5 MORE Overrated Gear Trends | Real Guitar Talk

[@Mark-fo3hx]

My #1 guitar is my Gibson Les Paul studio, I catch crap from both sides. Epiphone guys say I wasted my money on the brand name and sometimes I get the old “well a studio isn’t a real Les Paul” from the Gibson snobs. I love the guitar and that’s all that matters.

[@JackFossett]

That happened to me as a Star Wars fan. I was a huge nerd about it in Middle School (just about the worst time for it) so I kind of kept it a secret and struggled with it for a while. Then in college when anything is cool again, all the Star Wars nerds put me down for “abandoning my post.” But now the jokes on them because, The Acolyte.

[@johnf.r6658]

​@@JackFossett $how does it feel to live long enough to see the franchise you love completely ruined?" 😂 Oh well, I grew up watching indian Jones films in the early 2000s I'm not watching the last one, hell no

[@DanEtch]

On “pro” guitars: I’m in a wedding band, usually playing between 60 - 75 a year on average. I use a £50, one pickup DeArmond from the 90s with a Seymour Duncan Phat Cat because I know what drunks can do to nice stuff. Sounds great, plays great and I am not too precious about it so I have more fun with engaging with people with it. And THAT is what a good guitar does: it becomes a vehicle for connection to other humans.

[@6stringcodger450]

Sometimes that drunk was someone in my own band. Learned to unplug and put it in a case on the floor if possible in the old days between sets. I could only afford 1 guitar back then and worried about it every time out.

[@damienalvarez2957]

This is why I think it’s silly for pros to be brand snobs, because I would imagine you’d want to keep your nice guitars at home for practice or recording if you’ve got a home studio, whereas if you get a budget instrument and have it set up, your heart won’t break as much if some clutz in the audience knocks over your $300 Squier instead of your American Professional Fender that costs over 1000 more. I also think this can be an advantage with relic’d guitars. If your relic’d guitar gets dinged or anything like that, few would even know or notice if your guitar already looks like it got salvaged from a WW1 trench.

[@OldBadReligionPunk]

Hehe. One of my most used gigged guitars is also a DeArmond m55 that I bought for $100 back in 1999. Put a Duncan distortion in it and it was a great guitar to have and not worry about. Still have it but with a JB.

[@alangreenway6695]

I would say a lot of modern low end guitars sound comparable to the equivalent high end model. But most of the high end ones tend to feel and play nicer- nicer necks, nicer fret ends, nicer finishes, nicer switches.

[@johnfromnj885]

The best part of locking tuners is fast string changes. Just easier. Other than that, not much. I'm paranoid that I'm going to break a string at just the wrong time.

[@JustinLazlo]

Exactly, I don't understand him saying they are overrated when the straight up benefit is so obvious...

[@53kevinfarrell]

i'm a working "pro" locking tuners can make changing a broken string on the fly easier and faster. that being said i change them frequently so breaks are rare

[@willdenham]

How? Seems like there's an extra step. I always had a backup guitar for that reason.

[@JustinLazlo]

​@willdenham With locking tuners you don't have to feed the higher strings around the tuner post for tuning stability like you do with regular tuners. You can just pull it straight through the hole. Soo much faster.

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

Aren't they pretty heavy? I don't like heavy guitars, mine are mainly 5 to 7 some pounds, except 7 strings... I would imagine bulky locking tuners could cause neck dive. 🤔

[@JustinLazlo]

@@scramblesthedeathdealer Don't think I noticed the weight after I put them on my MIA Strat and dont notice any neckdive with that guitar.

[@6stringcodger450]

In my mid 60s and owned guitars since I was 12, cheap Kay beginner model to some of the most expensive production guitars. I no longer have the early 60s SG and Les Pauls or any $5000 + guitars. I had to learn for myself that older does not mean better! (I do miss the 60s and 70s fretless LP feel though). I have a large collection of guitars that I love that I have spent years with, setting them up or repairing/refretting etc., not guitars I am "supposed" to love. Also the relic trend is something I will never understand. It seems more popular with the kids than longtime guitar owners/players.

[@mortonwilson795]

With you on all of this, including the age thing. Happily I do still have the '68 Custom I bought back in '74 so no immediate need to spend a fortune for Tom Murphy and his wrecking crew to take a chisel and razor blade to a Custom Shop '68 re-issue and bang an extra 2 or 3 thousand onto the price for their troubles! 😂

[@jcradical2520]

I'll add one: "Good guitarists use heavy picks and thin picks are for beginners". I've gone months using heavy picks and convinced myself that I had some magical skill that let me strum with a heavy pick just as well as a light pick. And then one day I"ll try a thin pick again and realize that it's not remotely true. The thin pick sounds better for strumming and arguably better for mixed riffing. On electric guitar, I can replicate the sound of a thick pick using a thin pick far better than replicating the sound of a thin pick while using a thick one.

[@terryswallace]

#1 The reason is lower priced brands have now improved from a manufacturing standpoint that most are now better than established brands mid range guitars hands down! I had an 80's Squier that wasn't even in the same league as one of my current Firefly's!

[@Newnodrogbob]

I believe that. But 2020’s Squiers are also a lot better than 1980’s Squiers…

[@damienalvarez2957]

On point number 5, I will say this: it’s not that I think my budget instruments are better than high end ones. It’s just that I can’t justify paying for high end instruments when the budget models I own play well and do everything I need guitars to do, especially when I’m still in the process of producing my first recordings. If music became a form of secondary income, then I could probably justify investing in something at a higher price point, though at that point, I’d rather invest that kind of money in an amp since a good amp will make any guitar sound phenomenal.

[@bks252]

I’ve been playing since I was 12. I spent 28 years in the Army. For a lot of my career, I couldn’t afford more expensive guitars or I should say, I couldn’t justify spending the money on them. I got a brand new MusicMan Stingray bass in 1983 as a gift and that was by far the nicest instrument I owned. At the time, I played a Univox bass and a Univox Strat styled guitar and I was happy playing them. I remember even then, folks would ask me why I was playing those instead of a “real” P bass or Strat? I played what I could afford. I also had a MIM Fender Tele. Later in my career I thought I could spend the money on some quality guitars. I suddenly developed headstock snobbery. I don’t know how I got so full of myself. I bought a couple of “real” higher end Fenders, G&L’s and even a Les Paul. I had to go buy an expensive boutique amp for some reason. After about 10 years of this I finally woke up and saw the stupidity of throwing away money. Finally about 6 or 7 years ago I started buying guitars that I liked and sounded good to me regardless what name was on the headstock. I have some very fine, inexpensive guitars now. Michael Kelly makes fantastic quality inexpensive guitars and Epiphone is doing great work now too as well as others. It doesn’t matter how much something costs but if you like it or not. I could care less now what anyone thinks of any of my guitars. I’m in a gigging band now and rarely take an expensive guitar with me. It just doesn’t matter.

[@squirelova1815]

I am so GREAT that I bypass any Amps and just go straight into the wall outlet and that's Okay with Air Guitar, so there.

[@maxwellbowden9961]

I agreed with everything you said until "drink responsibly ".

[@nicolasmaurin182]

It was indeed unnecessary 😂🎉

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

- #4 Goes well with what Dan Worrall said in one of his videos: "More controls doesn't necessarily mean more control." - #3 There's no such thing as a "transparent overdrive." And if your definition of that is a volume boost with some breakup, use a Xotic AC Booster or EP Booster.

[@whoguy4231]

I'd agree with most of them except the guitar straight into the amp thing. I used to have a pedal fx board, a million cables and stuff ... then realised it's too complicated so got myself a 3 channel amp ( clean, crunch and lead ) and a single guitar lead. Done effing around with gazillion cables.

[@Newnodrogbob]

He actually said that maybe most guitarists spend too much time fiddling with gear, and could probably streamline. His only point about “straight into the amp,” is that playing that way doesn’t automatically make you a better or more skilled guitar player than people who use pedals.

[@robdavis8307]

Staggered locking ratio tuners are phenomenal if you change tuning a lot. Rock solid and easy to change tuning or strings on the fly.

[@thelastnic]

any guitar you play and you get paid is a "pro" guitar. If you get paid for doing it then you are a pro, it doesn't matter what the gig is. On #1, Rock what you got, it all depends on how good you are. The best guitar will sound bad in the hands of a bad player.

[@JackFossett]

I think companies basically are just trying to sell stuff with that one. Playing a guitar called a “pro” guitar might make players bolster their opinions of themselves.

[@brucehayes7251]

My opinion also. Since 1987 I’ve played but only in the last decade have seen returns on my vast collection of branded and not gear. The world, and its pubs and clubs, are full of people who are not completely capable of behaving or of treating musicians toys with the respect they deserve so I will play my paid (pro) gigs with cheaper but perfectly serviceable gear

[@SteveWoodyMusic]

Yeah, I think Pro guitars are pro the way that collectible plates are collectible...

[@Kabayoth]

None of my guitars could be considered high-end. Yet I covet expensive guitars. I will say my bucket list guitars are: the Gretsch Duo-Jet and Black Penguin. Nothing sounds like the real Filtertrons and DeArmonds. Slap them in an Eppiphone, and it's pure tripe, so nothing but a Japanese or American made example will do. That's not to say, "No expense spared." But an affordable Gretsch I'm interested in doesn't work. On the subject of Fender vs G&L: ounce-four-ounce, pound-for-pound the G&L is the better instrument. They are more shrill than the Fenders, and that can be remedied. Which is to say, take your pick and salt to taste. Trouble is Fender is getting overpriced these days.

[@mortonwilson795]

Another fun, thought provoking conversation. It's nice that you are not randomly popping balloons, just letting the air out gently from a few. I enjoy following a dozen or so YT players / reviewers and let's face it, guitars, pedals (and politics!) do tend to exist in virtual echo chambers on the net . . . and a lot of manufacturers have become very savvy at having their new guitar line or pedal hit the airwaves from a cross section of reviewers on exactly the same day - it's called marketing and so it goes. I consider myself lucky having worked for a couple of years as a guitar salesman in the '70s before going pro and at times having to send the occasional Gibson, Fender & Rickenbacker back to the importers . . . there's no guarantee that a 'name' or the price will give you a 'better' guitar - several of mine are oddities gathering dust in the shops that I picked up for 2 or 300 that had their own quirky thing going for them that I really like . . .

[@B-Dubba-U]

lol the "just as good" crowd is the worst.

[@TheChristafershawn]

Agreed.

[@Cmusic989]

Thirds

[@jaywells5283]

Well done again Jack, but, here’s my thing; There is no such thing as “transparent overdrive”! You know why? Overdrive in and of itself is ………. Wait for it………. NOT TRANSPARENT! Why don’t people get this?!?! And that’s not too old a Trend, it’s still going on in the shoegaze and boutique communities! They say “the klon is transparent!” First off, do you have an ACTUAL klon to compare what you think transparent is?! No! And even in recordings, it’s a drive! It’s dirt! It’s grit! There is no clean when you start adding dirt! You think you’re gonna roll around in the mud, and not need a shower and clean clothes afterward?! This whole trend has just been, and has had, some dumb arguments! Your PLAYING can be clean? But dirt ain’t clean! Keep up the good work!

[@msmoniz]

Amen to #4! Having a few option and parameters to tweak is fine, but I'm the kind of person who then starts to get option paralysis when an amp or pedal has a tone of knobs. Probably why I've never even considered many Mesa/Boogie products. Heck my best sounding amp is a boutique local build small 10" speaker 18 watt combo with a volume and a tone knob. The sounds I can get out of it with just those controls and my guitar and maybe a few choice pedals, are always sublime, and I end up playing more instead of TWEAKING all the time. To those who enjoy the options and tweaking and can control themselves and not go down the rabbit hole, then good on you! I'm actually jealous of you! For me, keeping it simple makes me play more.

[@tomfoolery342]

The Craft Beer, Gluten Free, Artisanal, Non-GMO of guitar trends is shaking the neck side-to-side after playing a chord.......with a beard and skinny jeans on!!🤣

[@JackFossett]

I’m a neck shaker and proud of it! But I don’t do that hipster fashion thing. Half civil war general, half Zack Morris.

[@CorbCorbin]

I bend the neck until I hear the tuners ring!

[@CorbCorbin]

@@JackFossett Zack Morris is Trash…

[@tomfoolery342]

@@CorbCorbin Is this Slater?

[@JackFossett]

It's Mr. Belding.

[@TommySG1]

'Pro Guitars' is just a phrase used to get someone to eagerly buy it imo. Guitars and which one is good for live situations will vary greatly depending on the musicians wallet and also the setting in which he or she's playing in or at. Player A has deep pockets so to him his CS axe is his precious baby he leaves home but he will take his ( Fill in the blank ) Standard Les Paul out to play at the local pub..... Player B has far less funds so for him, his baby he leaves at home is his American mass produced standard and he will bring his Squire or Epiphone to his gig..... I believe it's all situational to the player, the setting and his funds, two cents from the peanut gallery :)

[@truescotsman4103]

I've got one trend that's badly underrated. Practice.

[@stockholm1752]

I pretty much agree with everything said here. A well done rant, Jack. #5 might seem the most controversial subject, but it needn’t be. For collectors, maybe a different story, but if you’re a player, you’re inevitably going to go down this road of discovery by yourself, for yourself. But *be* yourself. Like what you like, and build. That’s what matters.

[@dannyllerenatv8635]

I remember the transparent overdrive craze very well. Do you want your amp just louder? Turn the gain up on your amp or get an attenuator. Pedals, like anything else, will always have their own things going on.

[@dannyllerenatv8635]

The G&L guy makes me laugh too. Hey, G&Ls are wonderfully built guitars and are amazing instruments, no doubt. However, god bless are the headstocks on those things hideous.

[@JackFossett]

SO ugly. I'm 100% with you.

[@MichaelRDahn]

I'm curious what you think about the idea of an "heirloom" instrument. I've heard it used to describe something that retains its value over time, or increases in value. Or, it's an instrument with a high degree of quality (I sort of interpret it as a pedigree) that feels really valuable. For example, I could buy a $500 Epiphone LP Junior, or I could get a $1,700 Gibson LP Junior, but the Gibson version has a sort of pedigree that feel more valuable, even if the price differential doesn't necessarily reflect greater quality. I suppose it has a lot to do with aesthetics (finishes, hardware, etc.)

[@damnfreakingsien]

Transparent overdrive is great, but not necessarily in all situations. They sound great and crunchy with my bridge humbucker, but less so with my neck single coils. I tend to prefer tube screamers for single coil instead. Better yet, I use BOTH together for heavier lead tone😊

[@mickertyable]

I have an American professional ii Strat and I am a total amateur guitarist who never plays out of my house. Nice guitar though 😊

[@rgdhu92]

Great video. Of course, to each his own. We LOVE guitars! For me, the more I play the fewer guitars I take to gigs. For now, MexTele with noiseless (Lace Sensor) pickups. As for bring, the smaller and simpler the better the older I get.

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

I don't care about, "versatility." It counteracts my rationalizations for having multiple guitars.

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

I have quite a few guitars, but they're mostly Ibanez RGs, a JEM Jr, and a Schecter C-7 Diamond Series (that I may sell, I want more Boss pedals for my collection, plus I have OCD and it doesn't match my Ibanez guitars). They're all in different tunings, different pickup configurations, etc.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I agree. I like my amp "spanky-clean" and getting my drive from pedals = Barber Gain Changer SR > Fulltone OCD > Thorpy Fallout Cloud.

[@robertstan2349]

i like one trick ponies. do one thing and do it very, very well. if i need versatility, i get a different one trick pony to cover that. i plug straight into the amp w/attenuator. you don't need a pedal; they are not more refined, to my ears quite the opposite in fact! is it more difficult? i suppose it is until you get used to it - you won't have extra compression to smooth you out or hide behind, but once you get used to it, you'll be just fine.

[@keithbartlett9048]

Most of the time I find myself playing my Epiphone Casino or les paul. I'm not a Gibson fan ,especially when Gibson quality is getting to be subpar and the prices are ridiculously expensive to say the least.

[@musicalcompanion5890]

How about gibson robot tuners and the was it fender robo card reader built into the guitar cavity? the Ernie ball game changer and parker guitars( throwback) depending on how old you are music store sales pushing Jcm 800 like between 91-95 ish

[@gsbguitarsgsb679]

I have been playing the less expensive guitars for as long as I can remember, I have parts casters and other guitars that have been modified in one way or another. I really don’t care what someone’s opinion on my gear is in a negitive connotation. Usually I get positive feedback and that’s acknowledging my efforts and experience over the years and countless hours of time in… For that I’m thankful and appreciative, but always striving to improve and better myself along with staying up to date with some of the technology that we are constantly bombarded with… Take care… Balance is the word that comes to mind… take care, 🎸🤓🥓

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

I love my collection of cheaper (yet modded: pickups, hardware changes, etc.. even two Frankensteins) Ibanez RGs and a JEM Jr. They ranged in price from $299 (back in maybe 1999) for my RG220B to a little over $800 for my 25th Anniversary RG1XXV, which I don't think I'd gig with...

[@bakkels]

To #2: hell yeah. I alwasy felt a guitar designed to do it all (the Strat Am Professional to name one example) just feels like a jack of all trades, master of none. I feel that especially in guitar playing, the KISS rule very much applies. Need another sound? Grab another guitar. (Yeah I know, that warrants multiple guitars but what's wrong with that?) Also, the master of all trades already exists. It's called a tele.

[@csharp57]

Look up the term jack of all trades. It doesn’t mean what you’re implying.

[@bridgestreetdesign]

When you’re left handed (like me) grabbing another guitar is an unrealistic option. And I personally find a stock tele is actually rather limited, but it CAN be very versatile and the remedy is simple: drop a tele size humbucker in the bridge and replace the tone knob with a coil tap switch. I actually play a tele myself (actually a g&l) and I can cover way more bases in this configuration than with all single coils.

[@johnfromnj885]

I like your pragmatism. Subscribed.

[@djacobmadrigal]

One of the biggest problems with people who leave comments is that they don’t listen or have “selective hearing.” They don’t listen to the thesis or the parameters that set up the video or the disclaimer if you will or like u said “let me be crystal clear.” Maybe it’s downright stupidity.

[@PatrickAshe41]

Agreed on versatility; while it's nice to have options, of course, I do tend to find what I like and stick with that (for the most part). And yep, plugging in directly is not inherently better or worse than not. Great players can make great music that route (BB King, Eric Johnson on occasion, etc.), but many *other* great players are wizards with effects (Gilmour, anyone?) But I still think locking tuners are worth the hype. Fast, easy string changes, and adds a little more weight/balance to the head of a body-heavy guitar.

[@dwocelot6913]

The bottom line is that guitarists have crawled so far up the ass of 'their tone' that they're just ridiculous. You could probably do a dozen of these videos.

[@deanallen927]

I don't like the cheese log trend, guitars that look like genetically deformed Jazz Masters crossed with '70s a Teisco, often with two or three kinds of pickups, and (ugh!) the horrible Jazz Master trems. I also wish gold foil pickups would disappear.

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

I mainly only play Ibanez guitars, but to each their own. 🤷‍♂️

[@deanallen927]

@@scramblesthedeathdealer Why would I think Ibanez is a "cheese log" brand? I have a great neck thru Musician, and wouldn't mind an old 550.

[@jtd3421]

Love transparent overdrives. Tube Screamers frustrate me because I love my normal guitar/amp tone.

[@joybuzzer]

I have locking tuners on all of my guitars. They're a quality-of-life item and I think they're great. As a solo artist, I can have a new string on a guitar in under a minute. Maybe when I'm a touring pro who has his own guitar tech on payroll, I can change all of my tuners back to conventional tuners because it will no longer be me who has to change my guitar strings.

[@ronpatterson6420]

Thanks for the video, i tend to be influenced by advertising, then i find out that it doesn't make me better. But sometimes it feels cool 😊

[@84kjk]

It’s part of the hobby. What’s a hobby without buying all the cool stuff and then realizing later you don’t really need it. Lol

[@jesusprofessor314]

Great video Jack. Thank you.

[@jhvuvnik65s24]

This guy is one of the best influences out there for your more vintage type gear reviews. If you're new to learning guitar and enjoy blues or classic rock tones, listen to this guy. He won't steer you wrong. He's got a great balance of not being a tone snob, while also keeping it real if something stinks.

[@thedoyleharcavy]

If you have a guitar with a bigsby, locking tuners really help tuning stability vs standard tuners.

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

Your #1 comes into play in a MANY different fields of intrest. I believe this is driven primarily by two phenomena: 1) Envy/Sour Grapes. 2) Rationalization to alleviate cognitive dissonance.

[@michaelvarney.]

Even using the term “A dentist” as a pejorative reeks of sour grapes.

[@JackFossett]

I think it smells more like gingivitis.

[@Michel-r6m]

I try to keep it simple. The guitar and amp should make a sound I like and with two channels and fx loop you got plenty of options. As for pedals I want to keep it at five (OD,Ph,Fl,Ch,Del)...wel make it six surftrem 😅 When you stick to quality (good enough for you) you got keepers and may seem expensive at first it is in general a lot cheeper that having gear on rotation all the time.

[@DoomLatveria]

I got a fender pro 2 because I wanted its paint job. Seriously, the dark night paint is amazing and I love it.

[@thebigleone1066]

When I saw Jimmy Page playing a Dan Electro I realized the price wasn’t that important. Yes, I know he modified it, but he still bought on the cheap when he was a session guy. FYI, I recently bought a PRS SE Custom 24-08, made in Indonesia. Just fabulous right out of the box. One small tweak on a fret.

[@aminahmed2220]

What a great video have a wonderful day Jack also I have good news i am going to college in Canada where I live in ❤😊

[@jordanpratt3821]

I own and love both,but affordable guitar owners are the worst......the worst

[@B-Dubba-U]

facts.

[@HALWASRIGHT]

BIG FACTS!

[@SAIBOT64]

Preach

[@grimlyfiendish7474]

I built a parts caster tele. I have about a grand in it all said and done. It’s not my priciest guitar nor is it my lowest but it’s my favorite go to first guitar bar none. I’ll be buried with that thing! Say what they want I’ll never be swayed because it doesn’t say “Fender” on it.

[@swaffy101]

I buy the gear that I wanted when I was a teenager that my family and I could not afford at that time. I’m 40 now and I run through gear. I have had very expensive guitars and amps and very inexpensive guitars and amps. Not all expensive gear sounds or feels the best and not all inexpensive gear is trash. You just got try it out. I will say that with more expensive guitar they tend feel good 9/10. Less expensive it’s more of a numbers game. Just play what makes you feel good and let the haters hate.

[@11000038]

I have old guitars. New guitars. Cheapies and not cheapies. They are all excellent else they would have gone. My current fave is a 45 yo well dinked Vantage Ghost. £200 + 35 for some pickups.

[@stratdude56]

Tom Bukovac is the first call session guitarist in Nashville. He has no need for locking tuners. or hot rodded accessories.

[@Dnell-tb1yd]

Locking tuners aren’t a necessity but, I like them quite a bit

[@younkinjames8571]

#5...theres a video out there of a young man playing a childs guitar at a walmart and crushing. I think it was pride and joy. I thought to myself...i did not need him to do that on a 3k guitar to be impressed. I cant do it on my 3k guitar. I like players to do just that...play. Im 51 and in the "gigging" category. Weekend warrior some might say.

[@robertmakins5070]

I haven't changed the settings on any pedal on my pedalboard in 5 years.

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

me too ppl with strat copies talk crap out of jealousy... bottom line they couldn't afford the authentic corona made guitar therefore they try to shame you into double guessing that you are a sucker for wasting your money...I have tele usa ultra and a strat usa ultra lux he can keep his g&l. I played them and had to have them and Im not ever going to spend a good chunk of money for something I am almost happy with.

[@allanflippin2453]

Writing from my venue in my mommy's basement, I HAVE to have professional-level gear to make me feel like I'm a force to be reckoned with :D HAHA Anyway, it's just a hobby for me but I have enough money to buy some nice gear and I thoroughly enjoy it :)

[@ckvillanueva5870]

I think we might hear more of the my-budget-guitar-is-better than the other way around because it’s “punching up.” If you can afford an expensive luxury guitar then you should also be able to afford having the piss taken out of you from time to time.

[@CorbCorbin]

The transparent OD thing, seemed to go hand in hand with Mayer being found to have used the Marshall Bluesbreaker pedal. Analogman is still making a living off just making those King of Tone pedals.

[@JackFossett]

That and Klon. Which are both ironic because neither are particularly transparent in my opinion.

[@dannyllerenatv8635]

Funny enough, he finds the craze people have over these pedals obnoxious as well and has blacked out many pedals as a result. Yeah, the dude has tons and tons of gear, including very expensive Dumble amplifiers. However, he's also a very capable player and loves what he does. Those things get used and don't sit and rot away. The BluesBreaker was already starting to gain some traction within circles about it being rather "transparent", but it didn't completely take off until John Mayer was spotted with one. The Klon, as mentioned earlier here, was always a bit ridiculous in terms of the hype it garnered. Mayer using one just added more to the already absurd price.

[@CorbCorbin]

@@JackFossett Yeah, they completely changes my tone. The Bluesbreaker circuit, sounds amp like, because it’s supposed to, and the Klon boosts mids, not unlike a Tube Screamer, just different frequency range, but most I see use it as a boost. The best use I found for a Klon circuit, is to push into a scooped Fuzz, to cut through a mix.

[@Winterfell1066]

I picked up a Chinese Squier recently for 75 bucks. Put a 920d loaded pickguard in it. It sounds amazingly good. I have less than 300 in it. It has a figured maple neck with a slab board dark rosewood fretboard. I set it up, it plays great, and I was blown away by the value. All of my other guitars are either vintage Gibsons and Strats along with some very nice parts casters. I have generally turned my nose up by Squiers, but I would not be embarrassed to play the cheap one I bought anywhere.

[@B-Dubba-U]

Squier has really stepped it up recently. I picked up a classic vibe jazzmaster for super cheap expecting it to be a turd and id just use the body for something but it ended up being an absolutely fantastic guitar.

[@ImYourOverlord]

Probably a Squier. There's no Squire.

[@Winterfell1066]

@@ImYourOverlord Yes, just a typo

[@nellayema2455]

Well designed locking tuners make string changes quick and easy for all level of player.

[@markferguson3745]

Pushback against elitist consumerism isn't the worst thing that ever happened in Western culture, but as with everything else, it's a question of perspective and balance.Ideally, you don't want to fight prejudice with prejudice,or elitism with taking pride in weakness or mediocrity.The current cultural narrative is having some problems making those distinctions; you might even say that it's become a primary source of cultural conflict.

[@JackFossett]

👆

[@HeySenatorArnold]

Nobody even know what a transparent overdrive is! I saw someone call a klon "transparent", bruh...🤣

[@brianmckenzie1318]

If all drive pedals were billed as transparent, why are they producing so many overdrive pedals? 🤣 It's confusing with so many manufactures marketing the term "transparent".

[@Bluepilled-c5t]

Dissing on vintage guitars in comments sections, complaining of their price. A current trend. And another trend, complaining about Gibsons.

[@JackFossett]

Everyone loves to hate Gibson. It’s like a sport.

[@B-Dubba-U]

Gibson complaints can be warranted because their QC is still abysmal for their price point but, the guys acting like everything they make is firewood and still complaining about prices are obnoxious. I say this as someone that was genuinely excited when Gibson was put under new management and was hoping to see them doing great things but sadly its been a bit of a let down. that said, A Les Paul Custom in black is still my holy grail guitar.

[@monsterram6617]

If you're following trends, you're on a fool's errand. Guitar gear or otherwise.

[@jamiebridson7871]

I love my transparent overdrives, but I can never find them (this is a joke about transparency being visual rather than an audio characteristic: it's a very funny comment).

[@JackFossett]

👆 for the win

[@paristhalheimer]

Locking tuners are great for quick string changes: this is all.

[@BOSSenjoyer]

Pick up the most expensive guitar in a nice shop and then go through the "regular" guitars. Try not to lie to yourself afterwards.. These aren't cellos or grand pianos. Spend $10K on a custom shop ESP and you'll get a perfect guitar. It won't magically make you play better though.

[@willdenham]

Pros to me are players who play out, onstage and/or in a studio for a living.

[@JRriffin]

For 🎸, you get everything you need at around the 2 grand price point . Above that and it's cosmetic or exotic.

[@JimMorrisonsBathtub]

It must be annoying to deal with people who ignore you when you say it's the trend you think is overrated not necessarily the gear and then give you a hard time about not liking this piece of gear

[@JackFossett]

It is. But if we're being honest, I say it so purposefully clearly that at least they'll look that much more ridiculous when they inevitably comment!

[@paristhalheimer]

All equipment are tools for expression. I'm not a fan of amp dirty. I like pedals.

[@11000038]

Agree x5

[@jmeakin4]

The quality at Squier and Epiphone has improved significantly to the point that many of their instruments rival the lower-end ones of their flagship companies. While that wouldn't put them at the level of high-end production models and custom shop offerings, Paranormal, Contemporary, Classic Vibe, and 40th Anniversary Squiers have matched the quality of the Fender MiMs, at least up until the release of the Player II series, while Epiphone '59 Les Paul Reissues, except for a few hardware items, have compared well with Gibson R9s. Where many do compare more affordable brands with the custom shop level, possibly with a valid point, is when it comes to high-end relic'ed models. For many who appreciate good new instruments of any price range, the thought of paying substantially more to have a new guitar purposefully beat up to look like hell just boggles the mind. Those who want such damaged gear often are perceived to be average players trying to look the role of seasoned rock god, and much criticism of such custom shop items from those with less expensive gear is directed at that demographic. The point being: Your trend #1 in this episode, budget gear being considered better than more expensive models, is a bit more complicated and justified, in some cases, but not all. (i.e., my Fender JV Modified Tele is better than any of my Squiers.)

[@TheChristafershawn]

I have two Vinteras and I had a CV Jazzmaster and a J. Mascis JM (which is much better than the CV). The Classic Vibe and (Paranormal as well) guitars are very decent and gigable guitars BUT to say the are just as good as the MIM Vintera Jazzmaster/Jaguar is just silly. Just holding them you can feel the difference in build and the Duncan designed pups are okay but not great. The pickups on the Vintera's are legit. One could always upgrade but it is not a must by any means with the Vintera's pups. I have not played the Player series so maybe in that case it is a bit closer but I have my doubts.

[@Ten2More]

Why vintage or versatile? Limitations. Enemy of great art is the absence of limitations. Otherwise, the artist works harder to impose their own limitations. If it is easily done and doesn’t push you, it tends to get derivative. I like pedals, but I will commit to it for a song if I want something to happen in the moment. We don’t want to sound like AI.

[@damonkatos4271]

How many $100 gigs does take to pay for it? The only question you need to ask yourself.

[@sgblues4238]

G&L owners acting superior to Fender owners remind me of Betamax owners.

[@markmcdonald5711]

They are both Fenders, just made different.

[@teerexness]

I've been a pro guitarist for 45 years and the only "vintage" guitar I'd give a nickel for, is one that is no longer available. Not LP, S or T style guitars. The difference against new or even knock-off isn't even close to being commensurate with the prices. I'd choose a unique guitar over them any day.

[@H7tchens]

Be nice if you marked your videos for each point. Nice videos though .

[@willdenham]

Still agree with you about locking tuners as well.

[@GC-bk1mv]

On the pro guitarist point - I’ve put this into two categories; the pro guitarist who knows theory, how to apply it and can play very well, but may not be making a living from it and the guy who may not know as much theory or how to play that great, but is making a living from it. I’ve always been told that if you get paid, you’re a professional. I feel both need to be there for one to consider themselves a true professional. It irks me when guys are making a living playing guitar and have no idea what the modes are, etc. I feel that’s stuff every true guitarist should know.

[@joeyoungs8426]

I definitely understand your point, HOWEVER I am a guitarist from before most were born and I grew up on classical guitar, theory, modes, etc. Played most of my life for personal pleasure though I had a 10-12 year stretch as a ‘professional’. I always served the song with a complete disregard for the technical labels one could attach to what I did. On the other end of the spectrum was our singer/guitar player. Absolutely no formal training but understood the basics, keys, song structure, etc. He was an outstanding guitarist, always came prepared, always served the song and was blissfully ignorant to the technical side. He was absolutely a true professional in my book.

[@Cmusic989]

This is not what he means when he says pro....this is a random arguement.

[@JustinLazlo]

That is a strange thing to get irked about imo

[@spikeafrican8797]

Gear trends are overrated... I love too much stuff! Nowadays I just I keep the stuff that I love and love to play plus a couple that I just love. Great topic thanks.

[@martydibergi5228]

I am trending gender fluid to get gigs

[@JustinLazlo]

I think you're overgeneralising about amp overdrive. Plenty of tube amps have gain channels with enough gain to do it without pedals at a reasonable volume.

[@titussardonicus338]

Okay, but out of thousands of guitars I've play tested, I'll die on the hill that Epiphone is better than Gibson.

[@6stringcodger450]

Have had a dozen Gibsons over time and recently bought a new Epi LP Custom in 2005 (someone told me that's not recent, but time is relative) More recently had it Plekd. I play it every day, the Gibsons, not quite as much.