OK, really, I’m the farthest thing from a Luddite folks––I’m a computer professional and blogger for gawd’s sake––but this move towards ‘digital everything’ is really starting to get on my analog-lovin’ nerves.
Yesterday I discovered Fender’s new digital modeling Stratocaster, and this morning I got an e-mail from BOSS pointing me towards another new Fender/Roland collaboration: the ‘59 Fender Bassman pedal, and its partner in crime, the ‘65 Deluxe Reverb pedal… yep, a classic tube amplifier in a box!
What can I say? Digital modeling has come a long ways in the last few years, and I’m the first to get in line for great tone at an affordable price, but my bull**** detector has me questioning how you can pack the warmth and downright organic sensitivity of a nearly fifty-year-old pine cabinet, vacuum tubes, and a 5AR4 rectifier into a few pieces of silicon and a little metal box.
Of course, I’ll save any real opinion for when I can do a hands-on review, but in the mean time I’m having a bit of a hard time swallowing this one.
My recent experience with digital amp and cabinet modeling has shown me that while there are a lot of amazing things you can do with a piece of software, recreating authentic, vintage tube-amp tone isn’t one of them.
That said, I’ll be the first to congratulate Fender & Roland if they can buck the trend!
- See The BOSS/Fender ‘59 Bassman Pedal In Action
- Dreamy All-Tube Tone: Fender’s ‘59 Bassman
- See The BOSS/Fender ‘65 Deluxe Reverb Pedal In Action
- Love At First Sight: Fender Introduces Super-Sonic 112 Combo
- Hear The Fender Super-Sonic 112 In Action!
- What’ll It Be? Line 6 Flextone III Plus
- Free Demo: AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix Is A Helluva’ Lot Of Fun
- New From Chicago Blues Box: The Buddy Guy Signature Amplifier
- Fender Debuts New Custom Shop Website
- The ‘65 Fender Super Reverb: Real Or Reissue?
- Big, Fat Fender Tone: The Classic Vibro-King Custom
- Sneak Preview Of Fender’s Upcoming Yngwie Malmsteen Tribute Series Stratocaster
January 22nd, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Fellow Luddites arise!!!!
“Sound is like water. Analog is a warm bucketfull slowly poured over your head and digital is the same water, same bucket, only this time it’s ice cubes dumped quickly. I know which is more pleasing to me.” - Neil Young
January 22nd, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Hehe… that’s an incredible quote––I almost want to add it to my masthead or something : )
As always, Neil Young is THE MAN.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:08 am
Ok, it won’t really sound like a Bassman or Deluxe Reverb, but the packaging is very cool.