Skip to main content

Fender’s Latest Amps Go High-Tech So You Can Rock Harder for Less

Fender_MustangGT-Tone_Lifestyle_U52A7571
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Fender knows a thing or two about making guitar amps, but for its latest release the company has gone high-tech. Fender’s latest project is also its smartest guitar amplifier line ever, aiming to help those in search of classic vintage-tube amp tone, but who don’t have the dough to buy the real thing. 

An updated version of its popular Mustang GT line — among the best-selling lines in the company’s seven-decade history — the new amplifiers feature both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionality, and can be controlled via the free Fender Tone app.

In addition to modeling the sounds of some of the company’s most famed tube amps, many of which cost thousands of dollars, users can use the app to add effects like reverb, tremolo, and many other outboard pedal sounds. You’ll even be able to choose where each pedal occurs in an effects chain to model your own sound. As a bonus, the amps can also serve as Bluetooth speakers, allowing you to play along with your favorite tracks, or simply jam out.

Once a cool tone has been found, you can then save and share your presets with friends via the Fender Tone app. This marks an unprecedented ability to dial in a specific tone, letting you model the sounds of your favorite musicians and recordings. Fender has already partnered with famed musicians to capture their ideal tones and share them with Mustang GT users. In addition, the internet connectivity means that the new Mustang GT line can receive firmware updates, meaning that the line’s modeling will only improve over time. 

“Fender Tone is the second release in Fender Digital’s suite of applications, and the first hardware companion application we have developed,” said Fender’s chief product officer, Ethan Kaplan. “It, alongside Fender Tune, aims to accompany players at every stage of their musical journey. Now, with artist-curated presets from Josh Adam Klinghoffer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gary Clark Jr., and Anthrax’s Scott Ian — channeling your favorite song or band for some added inspiration has never been easier.”

Musicians who play live will also love that the amp can be pre-programmed to execute live presets, allowing you to create major tonal shifts between songs with the simple press of a foot switch or button.

The new Mustang GT line comes in three sizes, including a small 40-watt amp designed for bedrooms, as well as both 100-watt and 200-watt variants for studios and stages. Prices run from $250 to $600, depending on the size, which is pretty affordable considering that the classic amps being modeled often sell for thousands of dollars each. The free Fender Tone app is currently available on the Android and iOS app stores.

More information regarding new line of Mustang GT amps and the Fender Tone app can be found on Fender’s website.

A version of this post first appeared on our “brother site,” Digital Trends.

Parker Hall
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Please reach out to The Manual editorial staff with any questions or comments about Parker’s work.
All of James Cameron’s films, ranked
From Terminator and Titanic to Avatar, these are the best James Cameron movies ever made
James cameron filming Terminator

Few directors understand the popular imagination the way that James Cameron does. He's had commercial instincts since early in his career, and he has now directed three of the five most financially successful films ever made. Given that legacy, it can be easy to mock what Cameron does because it's so overtly populist. He is not always a subtle director, but it's hard to deny that he's an effective one. Unlike some of Martin Scorsese or David Fincher films, James Cameron movies turn into big blockbusters every time, and he always makes them well.
Now, as we look back on his career to date, it's easy to see the throughlines between each of his projects. One thing you might notice: This guy really loves water. Here's every movie Cameron has ever made, ranked.

9. Piranha II: The Spawning (1982)

Read more
Ranked: The 11 best Bill Murray movies ever
He's starred in a lot of films, but if you're a fan, you must see these Murray movies
Bill Murray from Lost in Translation

A name that is and should be widely recognized in comedy, Bill Murray has been around to provide laughs for decades. Bringing his own unique qualities to the screen, Murray has carved for himself a niche based on his personality that simply cannot be copied. Between his masterful physical comedy to his perfectly timed and hysterical line deliveries, Bill is truly a one-of-a-kind talent. From his many roles over the years, the films he stars in are either because a certain director or repeat collaborator has a great bond with him, or simply because he is able to steal the spotlight no matter the assignment. Due to this, he has been given opportunities to play cameos in later films such as Dumb and Dumber To, Get Smart, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and a cameo as himself in Zombieland, which has got to be his best cameo.
All the way from wacky and zany to introspectively deep, Bill Murray portrays a lifetime of emotions in our list of films today. If you watch him closely enough, his performative nuances will make you laugh, cry, and think about what it truly means to be an actor. Murray is loved as a human being worldwide (for the most part), who has reportedly shown his face at random bars and parties just for a kick, becoming the owner of four minor league baseball teams, spontaneously studying philosophy and history in Paris, and starting his own golf apparel line. These and many other reasons are why we are here today to celebrate his accomplishments on screen, so sit back and scroll through the 10 best Bill Murray movies ever.

11. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Read more
The 9 best golf movies of all time – from Caddyshack to The Legend of Bagger Vance
Do you love the game? Then get inspired to get back out there by watching these movies
Happy Gilmore

When it comes to sports movies, some of our favorite films have always been golf adjacent. There's just something about this slow-paced and overwhelmingly frustrating game that we can't get enough of. So now that spring has arrived, it feels like the perfect time to go back and rewatch some of the best golf movies of all time.
Whether you're a seasoned pro or a complete amateur, these great golf films have a little something for everyone. Whether you're looking to experience the drama of the game through a comedy or a biographical spotlight, we've got you covered.

Tommy's Honour (2017)

Read more