Thoughts for Bruce and his team on the new Tourmaster HG...

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angelspade

angelspade

Well-known member
First off, I think it's fantastic that you (Egnater team) have paid attention to the feedback from players on the Tourmaster series amplifiers. Developing an all in one, hyper-versatile tone machine at a reasonable price point must be quite a challenge. When the general feedback from players was that the original run of Tourmaster amps was "just a bit too loose"......You developed the "M" mod and effectively (in my opinion) eradicated this issue.

Now, while many players (myself included) generally LOVE the "Swiss Army Knife" versatility and all the available tone shaping options of the Tourmaster......Many it seems have found that something was missing: The availability of a more modern sounding METAL tone on channels 3 & 4. So now the rumor mill has once again started up and apparently there has been some development of a "Tourmaster HG" or "Tourmaster Metal"......In my opinion, this is GREAT news!!!

Some unsolicited suggestions and questions:

1. I hope that you guys trust your instincts on this one. When brilliant minds at GC suggested/requested a "recto-like" vibe for the original Tourmaster...You guys eventually ended up having to modify some of these characteristics out of the amp based on customer feedback...Please trust your instincts on this one. The high gain tones on the Armageddon that I played at NAMM 2011 were fantastic...On par with "boutique" high-gainers that are double (or triple) the price. I would to love to hear some of the Armageddon's attitude in the 4th channel of the new Tourmaster!

2. A new look? I personally like the black and tan vibe of the current Tourmaster, it's original and classy......That being said, maybe keep it simple for the "metal" guys out there...All black or all white? Just a thought (that I'm sure you guys have already thought of).

3. I felt that the inclusion of a "built it" ISP Decimator for the Armageddon was an absolutely FANTASTIC idea......And very effective. Any chance of adding this feature to the new Tourmaster High Gain? Just a great feature that nobody else has!

4. The general layout/panel of the current Tourmaster is just about perfect...I hope it stays nearly identical on the new version. Four channels, plenty of tone shaping options and simple to dial in...perfect.

5. Any idea when you guys will be able to give us some details on this amp?

6. Any estimated release date?

These are just some of my thoughts as a guys who tries almost everything out there. Again, I thought the original Tourmaster was a really good amp...And the new one could be GREAT and capture some market share that was missed the first time around. Just some thoughts and opinions from a guy that is REALLY looking forward to trying out the next generation Tourmaster.
 
Geez......a HG Tourmaster in standard black/tan might be in the cards for me, then......
If they were to make original channel 3 the new channel 2, original channel 4 the new channel 3 and then a total hi-gain/EG5/E-RECT sound for the new ch 4, I can't really say no to that.
Even though the current ch2 is labeled 'vintage gain', that's the real weak link in the chain as far as that amp goes; for me the gain STARTS to sound good with it dimed on that channel. IMHO, it SHOULD be more inbetween (about 50%) where CH2 is now and CH3.
 
gtr31":2xz9f89m said:
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2871414-Egnater-HG-Amps

they are all going HG and in black as an option when ordering I think
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link...Looks like I was a little behind the eight ball with the suggestion box!

Wonder when these are due to hit stores?
 
How Cool that they are doing this to their amps!! what a company...
 
Audioholic":2a3n52g1 said:
How Cool that they are doing this to their amps!! what a company...
Click to expand...

Yup I tend to agree...AND, I think they will ship more units (particularly on the Tourmaster Series) with the new look and a noticeable bump in gain and aggression. Just my opinion.
 
Audioholic":3db8efir said:
How Cool that they are doing this to their amps!! what a company...
Click to expand...

lol as long as the MOD50 has been in exsitence there have been people hounding Bruce to go all black ..so he has heard it for probably 6 or 7 years .
 
Good thread.... I'm looking to add more gain to my TM and would like to know if there are any modifications that could be done to the #4 gain channel that would help now?

I'm not opposed to dropping in some new resistors and/or capacitors to shape the gain differently.
 
ripsix, does your tourmaster have an "m" in the serial #?

if so, aside from running a boost, i'm not sure how much more gain you want to add?

my tourmaster has TONS of gain, and i'm using passive pickups.
 
HI yeti,
Yes it is an "M" however it seems just a hair shy of what I'm looking for in the "heavy" department. Bruce suggested an EQ and that helps some but was just wondering what else if anything I could do to kick it in the a$$ while I have it apart to fix a bad potentiometer in channel 2 (mids).

Thanks!
 
not sure if we've discussed otherwise, but what pre and power tubes do you have in it? how old are your pre tubes?

what do you run the power grid on? are your master volume and channel volumes up at around 2pm on the dials?
 
An all-black Renegade with MORE gain?......That might just be my new "grab 'n go" amp...... :thumbsup:
 
Hey yeti,
I bought the unit used and this is what is in there now:

4 x Groove Tubes GT6L6R
v1 - JJ ECC83
v2,v3 - Tung-Sol 12AX7
v4-v7 - Groove Tubes GTECC83S
v8 - Egnater Groove Tubes GTECC83S

I've just ordered the following:
4 x TAD 6L6GC-STR (Tall Bottle)
4 x Electro Harmonix 12AX7
2 x TAD 7025 Highgrade
2 x Tung-Sol 12AX7

I also own some new JJ ECC83 for my Crate V30 Palomino and I've an assortment of NOS tubes from Mullard to Tung-Sol, GE, RCA, etc....

I've been running the power @ half and with ch1 @ 50w, ch2 @ 25w, ch3 @ 10w, ch4 @ 10w
ch3 an ch4 volume set to about 2 and gain variable but somewhere between 12 and 4. Master volume usually stays about 8 to 10 (due to loudness I typically can't run it hotter than that at the clubs we play at)

The amp has been getting noisier of late and it's really bad on ch4. My typical guitars are a '05 LP Studio with Classic 57 humbuckers or a '02 Ash Strat with Bill Lawrence L-280/L-290 pickups.

With the tubes I've purchased what do you suggest as placement?

Thanks!,
Mark
 
ripsix":37o89pwo said:
Hey yeti,
I bought the unit used and this is what is in there now:

4 x Groove Tubes GT6L6R
v1 - JJ ECC83
v2,v3 - Tung-Sol 12AX7
v4-v7 - Groove Tubes GTECC83S
v8 - Egnater Groove Tubes GTECC83S

I've just ordered the following:
4 x TAD 6L6GC-STR (Tall Bottle)
4 x Electro Harmonix 12AX7
2 x TAD 7025 Highgrade
2 x Tung-Sol 12AX7
Click to expand...
pm'd
 
yeti":4nlqvu8n said:
ripsix, does your tourmaster have an "m" in the serial #?

if so, aside from running a boost, i'm not sure how much more gain you want to add?

my tourmaster has TONS of gain, and i'm using passive pickups.
Click to expand...

Yeti...Btw I did get your M mod PM...Sorry I didn't reply sooner. Yes, I have tried the "M" mode version and I would agree that it has enough gain. What it needs is a bit more modern sounding aggression. Just my opinion.
 
All Black, FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can now add it to my Year-End bonus purchase list!
(The addition of MIDI switchable with in/out/thru would be the only other thing I could see adding to this particular amp)
 
rlord1974":utvhsobv said:
An all-black Renegade with MORE gain?......That might just be my new "grab 'n go" amp...... :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
thats the only amp that I thought needed more gain out of the Eggie line
 
Anybody know if the Tourmaster HG will be avialable in the original black/tan?
 
If that new Tourmaster HG Head can do a convincing, aggressive metal tone...It truly will be the "Swiss army knife" of amps...Really looking forward to testing one of these soon!
 
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