Ben Chooses a Live Rig Under £1000 - Acoustic & Electric!

[@andertons]

Please Note - At the time of filming some items were on sale which kept the rig under the £1000 budget.

[@matthewtyler-jones8317]

Oh yes of course 😉

[@billyboy65leath84]

I wondered with the Ibanez now at £800 alone!

[@BenFentem]

Alvarez Masterworks are great guitars regardless of budget, and that Epi could be a punk rock delight for a dirty chord bashed like me :)

[@I.M.Guitar-Nerd]

You need to check in on Justin's new video on vibrato that came out today. He mentions the 'waving the guitar about' technique. I personally, I love it. Don't stop, Ben, don't stop!

[@EldongDaddyvic]

Definitely need more Ben in these kinda videos. What a great musician, really enjoyable dude to watch in front of a camera as well

[@bensmithguitar]

Thanks for all the love on this one everyone, it was, as always, a lot of fun to make. 🙂

[@RyvenProductions]

Ben is such a fantastic musician.

[@OssianEMills]

Funtastic

[@staffanakerhjelm9780]

A frigging Walmart ukelele would sound awesome in the hands of that dude…

[@SticksAandstonesBozo]

I just got done playing for a couple hours on acoustic and by far was thinking man ….. I’m finally getting to a level I’m happy with. After decades. This guy just made me sad he’s so damn amazing lol.

[@alexforshaw]

Great to see the Coronet getting some love - a much underrated guitar.

[@ropsukka7671]

God damn Ben is an amazing player. I think i might have to go and practice after watching this. Great video as always!

[@iryan9]

Great to see Ben playing electric and featured in different videos. Awesome stuff!

[@AmarylisFlow]

Ben is a great presenter, really treads the line between entertainment and professional. A great addition to the team, hope to see more of him.

[@jejmoss11]

This is such a great feature. I think it’s because any musician could feasibly be in a position where something happens to the gear on tour and have to sort something out quickly and affordably.

[@v-for-vieira]

Boss Katana all the way baby!!!! Just recorded my Album with one and no one would ever guess it was a boss katana...

[@karl-wilhelmschreitz8549]

Please MORE Ben on this channel.

[@thewinenut9800]

@@BkBk-gy6vr No, do more videos.

[@nedludd3641]

Ben is the best. There ought to be a fan club

[@AvACyberSecurity]

That intro just made me smile compared to the usual "hypothetical" discussion. Funny I felt the Ibenez only sounded better DI. But that may be what I'm listening to it through. The Alverez sounded better otherwise all round and looks amazing.

[@paulhayes981]

I own the Alvarez and can confirm it is an amazing guitar.

[@chrisdunn2176]

Ben is very inspiring to watch play. Always enjoy his videos!!!!!!

[@ledhendrix5054]

Wow I forgot how good Ben was , he definitely knows his way around a Fretboard . His Acoustic playing is awesome.

[@richardsandson]

I'm glad the internet is still working, and Ben is getting the credit be deserves from the listeners. The man can really play. Great video chaps.

[@edhead5296]

Could watch/listen to Ben play all day long!

[@BigIronTexas]

holy hell, I was not expecting to hear such amazing playing from Ben on those electrics. wow 😮

[@mockchop32]

It really is an absolute pleasure watching Ben play, outstanding.

[@moostomp]

I hosted an open mic for 10 years at a small coffee shop. I used the boss katana 100 head for about 4 or 5 years of it for the acoustic guitars. It does such a good job for clean headroom on acoustic guitars. I ran it both through a PA and a guitar cab, using a mixing board. It's such a good performer for acoustic guitar.

[@stevendegoodmojosmet4034]

Ben you rock, never saw playing with the hole body before, great sound sir. ..Next Lee Choses a Live rig..

[@gregrandallbtsr03]

I always enjoy Ben's videos. Thanks!

[@backlom]

Wow. Never realized what a great player Ben is. Great choices.

[@sarniaguitarguy9405]

Wow! Some tasty blues riffs from Ben in this one! Great choice going with the Coronet.

[@karl-wilhelmschreitz8549]

Yes Captain, - never rush Ben. Give him more time please (in general). At least he is not talking about the twothousends tube screamer clone for hours.

[@paulhayes981]

Can we hear Ben on the electric videos more please. Such a great player electric or acoustic!

[@karl-wilhelmschreitz8549]

Yeah Ben is back!

[@willshred4money]

Such a great one! Please give Ben more shine! He is just great! I don't mind seeing him in electric guitar videos. He could be the acoustic guy and the funky abstract electric guy?!?

[@ryangarrettofficial]

Acoustic amps basically serve as tiny PA systems at this point, often having an XLR input for a mic. Up until the Katana series came out, acoustic settings on electric amps was pretty rare. So if Boss really wanted to take control of the acoustic amp market they could probably just add those features and maybe a tweeter or two and it would be the perfect all-in-one rig. It already sounds great though. I'm glad more amps are experimenting with acoustic modeling as well.

[@bobwallace9814]

Good video! This guy is just the right combination of personality and demeanor. One of those guys that everyone seems to like. Kind of a Steve Vai vibe. Big plus, we don't get to see many acoustic players so he fit this bill.

[@chrisggoodwin777]

I bought a Katana for a bedroom amp when I started playing guitar again, but it has become my main acoustic amp. I've gigged a couple of times with it, and it sounds rich and reproduces my Taylor 322 well. The reverb sounds nice, too

[@ameliaochoa394]

Ben on an acoustic is so fun to watch. He’s never played a sick line and not smiled.

[@marksargeant1019]

Big thumbs up for Bens choice of an Epiphone Coronet. That P90 pickup is full fat sonic creaminess

[@mikerockbelly6422]

A vote for the Katana 50 - I played a corporate gig where my main set-up developed some issues so I used my Katana 50 'emergency amp' and played to a large dance floor, keeping up with a loud drummer with a great crunchy tone from the clean channel.

[@brianrosemusician]

The Tele sounded better for my taste, but not a terrible choice either way. I love this series. To see a guitarist's thought process is extremely insightful.

[@jameslewis2635]

Maybe it's because I'm not generally into acoustic music styles but to me the Ibanez sounded better than the Alvarez. The Katana 50 seems like an awesome choice for a case like this and it's always good to see someone using a guitar that is a little bit different.

[@anomalousresult]

Totally agree, the alvarez sounded muffled and dark, must check the eq on my source!

[@notarealperson87]

19:44 - when i was 12 and taking lessons, my guitar teach showed me the neck bend. he warned me of what could happen, but kept saying "but it's YOUR guitar..." needless to say this was my go to trick until i graduated high school.

[@noRest4Gary]

I'm trumpet player who took up guitar later on. Bending it in tune is just what I'm used to. Just make it work :)

[@tonyrichardson2785]

I came to Andertons a few years back to buy an acoustic guitar. I also wanted an amp which could work with both the acoustic and my Epiphone Sheraton. The person who served me actually recommended this very same amp. At the time I didn't go with the Katana 50 but now I'm wishing I had!

[@mclarensmps]

More videos with Ben chatting with people! Great guitarist and presenter

[@geoffdillon6013]

Best thing about the Katana DI…. is it sounds exactly like the amp. Some amps have speaker emulation that just is not right. The Katana….exactly the same. They have it nailed. Because it is a solid state amp with digital effects, it just works. I have the 100 head mkII . Diversity is awesome but I do prefer my Marshall origin 50 for my sound when it come to rock. Acoustic setting through my Maton EM720c 1999 model…. Well that’s another story. When recording acoustic, I do all of it through the Katana 100. It literally just amplifies the sound of my guitar. Obviously has something to do with the piezo and microphone blend that I use but…. Perfect sound! It literally sounds like the guitar acoustically. Love the amp. Does not get much better.

[@MadMarchTaffy]

Ben - where have you been? More videos please!

[@Mark_Ocain]

I wanna see Ben doing more electric reviews LOL...he has great chops and he knows his way around an electric with the best of 'em.

[@bigteno4597]

What a beautiful player this fella is!! Love it 💘

[@jamesmoffatt6435]

That Coronet sounds like a "Louisiana Swamp Grass" box.. The Katana? One word, "versatility", and at a very reasonable price tag.

[@dannydoo123]

Love the sound of the Alvarez

[@anthonylong6403]

Would be very interesting to hear, please, what gear, inc guitars, Ben uses for a typical gig where he plays both acoustic and electric sets??

[@johndelong9230]

I prefer the sound of the Tele over the Coronet. Looks like the price comes in at about $1300 for all the gear, thought target was $1000. Great choices on all,

[@andybradshaw5971]

I agree, I thought the Coronet was awful. They should have tried the Tele again after they turned the gain down.

[@markillingworth1669]

believe its £ not $

[@MrStevehunter33]

Would like to see videos with Ben and Pete together more frequently

[@rrparker12]

That Coronet reminds me a bit of my '63 Olympic. Very cool.

[@TbonePlummer]

Love @bensmith he was so amazing at The Glasgow Guitar Show!!! Utter gentleman!!! Enjoyed this! The Coronet is a belter of an axe

[@soulassasin10]

More from Ben pls mr. Anderton 🤘🤩❤️❤️❤️

[@tylerrose2891]

We need more Ben. Acoustic, electric, matters not.

[@richardfoskett8903]

I just love Bens playing…

[@judosailor610]

Part of the reason I bought a katana for my electric guitar amp is because I also play a lot of acoustic and loved that it could do both.

[@sundaynightdrunk]

Is everyone in the UK just an amazing guitar player? Fantastic playing.

[@MarcCoteMusic]

I'm a big acoustic kind of guy, but I'll admit that in this case the Parlour guitar was the clear winner. For the electric, I'd probably take the Tele, but that Coronet looked like fun to play.

[@lovelandguitarman]

I have an Alvarez MD610EBG and an American made Taylor DN3. I play the Alvarez much more often.

[@likeakite]

Ben is one incredible guitarist

[@41DegreesSouth]

Damn - Ginger Pete can play!

[@bensmithguitar]

😂

[@patchevansbrokencountry2583]

The Ibanez has no tone controls so they probably needed to do something with the amp. I have the PE300 and the pup system works great, it does have an extra pup though.

[@bukwok]

that Alverez looks great sound great ,and looks very fancy , really looks like a expensive guitar.

[@Bettys_Eldest]

With the Alvarez at £699 and the Epi at £379, that makes the amp roughly minus £80. If I just want the amp will you give me £80 to take it away?

[@BenMeecham]

Great video, lads! It's such a shame that I dislike the way the Coronet looks so much, because otherwise I think I'd have bought one already 😥😅

[@totgate]

I really love your playing. So good.. 🙂

[@davidf2281]

Pickup in the Alvarez makes it sound like it's nylon-strung. Edit: I like Ben's heavy neck-bending vibrato / modulation.

[@brooksroman2918]

Ben’s vibrato thing with moving the neck back and forth actually sounds a lot like warbling on an old recording

[@MrUSFT]

Ben sounds better than ever on those fancy new chairs!

[@doctoribanez]

I dig that little acoustic. Price must have went up though. I guess all prices kinda suck now though

[@williamharrod6686]

Catalyst is definitely better than the katana in my opinion. I always hope to see it on these videos more.

[@graemero5532]

Ben is an awesome player.

[@slawsonscot]

Pity the Acoustasonic Player and Katana didn’t come in under £1000 combined! I use both weekly with electric strings and it’s a joy :)

[@I.M.Guitar-Nerd]

Alvarez builds some fantastic guitars. I think that a lot of people fall victim to thinking that Chinese-made factory acoustics are trash, they most certainly are not! They need to represent the Yairi name and they do that very, very well IMO. Not only that, I bought one and I'm never wrong. 😉

[@billallen1594]

Me too 👍🏻

[@zykify]

I've tried some of the IR plugins for acoustics, they are quite interesting. I guess the "acoustic" setting might, or should/will be something like that. We know how efficient they are for an electric, but many might not know that you can make your Taylor sound like a Martin, or vice versa :)

[@trevorreniger5670]

I couldn't do it at Andertons. No Breedloves. 😭 In the States, I'd go Breedlove Organic Series (about $500), Sire S3 HSS ($400) Katana 50 ($270) for a total of $1170 out of $1203.99 USD (1000 pounds)

[@Vykk_Draygo]

I played a really nice Washburn on Saturday that was sitting at around $350. Didn't plug it in though. It's crazy how good affordable instruments are now.

[@melvoid01]

Would be nice to see someone use a Katana with a decent Electro-Acoustic but actually use the effects section of the Katana fully to see what you could do. I know its never going to be better than a "real" acoustic amp but for bedroom/home recording it has possibilities that have been hitherto seemingly glossed over or ignored by the guitar reviewing crowd. Also any tips or settings advice from someone who seems to know what they are about would be nice. Maybe there are a lot of katana reviews from acoustic players that I have missed, would love to be enlightened.

[@Mark_Ocain]

That Epi has that classic unstable tuning that gives up a "Down-in-the-Swamp-by-the-Bayou" kind of sound LOL..."Blind Melon Ben" LOL

[@danielcastrodelamata8873]

Ben’s playing style suits a Telecaster so well. Give him an expensive rig now to see how it sounds hahaha

[@a456987]

I know it breaks the budget but I would get an Acoustasonic 40 amplifier and a Player Series Acoustasonic Telecaster which together would be approximately £1200

[@matthewtyler-jones8317]

Ooooh excited to see that Coronet. But I fear it’s not a cheap as mine was when I bought it.

[@matthewtyler-jones8317]

Yeah, I notice very much how they didn't talk price. Those two guitars and a 50w (not ex) katana are WAAAY over budget

[@bobgamble8204]

I thought the epi and the ibanez really didn't sound good at all - both brands which I own, so that was surprising!

[@segazora]

I feel like the Coronet could have really benefited from a nice new, slightly heavier set of strings, the low E was way too flubby sounding, no high end at all.

[@jpob5]

Ben plays the type of music that all our guitar gods based their sounds off

[@13coyote13]

I've seen two necks snap from bending the neck, one was live on KZbin when a guy was trying out another guys guitar, suffice it to say the video ended very shortly afterward LOL.

[@imogendodwell765]

Give Ben more air time. Amazing player.

[@garysmith2983]

I’m pretty sure you can’t use the 50 as a monitor and the line out. I used to have an AER compact 60, an amazing hi fi level acoustic amp and the Katana works really well in the acoustic mode, so don’t discount it as a gimmick 😊

[@bigtguitars7312]

We don’t see enough of Ben

[@BillieSwift]

Ven you're the best.

[@NukePooch1]

I preferred the Tele, and highly preferred the Ibanez...especially for a live gig. The Alverez sounded almost muffled....

[@jensbomholt4529]

Fun is king! Ben rules!

[@patrickd1805]

that alvarez is sweet

[@egg43002]

Ben is so good

[@TheBreadman24]

More Ben on reviews please

[@michaelmiles6398]

I'd like to see Ben and Eric Clapton get together and jam on some acoustic blues. I'd say that would be great.

[@brymills]

Goddamit! Why wasn’t the gig in Anderton’s TV studio immediately after the shoot ? These rigs for a grand should end with a performance.

[@akwamarsunzal]

WAAAAYYYYYYYYYY over a grand! Just the Alvarez is 700 quid!!! 380 for the Epi and 235 for the Katana.... I think Ben got a cracking deal if he got that lot for a grand! LOL

[@PaulCooksStuff]

Description section explains it was on sale at the time of the vid shoot

[@spacepodi]

It’s like the Muppets go to Anderson’s. All we need is Animal on the drums. Great tones on both electrics it must be said.

[@BigJasquach]

Just a shame that Andertons don’t stock Fret King eh!

[@bkmeahan]

I agree with you actually....and I'm surprised. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@daddio307]

But the Ibanez is 800. How do you stay under 1000?

[@MattSwain1]

Easy - you buy them when they’re on sale as it says in the description