Best & Worst Guitar Gear of 2024 | The Great, Good, Bland, and Disappointing!

[@intheblues]

Hi everyone! Thanks for joining in on the live premiere for my 8th annual Best and Worst Guitar Gear of 2024. I forgot to add in one item in editing which was the Nova Go-Sonic electric. It was a unique and interesting guitar which was supposed to be in the final video! The video chapters, links, and videos referenced are in the description. Thanks again for all of the support, you rock!

[@gurianboy]

Loved this!;Good job!!

[@gurianboy]

Hi

[@jottieman]

Wayyyyyyy overpriced

[@Hubblereach0]

This is the ultimate purist review haha I wouldn't doubt you were paid for this. Unless you cant get some products because you're in Australia then this list is useless, might aswell Google best guitars and amps. Huge bummer of a list, these products are the equivalent of listening to the radio. Mainstream crap, for purists and people who care about branding. None of this stuff is anywhere near the best gear of 2024. Unsubscibing, thanks

[@youngandrew66]

Beats me why Shane doesnt have a few million subscribers rather than 200k . Hes the straightest and most likeable guitar blokes around. Plus he isnt constantly trying to impress us with uber tasteful licks etc. He gigs with a working band by the looks of it which makes him genuinely relatable

[@nhynek]

It's because he's left handed.

[@intheblues]

Thanks so much, mate!

[@tonepilot]

Being left handed turns a lot of viewers to other channels. That and the channel title. A lot of younger viewers aren’t into the blues so much and they probably think this channel is dedicated to that genre.

[@nickburmanmusic]

Nice guys finish last :) I 'm with you. Shane should be up there with the biggest KZbinrs. Still, he has a niche audience and 200k is still a lot of people.

[@joshball8674]

@@tonepilothow does him being left handed have any impact whatsoever? If anything, looking at his guitar is a more accurate ‘mirror’ reflection for most of us.

[@hutchfromba]

I own a Zach Myers SE, right handed. I absolutely love it. Best Semi-hollowbody I have ever played. Great instrument. Blues On...💙

[@TheSavagederek]

The best of these types of videos on KZbin. Great channel and looking forward to what 2025 brings . Have a great Christmas .

[@ronpatterson6420]

Thanks Shane, I always look forward to your best and worst videos. I appreciate your talent and effort in your videos. Have a happy Christmas!

[@Tcflohr]

I appreciate the perspective from a regular gigging guitarist. Amps and effects in the context of a live band is so different than playing at home. Also depending on your style and how your brain works, simpler is better. Playing in a punk band, a two channel amp and a tuner is all I really needed and I loved it

[@PeeSocks14]

why so many channels?

[@Rico__B]

Wow! That’s an awesome collection of gear. Great reviews, and I really appreciate including the ones you felt missed the mark. Thanks for your time and advice.

[@juanjan__]

Congrats with the 8th! Looking forward to the 2025 changes. Have a great end of the year and start of the new one!

[@Fret-knot]

Another year of quality reviews & demos! - Cheers dude.

[@Cryanoutloud]

Always love your videos, great job as always! Funny coincidence about the Classic 50 Ive been using one that was at the rehearsal space and it sounds ace! Good call. Im also a fan of the Reverend stuff, I played one the other day that I almost bought it sounded fantastic

[@gerryloughran1676]

Quote of the year ''once you got 3 sounds your done '' .....should be quote of century...great stuff ...thanks

[@michaelvarney.]

Here… to help you save 50 min or so to practice your guitar. 00:00 - Best & Worst: Introduction to the Best and Worst Gear of 2024 00:19 - About this End of Year Wrap-Up: Video overview, personal notes, and Patreon thanks 01:13 - Guitar Amps: Peavey Classic 50 - Affordable USA-made 4x10 amp with a great clean channel and usable drive channel, heavy but versatile 02:48 - NUX Mighty 60 Mark I - Lightweight digital modeling amp with a 12” speaker, Bluetooth controls, and great pedal compatibility 05:18 - Fender 57 Custom Deluxe - A Tweed classic with rich tone, minimal controls, and sustain without reverb 07:36 - Blackstar Club 40 Mark III - A versatile 40W tube amp with power attenuation (down to 4W) and UK-to-US voicing options 09:43 - Peavey Bandit 112 (Red Stripe) - Affordable solid-state amp with versatile voicings, ideal for pedal-free live use 11:49 - Mesa Boogie California Tweed - A Princeton-inspired clean amp with gorgeous reverb and power attenuation down to 1W 13:40 - Fender 64 Custom Princeton Reverb - Handwired Princeton with a 10” Jensen speaker and exceptional tremolo/reverb combination 15:04 - Kemper Profiling Amplifier - Game-changing workflow tool for capturing and replicating custom amp tones for recording/live 17:00 - Electric Guitars: Reverend Six Gun - A Strat-style guitar with P90 pickups in neck/middle and humbucker in bridge, featuring a Bass Contour control 18:56 - Epiphone Explorer (Inspired by Gibson) - Lightweight, Korina-bodied guitar with Burstbucker pickups and a chunky neck 20:21 - Ibanez AZS40 - A Strat-style guitar with a satin neck, HSS pickup configuration, and exceptional playability for the price 21:43 - PRS SE Silver Sky - John Mayer’s take on the Stratocaster with balanced pickups and premium playability 24:21 - PRS SE Zach Myers - A high-quality semi-hollow guitar with F-hole design and exceptional tone/feel for the price 26:05 - Vola OZ RV TNC - Japanese-made Super Strat with a unique pickup configuration, roasted maple neck, and stainless steel frets 27:59 - Artist Guitars 1853 - Lightweight, relic’d T-style guitar with great playability and value 29:08 - Best Accessories: Vox AmPlug 3 - Portable headphone amps with authentic tones for practice and recording 31:12 - EMG Pickups - Active pickups offering buzz-free, high-gain tones ideal for blues and rock styles 32:53 - Eminence Texas Heat Speaker - A speaker upgrade for solid-state amps, reducing top-end harshness and adding midrange punch 35:06 - The Worst of 2024: Introduction to the worst products 37:38 - Artist Falcon (Surf Green) - A poorly designed offset guitar with tuning stability and uninspiring pickups 39:22 - Fender Jag-Stang - Awkward controls, poor tremolo, and uninspiring neck pickup, best suited for niche styles 42:33 - Most Bland Overhyped Releases: General industry criticism for minimal updates, including the Boss Katana Mark III 45:03 - Most Bland 02 - Same as above, focusing on incremental updates in mainstream guitars 46:37 - Effects Pedals: Crazy Tube Circuits White Whale - Real spring reverb and tremolo pedal with rich tones and versatile options 47:35 - Tubee of Magnesium - A unique amp-in-a-box pedal offering ZZ Top-style tones 48:19 - Boss IR-2 Amp & Cab - A compact amp replacement pedal with decent tones but fiddly usability 49:33 - Boss OD-3 Overdrive - Full-range overdrive with amp-like qualities, ideal for stacking 50:34 - Hagerman DIY Klon Kit - A reimagined Klon circuit with real tubes and DIY assembly fun 51:52 - Hangman Effects Lord J - Versatile dual pedal with overdrive, fuzz, and boost options 52:58 - Best Guitar Shops of 2024: Spotlight on The Rock Inn (Perth) and Southside Guitars (Brisbane) for their unique collections and excellent service 55:44 - Final Thoughts & Shoutouts: End-of-year reflections and channel updates

[@jray5363]

Aw Maaaaan! 😢 Here I was leisurely watching the video, with a JagStang in my lap…….😢 I actually love it! So much so, that I thought about getting the blue one in addition to the fiesta red I already have! It just feels good in my hands, and I really like the pickups! I’m not a performer, and have no desire to be, but I can see how its quirky setup would take some getting used to. But, don’t hate it cause it’s beautiful man! 😂 It really grows on you after a while! I‘ve got 22(?) guitars, and that Jagstang is in the top five! Still waiting on Fender to make a left handed Mustang! Until then, I’m keeping the JagStang!

[@markferguson3745]

The Jaguar is one of Leo's most advanced designs, and since they started releasing the humbucker model as well, - I prefer the single coils, - it makes the Jagstang pretty much obsolete.Fender in Gibson scale length is a solid alternative.

[@scottreynolds6317]

Absolutely awesome vid Shane! I really look forward to this every year and this one was fantastic! Thanks mate!🔥🎸🔥🎸🔥🎸🔥

[@intheblues]

Thanks for the support Scott! Many thanks

[@stephenbedford1395]

Gidday Shane, I bought a Peavey Classic 50 and used it live for years. I loved it, but in the end, the weight defeated me and I parted with it. I hope Peavey do a Fender and make a solid-state version of it.

[@Texasplains]

Great video. I like how you include the Peavey as one of the best amps of the year. There's a lot of used gear that has great tones.🎸🎶

[@simonhall2682]

Wow, this has come around quick! Great as always!

[@andrewbaker3418]

Hoy i put a texas heat in my peavey bandit 2 days ago wow !!! Wtf sooo much transparency in sound played through marshall boogie and fender is its own beast 1:35

[@NZ1one1]

Nice wrap up Shane, Merry Christmas to you from NZ and looking forward to seeing the new video format next year.

[@TerryLevitt]

This is excellent. Really enjoyed it; Tx!

[@bobs_ya_runkle]

Awesome video Shane. Thankyou. Take care mate.

[@peterpenklis]

Hi Shane, great reviews. Peavey Bandits are the boss. I enjoy my Princeton Chorus. The Vola guitar looks versatile with the pups. I enjoy my Rickenbacker 360 Blue Boy. Love your show.

[@eddieholmes3236]

Always a highlight!

[@begooode380]

Thanks!

[@intheblues]

Thanks for the support mate! Have a great rest of 2024! 😀

[@nickburmanmusic]

I had a Peavey Classic 50 for years, and it was amazing. Had to sell it when I moved, but I could have had that for life.

[@rjb7260]

WELL DONE! love your channel Shane!

[@brianwilcox2543]

The Boss OD-3 video was probably the funniest vid I've seen in the last 10 years. Please do more just like it!

[@kevinmusso2397]

I always enjoy this from you. Thanks Shane

[@DMSProduktions]

GOOD round up Shane! Keep COOL tomorrow! Gonna be a WARM 1! \m/ 🌞

[@therockinnau]

Hey Shane, thanks so much for the shout-out! We purposefully try to nurture that "vibe" that you mention, so it means a lot that that's what stuck in your mind after your visit. We'll see you next time 🤟

[@TheGuitologist]

Nice recap, Shane. Hope to meet up and go guitar shopping one day.

[@intheblues]

Thanks Brad! If I make it over your way mid 2025, I'll let you know. I hope you're well mate, your playing on the video the other day was unreal. Well done.

[@alexo1998]

love your shirt, Shane. Watching this from my house in Delray! Keep up the great work in 2025!

[@LewWelchThePoet]

🤘👍🏿 Shane’s demo was one of those that convinced me to buy the White Whale. Such a great pedal.

[@dannops]

Look forward to this every year. Thanks Shane!!

[@ronbence2870]

Happy Holidays!! Love your playing, posts and your personality. I bought a Hoodie! Looking forward to seeing your acoustic guitar videos in 2025! 🎉

[@marctremblay5837]

Always my favorite video from you. Great job as usual. I've watched all 8. 🤟

[@intheblues]

Thanks for the long term support Marc! You rock mate.

[@aidantod33]

Shane, great video. Keep up the good work! Agree with you about the bland offerings from the major players. Like your choice of best guitars. Must play a Viola….Thanks and have a great Christmas!

[@zd351]

I always enjoy the year end wrap up. I watched it earlier tonight. Sorry I missed the premiere, but you will be glad to hear it was because I was with friends singing and playing acoustic guitars in the backyard after a BBQ.

[@goofyjohn6191]

Ladies & gentlemen. All we need is fingers, desire, drove and a love for music. Music brings joy, joy is satisfying. Relax , love the privilege God allows.

[@justice100forwin2]

Great video , I'd love to get my hands on some of these!

[@michaelevans3852]

Shane, this is always a great show for the end of the year. I think it's funny how you continually list Peavey stuff as top of the line. I'm right there with you. That Classic 50 is an awesome amp, and the Bandit is too. I also love my Bravo and Classic 50/50. I could go on as I have many Peavey products. Thanks for giving some focus on other manufacturers of guitars. This gives us some insight to broaden our collections. I'm not a big pedal guy, but I'm happy to see Boss get a nod as it seems that many in the States are starting to snub them. I think you've got me ready to pull the trigger on a Texas Heat for my Bandit and maybe my Bravo as well. I'm wondering if it would be a good fit for my YCV40 too. Thanks for an entertaining, informative hour of fun.

[@stevebon9688]

Hi Shane. great video. As for the KATANA Gen 3, I have the -100 and also part ex my Mk 2 100 for this amp. They have truly up there game on the voicing and hardware. As to the regards of your comment on the Bluetooth device add on that you have to buy, they made this due to different spec laws in different counties. But very happy with my purchase. I don't have any tube amps myself but also own the Line 6 Catalyst and the Fender micro plus which is amazing!

[@TonehengeProductions]

Glad to see the OD-3 getting some appreciation, it is a really good pedal all around like you said!

[@FastKatXXX]

Hey Aussie Bro! Been watching your vids for years. Love it. On your Texas Heat speaker, here's what I did and it worked out geat. I wanted a bit more mids and lows but wanted to keep the speaker in my Marshall DSL 40. So I bought an external cabinet and put a Texas Heat in it. The sound of the two speakers together is awesome! So I pulled the plug and did the same thing with my Vox AC15 and put a Swamp Thang with its deep lows in the external cabinet. Result: Awesomeness! Take care, bro. Love your work.

[@intheblues]

Thanks man! Well done on the speaker, its a great match for the amp hey! Glad you're digging it! Thanks again and take care :)

[@thomasheaney4235]

Kudos for calling out the incremental upgrades coming from the likes of Fender & Gibson. I’ll take risk-taking / innovation any day. Highlighting Reverend for their innovations does the playing community a great service. Thanks for doing this!

[@between2guitars331]

I gotta thank Shane for one of MY two favorite pieces of gear for this year! The Fender 68 Pro Reverb, which I just purchased at Casino Guitars (Southern Pines NC)on Saturday! Your video on the amp helped me make my decision! The amp was paired with a brand new 2021 Gibson 1957 LPC 3 pickup with Murphy Lab light aging and a Bigsby that I found at Wildwood in Louisville CO! There’s more I’d like to say, but I can’t type and play at the same time, so cheers!

[@intheblues]

Awesome stuff man, congrats on the new gear!

[@sidoughty428]

Watched a few of these reviews over the years and really enjoyed them, feature packed. My fave purchases this year, Fender Vintage 2 61, Epiphone Hendrix flying v and Admira virtuoso.

[@robertmitchell2178]

Thanks for a great annual reviews!

[@bbalestier]

1st Off I really dig your channel... Loved your take on the Katana right on point... Keep up the GREAT WORK Thank you!

[@paulsmith6381]

Thanks, really enjoyed the reviews!

[@MikeWh]

Much appreciated, thanks!

[@PetefromSouthOz]

Hi Shane, thanks again, I always look forward to these at the end of the year. Interesting mix of stuff this year, looks like the White Whale is something I will get in 25. As far as my own 2024 it was more about consolidating my Guitar playing and learning how to record it. (I got all my Guitar/Effects sorted in 2023). I use Reaper as my DAW and it is coming together. A couple of other things happened. The big one was I played Solo Live for the first time. It was part of a Gig for new Players (or those that have not played for a long time). There were 12 of us altogether with each doing three songs. While I've played Bass in Bands way back, 1978/1981, this was a whole different thing. (nerves got the better of me, I eventually got through all three songs and I will do it again in 25). The other one, was that I started writing my own songs again. This was also the first time I have done it Solo and as a Guitar player. Onward and Upward Pete

[@paulwhiteside1805]

Very enjoyable reviews. Thanks for pointing out the bangers and the clunkers amongst the new gear! I agree with you about the whole re-branding and incremental improvements game the big companies play every time a revised guitar, pedal or amp is released. Don't believe the hype.🤔☹ Thanks, Shane. Wishing you a great christmas and all the best for the New Year 🤩🎸😎

[@SimonHosford]

Great video Shane! Thanks for that :) Definitely some things in there I'll want to give a closer look. All the best, Hos 🙏

[@chessrootslove9916]

Thanks, Shane nice review!

[@SuddenSoundStudios]

This was great! Like sitting down with a drink and talking to a friend who really knows his stuff. I've been eying that Zach Meyers PRS for a while. - might be time to break down and snag one.

[@intheblues]

Thanks for the kind words. You'll love the guitar mate, it's one of the best out of box experiences I've had with any guitar. It left mine for dead, and I don't like admitting that. haha

[@rebeccagarner2576]

Get one. You’ll love it!

[@michaelfessenden8601]

Texas heat, i have to get one and try it. You've shown how much you love it in your bandit over time..i want to try it.

[@darioportolan103]

Thanks Shane always great Best wishes 🎸

[@Ian-jt2yz]

Shane I just purchased a trolly Dolly from Swamp in Canberra for my Fender 68 Custom reverb - "heavy amp". It is described as - Guitar Amplifier / Speaker Cabinet Trolley Dolly. It adjusts and is for Amps/Cabs up to 75cm wide and 35cm Depth. I have not seen a single review for this anywhere. People with heavy amps may be interested to know that this exists. I am not affiliated with Swamp in any way and there are other suppliers. The cost was $139.00. This was a non intrusive way to get the Amp on wheels. Love the channel best wishes for 2025.

[@adamherring6693]

A great review. I couldn’t wait to see what you said about the Boss k gen3, fair comment, I do prefer a boss katana to gig with, it’s taken some tweaking, but I have no really found my ultimate gigging rig paired with with the GAFC it’s awesome, I leave my precious valve amps at home, do the gig and come home happy.

[@johnkunesh5991]

Great show! I bought that same Reverend this year. Saw it used at a big Guitar chain in excellent condition for $750 and couldn’t resist with the roasted maple neck, locking tuners, etc. I had never heard of Reverend but bought it anyway because it played and sounded like a much more expensive guitar. I didn’t even realize what the bass attenuator was until I got it home, but super useful with the neck P90 in particular. Being that I already bought a silver sky SE in a Black Friday sale last year, your show made my purchases feel validated 😊 I’m also really puzzled why Reverend hasn’t caught on like it should’ve. Cheere

[@shadowminister4090]

Always love the "best of" videos 😊

[@steven-v2x]

Fender Telecaster Player 2 -- they're not all chambered but this one is. Super light, plays great.

[@td7426]

You have the best year-end gear review Shane. Rock on !

[@nickm.9474]

About the OD-3. That’s a pedal I honestly didn’t know about. Found one in a box at the bands warehouse I work for and now I keep seeing it pop up. And yes! It’s freaking awesome!!

[@ColletteOldroad]

Nice work. My personal pick as guitar purchase of the year was a NUX mighty plug - absolute hoot of a thing and it works as a computer interface too.😊

[@jamesyoung7095]

Just want to thank you, as a result of your promotion for the Peavey Bandit 112 I bought one in the last few days and it is so versatile and is replacing my Blues Junior / Hotrod IV and Pro Junior IV at a fraction of the cost of anyone of these amps. Thanks again, genuinely very happy with the amp

[@thehappysack2362]

Great content as always. 🎉🎉🎉

[@danieljdtaylor]

I completely agree regarding big brands releasing the same stuff consistently. I know there are always minor upgrades (in some cases, just a new colour) but the crazy marketing they go through to hype up a product that has very little that’s actually new or innovative is extremely boring. Fender and Boss are so guilty of this recently, Boss in particular seem to be charging crazy prices for some of their new products now and some of them are just subpar like the New Katana Artist mini which sounds like a novelty mini amp from 2003…

[@intheblues]

Well said. Yeah, I've basically tuned out to a lot of the legacy brands (minus amps). Wait for the Player III release next year, it'll be in a new colour. 😂

[@onechosen2]

Shane! 👑 KING of the Year End Review!!!

[@JuddLofthouse]

I bought 2 artist guitars on your recommendation Shane and am blown away the strat and the tele are better than my fenders and am not just saying that 10/10 cheers my friend great video 👌👌👍👍

[@intheblues]

I am glad you're digging the guitars! Thanks mate!

[@Gavatron5000]

Holy crap, that’s interesting about your Artist Falcon experience, their yt video impresses! I was considering getting one for fun but maybe not now… either you had a lemon or I thank you for saving me the trouble 😅

[@intheblues]

It could have just used a setup but I still had problems getting the pickups to sound right. I think it must have been a bad one by the looks of it as a few people are commenting. Cheers!

[@halvach1998]

The Squier Sonic Mustangs are a good alternative

[@LollygaggerFX]

Love these

[@MikeWh]

14:45 'enamoured' glad to see that word in a guitar channel.

[@danbuck2110]

I'd give Artist a try but the UK lefty selection is extremely limited, guessing its not logistically feasible to offer too much, but then I guess the same could be said about HB availability in Aus. Anyhow, keep up the good work mate, enjoy watching your vids.

[@MaxmotoUSA]

Shane, great stuff! Love your info. Hey, something you should check out, when you get a minute. RTO Guitar & Tremolo. Ray Olsen, has made the first truly relative tune stable tremolo. Bang on it as much as you like and the guitar stays in perfect tune. Builds customs and retro-fits almost any brand with his patented trem'. Even offers a 12 string with his trem,' pretty unique with a singular sound. He's on F/B under RTO Guitar & Tremolo.

[@OneManMutiny]

I think G&L was the company that came up with that bass contour, Leo Fender came up with the PBT system, one of the coolest things about G&L, really opens up the tonal possibilities of an instrument having a HPF and LPF!

[@KPGuitarStudios]

Yes sir, Reverend and Vola are killer! The Railhammer pickups which are part and parcel with the Reverend, hot damn, fantastic! Also the Vola... dude, up until I played a Vola I didn't know I could play that fast! You've got to get out to NAMM so you can try the Vola, RUF, Heathen, Reverend and so on, so many amazing instruments. Also the Laney Ironheart BCC, man.... what a great metal amp! I'm sure it does other stuff too but totally worth the trip. If not 2025, definitely 2026. I can get you hooked up if you need a pass although your channel should be your ticket. Cheers Shane!

[@intheblues]

I hope you can make the live premiere! Click the notify me button on screen. See you then! 🙂

[@rhyannon3155]

Yeassss

[@shanewalton8888]

Definitely don't want to miss this. YT notifications, don't fail me now.

[@George-dx9nc]

Great show you got

[@johnwillard6198]

I just tuned in to see that Marshall DSL 40❤ I sure love mine gotta gig this New Year’s Eve

[@TheSavagederek]

I bought one after lots of Shane's reviews . I love mine too and was thinking of getting the 20 version .

[@johnwillard6198]

@ strangely so have I . That 40 is quite heavy

[@TheSavagederek]

@@johnwillard6198 that's it's biggest issue the weight .

[@TheSavagederek]

That Hangman pedal looks awesome and super versatile , that and the White Whale Reverb look like winners .

[@bradconklin2878]

Good show!

[@akwamarsunzal]

Yeah!!!! Best video of the year!!! Not missed a year Shane! Do I win a prize 🤣🤣🤣

[@alexEMP1]

I just got my six gun this year too and it’s been my favorite purchase. I always find myself going to that guitar over some of my other more “premium” guitars

[@CorbCorbin]

45:02 I totally agree. It makes me wonder how many hundreds of thousands of guitars that are souring in warehouses and storage, all over the world. They release the same new guitars, every year, and I’ve seen the same ones in shops for 25 years, or more. I know they don’t sell. Where do all these guitars go? I found my main guitar, which is a 98’ American Standard, all stock. I found it in the back of a local shop. He likely had it for a decade. It looked brand new, except it had been setup onetime in the past. The moment I held it, I knew it was special. I found it, when helping a friend find a guitar. He bought it and several other things. The shop owner knew us, and he’d do things cheaper for cash. So, he got it for $700, back in 2010. He sold it to me the next year, before I moved away to a different city, a year later. I’ve worn the frets down to the point I need to refret it. I asked bigger shops, and many send back hundreds of guitars every year. Fender likely has a huge warehouse of guitars going back to the 80’s that never got played.

[@alainbrisebois8334]

I'm glad to see that you and I have the same taste for gears. Your selections... Amps : Peavey Bandit 112 Silver Stripe and the Boss Katana Artist the first one. Guitar : I have a Strat style Ibanez from the late 70's But what I sugest to you, is to start making your own guitar, with the spect that you like. Less expensive and way more fun. Make it your own recipe. For example...I put together a Epiphone Les Paul body with HAMER neck and Maxon super 70's at the bridge, and added a Bigsby . It is MY.... thing.

[@colhutchins]

Looking forward to Artist guitars explorer review for a comparison to the epiphone one?

[@mjb1308]

Cool. Put a 10" Greenback in my DSLR5C. An Affordable upgrade, it was $130 Aussie at the time and Wow!

[@intheblues]

Nice! That's a great match for that amp. Well done!

[@algorithm007ify]

I love the Kemper player...boots up so much quicker...WIFI + bluetooth... + upgradable to have all features (minus captures), effects and blocks. The IPAD/iPhone and android apps rock. It's a must to use the app with this device. Lastly, the only archives of profiles are amazing.

[@JimmyRinehartMusic]

Shane I ordered the Boss Katana3rd gen 100 I even got the BT receiver. Though it sounded great I ultimately decided to send it back. The upgrades weren’t enough when I already had a mkII 50. Also the fact you can get MKII 100 used for $250US. I decided I would just wait a few years for a used 3rd gen to come around.

[@compucorder64]

I don't mind the bland incremental updates, because, you get blowout sales on the previous, perfectly good range. I got really good deals on my Fender Vintera (I), when Vintera II came out.

[@intheblues]

Great point! 😎👍

[@nicolasmaurin182]

Loved it. 🎉

[@JPMonstie]

Another excellent video Shane! Two amps that I’d rate very highly, include the BJ Amps Extreme Reverb (3 channels) and the Laney L5 Head (2 channels). The BJ’s Extreme is made in Brisbane and is quite simply the best amp I’ve ever hear bar none, and built to last forever. It was also designed feature wise to be ideal for gigging all by itself. First time I played one, I sat there playing single notes repeatedly and drooling…tone is so good. That or the BJ’s Cream Reverb (I have) is what I’d suggest over those hand wired ones yo mentioned simply because of the tones, features, QC to price ratio is far superior, even though they seem like my kinds of amps. Laney is a great sounding 2 channel amp that could and does sound great without the need of pedals, but for live, you’d probably go for the 20W version. My pedals of the year include the White Whale v2, Joe Doc Vindicator (fuzz + treble boost in one), Boss SDE-3000EVH, and Dazatronyx Professional Drive and Big Fuzz (Daz makes great stuff). How many of these great amps you mentioned do you actually own now Shane?

[@JoeFic9997]

New to me this year is the Strymon Sunset, which has displaced nearly all my drive pedals with the exception of my Archer Ikon. The Sunset is just that versatile !

[@eddieholmes3236]

Excellent review Shane! My vote for the most bland release of the year (relative to hype) were the Fender Ultra II series: worse colours, a $10 upgrade on the jack socket, and quartersawn necks fixing a problem that no one knew they had.

[@stevep1941]

Thanks Shane. I've actually gone ampless now after all these years. I've just started gigging a Boss GX-10 with my own presets, into the PA and a stage monitor. No need for any other gear.

[@MikeJBlues]

Great reviews and content. You need to try a set of andy timmons dimarzio pickups , no hum, superb strat tone and bridge bite. Converted all my strats . Its an hss setup

[@frankiechan9651]

I'm with you on the bland releases - the big companies are in a bind where if they stray too far away or try something different, their "fans" kick up a stink. But if all there is, is yet another tiny variation of the classic - anyone outside the fan bubble will not notice/ care. And dammit Shane - you've had me looking at grabbing a Peavey Bandit/ Studio Pro 112 as they have your seal of approval and are one of the few solid state amps with a proper effects loop (and are still relatively affordable).

[@panasonik780]

If you ever get the chance, try Peavey special 212. I really enjoy your show