Originally published in Guitar World, June 2009
Guitar World presents the 25 coolest new gear products for 2009.
Eddie Van Halen once said he got his best tone at home alone, “playing through that little Bandmaster cranked on 10.” Fender’s new Band-Master VM and Band-Master VM 212 enclosure may not be little, but they make a far more versatile rig that has all the bells and whistles for modern guitarists.
The 40-watt amp is based on the midpowered tube-head concept and employs two 6L6 power tubes and two 12AX7 preamp tubes to voice its clean and drive channels. The result is a tone palette that ranges from Blackface clean to aggressive overdrive with post-gain EQ. An all-new high-quality DSP platform adds reverb, chorus/vibrato and delay effects, providing the tweakability of stomp boxes. Plus, the companion VM 212 enclosure has two 12-inch Celestion G12P80 speakers for fat bottom end and clear highs—all of which ensures you’ll get great tones whether you crank this baby at home or onstage.
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