Upgrade Guitar, Pedals or Amp? | Gear Check | Thomann

[@brunochiarini_guitar]

Genuine improvement: practice. Tone: amp, Dream: guitar, Fun: pedals

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

haha! I love that Bruno! Thanks for the comment! //Kris

[@gamecat666]

its so refreshing to see a company being so honest about their own brand stuff. No overhyping, no trashing, just reasonably explaining the differences.

[@gamecat666]

also, budget Tone socks vs High end tone socks comparison plz

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks! We (G and I) agreed right at the beginning on not faking anything in our videos. Also, we're really bad actors, so that wouldn't work anyhow. haha! We try to stay realistic and straight forward. So glad to hear that it comes through. :) Cheers and thanks for the support! //Kris

[@joaolaureano1966]

Would be cool to see the same concept for an apartment rig, really low volume or headphone use. Nice one guys!

[@TheDistortionPrinciple]

Yes

[@hermeticbasementstudiosinc4904]

My two cents: getting an expensive guitar is about feel, durability and reliability. The cheap guitar may sound nearly the same, but it would probably feel cheap, need more work done over time and be more prone to bad intonation and balance problems. Upgrading pedals makes a more noticeable difference in sound, and opens the way for crazier effects (there's no cheap pedal out there doing what a Walrus Slö does). And upgrading the amp makes for the biggest improvement, but a lot of people don't need an amp nowadays. Amp simulators are getting really good and really cheap. A Fender Mustang Micro is 99 bucks... in a recording, it would probably sound better than the Harley Benton amp, maybe closer to the Deluxe. Not to mention that with an amp you also have to think about speaker upgrades, microphones and so on.

[@donald-parker]

There are all kinds of stories about our guitar heros playing each others rigs hoping to tap into some special mojo, only to find that they still sound like themselves (for example - I've heard both Joe Satriani and Steve Vai talk about trying Brian May's rig, only to find, much to their dismay, they still sound like themselves). So talent/fingers and approach is #1. Having said that, I think #2 should be based on what inspires you. There is no doubt that the feel of a different guitar can inspire different playing approaches. Same for sounds. Crazy fact - your choice of picks can make a GIGANTIC impact on your tone. It is well worth investing in a wide range of picks to find what works best for you. Easy to change, and, as a rule, much cheaper than amps 😉

[@redheart6995]

Upgrade the amp, it's so dramatic change! A 59 burst will sound poor in a crappy amp!

[@asambatyon]

I have always had this feeling that changing a guitar is not so much about tone as it is about feel. A cheap strat vs an expensive one with similar pickups sound relatively the same, but man, usually the epensive ones are lighter, with nicer necks, so much easier to deal with.

[@magogus7099]

I agree, that's why i think guitar is the most important part of your rig, if i'm having fun playing i automatically pla better and also sound better, no matter the rest of the rig. Allthough i think the guitar doesn't have to be more expensive, the player need to enjoy it

[@paulcamus8944]

For sheer joy, the guitar. For tone, the amp by far.

[@ludovicspaeth2840]

In the hands of a skilled guitarist, any low budget rig will sound good. Spend your money in guitar lessons folks !

[@eddierayvanlynch6133]

8:28 "Once you play with a band..." Exactly. And on that point: "The absence of a problem is subtle." - Grace Smith Also, a Jubilee Marshall stack and vintage Ibanez Tube Screamer won't keep you from being booed offstage if your cheap axe won't stay in tune.

[@gkniffen]

More importantly: where to put your time... practice.

[@stanislavmigra]

Does buying gear contradicts practicing?

[@gkniffen]

@@stanislavmigra The world's best gear won't save a sh*t player. 🤷‍♂️

[@stanislavmigra]

@@gkniffen thats not, what I was asking ;)

[@tommilitello198]

There’s nothin wrong with practicing on good gear if you can lmao.get tired of the comments on everything that say practice,people know this shit

[@IvanK84]

Time is more important than money so less practice and more expensive gear 😂😂😂.

[@lucagare4809]

Nice video! I would be interest in something similar but focusing on someone playing basically exclusively at home, so a comparison of sounds at low volumes

[@16ORLvc]

I think it really depends a lot on what exactly is your rig, and if you are struggling more with tone, noise or comfort. I started with a cheap used Ibanez (less than 100 dollars) and a really cheap 15w amp. When I upgraded my amp, the improvement in tone was brutal. After changing my guitar, the noise reduction was much more noticeable than the improvement in tone, although I didn’t had much noise in the first place to be a problem for a beginner. Today, there are many pedal clones that are nearly spot on, so it should suffice to buy a affordable one if you are a student and choose wisely. If your amp has an effects loop, you can even buy a reasonably priced “amp in a box” and have a much better sound without spending on a new one. That being said, some of my friends started with guitars that where so hard to play comfortably and to keep in tune, that they could not progress in their technique without upgrading the instrument first. So it’s not a one answer fits all kind of situation, in my opinion...

[@countblue]

That depends about which price category we are talking. There are people out there that have to do with very little budgets. The advice to them would be totally different than for somebody with a moderate budget. For a tiny budget: First get a halfway decent guitar which is playable without pain. (100-200EUR) Then find the cheapest way to a sound, many times this is a modeller. (100-200EUR ) You can run that over headphones for the beginning or get by with cheap small amp (50EUR) Later when you are comfortable with spending more, start with a good amp and work your way up the chain to the guitar of your dreams. Effects can then by added as your budget allows.

[@RobertNolan]

So yeah, that amp changed everything all at once. As someone who builds pedals, I can guarantee that if the small part/component values are the same the pedals are the same. Cheap or expensive, does not matter. You only need to upgrade the pickups of an electric guitar for a different sound. I know that stings, but it's true.

[@gregcameron5079]

To me, the amp is the most important part of the signal chain, you can make a cheap guitar sound better with a good amp, or make an expensive guitar sound lousy with a crappy amp.

[@frantisca]

Thanks for uploading. Missing one VERY important aspect: top-range speaker VS budget one...

[@ericorlowe8642]

Using headphones… I had to only listen to the video without watching to discern a difference. And even after the third go. It’s difficult to tell. Very cool video. Well done.

[@danielflintknapping]

I'm really enjoying your videos guys, keep em coming!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

You're awesome Daniel! Thanks a bunch! //Kris

[@josearjona3728]

My experience is, if the guitar plays good and stays in tune, spend your money in a GOOD amp. Period.

[@angusorvid8840]

I've probably owned hundreds of thousands, if not a million dollars' worth of gear in the for decades I've been playing. This included boutique amps that cost as much as a small car and guitars that cost as much as a house. What I've discovered is you don't have to spend that much to sound great. Number one, if you can't play well, it doesn't matter if you've got a ten-thousand-dollar PRS McCarty and a Soldano or a Walmart special and a transistor radio for an amp. It's all in the fingers, your ears, etc. But if you can play and you want gear that will help you get it all out first look for a guitar that sounds good enough and plays well, that's ergonomic. Then make sure the electronics are good enough. If not, you're going to want to change the pickups, and if you don't know what you're doing you'll go down a rabbit hole. As for amps I look for good tone over high gain. It's not that I don't love some good high gain, but I want good tone first because I may end up using pedal or an external preamp for gain anyways. I love Fender amps with a good balance of warmth and presence. Also, a good Marshall. But I find Fenders to be more reliable and they give you a lot mor headroom. I had a Boogie that I played for about a decade. Great amp. Was it worth the hefty price? Yes. It fell down several flights of stairs on more than one occasion without a blemish and totally intact, so when they say they use milspec chassis you better believe it. But you don't have to spend that much on an amp. At the moment I love Blackstar amps, although I don't own one yet. I will be getting an HT 20 Mark II combo soon. I love the way they sound. Otherwise, I have a fender and a collection of mini-heads which are very good. But I'm digging the Blackstar. I say find out what kind of player you are. Some players lean more towards clean tones, or just vintage tones in general. You may want more of a surfcaster kind of tone, and that's a different world from the Marshall high gain tone. The world of Fender and Fender type amps is very different from the super strat humbucking Marshall high gain world. Explore. Keep an open mind.

[@cowieson]

Cool comparison. To be fair I thought the full budget rig sounded good! I guess when it comes to which thing to upgrade first it depends how budget your gear is to begin with - e.g. if your guitar is so budget it’s holding back your ability to progress, or if your amp is a teeny tiny solid state one or whatever else.

[@jazzterboi1]

Absolutely the Amp. My question is, is there another/bigger Harley Benton Amp or other budget Amp that would have a similar effect?

[@duartefaria7134]

In my experience the first one is the guitar, the instrument should be the most important thing in an investment, maybe the improvment in sound quality will not be so good with your current setup but it will eventualy, you have to feel good and at home with your instrument. Second for me is to define if i need the tone of an amp or just power, third is to define if valves or transistor. Fourth one is to define the cabinet. Fifth one is to define if you go with a bunch of pedals or just move to a pedalboard and vice-versa. Knowing if i will just play at home or if i am gonna do live concerts, or both of them. Define this and you will have options to search and build a correct investment along time. After so much bad investments i did, this is my lesson in how to not waste money. For example i invested in a line 6 pod x3 live and i can record directly with that at 32bits and 96000khz (studio quality), i just need a power amp and a cabinet to listen while playing cause the juice is all being done by the pedalboard and being recorded in a PC software of my choice. I will never spend money into a micro and in a sound board cause no need, i already have it in the pedalboard. At this moment i do not even use an amp, just phones connected to the pedalboard and the pedalboard is connected via mp3 to the PC, so i can ear both backing track and my guitar on the phones with no latency while recording the guitar track. Good investments and wise decisions. But all depends of what you ear in your head as your virtual sound and your need as a musician.

[@vinicioserafini5929]

Cool video as usual! Next step could be: does a cheap guitar (like the HB you were playing) that goes though plek and pro set-up sound and feel better than an out-of-the-box mid priced instrument like a Fender Player? I think this could be a crucial point for starter to mid-level players who want to make the most out of every dime spent.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

It would definitely improve the guitar drastically yeah, and as most of you pointed out already, the guitar is mostly a question of comfort and inspiration. If you love the one you have, improvements such as these are a great idea!//Guillaume

[@mattvanmantgem8600]

I agree that there is confusion on "upgrading a rig" but I don't think you touched on the range of options enough. For example: before I upgrade guitar, pedals or amp- how about cable? Speaker? tuners? Bridge? Pickups? etc, etc. I don't think I'm unusual on that: the logical, and most intuitive thing is to isolate what's the "weak link", and start there.

[@josephhughes9490]

Kris, You have some seriously terrific skills on guitar. Finger speed is incredible as well. Money for me goes to the guitar although I don't go for expensive guitars . Budget for gear.

[@jeppej4265]

I was at this point a litle over year ago. Some basic pedals, ok guitar, ok amp. Ended up buying Fender deluxe reverb tonemaster and already at the first band practise I knew it was the right choice! Previously I had issues with base and guitar overlapping and competing but with new amp that was all history. It sounded just like at home and basist still says that was best purchase I've done =) Later I have added a new guitar and L6 pod go to the mix but thats another story.. For the Tonemaster I've really enjoyed possibility to dropp the wattage. I run the amp around 5-6, just at the breaking point but with the wattage dropped it doesn't remove everyones hearing and still sounds like tubes would on that level.

[@evanharnett]

Amps is definitely first upgrade. Once you get a better amp you'll realize I need a better guitar. The pedals I would say budget vs. brand name. Sound wise not a huge difference unless you are talking uber premium brand like Strymon but chinese budget vs. Boss/MXR/EHX, it's really the durability of the brand names. They will last a little longer than the cheaply made pedals.

[@nsp477]

The video approaches the decision from the point of view of the quality of sound, but there is another important factor that should be taken into account: the condition of your current instrument. It's not just "the action is low"; there are several other elements to think about: If your current guitar does not stay in tune, has an uncomfortable neck profile, or the fret edges are sharp, the weight is unbalanced so it head-dives or is body heavy, etc. then you probably should consider putting your money into a better built guitar. Yes, you may not hear a lot of difference in the sound that comes out of your old amp, but your playing will become much more enjoyable and your learning will speed up. A cheap, badly built guitar can discourage or even make you quit altogether.

[@marcmuller3429]

I think 1st Place Amps, 2nd Guitars (sorry for that), 3rd Pedals

[@kristophergamble8510]

I would upgrade amp and speaker. Budget pedals and guitars are getting really really good.

[@eddierayvanlynch6133]

Having played over four decades, I would agree that budget lines are better, but ime, it's because they're more consistent unit to unit. When I started out, two Squire or Epiphone guitars of the same model sounded sometimes wildly different. Just my two cents. 🤘😎

[@BOBANDVEG]

@@eddierayvanlynch6133 True . But the starter guitar war in the late 90s really revolutionized the way guitars are made

[@charleshuguley9903]

More important, to me, than the tone of a guitar is the feel of the neck. My favorite guitar is a '68 335 that has had the hell played out of it- so much so that the finish is completely worn off a large area of the back. The neck is worn and comfortable. It has been re-fretted but the feel is there. Of course, in this case, the tone is great too.

[@KakuraZenom]

To me as you said it reaaally depend on why you want to upgrade. Is it to make gigs, vids, or playing at home ? I am in the "I only play at home" category and for sure the guitar is the most important cause that is the upgrade that I will feel the most while playing. In fact I first upgraded my guitar, then I bought some pedals to play with it and last I upgraded the amp ;)

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

That makes a lot of sense, thanks for sharing your point of view. We connect most with guitars on an emotional level. For that reason it's absolutely understandable to find the right one first and worry about the rest after that. :) Cheers //Kris

[@CountNetsrac]

Great video! The difference between the guitars surprised me a bit. I thought with the guitars the major difference would be in the feeling not so much in the sound. The difference between the pedals and amps were pretty much as I expect. I just don't totally regarding what Kris said regarding, that you don't here the difference of the pedal in a band context. Especially the overdrive might make the difference between being able to cut through the mix or with a bad overdrive not being heard by the audience at all. Regarding a second similar test you could try maybe the rock and roll version: LesPaul type guitar in an overdrive in an marshallish amp. Or maybe even replace the overdrive with a distortion.

[@DudeRealCool]

By the looks of it thomann has some spare fender amps with a good margin. Just get a decent second hand tube amp, upgrade the guitar and just Play more. Nothing beats the feeling when You connect with your instrument. When You get better at your playing you'll know which effects You need and want to buy.

[@montycline9840]

Bigger Amp. Because that is really where your sound comes from petals add a lot but true sound comes from the app. You guys are always good. TY

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks Monty, and I think we all agreed on the amp being the biggest difference in our particular test yeah :) //G

[@stephenhill8675]

I know from experience get a good amp they sound amazing even with cheap guitars and pedals. I changed from a line 6 spider v20 to a Marshall dsl5cr the Marshall makes my Yamaha Pacifica 012 sound like a very expensive guitar now. I now need to get a more expensive guitar soon.

[@Steven_SK]

That was a damn good one guys!!! The "budget" guitars have gotten so good as far as sound but they only lack, and I use that term loosely, feel. How good do they play? They need some love as Kris said but it can mean the world. But both you guys proved that the sounds are good. If we buy Kris some shoes can we upgrade him from "budget" player? Great job Kris and "G"man!!!

[@angusorvid8840]

Some budget guitars feel fantastic. I've owned a number of Yamahas that feel exceptional and didn't break the bank.

[@gatsaras]

For enjoying a good tone on low volume when home practicing for example or just jamming , I think a good pedalboard is really important to just enjoy ur own sound and be versatile at gigs having ur own unique sound following you around. Later adding a new guitar for confident and enjoyable playing. I genuinely feel that this harley benton tube amp is a great all around home/apartment amp. Now if u have a studio going on with sound proof materials and so on then I would consider a "better" amp. Cheers to Guillaume I enjoy ur instagram vids as well!

[@matthewgroff433]

I do not have any pedals. But after I started had been playing for about 3 or 4 years I upgraded my guitar and amp. Then I bought a Bass Guitar and started playing Bass. My main problems: I need to practice, maybe get 1 or 2 pedals for the guitar, and Get my guitars and bass "tuned up"/gone over.

[@CaptainMahone07]

For me, the tone difference between the two full rigs isn't worth the money difference. Harley Benton forever guys ;)

[@abdelrahmankhaled8239]

Tyler Larson once said "We're guitar players not amp players" If you can only upgrade one of them rn upgrade your guitar you'll have more fun and you'll wanna practice more if your guitar plays like butter. and if you practice more you'll make that bedroom amp sound awesome :)

[@hekakain4108]

I have the Custom shop 62 Tele with TV Jones pups, Cali76, the handmade boutique all authentic components K.O.T by Raffertys' in Ireland, (one more year and the original K.O.T is mine) and Fuzz box; the POG2, Boss ES-8 board, ODR-1 natural overdrive both versions, Deja Vibe, Disaster Master, Maxon Overdrive, GE-7, Shure wireless guitar set up, and a plethora of other quality pedals I will need another pedal board in order to use them; and last but not least my faithful Yamaha THR10...what shall I replace? LOL ; )

[@huginstarkstrom]

I own a lot of budget guitars. They tend to sound nice (upgraded PU and electronics) and play nice, if set up properly. However, I have to set them up more often than my 2k Euro guitars. If you know how to do that, no prob. If not, it's either epxensive or you play a guitar that's no fun playing. MY advice is: scout the second hand market. Don't have fix ideas, follow where the market leads you. Only when you are more experienced, you know what you want. Then you look for specific Gear.

[@Mindartcreativity]

What a fun video. Pedals and amp definitely make a big difference to my ears.

[@edbrito-swdev]

Ok, so I watched the whole video on the TV, using only the TV speakers. Normally I would listen to this with headphones on but, from this, I can tell you that the only audible difference I heard was when the amp changed.

[@sorenedzen]

The amp for sure.

[@TyDaGreatest.]

I always been taught guitar, amp, then pedals. I feel like the guitar is the most important piece in a rig. Money should not be thing (don’t put yourself in debt) but you should invest in a guitar that you can look at and inspire you to play. If that’s the Fender American Telecaster for $1500 or Gibson Les Paul for $2100 you should get it, and enjoy it. Life too short to be going cheap on something you believe is a passion or a hobby of yours.

[@jdmarino]

Is there any reason to think the answer will be different for a bass rig (that the amp is the primary tonal factor)? Maybe the "specific" version of the video you make should be bass-oriented.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey John, I think the results would be similar. My guess is: 1. amp 2. bass 3.pedals (since most bass players don't care too much about effects pedals that much). Good thing is, you'll find really good sounding bass amps for less money (or at least you'll have more options), than if you were looking for the same tonal awesomeness in guitar amps. I might be wrong thought, I'm just a bass lover, not a proper bass player. :D //Kris

[@rickw5024]

I know in my years of gear purchase's the Guitar was more of a personal thing and similar guitars still sounded the same. But when I could finally afford a real amp it made by far the greatest change in sound. especially these days when technology allows such great budget guitars to be produced. The old squires were miles behind the old American Strat's the todays squires are today's Strat's. Pedal's are hit and miss. I remember when Maxon's were considered cheap pedals.

[@tamirkeren6750]

My two cents: The guitar is the most important cause thats your interface with the sound. It has to be comfortable and to sound good to you but It doesnt have to be expensive. I know players who made great albums with A yamaha pacifica. Pedals- really made a big differance. Amp- Not a very fair comparison. 15 or twenty two watts is avery big difference in the headroom has to do nothing with the price. Itws allso a different design so again has nothing to do with the price fenders blackface are known for their headroom. Alot of very expensive metal amps have no headroom at all. Nice video was very surprized by the diffarence the pedals made.

[@stanislavmigra]

When I uped my cheapo amp for affordable valve amp, my interest in playing guitar increased dramaticaly

[@ZeBubba]

A better cab. Often the forgotten piece, but it makes a world of difference and should never be overlooked. Get a good cabinet, folks!

[@hearpalhere]

Before watching, in my opinion, the best place to upgrade is your own skills. Get some lessons or just play and practice way more from books/videos. But now, on to watch the video :-)

[@hearpalhere]

OK, having watched the video (actually mostly listening), I think the best upgrade in this case would be the amp. But really, the budget rig sounded fantastic as is too.

[@Earlvis]

Pickups first and foremost, then amp and speakers. Those three have the most profound impact on great tone.

[@rullopat]

Great video! Next time, the same comparison but for heavy metal please!

[@Johnsalad]

Love your VDO, from Hit the Tone to this :)

[@eddierayvanlynch6133]

When Van Halen's debut came out, many insisted it was a fake. Like those people, Ted Nugent thought Eddie's playing was all studio tricks, or at the least, his rig and stomp boxes were responsible. One night Ted approached EVH backstage, told him his opinion, and Ed graciously handed him his guitar. After several minutes, Ted handed the guitar back and apologized, saying he realized the magic was EVH and nobody playing through that rig would have Eddie's sound or technique. So... It's always the guitar, and not just from a gear standpoint. A beginner trumpet player with outstanding dedication, motivation, and love for music will always be held back if the valves constantly stick because of poor materials, design, and/or workmanship. I'm fairly certain that this is obvious; it's not just time spent with a horn on your face or a guitar in your lap. And progress from level to level can be hampered from the same cause: An intermediate player will struggle if they have to, or choose to switch to an inferior instrument. Only a master-level player (because of experience with mechanical issues) can't maintain or increase a level of skill with low-quality equipment. And then it's a situation of diminishing returns. EVH not only put his own gear together, he designed, set up, and continually tweaked it to ensure it would enhance his ability to create instead of holding it back. And I understand that if price is what most people think of when they upgrade, then that is itself an impediment to improvement. Thanks for reading, and thanks to the Thomann's crew. 🤘😎

[@jc6721]

Nice video gentlemen! I have the Monoprice version of the same amp you use in this video. What amp, either tube or solid state, would you recommend as a better amp than this 15 watt tube amp from HB/Monoprice that is under $600? Thanks

[@michaelvarney4723]

LESSONS!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MrPoilleke]

I'd say the more affordable rigg (HB) has some more fuzzyness than the Fender combo and more expensive pedals. Whatever you guys played. Like you say, more headroom and tons of midrange more with the more expensive gear. But in the end the amp makes all the difference, at least in my opinion. Btw listening on my samsung tab through a blackstar stereo40 V2 with the mp3 line in...

[@dougmyers3684]

The Amp, how about making a comparison to a less expensive better amp like a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe or Blues Jr.?

[@Leiria65]

I preferred the pedal upgrade in the video, though if I was in this situation I'd probably upgrade my amp first. Personal experiences just make me value an amp upgrade more Also, Id like to see this but for bass

[@arturojc6974]

For playing at home I would upgrade the guitar if it is too heavy, not to a custom one and maybe the pedals. Playing live in a band upgrade the amp and guitar

[@michaeldorrenbacher8977]

It is ridiculous how good this cheap rigs sound today. All the kids that own that complete Harley Benton rig and are not happy with it should hear the gear old people like me had at the beginning. But there is something more important: inspiration. Buy that stuff that inspires YOU to pick up the guitar and play!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Ahh man, I can only speak about the 90's as a beginner guitar player and it wasn't very good. haha! Budget gear improved massively for sure! Thanks for watching Michael! Cheers //Kris

[@jamesquirk8656]

Upgrade the amp. Budget guitars are great these days, same with pedals. Amps will make or break your tone.

[@kawasexy030]

Could be too specific but... what about a head & cabinet version of this format? I mean, is the cabinet a tremendous upgrade or are there other gears you would upgrade first?

[@kawasexy030]

Oh btw, I’d save money for a good amp rather than buying 372936 guitars and pedals.. the second thing for me is: upgrading pickups and parts.

[@PooNinja]

Lessons will improve your playing more than gear. I’m still GASing for soo much gear. An Onyx Pia, REVV head n cabs and … ALL the pedals,racks and plug ins!!! Come on lotto 🤞🏽🤣.

[@PooNinja]

Maybe show how to make a budget W/D\W rig triple cab craziness!!! I use a HB thunder 99 for w/\w post IR to pa cabs and a lunch box amp pre IR into a 1-12 cab for my /D\. Not something you can take to a show necessarily, but playing at home it sounds so massive and articulate. Mmm all the wideitity. 🤘🏽

[@TexanUSMC8089]

How about a Blues Jr instead of the Deluxe ? It's a little closer in size to the HB amp.

[@andreasbravos7943]

Everyone has a different opinion on this subject. As you told in another video: small changes on the rig may have huge results. I am not a musician but if my opinion counts is the following: if we consider the rig as a problem to solve, every problem has a source and the source here is the guitar. Someone will be thinking, ok you solve the source but other problems are still existing. In the end, someone who is chasing the PERFECT will be changing step by step everything, so the correct answer is: nothing is enough.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Haha! Yeah it's dangerous indeed. It can become a rabbit hole. I also used to believe, that one will never stop seeking for the perfect tone. To be fair though, I just realised that I haven't felt the need of swapping /changing anything in my main rig for (drum roll) YEARS. After 20+ years of constant buying /selling I'm perfectly happy with what I have. So now I can finally start looking for funky stuff, such as a whammy, auto-wah, etc. haha! Cheers //Kris

[@sch2412]

the amp comparison would've been more fair if you'd compare two similar voiced amps (EL84). fenders are unbeatable when it comes to clean tones, especially with single coil guitars

[@johandap7795]

Pickups 😁

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Always a good idea if you love the feel and playability of your guitar but not the sound! :) //G

[@andreaferrero6533]

It's incredible how cheap gear has improved since the 80s. When I started I had really crappy guitar and amp. Said so, the change in tone with switching the amp was quite substantial, the Fender amp was telling the Harley: hold my beer....

[@chriscuthbertson]

A good setup, even on a budget guitar is the first thing you should spend some money on, or learn to do it yourself.

[@spenky]

It would be cool do to a video on how different amps work with pedals. I play on an old Orange Tiny Terror and the amp sounds great but it's a terrible amp for pedals. All the overdrive pedals I`ve tried sound the same, they just boost the gain and compress more or less and time based effects are unusable with any gain without an effects loop.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Very cool video! Thanks

[@trukr817]

If the other amp sounds better because the cab is larger, why not a speaker cab on the small amp, maybe a 2X12 or 4X12?

[@BrianMarto]

Having two Vintage Brand Guitars a Les Paul type and a V6P with P90's , the V100 has the PAF inspired Wilkinson Alnico 5 Humbuckers that sound amazing now with the 3 P90 's I am not sure they are great but a bit to much output being ceramic, I love the weight of both of them , V6P is Alder body and it's has some weight 9 pounds but I like a guitar has weight, I thought i making it a true single coil Strat, I see Fender offers loaded scratch plates which is an option, the question I have with the V100 thinking of upgrading the pots etc but reading various places it would be a waste of money, Amp wise I have a Fender LT 25 great little amp perfect when you live in small flat, yes I would love a tube amp but it comes down to practicality and not getting your ass thrown out on the street lol, interesting on HB guitar , the weak point was the pickups, if money was a concern I would upgrade to Wilkinson 60's Alinco pups on a budget guitar like that, but it still boils down to the player a good player can make any guitar sing ,

[@williammolina9792]

1/ Amp 2/ Guitar 3/ Pedal

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey William, yeah that makes sense. The way I see it at the moment: Upgrade for tone: 1/Amp 2/Pedal (if you're using it for your main drive sound) 3/ Guitar. Upgrade for inspiration: 1/ Guitar 2/ Amp 3/ Pedal. Cheers //Kris

[@rajdeep.banerjee]

Greetings! Cool sharing! Keep the interesting stuff coming... Take care. 🤘🏻ROCK ON!!🤘🏻

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks a lot! Glad you liked it! //Kris

[@herwansaputra4080]

For me : 1. Guitar : for inner peace 2. Amp 3. Pedals

[@blankvrs]

I literally just bought a pedal from Thomann this morning before seeing this, so you know my money is going on the pedal board at the moment. 😀

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Same 😂//G

[@benjaminpavlovic6664]

I would like to see the Evh 5150 6L6 vs the Engl Powerball. I heard it should be no difference

[@Sandratoo]

The amp makes the sound, the guitar is what you play so you must feel it as yours whatever price range and pedals modify the sound so it is always a matter of taste Get a better amp if you want a better sound

[@charlescdt6509]

Awesome, could you do one on bass? Keep up the good work.

[@Tapa504]

Is it a fact that after using a single coil guitar for good 8 years, the volume decreases? Does changing pick-up makes the guitar louder?

[@Bagledog5000]

If you change to hotter pickups, you'll get more vol, but also more distortion depending on how hot you go. Pickups from SD, DImarzio, Lindy Fralin will generally be louder than stock pickups depending on the model you choose. I've found that I prefer aftermarket pups on my guitars, except for my Japanese strat that came with wide range humbuckers. This article has some info about pickup life. www.lollarguitars.com/blog/2010/03/guitar-pickup-lifespan/

[@droidfan]

That's why I love HB. Is the strat better? sure... is it 7 times better? no way. I wasn't looking at the video and had to come back and rewind because I could barely notice the difference between the guitars.

[@navigatori9797]

The problem is that little better the Fender is is hard to get. It is everything involved - wood, pick ups, nut, bridge...all of that and it is a lot of work to make it right. HB is great value for money, I have 3 of them, but my Les Paul is a different category, worth every cent.

[@droidfan]

@@navigatori9797 I get it, like... 100%. I have my HBs but when I use my Prestiges... What I really wonder is: since we are getting such good things at incredibly low prices (for example, an HB Fusion II with stainless steel frets for around $300) are we being over charged by the rest? That's where my real issue lies. (Thanks for the respectful reply! Those are barely nonexistent :)

[@navigatori9797]

@@droidfan I got you...but that is the thing, we are not. Even Gibson and Fender don't get it right every time. It is very, very hard. That being said, I have a little story for you. Here in Serbia, I heard about a guy who made one Telecaster himself. I was in a process of getting SG with P90 and I have tried all that I could get my hands on, all Gibson and none was right for me. So, I took my shot and gave him a call, explained what I wanted and long story short, he made me SG of my dreams. That is the only one he ever made. But, it took him 8 months to make it. I am not kidding, including all the time to get all the parts, but none the less... Now, how much did he made if you know I paid 800 Euros for it? Not much....so, he stopped making guitars, he couldn't make a living out of it if he wants to make it perfect. We should all say thank you to HB, but even more to Gibson and Fender and PRS and all the others.

[@georgewilkins4231]

Be careful buying if your in the UK. The customs issues are Horrendous.. The delays and problems go on and on and on.. You've been warned..

[@nathanspratt266]

Legend

[@szrnkabela]

I noticed that too in Germany as I ordered my DiMarzio pickups from GB (Thomann has massive delays as well...). Thanx Brexit 🤬

[@darioxricci]

Amp AND practice

[@Mr.Nabil.Belhaj]

Definitely the amp first

[@afterglow2020]

As a pedal snob, this is difficult for me, but I have to go with the amp as well. If the cheap pedals sound like shit just don't turn them on-- haha/

[@redlespaul8139]

Im currently using a Boss Katana 50, I’ve never owned a tube/valve amp before but would love to. what would you guys recommend for a bedroom player that wants to try a tube amp but not at stadium volumes, and retaining headroom and clarity ?

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey, that might be really hard at bedroom levels, if you want a significant upgrade in tone. The Katana is awesome for practicing and takes (most) pedals well too. I'd love to give you a proper answer in one of our Q&A's if you can wait for that. :) Just don't be surprised, it might take some time until we get to this comment. Is that cool? Cheers //Kris

[@redlespaul8139]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses thanks for the reply Kris, I’ll look out for the QandA. I currently use the Katana as a pedal platform. I’m just wondering if the hype of tube/valve amps is worth investing in :) thanks Rik

[@matzer8846]

The Deluxe is just adorable and a ~ perfect amp ... but i do live in a flat ... so pedals are much more usable to me. I wouldn't pay the Fender US price tag ... rather go for a MIM ...

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey Matze, thanks for the comment! If you love the Deluxe but want to play it in a flat, do check out the Tone Master Deluxe. The attenuation is unbelievable and makes that amp a perfect for bedroom volumes. About the Fender US price tags. If you like the specs (pickups, hardware, electronics) of a MIM strat, go for it! But if you start upgrading the parts on a MIM guitar you arrive at the US price tag very quickly. Been there, done that. Haha! //Kris

[@matzer8846]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses Thank you very much for this hint! These Tonemasters seem to be very good ... have watched a lot of vids about them. Had an eye on the JC-40 too (because this clean doesn't need an attenuator, just a volume pot ... and i still remember the joy of listening, when the big one came to Europe in the mid 70 ... what an amp!) and actually ended up with a JC-22 and an amp stand. This little thing is so revealing, non supporting and just presents your stupid playing errors right in your face (;-) ... Well, unless you put on the chorus and a little reverb => big smile. Thanks a lot for your great vids!

[@PendelSteven]

Technically, the guitar was 10 x expensive, the amp 6 x and the pedals only 3 x. For 10 x as much +-: for € 891 weve got JHS Bonsai + Suhr Discovery. I guess you could have done 5 x for all. Bonsai + I dunno, maybe Seymour Duncan's Vapor Trail Deluxe, a Deluxe ToneMaster or Fender Vintera. Again, then I would choose the amp. But knowing me, I wouldn't have bought any of the Harley Benton stuff in the first place tbh.

[@horschy4856]

I would change the amp or the pedals because I can watch GTT and make my budget-guitar way better that way 😜🎸

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Glad to hear you enjoy the GTT videos. Cheers buddy! //Kris

[@pauldncn1]

Amp made a huge difference Loved this comparison .. I need a d-seed . Is there any chance of trying this with a cranked amp say a pushed Rev or a Soldano or similar Is there as big a difference with pushed amps? Thanks as always I was going to say it’s goodbye from the socks and goodbye from the woolly hat but wrong time of year .. I’ll save it for Christmas I love that Harley Benton strat too !

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks Paul! Pushed / overdriving amps are not easy to deal with. Also, most that sound ace whilst not breaking up might sound super fizzy when you crank them. We can try to come up with a fun and useful video on that theme. Cheers //Kris

[@pauldncn1]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses /Kris How about what difference the Harley Benton overdrive and d-seed make to 3 medium range amps you can push to get break up using load boxes .. heads better than combos Then try it with the pedal based amps Prs , orange and one other and a similar load box set up ?? “Ate pedal size amps as good as heads” Too complex?

[@szrnkabela]

First the amp

[@Sean_Plays_Guitar]

Pretty clear that the amp makes the biggest jump. Biggest bang for your buck.

[@Sean_Plays_Guitar]

Ps. That st-62 is such a pleasant looking guitar

[@dimitrisdimitriadis4913]

I was thinking to upgrade my HB-10G to a HB Tube15... Idk how I feel now