I had a lot of questions regarding how these two amplifiers compare to each other tone-wise and with pedals. Here you go! Let me know which one you like best and you can also vote within the video cards. 😎
Shane, Sweetwater put the Boss Nextone Artist (40 watt 1x12) on sale $100 off. They're doing this a month before the Spring NAMM show in Anaheim. In the past, Sweetwater has done something similar because the manufacturer is coming out with a new model, better features, same price, at the NAMM show and they don't want to get stuck holding equipment that they can't move. There might be a new Boss Nextone model coming out next month that has controls more similar to the Katana Mk 2 50 watt 1x12 controls. That could be very interesting for the small gig player who doesn't want to spend twice as much for the Fender's and still have nice tone.
Quick question. I got DSL40C about a week before we got locked down. It's my first two channel tube amp and I noticed white noise on the OD1 and OD2 modes. More gain equals more noise. Is this normal? I have changed out the power tubes. What is your experience with white noise on OD2? Thanks.
I just bought the Nextone stage due to your other demo vids and I love it. The 6L6 power amp setting is a revelation. I'd love the fender but it was out of my price range! I tried the fender at Andertons and it was amazing, but the boss doesn't feel like a compromise, it's a great little amp with endless possibilities.
Wow, I didn’t expect the Nextone to walk away with this one the way it did IMHO. Sounds like a really great amp and pedal platform. Not sure if you have already, but I’d like to see you demo the other tube modes/overdrive sounds of the Nextone. Off-topic, I’ve really come to respect this channel a lot. The demos are concise, fair and well put together. It’s become a go-to for me to get fair comparisons & reviews. Thanks, Shayne! Hope I spelled your name right. 😳
Hey Shane, I suspect the fender reverb is the reason it sounds not as “present” in your examples. Fender reverb is classic. Listen at the trails after the notes. The fender trails are way longer. The boss trails are hardly noticeable. Both amps are great but reverbs we’re not matched evenly. Always enjoy your reviews!
Hi from Austin, TX. The Twin Tone Master in my little opinion sounded more balanced and not as “bitey” as the Boss. I like them both and I’m a fan of amps in general, technology and I’m a huge believer in each tool serving an intended purpose. I actually own a Boss Katana 50. It’s not my main amp by any means but it’s good when I don’t want to lug around my main rig just to go jam with some new faces in a garage or living room. At any rate, that’s just my opinion. For my intended uses and purpose...I’d totally choose the The Twin Tone Master. I played through one of these not noticing the Tone Master badge at the bottom right and I was fooled by it and simultaneously sold on it.
That was indeed helpful! I've been curious about both amps, but haven't had a chance yet to plug into either one of them. I had been leaning a bit more towards the Nextone, and this shootout has pushed me even more in that direction. Thank you!
Starting to really consider this boss nextone. Both are fine amps, but that onboard delay was awesome. Anything that means you can use less pedals is great.
Nextone is clear winner in every aspect . Especially tone , versatility and price . Boss is way ahead in this domain . You pay extra only for the Fender name and you get a lot less . Great vid demo of the truth .
The more you mess around with the Boss editing software, the more you get out of the amp. I found a "clean 6L6" preset setting, and with some EQ tweaks, the Nextone sounds big and fat- live especially. I would also not mess with the speaker- I spent quite a few hours swapping my various speakers through the amp (Greenback( bland), Celestion G12K-85 from the early 80s(huge sound, but overpowering tone), Eminence legend (too harsh in the upper mids). The stock speaker is perfect for the amp, and I suspect it has the flattest response curve that Boss could engineer into a 12". The Fender amp mind you, is very nice too!
They are both different beasts! The Boss sounds slightly better with pedals, but that could be down to a few EQ tweaks to be honest, bit more mids maybe. In the room vs in a pub you probably won't feel much difference. No losers - get either and think anyone should be happy playing these for blues and rock :) Great video. Oh, love the little disco light on your pedal board :)
Fantastic amps.! Both great; Fender's got that classic vibe going but I think Boss is a little more flexible. Roland/Boss with the Blues Cube and Nextone really have some amazing products. All without the hassles that tube amps bring.
The Boss has a flatter EQ curve compared to the Twin’s mid-scooped sound. There’s no better, only *different*. It’s like comparing a Jazz Chorus with a Twin, they’re two different amps.
Great comparison man! To me, it sounds a bit like the reverb on the Fender is more prominent than on the Boss and making it sound a little less present. 🤙🏻🎸
The Nextone may be more in your face when adding distortion, but it's very sterile sounding, like there's little if any interaction with the amp itself. My Katana 50 was the same way. The Tonemaster, OTH, sounds a bit more distant, but sounds far more colorful and harmonically rich, with more interaction between the pedal and the amp. The Tonemaster could benefit from a bit of EQ tweaking, plus is he using the Brightness switch or not?
Comparing apples and oranges.. But there is nothing wrong with doing that. These are two very good amps that people want to know more about so thanks again Shane for putting this together.. On paper the Fender should destroy the Nextone.. A $999 200W 2x12 against a $599 80W 1x12 .. I wouldn't say that happened. Nope , not by a long shot, maybe not at all at least in this setting. Two really good sounding amps, the Fender is a bit out of my price comfort zone. I just don't have the skills to warrant that purchase. I do admit I like the Twin scooped more rounded sound.. It was after all what I was raised on. The Nextone sounds a little bright to me.. BUT that can be easily adjusted for everyone's personal preference. The Nextone can sound like a scooped Fender at will. i'd say that Shane pretty much hit the nail on the head with his assessment. I own a Nextone Stage.
@@tommyd688 Actually i'd like to see a shootout in between a boss nextone and a fender deluxe tonemaster,that is actually fair,though i think he compaires the concepts of the two amps (key tonal features)
Have two katanas the the head and 100 w combo, replaced my Marshall half stacks, they do an incredible job for the price, and better than the awful boogie studio 22+ I had, I'd love the nextone
There you go reading my mind again, Shane. Thanks for the video. This is what I was hoping for! As a tube guy, the Nextone is bolted onto my Radar as possibly my first gigging "modeling amp".
@@monarcas5502 I hear what you're saying. By technical definition (at least according to Wikipedia), any amplifier that is not itself powered by a tube but attempts to recreate a real tube amp sound and feel is a "modeling amp". I do agree that different technologies exist to perform that function. I was broadly defining this amp much in that vein, "It doesn't use tubes but is excellent at recreating the sound and feel of tubes." And as far as that capability goes, it is quite impressive!
Great video. The Twins doing exactly what they wanted it to do. The boss is Voiced for Overdrive so even with a pedal it's going to react better. Personally I never had any luck with distortion pedals in a classic Fender amp. It always sounded to glassy. But again that's not what the classic fenders are for. So the fender is just downright cool. If you don't mind the price. This was really informative. If I had extra money I would buy the fender. I don't play clean that often so I can't justify getting one. But it's definitely cool. As I type this I'm also thinking how much I would like to have one. It's good to see companies taking Solid State Technology seriously. The search goes on for the ultimate solid-state amp. The Fender Twin was made for loud and clean and nothing else. So I choose fender for the cool Factor. Being that I don't play clean I would probably choose the boss I think. This is one of the rare times I would have to go and listen to them myself before I made the decision.
Sure everything sounds good. Fenders are voiced to be clean and bright. When you shove a distortion pedal in it's hard to dial out the highs. But any amp is good enough. I find a more neutral voiced amp a better option for distortion pedals. Of course a marshall.
Tube Twins take anything well. Deluxe Reverbs can even take most drives and fuzzes. They absolutely love Rats. But these tone masters suck ass with drive pedals. They especially can't handle fuzzes. That is what ultimately made me return my TM Twin. I'll stick with my DRRi which is a great pedal platform, especially Boss drives, Mid heavy fuzzes, and like I said... The Rat being maybe the best drive for a fender ever.
Shane I love your channel a lot... your right up there with the rest of the boys if not the best! By the way a great video and found this useful as I am looking at both... But I still need to try a in-person comparison.
Nice comparison and I can totally hear the differences you were talking about. To me the Fender when compared to the Nextone almost sounds like you have a blanket over the speaker, but for cleans that somehow sounds great.
Thanks so much for doing this Shane. I’m glad to hear that the Tonemaster did sound better to my ears, as I bought one! Having said that the Nextone did sound great given it’s half the price 👍 The Twin sounded more 3 dimensional to me whereas the Nextone sounded flatter and more mid rangey, less dynamic, kind of weird because the way I hear it seems to be the opposite to how you hear it in the room. Anyway all the best and happy Xmas mate 🍻
Both amps are awesome. I have a Katana Artist 100 which I absolutely love . Such great amps coming out now that you can gig with and play at home volumes . My tube amps are gathering dust!
There was a disconnect between his words and what I was hearing. I agree Boss had a bit more “presence” - but it sounded like the TM had a more finished and mature sound. I bet at a live setting the Twin sits better in the mix. Anyone have experience with both in a band setting?
From this video I preferred the boss with the overdrive pedals but when I tried them side by side in real life I preferred the fender. Just goes to show, videos are helpful but nothing substitutes trying it. Shane nailed it though when he mentioned it would vary with different pedals. The two amps have very different characters and suit different pedals. Also, if you like lots of gain I'd wager you'd prefer the boss. If you prefer lower gain I'd wager you prefer the twin. It's like Shane says - it just fills the room. However, I actually walked away with the tone master deluxe reverb - breaks up more than the twin in a brilliant way. This from someone who previously had only tube amps including an fsr deluxe reverb fudge brownie. I also tried it side by side with the 64 custom deluxe reverb, could have purchased the custom, price was not the deciding factor. I'd say the tone master was better than my drri and if the custom was a 10 the tone master was a 9.8 - factor the attenuation and lack of maintenance - I took the tone master. The custom was really nice but at £2200 not worth the price difference to me, not by a long shot.
The Boss Nextone did scare the hell out of me!!!!! Side by side, it really held its own against the Fender TM Twin 😲😲. For what I look and listen for in a secondary amp (my Marshall is not going anywhere 😎😎) is that classic clean tone that has that certain chime and the Twin has it!!! There something about that Fender tone paired with a Stratocaster or Telecaster that is magical! Part of me was really impressed with the Boss Nextone and if you are in the market for an amp I feel that it’s a great sounding amp for around $400 US that will serve you well. Personally I want that Twin to pair up with my Strats and my V, no pedals, and just wail!😊😁 Great comparison Shane! Cheers!!🎸🎸🤙🏾🎼🎵🎶🎵
Guitar Ocd My mission for 2020 is to somehow justify to my wife that a) I need this amp and b) I need any other guitar/ piece of gear that I’ll probably GAS over next year!!!! 😂😂😂😂
Wow! I'm a Fender fan from the 60s but I have to admit that the Nextone really kicked butt! It would be really interesting to hear different speaker cabs with the Nextone, considering that it simulates 4 totally different vintage amps.
Both amps are good no doubt, (NOT the band) but the Boss has more mid punch that gives it the clarity that the Fender does not get, (esp with OD) due to its scooped eq curve! GREAT comp Shane!
The Nextone is more versatile and its cleans are ALMOST as good as the Fender TM. The Fender has some sort of special sauce on the top end. To help the Fender with pedals, I suggest using an A/B switch and sending the clean sounds to the Vibrato channel and the dirt sounds to the Normal channel, with the EQ set to bump up the mids a little more.
I have owned a Blues Cube Artist since they were released. It rarely gets plugged in these days. Reason is it has a really harsh top end / treble, and the sound is very one dimensional. You can get it to sound good mic'd up - but in a room it's very flat and one-dimensional sounding. You can get it to sound ok with pedals - but it doesn't perform as good as a Class A tube amp does with overdrive pedals or compressors because it can't emulate power tube breakup well enough and it lacks dynamics. It also doesn't have sag like a tube amp does - you never feel connected to the music playing through the Blues Cube like you do with a tube amp. The good thing about the Blues Cube Artist is that it's cheap enough and tough enough to throw into the back of a car without having to worry about it getting broken.
@@tdunster2011 I have the Blues Cube Hot, have it for over a year now. Love it. Fantastic Cleans and great pedal platform. But I understand what you are saying.
tdunster2011 We had completely different experiences. I regret like hell selling my Cube Artist. Best clean/lite grit amp I’ve owned and I’ve owned numerous Fenders.
@@tdunster2011 interesting - I have a different experience with the Blues Cube Artist as I do feel connected to it while playing. It sounds particularly good with the New York Blues Tone Capsule. I also own tube amps from Fender, Marshall and Vox.
The Nextone has a Presence control that is very 'Marshall-like'. it really adds a nice cutting bit (that I really, really like). I don't own a Nextone (yet :) ) but it's on my short list.
If you are playing in a band I think the real answer is a Hot Rod Deluxe. Pick one up used and in near mint condition for about $500. The only draw back is the extra weight, but actually it’s only 8 pounds heavier than that Tone Master.
Thanks for the comparison, really enjoy your videos. You are always knowledgeable, informative, and cool to watch. I been looking at the nextone, and I want one. When I bought my katana 50, I wish I had looked at the whole line. I think the nextone will suit my needs perfectly, along with the footswitch. P.s. I got the very first view of this video. My first time. How cool is that
Great vid Shane, both sound pretty good, boss slightly more brittle on breakup, both sound pretty decent clean, you wouldn’t be disappointed with either! 😎
If the amps had been set at comparable volumes (and not necessarily based on the numbers on the volume controls - I'm talking about the same volume level based on your ears), then I think Shaun's conclusions would have been much different. If you are even contemplating getting the Nextone over the Tone Master Twin, then you are totally missing the point of the Twin. I bought the Twin and can say that it's one of the best amps that I have ever played through (and I'm a "tube snob"), including in a live rock band setting with a hard-hitting drummer. I easily got over-the-top with the amp set at only 40 watts using a boost pedal! Set the volume on channel 2 between 7 and 8 and kick in your boost pedal = glorious, rocking tone!!
The blues cube would crush it. Especially with the pure blues module. That particular one sounds better than most modern tube amps imo. But they are expensive as hell
The Nextone had more push and presence .I've tried the twin having played the original for 20 years and the latest offering does not stack up. No way does it sound like an original twin...sorry.
I have both tube and tonemaster twins as well. the tube is more present but it could be the speakers since they're different also i haven't broken in the speakers on the tonemaster yet. To suggest the tube version is the obvious winner is not being honest, there are plenty of A/B comparison on youtube.
@Luke I had it at full volume inside a closed amp section at a shop and it sounded about 50 watts , my original would have blasted my ear drums to death. But everyone has their own experiences of the original.
Great compare. I just got a used Nextone and really liking it. Also on your video the Boss sounds much better. The only thing I like better than the Nextone is my 20+ year old Carvin Bel Air. But the Nextone can do more tricks with the GAFC foot switch.
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I enjoyed both. Have many Fenders and that sound is evident in your room. But I really enjoyed the Nextone. It sounded more fierce, focused on the overdrive the Nextone! I would love to have heard the Gibson Flying V! Perhaps a more separated or even tone? Good post Shane!
If you do not use a dB meter to equalize the volume, then you can never fairly compare to amps. The louder amp almost always sounds “better” because that is how the human ear works.
Yeah...Boss sounded louder...curious if the dB difference would effect the sound in the room as well...though I think Shane is pretty good about making attire the settings are equal for a good comparison.
Boss sounds way better. I wonder if you played around with the EQ on the Fender you could get it to sound better, reduce the Bass and Middle then raise the treble and presence if need be. Thanks for the Demo
@Luke Each to their own, a matter of opinion. The one that inspires me is the one to get, however if like me playing at home, the Katana takes up less space, space I need. Horses for courses.
I saw a blown Tone Master Deluxe. The Fender was a few months old and the chip blew its brains out. It was a board repair. The issue the repairer has was the chip wasn’t available. Generally, you would assume that a solid state amp is more reliable, though this doesn’t mean it will have great longevity.
I thought the Nextone was the best overall, plus it models 4 different amps, plus it has an effects loop and onboard delay. And then it costs half of what the Fender costs! Absolute no-brainer, so much so I bought a Nextone Stage a fortnight ago. It is an excellent amp for the money. Yes, it’s solid state, so what, if it sounds good it is good.
they both sound good but as i hear it..but the fender lives up to what people wanted in a tube amp but solidstate format keeping there iconic reverb sounds an volume bloom in the amp with retaining its dynamics ...im not saying boss did make a great amp but i heard amp reverb in the fender that was un mistakingly present an more "tubelike compression"from fender ...imho...thats where fender took this one home for me they kept it simple as they did in old origional models ...more attention to a few things than a hundred things ...if you want a top of the line fender tube amp but not the price punch an retaining the name for the purists out there ...to me boss amps are for people who want all the amps on the market , kind of like owning every pedal on the market...idk...just my 2 cents...good vid shane
For a tad more than the price of the Fender you could get TWO Boss Katana-100/212 MkII's and hook them up using the Stereo Link, now that would sound awesome! For one of my Amp setups I have a new Boss Katana MKII Head stereo linking into my old Boss Katana MKI Head return jack each driving a MTX TP112 cab on each side of the room and it sounds great!
My big disappointment with the Tone Masters is that they didn’t add an effects loop. I get that they’re trying to stay as close to the original amps as possible, but it really takes them out of the running for me. That Nextone really sounds boss though.
Interesting because we all know how great the Katana is but I’m shocked but not. This is honestly the first time I’ve heard someone take the Nextone through its paces and against another amp. I have wanted the twin. But right now the Boss is on sale. I might buy one. I own a Marshall 40 DSLCR BLACKSTAR 6L6 studio, Boss Katana and a Yamaha thrc so my small group of amps. I might jump on the Nextone for $299
Good stuff, thanks. I felt, though, that there was a volume difference between the two amps. the louder amp sounded bigger and more present. and the softer amp sounded smaller and weaker. I've owned fenders a long time and I know how good they can sound. this is no knock on nextone, they sound excellent, but I'd like to see what they sound like together at the same volume.
I have Roland Blues Cube Hot (American) and a Roland Blues Cube Hot British Modified. Both great amps. Clean or pushed, power scaling, reverb. I also have a Deluxe Tone Master. I like the Tone Master clean, pushed and especially with pedals. The IR recording out on the Tone Master is great. I think the Deluxe Tone Master sounds more like a tube amp than the Twin Tone Master. It's because the Deluxe Tone Master is modeled after a tube rectifier amp unlike the Twin. The Deluxe Tone Master was my choice for a digital amp because it's designed to work like a Fender Deluxe. I also have a tube Fender Deluxe so I can see/hear how close the Tone Master Deluxe is to the real thing. I run them in stereo. I use Boss pedals, MD-500, DD-200, OD-200, Waza Craft DM-2W, LS-2 Line Selector, CP-1X Compressor and 1 Fender pedal MTG:LA distortion pedal with U.S.-made NOS 6205 preamp tube. I like being able to compare the Tone Master Deluxe with the real thing. Don't know what real tube amp to compare the Boss or Roland amps to. At any rate, Boss and Roland are making some world class amps. However, Fender made an impression on me a long time ago in the sixties. The quintessential guitar amp is a Fender Deluxe and the quintessential guitar is a Fender Stratocaster. Both are essential to me.
I don't know what I am hearing either but I just ordered a Boss Nextone off of reverb. So I hope I like it because I have only ever heard it on UA-cam.
Late to the party, but.................both amps are right up against the wall. Would giving them a bit of space behind them change their sound enough to maybe change the outcome?
Hey Shane, do some string comparisons! Just gotten into monel based strings which was a main alloy used in the old days, originally developed by Martin. Pyramid make a good set, along with Kurt Mangan! These are the strings the BIG name makers like Fender and Gibson made their famous pick ups to work with originally. That's WHY Teles & Strats sounded so FAT back on 50's recordings! LP's as well with P90s and PAFS! CHECK 'em out!
I think the diffis a matter of eq and presence. I acc liked the base tone of the fender better but i think had the pedals/eq been worked to extract the best from both it wouldve been v different. That being said its clearly much easier to get a good sound out of the boss.
I had a lot of questions regarding how these two amplifiers compare to each other tone-wise and with pedals. Here you go! Let me know which one you like best and you can also vote within the video cards. 😎
Shane do you have a link for the Pacman pinky Blinky lamp
Shane, Sweetwater put the Boss Nextone Artist (40 watt 1x12) on sale $100 off. They're doing this a month before the Spring NAMM show in Anaheim. In the past, Sweetwater has done something similar because the manufacturer is coming out with a new model, better features, same price, at the NAMM show and they don't want to get stuck holding equipment that they can't move. There might be a new Boss Nextone model coming out next month that has controls more similar to the Katana Mk 2 50 watt 1x12 controls. That could be very interesting for the small gig player who doesn't want to spend twice as much for the Fender's and still have nice tone.
Boss Nextone Artist for the win!!!
Quick question. I got DSL40C about a week before we got locked down. It's my first two channel tube amp and I noticed white noise on the OD1 and OD2 modes. More gain equals more noise. Is this normal? I have changed out the power tubes. What is your experience with white noise on OD2? Thanks.
I got it from K-Mart for $9 lol :)
I just bought the Nextone stage due to your other demo vids and I love it. The 6L6 power amp setting is a revelation. I'd love the fender but it was out of my price range! I tried the fender at Andertons and it was amazing, but the boss doesn't feel like a compromise, it's a great little amp with endless possibilities.
Wow, I didn’t expect the Nextone to walk away with this one the way it did IMHO. Sounds like a really great amp and pedal platform. Not sure if you have already, but I’d like to see you demo the other tube modes/overdrive sounds of the Nextone.
Off-topic, I’ve really come to respect this channel a lot. The demos are concise, fair and well put together. It’s become a go-to for me to get fair comparisons & reviews. Thanks, Shayne! Hope I spelled your name right. 😳
Hey Shane, I suspect the fender reverb is the reason it sounds not as “present” in your examples. Fender reverb is classic.
Listen at the trails after the notes. The fender trails are way longer. The boss trails are hardly noticeable. Both amps are great but reverbs we’re not matched evenly.
Always enjoy your reviews!
Hi from Austin, TX. The Twin Tone Master in my little opinion sounded more balanced and not as “bitey” as the Boss. I like them both and I’m a fan of amps in general, technology and I’m a huge believer in each tool serving an intended purpose. I actually own a Boss Katana 50. It’s not my main amp by any means but it’s good when I don’t want to lug around my main rig just to go jam with some new faces in a garage or living room. At any rate, that’s just my opinion. For my intended uses and purpose...I’d totally choose the The Twin Tone Master. I played through one of these not noticing the Tone Master badge at the bottom right and I was fooled by it and simultaneously sold on it.
That was indeed helpful! I've been curious about both amps, but haven't had a chance yet to plug into either one of them. I had been leaning a bit more towards the Nextone, and this shootout has pushed me even more in that direction. Thank you!
I love how if something is better than something else you just say so. Really refreshing in this day and age. Thanks!
Starting to really consider this boss nextone. Both are fine amps, but that onboard delay was awesome. Anything that means you can use less pedals is great.
Nextone is clear winner in every aspect . Especially tone , versatility and price . Boss is way ahead in this domain . You pay extra only for the Fender name and you get a lot less . Great vid demo of the truth .
To me it sounded like the you had the reverb on the Twin up a bit too high so the guitar sank into the background. Great vid though! Thanks!
The more you mess around with the Boss editing software, the more you get out of the amp. I found a "clean 6L6" preset setting, and with some EQ tweaks, the Nextone sounds big and fat- live especially. I would also not mess with the speaker- I spent quite a few hours swapping my various speakers through the amp (Greenback( bland), Celestion G12K-85 from the early 80s(huge sound, but overpowering tone), Eminence legend (too harsh in the upper mids). The stock speaker is perfect for the amp, and I suspect it has the flattest response curve that Boss could engineer into a 12". The Fender amp mind you, is very nice too!
What do you mean by "overpowering tone"
I have the boss. I love it
They both sound great. Amazing what they have done with modeling. This is the turning point where modeling amps are as good.
They are both different beasts! The Boss sounds slightly better with pedals, but that could be down to a few EQ tweaks to be honest, bit more mids maybe. In the room vs in a pub you probably won't feel much difference. No losers - get either and think anyone should be happy playing these for blues and rock :) Great video. Oh, love the little disco light on your pedal board :)
Thanks for this video - this is been what I'm looking for.
The Twin sounded a tad more compressed with the overdrive pedal. Both are great amps....wouldn't be disappointed with either.
Definitely the nextone. I might get one,.. great comparison thanks Shane
Ive been gear shopping for a modelling amp for the past 2mos now. While Fender was on the list, the Boss has it hands down. Thanks for the comparison.
Fantastic amps.! Both great; Fender's got that classic vibe going but I think Boss is a little more flexible. Roland/Boss with the Blues Cube and Nextone really have some amazing products. All without the hassles that tube amps bring.
The Fender sounds like a Fender.
Both sound close to me sound wise, I like the Nextone better but the reverb on the twin sounds smoother and deeper, almost 3D to me.
The Boss has a flatter EQ curve compared to the Twin’s mid-scooped sound. There’s no better, only *different*. It’s like comparing a Jazz Chorus with a Twin, they’re two different amps.
Sounded like the difference between a blackface and a Marshall or something decidedly not a fender
Both amps sound good.. Thanks Shane. But would go w/boss for all around tones.
Great comparison man! To me, it sounds a bit like the reverb on the Fender is more prominent than on the Boss and making it sound a little less present. 🤙🏻🎸
The Nextone may be more in your face when adding distortion, but it's very sterile sounding, like there's little if any interaction with the amp itself. My Katana 50 was the same way. The Tonemaster, OTH, sounds a bit more distant, but sounds far more colorful and harmonically rich, with more interaction between the pedal and the amp. The Tonemaster could benefit from a bit of EQ tweaking, plus is he using the Brightness switch or not?
Really great demo Shane!
This is the comparison that I've been waiting for. Well done. I like the Twin. It sounds like a Twin.
I just got a Boss od-200 and it's magic with my Nextone Artist. Merry Christmas everyone
All that and the Nextone is half the cost of the Fender.. HALF.
Comparing apples and oranges.. But there is nothing wrong with doing that. These are two very good amps that people want to know more about so thanks again Shane for putting this together..
On paper the Fender should destroy the Nextone.. A $999 200W 2x12 against a $599 80W 1x12 .. I wouldn't say that happened. Nope , not by a long shot, maybe not at all at least in this setting.
Two really good sounding amps, the Fender is a bit out of my price comfort zone. I just don't have the skills to warrant that purchase. I do admit I like the Twin scooped more rounded sound.. It was after all what I was raised on.
The Nextone sounds a little bright to me.. BUT that can be easily adjusted for everyone's personal preference. The Nextone can sound like a scooped Fender at will.
i'd say that Shane pretty much hit the nail on the head with his assessment.
I own a Nextone Stage.
@@tommyd688 Very astute observation, Tommy boy.
@@tommyd688 Actually i'd like to see a shootout in between a boss nextone and a fender deluxe tonemaster,that is actually fair,though i think he compaires the concepts of the two amps (key tonal features)
Fender always makes you pay for the name
Don't really have a favorite I like them both but you really need an A/B or A/B/Y box.
coke vs pepsi , i liked the fender better , but they both sound wonderful with that overdrive and boost ...
The Boss is the Boss. This is why I have one. My main gigging amp
Have two katanas the the head and 100 w combo, replaced my Marshall half stacks, they do an incredible job for the price, and better than the awful boogie studio 22+ I had, I'd love the nextone
Now you have me rethinking getting the Twin...hmm. Thanks I'll be looking at the Boss next time I'm at the guitar place
I love your channel, great reviews. One more plus for the Boss amp is the often overlooked noise reduction, I think.
There you go reading my mind again, Shane. Thanks for the video. This is what I was hoping for! As a tube guy, the Nextone is bolted onto my Radar as possibly my first gigging "modeling amp".
It's not a modelling amp, is hybrid amp with DSP and analogue tube parts
@@monarcas5502 I hear what you're saying. By technical definition (at least according to Wikipedia), any amplifier that is not itself powered by a tube but attempts to recreate a real tube amp sound and feel is a "modeling amp". I do agree that different technologies exist to perform that function. I was broadly defining this amp much in that vein, "It doesn't use tubes but is excellent at recreating the sound and feel of tubes." And as far as that capability goes, it is quite impressive!
Reverb, delay and even booster and OD you Can change for your taste in Nextone when connect o computer. Is awesome amp.
Great video. The Twins doing exactly what they wanted it to do. The boss is Voiced for Overdrive so even with a pedal it's going to react better. Personally I never had any luck with distortion pedals in a classic Fender amp. It always sounded to glassy. But again that's not what the classic fenders are for. So the fender is just downright cool. If you don't mind the price. This was really informative. If I had extra money I would buy the fender. I don't play clean that often so I can't justify getting one. But it's definitely cool. As I type this I'm also thinking how much I would like to have one. It's good to see companies taking Solid State Technology seriously. The search goes on for the ultimate solid-state amp. The Fender Twin was made for loud and clean and nothing else. So I choose fender for the cool Factor. Being that I don't play clean I would probably choose the boss I think. This is one of the rare times I would have to go and listen to them myself before I made the decision.
TS808 through a Super Reverb makes a pretty sweet sound - and an SD-1 into Bandmaster or a Tweed Deluxe is mighty fine as well.
Sure everything sounds good. Fenders are voiced to be clean and bright. When you shove a distortion pedal in it's hard to dial out the highs. But any amp is good enough. I find a more neutral voiced amp a better option for distortion pedals. Of course a marshall.
Tube Twins take anything well. Deluxe Reverbs can even take most drives and fuzzes. They absolutely love Rats. But these tone masters suck ass with drive pedals. They especially can't handle fuzzes. That is what ultimately made me return my TM Twin. I'll stick with my DRRi which is a great pedal platform, especially Boss drives, Mid heavy fuzzes, and like I said... The Rat being maybe the best drive for a fender ever.
Next tone owns this demo
I,m amazed Shane how nice the clean sound of the Next one amp was!
Man with that strat on a clean channel you've got a Mark Knopfler vibe nailed here.
I like your playing, and I love the Fender! I hope I can buy it. 😊
Shane I love your channel a lot... your right up there with the rest of the boys if not the best!
By the way a great video and found this useful as I am looking at both... But I still need to try a in-person comparison.
Nice comparison and I can totally hear the differences you were talking about. To me the Fender when compared to the Nextone almost sounds like you have a blanket over the speaker, but for cleans that somehow sounds great.
Thanks so much for doing this Shane. I’m glad to hear that the Tonemaster did sound better to my ears, as I bought one! Having said that the Nextone did sound great given it’s half the price 👍 The Twin sounded more 3 dimensional to me whereas the Nextone sounded flatter and more mid rangey, less dynamic, kind of weird because the way I hear it seems to be the opposite to how you hear it in the room.
Anyway all the best and happy Xmas mate 🍻
Both amps are awesome. I have a Katana Artist 100 which I absolutely love . Such great amps coming out now that you can gig with and play at home volumes . My tube amps are gathering dust!
There was a disconnect between his words and what I was hearing. I agree Boss had a bit more “presence” - but it sounded like the TM had a more finished and mature sound. I bet at a live setting the Twin sits better in the mix. Anyone have experience with both in a band setting?
Very surprised TMT didn’t handle pedals well. Changes my mind. What was the tube enulation set to on NexTone?
From this video I preferred the boss with the overdrive pedals but when I tried them side by side in real life I preferred the fender. Just goes to show, videos are helpful but nothing substitutes trying it. Shane nailed it though when he mentioned it would vary with different pedals. The two amps have very different characters and suit different pedals. Also, if you like lots of gain I'd wager you'd prefer the boss. If you prefer lower gain I'd wager you prefer the twin. It's like Shane says - it just fills the room. However, I actually walked away with the tone master deluxe reverb - breaks up more than the twin in a brilliant way. This from someone who previously had only tube amps including an fsr deluxe reverb fudge brownie. I also tried it side by side with the 64 custom deluxe reverb, could have purchased the custom, price was not the deciding factor. I'd say the tone master was better than my drri and if the custom was a 10 the tone master was a 9.8 - factor the attenuation and lack of maintenance - I took the tone master. The custom was really nice but at £2200 not worth the price difference to me, not by a long shot.
I wonder how Nextone stacks up against Blackstar Silverlines.
The Boss Nextone did scare the hell out of me!!!!! Side by side, it really held its own against the Fender TM Twin 😲😲. For what I look and listen for in a secondary amp (my Marshall is not going anywhere 😎😎) is that classic clean tone that has that certain chime and the Twin has it!!! There something about that Fender tone paired with a Stratocaster or Telecaster that is magical! Part of me was really impressed with the Boss Nextone and if you are in the market for an amp I feel that it’s a great sounding amp for around $400 US that will serve you well. Personally I want that Twin to pair up with my Strats and my V, no pedals, and just wail!😊😁
Great comparison Shane! Cheers!!🎸🎸🤙🏾🎼🎵🎶🎵
I hear you. Those tone Master amps are just downright cool. They definitely struck a nerve. It will be written into my procrastination list.
Guitar Ocd My mission for 2020 is to somehow justify to my wife that a) I need this amp and b) I need any other guitar/ piece of gear that I’ll probably GAS over next year!!!! 😂😂😂😂
Do what we always do just promised her this will be the last one. LOL
Unless you already used that one.
Guitar Ocd 🤣😂🤣
I liked the Tonemaster slightly better clean, but the Nextone sounded great with an overdrive!
Wow! I'm a Fender fan from the 60s but I have to admit that the Nextone really kicked butt! It would be really interesting to hear different speaker cabs with the Nextone, considering that it simulates 4 totally different vintage amps.
Clean tones:
Nextone: 1:08
Nextone single notes: 2:22
Tone Master: 1:42
Tone Master single notes: 2:09
Clean tones with delay:
Nextone: 9:32
Nextone (with pedals): 9:13 & 11:38
Tone Master: /
Tone Master (with pedals): 10:40 & 11:18
Both amps are good no doubt, (NOT the band) but the Boss has more mid punch that gives it the clarity that the Fender does not get, (esp with OD) due to its scooped eq curve!
GREAT comp Shane!
The Nextone is more versatile and its cleans are ALMOST as good as the Fender TM. The Fender has some sort of special sauce on the top end. To help the Fender with pedals, I suggest using an A/B switch and sending the clean sounds to the Vibrato channel and the dirt sounds to the Normal channel, with the EQ set to bump up the mids a little more.
Great video Shane.
I would have loved to hear a comparison between The Fender and the Roland Blues Cube. 😃
I have owned a Blues Cube Artist since they were released. It rarely gets plugged in these days. Reason is it has a really harsh top end / treble, and the sound is very one dimensional. You can get it to sound good mic'd up - but in a room it's very flat and one-dimensional sounding. You can get it to sound ok with pedals - but it doesn't perform as good as a Class A tube amp does with overdrive pedals or compressors because it can't emulate power tube breakup well enough and it lacks dynamics. It also doesn't have sag like a tube amp does - you never feel connected to the music playing through the Blues Cube like you do with a tube amp.
The good thing about the Blues Cube Artist is that it's cheap enough and tough enough to throw into the back of a car without having to worry about it getting broken.
@@tdunster2011 I have the Blues Cube Hot, have it for over a year now. Love it. Fantastic Cleans and great pedal platform. But I understand what you are saying.
tdunster2011 We had completely different experiences. I regret like hell selling my Cube Artist. Best clean/lite grit amp I’ve owned and I’ve owned numerous Fenders.
@@tdunster2011 interesting - I have a different experience with the Blues Cube Artist as I do feel connected to it while playing. It sounds particularly good with the New York Blues Tone Capsule. I also own tube amps from Fender, Marshall and Vox.
Too much reverb on the twin and it was getting way to washy with overdrive.
The Nextone has a Presence control that is very 'Marshall-like'. it really adds a nice cutting bit (that I really, really like). I don't own a Nextone (yet :) ) but it's on my short list.
Love that Twin tone.
If you are playing in a band I think the real answer is a Hot Rod Deluxe. Pick one up used and in near mint condition for about $500. The only draw back is the extra weight, but actually it’s only 8 pounds heavier than that Tone Master.
Great video. BOSS sounds much better to me.
Best version of the Tonemaster is the Twin Reverb Blonde... Takes OD pedals a LOT better due to the Celestion speakers in it.
I find the sound of many Fender amps (Tube as well as Solid State) improve when the stock Jenson speakers are swapped out for a Celestion.
Thanks for the comparison, really enjoy your videos. You are always knowledgeable, informative, and cool to watch. I been looking at the nextone, and I want one. When I bought my katana 50, I wish I had looked at the whole line. I think the nextone will suit my needs perfectly, along with the footswitch. P.s. I got the very first view of this video. My first time. How cool is that
Subscribed!
Boss did pretty well!
Great vid Shane, both sound pretty good, boss slightly more brittle on breakup, both sound pretty decent clean, you wouldn’t be disappointed with either! 😎
If the amps had been set at comparable volumes (and not necessarily based on the numbers on the volume controls - I'm talking about the same volume level based on your ears), then I think Shaun's conclusions would have been much different. If you are even contemplating getting the Nextone over the Tone Master Twin, then you are totally missing the point of the Twin. I bought the Twin and can say that it's one of the best amps that I have ever played through (and I'm a "tube snob"), including in a live rock band setting with a hard-hitting drummer. I easily got over-the-top with the amp set at only 40 watts using a boost pedal! Set the volume on channel 2 between 7 and 8 and kick in your boost pedal = glorious, rocking tone!!
Nextone vs Blues Cube?
Been trying to find that comparison for weeks man!
The blues cube would crush it. Especially with the pure blues module. That particular one sounds better than most modern tube amps imo. But they are expensive as hell
The Nextone had more push and presence .I've tried the twin having played the original for 20 years and the latest offering does not stack up. No way does it sound like an original twin...sorry.
Agree...the Nextone sounds much better. And the real twin sounds better as well, for just a little more money.
I have both tube and tonemaster twins as well. the tube is more present but it could be the speakers since they're different also i haven't broken in the speakers on the tonemaster yet. To suggest the tube version is the obvious winner is not being honest, there are plenty of A/B comparison on youtube.
@Luke I had it at full volume inside a closed amp section at a shop and it sounded about 50 watts , my original would have blasted my ear drums to death. But everyone has their own experiences of the original.
Great compare. I just got a used Nextone and really liking it. Also on your video the Boss sounds much better. The only thing I like better than the Nextone is my 20+ year old Carvin Bel Air. But the Nextone can do more tricks with the GAFC foot switch.
I enjoyed both. Have many Fenders and that sound is evident in your room. But I really enjoyed the Nextone. It sounded more fierce, focused on the overdrive the Nextone! I would love to have heard the Gibson Flying V! Perhaps a more separated or even tone? Good post Shane!
If you do not use a dB meter to equalize the volume, then you can never fairly compare to amps. The louder amp almost always sounds “better” because that is how the human ear works.
Yeah...Boss sounded louder...curious if the dB difference would effect the sound in the room as well...though I think Shane is pretty good about making attire the settings are equal for a good comparison.
the louder amp doesn’t *always* sound better. just ask your neighbors ;)
I gig the Nextone all the time, so easy to dial a tone into the room. Very good price and I love it
Boss sounds way better. I wonder if you played around with the EQ on the Fender you could get it to sound better, reduce the Bass and Middle then raise the treble and presence if need be. Thanks for the Demo
@Luke Each to their own, a matter of opinion. The one that inspires me is the one to get, however if like me playing at home, the Katana takes up less space, space I need. Horses for courses.
No comparison that fender chime comes shining thru.Don't forget these amps are mic'd on stage.
I saw a blown Tone Master Deluxe. The Fender was a few months old and the chip blew its brains out. It was a board repair. The issue the repairer has was the chip wasn’t available.
Generally, you would assume that a solid state amp is more reliable, though this doesn’t mean it will have great longevity.
I thought the Nextone was the best overall, plus it models 4 different amps, plus it has an effects loop and onboard delay. And then it costs half of what the Fender costs! Absolute no-brainer, so much so I bought a Nextone Stage a fortnight ago. It is an excellent amp for the money. Yes, it’s solid state, so what, if it sounds good it is good.
they both sound good but as i hear it..but the fender lives up to what people wanted in a tube amp but solidstate format keeping there iconic reverb sounds an volume bloom in the amp with retaining its dynamics ...im not saying boss did make a great amp but i heard amp reverb in the fender that was un mistakingly present an more "tubelike compression"from fender ...imho...thats where fender took this one home for me they kept it simple as they did in old origional models ...more attention to a few things than a hundred things ...if you want a top of the line fender tube amp but not the price punch an retaining the name for the purists out there ...to me boss amps are for people who want all the amps on the market , kind of like owning every pedal on the market...idk...just my 2 cents...good vid shane
For a tad more than the price of the Fender you could get TWO Boss Katana-100/212 MkII's and hook them up using the Stereo Link, now that would sound awesome! For one of my Amp setups I have a new Boss Katana MKII Head stereo linking into my old Boss Katana MKI Head return jack each driving a MTX TP112 cab on each side of the room and it sounds great!
My big disappointment with the Tone Masters is that they didn’t add an effects loop. I get that they’re trying to stay as close to the original amps as possible, but it really takes them out of the running for me. That Nextone really sounds boss though.
Wow... Thanks for the test...
Production on this video is awesome. Professionalism!!!!
Well done.
boss all the way I recently played these Tonemasters,,,,very dissapointing!! Boss better sound and better price
Tone Master all the way for me. Nextone can't get the Fender bf cleans. Overdriven at the end it sounds brittle/overly edgy compared to the TM
I'm hearing a massive volume difference. Is the "attenuator" on the back of the Fender turned way down? or the actual volume control?
0:32 Dr Ric looks like he's enjoying what he's eating :)
Interesting because we all know how great the Katana is but I’m shocked but not. This is honestly the first time I’ve heard someone take the Nextone through its paces and against another amp. I have wanted the twin. But right now the Boss is on sale. I might buy one. I own a Marshall 40 DSLCR BLACKSTAR 6L6 studio, Boss Katana and a Yamaha thrc so my small group of amps. I might jump on the Nextone for $299
I can hear that. I also hear that in nextone/katana comparisons
I think I like the Nextone.
I notice the reverb is much better on the Fender.
I prefer the Fender although the Boss is a very fine amp. But I'll still stay with my '90 Twin Reverb😉
90s twins are the best.
Good stuff, thanks. I felt, though, that there was a volume difference between the two amps. the louder amp sounded bigger and more present. and the softer amp sounded smaller and weaker. I've owned fenders a long time and I know how good they can sound. this is no knock on nextone, they sound excellent, but I'd like to see what they sound like together at the same volume.
I have Roland Blues Cube Hot (American) and a Roland Blues Cube Hot British Modified. Both great amps. Clean or pushed, power scaling, reverb. I also have a Deluxe Tone Master. I like the Tone Master clean, pushed and especially with pedals. The IR recording out on the Tone Master is great. I think the Deluxe Tone Master sounds more like a tube amp than the Twin Tone Master. It's because the Deluxe Tone Master is modeled after a tube rectifier amp unlike the Twin. The Deluxe Tone Master was my choice for a digital amp because it's designed to work like a Fender Deluxe. I also have a tube Fender Deluxe so I can see/hear how close the Tone Master Deluxe is to the real thing. I run them in stereo. I use Boss pedals, MD-500, DD-200, OD-200, Waza Craft DM-2W, LS-2 Line Selector, CP-1X Compressor and 1 Fender pedal MTG:LA distortion pedal with U.S.-made NOS 6205 preamp tube. I like being able to compare the Tone Master Deluxe with the real thing. Don't know what real tube amp to compare the Boss or Roland amps to. At any rate, Boss and Roland are making some world class amps. However, Fender made an impression on me a long time ago in the sixties. The quintessential guitar amp is a Fender Deluxe and the quintessential guitar is a Fender Stratocaster. Both are essential to me.
I've compared a Deluxe Reverb TM with a Nextone for a couple days and prefer the Fender. Nextone couldn't come close to the traditional Fender sound.
I just love listening to that white strat of yours. It would probably sound great through any amp!
(...but, OK, the Boss does sound slightly better 😁)
I don't know what I am hearing either but I just ordered a Boss Nextone off of reverb. So I hope I like it because I have only ever heard it on UA-cam.
Late to the party, but.................both amps are right up against the wall. Would giving them a bit of space behind them change their sound enough to maybe change the outcome?
Great video. Another vote for Nextone.
Hey Shane, do some string comparisons! Just gotten into monel based strings which was a main alloy used in the old days, originally developed by Martin.
Pyramid make a good set, along with Kurt Mangan!
These are the strings the BIG name makers like Fender and Gibson made their famous pick ups to work with originally. That's WHY Teles & Strats sounded so FAT back on 50's recordings! LP's as well with P90s and PAFS!
CHECK 'em out!
I think the diffis a matter of eq and presence. I acc liked the base tone of the fender better but i think had the pedals/eq been worked to extract the best from both it wouldve been v different. That being said its clearly much easier to get a good sound out of the boss.