Buying ALL of these is Kind of a WASTE!

Turns out, buying a Soldano, 5150, and Rectifier might not have been the smartest idea!
Get Element Bass here and get a great mix: spectredigital...
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About Spectre Sound Studios:
I'm Glenn Fricker, engineer here at Spectre Sound Studios. I love making records, and after doing it for sixteen years, I want to pass on what I've learned. On my channel you can find tutorials on how to record guitar, bass, real drums and vocals. There's reviews and demos of tube amps, amp sims, drums, mics, preamps, outboard gear, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, and plugin effects.
We've covered Moon on the Water, played Bias FX, given you the absolute best in Stupid Musician Texts, ranted & raved about bass guitar, and this channel is where The Eagle has Landed.
Everything you've wanted to learn about recording Hard Rock & Heavy Metal can be found right here on this channel!
I also respond to your comments & questions: The best make it into the SMG Viewer's Comments series of videos. Loads of fun, lots of laughs.
Thanks for checking out my channel & please subscribe!

[@drewinman7171]

Element is THE Swiss Army Knife for Bass. It is so easy and fun to dial. Clank? Check! Warm Stoner? Check! Burton Fuzz? Check! Pete Steele? Check! I love it!

[@luckyluc25]

Why is there no Burton Fuzz pedal? There needs to be a Cliff Burton Fuzz Pedal. :) We should give Glenn the finger till he makes one. Or even a plugin. LOL.

[@drewinman7171]

@luckyluc25 You can pull it off in Element (besides the Wah part). 2 channels, set the HP around 500 and the LP to around 3k (to taste), and let the distortion fly. Just play around with it, and you'll find it.

[@MoreMeRecording]

I'd love to download the 14 day trial! Oh wait, n/m....

[@robronin1969]

Good to hear. I'm checking out when I get back from this gig trip.

[@vincentmorelli1013]

​@@luckyluc25 There is, the Morley signature fuzz wah

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

I do miss the Stupid Musician Texts, that was actually my introduction to the channel. Can’t believe it’s been 5 years since you made one!

[@DrBRockstar2000]

My intro to this channel was seeing the video comparing the Peavey Sheffield 1200 to the Celestion EVH (Spoiler Alert: the Celestion speaker sounds WAAAAAY better than the Sheffield 1200s)

[@CoffeeAndSteel]

Dang same here haha!

[@Lincolnbiofl]

Watching that series made me a better musician/better human. Make more Glenn!

[@Yettibuhayat]

hey glenn, i was gonna buy a guitar, then i discovered you channel, i watched your schecter omen elite videos then i bought it and it played perfectly right out of the box, fun to play, stays in tune, good looking guitar. i just want to say thank you. if it wasnt for you, i was gonna buy gibson lol. you taught me a lot of things

[@mikeaaron2112]

Back when I worked at a rehearsal studio in NYC we had all three of them in all five rooms. Granted different models of them Soldano (hot rod, SLO, Decatone, ROS 4x10) and a mix of 5150s 5150 II's and Dual and triple rectifiers. Some people would turn their noses up at one, and run to another, and vice versa. I always loved when a guy would bring in a Marshall Valvestate and unplug any of the above to use it.

[@resignator]

This channel has saved me from buying an insane amount of worthless gear. It has even allowed me to appreciate the gear I do have and use it properly. Just wanted to say thank you, Glenn. I dont have to agree with all your opinions but I'd be a fool to ignore your experience within the field.

[@alexhulme6135]

I remember watching you Glenn when you were around 20,000 subscribers just looked and your over half a million Well deserved 🙌🙌

[@SpectreSoundStudios]

Thank you very much, Alex!

[@eamonahern7495]

Hey! I made viewers' comments again! Wu! On the issue of Jackson, I have a JS32 Randy Rhoads that I got for about €360 from Thomann a couple of years ago. It has a Floyd Rose bridge. The only major issue I had with it was when a thread in one of the saddles sheared and I basically had to buy a 2nd hand Jackson by Floyd Rose bridge elsewhere online for spare parts because Thomann didn't have spare parts for it. The string clamps on the locking nut don't line up perfectly but they clamp the strings properly so no need to replace them.

[@GalanDun]

I have a JS32 King V and I replaced the bridge and tuners. OFR and Gotoh lockers. Plays so much better.

[@GalanDun]

Should also mention that I took off the lock pads

[@TheWolvesCurse]

i bought a js32 rhoads recently for a band project where i don't want to "sacrifice" my better axes for the stuff that's being thrown around at the live shows. the things is perfectly solid. all i did was blocking the floyd from pulling up, bit down still works. stays in tune and sounds mighty through the mode four marshall.

[@Prophetian]

​@GalanDun I got an RR3 or whatever they call it and during lockdowns I decided to start a project and change everything! Springs, bridge, electronics, pickups, tuners and more! Everyone loves using it (friends and all).

[@GalanDun]

@@Prophetian Yeah, I wound up sticking some Fishman Moderns in mine because the stock pickups were microphonic. Soldering nightmares aside it plays like a dream now.

[@ego_sarx]

Geez Glen! That might be a great idea for an episode: tackling down writters blockage, and maybe expanding this to composers? lyricists? 🤘chæærs!

[@Punkrock1life]

Hey Glenn! Try to buy one of the VST-24 Series von HB. They are literally a copy of a PRS Custom 24 and the Same price range than your SG. After trying one out I was surprised how well crafted and Set up this Thing was out of the Box. Maybe just the Roswell Pickup Sound a little muddy but Overall its a well build piece for a beginners Budget. Have a great fucking weekend. Loves to you Mr. F. 🤘

[@bassplayer2011ify]

Squier has always been considered the ultimate mod platform because they are cheap and parts are plentiful. I've seen some crazy squire builds over the years. One of my friends in high school got a custom paint job, put an LED light bar in place of the middle pickup and swapped the bridge single coil for a humbucker.

[@michaelsnydermusic]

Great episode Glenn. I love both formats but I will be honest in that I was missing the q&a part in recent episodes. Hope you are well.

[@cpmathews2566]

7 month old video. Well worth the replay. Great information. I hope you and the misses are doing great. ❤

[@matthewfritz]

Always love a good "Army of Darkness" reference, Glenn! In the moment, I was reminded of the scene where six or so skeleton arms come out of the sides and corners of the screen simultaneously and all punch Ash in the head at once. Replace the skeleton arms with NOS vacuum tubes and that's pretty much what I was imagining based on how they're marketed.

[@StevenSwinehart]

I have been checking your collection of material for a month or so, I was in a search for something I wasn't sure what it was. I use a Headrush so I watched several videos on setup of the modeling devices as well as the original amps they are trying to be. I was looking at changing tubes, toys, the newest miracle device. Since I am a life long guitarist I am naturally impatient and cheap, SHOCKER. I asked you about tubes and then just pulled all my speakers picked the best to create 2, 4 ohms loads and POOF! My tone cleared up, the lower volume knob break up improved. I still need to buy a few tubes but I am not looking to re-tube my JCA 100 head, which fuckinig ROCKS and was like $350 new! So before you argue, listen. I did my, tone is way better, and rather than spending hundreds of dollars to be disappointed I fixed my issues with stuff I already owned, That's the best! Of course the 6 speakers that went into the 412 and 212 cabs were loaded in 3 different cabs, so without listening to this brutally honest guy I would never have even thought to look. BTW I am 55 and I started the guitar at 12, there is always a chance to learn. You need to shut up and accept maybe you don't know everything. But I am an X Gen person who never stopped to think maybe I was not male as I stood at the urinal, so I am probably full of shit, or suffering from early onset dementia.

[@TimJames-childofnarcissism]

I love this channel, Glenn is the best!! Thoughts n prayers to you n yours this holiday season buddy!! God bless

[@nocheckmarkgames]

Glenn has the ability to be insanely helpful. It's just sometimes he gets that Battle-Fire in him, and he'll turn into a Shark! Good to see him going a little easier on the boys this week.

[@guitargeek57]

The store bought humidifiers usually use that green planter foam. Super cheap and easy to DIY like Glen said.

[@charlesrocks]

I prefer using Boveda. planter foam can get moldy.

[@CyberChrist]

Isn't the oldschool way using a stick of carrot ?

[@Lethargy01]

Been watching for I believe over 10 years now, and It’s refreshing to hear all the good info we always get without being yelled at by “character Glenn”. Wouldn’t mind hearing/seeing more of this, it honestly feels more authentic, like hearing a conversation with the real person and not an overboard character. Maybe mix it up more and have an outlet for both personalities, just my 2 cents.

[@KCBeck]

My favorite guitar is a Tele with the D920 loaded pick (Bret Michael’s) set up. Next is a B&G crossroads wolf burst Bret even liked at least 1 of my videos so pretty cool.

[@AJoylessEon]

Hey Glenn, I know it's a few years old now but I reckon you should try out the LTD jm ii ?

[@jimmycheng1924]

Sending positive vibes to you & your Family.

[@Ryan_Switzer_of_MTS]

Thank you so much for answering Glenn!! I have been recording semi professionally for several years, so I was definitely asking this from an engineering perspective:) Your answer makes complete sense and I thought this would likely be the case, but your explanation helped crystalize my perspective so much. Thank you!! Basically you are saying that due to the constants you have in a typical recording setup (the general frequencies the drums tend to occur in, where the bass generally sits, cymbals, vocals are a bit harder to pin down - but there is a range). You are basically saying that by and large, “x” frequencies are spoken for generally, therefor the guitar tends to sit within “y” frequency range. Due to this, our EQ choices with any given amp become limited via the available “holes” in the mix thus far. Therefor our amp settings to sound best become limited - and therefor the dual rec and 5150 in many cases would seek the same solution :) Thank you so much for your time Glenn. So grateful for your work!!

[@ambiention]

Always preferred the chilled vibe of helpful/tutorial Glenn

[@justfortier]

Glad to hear you mention Noah Mintz. What a fantastic dude, and had the pleasure of having him master of few of my works quite a few years back.

[@DougOnstott]

GLENNN!!! I got the Laney Ironheart Loudpedal after sending back a soldano mini(crap) to Sweetwater. This thing is awesome, plenty loud and has the DI out for front of house. The clean channel takes dirt pedals like a champ. Gotta be the best bang for your buck right now for guys not wanting to go digital live.

[@TaxEvader420]

Man I do not miss the regular yeling on these videos, glenn seems pretty chill when he's talking normally. 😅 Also I suspect the craftsmanship on those Solars is fine, that inlay logo is just susceptible to cracking

[@travisspaulding2222]

Yeah, the Sam Kinison schtick isn't really that entertaining to a lot of us. It's just something we tolerate.

[@SeRgU123]

I bought an Epiphone SG standard for 450€ like a year ago and dude, perfect intonation and set up out of the box, good tuning stability, comfortable and really good finishing. Maybe a couple of spots where the finish is not perfect, but still, really really happy with that guitar.

[@atonofspiders]

Truly amazing guitar , crazy it can be so cheap

[@sonofromel]

Same dude. I got a cheaper SG special pelham blue. Pretty solid guitar.

[@NShomebase]

Got the $600 SG Custom earlier this year, I absolutely love it.

[@paulkline3011]

I just got an Epiphone Les Paul from Guitar Center. The toggle switch was partially broken. It works fine it's just kind of a stub. Anyway, I was able to talk them into selling it to me for $300. 😅 fantastic guitar!!!

[@corrosive135]

I would love to see some similar comparisons of basses, especially now that a run-of-the-mill Fender costs almost as much as a Dingwall. I know this is primarily a guitar channel, but Please!! You make a metal bass vst, so I know you know bass tone too 🤘

[@michaelsnydermusic]

24:37 I always thought you’d be a good humorist/motivational writer. Especially if you narrated the audiobook. I thought that when I first found your channel and you had an epic rant about unmotivated musicians.

[@patcecil1685]

Yaah, first thanks for all the great work Glen. Squire, that commenter is spot on there. Last year, I got a Classic Vibe Strat. I am totally blown away with the build quality, paint job etc. For full disclosure, I got it to mount a midi pick up because I play keys like a drugged monkey. That aside, plugged in, it sounds like a Strat! Highly recommended, this on is in white and I witched the Torty pick guard for a mint green one. Looks and feels just great, As well made as anything at least twice the price.

[@djsusan00]

One of the last times I went to samash they had a squiere tele, every time I pick up a squire I love it. Idk what it is. They just play great. this was over a year ago too.

[@NotaBInMyH]

I'm almost positive the Bugera 1960 Infinium is still in production and hasn't been discontinued, at least as of today. It's still listed on Bugera's web site, it's just not in stock in most places. Sadly, you can't order direct from from manufacturer, and not many dealers carry the brand, and for the last 5 or 6 years, the manufacturer usually only ships product to their dealers once or twice a year (once before Christmas for sure, and sometimes a June/July shipment). If you want a new Bugera amp, go to your local Bugera dealer. They're listed on the Bugera web site. If the dealer doesn't have the item in stock, and it's still part of the current lineup, they'll let you pay for it and order it in for you, it just might not arrive until right before Christmas.

[@Bloor005]

I wanna see that video on Radial. I've used those for years and had no problem (passive and active) so curious if and how the quality control has changed. I'd love to see a DI/Reamper shootout. I've used so many DI options and the Daddy of the DI for me is the newer 1073 by Neve, proper overkill for a DI. But it works.

[@NCMullinsVA]

Dude! Speaking of vinyl, did you see Mary Spender's video about cassettes coming back? That's actually something I'd be really interested in. I remember that I found rips of some old demos by the band that would become Children of Bodom and they sounded really terrible and muddy until I remembered a throwaway line from the movie Airheads about all the low end dropping out on the cassette mix of their song. So I recorded those songs over to cassette and they sounded perfect! Maybe do a video about mixing for cassette?

[@megamania501]

Hey Glenn, been learning from your channel for years now. However, the exception to your data was my two Les Paul style guitars. One is a Squire and the one a cheaper Jay Turster. I always liked the sound of the Turster better - or so I thought. This week I recorded with both through an EVH 5150, with the recording setup doing a really good job of picking up the amp tone. On playback I surprisingly couldn't hear a difference between the two guitars - I was shocked! Now I'm convinced that I fell for the M&M effect, where some colors may taste better or worse than others, but in a blind test you find out they all taste the same. I recall you say that if you think you hear a difference, record it, because that will tell you how much of a difference there actually is. Those are definitely words of wisdom there!

[@d.p.3114]

Yes you absolutely need to check out Squiers. I own Fenders and recently picked up a J. Mascis signature Squier Jazzmaster. I was so absolutely blown away I went back to get a Fender Jazzmaster…ended up with a second J. Mascis Squier AND a Squier Jazzmaster with active electronics. Squier seems to be where Fender experiments with different configurations and specs these days and the Mascis Jazzmasters I picked up have the best Fender spec necks I have ever played on any F type guitar at any price point. I know…bold claim.

[@soundman1402]

IMO, the best thing about vinyl is that it's a ritual to put music on; you have to pick the record, put it on the turntable, drop the needle, and have a listen. I'd love for people to take the time to have an actual listening SESSION, rather than having it as background noise while they do housework (nothing wrong with that, either, but it's not engaging with the music).

[@spacedout_bae]

45 rpm sessions where you have to get up to flip the record every 3 or 4 minutes 😂

[@billzade8158]

I LOVE this new format! It doesn't have to be all the time, but from time to time it's nice. In regards to Squier, I've had a couple over the past 5 years or so now that have been just amazingly good for the money. I haven't bought an Affinity series yet, most of mine have been Classic Vibe or Deluxe editions, but for the $400-ish range? Really hard to beat. My go to guitar now is a Squier Tele Deluxe (dual humbucker setup), and it's just a rock solid riff machine.

[@ryanfulldark2775]

Hey Glenn, just wanted to thank you for the great content! I’ve learned so much. I don’t really play and record a bunch of metal anymore but I sure used to. I’ve learned kinda how to extrapolate some things and apply it to the music I do record. Results have been noticeable. Thanks man!

[@SpectreSoundStudios]

Happy to help!

[@pitaorj]

I really like the helpful glenn, but we also enjoy that crazy canadian dude. don’t loose your spark.

[@Chris-gt9mg]

Glenn, would love to see some sort of segment from you on live rigs for metal guitarists. In particular real analysis of cheaper amps, eg solid state and low watt tube amps (like the 20 watt 6505 etc) in the context of band practice and gigs. Specifically if they have enough headroom and can be heard over the rest of the band. It’s quite challenging to find a setup that is economical but is also going to be fit for use when you can’t really crank them at a shop and constantly get told you need a 100 watt tube stack costing $$$$. Has to be other options right?

[@Exeunt-philae]

What, if anything, do you know about the electrical infrastructure in your home/studio and how it affects your equipment? I.e from the national electrical grid to your gear. Have you had specific work done that was needed to improve signal quality?

[@Birkguitars]

Great change up on the video. Fun having more than one approach. But if we are doing Q&A I still want to know which button on the Neve launches the photon torpedoes.

[@travisspaulding2222]

"Glenn, are you ever going to do that video?" For the love of god, please do that video. Anything but the seemingly endless cycle of guitar reviews, lol.

[@connorbonnell]

Hey Glenn, have you tried the Little Labs Redeye 3d? It's a DI box and reamp box in one unit for $310 USD. I know you are using the Universal Audio box now, but I think it's worth looking into, if only for the convenience of two functions in one unit. Also, I love the new direction of focusing more on Q&A as opposed to calling out idiots. There's plenty of negativity to go around, so a community that supports itself to better everyone is a welcome change! Keep up the good work!

[@andrewfitzsimons7047]

talking about 'V's. -zemaitis looks STUNNING!! - long time listener, first time caller. Great show btw :)

[@lukevontajikistan3929]

Maybe I am old school, maybe spoiled. But I bought a EVH Stealth 100 not long ago. There is something about physical amps that I just love. Now I also have a Kemper which comes in handy in so many situations. My Kemper is a tool. My EVH is a treasure. All the best to Julie and you, Glen! Greetings from the land where the Kraut is Sauer, Luke

[@godisdeaddealwithit]

I bought the Jackson JS22-7 KV about 2 months ago and I really like it. They are currently $350 Canadian at L&M. Only annoyance for me is input jack and rear strap button placement. More so if sitting than standing.

[@brandonlane294]

The fretboard cracks are on the side of fretboard. While playing guitar, the part that is facing up. Where the dots are at. That's where mine is cracked at. I keep it oiled and maintained since I got it 2 years ago and it's cracked down the whole neck. Multiple cracks.

[@adampavelec857]

Many moons ago, I got a Monoprice “Cali” Strat for $79. It shipped with a defect in the paint/finish; and shit you not, they were super easy, responsive, and absolutely swift about replacing it at no cost!

[@stealingtomorrowband]

I'd like to see you do some more bass guitar reviews.. Warwick, Ibanez, Pedulla, Spector, more and more to choose from!!!!

[@andrewwest8334]

GLEEENNNNN!!! Mix question re: electric guitars sitting in the vs. sounding good in isolation. It’s not uncommon in metal to have a riff introduced (for example) by being played on its own before the rest of the band join in. Would you treat a section like this any differently? EQ it slightly for weight/bass or whatever? Or even record it separately? Trust your ears obvs but just curious to know what your approach is. Thanks and fuhuhuhuck you man 😜

[@wesst.422]

I'd love to see you review some Squire stuff on the show! I think the recent Squires are excellent budget guitars. I really appreciate how creative they've gotten with some of their model lines as well, they don't just make Strats and Teles anymore! Because of that I'd like to see some of those new designs put to the test for metal. Basically 99% of Squire demos will play anything *BUT* metal through them, so I need to know, are they hiding a secret from us? Are the Squire Duo-Sonics secretly heavy metal machines? or is it another budget guitar designed to appeal to zoomers? Can a Squier Toronado really doom? or is it just a budget guitar designed to appeal to boomers? These are the real questions we need answers to!

[@mikeglazier5993]

was on an extended trip and needed a guitar to play but didn't want to spend a lot. I ordered a Squire affinity tele for $250 brand new with shipping. I figured it would be good enough to just goof off with on the trip and figured at worst I'd have a project for later. But I was blown away by the quality. Frets were level, no fret sprout, intonation was almost perfect. Fit and finish were flawless, but the pickups do leave a bit to be desired but it's definitely worth upgrading the pickups

[@TopTensAndGrins]

Your advice about swapping the speaker is so spot on. I just replaced the Celestion 70/80 in my Blackstar Studio 10 with a Celestion Greenback and holy shit does it ever make a huge difference. The Greenback is so much more defined and crisp, for lack of a better word. Blows the 70/80 away. Thanks for the great advice Glenn!

[@nerdyneedsalife8315]

In cheaper amps I understand why the Celestion 80s are used. However as Glenn has shown, some $2000 amps use those same speakers. They should be putting in better speakers for those cabs. $2000 and cheap speakers is a fuck you to the customers

[@TopTensAndGrins]

@@nerdyneedsalife8315 agreed 100%

[@anthonyhunt515]

Thanks for explaining your opinion of recording amps being the source of amps sounding similar. I recall having a similar conversation with some youngsters when recording demos in my basement with them... particularly the sweeped mids and far too much distortion. Ahh.... the things you learn with age. Cheers.

[@josephd.4890]

If they are kept in cases, use a bovida pack( used with cigars).

[@t3e_e]

Among other things ;) 🌳

[@TexAgsArmyVet]

I've posted this on another video but hopefully it helps some folks. I owned a Bugera 333xl when they first came out. I ran it into 2 Marshall cabs and it was awesome. Great tone, beefy but not muddy. (Generally ran channel 3 all the time) The amp lasted for about 7 months of regular jam room playing then it just stopped working. Done, failed. I took it took a local tech that was a certified Bugera rep. He ordered me another one at no cost to me. It ran great for another 15 months until I had to sell it due to an injury that required hospitalization. I will definitely be buying another soon. Prosit from Texas. 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@pedrogiavani2330]

@9:16 stupid musician's texts was what brought me here (2019 WTF??? that long ago??) but the content has kept me here. I am not into the tutorials as I don't record, and don't plan to learn, but the content keeps me coming back.

[@zynosgd9982]

The thing about Solar and the cracked fretboard is the inlay is very sharp and that cut can lead to cracking over time in a wood species like Ebony IF IT IS NOT MAINTAINED. Ebony needs to be oiled from time to time, especially if you live in dry environments or in one with fluctuating temperatures. You only need to oil it like once every 6 months and you'll never have a single issue.

[@HaynesEllis]

“BuT I dONt WAnT tO oiL mY fReTBoaRD” It takes 30 seconds man just do it

[@Chris_the_Muso]

Yep, it probably won't crack if you keep it from drying out. It's amazing how many guitarists do almost no maintenance. Scrub the finger cheese off the finger board and oil it occasionally. I've made it a habit to inspect the frets and fretboard every time I change a set of strings. If it doesn't look as fresh as the day you bought it, it probably needs a bit of work. The other side of the coin is that woods that have not been dried properly before cutting can split no matter what you do, though I still think that oiling can drastically slow this process down. Many luthiers store wood under particular humidity conditions for years before using it, but I'm pretty sure all the big manufacturers rely on kiln drying for this process.

[@yourmetalgod69]

When it comes to selecting the perfect guitar or bass, it's all about personal preference and practicality. The shape, feel, and comfort of the instrument in your hands are paramount, as these factors directly affect your playing experience. Budget is, of course, a crucial consideration, but it's good to remember that many aspects of a guitar can be customized or upgraded over time. Pickups, for instance, can be swapped out to refine your sound. Minor issues like fret buzz or imperfect paint jobs can be fixed, often turning into bargaining chips for a better deal. High-quality components like Graphtech saddles or locking tuners from brands like Sperzel, Grover, or Schaller can replace less durable parts, enhancing the instrument's performance and longevity. These modifications don't need to be done all at once; they can be spaced out to accommodate financial constraints. Personal experience plays a significant role in these decisions, as every musician has unique preferences shaped by their individual journey. For some, a particular brand resonates with their style, while others might find their perfect match in a less expected place. It's all about what feels right to you, and sometimes, that means going against the grain of popular opinion or marketing hype. The key is to focus on what truly matters for your music and comfort, rather than getting caught up in superficial details. Ultimately, the right guitar is the one that feels like an extension of yourself, allowing you to express your creativity without limitations. Whether it's a trusty Jackson that fits like a glove or a pawn shop treasure waiting for its potential to be unlocked, the journey to finding your ideal instrument is a personal and rewarding adventure. Yes if you have the savings or disposable income you can buy whatever floats your boat, but like religion your way is not the only or best way for everyone else. Yes I will recommend things I have tried but also give possible options they should also try themselves before buying a damn thing. I returned a $3400USD PRS in less than 48Hours because the neck felt odd while sitting and standing for me, I ordered it untested and over the phone(before internet shops were a thing) I got a refund and bought my Kelly for 1/4 of the cost at my local shop, never been happier. Thanks Glenn for all you do and keep them videos coming.

[@SloppyGoat]

@johnl.6012 I've always just bought Ruby Tubes. I haven't even had to replace them yet, but I have swapped them out, and there is absolutely no difference in sound. So, I put the original tubes back in. And we're talking about '80s model Mesa Boogies. But those are my backup set. I've had them for like 20 years now, and I still don't need them. I have a pair of these amps, and both are still using the original Mesa Boogie tubes, simply because I found absolutely no change when I did swap them out. No need to replace tubes that are still good. And they can last a long freaking time. ✌️

[@jeremythornton433]

Yes to the Squire try. I have 2, a Tele and a Strat. Both are great. Killer bang for the buck. Please please please do a show testing the Kaotica Eyeball microphone isolator.

[@bladeoflucatiel]

4:30 I bought a squier strat last month, i already have a mexican and japanese strat, I would say the squier is better quality as a MIM strat from 10 years ago, the fretwork is clean and the set up is good out of the box, the only problem is the bridge, it wont hold the tunning if set as floating, you either set it as flat against the body or simply block it. The pickups are ceramic but are okay for the price.

[@soundman1402]

My take on Squier: I was shopping for a first bass for my 12-year-old nephew. I went to my local Guitar Center and picked a $300-ish Squier off the rack. Its neck was rough and felt raw; there was no finish applied to it. The action was sky-high because of a deep neck bow. The fret ends were sharp, and the fretboard had sharp edges on it. I thought this was maybe an anomaly until I picked up another Squier at another store and it, too, was rough and unfinished. Every other bass in that price range had a smooth, finished neck, with varying levels of fret dressing and playable action. The standouts for me were the Sterling by Sting Ray, and the Yamaha BroadBass 234. The Yamaha was my top pick, at $350. That's a bass worth looking at! I'm told the more expensive Squier stuff is better-finished, but the store didn't have one for me to look at.

[@johnlapinski8261]

Holy shit do more episodes like this more often no filler just interesting questions and great advice

[@RubberMuffin]

Would love to see some fearless gear review on some Jackson’s! I’ve got a King v pro series in white and it’s one of my favorite guitars. Same with my Kelly. Absolutely spectacular!

[@bravotronalpha3787]

I've had a Bugera V55HD Infinium for a number of years, and I love it. I can't vouch for its road durability as it's never left my house, but I've put a lot of hours of play into it, taken it apart and tinkered. Definitely not a vintage-style amp that can be easily serviced, but for what it's worth? I recommend it. They're not that expensive and kind of has a sound of its own going on. 'Voxy' could describe it, to a point.

[@therealdavegrohl1098]

Hey Glenn, enjoyed the different format on today's show. Long time subscriber, not a dyed in the wool metal lover, but have still applied your advice to different genres in my own mixes: would enjoy watching you mixing something outside of your own comfort zone for the technical exercise; you up for the challenge?

[@perryadams3159]

I started down the nos tube rabbit hole several years ago. Luckily I only spent $40 on a Mullard 12AX7. I noticed I could change the gain on the amp to make a Shuguang sound exactly the same. It's the same with people talking about the old tube screamers having the "good chips". What you're hearing are tolerance differences, and they have nothing to do with the quality or (most of the time) specs of the chips. As a matter of fact, what you're hearing in old tube screamers is the degradation of the components due to oxidation and corrosion that change the tolerance of those components over time.

[@joshspunkrockgarden9914]

I'm super impressed with Squier. I have a Squier Bass VI that I absolutely love just as much as my Fender MiM Tele Deluxe, which is one of my favorite guitars in my collection. Also in the world of Fender-ish guitars, I'd check out the G&L Tribute series. I just got a P-style bass in that series because it was a better price than a Fender P-bass and I'm pretty impressed with that as well.

[@insidethestudio3886]

Squier is definitely worth it. I've got a tobacco-burst Strat (HSS pickup setup for rock and blues) with black hardware, and that thing plays amazingly for only costing $299.

[@higherlifeformstudios6823]

Great Vid Glen! Always learning something new from you!

[@lusiek0666]

Great video. I always look forward to your Friday/Saturday videos.

[@Arthemesia]

I can explain the infinium series of Bugera. I bought an original Bugera back in the day, it was the 5150 version and sounded incredible. I traded it for a Marshall Valvestate later on, so I didn't have it for more than a year. My buddy also bought one and his transformers went out at about a year and a half. It was so common that Bugera had to respond. The ones they repaired had way more reliable parts, so they started replacing those bad parts in the amps that hadn't sold yet, and replaced the cool blue light's with crappy yellow ones for some reason. Thats the infinium version

[@massivejohnson77]

Just wanted to put my experience with harley benton. After watching all the rave reviews about the fusion iii emg i pullednthe trigger. It got here and needed a pretty extensive setup out of the box. Didnt feel particularly good at all. When i plugged in i found out that the pickups were faulty and causing interference. Nearly 3 weeks later im still going back and forward with customer support and i have a feeling they're going to be difficult about sorting this out. Wouldnt buy again, dont recommend.

[@jameshoy380]

I’ve bought two CV70’s Squier basses over the past year or so. They both have needed a fret level and the fret ends dressed. Beyond finishing the factory’s job for them (an acceptable risk given the price) they are good instruments.

[@andyrichardson9254]

Glenn, your take on using two recorded tracks and running them through a reamp box has worked immensely for me and my recordings. Also your take on tubes not making any difference unless if the ones you are replacing are worn out is money. That being said, what is your favorite hockey team? Being I'm from Ohio mine is the Columbus Crew.

[@thebeast88_]

I think I stuck around from the beggining of VC. I think you had like 50k subs when I started watching. You and Louis Rossmann are the only two channels that I've consistently followed for years.

[@finnadunk]

I bought a Squier Tele when I worked at Guitar Center so I had the luxury of only basically paying cost. I also have 2 Epiphone LPs that I got for the low cost of a headstock repair, a Studio and a Standard. The Studio is one of my favorite guitars. Epi and Squier are certainly worth the money, but I do recommend getting your hands on it before you buy it, if possible. I did get the Tele sight unseen and it is just fine. Budget options have come a long way.

[@dravenfm]

i would love to see you review the Squier Contemporary series!! I use to have the Jazzmaster model and it was my absolute favorite guitar i have owned!

[@Shane_Bozelie]

Hi Glenn, the guy behind Guitar MAX also looks into cheap guitars, would it be an idea to work together to look for the best budget guitar?

[@NealVio]

Yamaha HS8 monitors sound amazing. Did the pink noise test and the frequencies are straight across.

[@AntifaGunClub]

The squire classic vibe series is awesome. It’s all the fender quality without the price tag. Though I will say my squire p-bass has a crap ton of self noise.

[@StephGV2]

Glenn! How about how Ibanez $430 and under RG and RGA series guitars compare to HB and whatever else you're reviewing in the "bang for the buck" category. I have 3 guitars right now, my Ibanez RGA42FM is the cheapest, and it's always the first guitar that I pick up. Love the neck. Nice and light. My other guitars are a '73 modded CBS era Strat and a Washburn N2. Looking forward to the Jackson review. I'm thinking of getting a JS32 Rhoads V or Warrior when I have the money.

[@nathanboggess8379]

Glen please do a shoot out with condenser mics, Lewitt 440, AKG 414, etc comparing budget to high end. 🤘🏼

[@Nedly79]

Great advice on improving the acoustic treatment over new monitors. I was thinking the same about my KRKs, but ended up splurging on a Primacoustic kit first (yeah, I know that I could have made something equivalent myself for far cheaper). Doing so IMMEDIATELY demonstrated that upgrading the KRKs first would have been a waste at the time. It was like I was actually hearing the KRKs for the first time. The difference was noticeable, and I know that if I'd gone with new monitors first, that I would be trying to convince myself that I was hearing a difference but lying to myself to justify the purchase. It would be impossible to make meaningful observations about sonic improvements with more expensive monitors while the room still sounds like shit.

[@MichaelBrown-ff3go]

How longs it been since you and Stevie T did a collab? Yall and Ola are some of my favorite youtubers ❤

[@plecogod]

The Squier Classic Vibe Series are absolutely crazy value guitars for the price. I would to see you do a review of one. Since you are a Metal Guy, I would say a Classic Vibe 70's Thinline Tele with two Humbuckers would be more up your alley than a single coil guitar.

[@ChristopherHallett]

Thanks Glenn! I have decided to have a room-sized walk-in humidor built for my guitar collection!

[@jimmypenrose1401]

I've been playing guitar since 1976; the best preventative treatment for cracked fretboards I've found is to simply oil the fretboard every time you change your strings. Any high quality furniture oil should do a good job. But you can even use olive oil or avocado oil if you aren't into petroleum distillates like "lemon oil". When you take the strings off; thoroughly clean the fretboard with some Pledge or other cleaner to get any finger spooge off; if it's real stubborn, try denatured alcohol on a towel. Once it's completely clean and dry, rub a little oil into the wood with a oil-moistened paper towel. Give it a decent coat and let it soak in for a few minutes, then wipe it completely clean and dry with paper towels or a microfiber cloth. Let it sit overnight before putting the new strings on so any residual oil can have time to be absorbed into the wood. It works great for ebony or rosewood necks - or anyplace that you may have a bare wood surface requiring moisture replenishment on an instrument. I've got a Carvin with an ebony fretboard I've done this to since 1981 and the fretboard is still in great shape; it wears like iron.

[@pentagonoenllamas]

Years ago (really years, I think it was 2008 or 2009) we bought the Bugera that was a clone of the Peavey JSX for a shared rehearsal space and the thing sounded pretty good (not great because we plugged it into a Crate cab with the awful stock speakers...none of us knew better at the time) but it only lasted a couple weeks because it had some sort of fuse somewhere in the circuit that burned just from the normal working temperature. The guy at the store said they could replace that component for something better and the amp would be fine but most of the guys in the bands that rehearsed there voted against that and it was returned for something less fancy but more reliable.

[@shadowviper957]

And the smell when opening a vinyl album soooo satifying as well.

[@darcy_blackthorn]

So I get your point on the SLO 100 vs. the 5150 vs. the Dual Rectifier. But is there any difference between the Single, Dual, and Triple Rectifier? If not tested yet, I'd like to see a video shoot out on the difference between all 3.

[@bassicly4250]

I have a matching pair of Squier's . A Jaguar PJ Bass and a Jagmaster guitar HH and I love them both. Great for the price and zero issues.

[@Turboy65]

There are humidifiers meant for your instrument case. Highly recommended for those who live in states that get cold in the winter or dry any time of the year.

[@paulw.3967]

It's probably worth mentioning that if you have different conventional fixed-band EQ stages ahead of (or behind) similar-sounding distorting stages, you CAN use a conventional parametric EQ to emulate whichever kind of EQ you want in that position. It will have the same phase shifting consequences, because they're all "minimum phase" filters, where the phase shifts have a fixed relationship to the frequency response. Tube amps sounds mostly differ due to their different tone stacks, not different distorting phases, so that's worth knowing; you don't need different amps, just different EQ settings... and you need to understand how the EQ works on the amps you like the sound of. I suspect different speakers in the same cabinet are mostly the same way, if you're not driving them super hard and getting nonlinear effects. They differ mostly in their frequency response, which is likewise pretty close to a "minimum phase" filter, so using EQ to emulate one with the other should work OK. (That may not be true of the cabinet resonances and comb filtering due to multiple speakers, but matching the drivers themselves should work.) You might need fancy IRs to emulate the speaker in situ in a particular cabinet with a particular mic, but you should still be able to compensate for the difference in drivers with judicious parametric EQ to match their overall frequency response curves; the phase shifts due to different speakers will automatically fall into line too.

[@Sylkis89]

Gleeennn! Speaking of speakers! I made similar comments in the past but you probably get too many to address them all, this video touched upon similar topics to I will ask here again :D Can you test Celestion BN12-300S in context of metal guitar tones? I am really curious about these. They're used by Quilter, Barefaced Audio, and Zilla cabs for guitars, especially baritone guitars. They're also used for clean tones for acoustic guitars and such. Some people also use them in DIY cabs and rack tube power amps for their digital modelers instead of an FRFR, because they have a more flat response than typical guitar speakers, but still sound good with guitar. A lot of DIY cab builders also seem to love them to use them in their bedrooms and have the peace of mind that they will sound good with guitar, and will also be safe to use with bass. I actually emailed Celestion asking if I could put them in my 100W Hughes&Kettner Switchblade combo amp (so a semi-open 2x12 cab) and use for both guitar and bass safely cranked to the max, and a person signed as Dr Decibel in their support said it's totally fine and actually something they would even recommend for this kind of a use case, that it will sound great with guitar and will be safe with bass through a 100W guitar amp, but in a semi-open cab I will lose some of the low end (which I suppose is good for guitar, and for bass when recoding it would be double tracked with a DI amp sim like you made a video in the past to record bass though a guitar amp to capture how it "moves air" and then blend it with either a Sansamp analogue modeler or some VST sims or whatever). So I was wondering if you had the means to test those in different types of cabs and scenarios for metal tones, e.g. 2x12 vs 4x12, open vs closed, bass vs high gain guitar, etc. - I am really curious what someone who actually knows what they're doing would get out of them and whether you'd like the result. I also was wondering, if they have a more flat response, does that mean they will accentuate my EQ settings on my amp more than other speakers? And by extension, can I put a big EQ pedal at the end of the chain in the effects loop to emulate tones of different speakers that way (not literally, obviously not physically possible, but I mean to manipulate the signal enough to make it work better for different types of guitar tones or bass tones resembling those achieved with different types of speakers)? It will still be before the power amp section in the chain so IDK if that would help or it wouldn't be particularly useful in shaping the tone...

[@OliverAmberg]

Hey Glenn. Have you ever tried the UAD Sound City Studios plugin? I think it's great, when you don't have good rooms for recording. You can change the room mics and much more. Put in a drums recording and you will be surprised.

[@kirkgray6949]

I bought a Squire P bass over a player series Fender the Mexican fender’s neck pocket wasn’t tight the fret sprout and finishing was bad on the Fender.The Squier is great