I'm always amazed at how many different riffs and ideas he can shove into one video. Most reviewers play the same stuff over and over again but this guy is always searching. Great stuff
@@Glicksman1 musicianship has gone through the roof the past decades to the point where 50s-70s playing seems not obsolete, but pretty primitive. Probably because of the advent of online resources, better budget gear, plugins, recording possibilities etc.
@@fredriksvard2603 I think that musicianship has nothing to do with online resources, better budget gear, plugins, recording possibilities, etc. There were great musicians centuries ago and ever since. It was a fortunate thing that rock has always featured bands and artists who were great musicians, jazz as well. The great orchestras, pit bands at shows, etc. have always contained great musicians. I attended a Greek wedding where the band was excellent and the bouzouki player was a virtuoso. I do not think that "primitive" playing denotes lesser musicianship. Simple but sincere, soulful playing is often the best way to convey emotions and feelings.
@@Glicksman1 It's such a tired idea and a copout that modern players lack "soul" or "feel". When clapton arrived he was praised as a wizard and for his speed, when things evolved and kids got way faster and more complex the classic rock crowd fell back on b-but they don't play with feeling like clapton. Yes they do, and bends aren't = emotion. And it would be really weird if increased accessibility didn't pave the way for more talents, the learning curve is less steep and it's less frustrating to start out. I for sure didn't see many of these incredible teenagers, 20-somethings or even 8 year olds back in the 90s. The average youtube demo player is better than most of the commercial artists from 20+ years ago, and todays virtuosos are on another planet altogether.
@@fredriksvard2603 Well, I tried, apparently in vain, to explain my thinking on his subject but it is clear that you and I disagree. That's fine. So long.
Yes I'm thinking about the new Gremlin head that uses a 5881 valve now and of course spk outs LoL digging the Falcon Grande as well w 5881 Not sure if I want to go 6V6 or not If so Imperial it is
@@ashkeld I have been using a 65 Reissue Deluxe Reverb for a while. I do play live occasionally. It’s a Fantastic amp. I put a Vintage EV12L (200 watt speaker) so it has unlimited clean headroom but loses the dynamics & sag I love. I’ve been looking at the TK for a while. Thinking of selling my Deluxe. Any feedback at all is much appreciated. Thanks
@@EdBenji why?! I just started a 3/piece punk band and I’m thinking of getting the TK Imperial MKII… is there something you know where I shouldn’t purchase this amp as my first real tube amp?! Edit: I’m freaking out man lol
I’ve used the 65 deluxe reverb RI for a few years now and play almost exclusively clean. Loud enough for a 15 piece jazz ensemble, and sounds good enough at living rom volumes for home practice. Great amp! Super versatile!
Lots of people can play, and and some lucky people have flawless technique, bends and vibrato. But VERY few people can play all kinds of super interesting stuff without sound at all like anyone we already know. That's a triple threat right there. Absolutely amazing playing.
I want to thank you for not only your first rate playing but also the original compositions you used for your demo. That’s a big extra step toward a meaningful demonstration, and one rarely taken. Kudos! 👏🏽
Leo Fender, man. Incredible that he designed not just two of the shapes of guitars that are widely recognized and reproduced today, but just killed it designing amps using RCA tube circuit schematics when he wasn't even familiar with them going in. Telecaster into Deluxe Reverb is just a legendary thing.
Give this dude a raise. Amazing ability to immerse himself in the style of the song he's playing without busting into some out of place blues riff or something non-germane. I could just listen to the playing in the background and be impressed. But Jack is also an amazing spokesperson! This has to be the most enjoyable demo comparison video I've seen in a long time. Is Jack in a band? Is he signed to a label yet? Git'r'done
I play a Princeton Reverb RI, the 65 stock and with a few pedals from Catalinbread and JHS, built reverb and tremolo, I can cover so much ground it’s crazy and it sounds glorious lol. I just don’t need anything else. Now I do kind of have plans for the Marshall Studio vintage 20, but I keep putting it off because I am just so happy with the Princeton. Love this video jack!
Been using a Tone King Imperial Mk11 for the last few years. It is a storming combo, great tone and fantastic flexibility. I think you have underplayed the attenuated high gain channel - put an HSS Strat through it and it will really scream in bridge position. Can’t recommend the Imperial enough!
Yep I attenuate only one tick on the knob and jack the volume and it is a screaming monster and sounds amazing. The cleans are just as good as any deluxe or twin I have owned.....hence the word owned. Because once I got the TK MKII I didn't need a fender anymore. Only complaint is no effects loop.
I have one also, and it's everything and more than a Fender Deluxe. I've had a couple real original blackface Deluxes, and I'd take the Imperial over them because it's more capable. The cleans are beautiful, and its lead channel easily gets into Marshall territory. I run mine with the Ironman attenuator at -3db, on the lead channel, with the gain on full, tone and mid-bite at about noon, and control it from the guitar and go from clean to scream.
For many years I had a Mk I Imperial in the turquoise color. This was in the mid 90's or thereabouts. The amp was amazing! I sold it and have regretted it ever since. It was in perfect condition too. As I'm old and decrepit now 😜, I'm no longer gigging. However... if I were, I'd buy another Imperial in a heartbeat. Great amps!! 👍 Having said all that.... the Two-Rock is a damn fine amp too. Hey it's only money, right? I'd also like an original '65 Shelby Cobra... like that's ever gonna happen. 😆
He’s a great player. I have the TK MKII and have had a DRRI in the past few years. What you don’t get from a video is how the amp feels. At any volume the TK’s touch response and sag are amazing whereas I found the DRRI like hitting a brick wall unless you were up around 7-8 volume.
Agreed about the Imperial's touch and feel. I usually run on the lead channel and roll the guitar's volume to control the gain, and when the amp starts to break up it's a blast. It just sings.
The sound is formed by you fingers, then amplified from the amp! Everithing else i loosing time and money!I learned this from my 39 years of experience! Thanks for all your amazing playing! Thanks man!
I own a tone king falcon grande been playing many years ....yeah old....and this amp tone king is a beauty...covers the blackface ,tweed and an overdriven tube amp like Supro....really well...on expensive side but worth the saving up....
Nice demo Jack. I’ve had all of those and still have the Two Rock. The clean tones of the Imperial are to die for. However I preferred the Princeton to the Deluxe for my needs. The Two Rock sounds huge in a live gig situation. All great amps though, you can’t go wrong with any of them.
That’s what I’ve noticed…. Some ears may not hear I huge difference between these by themselves. But in a live setting….man oh man, I feel like a black face fender gets to sound too thin in a band, while the Two Rock has so much body and weight.
@@tigerhunter8878 exactly this. There are times when I can wind the wick up on the pair of Princetons that I use (both with Gold 10” speakers) but the Two Rocks always sound more “grown up” and fatter in a band mix.
I’ve been really considering getting the tone king for those classic American overdriven sounds, like I really loved the idea of getting the fender but I’ll never get drive without cranking it and the tone king just seems more versatile. Really love that the tone king has an attenuator cause then I can get overdrive at home too.
Great. Had a Fender, contemplated Two Rock (tried it) and ended up with a TK (and 2nd amp Milkman). TR sounds great but makes usually sound everything so John Mayery... (great sound but not always required). Thanks for the demo. Futhermore, think the TR and TK are close enough in sound quality that you can't go wrong with either 🙂
For me, Tone King is number one. It gives the whole palette of sounds of both Blackface amps and Tweed amps. You can get almost any sound, so It gives you the best of both worlds. I use only this amp since I bought it.
Speaker differences account for quite a lot, might have been good to see them swapped around. Sticking a brit-style speaker in a scooped fender-style amp is often pleasant as a contrast, too. Always felt that made a bigger difference than tubes, not that I'm any sort of expert at all.
I have the tone king imperial mark one without the power attenuator and I swapped the speaker out for a blue celestion g12m alnico speaker and it made such a huge difference. Not that it sounded weak or inferior with the stock speaker because it sounded great but it just took it to a whole different level with that celestion speaker and I'm really glad I made that move. So yeah you're right speakers can make all the difference even more so than tubes.
deluxe reverb sounds best to my ears for both clean and driven sounds. just sounds pure and focused to me. the other amps ad something unique, but in adding you also take away. the deluxe has an unvarnished, uncluttered sound. In this demo. Peach audio quality has impressed me for a while now. I still want to know what they are using for their their recording setup....?
If I were a gigging musician I would not hesitate on the Two Rock or Imperial for their versatility, as long as the reliability is also there (I presume it is). As an old fart who's been playing in his living room for decades I would probably go for the Imperial for the attenuator, or just an even-lower-wattage amp. Current amp is a 15/7-Watt (switchable pentode/triode) Blackheart Handsome Devil heavily modified with a 3-way Voicing switch. Middle position of that switch is essentially blackface - big, bold, and dynamic with high touch sensitivity, fun to play on the edge of breakup with or without pedals. Using lower-gain preamp tubes yields lots of clean headroom. I like 5751 in V1 and 12AT7 in V2.
Very nice Demo Jack, as always :) 64/65 Fender Deluxe Reverbs and Princeton's are my favorite amps all time. I did trade in my 65 Princeton special edition and upgraded to a tone king imperial. Really love the natural compression of the Tone King Imperial and lead channel which now is my main amp that I will never part with. Greer Light Speed, Nobles ODR, Timmy, Tumnus OD pedals all sound great through my Tone King. The other great thing about the Tone King Imperial is that its only 5lbs heavier than my 65 Princeton special edition so just a smidge under 40lbs.
Holy fuck man those chops are out of this world! Playing sounds like it comes straight from the heart. Bravo, forgot this was an amp demonstration for alittle but there.
Not when you compare its price to the hand-wired. I have the non hand-wired reissue and the Tone King. There is no contest. Live, the Tone King is three times the amp the deluxe is. The tones are better in every way and the attenuator adds immense value opening it up for almost any venue, from club gig to bedroom gig.
@@wordragon Agreed. My Imperial is my favorite amp ever. It's just the right size, it's plenty loud, and can sound huge when you push the lead channel.
The tone king is not hardwired but with 2 channels and the attenuation, it is just a better amp in every objective way except for price. Imo the price is worth it, this amp is useful at home and gig volumes. The DR has one ideal volume.
I came here to check out the amps, and became an instant fan of your playing, I will be sharing this with as many fellow musicians as possible…. Hope to hear more from you soon!
I have the DRRI and I use a Tone-King Mini II attenuator and I love it. The TC Imperial sounds great. If I didn't have the DRRI I might go for that. The Two Rock sounds a bit darker, like the normal channel on the DRRI, but not as articulate. I am only going from the sound from this video.
This video is 2 years old and I'm still shocked by how crazy good Jack's playing is. He's up there with Greg Koch and TPS as far as ludicrous noodling skills in demo videos.
This fellow is absolutely one of the most talented and tasteful players on all of TH-cam. Hugely melodic and musical in everything he demo's. And of course, a great marketer, as he makes ANYthing sound great! If i'm ever in the UK again, i am DEFINITELY going to visit PeachGuitars. Thanks much & best rgds.
I recently got an Imperial mk ii, and also have a Deluxe Reverb. In my opinion there's quite a difference between the rhythm channel on the Tone King and the Fender. The TK clean tone is 'rounder'; it doesn't have the top end presence of the Fender vibrato channel (which I imagine is the absence of a bright cap), it has more mid range, and compresses a bit more - nicer under the fingers. The TK reverb is much more usable at higher levels. Then it has a completely different channel and the world's best attenuator. Just on the clean channel though, I find the TK sweeter and more fun to play. HOWEVER, the Fender vibrato channel does a certain thing, which some may miss. The high end presence and the super splashy reverb is a classic sound that only the Fender does. Its kind of a "trashy" sounding thing to me, but it has character and you hear when its gone. The bias tremolo in the TK is miles ahead of the optical circuit in the Fender, warmer, smoother and more 'throbby'. My 5 cents.
@@tz8559 just got the Deluxe Reverb tone master. Cannot tell the difference to a 65. The attenuator at the back is great for playing at home and you lose no tone. You can get that dirty sound at volume ten with 0.5w. So it doesn’t even annoy your neighbours. It’s lightweight and amazing for gigs. I’d go down fender route
My favorite clean vid is still of you, back when the barber shop was open, playing a Tele into that Princeton Fawn. Magic! That said, I wouldn't kick the Imperial out of the living room either.
Growing up in the 60’s, I thought Fender and Marshall were the amps my favorite artists used. It’s very fun to go back and find that many of these artists (Linley, SRV, etc.) used Dumble amps. To me, the Two Rock gives us the full audio spectrum where the Fender is more brittle.
Deluxe reverbs are loud enough but not always; it doesn't mean your band is too loud, it just means you need more volume, period, that's why they needed to make the Vibrolux. The black/silver face channels differ in sound other than trem and verb because the verb channel has one more tube stage not involved with the verb or trem. Also I would say a humbucker guitar would be needed here as well. In the '70s club scene on the West Coast and the Emerald triangle, the desired rig was a Les Paul hammering a Deluxe Reverb. I'm wondering also if the Imperial is a bit louder than the Deluxe because I'm really steering toward a Vibrolux.
Only Jack can make the DRRI sound better than the hand-wired deluxe Reverb! Good Lord every time I hear Jack play his chops are just better and better and his phrasing is just head-scratching and out-of-this-world!
There is nothing like pure clean tone. In my 50 plus years of playing I happened to come across a Holland Jazz 50 with 2 10" eminence legends in it. This by far was the absolute cleanest sound that I have ever experienced. My drummer and 2nd guitarist stopped playing and just listened in disbelief when they first heard it. Mike Holland used top tier components with cloth covered wiring and silver solder for his point to point old school masterpieces. The power tubes were 7581 audiophile 6L6 type tubes in it and were fairly pricey. Kenny Burrell had a signature model if that tells you anything. Heritage bought Holland out and they couldnt carry on the business in the high end amplifier market. Just sharing good luck all with your hunt for tone.
We have a 65 Reissue Deluxe Reverb up the ICMP in London and I can confirm that the clean sound is superb. It’s quite different to a Hot Rod Deluxe, partially due to that using a Celestion speaker, whereas the 65 Reissue sticks with the classic American toned speaker.
Fender still got it, I already have the 68 model and are satisfied with that, but the other are also very good but much more pricy! Upon that i have a 65 twin reissue and I am a very happy owner, also a keeper!
I think the Tone King Imperial MKII knocked it out of the ball park. A fuller bodied more harmonically rich clean than either of the others. I also believe Fenders best amp for clean tone would have been better represented by the Blackface Twin Reverb. The Blackface Deluxe is better known for it's breakup.
Excellent comparison. I'm a Fender traditionalist, been playing them since the 1960s, so I'm biased (hehe). My current amp is the Custom Vibrolux Reverb-Amp. If I were studio gigging, however, that Two-Rock would be a strong contender. Presumably it's less noisy, which is my main complaint with Fenders. The Imperial sounds great, too. Fenders often seem to have a fuller high end on the 1st and 2nd strings, leaving their imitators sounding more "wirey" in the upper registers, but I didn't hear that with the Two-Rock in this demo, as I think I did with the Tone-King.
Mr. Bartel is a genius and the Tone King Imperial MKII is one of the best all around amps on the market. I can't even imagine what his new Bartel amps are like with all of his experience and just how amazing the Imperial is. It's hard to beat
The Bartel amps are like nothing else on the market. Mark is an amazing engineer and did so much work testing and designing the new line. Even the cabinets are designed to enhance the overall sound of the amp very much like a violin or acoustic guitar's body resonates, not just act as a place to hang a speaker.
I read a review on the Imperial stating that essentially there could be three kinds of fender amps in the one by Tone King. Having a Deluxe Reverb for awhile showed me how great of a sound it is. Overall I chose the head version with a cabinet. I’ve not yet received it but looking forward to it!
Cool chord changes on the melodic clean tunes. I like the Tone King best. I own a vintage 1965 Deluxe (Non-reverb model) with the original Fender labeled speaker. It's a clean machine past 7 on the volume knob.
I love the '65 reissue. It just has that sound I'm looking for. I think I could make it sound more like the others with a Rat and an R.C. Booster than I could ever make the others sound like the reissue.
I played quite few vintage amps in my vintage days. I settled on the deluxe reverb about 3 years into pro playing. It just made sense and I could make a deluxe reverb sound like a marshall but there is no pedal to make a marshall sound like a fender anything.
In short, my favorite sound is the Imperial, favorite power rating is the Two Rock. However I know that Tone King and Fender may have different ideas as to how loud 20 watts should be, so hopefully the Imperial is louder.
Jack, your playing is great...on the Imperial, and I understand good sound induces good playing but that was not a fair comparison, should play the same on both amps for a A-A comparison. With that said the Imperial is amazing.
Me too. I have a rambler and Fender Deluxe Reverb 64 Custom Handwired. One isn't better than the others depending on what you want. But the Rambler brings a sweetness and more clean headroom. It is however a 6L6 based amp rated at 28W. But wow, what a great sound!
This dude is one of the few players on TH-cam that keeps my attention span. His choice of licks and his phrasing are incredible.
I agree. That all too common speedy shreddy crap gets old fast.
so fast.@@RodVonLongrod
Insanely good
I'm always amazed at how many different riffs and ideas he can shove into one video. Most reviewers play the same stuff over and over again but this guy is always searching. Great stuff
Totally agree, Jack's guitars playing is incredible!!
He is an amazing player but also dedicated and that's why he is able to come up with so many ideas!
Worst demo guy is Rob Chapman who plays the same knackered and tired licks in every product demo he absolutely ruins, Jack's playing here is stellar
@@jameskavanagh4300 and hes a complete douche
That’s because he has an actual talent. Most people are just people who have learned how to play.
I can't believe Jack's playing for real. It is outrageously awesome that he produces such tasteful music just by improvising and checking tones.
It's called musicianship, a rare bird these days.
@@Glicksman1 musicianship has gone through the roof the past decades to the point where 50s-70s playing seems not obsolete, but pretty primitive. Probably because of the advent of online resources, better budget gear, plugins, recording possibilities etc.
@@fredriksvard2603 I think that musicianship has nothing to do with online resources, better budget gear, plugins, recording possibilities, etc. There were great musicians centuries ago and ever since. It was a fortunate thing that rock has always featured bands and artists who were great musicians, jazz as well. The great orchestras, pit bands at shows, etc. have always contained great musicians. I attended a Greek wedding where the band was excellent and the bouzouki player was a virtuoso.
I do not think that "primitive" playing denotes lesser musicianship. Simple but sincere, soulful playing is often the best way to convey emotions and feelings.
@@Glicksman1 It's such a tired idea and a copout that modern players lack "soul" or "feel". When clapton arrived he was praised as a wizard and for his speed, when things evolved and kids got way faster and more complex the classic rock crowd fell back on b-but they don't play with feeling like clapton.
Yes they do, and bends aren't = emotion.
And it would be really weird if increased accessibility didn't pave the way for more talents, the learning curve is less steep and it's less frustrating to start out. I for sure didn't see many of these incredible teenagers, 20-somethings or even 8 year olds back in the 90s. The average youtube demo player is better than most of the commercial artists from 20+ years ago, and todays virtuosos are on another planet altogether.
@@fredriksvard2603 Well, I tried, apparently in vain, to explain my thinking on his subject but it is clear that you and I disagree. That's fine. So long.
I just bought a Tone King Imperial MK II and I can honestly say the motivation to purchase it was generated from watching this video.
I bought one last week. Loved it so much, I sold my Deluxe Reverb!
Yes I'm thinking about the new Gremlin head that uses a 5881 valve now and of course spk outs LoL digging the Falcon Grande as well w 5881 Not sure if I want to go 6V6 or not If so Imperial it is
@@ashkeld I have been using a 65 Reissue Deluxe Reverb for a while. I do play live occasionally. It’s a Fantastic amp. I put a Vintage EV12L (200 watt speaker) so it has unlimited clean headroom but loses the dynamics & sag I love. I’ve been looking at the TK for a while. Thinking of selling my Deluxe. Any feedback at all is much appreciated. Thanks
Big mistake!
@@EdBenji why?! I just started a 3/piece punk band and I’m thinking of getting the TK Imperial MKII… is there something you know where I shouldn’t purchase this amp as my first real tube amp?!
Edit: I’m freaking out man lol
I listen to Jack play almost every night. He’s probably the best player doing amp and guitar demos on TH-cam. Simply amazing.
You must be a gear junky!!😊
WOW that Imperial is out of this world.
Yea they’re super nice I have a Torquise one. My studio sig with a cab is my favorite though.
Agreed.
Wow. That TK Imperial is a little more rounded and full. I never realized I wanted one until now. So smooth.
That Tone King is ridiculous!!! I love that thing!
It is so much more useful when a great player is playing interesting music and is able to describe accurately what they are demonstrating. Well done.
I came here because of amplifiers, but I come back here because of pure musicality and elite guitar playing.
Fenders may not always be cheap, but amps designed to sound like Fenders are much, much more expensive :)
You can get a Fender Ultimate Chorus 2x12 used for usually around $200. They're easily one of my favorite amps for clean signals.
Oh, the irony! :)
I know. It's crazy. I like the Two Rock, but not for three times the price. I'll stick with Fender. It's really good and it's the real deal.
It is same with guitars too.
My thought too
I’ve used the 65 deluxe reverb RI for a few years now and play almost exclusively clean. Loud enough for a 15 piece jazz ensemble, and sounds good enough at living rom volumes for home practice. Great amp! Super versatile!
Lots of people can play, and and some lucky people have flawless technique, bends and vibrato. But VERY few people can play all kinds of super interesting stuff without sound at all like anyone we already know. That's a triple threat right there. Absolutely amazing playing.
He’s a composer first, as so many of the greats are. The music shines through all the way, and I appreciate that so much.
I want to thank you for not only your first rate playing but also the original compositions you used for your demo. That’s a big extra step toward a meaningful demonstration, and one rarely taken. Kudos! 👏🏽
You are seriously one of the best players I’ve ever heard. Great dynamics and your choice of chords are insane. Lovely stuff man
Leo Fender, man. Incredible that he designed not just two of the shapes of guitars that are widely recognized and reproduced today, but just killed it designing amps using RCA tube circuit schematics when he wasn't even familiar with them going in. Telecaster into Deluxe Reverb is just a legendary thing.
Tone king is king ! Love cranking mine up, beautiful amp.
Love the TK Imperial. One of my favorite amps for the attenuator alone, wish I could have one right now. The tremolo and reverb are superb too.
That tone king really is incredible
No, it's Jack who is really incredible.
That’s ridiculous lol. He sounds like 5000 other players I’ve heard. The tone king is just clearly better than the fender
@@dmcrisp @glicksman1 have either one of you played one live? They’re so 3D & full!
for a young kid your comportment is super professional
Give this dude a raise. Amazing ability to immerse himself in the style of the song he's playing without busting into some out of place blues riff or something non-germane. I could just listen to the playing in the background and be impressed. But Jack is also an amazing spokesperson! This has to be the most enjoyable demo comparison video I've seen in a long time. Is Jack in a band? Is he signed to a label yet? Git'r'done
I watch these videos mostly for Jack, and sometimes for the gear. No homo.
Some of the best guitar playing I've heard in my life
Truth.
I play a Princeton Reverb RI, the 65 stock and with a few pedals from Catalinbread and JHS, built reverb and tremolo, I can cover so much ground it’s crazy and it sounds glorious lol. I just don’t need anything else. Now I do kind of have plans for the Marshall Studio vintage 20, but I keep putting it off because I am just so happy with the Princeton. Love this video jack!
Jack is a jaw dropping monster player. Insane! And the Tone King - wow!!
Been using a Tone King Imperial Mk11 for the last few years. It is a storming combo, great tone and fantastic flexibility. I think you have underplayed the attenuated high gain channel - put an HSS Strat through it and it will really scream in bridge position. Can’t recommend the Imperial enough!
Yep I attenuate only one tick on the knob and jack the volume and it is a screaming monster and sounds amazing. The cleans are just as good as any deluxe or twin I have owned.....hence the word owned. Because once I got the TK MKII I didn't need a fender anymore. Only complaint is no effects loop.
I have one also, and it's everything and more than a Fender Deluxe. I've had a couple real original blackface Deluxes, and I'd take the Imperial over them because it's more capable. The cleans are beautiful, and its lead channel easily gets into Marshall territory.
I run mine with the Ironman attenuator at -3db, on the lead channel, with the gain on full, tone and mid-bite at about noon, and control it from the guitar and go from clean to scream.
@@8sigreg Agreed 100%^. You have the exact same settings that I use. I can do it all with that.
For many years I had a Mk I Imperial in the turquoise color. This was in the mid 90's or thereabouts. The amp was amazing! I sold it and have regretted it ever since. It was in perfect condition too. As I'm old and decrepit now 😜, I'm no longer gigging. However... if I were, I'd buy another Imperial in a heartbeat. Great amps!! 👍
Having said all that.... the Two-Rock is a damn fine amp too. Hey it's only money, right? I'd also like an original '65 Shelby Cobra... like that's ever gonna happen. 😆
Can the clean channel stay clean up against a loud drummer?
He’s a great player. I have the TK MKII and have had a DRRI in the past few years. What you don’t get from a video is how the amp feels. At any volume the TK’s touch response and sag are amazing whereas I found the DRRI like hitting a brick wall unless you were up around 7-8 volume.
Agreed about the Imperial's touch and feel. I usually run on the lead channel and roll the guitar's volume to control the gain, and when the amp starts to break up it's a blast. It just sings.
This really helps. Thanks!
The sound is formed by you fingers, then amplified from the amp! Everithing else i loosing time and money!I learned this from my 39 years of experience! Thanks for all your amazing playing! Thanks man!
The Toneking is killer and outshines the others.
Agreed. Had life the other 2 didn't have. Made me want one hah
Yep. Despite the price hike, the feature set of the Tone King is a big leap forwards ... tone a bit better is icing on the cake
You got to hear the studio in person of course I use a head and cab version. The imperial is amazing tho own a mk1
I own a tone king falcon grande been playing many years ....yeah old....and this amp tone king is a beauty...covers the blackface ,tweed and an overdriven tube amp like Supro....really well...on expensive side but worth the saving up....
Love the Tone King. It’s a warmer tone. I also like that it makes an all round amp with a lead channel.
I can't compare the amps because of his playing! I have to watch a few more times! WoW!
came for the tone, stayed for the playing (AND the tone)!
I’m very impressed by his playing ability! Sounds amazing!
I liked the Two Rock the best, it's like the tone was mastered by a great sound engineer without losing any of the natural character of the amp.
You guys make the best gear demos on TH-cam.
Nice demo Jack. I’ve had all of those and still have the Two Rock. The clean tones of the Imperial are to die for. However I preferred the Princeton to the Deluxe for my needs. The Two Rock sounds huge in a live gig situation. All great amps though, you can’t go wrong with any of them.
That’s what I’ve noticed…. Some ears may not hear I huge difference between these by themselves. But in a live setting….man oh man, I feel like a black face fender gets to sound too thin in a band, while the Two Rock has so much body and weight.
@@tigerhunter8878 exactly this. There are times when I can wind the wick up on the pair of Princetons that I use (both with Gold 10” speakers) but the Two Rocks always sound more “grown up” and fatter in a band mix.
I’ve been really considering getting the tone king for those classic American overdriven sounds, like I really loved the idea of getting the fender but I’ll never get drive without cranking it and the tone king just seems more versatile. Really love that the tone king has an attenuator cause then I can get overdrive at home too.
@@Seanph25 you can’t go wrong with the TK, it’s sublime
Great. Had a Fender, contemplated Two Rock (tried it) and ended up with a TK (and 2nd amp Milkman). TR sounds great but makes usually sound everything so John Mayery... (great sound but not always required). Thanks for the demo. Futhermore, think the TR and TK are close enough in sound quality that you can't go wrong with either 🙂
For me, Tone King is number one. It gives the whole palette of sounds of both Blackface amps and Tweed amps. You can get almost any sound, so It gives you the best of both worlds. I use only this amp since I bought it.
Got the Turquoise II from John a couple of years ago. A very organic sounding amp. Single coil and humbuckers both work very well.
Speaker differences account for quite a lot, might have been good to see them swapped around. Sticking a brit-style speaker in a scooped fender-style amp is often pleasant as a contrast, too. Always felt that made a bigger difference than tubes, not that I'm any sort of expert at all.
I have the tone king imperial mark one without the power attenuator and I swapped the speaker out for a blue celestion g12m alnico speaker and it made such a huge difference. Not that it sounded weak or inferior with the stock speaker because it sounded great but it just took it to a whole different level with that celestion speaker and I'm really glad I made that move. So yeah you're right speakers can make all the difference even more so than tubes.
deluxe reverb sounds best to my ears for both clean and driven sounds. just sounds pure and focused to me. the other amps ad something unique, but in adding you also take away. the deluxe has an unvarnished, uncluttered sound. In this demo. Peach audio quality has impressed me for a while now. I still want to know what they are using for their their recording setup....?
If I were a gigging musician I would not hesitate on the Two Rock or Imperial for their versatility, as long as the reliability is also there (I presume it is). As an old fart who's been playing in his living room for decades I would probably go for the Imperial for the attenuator, or just an even-lower-wattage amp. Current amp is a 15/7-Watt (switchable pentode/triode) Blackheart Handsome Devil heavily modified with a 3-way Voicing switch. Middle position of that switch is essentially blackface - big, bold, and dynamic with high touch sensitivity, fun to play on the edge of breakup with or without pedals. Using lower-gain preamp tubes yields lots of clean headroom. I like 5751 in V1 and 12AT7 in V2.
the Imperial rules. Jack, stellar playing!!
That Tone King thing is fantastic
that tone on the tone king is just wow.....
Very nice Demo Jack, as always :) 64/65 Fender Deluxe Reverbs and Princeton's are my favorite amps all time. I did trade in my 65 Princeton special edition and upgraded to a tone king imperial. Really love the natural compression of the Tone King Imperial and lead channel which now is my main amp that I will never part with. Greer Light Speed, Nobles ODR, Timmy, Tumnus OD pedals all sound great through my Tone King. The other great thing about the Tone King Imperial is that its only 5lbs heavier than my 65 Princeton special edition so just a smidge under 40lbs.
Thanks, nice comparison! That chord progression starting at 10:00 made me smile :)
I mean let’s be honest...Jack could play a scaffold board with some elastic bands stapled to it and make it sound incredible! 👌
one of the best demo’s of the Two Rock Studio Signature!
Amazing tones and playing! Wow! 7:20
I just got a Boogie California Tweed head 40w with a 212 blackbird cab.
Great amp and loves pedals.
It is worth a try also and is worth every cent.
Holy fuck man those chops are out of this world! Playing sounds like it comes straight from the heart. Bravo, forgot this was an amp demonstration for alittle but there.
The Fender Reverb is undeniable!! Still the king of the cleans for me. Overdriven the Tone King is very nice but a grand more expensive!
Not when you compare its price to the hand-wired.
I have the non hand-wired reissue and the Tone King. There is no contest. Live, the Tone King is three times the amp the deluxe is. The tones are better in every way and the attenuator adds immense value opening it up for almost any venue, from club gig to bedroom gig.
@@wordragon Agreed. My Imperial is my favorite amp ever. It's just the right size, it's plenty loud, and can sound huge when you push the lead channel.
The tone king is not hardwired but with 2 channels and the attenuation, it is just a better amp in every objective way except for price. Imo the price is worth it, this amp is useful at home and gig volumes. The DR has one ideal volume.
Wow what a fantastic comparison!
You are a very gifted musician sir!
I came here to check out the amps, and became an instant fan of your playing, I will be sharing this with as many fellow musicians as possible…. Hope to hear more from you soon!
The 65 deluxe is amazing for the money
I have the DRRI and I use a Tone-King Mini II attenuator and I love it. The TC Imperial sounds great. If I didn't have the DRRI I might go for that. The Two Rock sounds a bit darker, like the normal channel on the DRRI, but not as articulate. I am only going from the sound from this video.
This video is 2 years old and I'm still shocked by how crazy good Jack's playing is. He's up there with Greg Koch and TPS as far as ludicrous noodling skills in demo videos.
This fellow is absolutely one of the most talented and tasteful players on all of TH-cam. Hugely melodic and musical in everything he demo's. And of course, a great marketer, as he makes ANYthing sound great! If i'm ever in the UK again, i am DEFINITELY going to visit PeachGuitars. Thanks much & best rgds.
yup - that tone king sounds like a good Princeton - I agree with Charles t!
I recently got an Imperial mk ii, and also have a Deluxe Reverb. In my opinion there's quite a difference between the rhythm channel on the Tone King and the Fender. The TK clean tone is 'rounder'; it doesn't have the top end presence of the Fender vibrato channel (which I imagine is the absence of a bright cap), it has more mid range, and compresses a bit more - nicer under the fingers. The TK reverb is much more usable at higher levels. Then it has a completely different channel and the world's best attenuator. Just on the clean channel though, I find the TK sweeter and more fun to play. HOWEVER, the Fender vibrato channel does a certain thing, which some may miss. The high end presence and the super splashy reverb is a classic sound that only the Fender does. Its kind of a "trashy" sounding thing to me, but it has character and you hear when its gone. The bias tremolo in the TK is miles ahead of the optical circuit in the Fender, warmer, smoother and more 'throbby'. My 5 cents.
Excellent little write up 👍
@@dadmadforgot4050 Thanks Jon. 9 months later I stand by it. You looking at these amps?
TK seems to have a fatter lees scooped midrange. 2R sounds more like the Fender clean.
@@CNCTEMATIC i am still not sure which one to get... ideal clean is my goal (think knopfler, etc.)...
@@tz8559 just got the Deluxe Reverb tone master. Cannot tell the difference to a 65. The attenuator at the back is great for playing at home and you lose no tone. You can get that dirty sound at volume ten with 0.5w. So it doesn’t even annoy your neighbours. It’s lightweight and amazing for gigs. I’d go down fender route
The fender for me, the reverb and cleans sound great.
My favorite clean vid is still of you, back when the barber shop was open, playing a Tele into that Princeton Fawn. Magic!
That said, I wouldn't kick the Imperial out of the living room either.
Growing up in the 60’s, I thought Fender and Marshall were the amps my favorite artists used. It’s very fun to go back and find that many of these artists (Linley, SRV, etc.) used Dumble amps. To me, the Two Rock gives us the full audio spectrum where the Fender is more brittle.
I just purchased the Fender Deluxe Reverb and it hit the itch I have been trying to scratch.
It hit the itch? Damn.
Deluxe reverbs are loud enough but not always; it doesn't mean your band is too loud, it just means you need more volume, period, that's why they needed to make the Vibrolux. The black/silver face channels differ in sound other than trem and verb because the verb channel has one more tube stage not involved with the verb or trem. Also I would say a humbucker guitar would be needed here as well. In the '70s club scene on the West Coast and the Emerald triangle, the desired rig was a Les Paul hammering a Deluxe Reverb. I'm wondering also if the Imperial is a bit louder than the Deluxe because I'm really steering toward a Vibrolux.
Only Jack can make the DRRI sound better than the hand-wired deluxe Reverb! Good Lord every time I hear Jack play his chops are just better and better and his phrasing is just head-scratching and out-of-this-world!
👍 Jack, your playing is killin it! Great demo
There is nothing like pure clean tone. In my 50 plus years of playing I happened to come across a Holland Jazz 50 with 2 10" eminence legends in it. This by far was the absolute cleanest sound that I have ever experienced. My drummer and 2nd guitarist stopped playing and just listened in disbelief when they first heard it. Mike Holland used top tier components with cloth covered wiring and silver solder for his point to point old school masterpieces. The power tubes were 7581 audiophile 6L6 type tubes in it and were fairly pricey. Kenny Burrell had a signature model if that tells you anything. Heritage bought Holland out and they couldnt carry on the business in the high end amplifier market. Just sharing good luck all with your hunt for tone.
I had Toneking and 65, I used the toneking 2 months and sold it out 🤣🤣, I love the 65 more
Maybe I would change my mind playing them in the room but via YT I like Fender the most 😀
Jack, your playing is absolutely fantastic mate, you could even make a 10w BB Blaster sound great 😆
Well ok, maybe not that!
We have a 65 Reissue Deluxe Reverb up the ICMP in London and I can confirm that the clean sound is superb. It’s quite different to a Hot Rod Deluxe, partially due to that using a Celestion speaker, whereas the 65 Reissue sticks with the classic American toned speaker.
The playing sold each amp! Amazing chops.
Great video. Appreciated the back ground, details, and history of the amps. Very useful info, thank you.
Fender still got it, I already have the 68 model and are satisfied with that, but the other are also very good but much more pricy! Upon that i have a 65 twin reissue and I am a very happy owner, also a keeper!
My kings of clean amps of choice are :
Fender 65 Twin Reverb
Dumble Steel String Singer
And the Roland JC-120
Headroom for days and outstanding cleans
OMG that is some very very serious guitar playing right there!
The deluxe sound on the intro 10 seconds in was the best
Whaa!! The Tone King in my King!.... love the exquisite sound!....
I think the Tone King Imperial MKII knocked it out of the ball park. A fuller bodied more harmonically rich clean than either of the others. I also believe Fenders best amp for clean tone would have been better represented by the Blackface Twin Reverb. The Blackface Deluxe is better known for it's breakup.
Yes thank you! I love the Twin. It’s gorgeous. That’s my goal amp right now/dream amp I’m saving up for
The amps sound amazing, but the playing is superbly amazing!
Excellent comparison. I'm a Fender traditionalist, been playing them since the 1960s, so I'm biased (hehe). My current amp is the Custom Vibrolux Reverb-Amp. If I were studio gigging, however, that Two-Rock would be a strong contender. Presumably it's less noisy, which is my main complaint with Fenders. The Imperial sounds great, too. Fenders often seem to have a fuller high end on the 1st and 2nd strings, leaving their imitators sounding more "wirey" in the upper registers, but I didn't hear that with the Two-Rock in this demo, as I think I did with the Tone-King.
Usually I understand most equipment terminology but what is a rectum finder tube? How do I know if my Amp has one? Thanks.
Great playing. I liked the Fender best, it's just got the sound my ears love.
Came for the amps - stayed for the playing! Great musician
Great review and info, fantastic playing Thanks for taking the time to make this video.
Mr. Bartel is a genius and the Tone King Imperial MKII is one of the best all around amps on the market. I can't even imagine what his new Bartel amps are like with all of his experience and just how amazing the Imperial is. It's hard to beat
The Bartel amps are like nothing else on the market. Mark is an amazing engineer and did so much work testing and designing the new line. Even the cabinets are designed to enhance the overall sound of the amp very much like a violin or acoustic guitar's body resonates, not just act as a place to hang a speaker.
@@8sigreg Looks like you and I are Bartel fans! My next amp will either be a Bartel or a Bloomfield. They are an investment though. Whew
I read a review on the Imperial stating that essentially there could be three kinds of fender amps in the one by Tone King. Having a Deluxe Reverb for awhile showed me how great of a sound it is. Overall I chose the head version with a cabinet. I’ve not yet received it but looking forward to it!
Cool chord changes on the melodic clean tunes. I like the Tone King best. I own a vintage 1965 Deluxe (Non-reverb model) with the original Fender labeled speaker. It's a clean machine past 7 on the volume knob.
I love my Deluxe Reverb reissue with a George Alessandro speaker and 6L6 conversion.
I love the '65 reissue. It just has that sound I'm looking for. I think I could make it sound more like the others with a Rat and an R.C. Booster than I could ever make the others sound like the reissue.
Amazingly done! 3 epic amps and I really enjoyed the playing!
I played quite few vintage amps in my vintage days. I settled on the deluxe reverb about 3 years into pro playing. It just made sense and I could make a deluxe reverb sound like a marshall but there is no pedal to make a marshall sound like a fender anything.
I have been thinking of getting the Fender Deluxe Reverb. This video helps in my decision 😁
@@omnicognatesnr5947 thank you for the info🎸
I’ve never heard of the Imperial prior to watching this video… but wow it sounds great
I’ve wanted an Imperial mk2 since I saw Mark Knopfler live in Glasgow. Stunning sound, never will be able to afford one though 😭
Mark is the best.
In short, my favorite sound is the Imperial, favorite power rating is the Two Rock. However I know that Tone King and Fender may have different ideas as to how loud 20 watts should be, so hopefully the Imperial is louder.
Jack, your playing is great...on the Imperial, and I understand good sound induces good playing but that was not a fair comparison, should play the same on both amps for a A-A comparison. With that said the Imperial is amazing.
I play with a Carr Rambler. In the « clean » shootout it should be with the others !
Me too. I have a rambler and Fender Deluxe Reverb 64 Custom Handwired. One isn't better than the others depending on what you want. But the Rambler brings a sweetness and more clean headroom. It is however a 6L6 based amp rated at 28W. But wow, what a great sound!