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amp review: Tone King Metro and


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Posted

Well, folks, I took the day off yesterday because the Tone King rep was in my area, looking for a dealer to carry his products. When I walked in, the music store owner was playing through the Two Rock Jet 22, and sounded damned good! The Jet, 22 watts, when he played it, had a very balanced tone, weight is only around 30 lbs, 1-12 combo, I believe it was 2 channel, w/footswitch - 1 switch to turn on the lead channel (hotter) and 1 for bypass - this bypasses all the tone pots on the amp. When I played the amp, it sounded woolier, more bluesy. Then I played the Two Rock Gain Master 22 watts - loved it!! Lots of mid-range grind that I like, also dialed in a scooped tone, also very good. The 2 Rock jet is same size/weight as the gain master, but they're voiced differently. I'd say that the Gain Master is a little brighter sounding than the Jet, which seems to be more bluesy/bassy/rounder sounding. I tried the Tone King metro - twice as big, two channnels, pretty nice tones, very similarly voiced to the Two Rock Gain Master, but twice as large, weighing in at about 40 lbs. Was able to dial in blackface and tweed sounds - all 3 amps had pretty good clean sounds. The Tone King Metro was more open sounding. The power scaling did what it's supposed to do, but I'm no longer convinced I really need that feature, maxed out tubes at lower volume sound much like a distortion pedal at lower volumes, so, this can be achieved without spending $3,000 for that feature - for those who don't know, you can dial in from 1 watt up to 40. The lead channel of the Tone King has a midrange dial, when you push it up that increases the mid range and dirt, I got a kind of hot texas blues sound with that. The Tone K. has 40 watts of power; not ear splitting, though. Back to Two Rock-Jet has reverb, and Gain master doesn't - no verb would not be a deal breaker for me. The company hype states that the Gain Master is more touch sensitive than Jet. Interestingly, the same guy who created Two Rock amps, created Tone King Metro, and they do sound similar. I left feeling most interested in the Two Rock Gain Master, but wondering if I can create the same sounds with other, less expensive amps. They're all around $2995 MSRP. I think they can be had for around $2700 new. I'm just in the begnning of my amp quest. This was a good experience, and there are many more to be heard.

Posted

Well, folks, I took the day off yesterday because the Tone King rep was in my area, looking for a dealer to carry his products. When I walked in, the music store owner was playing through the Two Rock Jet 22, and sounded damned good! The Jet, 22 watts, when he played it, had a very balanced tone, weight is only around 30 lbs, 1-12 combo, I believe it was 2 channel, w/footswitch - 1 switch to turn on the lead channel (hotter) and 1 for bypass - this bypasses all the tone pots on the amp. When I played the amp, it sounded woolier, more bluesy. Then I played the Two Rock Gain Master 22 watts - loved it!! Lots of mid-range grind that I like, also dialed in a scooped tone, also very good. The 2 Rock jet is same size/weight as the gain master, but they're voiced differently. I'd say that the Gain Master is a little brighter sounding than the Jet, which seems to be more bluesy/bassy/rounder sounding. I tried the Tone King metro - twice as big, two channnels, pretty nice tones, very similarly voiced to the Two Rock Gain Master, but twice as large, weighing in at about 40 lbs. Was able to dial in blackface and tweed sounds - all 3 amps had pretty good clean sounds. The Tone King Metro was more open sounding. The power scaling did what it's supposed to do, but I'm no longer convinced I really need that feature, maxed out tubes at lower volume sound much like a distortion pedal at lower volumes, so, this can be achieved without spending $3,000 for that feature - for those who don't know, you can dial in from 1 watt up to 40. The lead channel of the Tone King has a midrange dial, when you push it up that increases the mid range and dirt, I got a kind of hot texas blues sound with that. The Tone K. has 40 watts of power; not ear splitting, though. Back to Two Rock-Jet has reverb, and Gain master doesn't - no verb would not be a deal breaker for me. The company hype states that the Gain Master is more touch sensitive than Jet. Interestingly, the same guy who created Two Rock amps, created Tone King Metro, and they do sound similar. I left feeling most interested in the Two Rock Gain Master, but wondering if I can create the same sounds with other, less expensive amps. They're all around $2995 MSRP. I think they can be had for around $2700 new. I'm just in the begnning of my amp quest. This was a good experience, and there are many more to be heard.

Sounds like time well spent. All very interesting capabilities. I was hoping you would take your 535 and see if it fed back and maybe learn why. Three large sounds a little stiff but may be worth it to you if it gets you where you're trying to go. It's like Warren Haynes said, "I've got this sound in my head and I keep trying to get it out. I try everything I can to see if thats it". Good luck in your hunt, I'm sure you will find it.

Posted

Well, folks, I took the day off yesterday because the Tone King rep was in my area, looking for a dealer to carry his products. When I walked in, the music store owner was playing through the Two Rock Jet 22, and sounded damned good! The Jet, 22 watts, when he played it, had a very balanced tone, weight is only around 30 lbs, 1-12 combo, I believe it was 2 channel, w/footswitch - 1 switch to turn on the lead channel (hotter) and 1 for bypass - this bypasses all the tone pots on the amp. When I played the amp, it sounded woolier, more bluesy. Then I played the Two Rock Gain Master 22 watts - loved it!! Lots of mid-range grind that I like, also dialed in a scooped tone, also very good. The 2 Rock jet is same size/weight as the gain master, but they're voiced differently. I'd say that the Gain Master is a little brighter sounding than the Jet, which seems to be more bluesy/bassy/rounder sounding. I tried the Tone King metro - twice as big, two channnels, pretty nice tones, very similarly voiced to the Two Rock Gain Master, but twice as large, weighing in at about 40 lbs. Was able to dial in blackface and tweed sounds - all 3 amps had pretty good clean sounds. The Tone King Metro was more open sounding. The power scaling did what it's supposed to do, but I'm no longer convinced I really need that feature, maxed out tubes at lower volume sound much like a distortion pedal at lower volumes, so, this can be achieved without spending $3,000 for that feature - for those who don't know, you can dial in from 1 watt up to 40. The lead channel of the Tone King has a midrange dial, when you push it up that increases the mid range and dirt, I got a kind of hot texas blues sound with that. The Tone K. has 40 watts of power; not ear splitting, though. Back to Two Rock-Jet has reverb, and Gain master doesn't - no verb would not be a deal breaker for me. The company hype states that the Gain Master is more touch sensitive than Jet. Interestingly, the same guy who created Two Rock amps, created Tone King Metro, and they do sound similar. I left feeling most interested in the Two Rock Gain Master, but wondering if I can create the same sounds with other, less expensive amps. They're all around $2995 MSRP. I think they can be had for around $2700 new. I'm just in the begnning of my amp quest. This was a good experience, and there are many more to be heard.

Excellent review Koula, as described the Two Rock Gain Master sounds more up my alley as well... and you know I can always help you out with the reverb part ;)

Posted

KBP810 - you're such a tease! You can voice an amp like the Two Rock Gain! We'll tawk someday, when I get the money!

Posted

@ NoName:

 

I did take the 535, as well as a strat, and wanted to take my h 137, but its in the shop getting noiseless fralin P90s. And no, of course not, the 535 did not feed back. But what I think a lot of the guys missed, when I posted all the threads about the 535 feeding back like crazy, is that all the players in my jam session were *standing around in a circle**. I can't emphasize that enough. I had feedback loops not only with my own amp/effects, but also with the vocals, and 3 other guitar amps. It was out of control. I did used to have a 335 in the '70s that I learned to control the feedback by standing off to the side of the amp. But these days, I never know what the conditions are that I'll be playing in - whether everyone elses amp will be aimed at my guitar, or whether I'll be up on stage, and have more control over the sound. So, I've got the f hole covers on order. end of story. I've also learned to fiddle more with the effects volume and amp volume.

Posted

KBP810 - you're such a tease! You can voice an amp like the Two Rock Gain! We'll tawk someday, when I get the money!

 

@kbp810 - oops, I just realized I misunderstood, you wre talking about adding in the reverb unit.

Posted

Wha-hoo! You've just spent the perfect day in my books.

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