Fender Prosonic Amp Review

All tube 60w combo, with 2 x 10 Celestion speakers, switchable bias, designed by the legendary Bruce Zinky. The Prosonic was Fender Custom Shop's attempt at producing a high gain boutique amplifier with features you would expect to find on a MESA / Boogie.
The MESA / Boogie style features found on the Prosonic are:

• switchable channels
• dual cascading gain controls on drive channel
• switchable rectifier / bias
• effects send & return

I first heard one of these about 15 years ago when they first came out. I had never been gotten a decent sound from built-in pre-amp drives, preferring to drive the input on non master volume amps using my old Ibanez Tube Screamer. However, 15 years ago, I can distinctly remember it being one of the best pre-amp drives I had ever heard. I also remember they were pretty expensive new (boutique pricing?) which partly explains why Fender ceased production after 6 years.
I eventually managed to get hold of my Prosonic about 18 months ago.
The Prosonic offers switchable bias / rectifier settings:

1. solid state rectifier, class A/B 60w - Mode 1 sounds like traditional clean Fender tones, especially on the clean channel. Very clean, sparkly and very loud.
2. tube rectifier, class A/B 50w - Mode 2 is slightly softer and darker due to compression of tube rectifier
3. tube rectifier, class A 30w - Mode 3 is true class A mode, and at 30w super warm sound with early natural break up, but still loud, as is a decent Voc AC30. Maybe not exactly an AC30, but doesn't disgrace itself at all, and you could spend a lot more money than this on amp 30w class A amp.

These modes can be switched using the chicken head dial at the back, even whilst switched on. Beware though, 30 class A mode is hard on tubes.
Great, great tone. Before I got hold of this one, online review described the Prosonic as one of the best amps Fender ever made. Clean channel will do classic clean Fender tones, and although I don't normally use much drive for my playing, the Prosonic seems to entice me to play harder and dirtier, and its so much fun - a bit like a fast bike willing you to stretch the throttle cable. The 2 x 10 Celestions give warmth and crunch to the sound - perfect for single coil pickups playing in a small combo. It is a hot amp, and loud, even in 30w mode.