Quick Shot : Which Do You Like?

Hi folks.

In this Quick Shot I have done two short recordings of the same G chord on my Gretsch Electromatic Jet G5210T-P90. Everything on the guitar is turned all the way up.

The recordings are made with a Fender Tone Master Super Reverb and a Neural Quad Cortex using a Fender Super Reverb profile. Both are sent direct to the inputs of a Universal Audio Twin X interface. The interface feeds Logic Pro. Each of the amps has the volume to deliver the same output level with the Tone Master at 3 and the Quad Cortex at 0.5/3.5 (there are separate input and output levels on the QC), the bass, middle and treble at 5 and the reverb at 6. Both are using the Vibrato (tremolo) channel. Tremolo is not active. The Tone Master Super Reverb is using its first cab sim which is an SM57 off axis of the speaker cone and the QC is set to an SM57 off axis to the speaker cone. The QC allows for specific placement, the IR built into the Tone Master does not. The built in attenuator in the Tone Master Super Reverb is defeated.

Each recording is a three step process of the G chord. First is with the pick over the bridge pickup with the bridge selected, second is with the pick between the pickups with both pickups selected and third is over the neck pickup with the neck selected. I chose the Gretsch because it’s P90s can do a really clean single coil sound, but can also deliver some nice bite purely through manipulation of the volume control.

The point of this Quick Shot is not to say you cannot tell the difference because there is a subtle difference but I will not tell you which is which, only to provide some real world data that both deliver an excellent sound and there may be one that you personally like more.

For myself, I like them both. It is my opinion that Fender has nailed the sound of their classic amplifiers with their Tone Master series. Instead of trying to be all things to all people, the Tone Master series is focused on doing one thing very well, and I think that they have succeeded. There is a subtle difference live because of the feel in the room of the tube power stage and output transformers over the Class D solid state of the Tone Master but both can generate sound pressure levels where the sound person or club owner will tell you to turn it down. The Tone Master Super Reverb does not use the Neodymium speakers found in the other Tone Masters, it uses Jensen P10R Alnico speakers which are as true to the originals in a 66 Super Reverb as you will find. The Tone Master enters breakup once you push the volume to 5 and the QC patch is similar. While I love the sound of a clean Super Reverb, an overdriven one, is not my favourite sound, so I am personally more inclined to use an OD pedal to get that overdriven sound. Pick one you like. I find the Nobels ODR-1 to be a good fit for this amp along with the PRS Horsemeat. In the QC, I am using their Klon profile OD when I play that way. No overdrives were used for the samples because ODs all colour the tone. I like that the Tone Master can be played using its speakers and or with the DI out, with or without cab sim on the DI. The DI out has its own level control so if you are playing a gig, you can hear your amp for yourself while sending the DI signal to the front of house system. I can do the same thing with the QC using FRFR monitors on stage and send the DI out to the front of house. I do think that if you have a run and gun gig the Quad Cortex is an optimum solution because it is small and can fit in a backpack and the effects roster is really very comprehensive without needing any outboard gear. Obviously this is a personal decision for the individual musician. For the home player / recordist, both are great, although even with the attenuator fully down on the Tone Master, it’s still pretty loud whereas the Quad Cortex can drive an FRFR speaker or use headphones. If space is a consideration, the Quad Cortex is a better option, but if you have the space, and the ability to use the Tone Master as the Super Reverb it is designed to be, you may like that better.

When it comes to the Tone Master, I want to be clear on the power section. A tube based Super Reverb is rated at 44W into the 4x10 Jensen equipped cab. The Tone Master is a Class D solid state amp and is rated at 200W into its 4x10 Jensen equipped cab. This does not mean the Tone Master is louder, it simply means that to achieve the volume level of a 44 watt tube amp, Fender made the smart decision to use a 200 watt solid state amp. Watts are always watts, so it’s how they are used that actually determines what happens. Most users will not care, until it’s time to move the amp, in which case the much lighter weight of the Tone Master wins accolades. The Fender Tone Master Super Reverb is $1719.99 CAD MAP at time of writing. The Neural Quad Cortex is $2599.99 CAD MAP at time of writing. The Quad Cortex does not include any speaker system. Even without a decent FRFR speaker, the Quad Cortex is nearly $900 more money. The difference of course is that the Quad Cortex can be any amp for which a profile exists while the Tone Master Super Reverb, is only ever an excellent Super Reverb. Both are going to handle gigging, moving, humidity and temperature variations than an all tube Super Reverb, and in a club with people talking, dancing, drinking and perhaps singing along, there will be no one other than an amp snob who will know or care what kit you are using.

Thanks as always for reading. Please share your thoughts with a comment and always feel free to post a question. I’m Ross Chevalier and until next time, peace.