Digital amp modelling has come a good distance – particularly for classic gear head Joe Bonamassa to rely himself a convert. Earlier this 12 months, the bluesman made the shock announcement that he’d been “beta testing” a Fender Tone Grasp in his dwell rig. 

He’s so satisfied by the expertise, the truth is, that he’s simply grow to be the primary particular person ever to connect his identify to Fender’s much-loved line of digital modelling amps.

Yep, the Tone Grasp ’59 Twin-Amp JB Version has formally arrived, and it faithfully – digitally – recreates the tone of Fender’s 5F8-A tweed Twin circuit, and is voiced after Bonamassa’s personal prized late-’50s amps.

On the core of the amp are a pair of custom-designed light-weight 12” Celestion JB Neodymium audio system, that are mentioned to “seize the heat, punch and articulation of Joe’s touring rig whereas decreasing total weight”.

As any tube amp aficionado will know, the most effective tone typically comes at ever-so-slightly delinquent volumes. Luckily, Joe Bonamassa’s new Tone Grasp comes geared up with a Stage-to-Residence energy management, which gives gamers six settings: full energy, plus 5 attenuated settings. This makes the traditional tweed Twin tone accessible at any quantity.

Elsewhere, the highest panel encompasses a convolution spring reverb and an results loop for time-based results, whereas the rear panel sports activities a “Classic Tight” change for “enhanced low finish response”.

When it comes to connectivity, the amp encompasses a balanced XLR line output with three onboard cupboard impulse responses, in addition to full customisable speaker IRs by way of the Tone Grasp IR Supervisor app.

The guitarist acknowledges that he’s carried out a U-turn over the previous few years when it comes to his angle to digital gear. It’s good to be open-minded, we are saying!

“I wished to hate it,” says Joe Bonamassa. “We’re all in settlement that this amp was tighter, punchier, and higher. I by no means thought I’d see in my lifetime the truth that I’d be sitting subsequent to a digital amp. Sound makes you play. Sound evokes you to play. You simply have to know the right way to unlock the sound you hear in your head and get it out.”

“Joe Bonamassa is likely one of the world’s foremost authorities on classic amplifiers, and he is aware of these unique Twins in addition to anybody,” provides Max Gutnik, Chief Product Officer at Fender Electronics & Digital.

“For somebody with Joe’s ears, expertise and deep dedication to classic tube amps to decide on a digital Fender, and say it sounds even higher than the unique, is an actual inflection level for our trade. It demonstrates simply how far this expertise has come and, extra importantly, the extraordinary accuracy with which Fender can now recreate the sound, really feel and response of our most iconic amplifiers. That’s what Tone Grasp is all about: preserving all the things gamers love about these legendary amps whereas making them extra helpful for the best way musicians play at the moment.”

The Tone Grasp ‘59 Twin Amp JB Version is obtainable now, priced at $1,999.99 / £1,789 / €2,099.

Head to Fender to be taught extra.