp used to give us. Hope this helps anyone wanting to gig the ToneMaster Pro.
Great advice and thanks for sharing your experience. I made a Survival guide for the Line 6 Helix, of which a lot of the principals apply to TMP. Maybe I should do one !
Thanks for that, I’m always interested in moving forward and making things easier after a career of carting Vox AC30/ Fender Twiin with JBLs and a MK3 Boogie. It gets too painful at 70 when you still rock & Roll. I had the Helix Lite and it froze up on a major gig and since tried the `kemper Stage but the Tone Master Pro works for me as it’s easy to punch in the right parameters for all the echo timings (I do a lot of Hank Marvin stuff-,multi head). Being able to set the head levels and tone on multi repeats let’s me copy the old Meazzi Echomatic very well.
Hopefully, Fender will stick with product support for the Tonemaster, unlike the total kick in the nads they gave to all of us who bought Mustang and GT and Gdec amps and products. 😢
Hey Gale! I really hope that doesnt happen here. It seems their reps are all over the forums and groups so it should be around awhile!
Yes, and i mean the mustang and the TMP really target different audience and skill groups
This is the most important point, IMO. From Canada, I can't even find it on their website. How can I get resources? Will they be as dedicated to this as the L6, Neural, Fractal folks to theirs? Will they dump the entire project if the numbers are weak in one season? I don't see their commitment. Why should I jump on board when there doesn't seem to be a firm hand on the wheel and a destination already mapped out?
I wish I had them all. Line 6 customer service, constant updates and and the idea that Helix can be as complicated or as simple as you need makes me happy. I would look at a Helix "2" before upgrading to anything else. The main thing I learned from using modelers is that there is always a way to get what you want, it just may take some tweaking.
It's basically been confirmed at this point that there won't be a helix 2, not in 2024 at least.
There is never any reason for negativity, All these units, Line6-Fractal QC ect, sound great in the hands of a good player that knows how to operate the unit. Steve I learned a lot off of your honest opinions and I'm sure all of your subscribers appreciate it as well. To all fellow musicians,Stay positive and be supportive of one another, Thanks again Steve for all the hard work & time you put into your vids.
Thanks so much! Well said about the player
Totally struck a chord with me in this one. I’ve tried so many modellers, from the full helix to the strymon iridium, and have never been able to find my “sound”. I don’t love menu diving and spending days creating patches. Maybe this would be more my speed. I’ll have to try one out some time I guess to see.
aren't you afraid its awkward dimensions? It stopped me at the first moment
Got mine yesterday and love it so far, great tones and more than enough amps if you, like me, are fast to suffer from option paralysis. Very organic and natural sound
I never had a modeler and although i am tech savvy I have limited time and had zero interest in spending days or weeks learning complicated units. I bought the tonemaster pro and it is simple to use and sounds fantastic. I plugged it in and I was playing and creating patches immediately.
You will love it.
@@ymelfilm it’s smaller than a lot of full floor boards and doesn’t have an expression pedal which suits me just fine. I don’t think the dimensions are awkward for my use case at all.
Helix is still best bang for the buck - especially after 3.7 update 🤘🏻🎸
I do agree its the most seasoned and best for gigging of all the modelers for what I do. Hx Xl took over for me
@@SteveSterlacciHL?
@@superglassbucks6356 HX XL
It might be the "best" bang for the buck, but, I keep on reading that people have a hard time controlling the fizz that occurs on this modeller on the higher gain amps, and you need to do this and do and do that, to rectify it. Now me as a person who hasn't jumped yet, I don't know what to do about that. Do I jump on the Helix and hope that I don't run into these myriads of problems, and if I do, can I take the huge amount of suggestions from YT pages and searching to get the unit under control, what do I do if I can't. There are also concerns with the TMP, saying that to get the best sounds you need to control the Input/output or pre/post EQ's (or something), again I have no idea how to do that. And don't even get me started on the Fractal unit (price/parameter paralysis). All I know it that the Feedbacker and the JCM800 on the Helix (3.7) sounds amazing. One thing I do know for sure is that Fender released the TMP too early and need release more updates pronto along with more amps to address the inadequacies. Fender said as much in a post by Leon Todd. I live in a region in Australia where I can't get the unit and try it out or even get to stores where they are available
Now if Line6 released a new unit say Helix II with all models as good as the JCM800 (3.7 update) that would be a different story.
I’ll take the TMP. There is no right or wrong though.
Yep - the jury is still out on this one - HOWEVER, as the digital alchemy that has made amp / effect modeling capable of emulating most classic sounds, I'd say Fender's engineers are going to be able to tweak this unit into a truly versatile, all-around tool. Will it be glitchy? Reliable and robust? Cause it's not exactly cheap. I'd say in a year or so we're gonna know it's really going to give the old-school tech (amps / effects) true competion, sound and tone-wise. It's definitely super promising. I'm rather amazed how many rushed out to buy this unit in its first update stage. The most successful of these companies creating this new technology will definitely understand that it's not simply what an awesome array of tones and effects it can produce, but also how easy and intuitive it is to navigate and tweak via a control screen. From what I've seen demoed, the Tone Master Pro is well thought out on this point. I'll learn some new gear's system of operation IF it's intuitive - for me, that's absolutely HUGE! This may well be as transformational as digital cameras became to photography!
I was bummed to hear about some of the issues with this unit, and every company with a modeler has needed some time to refine their product but what really frustrates me at this point in the game is that there are numerous extremely mature and feature packed units that have set expectations for the consumers and yet we still have these products coming out missing the mark.
The answers to the test are right there in front of them.
Love your prebends Steve. As an old timer, I approve.
The highest of compliments. Thank you!
@@SteveSterlacciwow that was fast, didn't think you'd even see my comment...
But yeah way back in the days when nearly only Blackmore used a trem, the only way to get a downward vibrato was to learn the prebend, which is so much part of my playing from way back when I learned it from Schenker. I hear you do it over and over, I'm like "Is that me? Dang Steve sounds good!"
Lol!!!
Good as only prebends can make one sound!
Been playing with a Mooer P2. Pretty fun and the app works well
I have p1 i think! Solid units
it sounds interesting, I check it out!
I gotta say, man. I came to this video because I wanted to learn more about the expectations vs the reality of the Tone Master Pro and I really didn't get that. At all. Peoeple are mean on the internet, especially if you put yourself out there on a platform like UA-cam. If you're critical of something, don't apologize or explain. Move on to the next video. Stop worrying about the comments.
For my part, I've had the TMP for a few days and I've once again bought a modeller that sounds great in videos, but not so much when I get it home. I'm one of those "older generation" people now, but I've had a long life as a performing musician and songwriter. I owned two amps for 25 years and played through many in studios and elsewhere. There were amps I liked and amps I didn't, but they all sonded and felt like amps. I have yet to use a modeller that does that in the way I anticipate. It's moving air, but it's not JUST moving air. It's the sum of the parts.
When I play live I use 2 pedals: an overdrive and a delay, plus the on-board reverb. When I play in the studio these days I'd just as well use a stock amp sim than pay $1500 for a box that sounds a little better and lacks the of the real thing. I can get Logic amps to sound as good as any Helix, Kemper, Tone Master, Fractal...whatever.
After using so many of these boxes, it seems like the only thing they're really good for is people who play in wedding bands and need to change their sound a bunch. Otherwise it's wasted money.
Maybe I'm old, but none of these things are worth so much trouble over.
I've been playing since 1970...now 61...just got a Helix and stomp xl and bought a GT1000 when it came out. Love them...and I was a tube stack guy for decades
there’s always going to be people who complain about something but so many professionals used line 6 gear on an enormous amount of music throughout the 90’s 2K’s and it was great. no reason we can’t use the great improvement of a TMP going forward. No one is going to really hear a difference in gear anyways. having tried everything in the last 4 decades the TMP is a wonderful unit to work with. I no longer miss any of my vintage gear
I thought this was really good content. I think we need to give Fender a chance to develop this product a little. I am definitely going to try one. I have been a Line 6 fan for many years, beginning with the POD, Flextone, Vetta, Spider and XT Live, and now the Helix. For decades we complained to Line 6 that all the distortions sounded "Fizzy". Line 6 was able to use that feedback and fix the problem. I am not a young player but I play live a lot in a very popular cover band. I held off on the Helix because when I watched the videos, I knew the factory patches were not going to provide what I needed and I would spend hundreds of hours getting it set up the way I would need. Then the pandemic hit and I had hundreds of available hours. I use it 4CM with my Marshall JVM amp and cab, I use if front of house for many gigs, and I use the HX effects in front of my Badcat amp and cab. It took me a lot of time to setup what I have now and I love it. I am hopeful that these companies are all looking forward and will make modelling much better and easier over time, I think Fender is on to that and they just put their foot in the door to let everyone know they want to make great stuff for us.
One benefit of owning a TMP is the fact that the FB group is so close knit and personal... its amazing that I can converse with all the UA-camrs like Steve as well as Jason Stillwell and Max Gutnik from Fender. The TMPs future is bright. Fender is listening and patience is a virtue... it took HX 8 years to get where its at and ill say that when the HX came out, it was dog water compared to the release of the TMP.
The only thing that matters is THAT YOU PLAY GUITAR. Whether its on a Dumble or a POD bean.
Appreciate your insight on this. Well said.
I bought the Quad Cortex on Black Friday. I love the concept of it, but it is overwhelming. I now am spending a lot of time on the unit and I don’t get to play as much.
I am considering switching to the fender, simply because I feel like I will be able to just play a lot more with less effort put in the unit.
I have both also and that is exactly my conclusion too.
I sold my QC after having it exactly a year. I bought the TMP and I enjoy working with it way more than the QC. Like many have already said, it is not necessarily better, but different and in a good way for me. I love the Scribble Strips, The Interface itself, and the Bluetooth functionality. For the kind of music I play the sounds I get are great.
@@ilovemusic68 Me too!
We're at a point in time where there are so many good amp modelers. It's all subjective and the Fender certainly is good enough for me to not feel bad when I plug into it instead of one of my real vintage Fender amps.
I can attest that to me personally Helix was extremely frustrating in the beginning! All I was seeking was DS-1 + a fender-type clean amp. I could not find those in the Helix for like 2 weeks. Some effects in the Helix were also unmanageable... the stuff in the Legacy folder for example sometimes is superior to what is in the mono/stereo folders... Then once I found all the ingredients for my main sound, it was pretty easy from there, just copy/paste. But in the beginning I was almost ready to send the unit back.
Meanwhile I had a Zoom little cheap processor, and was able to quickly find all my sounds very quickly. Helix is very powerful, but not the easiest to dial in the basic sound on.
Such a great video and a lot of great points… can you share some presets with us on the cloud
?
Yessir. Gonna upload the 2 I used in this vid. I just stuck with 2 and used pedals. Really happy with the tones I got
Awesome Steve!!
Hi Steve, Mike in the UK here, just wanted to validate your comments. I am a guitar into amp guy. I have a Marshall JVM into 2 2 x 12 Zilla cabs (great cabs by the way) with V30s. I have seen all the vids on all the amp modellers. I decided to try the Fractal FM9. It seemed to be the top of the bunch in a lot of aspects. However upon delivery and 3 days later I decided to return it. I am 61 this month and like you mentioned suffered with option paralysis. You hear so many great sounds but I couldn't get any. The main reason for purchase was the amount of high gain amps. But they mostly sounded awful. The JVM was close, but no cigar. As soon as I fired up my JVM, night and day. One big problem for me is that no one seems to show how these modelers work through a power amp and cabs, its all through DAWs, IRs and interfaces. I know that's how the world is going, but I'm a dinosaur, haha, but would love to see these units shown in all ways. Could you do some? Cheers
Hi Steve, I watch and learn from your videos. I do not often comment but am appreciative. For me, the TMP is working out great. I do not have bigger and better expectations. I did want easier ui and an excellent sound/feel. I am largely impressed. I am tweaking less and playing more. I really enjoy the silver jub models. I owned the amp and like the tmp version. Sure, I still like my boss and helix units. I did have to do more adjustments than I preferred. So you are right. Your criticisms are good for the product. Sadly, there is too much gear partisanship.
One of the reasons I decided to watch your Video is exactly because
you are realistically critical of the units you have previously reviewed.
You do not need to be apologetic or concerned about what others think.
UA-cam is full of Ravers and Shills who constantly gush about the latest product.
We know that they get ‘perks’, for doing so.
So its refreshing for me to hear what you have to say.
Keep up the great work that you are doing !!
LOL, I'm a boomer and I've been using modelers since Fender delivered the first of the Mustang series.
I've never given up tubes, so I have a great reference point for checking tone. Not all of us old guys are newbs at modelers. I've had a few, starting with the Fender Mustang amps. I didn't like the Mustang's menu system but the sounds weren't terrible.
I've had four flavors of Vox modelers (and a few hybrids) and found them too complex, or half-ass, or something. They just didn't work for me. Sounds were great, but my favorite part of modelers is changing the whole sound with one tap of a switch.
I love the Line 6 stuff. I just recently sold my Helix but kept the PodGo. In my way of thinking, the PodGo does all I need to do and if it doesn't I can drop a pedal before it or in the loop. BTW, I did not sell the PC212+. That is by far the most used tool in my arsenal. I even use it to model cabs for my tube amps (with a feed off of the attenuator)
I also have a TC Px5 that I love but can't freakin read when it's on the floor and I'm not. It's not an amp modeler, but it is a digital FX modeler.
I love tubes, but when I travel I love having a super light weight and compact rig that does what I need and doesn't cost me a week of recovery after hauling it up some stairs. I sincerely believe that most people that don't like modelers are to timid to turn them up. Turn it up as loud as a tube amp and it will sound like a tube amp.
Rock on.
For me - Choose a unit which makes you wanna play more.
And that, my friend, is the ultimate choice!
@@SteveSterlacci sometimes I think spending money for just the right tone is a foolish thing...great artist like David Gilmore, slash , Paul Gilbert Steve vai Guthrie...they are famous for their playing and musical sense first..handover them any Guitar and amp. Slash is known of just a guitar and amp thats it...rest their fingers do the work ...but now it's all sheep herding...tone tone tone..do we use pedals for acoustic guitar?? Or piano or violin...it's all in our fingers...it's all just in our head
5:00 - Who you calling older? :)
Those who identify as such 😅🤣
I am 55, and Tone Master or Headrush are the 2 units in which I am interested at this point. I have no desire to play around with the units I have used. There is just too much fiddling around. I don't struggle with them, I just don't want to do it. Though there is the expense factor, it would seem the Fender product has a bit more room to grow.
Love that guitar. Looks like a Fibser Telepaulster
If you end up at Winter NAMM 2024, check out the BluGuitar booth - they are releasing the AMP X - a tube based option that I think will blow ALL modelers out of the market
Hey man, random question……what is the chair you’re sitting in and do you recommend it? I need one of those with the arms that go up.
I'm a helix user but yeah from the tone you're getting I hear the string tone that's impressive
Not having the profile/capture feature available at launch was a big miss.
Great video! Guess I'll give the Fender unit a try. Currently I have a HX-Stomp and a Boss GX-100... and have had them for the last 6-8 months without connecting to a computer and diving into learning how to use them. Just dread learning how to use them. Maybe the Fender will be the answer. Hopefully Fender will continue issuing updates, which is one of the reasons I'm hesitant to take the $1700 step(!)
Update: Decided on the Helix after watching several of your videos. Couldn't be happier! Yes, I really like that the Fender has images of the items in a signal chain, but everything else pointed to Helix. I really appreciate your approach to these reviews-- especially when I'm getting ready to spend $1700 on a single piece of gear!
Awesome!!! I've got tons of Helix vids on the channel if you ever need help 🤘🤘🤘 enjoy
I’m probably a bit older than most of your viewers. It seems like younger players are always in search of a new gadget to ‘get their tone.’ If someone can’t make their guitar sound great with something like the TMP, it’s more about them then it is about the effects processor. We are living during a time of amazing technical advances,and we should all just thank these amazing engineers who put together the TMP.
I had the TMP for 3 weeks. It's a great unit for anyone who doesn't want to spend a lot of time tweaking. Ultimately I ended up returning it for a QC and I'm happy with my choice.
If the TMP was great, you never would have returned it. So... that says it all.
I have both the QC and TMP. I have much more pleasure playing the latest. Anyway both are great units.
@@TheCyberMantis It can still be great and not the right one for me....
@@TheCyberMantis it just says bad match between product and player. QC is better for someone who wants to do a lot of tweaking to dial in a sound.
TMP is great for some who wants a great sounding product out of the box, and is more used to dealing with amps and pedals rather than modelers.
@@KevinNolin Okay, so why did you return it?
Here's the deal: absolutely any gear you can use from real amps and pedals to modelers need some time to get your sound the way you want and it requires some trial and error especially if you care about your sound and you want it to inspire you. I got a Helix LT a few years ago and I am very comfortable with tech and it took me some time to get what I wanted (especially the delays were an issue) once I got more knowledgeable about how to get what I wanted I loved it! I am still improving and finding new tones all of the time. A wonderful piece of kit. Your amplification/speaker situation is also very important. I mostly use good quality Studio monitors with a sub a mixer at home and I am very happy with the sound. I have a feeling if I actually played out I would use a power amp/guitar cab on stage and send the IR/Cab sims to the house feed.
I really agree with you on so many levels. The only one I would kind of disagree with would be the commentary that this would be a great unit for people new to modeling. I just think there are so many more affordable options that come really close to what this can do and or subjectively might sound better.... For way less money which might be a better option for someone trying to decide if they even want to get into modeling.
I bet I would like the Gender one. But I love my Helix and don't need anything else!
Sometimes I love Auto correct. . 😂
I just have to leave it now. :)
Will there ever be a single "perfect modeller" or will it go the way of laptops - a proliferation of hundreds of models forming a big array of choice and price points?
Never will be a perfect one!
Price is already a point....no need to be redundant.
Great review Steve , I always appreciate your takes and honesty ,I’m an old guy but I love modelers , this looks like a great unit but I never buy a first generation in gear ,always stuff to be worked out , but I think they marketed it to the right group , I have a couple of old rockers friends that are using them at their shows in 2024 , verdict is still out , they love their amps , but they get heavier as you get older 😵💫
What is your opinion on the Kemper?
Where can this patch be downloaded from ?.
The TMP has all the processing power and UI it needs to compete with everything else. It just came out. Give it a few updates. Im sure most of the concerns and objections will be addressed. Every modeler that has come out has had more or less the same issues. I remember last year, people were putting the QC in the grave.
I'm sure every new major modeler is gonna go through this beat down process early in their existence. The expectation has been raised so much
I think it`s a nice piece of gear but way to expensive for my taste ( iuse hx stomp at the moment). I was wondering if you already tried the two notes opus. Looks like the slolution for an excisting pedalboard and nicely priced. Opinions?
Try going into your output settings. There are different perimeters for controlling headphone output vs, output 1 and output 2. Perhaps you need to make some adjustments there first, before adjusting your main volume.
Rispondi
People seem quick to criticize these sort of views. There has to be a personal viewpoint. I agree with a lot of comments in that many modellers are longwinded to set up. i do like the quad cortex for its simplicity and the TMP seems to be in a similar vain. As Steve points out and a few contributors to this thread also, Its horses for courses what suits one does not suit everyone else. Keep up the good work Steve.
Thanks Ian! Means a lot
If they ever make a Helix 2, I'd be perfectly content with more processing power, updated knobs and interface, maybe even a touch screen or option for mouse and keyboard to make it feel more like helix native. For what I do, I don't need much more than that. I love the rotating knobs on the TMP but I feel like they released the product too soon and need to release some major updates for it.
Awesome T-Shirt! I have one just like it!
I'll throw my voice into the conversation here Steve. I gigged for ten plus years with a Line 6 amp. I own, or have owned all the major modelers (with the exception of Quad Cortex). Helix and my Axe FX III are my goto daily drivers. That said, I'm running the Tone Master Pro with the companion amp and I've been playing it WAY more than everything else. I own couple of the EVH amps as well, so I've compared the tones. It's definitely not as good as the tube amps, or my old 5150. I'll say this - the interface is light years ahead of the Helix or Axe FX. I still feel like the Axe FX sounds the best, but I play my Helix more in the studio, but I think the Tone Master Pro is moving up. The Eric Johnson patch (Cliff diving?) is so usable out of the box, it's ridiculous how great it sounds. Fender, and I'm always critical of them, knocked it out of the park with this. The FRFR Ton Master amp isn't a straight up FRFR, it *sounds* like guitar amp. I have the Friedman and Line 6 FRFRs and they are equivalent but more neutral, which is a good and a bad thing. So far, after a couple months, I think the Ton Master Pro is lacking in high gain stuff, like I said, I'm comparing the models against the actual amps in my studio as a one-to-one. My Axe FX III sounds WAY better for those tones, the Helix has my exact sound and the Kemper a bit different, but in the same ball park. I'm tremendously excited about the Tone Master Pro. I tossed that and the amp in my living room as a practice rig only, but I've been playing it a ton. Another thing to note, the output options are great, build quality is fantastic. It really is a good unit, I can't speak to floor unit in general, all of my stuff is rack mount, but I feel like I could drop into a gig with this thing and start playing live in 2 minutes and it would hold up to some knucklehead spilling a beer on it.
Clips sound killer!!
There are new updates for the Tonemaster pro, Many different features between many modelling units. Ease and great sounds Is what I look for
I covered the newest updates! Ease of use and great sounds is a definite Strength of the tmp
I have a boss gx 100 600 bucks down the drain I can barely figure out how to use this thing
My preference goes towards the GT-1000 (own it). Totally meet my expectations. But I am really enjoying reviews about other products.
My student paid all that cash for it and I preferred my line 6 spider V 240 HC or a spark go
Both under 300 bucks also
Sweet shirt!
Its no easier than the Headrush... Im 52 been on the road for 25+ years... this works great.. keep real on the user friendlyness... they are all a learning curve but over all your spot on buddy... Ive uaed them all... too and i Love this fender in the clean side of getting my country tone
Amen Brother!
Any bass amps on the tone master ?
Not at the moment but I'm sure they'll add them
Honestly I’ve gotten some 3rd party IRs and EQed some, and it’s great. Just sent my Neunaber immerse in the fx loop and it also sounds great. I usually stick a 57 in front of a tube amp to record, but this is absolutely doable. The presets, I think, suck. The interface is brilliant. 8 core processor should be able to support some higher quality patches in the future. I have no issue with DI or plugins, or pedal boards. They all have their own benefits.
I have noticed the guitar you use has a drastic effect. My Fishman equipped kiesel sounds very mechanical. My strandbergs have suhr and sound amazing everywhere. I think if you cut some of the high eq it will sound much better.
To my ears it sounds as good as the quad cortex, and better than the helix and head rush. It’s not a fractal but it’s also considerably more inexpensive
That being said I also think it’s an odd company to put out a modeler. Most people that play fender are generally bonded to tube amps. Also fine, but most prog players or metal players think of fender never and they’re the people into modeling
I'll wait for price drop )
This is more of a therapy session. Was looking for the video in your title.
I spoke about my expectations, and then the reality of where the unit fits in. Maybe you just missed the picture
That was maybe 10% of the video. The rest was you cutting playing into it. And then taking about the controversy. When UA-camrs spend time explaining controversy, it’s just not necessary. We’re watching your video voluntarily. We get your intentions. Make a separate beef video to get at that topic.
@@eugenehavens thanks for the feedback 🫡
@@SteveSterlacciLove your channel.
@eugenehavens much appreciated! Hope to see you in more comment sections 🤘
Uncle Larry HATES modellers. He reckons it’s just a phase….
I never miss an episode. He can do whatever he wants at his level 🤷♂️
The only modellers that I've ever been happy with are the UAFX pedals. They're so much better than anything else, in feel and sound. It's my opinion, but I've owned most of the others and ended up selling them all.
I might want to check out one, but I'm one of the few who is totally happy with my stock plugins in my Cubase 12 Pro. Like any real amp, you have to play with the controls until you get what you want. I've pretty much given up live playing but I love recording in my home studio.
Nice Uncle Larry t-shirt, that...
See you Friday!!
LOL Love the shirt Steve!
I had Helix and quand cortex.I have now thé Tonemaster pro.in my opinion TM sounds thé best without tweaking hours.
Maybe it won't have certain high gain sounds for certain people. And people always complain about price unless it is free. I have heard that it has the same sounds as the Fender Tone Master amps which get good reviews. Seems a lot of people like the sound of Princeton and Deluxe Reverb amps. I am happy with a few Fender amps, a VOX AC15 style and a Marshall JTM 45 sound. An easy to use interface with knobs mapped to a picture is a good thing, Fender might need to improve the Marshall sounds. I'll bet that is very doable.
If I want real deal I have a bunch of low watt Swart, Tungsten, Tone King, Marshall, Soldano, VOX ... and a UA OX and a bunch of speakers if needed. I bought one for the heck of it. I am lucky to be able to afford variety.
I think you said it best, there is no one perfect modeler. At least not yet. IMHO, I see it like this (and I’ve commented similarly on your videos before):
Helix = Windows
QC = Android
Fender = Apple
Fractal = Linux
Kemper = DOS (🤷♂️)
For me, I’ve just received a QC, and I’m very happy with it! It’s the size I want, has great sounds, and plenty of room for me to grow. Much like my computer comparison, there’s a place for all of these!
It's ok for studio or the bedroom rocker. I prefer the real amps and pedals. Computer generated simulations are not for me
It sounds good to me bro..all top of the line gear dose but like you say every one of them nees tweeking in areas ❤
Your opinion matters bro. Love my Kemper! Best unit for me playing worship...
Oh yeah, I agree about Uncle Larry. He can do or say anything he wants... He's my all-time favorite musician. If he wants to sniff corks, let it be, though I'm generally in disagreement with the cork sniffers....
The Fender Tone Master Pro Cult is coming to haunt you down, bwoooy!
It’s funny that you are basically saying that TMP are for “stupid people”. 🤣. Just because something is simple to use doesn’t mean it’s for old people or simpletons… it just means they have a superior interface that crosses over into real tube amps and pedals. I think it’s strength is that the work flow is so fast you don’t lose your inspiration while dialing in your tones. I enjoy your content. Cheers!
I'm sorry you interpret it that way, but that's in no way the intent
Fully agree with @returnoftheshredi… having a bad and ugly user interface like the quad cortex simply means that your company is bad at making nice and friendly user interface. Thus implying that people who love to play guitar rather than struggling at a “learning curve” to compensate for a badly designed product are stupid…is wrong. TMP rule them all in my view in all relevant standpoints. ;-)
Nice Bukovac shirt 🤘🤘
Fantastic video Steve! You are so right. I for one, love my TMP. The user interface makes me want to use it. My QC sounds great, but so far, I reach for the TMP. I also got the fr-12 . It sounds great!!! Keep doing what you're doing! Thanks for all the great content!!!
Well said, although I don’t like that you feel like you have to address “negative” comments. Yours and others’ channels on modelers have been around long enough that people should know by now it’s opinion, and you shouldn’t have to say that. Anyways keep up the good content!
No need to apologize or give explanations why you said what you said. It was an honest review you like it or hate it I don’t think it makes much of a difference into people’s mind.
THIS!!!!! So much ..... this!!!! No wonder you take so much flak on social media .... you're way too reasonable and careful with your thought process .... 😂
(on a serious note this is exactly my approach and appreciate your voice of reason in a crazy online world)
It s good. I like it.
I’ve had it for a day and so far I’m underwhelmed, but it took me over a year to get my Helix to sound good so…. There’s a lot of room for improvement there’s no doubt, my Mustang practice amp is more impressive so far… I can’t believe there’s no WiFi or a tablet app to control the thing…
What I find off putting is that from Canada, you get directed to the Canadian website, which... does not have all the products or website updates that the USA site does.
Where is the TMP? For a tech product, you need tech resources. You need to be able to locate them on the website. With the Fender site, you need to dig, use the search bar etc. Then... where is the download or support section for the TMP?
Fender does not yet seem to have the infrastructure or mindset on their website, which is generic and out dated at this point. It does not give me the comfort in buying their modeler, knowing it will be supported for years and years. It seems lost in a sea of other stuff on their webpage. It is not reassuring. Compare that with the Quad Cortex, the Fractal, the Line 6, the Kemper website..... do you feelFender is in this for the long term, or is this something they will dump in a year or two?
If you change it is because you don't like. If I change it is because I can't get my head around it. Not all the way through the video but catching your drift.
Ok
I'm down with constructive criticism and honest feedback, one shouldn't be demonized for doing an honest review on something. I've been an amplitube and tonex user for about 2 years. For the budget player, there's pretty much nothing better on the market imo. I've been hesitant to go for the tonemaster pro because even if it sounds better and is more user friendly, is it $1,300 better?? It's all subjective anyway, really enjoy your reviews!! 🤘🏻....
The really is the best gear is the gear you know how to use. Tone master pro is built for people who use tube amps and pedalboards. The price to built a decent pedalboard and tube amp setup far exceeds the price of a tone master pro.
It’s not real lol! I sold mine ha ha ha!! But it’s a neat device!! Happy you did this review great video friend!
I love Fender, Been a strat guy forever. I do not love Fender's customer support in Canada. It is lacking to say the least.