Electric Guitars

[Patuney]

Some of you asked for this review, so here goes..... I've had it nearly a week now, and I think I have a pretty good idea of it's capabilities. This review is primarily for those who have grown up with and love the Fender sound as I do.
First off, this is the real deal. They have not messed with the power section, or the pre, nothing but Fender sound in spades! The extra magic is in the four button footswitch, and the adjustable section for those effects. Delay, reverb, chorus and a drive(overdrive) channel. Ten minutes of tweaking and I had each just where I like it. This is from a guy who had a Flextone Plus and sold it out of pure frustration. Simply put, anyone can get any Fender tone they want out of this. Last Tues. at our band's practice, at 2 1/2 I still had to turn my guitar down to half. 40 real tube watts, kids, and on the drive channel,(remember, no extra pedals), I get the best 'Born to be Wild' tone I've ever had! My honest appraisal of the effects:
Overdrive-sustain for days without hiss, hum or digital buzziness
Delay- great for what I use, just a little slapback
Reverb- again, I only use a bit, but it seems the same as my DRRI
Chorus- the detuning seemed a little excessive, but fine for 'Broken Hearted Savior'
But what really sold me,(old bad backed musician) was the weight, or lack of it. A little over 40 pounds, the same as the DRRI! Enough blather- here it is:

[Vedder323]

I dont get this amp at all... is it supposed to sound anything like a Fender Deluxe? I just dont get it... at all

Nevermind... its based on the Hot Rod Deluxe...

[Zemmy]

Played my Les Paul Studio thru one of these at my local shop this morning and loved it...seriously considering picking one up...thanx for the review

[Patuney]

It is a 6L6 based rather than the DRRI 6v6. It is not voiced like a Hot Rod at all, to my ears. It still has that nice sag and sweetness of the DRRI, but with some balls and effects.

[mortkort]

thanks for the review! i am considering to pick up the bandmaster vm. is the gain channel capable of anything else than the 'Born to be Wild' tone? either im getting this or a super champ xd.

[Patuney]

I used "Wild" as an example of the drive channel pretty much full up. At lesser levels, that blues/rock crunch with a touch of dirt is perfect. Super Champs are great practice/jam amps, this thing is a stage/band amp.

[matt rhoades]

so this dont have mesa distororion like some reviewers on hc has said does it?

[SnowStorm]

What voicing of the Super Champ would you compare the OD channel of the Deluxe VM?

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Thanx for the mini review !
I too want to look into one of these !

[Patuney]

Mega, or Mesa distortion is not what anyone will be buying a VM for. The drive channel does have treble mid, and bass, so I suppose you could get that scooped metal tone somewhat, but nobody is going to confuse this with a Marshall. Think traditional Fender tone with the versatility to allow you to leave your pedals at home- at least most of them.

[Help!I'maRock!]

no tremolo = fail.

[Patuney]

You can slow the chorus way down and get what they call a Hoodoo Vibrato. I know, Leo got it wrong, and they're never going to change it.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Originally Posted by Help!I'maRock!

no tremolo = fail.

EHX WIGGLER


Many GREAT Fender amps does not have Trem

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Originally Posted by Patuney

Mega, or Mesa distortion is not what anyone will be buying a VM for. The drive channel does have treble mid, and bass, so I suppose you could get that scooped metal tone somewhat, but nobody is going to confuse this with a Marshall. Think traditional Fender tone with the versatility to allow you to leave your pedals at home- at least most of them.

YUP


There are a few clips of these amps on Utoob allready !

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Does anyone want to try and predict if this new VM range will out-sell the current 40W Hot Rod series ?

[koti123]

Originally Posted by SirJackdeFuzz

Does anyone want to try and predict if this new VM range will out-sell the current 40W Hot Rod series ?

I would be surprised if it doesn't after living with the SCXD for a year.the only thing I could want is more power for stage use.after many years of going through amps I have to say this little 299.00 wonder has it.I had a 66 deluxe reverb that I foolishly let go of and this is the first amp I have truly loved since that one. from what I have seen on youtube the 40 watt deluxe is just what I have been waiting for.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Originally Posted by koti123

I would be surprised if it doesn't after living with the SCXD for a year.the only thing I could want is more power for stage use.after many years of going through amps I have to say this little 299.00 wonder has it.I had a 66 deluxe reverb that I foolishly let go of and this is the first amp I have truly loved since that one. from what I have seen on youtube the 40 watt deluxe is just what I have been waiting for.

MMmmmm, even more though choices then !
As i am one of the few that actually like the drive and more drive tones from the Hot Rod series, but the VM's does sound good on the net !

[matt rhoades]

does it take to distorion pedals well i know progiuitarshop use the reissue now to demo most of their pedals. I got a 5150 im looking for something lighter and i have a ton of distorion pedals so one should suit im about 400 bucks away from buying one of these i think.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Originally Posted by matt rhoades

does it take to distorion pedals well i know progiuitarshop use the reissue now to demo most of their pedals. I got a 5150 im looking for something lighter and i have a ton of distorion pedals so one should suit im about 400 bucks away from buying one of these i think.

Being a Fender, i would assume that it is VERY pedal-friendly !

Much more than say, a Tiny Terror

[matt rhoades]

yeah i have own a tiny terror a black heart i just sold today and an epi valve junior i wasnt real impressed with either of them not enough flexibillty.