Fender unveils Joe Bonamassa signature Tone Master ’59 Twin amp

Fender has unveiled the Tone Master ’59 Twin-Amp JB Edition, the first signature amplifier in its digital Tone Master series, developed with blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, according to Premier Guitar. The street price is $1,999.99.

The amp is modelled on the high-powered late-’50s tweed Twins that Bonamassa uses on tour and in the studio, digitally recreating Fender’s 5F8-A circuit. It is an 85-watt 2x12 combo fitted with two lightweight Celestion JB Neodymium speakers voiced to the guitarist’s taste, and Fender says it weighs roughly half as much as an original Twin.

A rear-panel selector offers full power plus five attenuated settings, bringing the tweed Twin’s overdrive down to bedroom levels, while a Vintage/Tight switch firms up the low end. The top panel keeps the three-band EQ, Presence control and channel-jumpering of the vintage amp, adding a convolution spring reverb, and there is an effects loop for time-based pedals. For recording and live work, a balanced XLR line out with level control, ground lift and three onboard cabinet impulse responses is joined by the Tone Master IR Manager app for custom speaker IRs.

Bonamassa admitted that he “wanted to hate it” and never expected to sit beside a digital amp, but said the new model came out tighter and punchier.

Earlier in October, mbuzz reported on a Gearnews guide to value tube amps that included Fender’s 65 Twin Reverb.